Aggie MacKenzie’s 5 simple movements for a healthier lifestyle
Two years ago, after taking a tough 18-month yoga teacher training course, How Clean is Your House star and Celebrity Masterchef contestant Aggie MacKenzie swapped her life as a TV star for the rewarding role of a yoga teacher.
Now, the fabulous presenter and former head of the Good Housekeeping Institute is gettign ready to host two relaxing yoga retreats in Tuscany which are exclusive to GH readers.
Ahead of the healthy getaways in May, Aggie, who studied anatomy, physiology, meditation and Sanskrit during her training course, has given us her top tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle however busy life gets.
As she knows only too well, it's easy to fall into the habits of bad posture, rushed breathing and tense shoulders when we're occupied with the stressful goings on of everyday life.
BOOK ONE OF THE LAST SPOTS ON AGGIE'S RETREAT
To help you reset your mind and body, here are Aggie's top five movements you can start practicing today.
Breathing
"When we feel stressed, or in a rush, we tend to breathe only into our chests," says Aggie. "This raises the heart rate and blood pressure. To keep calm, you should fill your diaphragm with a deep inhalation, and release the air with a long exhalation.
"It’s best to do this all through your nose, but breathing out through the mouth can also be relaxing."
Relaxed neck
Aggie says many people tend to get a stiff neck: "You’ll feel it when you’re cycling and turning to check the roads, or checking your mirrors and reversing while driving. Try, a few times throughout the day, to shift your head from side to side, up and down, to keep your muscles pliable."
Foot work
"Our feet take a lot of weight and pressure - they hold us up," explains Aggie. "But what love do they get? There are 26 bones in the foot and they need care. When you’re relaxing in front of the TV, take your socks off and massage your feet, separating each toe. This will help to keep your joints loose, especially beneficial if you have arthritis."
Finding balance
Particularly for older people, balance is so important, she says. "When you’re standing at the stove stirring a pot or at the bus stop, waiting, stand on one leg. If you press one foot deeper into the ground and engage your tummy, you’ll find your balance really improves. Plus, this takes no extra time out of your day - all you need is to remember to do it!"
As an extra tip, Aggie advises making sure there’s a softness in your knees when standing. "Blokes tend to hyper extend through the backs of their knees, which puts strain on the lower back. Drop your tailbone to your heels to protect your lower back!"
Rested shoulders
"We hold a lot of tension in our shoulders, often from working at the computer or at a desk. Our default posture is to have rounded shoulders and a little pot belly. What you need to do is widen your collar bones, pull your shoulders back and down, releasing stiffness, lift your chest and lightly engage your lower tummy. This will help you to stand tall and will do wonders for your spine."
There'll be more tips from Aggie on how to relieve your mind and body from the stresses of daily life during her spring retreat.
On what she's most looking forward to experiencing on the four-day escape, the celebrity yogi says she can't wait to be outside: "I love doing early morning outdoor yoga, just as the sun comes out before it gets hot. There’s something about breathing fresh air that makes you feel alive.
"I’m also looking forward to feeling part of the group, having time together to connect through yoga, and chatting about each other’s lives. I’d love to hear people’s stories and I’m happy to share mine."
And she promises to keep you on your toes: "Your mind wanders if it’s too familiar. I guess my style is playful. Classes need to be fun!"
“I make sure that anyone who leaves my class feels they’ve achieved something. It’s so important that these sessions are a positive, enabling experience.”
Fancy joining Aggie in the Tuscan sunshine this spring? Our first departure has sold out but you can grab one of the last remaining spots on our 6th May retreat.
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