International Women’s Day 2020: The health and wellbeing edition

There are so many expectations and limits and restrictions placed on women, on our bodies, on how we spend our time. Despite this, being fit and healthy is one of the most common resolutions and aims that we aspire to. If you’re needing some inspiration of what to do, how to shake up your current routine, or even what to wear when you exercise then keep reading as this is just for you.

 Tala

Photo: Tala

#FLODown: Finding the right gym gear can often be half the struggle. There are a plethora of options out there nowadays but it’s hard to find the perfect outfit with the right fit, the right price and the right ethics. Tala was founded by Grace Beverly who shot to YouTube stardom a few years ago whilst still at university. Her brand, Tala, is devoted to sustainability in everything it produces – including the clothes themselves, the packing and the tags. Their garments are produced and hand-finished in Portugal and are made from 92% recycled raw materials that are also being diverted from landfill. The reviews are incredible for the clothes that Tala makes. Visit the Tala website for more information and to browse their gorgeous clothes.

The Bridge

#FLODown: The Bridge is a women’s only gym in London Bridge. They offer flexible memberships, female instructors, a huge range of fitness classes and personal trainers. The gym is actually a part of a wider charity which can be traced back to the 1920s, and aims to reduce the inequalities in health and wellbeing by supporting women to make healthier life choices, and a facet of this is the women’s only gym and they also have a great café. Going to a regular gym can often be quite intimidating, especially if you want to lift weights with men ogling you from every direction. The Bridge offers some peace and quiet, and space to breathe and workout at your own pace.

Check out the news section on their website for some great, digestible posts on health and wellbeing.

Yoga with Adrienne – via YouTube

Photo: Yoga with Adrienne

#FLODown: Yoga is often regarded as the ultimate embodiment of health and wellbeing, but sometimes it can be quite hard to find the perfect class, find the money to keep it up regularly (classes can be expensive) or even find the right time. Yoga with Adrienne allows you to start practising yoga from your bedroom. You can do a one off session any time you feel like or she has a 30 day challenge that is perfect to get into yoga if you’re a beginner. Check it out here

The Ladies Pond at Hampstead Heath

#FLODown: Hampstead Heath is arguably one of the most beautiful green spaces in all of London, and synonymous with the Heath are the Ponds. The Ladies Pond is a picturesque space that is reserved purely for female enjoyment – woo! It is open year-round with opening times varying depending on the season – there is also a Men’s Pond. Although the ponds are not truly ‘wild’ there is a huge difference between swimming in open water and in a treated swimming pool. A quick dip will make your endorphins go wild and will make you feel like you can do anything!

If you want to know more about this historic place check out the glorious documentary, The Ponds. It was released in 2019 about the local people that swim at the ponds every single day. The people that swim in these waters claim it is utterly therapeutic and soothing for the soul. There is also a book of essays on the subject titled At the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies’ Pond. The essays combine personal reminiscence with reflections on the history of the place over the years and through the changing seasons.

Park Run

#FLODown: Pretty much everyone goes through a phase where they start running or at least where they think they will start running. Finding the motivation is often the hardest part, and as most people know going to the gym or doing a workout with another person is often the best way to motivate yourself. Parkrun is a collection of 5km running events that occur every single Saturday morning at over 1,400 locations in 22 different countries in five continents. Its run by a group of volunteers and you just need to register online, before taking part. And the best part is it’s free!

What do you do to stay fit and healthy? Let us know your favourite places to go and what you like doing on twitter or Instagram!

Words by Mollie Kate Cohen