So there’s a few ways this stay-at-home business can go. One is that we all eat too much and lay on the floor thinking about all the things we should be doing instead.

The other is that we stay inside but also make inside our new world, bar crawls are now rooms-of-your-house crawls, Friday drinks are FaceTime drinks and exercise will also likely be an inside job.

Which is why we’re all here today. To discuss Gold Coast exercise-based businesses who have taken things online so that we may all stay fit while we have to stay inside.

VIP Lockdown Machine Squad
Run by local legends Machine Life, the online squad is $25 p/w with live daily workouts that can be accessed anytime on your phone or computer, using just your body weight, tips and tricks from the trainers (Jesse and Alyse) and an online community to support you through this time. Trainers help with technique, nutritional guidelines, motivation and accountability so that there’s no slacking off plus you get healthy recipes, live chats, team challenges and tailored workouts for all fitness levels. Join here.

Pilates by Lisa
One Gold Coast gal who has been doing the online thing for quite some time is Lisa, of Pilates by Lisa. Who is offering online pilates classes for all levels of fitness that you can (and should) absolutely get involved in from the comfort of your home with a FREE 10 day trial! Find them here.

Ritual Yoga and Pilates
The ladies at Palmy’s Ritual Yoga & Pilates are in the process of creating an online hub for yoga and pilates classes. They also offer pilates barre classes so you can get that booty all peachy for when we’re allowed outside again. Stay up to date with their progress here.

Currumbin Academy of Performing Arts
Here’s one for the kiddies – CAPA have taken their dances classes online so that’s one way for the little ones to burn some energy. Not to mention they’ll have fun and possibly learn a new skill while they’re at it. Check it out here.

Emily Skye Fitness
No doubt you’ve heard of Emily Skye, she’s been online for a long time now but she offers quite the array of workouts to keep you fit and fabulous. She’s a personal trainer so there’s lots of strength-based workouts, weights and body-weight based exercise. Plenty of variety. Find out more here.

Fluidform Pilates
Full body strength and conditioning is the name of the game at Fluidform Pilates with classes created to have a meaningful and positive impact. Of course, there are all manner of pilates classes on offer and creator Kirsten King is a former Gold Coaster. Get involved here.

We’ll keep updating as we find out about more business moving online but in the meantime, keep moving and take care of yourselves.

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

These days it seems like there’s about 850 things we need to do each day to ensure optimal health mentally, physically and spiritually. Wellness websites tout apple cider vinegar shots, meditating for six hours a day, burning oil to help you sleep (not the cooking kind), all of the things we had never even heard of a few short years ago.

Of course, many of those things can help with your general health and wellbeing, prevention is indeed better than a cure and we absolutely support living your very best life, whatever that means to you but there are important health-related steps you should be taking, we bet you probably aren’t.

Here we are though, to give you a gentle nudge in that direction.

We’re talking about health checks and today in particular, diabetes checks. Now we know what you’re thinking, I’m too young to have a diabetes but YOU’RE NOT friends.

Read on please.

First of all (in case you’re not aware) diabetes is a chronic (long term) condition in which the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood are too high. This can be because the pancreas is not producing enough insulin or there’s a problem with how the body’s cells are responding to it.

The two main types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2 – one of which is insulin dependent (type 1) and of which is not (type 2). Type 1 is more commonly seen in people under 30 years of age and Type 2 in those over 40 (although onset can be earlier) and also, anyone of any age can get either so there’s no real need for that entire paragraph.

The point is you’re not immune.

While we’re obviously not experts on the causes of diabetes, the disease often occurs due to consuming too much sugar which, as we said, can’t be broken down and stays in the system.

Sidenote: sugar can be found in SO MANY foods and often ones you wouldn’t think of so it’s important to be aware of where it’s hiding. That’s a good start.

But it’s equally and/or even more important to have your health checked. Which brings us back to the very-far-away-now introduction to this story.

Health checks. You know where you can get a quick, no fuss, FREE health check? Chempro Chemists that’s where.

Not only a chemist filled with any kind of health, beauty and wellness goodie you could possibly need, Chempro Chemists are a leading health care service provider and the only friendly neighbourhood chemist who offer such a thing.

It’s obviously handy in so many ways. The first of which is convenience, just getting a quick health check when you pick up your next prescription or run out of mascara. The second of which is not having to pay because there are so many other exciting things to spend your cash on in a chemist and the third of which is peace of mind.

Easy as that guys.

So you see, health checks are something we need to do more of, along with preventative health care and also consuming less sugar-filled goodies.

Make your health a priority Gold Coasters, it’s as simple as walking into a Chempro Chemist and asking the question.

Words by Kirra Smith.

STORY SPONSORED BY CHEMPRO CHEMISTS

We’re just a wee three seconds away from 2020, or so it seems with the rapid rate the year has progressed of late. The next couple of months will no doubt pass in a whirlwind of balmy beach days, bikinis and BBQs on the beach in bikinis.

Which is why November is the perfect time to get ourselves prepped and ready for the New Year, new us scenario we’re about to encounter.

Enter Southport Sharks Health + Fitness who have very kindly dubbed November Wellness Month and created some super exciting events for us all to get started on said prepping.

There’ll be workshops, classes and tasting sessions dedicated to yoga, Pilates, mindfulness, meditation and nutrition.

Here’s a few favourites we think you should absolutely sign up for

The Nourish Workshop
Friday 8th November from 6.45pm (1.5 hours)
How can we nourish ourselves? In this workshop, you’ll discuss areas of life that are important to nourish, so you can be the best version of yourself. Keeping the approach simple, find out how you can improve your energy, sleep, digestion and vitality. It’s free for members and $20 for non-members.

Bush Flower Circle Workshop
Thursday 21st November from 5.45pm (2 hours)
Bush flowers are powerful remedies that have been used across our beautiful land for centuries. They work on an energetic and vibrational level to support the underlying emotional causes of disease and illness, thus providing a subtle transformation from the inside out. Whether you need support for repeated patterns in your life, with recent or upcoming changes, Australian Bush Flowers are for everyone. Join the circle and create a personalised remedy to take home. It’s $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

Yoga Retreat
Saturday 16th November from 8.30am (3 hours)
A whole morning of yoga is very good for the soul; movement, breathing, stillness, all of the nourishing things. The day will begin with yang and hatha yoga at 8.30am blending the benefits of passively holding yoga poses with more dynamic sequences and standing postures. That’s followed by a 30 minute massage tutorial including styles of massages, self-massage trigger points, basic stretching and foam roller techniques. Then it’s time for yin yoga and meditation; a meditative practice with deep and long held postures that will revitalise your entire body and balance your meridian system. The day is free for members and $20 for non-members. Sounds good to us.

Bookings for all are essential and they will book out. Contact Sharks Health + Fitness to reserve your spot.

So Gold Coasters, if you’re in the market for some rest and relaxation, a little mindfulness and some tools to ease you into the New Year, Wellness Month is for you.

And we KNOW you’re in the market for all of those things.

LOCATION: Southport Sharks Health + Fitness, Corner Olsen & Musgrave Avenues, Southport

Words by Kirra Smith