Do You Speak Wellness?

Flummoxed by the bizarre chat from the clean-living brigade down at the gym? We’ve decoded the health speak so you can sort your sorghum from your slackline.

- Busola Evans

Just as you got your head round the difference between Bikram and Vinyasa, suddenly everyone’s banging on about the benefits of Nauli—and you’re pretty sure they don’t mean the hot new trainer in your gym. But in a world where every month sees a new super-grain sprout up, and workout trends move faster than

Usain Bolt, keeping up with the wellness talk can be tough. Luckily, we’ve compiled a handy guide to the new buzzwords—and exactly how to use them. You can thank us later!

Algae Fats

WHAT IT MEANS

Okay, so this isn’t the green slime you’d find in your parents’ garden pond. But its oil contains DHA, which accounts for 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. And they reduce inflammation and help reduce the risk of chronic illness like heart diseases, cancer, and arthritis. Note: take it as a supplement, and don’t buy it from your local garden centre.

BLUFF IT ‘Oh, you’re still taking fish oil? Aww! I keep my joints in shape with algae.’

Animal Flow

WHAT IT MEANS

Bodyweight training where you mimic primal animal movements—think more scorpion than sausage-dog. Effective at fat burning and top-to-toe toning.

BLUFF IT ‘My crab crawl is coming along a treat.’

Barrefusion

WHAT IT MEANS

The wellness brigade love a hybrid workout, and this combines three classics: yoga, Pilates, and ballet. Its fitness benefits include strengthening your core, building lean muscle and increasing your heart rate. Leotards at the ready.

BLUFF IT ‘I hit the barre last night—and I don’t mean Social.’

Cactus Water

WHAT IT MEANS