Beautiful sunshiny ride up to visit friends of ours who live outside Toulouse and live in a chateu. This family are more or less self sufficient with huge vegetable gardens, chickens for eggs, ducks for meat and soon goats to come for milk and cheeze – fantastic set up! Set up for the future! I admire them.

Was so beautiful to see their kids running around free in the nature and Nina(their 7-year old girl) and myself hang out every day in a field at the back of the chateu which was  full of poppy flowers and other types of flowers, it was gorgeous. Picking poppies with her, playing games in the field amongst the flowers and listening to the sounds of birds and insects all around us – magical moment. Meditative. I felt like I inhaled all the colours, nature smells and the beauty. I hugged trees and walked in the fields. We had a barbeque on the sunday and we ran around in the green, swinging in trees and playing as a child.I felt free, happy, revived and high from nature this weekend. It feeds my spirit and body. How does nature make you feel?

Much love xnunu

Happy Monday’s!

Xnunu

Nader with wife Diana

1) Nader, tell me abit about who you are and where you are from?
-Where I am from?  It’s one of the hardest questions for me to answer.  I
was born in Cairo, Egypt, but I never lived there except to spend summers
with my grandparents.  My father worked for an American company, so we
moved a lot.  I spent the first 8 years of my life in Sudan, Africa when it
still had close ties to Britain. When the political situation became
unstable, my family relocated to Athens, Greece, where I lived until I
completed college.  Finally, I went to the United States for my masters
program, and was hired out of school by BASF the company I still work for
today.

2) Tell us a little bit about your job, through your job you have lived in many places, what has been the best thing about it? What has been the worst thing about it?
-I manage a business division of over 230 people in Southern Europe–the
countries include Spain, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Language has always
been a challenge because I am never in a country long enough to really
learn it well and also the languages are so similar, it makes it more
complicated.   Fortunately, everyone I worked with was very understanding
of this.  Managing the business in these countries–especially the last few
years when each was frought with economic problems–has probably been the
biggest challenge, but I am happy we have so far successfully navigated the
crisis.  The best part of my job has been meeting
customers–farmers—throughout each of the four countries. It’s been a
pleasure meeting farmers, sampling the best of what  South Europe has to
offer–food!

3) What do you think about living in Barcelona, how would a perfect
Barcelona day be?
-My wife and I have really enjoyed the last three years living in Barcelona.
It’s such a lovely city, which fits our personality and life style.  We’ve
met so many wonderful people–both Catalans and also folks from the
international community, and feel we have really integrated here.  For me,
the perfect day in Barcelona includes sleeping in, then taking a nice long
walk down to the beach with Diana and our cocker spaniel Charlie. Enjoying
a leisurely meal with a bottle of wine seaside..just soaking up the scenery
and the sun as long as possible.

4) I find you to be a very dynamic, inspiring and positive person, how did
you become a person like this?Any influences?
-I think growing up in so many places and in a multinational community
really shaped who I eventually became. It taught me in a fundamental way
that the world is a beautiful place filled with wonderful people of all
walks of life, religions, cultures, and nationalities.   It also taught me
that with a little effort and an open heart and mind, you can make your way
anywhere.  And I still feel I can be happy anywhere because of this.

5) What makes you tick?What makes you happy?
-I think I have always been a self-starter and self motivated. And I think
that people’s inner happiness is a choice, something we have to cultivate
on the inside. It’s not something external.

6) You have a very stressful, powerful job, how do you deal with it, both
physically and mentally? How do you cope with the stress and all the
traveling?
-I have always enjoyed working hard at anything I’ve tried to pursue. I
don’t see working as a burden, but rather a pleasure.  My joy comes from
doing the best I can in whatever role I have whether it is as a boss or as
a son or as a friend or as a husband. Here in southern Europe the work days
are really long–especially when I am traveling because often I am with
clients from the morning till late in the evening for dinner.  I’m lucky
because I have a lot of energy, so even though I am tired, it rarely feels
overwhelming to me.  Of course, when I am not working, I try to do things
that are good for me.  Getting a Massage with Nunu is very helpful and
helps me relax so much I look forward to my monthly appointment. I also
enjoy working out and playing tennis when I can.

7) Any life tips or work tips that you could share with people?
-I have several quotes I live by:
“The past is where you learned the lesson. The future is where you apply
the lesson. Don’t give up in the middle !!!”

You should dare to dream even if your dreams are crazy because if you dream
you at least have a chance to get there even if it is 5% chance. If you
don’t dream you have no chance and I would rather have a chance at it.

“Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Focus on what you will
do, not what you won’t do”

Thank you Nader – you have been superb and inspirering!

Nunu

Related articles

• Ideas For A Day In Barcelona (tvtbarcelona.com)
• The Vital Touch Interview with Ana Laura Solis (tvtbarcelona.com)

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I had alot of extra people coming to my clinic for massages this last week as walking around those conference halls  is very intense and exhausting. So it was nice to take care of people from Egypt, Brazil, Holland…you name it.  Who are the Mobile World Congress people? Basically people who are working with phones and computers most of the time, and who are often very stressed.  Are you a person in a seated office job using phones and computers alot? Do you use any health maintance or preventative to take care of yourself?

For example, do you ever think of how you sit at your desk? Here is a link  with advice on how to position your workstation to reduce strain and injury:  www.ergoergo.info/

And do you take regular breaks from your computer? Getting up and stretching abit and focusing the eyes on something else? Avoiding repetitive strain injury/carpal tunnel syndrome? Here is a link to some simple exercises that anyone can do whilst seated at your desk and some information about repetitive strain injury:   www.mydailyyoga.com/yogaindex.html

Also a good preventative and healthmaintance for you at the office is an on-site chair massage. This is a 20-minute fully-clothed acupressure massage that helps your back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. It has an immediate effect to relax and energise you in your working day! For more info check out: www.thevitaltouch.es

the vital touch chair massage

So all you office people out there – take good care and if you have any questions let me know,

Love Nunu

Related articles

• Mobile World Congress 2012 information hub (vodafone.com.au)
• Repetitive strain injury(RSI) (findmeacure.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Just had lunch on a roof terrace where I could celebrate the clear blue sky overlooking Barcelona. It made me think of all you people from all around the world that come to visit Barcelona, it’s such a lovely place Barcelona and I thought I’d give you some ideas for a day in Barcelona in my ‘barrio’(neighbourhood) Sant Antoni, which is a very central area of Barcelona, close to Plaza Universitat, close to Plaza Catalunya(the main square in bcn), close to the Ramblas and the areas of Rava, Poble Sec and Eixample Esquirda.

I would start the morning with breakfast at the cool healthy organic cafe: Federal Cafe  www.federalcafe.es  After breakfast I would suggest a lovely wander through the Sant Antoni food market which is a classical Spanish food market with fish, meat, olives, cheezes and veggies. All the hussling and bussling of people, sounds and selling, it’s a great ‘local’ experience. My mum always buys some amazing tasting goats and sheeps cheezes from here to bring home to Sweden to drink with a glass of red wine – yumm!

Plaza Espanya (Photo credit: tuija)

After this I would have a wander up to Plaza Espanya where you can enjoy the fountains, and the edge of Montjuic Mountain and museums. it’s green and lush. In Plaza Espanya you also have La Caixa Forum which offers free entry to some great exhibitions and they have a lovely cafe that you can rest in and have a cup of tea.

At the end of the afternoon it might be a nice idea to popp in to The Vital Touch Barcelona www.tvtbarcelona.com which is on Ronda Sant Antoni and enjoy revitalising and relaxing massage for your back and legs after all that walking on Montjuic – a perfect holiday treat. By appointment only so need to book ahead, but if you mention that you have read this article then you will receive a 10% discount off on the massage price!!

In the early evening, after your relaxing massage you could enjoy some lovely tapas at Bar ‘El Tres Tombs’ at the end of Ronda Sant Antoni which always has sun and is a great place for people watching and checking out some of the different characters from the neighbourhood.

Have fun and feel free to email me on nunu@thevitaltouch.es for any queries about this day in my neighbourhood in barcelona.

Related articles

• Barcelona: Spain’s rich cultural hub! (beontheroad.com)
• Barcelona Marathon – Massage For Sports! (tvtbarcelona.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Sports people value massage very highly – sports massage works on several levels. Used before exercise it can prepare the body for the increase in activity not only by warming and loosening the muscles and joints, but also by stimulating the system, both physically and mentally. This is the key to improved performance.

After an exercise session, massage speeds up the elimination of waste products(in particular lactid-acid) by stimulating the lymphatic system. The accumulation of these waste products during exercise is the cause of much of the stiffness and pain experienced afterwards.

A routine of pre-exercise massage and limbering will help to prevent strains.  Most sports also put increased strain on the legs, buttocks and back. Previous injuries can make the back prone to recurrent pain. With regular and thorough back massage (particularly before exercise), the likelihood of injury is reduced.

So if you are going to do some intensive exercise like running marathons it’s vital to have massage before and after! Feel free to email for your marathon massage barcelona at nunu@thevitaltouch.com

Good running,take care and look forward to hearing from you!

Nunu

Related articles

• The Vital Touch Barcelona – Head Massage (tvtbarcelona.com)
• Massage Therapist Nunu – Who Is She? (emeracthosting.com)
• Ideas For A Day In Barcelona (tvtbarcelona.com)

I’m very excited to share with you that next week I am mixing a special massage oil mix for Valentine’s!

Come and enjoy a Therapeutic Deep Relaxing Oil Massage with:

Jasmine - emotionally warming, relaxes, soothes, uplifts and help self confidence. Perfect skincare oil.
Frankincense - soothes, warms and aids meditation. Comforting oil during cold season. Excellent for toning and caring for mature/ageing skin.

All at a special discounted price of 20% off. This offer lasts for the whole of next week, you can come or you can buy a giftvoucher for yourself or someone, it’s simple, call me or email me for more details.

Come and enjoy some care!

Valentine

Stay passionate,

Xnunu

-I always traveled, lived in different places since I was a small child and then went to a British school in Mexico City until I finished A’ Levels.

Having studied with people from all around the world, now I know that it helped me see the world an easy place to get around.

Before Barcelona I lived in Paris and London and felt that Barcelona was the place in Europe to live.

2) What is it about film and moving image that makes you tick? How did this passion come about?

-My father is in the business and other members of my family as well, so I grew up on a film set, on editing suites and going to Post production sessions in LA.

Since I was 13 years old, I know I wanted to work in this business.

But what is more exciting about film is helping lines in a piece of paper become a film.

3) How did’ The Lift’ come about?

-Long story!

A Mexican guy I met when I lived in London convinced me to move here to start a Production Company and I felt it was the right time, so I just moved here and went for it.

4)The film production and commercials industry has suffered a lot in the crisis, I have seen you stay very positive and faithful during this period, how have you managed to?

-If I were not positive, I wouldn’t survive. This industry is about being creative and innovative, if you can’t think that way in terms of business, you don’t have a company.

To be honest, I’m always positive, life is short, better live happily.

5)You have been subsidising your staff with a 20-min energising chair massage every Wednesday at the office for 3 years(even through the crisis) why?

-I feel I am a generous person. In this business we work very long hours, there is very much stress, it’s very demanding and very competitive.

If taking a break for 20mins once a week makes you feel better and makes you work better, why not?!

6)What does good health mean to you?

-When you are young you think you are indestructible. You drink, you don’t sleep, you eat bad… When you get older and your body doesn’t react the same, it means it’s time to take care of it.

I am diabetic and I have no other choice but to lead a healthy life. For my disease, the only way to stay healthy is eating properly and exercising.

Health to me means staying alive longer. We only have 1 body, better love it.

7)Why do you love Barcelona?

-Because it’s small and walkable and even if you drive, you don’t have much traffic.

Having the sea in front of us is amazing for me, coming from Mexico City, it’s a great luxury.

The weather is perfect and you can have your our activities and way of live, not like big cities, where the city itself pulls you into a rhythm you don’t necessarily like.

Basically, Barcelona has QUALITY of LIFE.

8)What future projects do you have in mind with ‘The Lift’ ‘  and how can people find you?

-We want to start getting into other businesses like TV production, events and other sort of projects which can be interesting to make as well as give us money.

www.thelift.tv

9)In Mexico they beilive alot in spirits, saints and celebrating the dead etc, did you grow up spiritually?

-It’s true that Mexicans have a certain kind of spirituality in their veins. But not always well directed or with real studies, it’s more instinctual or passed on generation to generation.

My great grandmother was quite special, she always had premonitions and could know when things would happen, then my mom studied (and keeps studying) psychology and many other alternative things regarding the mind and spirit, and it is from her that I have learnt more academic stuff.

Although we all believe in spirits (good and bad) and life beyond death!

10) One of my heroes is Frida Kahlo, as a mexican, how has she influenced your life?

-When I was a teenager and I had the capacity to understand her worked, it really shocked me. I felt that she had transmitted her pain so well, but I always felt bad for her tormented life.

Now, as an adult, I think she must have been the coolest woman of her time.

Museo Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul) en la Ciudad de México (Distrito Federal), México. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thank you Ana Laura!

When I lived in New York in the late 80′s and used to work as a schampooer in a hair salon in East Village called ‘RIAH’.  I used to schampoo people’s hair but also always give people a head massage and that was my first contact with massage and part of my interest in massage. In my therapeutic massage, head massage is an important part of it and most people love it when I massage their scalp and head so I thought I’d brief you a little bit about what head massage is, how it helps you and where it comes from….

For Centuries, head massage has played an essential part in Ayurvedic medicine, widely practised throughout India and some parts of Asia. In India it is still a regular aspect of daily life, and head massage is frequently practised on the street corners. However, this ancient art is also highly practical and relevant to the Western world.

Head massage combines energy-based pressure-point techniques with more traditional massage strokes such as rubbing and stroking, thus working on the body’s energy system as well as its physical structure. In addition to fucusing on the head, it also targets the upper back, shoulders and neck area – significant places in the body where we store tension.

Head massage is particularly helful for relieving tension commonly found in the upper back, shoulders and neck area.

It’s such a great release with head massage! Enjoy!

Love and light

xNunu

I am excited to announce to you my new venture working with a wonderful nutritionist Mary Meloy and excellent personal fitness trainer Daniel Benites – we’re launching a new program called ‘The Complete Healthy You’ which is offered at a special discounted price.

Mary, Nunu and Daniel

Weight Management and Nutrition

Personal Fitness

Therapeutic Massage

Benefits to You:

• To eat and live like a confident and healthy person while releasing your ideal weight

• To enjoy exercise, tone up, renew your energy while losing weight at the same time

• To feel relaxed, de-stressed, detoxified and relieve your pain

More information