Based in the Northwest of England and founded in 2018 by brothers Reece and Ryan Broadhurst, ARNE has experienced significant growth in the last four years and boasts an impressive fan base amongst celebrity footballers such as Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Raheem Sterling, and Steven Gerrard. ARNE caters for both men and women and categories include Activewear, Outerwear, Smartwear, Denim, Loungewear and Footwear.

Built around creating high quality, durable, timeless, and minimalistic pieces with an extremely considered fit, ARNE has incorporated versatility into is designs across its collections to ensure all pieces are wearable and interchangeable and can easily be styled up and down.

ARNE introduces new lines to their Men’s and Women’s Down Collection, including new Parkas, Bombers, and Puffer Jackets; all made from ethically sourced, genuine down insulation. Their famed Footwear range uses Italian leather and suedes to craft elegant and athletic designs such as sport-inspired Runners, Slides, and Racers; each one of ARNE’s Footwear style goes through at least 12 months of product development to ensure the shape, quality and construction of every single pair is exactly on par with ARNE standards.

ARNE as a brand was created around slim-fit clothing and tapered pants but has since included a relaxed fit collection, done the ARNE way. The Relax collection is accessible in its fit and minimalistic design, making every piece so wearable and interchangeable. Designed with a unisex style in mind, it is a simple silhouette, in an extremely considered fit, but a little more oversized.

From Egyptian Cotton Knitwear to Chino Tailored Trousers that can easily be styled up or down, the range has been created to make you look good and feel amazing in work or when saved for the weekend. This season, the weight of their knitted garments has been increased for extra thickness and extra warmth to make the perfect layering pieces, whilst ensuring every piece is made to last beyond the season.

Launched two years ago, the footwear range is their most varied range to date. Crafted from genuine Italian leathers and suedes, with all our production coming out of Portugal. From more elegant styles that lean towards a smarter full look, to sport inspired runners that have the option of being styled a little more casually. They obsess over the shape, quality, and construction of every single pair. At least 12 months of product development minimum has become the norm to make sure we create exactly what we set out to achieve.

Words By Christophe Champs, founder of PODO Clinic and Workshop

Prevention is always a sensible strategy. We treat the wood of a garden shed or summer house to avoid rain damage, and we service a car to keep it in good running order, but what do we do to prevent (or at least minimise) damage to our bodies? We rely on our body throughout our entire lives, there are relatively few bits of it we can replace (we certainly can’t just get a new one), and our independence and freedom depend on our body’s overall condition. If your car benefits from a regular MOT, surely your body would too.

So, what do you need to look at to make sure your body is able to work well and avoid injury? 

Where to go

A good place to start is with an expert in biomechanics as they can take an overall look at your structure, your posture, and your movement. From there, they can recommend what sort of treatment plan you will need and/or what other type of expert may be best for your personal circumstances.  For example, you may need orthotics and then an exercise plan with a trainer, or regular physiotherapy or IDD (Intervertebral Differential Dynamics) Therapy, or perhaps Pilates or yoga might be best for you, or cranial osteopathy. There are lots of options and by getting your body assessed you can then focus your treatment with the correct professional.

What to expect

A body MOT should focus on your main concern(s) with an expert to understand your physiopathology or how you went from a healthy state to a pathologic one. Once a problem is understood, it is on its way to being sorted. You will also benefit from having a professional identifying any bad habits and they can also dispel any myths you may have been told. Finally, you must have a proper treatment plan established, with progress points to track, and a person to talk to when you have any questions or are feeling demotivated.

Why have a Body MOT?

Rather than opting for self-medication when experiencing any symptom, a body MOT will help you adopt a clinical and logical approach, guided by a medical practitioner with a better expertise and experience than the world-wide-web.

Every clinic has its own philosophy and therapeutic arsenal. At PODO for example, we work from—and on—the feet (the body anchor and a quarter of the skeleton) up to the neck. Looking at the entire body while referring you to other techniques and therapies when needed. Communication with patients and referrers is ongoing to make sure the patient understands how their body can work better and is able to take steps to get there.

Everyone can benefit from a body MOT because preventive measures, compared to curative ones, make patients save time, pain, and money. Plus, by investing in your health to make your body work better you will likely also improve your quality of life and treat yourself to a brighter future. 

Many people already opt for at-home or in-clinic blood tests, a preventive health screening to gain actionable insights into their current health status. It is not necessary to have any symptom or to be a hypochondriac to start taking control of your health. Blood tests and mechanical tests are equally important if you want to live better and hopefully longer.

What kind of solutions/ treatments come out of a body MOT?

Surgery-free—also known as ‘conservative’—solutions/treatments (for example, orthotics, manual therapies, physical therapies, coaching) are the most common approach and it is unlikely that any radical treatment involving blades and needles will be recommended at this stage.

For example, at PODO, we work on orthotics because they can address both sides of your body independently, but also because they can be adjusted or replaced over and over as your body changes, something that you can’t do with the joints inside your body.

Orthotics can be used for anything from a short time to permanently (depending on the patients and their goals), but bad habits must be changed and not allowed to reappear if you want to age more healthily and keep active and pain-free for longer.

Alignment, balance, and posture are the three axes your biomechanics consultant can improve for you with a pair of custom orthotics. Osteopaths and Chiropractors also work on the axis of your body, the skeleton if you prefer, through manual therapies. Once the bones are realigned, the muscles imbalances are reduced and can be addressed with your physiotherapist and trainer using various manual, physical, or alternative therapies. 

Where are the limits of a body MOT?

This depends on the initial expectations, and whether you need to focus on structural or postural factors.

Your structural factors can’t be changed. You’ve got to work around them. The skeleton and its 224 bones are connected by the ligaments. The elasticity of your ligaments will define whether you are stiff, mobile, hypermobile, or somewhere in between.

Postural factors are the ones that can be changed. From an untracking kneecap or foot overpronation to anterior pelvic tilt, obesity, or poor flexibility, your practitioner will ask you to make changes to your lifestyle and general diet. These will help to solve the issues and ensure long term health.

It is important to remember that our bodies are not fixed, they change over time, and these changes influence the health of our body and our movements. It is always advisable to team up with an expert to get help making any changes required to improve in your life. There is always a good reason to make your body work better.

Autumn and winter are both very sociable seasons; Christmas, and New Year’s Eve follow each other rapidly in a series ofsensational soirees! When we’re guests at these types of events, it can be easy to overlook the effort, time, and considerationnecessary to throw a successful party or gathering. Hosts, on the other hand, know all too well…

If you’re organising a party and feel a little nervous about guaranteeing every aspect a success, keep reading! Here’s our ultimate guide to stress-free hosting.

Plan as far in advance as possible

This might sound like an obvious tip, but you’d be surprised by how many hosts are guilty of putting important arrangements off and off and off until the event is right around the corner. Don’t make this mistake! To ensure a stressless, impressive party, get all your ducks lined up as soon as possible.

This piece of advice might be too little too late if your party is within the next couple of weeks or months but do what you can as soon as you can. You’ll thank yourself later.

Include thoughtful details in your decorations

Anyone can decorate a room for a party, but only a talented host knows how to incorporate thoughtful details within those decorations. Generally, your décor choices will depend on whether your party is for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or New Year but the little touches you might want to add don’t necessarily need to follow a theme.

You could have quotes from your guests’ favourite movies taped to the walls or on the tables, flower mugs relevant to people’s best-loved blossoms, and cupcake toppers based on special memories or occasions. The details aren’t the details, the details are the décor!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Just because you’re the host and the party venue is your house (or another space arranged by you) doesn’t mean that every single responsibility falls within your remit. If you’re struggling to get certain aspects in order, such as decorations, food, or activities, ask the people around you for support.

According to recent research, many people find that party planning is more stressful than work deadlines, being late, and school runs. While that doesn’t mean it isn’t rewarding at the same time, it does mean you shouldn’t be afraid to request help. Perhaps you know someone who runs a catering business, or a friend of a friend who works in a balloon shop? Just make sure you extend the invite to the person helping!

Goodie bags

Party guests love party favours, so consider pushing the boat out by organising for your guests to walk away with goodie bags. ƒhallIf the event is celebrating Christmas, the party bags could contain mini chocolates, a gingerbread man, wine, and a personal bauble. Be creative and think outside the box.

Cater for different dietary requirements

If there’s going to be food at your gathering, be mindful of everyone’s individual tastes, preferences, and dietary requirements. For example, will there be anyone there who’s committed to a vegetarian lifestyle? Seeing as there are currently 7.2 million people following a meat-free diet in the UK, this could be quite likely.

When you send out your invites, ask people if they have any specific food requests. You wouldn’t be the hostess with the mostest if the only food available contains meat and dairy products when a large portion of your guests are vegan, for example. Make sure there are options available for a variety of tastes.

Budget carefully

A good host always sets out to impress guests and give everyone a night to remember, but please don’t put yourself in a sticky financial situation just to do that! Organising a party is stressful enough without the added weight of money worries, so be mindful and spend within your means.

Whether your budget is £100 or £1,000, you’d be surprised at how much you can achieve with some careful consideration and planning. To establish your budget, decide the total cost you’re willing to spend before splitting that into categories, such as food and drink, entertainment, and venue.

Arrange group entertainment and games

Parties are fantastic for talking, dancing, eating, and drinking, but they can also be so much more than that. As an icebreaker, or a way to ensure that the night doesn’t fall stagnant, have some activities or games in your back pocket.

Again, what you do specifically could depend on the theme and occasion of your party, but some games offer fantastic fun no matter what time of year it is. For house party games, consider classics like Charades, Psych, and Cards Against Humanity. If your event is taking place in a public party venue, you could hire a magician, musician, a photobooth, or a comedian.

Don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

The run-up to the party can be stressful but follow our guide and it should be smooth sailing (well, mostly, at least). And, once everything is in place and the event arrives, try to relax and enjoy yourself – after all, if anyone deserves to unwind, it’s you.Being a host can be demanding, but also very rewarding. So,leave yourself open to the good parts too. Good luck!

A new nationwide study has revealed that despite half (50 percent) of Britons feeling under pressure to deliver Christmas lunch this festive season, as many as 28 percent claim they have it absolutely NAILED.

And when it comes to the best Christmas lunch hacks, according to those who consider themselves a seasoned pro, the number one tip is tidy as you cook (51 percent), to avoid a washing up nightmare.

While 46 percent of confident festive chefs suggest that remembering to use plenty of tin foil is the way to go, whether for wrapping up food for later or to cover the top of the turkey to keep it from drying out.

Also on the list of the tips for a top Christmas lunch include always chuffing your potatoes (shaking par boiled spuds in a colander to roughen the texture and increase surface area before roasting) (39 percent) – and make sure you’ve got plenty of Christmas crackers (37 percent).

The research, commissioned by Thermapen, found that 26 percent recommend using a meat thermometer.

To help create a succulent turkey, those surveyed recommended putting butter under the skin before cooking (25 percent).

Jason Webb of Thermapen, said: “Cooking Christmas lunch with all the trimmings is always a big undertaking – our research reveals just three in ten cooks are confident they know how to get it right.

“These findings show the key to the perfect Christmas meal lies in good planning and saving yourself time by doing as many jobs as possible in advance so you can focus most of your efforts on cooking the turkey well on the day. Our key recommendation on the big day, is to always use a meat thermometer to minimize stress and ensure you end up with tender, succulent meat for the entire family to enjoy.”

Other top tips for getting Christmas lunch perfect is to cook up extra pigs in blankets as inevitably people want more (36 percent).

Ensuring you have enough pots and pans before the big day (35 percent) and setting the table the night before, on Christmas Eve (30 percent) we also among the top hacks.

The best Christmas Day chefs also advise stocking up on cling film for storing away any leftovers (27 percent), making the gravy ahead of time (26 percent) and NEVER overcooking the sprouts (37 percent).

And don’t be afraid to tell everyone to leave the kitchen when you’re busy getting lunch ready – in fact, just enlist only ONE assistant to help you out (26 percent) try to get a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve (23 percent), so you feel fresh and raring to go in the morning.

And it’s important that the cook gets a well-deserved break once lunch is over – 68 percent agree it’s only right they put their feet up while everyone else clears up afterwards.

And when it comes to making sure the experience of tucking into the lunch is enjoyable, talk of politics, religion or race should be avoided at all costs (53 percent).

Masterchef runner-up and Thermapen ambassador Mike Tomkins said: “When I’m in the kitchen, I aim to remove all the stress from my Christmas day lunch by following two essential rules; prepping in advance and cooking to temperature.

“We’ve all had too many dry turkeys over the years to keep putting up with it, and by following these two golden rules you can totally avoid a Christmas day disaster!

I always brine my turkey on Christmas eve and cook until my Thermapen is showing 67°c. I then remove it from the oven and allow the bird to rest, the temperature will continue to rise to 74°c and this guarantees you have the perfect Christmas turkey.”

The research of 2,000 Britons also reveals that 15 percent of chefs have had near cooking disasters on Christmas Day – but remained calm, sorted it out and no-one was any wiser.

And as 39 percent of Brits confess there’s nothing more disappointing than an underwhelming Christmas lunch, over a third (35 percent) admit they’ve previously packed their own snacks to secretly nibble on in case they don’t enjoy the food prepared by the chef for the day.

But perhaps this is no surprise considering that up to 20 percent of the nation have suffered from a bout of food poisoning during the festive season – and pointed the finger at the Christmas Day chef, admitting they think the lunch they prepared was to blame.

Meanwhile the jury is out on whether the traditional Christmas pudding is required or not – while three in ten see it as an essential part of the festivities, a quarter can’t stand the taste, while 45 percent will serve it with an alternative dessert to choose from too.

Hosts this year might want to think carefully about the Christmas Day seating plan, as over a fifth (22 percent) of the Britons polled admit they can’t STAND sitting next to a relative they dislike for lunch.

But you might be able to break the ice by ensuring you have a good soundtrack prepared for the day, with 30 percent saying it’s essential for lunch on 25th December.

And although 86 percent of the nation spend time together as a family after lunch, whether playing a board game or sitting in front of the TV, 15 percent admit they have to get away from it all, and wind up going for a solo walk by themselves or just retreating to their bedroom for the rest of the day.

The survey also revealed that up to 15 percent of cooks will be showing off their culinary skills this year by cooking their meat in a less traditional fashion, such as on the BBQ.

HOW TO NAIL CHRISTMAS LUNCH, ACCORDING TO BRITS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES AN EXPERT

1. Tidy as you go       51%
2. Tin foil is your best friend     46%
3. Chuff your potatoes      39%
4. Don’t forget the Christmas crackers    37%
5. Don’t overcook the sprouts     37%
6. Buy extra pigs in blankets as you can never have enough 36%
7. Have all the right pots and pans     35%
8. Lay the table the night before     30%
9. Don’t forget cling film for the leftovers   27%
10. Use a thermometer to ensure a perfectly cooked bird 26%
11. Make your gravy ahead of time     26%
12. Enlist one person to be your helper and throw everyone else out the kitchen 26%
13. Put butter under the skin of the turkey to stop it getting dry    25%
14. Make a note of your exact timings    25%
15. Get a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve   23%
16. Plan everything with military precision   21%
17. Don’t forget the cranberry sauce    20%
18. Ensure you have enough soft drinks    19%
19. Wake up before 7AM      18%
20. Make sure your knives are sharpened    18%

For more information, please visit www.thermapen.co.uk.