Welcome to Women’s Health
Remember shopping for your school uniform? When the specific style of pleat on your skirt was of the utmost importance and the new pencil case excitement was off the charts? I’m talking, of course, about that back-toschool feeling; the kind that lingers long after your school days, when the summer draws to a close and brains return to desks feeling fresher than before. That feeling is all the more potent for me this year, with the prospect of returning to our London office – and in-person meetings with my brilliant team – on the cards in the autumn. And with the distractions of summer now behind us, I suspect some of you will be plotting your return to another building you haven’t spent much time in these past 18 months.
Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know that I’m dedicated to my fitness routine, so it might surprise you to learn that I haven’t returned to the gym since they reopened in April this year. It’s partly because I haven’t felt comfortable enough to exercise around other people, but my reticence is about more than my health. The most recent lockdown really knocked my confidence in my appearance, and I’m worried that my fellow gym-goers will judge me negatively. Such fears might be unfounded, but as the person at the helm of a health brand that champions body confidence, I know all too well that this doesn’t make them any less real.
Thankfully, help is at hand in the form of one of the most compassionate women I know – who also happens to be a personal trainer. This week, I’ll be back on the gym floor at Third Space, in London’s Soho, with this month’s cover star – and my good friend – Alice Liveing. That I have access to the expertise of a PT who understands the myriad fears and frustrations that can keep women from training is a privilege that isn’t lost on me. Which is why I’m thrilled to tell you about the launch of her brand new app, Give Me Strength. Alongside holistic health advice on everything from periods to meditation, you’ll find workouts – one of which Alice has shared with Women’s Health readers to help ease you into your own return to the gym floor. This is Alice’s fourth Women’s Health cover and there’s no one who deserves it more; she’s humble, authentic and one of the loveliest people on the planet. Read how the pandemic changed her by turning to page 26.
Speaking of Covid, among the many aspects of our lives that it’s transformed is our collective approach to sex. Regardless of how much of it you were having (or not) over the lockdowns, this summer has been dubbed ‘the summer of love’. That’s why, this month, we’re bringing you an entire issue dedicated to the subject. From a report on the fascinating new research on self-pleasure as pain-relief to a sexual wellness forecast (AI sex therapists, included), I hope you’ll find plenty of tools to add to your holistic health toolkit. As always, enjoy the issue.
Until next month...