ANGEL ACADEMY

THE Miss Bunny 🐰 RETIRED

[angelacademy]

ANGEL ACADEMY (ANGELICA BUNNY)

[ @elicathebunny main blog ]

BLOG CHANGES

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people...

Retired!

LINKS:

SUGGESTION FORM

*DON’T WRITE ANY SUGGESTIONS I WILL NOT SEE THEM AS OF NOW*

THE IANY MASTERLIST.

IANY = invent a new you xx

IANY MASTERPOST

TAGS:

#IANY

[🛠️]

[elicathebunny]

The Future of My Blogs.

Hi everyone. I’ve not been able to keep up with my posts as I thought I would be. Not due to time but to motivation. I keep thinking back to this blog, why I made it. My reasons have changed throughout the years. I’m not the same person as I was when I started blogging. It feels a bit unmotivating realising I’ve lost my numbers. That my posts don’t preform at a level they used to. But what I’m posting now is a lot more authentic. More real.

I want to post without pressure or feeling like i’m wearing a mask. Honestly I’m kind of embarrassed about my old posts. But you have to go through awkward moments to find out who you are anyways.

So, what now?

- I want to post but post when I feel comfortable to. Not posting everyday, or posting something for the sake of it without emotion within it.

- I have also made the decision to retire @angelacademy my first blog. It had a good run, but I no longer feel connected to it. Maybe one day it will have a revival, but for now It will rest in peace 🪦.

- I want to start developing a consistent brand, a brand that I have been building outside of my blog . I want to merge that into my blog, so it feels more me. So i feel proud of it.

- No more promises! No more of those bc i can never keep up to them from stress 😓

- I want to be able to pick up my numbers again! Hopefully my authentic posts can do just as well as my old ones 🫶

- I will be slowly changing the aesthetics on this acc to match my brand. I do have a name for it which is not E.B. But for the sake of me wanting that name private, it can be named after this blogs name. I’ll think of a catchy sound to call it at some point to call it here. (No promises!!! Lol)

A thank you to all 1.5K+ of you. My minds all over the place. I’ve said a lot of things that I may not have been able to live up to. I always give myself more on my plate than I can eat.

Lots of love ❤️

~ E.B

[elicathebunny]

Blog Hiatus

My new academic year is an important one that I would like to focus on solely. I will possibly make posts on my holidays off but that depends on my schedule. Thank you for reading my posts and supporting me! I may post more in the next few weeks but If I don't you know why.

🐰🐰xx

[angelacademy]

Clear skin is more than just skincare: Gut Health

(A science based read)

What you eat is shown through your skin and on body. If your constantly shoving junk down your throat, junk is what will be shown on you. Essentially what you eat is what you are.

Eat bad -> bad skin

Eat good -> good skin

If your constantly breaking out and you feel icky. You need to figure out what is up with your gut health.

Research suggests many skin disorders are linked to an altered or unbalanced gut microbiome.

“When the relationship between gut microbiome and the immune system is impaired, subsequent effects can be triggered on the skin, potentially promoting the development of skin diseases.”

“13 Several dermatologic conditions, such as acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea are linked with intestinal dysbiosis. 223 Many studies have associated gastrointestinal health with skin homeostasis and allostasis, and there is evidence of a bidirectional interaction between the gut and the skin.”

Diet, drugs and other consumed substances affect skin through gut microbiome:

“Several studies have related the diversity and pathogenicity of the gut microbiome to skin disorders, which can be significantly altered by long-term dietary patterns. 43,105–107 Diet can affect the skin condition both positively and negatively through alteration of the gut microbiome, indicating that there is a relationship between the skin and the gut. 16 Not only diet, but also many synthetic and natural products consumed by humans as drugs can provide direct and indirect evidence on the connection between gut microbiome and skin.”

High and low fat diet:

“In the gut, a diet high in industrial trans-fatty acids increases the number of harmful microbes (such as Desulfovibrionaceae and Proteobacteria) while suppressing populations of advantageous microorganisms (e.g. members of Bacteroidetes, Lachnospiraceae, and Bacteroidales). 121 Refined and hydrogenated oils (e.g., soybean, sunflower, safflower, canola, corn, and vegetable oils) can cause inflammation in the gut, which then manifests on the skin.”

Industrially produced trans fat can be found in margarine, vegetable shortening, Vanaspati ghee, fried foods, and baked goods such as crackers, biscuits and pies. Baked and fried street and restaurant foods often contain industrially produced trans fat.

Prebiotics:

“133,134 Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, inulin, polydextrose, lactulose, sorbitol, and xylitol are a promising group of compounds that modulate the gut microbiome and can also provide skin benefits.”

“The effect of prebiotics on the skin condition is also obvious. For example, a Lactobacillus extract helps to reduce the size of acne lesions as well as inflammation by reducing skin erythema, improving skin barrier function and lowering the microbial counts on skin.”

types of prebiotics include:

Chicory root

Garlic

Onion

Dandelion greens

Apples

Bananas

Jerusalem artichoke

Asparagus

Probiotics:

“Probiotics can prevent gut colonization by pathogens and support anti-inflammatory responses by producing metabolites with anti-inflammatory properties. The most common probiotic microbes currently in use belong to the genera Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces, and Streptococcus. 143,144 Several beneficial effects of probiotic consumption have been demonstrated on many dermatological conditions, thus proving the existence of the gut-skin axis.”

Common types of probiotics include:

Lactobacillus: This is a common probiotic found in fermented foods, such as yogurt.

Bifidobacterium: This probiotic is found in some dairy products and helps with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Saccharomyces boulardii: This is a type of yeast found in many probiotics. You can find these probiotics and more in supplements and select foods.

Yogurt

Buttermilk

Cottage cheese

Miso soup

Sauerkraut

Kefir

Kimchi

Tempeh

Protein:

“The proteins from animal-based food sources may have better effects on gut microbiota compared to plant-based food sources due to the higher protein digestibility of animal proteins and the fact that the digestion of plant proteins may be limited by the presence of antinutritional factors found in plants [67]. Animal proteins have more balanced essential amino acids than plant proteins [68,69] and are thus considered higher quality protein.”

“Dairy and meat protein intake at a recommended level increased the abundance of the genus Lactobacillus and maintained a more balanced composition of gut microbiota compared to soy protein, which is beneficial to the host [25,26,28].”

“Your body makes lots of different peptides, each of which has a different role. Scientists can also make synthetic peptides in the lab. Companies have been adding peptides to skin care products for decades.”

High protein foods:

Salmon

Chicken breast

Tuna

Red split lentils

Tofu

Greek yogurt

Fibre:

“Dietary fibre is comprised of plant-based carbohydrates that cannot be metabolised by digestive enzymes encoded in the human genome, such as amylase. Instead, fibre can only be metabolized by certain species of gut microbiota through anaerobic fermentation, with the main product of this reaction being SCFAs.”

“Dietary fibre is a carbohydrate in plant foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and legumes, which have been dominant in human diets for millions of years. From the Paleolithic era, when the hunter-gatherers mainly ate fruit and wild grains, to the agricultural era, when crops began to be cultivated, the ancients consumed more than 100 g of various digestible and indigestible dietary fibre from plants per day [1,2].”

Fibre rich foods:

Chia seeds

Lentils

Broccoli

Avacado

Carrots

Red kidney beans

Raspberries

XOXO

[angelacademy]

It's my 2 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[angelacademy]

How to give the appearance of bigger eyes and lips.

Bigger lips 💋

Volufiline promotes lipid storage, leading to an increase of a diposite volume in fatty tissue, resulting in plump and fuller lips.

- A reddit comment

Hyaluronic acid is used to reduce these lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Hyaluronic acid can make your lips fuller and younger-looking.

“take the hyaluronic acid serum you use for your face and apply it to your lips, following it up with a generous layer of a rich and occlusive balm. Choosing a thick lip balm is key, possibly one made from Vaseline” - vogue

*slightly* over-line the lips to to give the appearance of bigger lips using natural shades to line the lips.

Example:

Bigger eyes 👀

(Long) Lashes can make your eyes look bigger and more youthful. You should focus on both the bottom and top lashes with lash extensions or mascara.

Example: Manwha lashes

Winged eyeliner can help elongate and draw attention to the eyes, helping them seem bigger. Drawing with a less harsher colour like anything close but softer than black to place in the inner corners of the eye, making it more sharp.

Highlighting the inner corners will bring focus to the eye area.

Lowe set eye brows which are slightly thin will also give the appearance of bigger eyes (it’s okay if you don’t have them tho!). Fill brows in as normal.

Example:

Eyeshadow placement will also help on emphasising the roundness of the eye. Adding more emphasis on your under eye fat by drawing aegyo sal and darkening the lower-lash line especially on the outer corner by using a dark brown or a softer colour than black. If you want, you can also darken the lid near to the upper lash line with a subtle warm brown or similar colour to the bottom lash line.

Blush placement should be placed on the apples of the cheeks to bring focus near the eyes.

Example:

XOXO

[dreamgrlarchive]

In companionship to my beauty binder, I made what’s called a “fashion diary.” I keep all my fashion inspo in it and actually transferred some of my fashion content from my binder to my diary + expanded on it. 🎀

why?

super fun hobby for people like me (fashion students, future designers/stylists, fashion enthusiasts) or people trying to find their look. passion is and always has been my absolute passion! i just want to integrate it into my life in every possible way. 💓

what to record in your diary? 🗒️💓

an intro sheet + there are 5 main sections i keep in my fashion diary:

inspo, wishlist, stylingz, details, my signature look 🧁

intro sheet

on this page i recorded what my fashion goals are and what i planned to accomplish with my diary 🍒

inspo

in this section i keep printed out pictures of ANYTHING that inspires a look in my head. it doesn’t have to be clothing. i have photos of desserts, animals, places, etc. and if i don’t get a chance to print a photo i’ll write a short entry about what i saw that inspired me. 💗

wishlist

pretty self-explanatory. i keep a list of all the items i wanna buy/try on. i like printing out pics of pieces i want and recording where to get them from. 🍰

stylingz

i style my own looks under the name “noelle’s prêt-à-porter” or “noelle’s ready to wear.” i style looks based on pieces i own and pieces on my wishlist. i use this as way to hone in on my curation skills. i keep printouts of lookz i made and future concept ideas in this section. + i keep diy ideas in this section 🍓

detailz

here i keep track of recurring themes and details in pieces/looks i love. consistently there’s the following: “leopard print, heart shaped accessories, rhinestones and diamanté details, fur trims, french tipz, hoop earrings, everything bedazzled, silk presses, fuzzy pens, cute little charmed accessories are all so me” (-@realprissygrl on twitter 🎀)

my signature look

my signature look has been curated over the course of years. here i keep track of my color palette, my fav silhouettes and kinds of pieces, etc. you can use my branding tag to help yourself find your signature look. “marajuku: bodycon clothing, pink and neutrals, designer bags, french tips, fur details, cheetah print, diamanté details, silk presses, pink + neutral color combos, fuzzy pens, hoop earrings + diamond studz, heart shaped charms, tartan plaid, cute little charmed accessories, long wispy lashes, pink lip gloss” (-@realprissygrl on twitter 🎀)

[angelacademy]

Styling your hair to frame your face.

ⅰ. finding your face shape

▸ Oval: Your face is slightly longer than it is wide, with a rounded jawline and forehead slightly wider than the jaw.

▸ Round: Your face appears equally wide and long, with a rounded jawline and hairline.

▸ Square: Your face has a similar width across the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, with a strong, angular jaw.

▸ Rectangular (Oblong): Your face is longer than it is wide, with a squared jawline and more length than a square face.

▸ Heart: Your forehead is the widest part of your face, tapering down to a narrow, pointed chin.

▸ Diamond: Your cheekbones are the widest part, with a narrow forehead and jawline.

▸ Triangle (Pear): Your jawline is the widest part, with a narrower forehead.

ⅰⅰ. finding your hairstyle

▸ Oval Face Shape

Characteristics: Balanced proportions, slightly longer than wide, rounded jawline.

Hairstyles:

Long Waves: Soft waves add volume without lengthening the face too much.

Bob: A classic bob works well, particularly one that ends just below the chin.

Layered Cuts: Layers add movement and dimension, suitable for both long and short styles.

Side-Swept Bangs: Adds a bit of flair while maintaining the balance of your face.

▸ Round Face Shape

Characteristics: As wide as it is long, rounded jawline and hairline.

Hairstyles:

Long Layers: Helps to elongate the face.

Pixie Cut: A textured pixie cut can add height and lengthen the face.

Side Part: Creates the illusion of length and reduces the roundness.

Choppy Bob: Adds angles and structure, balancing the roundness.

▸ Square Face Shape

Characteristics: Strong, angular jawline, similar width across forehead, cheekbones, and jaw.

Hairstyles:

Soft Waves: Soft, tousled waves can soften angular features.

Layered Bob: Layers add movement and softness to the face.

Side-Swept Bangs: Help to soften the forehead and jawline.

Long and Sleek: A long, straight style can elongate the face and soften the angles.

▸ Rectangular (Oblong) Face Shape

Characteristics: Longer than wide, squared jawline.

Hairstyles:

Soft Curls or Waves: Adds width and volume to the sides of the face.

Chin-Length Bob: Shorter styles help to reduce the length of the face.

Curtain Bangs: Creates a horizontal line that can shorten the appearance of the face.

Side Parts: Adds width and dimension, balancing out the length.

▸ Heart Face Shape

Characteristics: Wide forehead, prominent cheekbones, narrow, pointed chin.

Hairstyles:

Chin-Length Bob: Balances the width of the forehead with the narrow chin.

Side-Swept Bangs: Reduces the width of the forehead and draws attention to the eyes.

Long Layers: Softens the overall look and adds volume around the jawline.

Pixie Cut with Side-Swept Bangs: Adds volume at the top while balancing the narrow chin.

▸ Diamond Face Shape

Characteristics: Wide cheekbones, narrow forehead, and jawline.

Hairstyles:

Chin-Length Bob: Adds width to the narrow jawline.

Layered Cuts: Layers around the chin and cheeks can soften the angles.

Side Parts: Creates width at the forehead.

Curly or Wavy Styles: Adds volume around the jaw and forehead, balancing the cheekbones.

▸ Triangle (Pear) Face Shape

Characteristics: Wide jawline, narrow forehead.

Hairstyles:

Volume at the Crown: Styles that add volume to the upper part of the head, like a layered pixie cut, balance the wider jawline.

Side-Swept Bangs: Adds width to the forehead.

Long Layers: Helps to balance the jawline by adding volume around the face.

Updos: Styles like high buns or top knots add volume to the upper part of the face.

XOXO

[angelacademy]

Accessorising according to your face shape and undertones.

ⅰ. finding your face shape

▸ Oval: Your face is slightly longer than it is wide, with a rounded jawline and forehead slightly wider than the jaw.

▸ Round: Your face appears equally wide and long, with a rounded jawline and hairline.

▸ Square: Your face has a similar width across the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline, with a strong, angular jaw.

▸ Rectangular (Oblong): Your face is longer than it is wide, with a squared jawline and more length than a square face.

▸ Heart: Your forehead is the widest part of your face, tapering down to a narrow, pointed chin.

▸ Diamond: Your cheekbones are the widest part, with a narrow forehead and jawline.

▸ Triangle (Pear): Your jawline is the widest part, with a narrower forehead.

ⅰⅰ. finding your undertone

compare you skin colour to this chart, keeping in mind the colour of your veins as well to find your undertone.

ⅰⅰⅰ. finding the jewellery for you

▸ Oval Face Shape:

Earrings: Oval faces can wear almost any style. Long dangles, hoops, and studs all work well. Avoid overly long earrings that can elongate the face further.

Necklaces: Short necklaces, chokers, and collars can complement your balanced proportions.

▸ Round Face Shape:

Earrings: Opt for long, dangling earrings or angular shapes like rectangles and trapezoids to add length and define the face.

Necklaces: Long necklaces and V-shaped pendants can help elongate your face.

▸ Square Face Shape:

Earrings: Choose earrings with curves, such as hoops or rounded designs, to soften your angles. Long drop earrings work well, too.

Necklaces: Long necklaces with pendants or shapes that elongate and add curves, like teardrops, are ideal.

▸ Rectangular (Oblong) Face Shape:

Earrings: Choose studs, shorter dangles, or chandelier styles to add width and balance your face length.

Necklaces: Chokers and shorter necklaces can help shorten the appearance of your face.

▸ Heart Face Shape:

Earrings: Look for earrings that are wider at the bottom than the top, like teardrops and chandeliers, to balance the narrow chin.

Necklaces: Short necklaces, chokers, or necklaces with a curved shape to balance your chin and draw attention upward.

▸ Diamond Face Shape:

Earrings: Choose earrings that are wider than they are long, like studs or short dangles. Teardrop and curved designs work well.

Necklaces: Choose shorter necklaces or chokers to soften the angles of your face and add width to your jawline.

▸ Triangle (Pear) Face Shape:

Earrings: Opt for earrings that add width to the upper part of your face, like chandeliers, teardrops, or other designs that are wider at the top.

Necklaces: Look for necklaces with intricate details or bold designs to draw attention away from the jawline and add balance to your face.

▸ Warm Undertones

Characteristics: Yellow, peachy, or golden undertones. Veins may appear greenish.

Best Metal:

Gold: Yellow, rose, and even bronze gold tones work wonderfully with warm undertones. They enhance the natural warmth of your skin.

▸ Cool Undertones

Characteristics: Pink, red, or blue undertones. Veins may appear bluish or purple.

Best Metal:

Silver: Sterling silver, white gold, and platinum are ideal for cool undertones. These metals complement the cool hues in your skin.

▸ Neutral Undertones

Characteristics: A mix of both warm and cool undertones. Veins may appear bluish-green.

Best Metal:

Gold or Silver: People with neutral undertones have the flexibility to wear both gold and silver. Both metals will complement your skin tone, so you can choose based on your outfit or personal preference.

▸ Olive Undertones

Characteristics: A combination of green and yellow undertones, often giving the skin a slightly greenish cast.

Best Metal:

Gold and Silver: Olive undertones can generally wear both gold and silver. However, gold (both yellow and rose) can enhance the warm aspect of olive skin, while silver can bring out cool, greenish hues. Experiment with both to see which you prefer.

▸ Additional Tips:

Mixing Metals: Don't be afraid to mix gold and silver. This works especially well if you have neutral or olive undertones.

Skin Tone Changes: Your skin tone can change with the seasons (e.g. getting more tanned in summer), so you might find that different metals suit you better at different times of the year.

XOXO

[angelacademy]

BLOG UPDATE:

02/08/24

This blog is lowkey a mess ngl, I need to organise it more and the plans I had for it did not fall through because of my academics and it just clashed. I need to write down some ideas so I know what to actually write about when I have the time.

The plans were to focus on things like health and upgrading physical beauty. As you can see I have obviously done an amazing job at maintaining these posts!! (sarcasm for those who don't get it)

If you have any ideas, please write them on my suggestions form. This one is separate from the one on my main blog.

New posts will be written once I have some ideas ready 💋 xx

XOXO

[elicathebunny]

BLOG UPDATE:

23/07/24

-> SUGGESTIONS FORUM

Hey guys! I have been gone for 2 months, i wanted to break my hiatus with at least one post as i will be busy throughout the summer but I made this post and was wanting to publish it. I cannot say I will be back fully but I have slowly gained my inspiration back slightly. My 2nd blog @angelacademy is still on a break because I need more time to research for that account to make better content for you guys. For now enjoy this one post bc idk when my next one will be 😭

I finished my school now so i’m gonna try write more over the summer holidays. I will not be posting as much as I used to post because I did end up burning out. Instead I will be releasing posts when I get the motivation to write. When things get busy again with school in the new year. I will go back on my hiatus until I finish the school year to focus on my studies.

Thankyou all for the follows whilst I was gone ☺️☺️!!

xoxo

E.B

[angelacademy]

@ _minarae_ On tiktok

[angelacademy]

Tips to lose weight and keep it off.

I recommend this video for more insight into achieving a healthy body.

It highlights areas people may be stuck on when trying to lose weight and emphasises what you might be doing wrong and how to fix it.

@user-ou5jn7fj80 in the comments section MY TAKEAWAY:

If you: -Walk 7000-10000 steps per day -Do HIT or cardio(dancing, running, swimming) for an hour 2-3 times weekly -Do strength training (lifting weights, pilates) 2-3 times weekly -Include protein, fibre and good fats in your diet and cut down on sugar and carbs -Get 7-9 hours of sleep You can realistically see a difference in 2-3 months and lose about 10kgs in 6 months

[nsaint1]

Set behavioral goals! It is such a game changer. Instead of setting goals that you can not 100% control, for example “I want to weigh XXX amount” set behavioral goals such as “I want to exercise for at least 30 min 4 days out of the week”.

You have so much more control over your behavior/actions which means it will be easier to maintain and thus helping potentially reaching your end goal. Focus on creating goals related to behavior change that include action steps!

[angelacademy]

HOW TO HAVE LEANER AND STRAIGHTER-LOOKING LEGS LIKE A VS MODEL

There is nothing wrong with anyone's body. This is just a personal preference for me that I would like to have straighter and leaner legs as of now!

STRETCHING

Stretching can help give your legs a lean and straight look by elongating the muscles and improving flexibility. When you stretch regularly, it helps lengthen your muscles, making them appear longer and leaner.

Here is the video I use for my specific leg stretching on Xiaohongshu:

小红书

If you are on a laptop just go to the translating section and change it to English if you want to read what it says. I only did it once with my workouts but doing it twice would probably give you results quicker.

And on YouTube:

Here is the one I do in general:

Work out to tighten and tone the leg muscles without giving it a "bulky" look.

Walking is a great low-impact workout that will tighten the leg muscles. Walk at least 6000+ steps if you can't do 10,000 daily. Any walking is better than no walking though so start with what you can and increase it.

If your looking to lose weight on your legs then you would need to eat in a calorie deficit along with working out. Weight loss is 70% diet and 40% exercise!

[elicathebunny]

Electrolytes.

(Information from online sources)

Electrolytes are minerals that have an electric charge when they are dissolved in water or body fluids, including blood. An electrolyte imbalance occurs when your body's mineral levels are too high or too low. This can negatively affect vital body systems.

Staying hydrated is key to maintaining a balance of electrolytes. Water is the most natural choice for hydration. It is less expensive and more available than any other drink. Coconut water is another alternative for replenishing electrolytes.

Sodium:

Balances fluid levels inside and outside cells

Regulates blood pressure

Helps send nerve signals

Helps your muscles contract

Potassium:

Helps move nutrients into your cells

Helps your nerves and muscles function, especially your heart

Supports your metabolism

Calcium:

Builds and strengthens your bones and teeth Helps muscles contract and sends nerve signals

Aids stable blood pressure

Magnesium:

Aids muscle and nerve function

Builds and strengthens your bones and teeth

Phosphorous:

Builds and strengthens your bones and teeth

Aids nerve and muscle function

Chloride:

Balances fluids inside and outside cells

Regulates blood pressure

Foods and Drinks With Electrolytes.

Many foods are rich in electrolytes. Some of the top sources include:

Potassium: Bananas, beet greens, salmon, white beans, avocado, potatoes, milk, mushrooms

Sodium: Dill pickles, clams, table salt, cheese, dry-roasted sunflower seeds

Magnesium: Spinach, pumpkin seeds, lima beans, tuna, brown rice, almonds

Phosphorous: Yellowfin tuna, tofu, milk, chicken, scallops, pumpkin seeds, quinoa

Calcium: Milk, cheese, spinach, tofu, yogurt, okra, trout, acorn squash

Homemade electrolyte drink recipe!

[elicathebunny]

STRETCH STRETCH STRETCH!

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. -> HARVARD HEALTH

INNER BENEFITS:

Improved Flexibility: Stretching helps increase the range of motion in your joints and muscles, promoting flexibility. This can enhance your ability to perform everyday activities and maintain proper posture.

Reduced Muscle Tension and Stiffness: Stretching helps release tension in the muscles, reducing stiffness. This is especially beneficial for individuals who may experience muscle tightness due to prolonged periods of sitting or physical inactivity.

Enhanced Circulation: Stretching increases blood flow to the muscles, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients. Improved circulation contributes to better overall cardiovascular health.

Better Posture: Regular stretching can improve posture by correcting muscle imbalances and reducing the strain on specific areas, such as the neck, shoulders, and lower back.

Prevention of Injuries: Stretching before physical activity can prepare your muscles and joints, reducing the risk of injuries. It promotes better flexibility and helps your body adapt to various movements.

Increased Relaxation: Stretching, particularly when combined with deep breathing, can induce a sense of relaxation and reduce stress. It helps calm the mind and promotes mental well-being.

Enhanced Athletic Performance: Athletes often include stretching as part of their training routine to improve performance. Flexible muscles and joints contribute to better agility, balance, and coordination.

Alleviation of Aches and Pains: Stretching can be beneficial for individuals experiencing muscle discomfort or mild aches. It helps alleviate tension and can provide relief from certain types of pain.

Improved Range of Motion: Regular stretching helps maintain or increase your range of motion, allowing you to move more freely and comfortably.

Mind-Body Connection: Engaging in stretching exercises promotes a mind-body connection. Focusing on your body's movements and sensations can enhance mindfulness and reduce mental stress.

Better Circulation to Joints: Stretching helps improve blood flow to the joints, promoting joint health and flexibility. This can be especially important as you age to maintain mobility.

AESTHETIC BENEFITS:

Improved Posture: Regular stretching can help correct muscular imbalances and promote better posture. As you stand taller and align your body more effectively, your overall appearance may be enhanced.

Longer and Leaner Appearance: Stretching can create a longer and leaner appearance by elongating muscles. This may contribute to a more streamlined and graceful physique.

Reduced Muscle Tension: Stretching helps alleviate muscle tension, which can make your body look and feel more relaxed. Relaxed muscles often contribute to a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing physique.

Enhanced Muscle Definition: By increasing flexibility and range of motion, stretching may enhance muscle definition. Well-stretched muscles can appear more sculpted, especially when combined with strength training exercises.

Improved Circulation and Skin Tone: Stretching promotes better blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your skin. This improved blood flow can contribute to a healthier complexion and skin tone.

Prevention of Muscular Imbalances: Stretching can help prevent and address muscular imbalances, ensuring that your body develops proportionally. Balanced muscle development contributes to a more aesthetically pleasing physique.

Reduced Appearance of Cellulite: While not a direct solution, regular stretching may help improve blood circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite in some individuals.

Enhanced Flexibility for Functional Movements: Improved flexibility from stretching can make functional movements more graceful. This increased ease of movement can contribute to an overall more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Relaxed Facial Expressions: Stretching, especially when combined with relaxation techniques, can contribute to a more relaxed facial expression. This can positively impact how others perceive your overall demeanour.

Elongated Muscles: Consistent stretching can give your muscles an elongated appearance, contributing to a more elegant and refined look.

PILATES, YOGA AND TAI CHI.

Pilates, yoga, and Tai Chi are three mind-body practices that offer numerous physical and mental benefits. While they share some similarities, each has it's unique principles, techniques, and focuses.

Pilates:

Focus: Pilates emphasizes core strength, flexibility, and overall body awareness.

Principles: Controlled and precise movements, breath control, and a focus on the core muscles.

Equipment: Pilates can be done on a mat or with specialised equipment like the reformer, Cadillac, and chair.

Benefits: Improved core strength, flexibility, posture, and muscular balance. It also enhances body awareness and can be beneficial for rehabilitation.

Yoga:

Focus: Yoga integrates physical postures, breath control, meditation, and ethical principles for holistic well-being.

Principles: Asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breath control), meditation, and the philosophy of mindfulness.

Styles: Various styles such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Kundalini offer different approaches to yoga practice.

Benefits: Increased flexibility, improved strength, stress reduction, enhanced mental clarity, and a sense of inner peace. Yoga is also known for its adaptability to different fitness levels.

Tai Chi:

Focus: Tai Chi, often referred to as "meditation in motion," is a martial art that combines slow, flowing movements with deep breathing.

Principles: Gentle and continuous movements, focused breathwork, and mindfulness.

Forms: Tai Chi involves practising specific sequences of movements or forms.

Benefits: Improved balance, flexibility, coordination, and relaxation. It is often recommended for fall prevention and is associated with stress reduction and enhanced mental well-being.

age gracefully!!!