Latest news with #WellFest
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Survey details shock attitude shift in 18-24 year olds when it comes to health
A survey has identified a huge shift in attitudes towards health and fitness among those within the 18-24 age group. Gym chain FLYEFit carried out the poll ahead of the recent WellFest weekend at Royal Hospital Kilmainham - and they found that a whopping 92 percent of respondents in that key demographic preferred early morning exercise over a late-night out partying. And 93 percent of people would choose to cut out partying for an entire month rather than giving up the gym. The results suggest that Ireland's fitness culture is thriving, with people prioritising health and wellbeing over late-night escapades. This was the headline response to the survey, which also asked what people wanted to gain from their gym experience. As far as motivations go, 58 percent of respondents go to the gym primarily to get stronger, followed by 26 percent who focus on improving their mental health. When it comes to trends, it's no surprise that HYROX features high up on people's wishlists. But while 55 percent of those quizzed would love to take part in a HYROX competition, only 4 percent have actually done one, showing a clear gap between interest and participation. Another favourite workout is reformer pilates, with 38 percent of respondents expressing an eagerness to try out the popular routine. FLYEFit also probed people on gym etiquette - and found that there are a few behaviours that gym-goers just can't stand. Hogging a machine while on the phone is top of the charts, with 32 percent of respondents describing that as their number one annoyance. If you are going for a new PB on the bench press, try to keep the noises to a minimum, as 22 percent of people don't like fellow gym-users yelling or grunting while lifting weights. One respondent even called out the barefoot gymgoers who ditch their shoes for everything except squats or deadlifts. Another topic in this wide-ranging survey was favourite gym jams. For workout music, 36 percent of people say they listen to pop hits the most in the gym, proving that upbeat, catchy tunes are the perfect companion to any workout session. Surprisingly, the findings also show that many people listen to sad music in the gym, as it helps them to tap into their emotional side and fuel their energy. Something Fitter Happier has been increasingly turning to for workout inspiration and new ideas is the world of fitness influencers. The right workout suggestion or tip can really freshen up your outlook. It turns out that 43 percent of people surveyed are also turning to influencers for their workout inspiration. Whether it's TikTok dance challenges or Instagram fitness hacks, social media is undeniably shaping how we get our fitness fixes. Participants were also asked who their favourite Irish celebrity gym partner would be. The winner by a long shot is Paul Mescal, which is hardly surprising given the work he put in to get into shape for his role in Gladiator. For more information, visit
Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Emily English: SkinnyTok takes us back to Noughties era of diets
Emily English, the nutritionist and author who found fame on social media during the pandemic, has spoken out against the rise of 'SkinnyTok', describing it as a return to the ultra-restrictive diet culture of the Noughties. The 29-year-old Londoner, who is better known to her 1.8 million Instagram followers as @emthenutritionist, has become an internet sensation among women in their late twenties and thirties. Her videos of recipes-for-two — featuring dishes such as katsu curry, butterbean hummus, healthy carbonara and a spicy tuna melt — have also attracted a celebrity following from the likes of Millie Mackintosh, Perrie Edwards and Michelle Keegan. In an interview with The Sunday Times, English, who is in Dublin this weekend to host a cooking demonstration at WellFest, discussed the
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Easy ways to boost your mood throughout the week
We could all do with a bit more wellbeing. Starting the week should be energising and uplifting, but the reality is that feeling good on a Monday can be out of reach sometimes. From work anxiety, the pressures of parenting or caring, anguish over world events or just a plain old funk, there's a lot that can weigh on you. Finding ways to invigorate yourself is important. Wellness is often linked to how many matching yoga sets you can buy or how long you can devote to making the perfect matcha and while those are lovely treats to give yourself, there are many small but powerful switches you can add into your day or week for free that have the power to boost your mood and calm your nerves. WellFest, Dublin's fabulous wellness and fitness festival, descended on the beautiful grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham once again this weekend, bringing with it a veritable tidal wave of energy, positivity and activity. I was invited to check it out, and I busied myself speaking to as many experts as I could about bottling that passion and taking it home with me. Here are four takeaways from some of Ireland's leading figures in health, wellness and fitness. Jenny Keane, holistic sex educator: Ask yourself these three questions. "For me, I really believe wellness is not a destination that we get to but is a state that is always moving, so that means that we don't aim to feel good and then we arrive at feeling good forever. It is a normal part of the human experience to be able to swing between states of connection and disconnection, back to connection again, to move between states of joy and sorrow and exhaustion and overwhelm and back to energy again. "It's that swing that allows us to experience, I suppose, the humanness of what life is, right? All of the emotions, all of the experiences. "So when it comes to introducing a wellness practice, I don't believe that it should look [like] the same thing each time. I believe that it's learning how to ask three simple questions often and frequently, over and over and over again. "Those questions would be: How do I feel? What do I need? Can I give it to myself? "Because then it looks like you understand whether one day you wake up and you need something like a high intensity, dynamic cardio class, or another time you might realise that what you need is a really gentle, slow yin yoga class, maybe with candle lights. Jennifer Rock, The Skin Nerd: Treat your skin as you would treat yourself. "There's a direct correlation between how you look after your skin and how you feel in yourself. I'm going to assume that everyone cleanses and [uses] SPF because that's essentially cleaning the organ that is the skin and protecting it. "The key ingredients are ascorbic acid, which is the pure form of vitamin C, it helps with colour, collagen, clarity and also is really protecting against the sun. And then retinoid. Retinoids are really the gold standard for truly helping repair the skin at a cellular level. "Honestly, it can be so easy: it's cleanse, vitamin C, a bit of vitamin A and an SPF. "After about three to six months, start taking photographs on day one, you will see the difference and you will feel the better for it. Dave and Stephen Flynn, The Happy Pear: Laughter, joy and friendship are superfoods. Dave: "One thing I'd recommend someone do to improve their mental health and wellbeing, is do something they love, something that's well, is good for their health, but is something they love, because if you love something, it could be more sustainable. "It could be dancing, it could be gardening, it could be painting, it could be going to pet a cat, someone's cat or mind a kid for an hour! [Stephen: "That sounds a bit weird."] It's just to do something that you love and make time for it because time passes quickly and you need to be intentional about what you spend it [on]." Stephen: "I think a really important thing that someone can add to their wellness routine, to their daily life is laughter and joy. We're caught up in a society where wellness can be so righteous and so perfect, whereas I think we're all flawed humans, and I think embracing our flaws and having a laugh, I think these are real superfoods: laughter and joy and friendship."
Extra.ie
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
GAA stars to swap pitch for festival stage this weekend
Limerick hurler Tom Morrissey and Galway camogie player Niamh Mallon will swap the pitch for a festival stage this weekend. They will be teaming up with Solgar to put attendees through their paces at WellFest. The two-day festival is taking place at the IMMA at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, on May 10 and 11. Galway camogie player and Solgar brand ambassador Niamh Mallon. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Festival-goers will have the chance to meet the stars, explore the secrets behind their training regimes and take part in interactive GAA skill challenges. The coveted Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire cups will also feature at a specially designed 360-degree Croke Park-themed photo booth. Limerick hurler Tom Morrissey and Solgar brand ambassador. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Earlier this year, Solgar announced a three-year partnership with the GAA and GPA. It is now the official vitamin partner for both associations. Team Solgar will be completed by performance nutritionist and gymnastics coach Nicole Shaw who will be on-site throughout the festival offering expert advice on nutrition, performance and wellness.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Our weekend is Europe's largest celebration' – Major Dublin festival unveils FREE tickets but there's a catch
WELLFEST is returning this May - and festivalgoers can bring children under 12 for free. The festival kicks off at Advertisement 5 WellFest is kicking off in May Credit: Marc O'Sullivan 5 I will spread across 15 areas and stages Credit: Marc O'Sullivan Europe's largest outdoor health, It will host the Kardashian's longtime personal trainer DB DONAMATRIX, The line-up also includes Ella Mills known as Deliciously Ella, Author and inspirational speaker Katie Piper will share her inspiring journey of resilience, empowerment and the transformative power of self-love and confidence. Advertisement READ MORE ON HEALTH Other speakers include Paralympic gold medalist Ellen Keane, hormone health coach Rebecca Holland, Wellness advocates Gerry and Miriam Hussey. Foodies can hear from Em the Nutritionist, Cork-based chef Trisha Lewis, gut health expert Ciara Turley, Irish food writer Dee Laffan, TV chef Erica Drum Dublin dumpling guru Janet Liu and New York bagel queen and Dublin micro-bakery founder Kieran Clifford of Fat Baby Bakes. Other highlights include plant-powered chefs Conor Spacey, Christina Soteriou, and The Happy Pear, as well as Han Song Kim of Korean kitchen JARU and Alistair Jeje of Afro-Caribbean fusion Socafro Kitchen, among many more foodie favourites. Punters can look forward to masterclasses in fitness, pilates, yoga, mindfulness, healthy food with over 150 world-class speakers. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Live Blog Breaking Live Blog And the family-friendly event will also feature fun kids activities such as gymnastics, family line dances, and even baby raves. Children under 12 can attend the festival for free with an accompanying adult ticket holder. I'm a personal trainer - these 5 at-home core slider exercises mimic reformer Pilates (1) Sarah King said: 'This ninth chapter of WellFest promises to be our most exciting year yet, with thousands of festival-goers expected to join us over the two-day outdoor festival, and we are launching our first-ever Run Club this year. 'WellFest brings the energy of an outdoor summer music Advertisement 'Our weekend is Europe's largest annual celebration of health, fitness and wellbeing with over 150 world-class speakers, high-energy fitness classes, expert-led discussions, cooking demos and so much more across 15 areas and stages. 'Think festival vibes but without the late nights!' A fresh addition to this year's festival is WellFest's inaugural Run Club, hosted by Irish 800m Olympic athlete Nadia Power and Aoibhinn Raleigh. Irish Life Health will return, in the WellFem area, with a focus on empowering and educational talks featuring the country's leading experts in female health. Advertisement See the full festival line-up at 5 There will be a selection of masterclasses and talks Credit: Marc O'Sullivan 5 The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday Credit: Marc O'Sullivan 5 It will feature over 150 health and fitness experts Credit: Marc O'Sullivan Advertisement
