Newsletter No.1
Welcome to our first Well Curated newsletter. On a monthly basis we’ll be relaying what’s on our wellness radar, chatting with industry experts, and sharing tips to keep you feeling good.
Well Quick Questions
Each month we’ll be asking a guest our Well Quick Questions, first up Well Curated favourite Lucy Williams. Having spent time with Lucy, we know how well informed she is when it comes to wellbeing. Whether it be sleep, skincare, or switching off, we could chat with her for hours about her tried-and-tested routine. Don’t worry, we couldn’t speak to Lucy without asking for some shopping advice.
Photo: Trish Ward
Well Read - a book you’ve enjoyed recently
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingslover. A modern retelling of Dickens’ David Copperfield with a protagonist who is guaranteed to steal your heart.
Well Worn - an item of clothing you wear again and again
Levis 501s. I wear mine on repeat, day and night. I'm dying to get to With Love, Lenny in Los Angeles where they tailor vintage denim to your body for the perfect fit.
Well Nourished - a recipe or restaurant for a great plate of food
At least once a week I make a sort of pesto meets pasta sauce out of avocado, spinach, nuts, seeds, garlic, lemon and olive oil and have it with soba noodles or pasta with peas, feta and cherry tomatoes. It's delicious and creamy, but full of the good stuff.
Well Beautiful - a hair, makeup, or skincare product that makes you feel good
Susanne Kaufmann bath oils, balms and salts are the ultimate luxury for me and make my bathroom feel like an Austrian spa. The Mountain Pine Bath Oil is incredible.
Well Being - a ritual that has kept its place in your routine
Getting outside for a walk every day, rain or shine.
Well Shopped - a second-hand shop for hidden treasures
If I ever want anything for our home, my first stop is Vinterior. All my favourite furniture dealers and sellers are on there, and it makes shopping for vintage and antique really seamless and easy.
Well Fit - a workout that works for you
Pilates pilates pilates. I do reformer with Sophie-Rose at Nobu and mat pilates at home via Fluidform online.
Well Travelled - where is on your wish list
Norway and Ischia are on my hit list this year.
Well Heard - a podcast worth tuning in to
Along with the rest of the world, I'm really interested in gut health and really like the ZOE podcast.
I originally went to see Ada for one of her celebrity-endorsed facials, which, by the way, really worked. Ada is a magician with a Gua Sha, carving out cheek bones I never knew I had. After an initial consultation, it became apparent that she could help with so much more than my complexion. I have suffered with gut health issues for as long as I can remember, it’s something that I have tried to manage through diet modifications, over-the-counter fixes, and the not-so-simple approach of attempting to reduce stress. Ada’s “treat skin from within" approach means she is inquisitive about lifestyle habits and health markers. I told her that I had been lacking in energy and not recovering from illness as well as I used to. Her diagnosis: I wasn’t absorbing enough nutrients from my food, meaning my energy reserves were low and my body couldn’t respond to everything being thrown its way. It sounds obvious now, but I always thought I was eating healthily, and there wasn’t much I could change on that front. It turns out I was wrong; my nutritious quinoa salads weren’t serving me well. This ties in with something I heard Jasmine Hemsley say recently: We are not what we eat, but what we can digest. This couldn’t ring truer for me. Ada’s advice was to eat warm, easy-to-digest foods. When we put cold food or drinks into our body, it has to work harder to absorb nutrients, or, as they say in Chinese medicine, cold, raw food can put out our digestive fire.
Prior to seeing Ada, I lived off yoghurt and fruit, smoothies, grains, raw vegetables, nuts, and seeds, but things have definitely changed. Breakfast has become porridge, stewed fruit, or eggs; for lunch, the easy option is soup (I’m a big fan of Daylesford bone broth if I haven’t got time to make my own); and dinner is something along the lines of casserole or salmon and rice. After just a few days of committing to this plan, my digestion improved, and now it is functioning as it should be. Don’t get me wrong, I have the occasional slip-up, and I feel the effects, but winter has been the best time to switch to a warming diet.
It was not just what I was eating that Ada picked up on; Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at stagnation in the body and aims to get it moving. This stagnation can be caused by a weakened digestive system, too little sleep, too much sugar, emotional stress, a lack of movement, or too much heat or cold in the body. When blood and qi (energy) cannot flow around the body, this can affect liver and kidney function, the menstrual cycle, and much more. Ada began by treating this with acupuncture and cupping. I had never experienced cupping before, and my understanding is that it draws tension out, releasing stagnant qi. Besides regular visits to Ada, there are things I can do at home: take warm baths with magnesium salts, dry my hair before I head outside, and keep my extremities warm with long socks and roll necks. All these things prevent dampness in the body, which can lead to stagnation, bloating, swelling, and a feeling of heaviness. On that note, Ada also suggested staying energised with group exercise classes; absorbing energy from other people is a remarkably effective way to get moving.
What I appreciate most about my visits to Ada is that she treats the body as a whole, and I truly feel as though I’m working towards getting it in the best health possible. If and when I can get a doctor's appointment, they only have the time to address one issue. Ada recognises that all my concerns, big or small, are likely to be connected and treats for the root cause. This is why I believe holistic therapies have their place; the NHS is overwhelmed, and ancient techniques like TCM can help manage or prevent illness. By no means am I suggesting you ignore symptoms that require a doctor; the severity of gut health issues differs from case to case, and I know many people with Colitis or Crohn’s rely on hospitalised care. In my case, I was at a bit of a loss; apart from taking a drug to mask digestive pain, I didn’t know what else I could do. Ada has given me hope for a healthier year ahead. Here are a few things I’ve stocked up on since seeing Ada:
Curated Stays
Each month we’ll be curating all things wellbeing, from treatments to exercise classes. This month we’ve handpicked our favourite feel-good escapes in the UK.
The Net Loft is the latest addition to Atlanta Trevone. This former fisherman’s house has been decked out with a woodburner, a cinema tv room, and private courtyard with a William Holland outdoor bath. Just a stone’s throw from Trevone Sea Pool, Atlanta is the perfect spot for wild swims and coastal walks. Foodies be sure to book into Duchygrub for foraged small plates.
A one-stop shop for wellness, Daylesford Farm and the Bamford Wellness Spa tick all the boxes. Book in for a relaxing massage, yoga class, nutritious lunch, or one of the countless creative workshops on offer. We’re eyeing up wool weaving on 8th February and an illustration masterclass with Ellie Hooi. The Fox at Oddington is our pick of places to stay. The Master’s Room, located in the eaves of this historic 19th-century inn, couldn’t be cosier for a Cotwolds retreat.
If you’re looking for an active break, Another Place, The Lake is surrounded by mountain trails and the lakes and tarns Cumbria is so famed for. With expert guides on hand, you can choose from swimming beneath the stars with coach Colin Hill or joining mountain leader Karen Field for a hike up to Angle Tarn – one of the highest bodies of water in the Lakes – before cooling off with an invigorating wild swim beneath vast skies and the surrounding peaks.
Wildhive in Derbyshire has a whole host of wellbeing activities planned for this year; there are sculpting workshops, sound therapy, and woodland dining. In March, Lucy Peel (BSc Naturopathy / MSc Nutritional Therapy) is hosting a Restorative Retreat that includes 4-nights in one of the woodland treehouses.
What to pack for a weekend away in the UK:
We hope you have enjoyed our first newsletter. Cam & Kate x