Breathe

Are you oversharing?

In the print edition of Breathe special issue The Power of Less, one feature was published in an incomplete form. We regret this error and apologise for any inconvenience caused. To ensure readers can access the full content as intended, we have made the corrected and complete version of the article available as a PDF. …

Read moreAre you oversharing?

Lift smart

Lift smart, stay strong

Love, laugh… and lift safely is (or should be) the mantra for a healthy life. There are many things they might teach at school – personal finance, changing a tyre, negotiation skills – but something that arguably would be more useful than doing cross-country on a rainy day is learning the proper way to lift. …

Read moreLift smart, stay strong

Cadence of creativity

Cadence of creativity

Even unzipping the case of a 1960s Olivetti Lettera 22 typewriter sends a thrill through the body. Cup of tea on the desk, thesaurus and a childhood dictionary placed neatly alongside, and an intention that here is the time to create. Rolling the paper into the machine, the first line is slowly pondered and, as …

Read moreCadence of creativity

Sense the difference

Sense the difference

Have you ever been captivated by a beautifully plated dish of food, only for your first bite to reveal it was more style than substance? Or maybe you’ve turned your nose up at a lumpy, unremarkable stew but then been won over by its depth of flavour. If so, you’re not alone. Sight shapes a …

Read moreSense the difference

To hug or not to hug

To hug or not to hug?

Are you a hugger? For some people, hugging comes so naturally that they’re happy to throw their arms around complete strangers in a warm greeting or envelop their loved ones in a strong, lingering bear hug. Others might only feel comfortable hugging loved ones and dislike similar physical contact with colleagues or acquaintances. And there …

Read moreTo hug or not to hug?

Mindfulness - Means of connection-square

Means of connection

The word ‘community’ conjures many images. Maybe it’s running the tombola at a bustling fair or sitting in a cosy living room, dissecting the latest novel at a book club. It could also be smaller, more everyday things – chatting to your neighbour as you take out the rubbish or smiling at the dog-walker you …

Read moreMeans of connection

Creativity - Dream scenario-square

Dream scenario

Unexpected, strange, delightful – the stories and characters of dreams have long provided inspiration for novelists, film-makers, artists and poets. But this well of ideas and insight might seem out of reach for the layperson, particularly those who don’t recall their dreams regularly, even though it’s something every single person does every single night. And …

Read moreDream scenario

Wellbeing - Into the dark-square

Into the dark

Have you ever been for a walk on a dark night or pitch-black morning and been struck by the beauty and depth of a winter sky? Or been wrapped up under the duvet after a tough day to be embraced by the quiet stillness? Perhaps you’ve meditated by candlelight and found a new level of …

Read moreInto the dark

Paws and reflect

Paws and reflect

It’s 8am in Querétaro, Central Mexico, and I’m following a miniature schnauzer as she charts a course through the city with her nose. We’ve chased pigeons in the plaza, disrupted the line of nuns filing into the Convento de la Santa Cruz and trekked as far as the mirador with its view of the aqueduct …

Read morePaws and reflect

The joy of anonymity

The joy of anonymity

A leisurely browse of the sunglasses, a spritz of Jo Malone’s latest scent, I even consider buying a giant Toblerone, just for the fun of it. Breezing around London Gatwick’s north terminal on a quiet Monday afternoon, I’m in my element. It’s the most relaxed I’ve been in months. Far from being bored or lonely, …

Read moreThe joy of anonymity