Experience natural exfoliation of your skin with Kenko’s Fish Spa Therapy. As the fishes remove your feet’s dead skin cells, you will feel a gentle nibbling sensation that may be ticklish for the first two minutes. Afterwards, you will feel a relaxing pulse stimulating as the therapeutic wave sets in. The benefits of this therapy includes: Smoother and healthier skin Promote blood circulation Release stress and tension The 30-minute therapy costs about S$30.
Image Credits: kenko.com.sg
Kenko Singapore has 7 outlets nationwide, visit: kenko.com.sg/outlet to know the nearest one.
2. LEARN HOW TO RIDE THROUGH THE WAVES
Take on the challenge of getting into the exciting action by learning how to Flowride. On May 23, WAVEHOUSE SENTOSA will conduct a “Girls Learn To Ride” session that is suited for female beginner and intermediate Flowriders who are interested to learn the basics and some new tricks as taught by the in-house female instructors. This Babe-only session costs S$20 for an hour and S$40 for two!
Image Credits: Lim Ashley via Flickr
Order your tickets at wavehousesentosa.com. For others who would rather stay out of the surf, worry not, because there are two beach bars and a pool to keep you refreshed and occupied.
3. TREAT YOUR HAIR ON A BLOWOUT
Book in for a hair blowout at Blow+Bar salon to get a star-worthy makeover. With the “Daily Blowout” you can get double cleanse, scalp massage, conditioning, and a Signature blowout look for S$38-52 depending on your hair length. Kids are welcome to the fun too (i.e., Daily Blowout Kids: S$27)!
Image Credits: blowplusbar.com
You can choose from different Signature blowout looks including BB Volume, BB Natural, and BB Curls while sipping a glass of wine. Ohh la la indeed!
There are two has 2 Blow+Bar outlets nationwide, visit: blowplusbar.com to book an appointment.
4. STRECH AND SWEAT
Enjoy a rejuvenating yoga class at Hom Yoga, Singapore. Hom Yoga is a contemporary boutique yoga studio that offers hot and non-hot classes. Choose from a range of their hot classes such as Hot Hom, Hot Ashtanga, and Hot Flow as taught by internationally trained yoga instructors. What separates Hom Yoga from the most is its minimalist ambience and premier services complete with the staple facilities. Not only is the reception staff courteous but the instructors are friendly too.
I suggest you go for their 1-week trial for S$49 to get a feel of all their classes. Otherwise, you can go for a single class for S$40. Hom Yoga has 2 studios nationwide, visit: homyoga.com/sg for more details.
Here are doable and inexpensive ways to lead a healthier life…
1. PRACTICE BREATHING EXERCISES
Say you have a stressful day or you under slept, you do not have to go to the spa to loosen up the tension…spending 10 minutes or less in breathing exercises will help. Deep and controlled breathing keeps your mind and body at their optimal function, lowers your blood pressure, and improves your relaxation. Know about the 6 breathing exercises: Equal Breathing, Progressive Relaxation, Guided Visualization, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Skull Shining Breath, and Abdominal Breathing Techniquehere.
2. HAVE AN EXERCISE BUDDY
Research showed that those who work out with their partners were more likely to stick to the exercise program than those who were alone. Start your off-day with a 30-minute exercise with your partner or friend. Then, motivate each other to do your best. If possible, you can join an exercise group in your community.
3. CUT BACK ON COFFEE
Middle age and older women had lower risks for diabetes once they moderated their coffee consumption. So, have a cup of coffee without the add-ons (e.g., creamer or sugar).
Image Credits: Filippo Diotalevi via Flickr
4. REDUCE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Cardiovascular diseases are topping the list of morbidity in adults. Have no more than the recommended one drink a day because drinking alcohol on a regular basis has been linked to increased blood pressure. It also increases the calories that further lead to weight gain.
5. GO FOR GRAINS
After your physical activity, have a bowl of whole-grain cereal to lower the risk of heart failure. Whole grains have been scientifically proved to help reduce the chance of having high blood pressure.
6. SMART SNACKING
Be sure to have healthy bites such as a pack of nuts or cut fruits in your reach.
Image Credits: Arya Ziai via Flickr
This will not only prevent you from having a candy bar from the vending machine but also increase your energy to keep you boosted for the day. Also, it may help you cut back some weight because healthy snacking and drinking water in the afternoon can help you avoid overeating during dinner.
Everyone knows that keeping fit and healthy isn’t exactly the most fun thing in the world (unless you’re one of the minority of us that truly enjoys torturing yourself exercising in Singapore’s excessively hot climate – in which case, you definitely have more willpower than me). It can be very difficult for most of us to just get our butts off the couch and do something about our fitness. Thankfully, app makers have noticed this, and have tried to make apps more fun to motivate us to exercise. Most of these apps involve some sort of “cute” element, social/competitive element, gaming elements, or just try to make being healthy easier. Hopefully with all of these new apps, your new year’s resolution of being fit and healthy will be easier to achieve!
1. Plant Nanny
Free
Available for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone
Water occupies 70% of our body weight, and yet water is something that we might not get enough of each day. Everyone knows that we’re supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but how many of us actually remember to do so? Now you can track how much water you’re drinking with the adorable Plant Nanny app! Plant Nanny calculates how much water you need to drink per day according to your weight and activity level. As you drink, your adorable little plant gets watered as well, growing from a little sapling to an adult plant! Easily input how much water you’re drinking, with the type of cup you’re using as well as the ml, and never forget to drink again with Plant Nanny’s reminders. With many different cartoon plants to choose from, you’ll never be bored of drinking water!
2. SleepBot
(Image credit: prmac.com)
Free
Available for iPhone and Android
In busy Singapore, it almost doesn’t matter if you’re a student or working professional – you’re bound to not be getting enough sleep. Here comes SleepBot to the rescue! SleepBot is a Smart Alarm with Motion & Sound Tracker to track your sleeping patterns. SleepBot logs your sleep for you, and lets you know if you’re getting the quality sleep time your body needs. You may be waking up many times in the night or having a fitful sleep without even knowing, but SleepBot through its motion and sound tracking, will allow you to find out. SleepBot also tracks your sleep debt, so you know exactly how much you have to catch up on. With its handy charts, logging your sleep patterns is a piece of cake. Simply plug it in, and fall asleep.
Nexercise: Free
Available for iPhone (Challenges by Nexercise) and Android (NexTrack) Fitocracy: Free Available for iPhone and Android
The cool thing about both of these apps is that they essentially make fitness a game. Not a 1-player game either, but a game you can play with your friends. Choose from the many workouts and fitness moves in the apps or log your own workouts for points and exp. Accumulate enough, and you reach the next level, gaining badges along the way. Compete with your friends, and see who can score the most points while working out! The competition and achievements will keep working out from becoming boring, and allow you to motivate yourself better!
Blogilates, the free app for the popular Blogilates YouTube and web phenomenon is something that really complements her free videos. In addition to allowing you to keep up with Cassey Ho, Blogilates founder, the app also has an “Instagram” like forum inbuilt, which allows you to post pictures and connect with everyone else on the app! The incredibly supportive community will be there throughout all of your progress pics as you gradually get fitter and fitter.
5. Just Dance Now
(Image credit: itunes.apple.com)
Free
Available for both iPhone and Android
Just Dance Now isn’t your traditional fitness app – but it IS a tremendous amount of fun. Just Dance Now is a dancing game much like Para-Para that you can play, using your smartphone as a controller (much like how the Wii is used). You will need a connection to a television, computer, tablet or stream the game on screen from the synced website. It has a good number of free songs to try (with a daily limit of 3), and the best thing is that you can even play with your friends! While dancing may not be the same as weightlifting, anything that gets you onto your feet and moving can only be a good thing for your body!
6.RunKeeper and/or equivalent run mapping apps
(Image credit forums.appleinsider.com)
Free
Available for both iPhone and Android
RunKeeper and other equivalent apps (MapMyRun, Nike+ Running, Strava) just to name a few are apps that log the distance you run and map it for you using your phone’s GPS. Some of these apps also allow you to connect with the community and your friends. Most also come with features like tracking your pacing and other fitness objectives. Many people have even creatively used such apps to “draw” gigantic pictures with their running routes!
Zombies, Run! is worth a try just for its unique and interesting design. It’s both a fitness running app, AND a game. Zombies, Run! puts you in the shoes of a runner outrunning the zombie apocalpyse. This app comes with a fully featured storyline, allowing you to immerse yourself in the game (with audio recordings of the storyline that simulate the sounds of being chased by zombies), and it has been said to get people’s hearts pumping in more than one way! You can collect items for your missions while you’re out on your run, and then use those items to upgrade your base to protect yourself from zombies. This app is not just fun, but apparently incredibly effective at motivating people to run (as seen by the sheer number of positive reviews).
What are some of your favourite “fun” apps for fitness? Let us know! We all need a good reason to motivate ourselves into being healthy!
One of the top 10 new year’s resolutions of a million people is to lose significant weight. This may be an ongoing resolution that has yet to happen, therefore the decision to lose weight is becoming more emotional.
Watch free exercise videos on youtube and across the Internet. Personally, I recommend Cassey Ho’s Blogilates as she incorporates Pilates, Yoga, and Cardio workouts. Aside from free exercise videos, the Internet is abundant with free or cheap Fitness Plans and Health Information. So, your only job is to make sure that the website is credible.
2. GO MEATLESS ONCE A WEEK
Nutritionist Rania Batayneh says that a sure way to burn off pounds and to save money is by going meatless once a week. You may substitute meat with tofu, beans, and mushrooms.
3. GROW AND COOK FOOD BY YOURSELF.
Growing your own food is organic at its finest. If you do not have a backyard or an apartment balcony there are community gardens for you to plant your own seed.
Kale, arugula, and spinach are some of the most nutritious and affordable foods you will find in a grocery store. As the color of the vegetable gets darker, the more nutritious it is because of its antioxidants and beta-carotene.
Image Credits: Wonderlane via Flickr
5. BUY CHEAP GROUP WORKOUT DEALS
Take advantage of a low-cost workout class if you are undecided and you do not want to spend hundreds of dollars for a gym membership. Groupon.sg is rich with Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, and Boxing Classes that range from $28 and below.
For example, here is a “Four 60 mins. Boot Camp” pass at $19 only! It will not only push your limits but it will also aid you in losing weight. Usually, newly opened gyms or studios give 1-week free trial so you better watch out.
6. RUN, JOG OR CYCLE OUTDOORS
The healthiest way to lose weight is neither crash diets nor starving yourself. But, the healthiest way is the gradual increase of exercise. As you increase the exercise intensity and duration, you will change your own body mechanism in time.
Try walking or biking to work if you live within a few miles. If that is not an option, then skip the elevator and take the stairs instead. Not only will you save on gas, but you’ll burn calories as you go.
Image Credits: Fit Approach via Flickr
7. EXERCISE AT HOME
Stay fit in the comforts of your own home. You may choose to buy bargain workout DVDs or use the resources you already have.
For example,
Use paint cans or bottle with rocks to work on your biceps.
Find a stable bar at home for chin ups.
Or, do sit-ups and push-ups without any equipment.
Image Credits: Jordan Misner via Flickr
You are now looking to the future with hope and expectations. What better investment could you make than with your own health?
Who says that no family activity in Singapore is cheap? Think again! In fact, some of them are FREE! From free shows to art appreciation, here are 5 Family Activities (under $10) that you will surely enjoy.
1. STARGAZING
Be amazed by the stars and constellations you will see in the Omni Theatre at the Singapore Science Centre. Gaze over the vast universe from 7:50 to 10 pm every Fridays through a series of telescopes. Best of all? It’s FREE.
2. PICNIC BY THE GARDENS
In Singapore Botanic Gardens, your family may stroll over the Rain Forest Trail to see various forest animals (e.g., Giant Mahang and Common Tree Frog) ,and forest plants (e.g. Rattan and Meraga Tree) or the National Orchid Garden to see the beautiful orchids. The entrance for the National Orchid Garden is S$2 for adults and S$1 for children and senior.
Image Credits: Edwin.11 via Flickr
You could lay down your blanket almost anywhere in the Gardens, but one of the nicest spot is probably at Palm Valley and Symphony Lake, especially when they’re staging one the regular free classical music concerts.
3. HEALTHY OUTDOORS
Cycle and jog across the lush greeneries and wondrous beach view of the East Coast Park. If you don’t own bike, you may rent one for S$6. You may also indulge in a family barbecue here, and stay on your own tents to cozy up.
4. ART APPRECIATION
Be absorbed with great contemporary art in the Singapore Art Museum. Their Learning Gallery especially caters for the young minds. It is a rich visual sight that your children don’t usually see. The admission is free for citizens and PRs, otherwise you may check the prices here.
5. WONDERFUL LIGHT SHOW
Enjoy the free “Wonderfull Show” at the Marina Bay Sands every evening from 8pm (full showtimes here). In here you will immerse yourselves in light, sound and music where your little ones will awe in delight. Remember to get there early to secure the best seats!
Image Credits: MarinaBaySands.com
You don’t have to spend too much to have fun with the ones you love. At the end of the day, your presence and quality time spent are more than enough to make them happy.
