SELF EDITION
Editor Phoebe Harper shares her pick of the latest health and wellbeing discoveries The wellness dispatch
Take the plunge
The Cambridge Swimming Company and Jesus Green Lido are collaborating on an NHS study to research if cold-water swimming can be used to treat depression. Swim coach Colin Campbell is leading the eight-week Jesus Green programme, working alongside fellow coach and record-breaking Channel swimmer Sophie Etheridge, in partnership with Better. The OUTSIDE (OUTdoor Swimming as a nature-based Intervention for DEpression) study is the UK’s first official clinical trial exploring the benefits of the activity in adults with depression. Researchers will explore whether swimming sessions at the lido can lead to greater reductions in the severity of depressive symptoms and anxiety up to 38 weeks after trial. If successful, it could become a safe way to treat depression. Sign up now at outside2.co.uk
GLOW UP
A newbie to facials, I was thrilled to visit the Creo clinic in Great Shelford and try the signature Hydrafacial treatment. The premises are intimate and immaculate, conveniently located next to the train station, and upon meeting aesthetic nurse Emily, I know I couldn’t be in safer hands. She talks through the Platinum Hydrafacial package, starting with an in-depth consultation on my skincare routine and goals – essentially, hydration and a healthy glow – though the facial can treat a host of concerns, from evening-out brown spots to nasolabial folds. Despite concerns at the mention of ‘facial peel’ and the whir as Emily starts up the vortex-fusion technology she describes as ‘a kind of carpet cleaner for the face’, the entire process (lasting little over an hour) is very relaxing. The sculpting lymphatic therapy feels almost like a face massage. The most discomfort I feel is a light tingle post-peel, but this means it must be working. Following a deep cleanse and an extraction phase using gentle suction from the carpet cleaner, we enter the hydration phase, where my skin is saturated with intense moisturisers and I settle in for some rejuvenation under an LED lamp for ten minutes. My skin is nourished with a personalised booster – the ‘brightener’ Emily chooses for me to complement the vitamin-C-rich products in my routine. At the end, she shows me the ‘gunkie’ jar, a container that holds what the facial stripped from my face – a mix of makeup, blackheads and the residue of pollution. The results are staggering – I’m amazed by how clear my face looks. Two weeks post-treatment and the glow is yet to fade! Splitting time between Cambridge and Creo’s Harley Street clinic, Emily says a whopping 80% of clients at the latter are on regular Hydrafacial courses after the first go and it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for a summer skincare treat, look no further. Hydrafacial treatments range from £115 for the Signature to £175 for the Platinum. Learn more at creoclinic.com
As a regular attendee of James Downs’ classes, I can strongly vouch for the Cambridge Yoga Project. Sessions provide an addictive combo of motivational speaking, a challenging but empowering practice and an otherworldly finale of live music (by James himself), which is particularly transporting when hosted in St Paul’s Church on Hills Road. As such, the summer event on 13 July is not to be missed with a one-day workshop hosted by James, Andrea K and Amy Holly – a trio of teachers who will guide you through music, rhythm and movement, with breathwork, meditation and exploring the use of live instruments to regulate your nervous system. No experience or even a mat required! yogaproject.co.uk Sound body, sound mind
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