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Tag: mentalhealth

Discovering Emotional Security With UMBRA

Written by Jenna Jones on . Posted in Latest, Lifestyle, Partner Blogs, Wellbeing.

Your Guide to a Resilient Secure Lifestyle

Here at UMBRA, we are thrilled to share our knowledge on something very close to our hearts: Emotional Security. At UMBRA, we’re all about equipping you with the tools for a Secure Lifestyle, and this emerging pillar is vital in today’s ever-changing world.

Why Emotional Security?

Emotional Security is the 4th pillar of UMBRA’s 4 Pillar approach to security (physical, digital and reputational being the others). It is all about feeling safe, confident, and free from anxiety. In our fast-paced world, where challenges abound, maintaining this balance is crucial. Having navigated my own path through optimising my physical, mental, and cognitive health, I’ve seen first-hand how these areas intertwine. At UMBRA, we believe a holistic approach to security includes emotional wellbeing at the core. 

The Importance of Resilience

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people faces mental health challenges at any time. This highlights the importance of resilience, especially in the face of the risks we all face in the modern world. We’ve noticed that individuals with lower emotional resilience often experience more security issues, especially among younger clients. That’s why we prioritise building this resilience, making it the frontline of holistic security.

Our Toolkit for Emotional Resilience

At UMBRA, we’re committed to helping you foster emotional resilience. Here’s a glimpse of our toolkit, featuring some of the best emotional support and wellness practices from around the globe. We are a proudly best of British business, but the team can tailor this to wherever you are in the world and wherever you regularly travel to and from:

Therapies & Wellness

  1. HBOT (Oxygen Chambers): Available at the Hum2n and Grey Wolfe clinics in London, these sessions support healing and wellness.
  2. Infrared Saunas: Check out London Cryo for a rejuvenating experience that promotes relaxation and detoxification.
  3. Cryotherapy: Embrace cold therapy with ice baths or cold showers. LUMI’s at-home pod makes this accessible every day
  4. Breathwork: Explore the Wim Hof method for breath control and cold exposure, boosting both mind and body.
  5. IV Vitamin Infusions: we love a health boost with infusions packed with nutrients like NAD and B12 to enhance your vitality.
  6. Morning Routine: Enjoy sunlight and movement each morning to reset your circadian rhythms and energize your day. How you start the day defines how you sleep.

Nutrition

  1. Holistic Health Consultations: we love Gut Philosophy who offer comprehensive consultations, including blood panels to tailor your nutrition plan.
  2. Supplements: From Moju Ginger shots to Bulletproof coffee, maintain high ketone levels for optimal brain function. I add MCT oil to mine every morning for a brain boost.
  3. Functional Foods: Incorporate adaptogenic coffees like London Nootropics and vibrant greens from Vitalgreens into your diet.
  4. Collagen and Hydration: Enhance your health with Marine or Bovine Collagen, along with Ancient & Brave’s True Hydration.

Reading & Learning

  1. Books: Dive into titles like “Super Human” by Dave Asprey or “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker for insights into biohacking and wellness.
  2. Podcasts: Explore data-driven podcasts like Huberman Lab for a deeper understanding of health and performance.

Wearables & Tools

  1. Health Monitors: Track your well-being with OURA Rings or Whoop bands.
  2. Blue Light Blocking Glasses: Protect your eyes with options like Red Light Rising.
  3. Glucose Monitoring: From Zoe to Supersapiens – try looking at any foods that spike your sugar with real-time insights into how your diet affects your mood and energy.
  4. Home Saunas: Experience the benefits of an infrared sauna at home with brands like MiHi.

Brain & Mental Performance

  1. Therapy Options: We recommend starting with CBT or exploring innovative approaches like Brain Spotting.
  2. Cognitive Enhancement: London Holistics and SOFOS offer cutting-edge holistic guidance & cognitive performance optimization.

Fitness & Community Engagement

  1. Fitness Focused: Whether in London or beyond, we connect you with top trainers and gyms. Movement is key at every stage of life.
  2. Community Involvement: Giving back through volunteering or joining community interest and growth mindset groups like Toastmasters can enhance your well-being and slow cognitive aging.

Building Trust & Understanding

Our approach is rooted in trust. We work closely with clients to explain how emotional security impacts all areas of life—physical, digital, and reputational. By building emotional resilience, we help you navigate risks more effectively.

Join Us on This Journey

At UMBRA, we’re not just about security but about thriving. Our Emotional Security pillar is here to support your journey. Whether through personalised therapy programs or community connections, we’re dedicated to your resilience and overall well-being.

If you’re ready to explore Emotional Security and enhance your lifestyle, reach out to us. Our Head of Emotional Security is eager to connect and guide you.

From all of us at UMBRA, we wish you strength and resilience on your path to emotional security. Let’s thrive together!

Mental Health Awareness Week

Written by Jenna Jones on . Posted in Latest, Lifestyle, Partner Blogs, Wellbeing.

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual UK wide campaign to tackle stigma and help people understand and prioritise mental health. Running from 13th-19th May, this year’s theme is ‘Movement: moving more for our mental health’.

The dedicated week allows us to raise awareness about the importance of exercise and movement and its association to our mental health. Moving more can increase your energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost your self-esteem.

Regular physical activity is known to improve mental health, quality of life, and wellbeing. It also helps prevent and treat heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and breast and colon cancer, and more. Despite these benefits being well established, over a third of UK adults do not meet the recommended amount of activity.

If you’d like to improve your mental health by moving more, here are some tips to help you get started. For further information, click here.

Here at BBB, we also have some amazing Health & Wellbeing Partners whose expertise can help with movement and exercise, with each specialising in their niche…

Hooke Fitness- move your body & optimise your health/longevity 

Mirella Fitness – PT- move your body and nutritional plans

Hagan & Papin – PT

Faye Reason- Energy Worker & Healer – move your energy 

Register for BBB Membership here to connect to any of these incredible Partners.

Stress Awareness Month #LittleByLittle

Written by Jenna Jones on . Posted in Latest, Wellbeing.

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April in the UK since 1992 to increase public awareness on both the causes and cures for the modern stress epidemic. The last few years have been the most challenging, and since 2020 many people have been struggling with their mental health. In fact, employee stress around the world remains at a historic high. Beyond the immediate mental health concerns, stress can also lead individuals towards unhealthy coping mechanisms such as increased alcohol consumption, poor dietary habits, or smoking.

Recognising the toll that information overload takes on our wellbeing, the #LittleByLittle Campaign emphasises the importance of simple, manageable changes that seamlessly integrate into daily routines. By fostering open conversations and raising awareness, the aim is to create a supportive environment where everyone can prioritise their mental wellbeing, one small step at a time. The #LittleByLittle campaign encourages individuals to integrate manageable adjustments into their daily routines. This could be as simple as ensuring you take a walk during your lunch break, doing 10 minutes of stretching each day, or spending time listening to music you love. These small actions each day can be mental, emotional, or physical, as long as they serve as small building blocks in order to foster good mental health, according to the Stress Management Society.

For further information on Stress Awareness Month and the #LittleByLittle campaign, click here.

Inspiration for an Active January and Beyond

Written by Jenna Jones on . Posted in Food, Latest, Lifestyle, Partner Blogs, Wellbeing.

By Tim Colston – Tenth Avenue Leisure

It’s common for people to let their fitness routines slip during the holiday season, with all the additional stress, social obligations, and tempting treats that come with it. However, it’s important to remember that maintaining a good level of physical fitness can have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Here are some tips for an active January and beyond…

  1. Set achievable goals: it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve in terms of your fitness routine. Consider setting achievable goals such as walking for 30 minutes a day or doing a short home workout twice a week.
  2. Stay active: even if you can’t make it to the gym, there are plenty of ways to stay active. Consider going for a walk or a hike, participating in a fun outdoor activity or doing a workout at home using bodyweight exercises or home gym equipment.
  3. Incorporate physical activity into your plans. For example, you could go for a walk or bike ride with family or friends, or plan an active outing such as skiing or snowboarding.
  4. Don’t overdo it: it’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or tired, it’s okay to take a break and rest.
  5. Make healthy lifestyle choices: in addition to staying active, it’s important to make healthy lifestyle choices to support your overall fitness and well-being. This can include eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and managing stress through techniques such as relaxation or mindfulness.
  6. Stay motivated: it can be easy to lose motivation in the cold and dreary winter months. To stay motivated, try to find activities that you enjoy, set small, achievable goals, and track your progress. You could also consider enlisting the help of a friend or family member to hold you accountable and provide support.

Remember, the most important thing is to find an approach to fitness that works for you and that you can maintain over the long term. It’s more than okay to have a few indulgences, but by prioritising your health and well-being, you’ll be able to enjoy those treats while still maintaining your fitness.

So here are a few fitness products, innovative and traditional that can help you in 2023

Tech

Myzone is an accurate fitness tracker and online social platform that rewards effort for all physical activity, helping more people around the world to feel good about exercise.

Myzone – https://www.myzone.org

Weights

No Cost Option

Exercising doesn’t need to be expensive! Body weight exercises such as press ups, pull-ups and squats are the quickest and easiest exercises to perform. You don’t need a gym just the floor you are standing on.

Low Cost Option £200 – £500

A pair of trainers, TRX and some adjustable dumbbells

Mid-Range Option £2000

Electromagnetic weights are the products for 2023 and Vitruvian is leading the way. On one compact platform, you can perform all the weight exercises you need to.

It’s a real gym, generating resistance from 0-440lb (200kg) of digital weight. How? The platform uses artificial intelligence to adjust the weight to you in real-time, giving you the optimal workout.

Vitruvian – https://vitruvianform.com/en-gb

Top-End Option £10,000

EMS. EMS stands for Electric Muscle Stimulation and it has been widely used in physiotherapy for decades with great results. Its rapidly expanding use as a Whole Body Training method provides the perfect combination of highly effective strength and cardio training.

The user puts on a suit (shorts and vest) and works alongside a personal trainer for a short 20-minute workout. The suit enhances the workout by stimulating the muscles. Boutique studios are opening up in the UK but it is a product that can also be used at home.

EMS – www.xbodyworld.com

Tenth Avenue can help BBB Members purchase any fitness equipment or accessories at special rates. To become a Member of BBB click here.