UP, UP AND AWAY

WELCOME

It might have made for a fitting closing

WELLBEING

‘Look closely at the present you are constructing;

Embrace your blank canvas

Starting afresh in life can be overwhelming, but there are tools to make the transition easier

Top of the list

Whether it’s five minutes looking at the sky or half an hour lying on the bed listening to a podcast, try to add at least one soul-nurturing activity to your daily schedule

Inside the filter

Industrious, complicated and always on alert, the kidneys play a crucial role in everyday health. And yoga is one way of acknowledging and embracing their efforts

Soul to soul

By separating trash from treasure, the art of Swedish death cleaning could help you surround yourself with the things that really matter and make life easier for your loved ones when you’ve gone

Rinse, repeat

Could shampoo be doing more harm than good? Read on to discover the widely debated ‘no-poo’ method of cleaning hair and see whether it could work for you

Still the mind

The benefits of meditation are well known but how can you tune out the many distractions both outside and inside your head?

Forward thinking

Whether it’s a funny cat video or a warning about the latest bank scam, it’s all too easy to pass on online messages indiscriminately, unintentionally upsetting those on the receiving end. The good news is that harnessing the psychology of why we share can help to improve our social media connections

Balance in a bowl

Central to Chinese cooking is the importance of achieving a harmony of flavours, textures and colours in every meal. So, if you’re looking for equilibrium in your life, the kitchen might be a good place to start

Chop and (slowly) change

If you have a taste for balanced bites, Jeremy’s recipes will definitely be the yin for your yang

Say that again…

A few well-chosen words can go a long way

Know it all?

Of course not. There’s no reason anyone should. So why are some people flabbergasted if you admit you’ve never heard of, let alone share, their cultural passions?

Style and substance

It might feel momentarily good to be wearing the latest trends, but a less-is-more attitude when it comes to clothes shopping can be both more personally fulfilling and kinder to the planet

Soaring success

After a long history of persecution, the red kite celebrates 30 years since its triumphant reintroduction to the UK’s sky, inspiring the rest of the world to bring back lost birds

Plant life

Easy ways to create your own indoor jungle

Just imagine

How envisaging what we want more of in life can cue the subconscious to lead us in the right direction

MORE OR LESS?

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed or just can’t figure out the steps between where you currently are and where you want to be, you could try this exercise shared by hypnotherapist Sherry Gilbert

Travels with my grief

Many will have an opinion on what is and isn’t appropriate after the death of a loved one, but the reality is different for everyone

Age of acceptance

Could reframing the process of growing older lead to a greater sense of inner peace?

Accentuate the positive

Can having a more optimistic outlook actually affect what happens in your life? Even if you’re a pessimist, changing how you view situations could make you happier

Rue the day

Regret can hit like a punch in the guts, but looked at with a neutral eye, there’s much it can teach us about the past, present and even future

Quietly does it

A contented introvert extols the benefits of stepping back from the social whirl

Saving grace

The turbulent history of India’s Bharatanatyam and what its enduring legacy means for dancers today

Creative cures

Finding opportunities for self-care in art and culture

The space between

In the Japanese art form of sumi-e, the blank sheet is just as important as the strokes that fill it, a clear example of how less can be more

Break with convention

Some novels take their readers in a new direction, either through progressive subject matter or thought-provoking style and form. Here, we look at a few avant-garde examples and their authors who didn’t go by the book

Holy smokes

Smudging is an ancient yet timeless practice. For some it might be spiritual, for others emotional or medicinal, but its potency to reignite the senses and rekindle our relationship with our surroundings recalls our transience – all in a fleeting haze of smoke

Digging up the past

How an ancient pastime can calm your mind and help you shake hands with history

HOW TO GET STARTED

If wallowing around in mud sounds like your thing, here are a few tips on how to explore safely around the Thames. Please check gov.uk for pandemic restrictions. For other sites around the UK and worldwide, see local guidelines

Places in the heart

Fantasy holiday destinations are often presented as sandy beaches, turquoise seas and luxurious hotels, but some of the most memorable trips are those inspired by long-held personal dreams

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Down by the river

It’s no exaggeration to say that without the life-giving waterways that are rivers, the world would not exist as it does. But, while they provide practical elements that are crucial for survival, they can also be truly beneficial to wellbeing and offer wonderful settings for moments of mindfulness

Megalithic magic

Mysterious prehistoric stone monuments are dotted around the world, capturing the imagination and arousing the curiosity of modern antiquarians and sightseers alike

Time to drop authenticity?

Why it’s practically impossible to be your true self