LifestyleHEALTH CLASS OF THE WEEK
Iyengar yoga Winter got you feeling stiff and hunched? Bent spines can get some respite at Yoga Junction, where instructor Tessa teaches the ancient practice of Iyengar yoga, as first put forth by the eponymous yogi, BKS Iyengar. Tessa uses plenty of props, including fat bolster cushions, belts, blocks, blankets, chairs and dangling ropes. Though some poses are challenging (personally, our headstands have never been very strong), all these tools ensure your body is supported at every stage. Unlike at other studios, where teachers can sometimes leave students to flounder, Tessa is constantly correcting poor form. The class starts by laying on a bolster for several minutes to help open up the spine. While we held various positions for several minutes, the class never felt overly strenuous. Still, we were surprised the next day to find ourselves sore (in a good way). The class works, as we also noticed a discernible difference in our usually atrocious posture. Classes are Friday, 10am1.30pm and 12.05pm-1.20pm. £12. 93a Weston Park, N8 9PR yogajunction.co.uk Finsbury Park; Turnpike Lane Haringey; Hornsey
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Bizarre beauty Looking good has never been so ... strange. We check out some of the city’s odder spa treatments Words Daisy Carrington
The connection between oddity and beauty may seem fairly recent but it’s a fact divas have a long history of going to strange lengths to look good – do you think it was normal for Cleopatra to bathe in asses’ milk? Then again, it seems like some of London’s spas have taken things even more out there. The below treatments are not for squares.
Best for... Foot fetishists Chavutti Thirumal has its origins in Kerala, India (like all good holistic treatments it seems). The masseuse uses her feet to rub the back, legs and arms, meanwhile balancing from a rope to control pressure. The idea is that the practitioner can achieve longer strokes that go more deeply into the tissue. PRICE: £85-£95 for 90 minutes. WHERE: Natureworks, 16 Balderton Street, W1K 6TN. natureworks.net
Best for... Lewis Carroll fans Therapists begin the Soundbath treatment by proffering a “wonder box”, which belches out smoke and reveals a small vial that reads
Tuned in: Lush Spa’s Soundbath treatment 32
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“drink me”, and a tiny chocolate mushroom. The actual therapy involves having tuning forks ringed near the ears and on the body, the idea being that certain tones and vibrations help us achieve balance. Clients also get wafted with feathers. At the end, in a move more evocative of witch doctors than high-end spas, the therapist shakes a bamboo filled with rice above their clients. PRICE: £65 for 60 minutes. WHERE: Lush Spa, 123 Kings Road, SW3 4PL. lush.co.uk
Best for... Tolstoy fans Russians, as we all know, are a tough bunch. It’s no wonder then that their version of a relaxing spa ritual is getting hit with tree branches. In reality, the practice is gentler than most deep-tissue massages, and helps to promote better circulation and release toxins. The K Spa’s Venik Massage gives a taste of Russian respite. The treatment includes a birch beating, plus a frolic in both the sauna and snow room (yes, said room is actually blanketed in powder). PRICE: £30 for 30 minutes.
Snow worries: K Spa’s ‘chill-out’ room
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08/02/2013 10:37:53