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Zoe Woodward / Q&A

24th October 2018

24th October 2018

By Shivraj Bassi

After 15 years in the corporate rat race, Zoe Woodward aka Aloha and Coffee, left her professional career in business development to pursue her passion for yoga, wellbeing and healthy living. Now working as a qualified nutritionist, life and business coach, yoga instructor and world traveller, Zoe has turned her passions into a new business and preferred way of life. We recently caught up with Zoe to find out more about the power woman behind the Aloha and Coffee name.

“I’ve always been active and loved fitness. I got into yoga just after the birth of my last baby as a way to manage my anxiety and it just spiralled from there.  Yoga has allowed me to be more mindful and also more tolerant. Taking time to just breathe and be present has changed my perspective on everything."

What’s your hustle?

I’m a yoga teacher, content creator and director of a branding and communications company in a nut shell. I’m also a mom of four so I have my work cut out for me!

What does #liveinnermost mean to you?

It means to live your life as you, authentically and without apology.

Favourite Innermost products, and why?

The Health Protein. I usually stick to vegan protein as I find sometimes whey can cause me to bloat when I mix it with other ingredients. I love that the blend mixes well and tastes great. The Detox Booster. Because it doesn’t taste like grass!

Usual breakfast?

A HUGE smoothie

Your last workout?

CrossFit. I started this week and I’ve done two classes so far and I love it! I’m a regular in the gym, a runner and course love yoga but I needed something new to challenge me both mentally and physically so I thought I’d try CrossFit.

Favourite inspirational quote/words?

“Everything will be ok in the end, if it’s not ok it's not the end”. I had it tattooed on my neck during a really tough time in my life and I still live by it no.

Where’s your happy place?

Bali - I’ve visited three times in the past year and it’s magical. It makes me feel calm and relaxed and inspired all at the same time. I’d love to move there.

Current fitness goal?

Strict pull ups. At the moment they seem so far away but I’m determined!

Best advice you’ve ever received?

Find something you love, find a way to make money from it and you’ll never work a day in your life.

Book currently on your bedside table?

The Alchemist. I’m reading it for the second time because it inspired me so much the first.

Best vacation ever?

Getting married in Hawaii! It was magical.

Number one reason for taking care of your body?

Because you only get one! I spent way too long abusing it so now I’m making up for it. It took me a long time to be able to tune into myself and understand what I needed but finally i’m there.

What would we be surprised to find in your fridge?

Face creams and a jade roller for my face. It’s so much more refreshing when it’s cold.

To see and hear more from Zoe, head to her Instagram page (@alohaandcoffee).

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Why Building Muscle After 30 Matters
I’ve been lifting weights for a long time. My mum first dropped me off at a gym when I was 15. Back then, I was the classic kid who grew up on 90s action movies convinced that if I trained hard enough, I’d eventually look like I was forged in an action film. And in those early years, it honestly felt that simple. I’d look at a dumbbell, and my muscles would grow. Zero science. Zero strategy. Just enthusiasm, youth, and a metabolism that cooperated. Now I’m older. I still lift four times a week, but I approach it differently. These days it takes more intention, better programming, more attention to recovery but the upside is, the results feel more meaningful. And thankfully, muscle memory is very real. When you’ve put in the work for decades, your body remembers how to be strong. I share this because many of you reading this are in the same boat. The early gains aren’t as easy. Life is busier. The goal shifts from “look good for summer” to “stay strong, capable, and healthy for life.” And that’s what this month’s email is really about. Let’s get into it. Muscle is more than something you see.  It’s something that keeps you alive and well Most people still see muscle as something cosmetic, something you train for appearance. But modern research has reframed muscle as one of the most important organs in the body. Muscle is metabolically active.It produces signalling molecules called myokines that influence: Blood sugar regulation Inflammation Immune function Brain health and cognition Mental wellbeing Longevity This is why people with higher muscle mass and strength have dramatically better long-term health outcomes. It’s not “gym bro science”. It’s peer-reviewed, clinical, replicated research. Muscle isn’t just strength.It’s metabolic armour. The decline starts earlier than people realise. Around the age of 30, muscle begins declining. Slowly at first, then more noticeably each decade. By 60, the acceleration is significant. This process is called sarcopenia. And it affects: Strength Mobility Metabolism Bone health Stability Lifespan It’s one of the most important health issues nobody talks about. Here’s the hopeful part: Strength training is one of the few interventions proven to slow, stop, or reverse sarcopenia at literally any age. You can make meaningful strength and muscle gains at 35, 45, 65, even 75. The body responds to resistance training all through life. You can’t stop ageing, but you can absolutely slow the rate at which you lose capability. The overlooked benefits of muscle 1. Better metabolic healthMuscle acts as a major site for glucose disposal. More muscle = better insulin sensitivity. 2. Brain healthStrength is strongly correlated with lower risk of cognitive decline. Myokines interact with the brain in fascinating ways. 3. Joint resilienceMuscle stabilises joints, improves posture, and offsets the consequences of long hours sitting or working. 4. Bone densityLoad-bearing exercise increases bone mineral density — something that becomes crucial with age. 5. Functional freedomFrom carrying shopping bags to keeping up with kids to simply moving without discomfort — muscle is what makes daily life easy instead of effortful. This is why I now see muscle less as a “look” and more as a long-term investment. Something you build for your 60-year-old self as much as your current one. Let’s finally kill the “bulky” myth Especially among women, there’s still a persistent fear that lifting weights equals getting bulky. In reality, building substantial visible muscle is incredibly hard, even when you try. Strength training won’t make most people bulky. It will make you: Leaner More toned Stronger More metabolically efficient More confident The research is unequivocal. The minimum effective dose is smaller than you think Strength training doesn’t require hours in the gym or a complicated routine. The science backs this simple formula: 2–3 strength sessions per week.30–45 minutes each. Focusing on five key movement patterns: Squat Hinge (deadlift or hip thrust) Push Pull Carry If you did only these, consistently, you’d build strength, muscle, functional capacity, and resilience that would last. As someone who’s been training for over three decades, I can tell you: it’s never about doing “everything”. It’s about doing the right things, consistently. Protein: the foundation people overlook One reason people struggle to build or maintain muscle after 30 is simple: they’re not eating enough protein. Optimal intake sits around 1.6–2.2g of protein per kg of bodyweight per day Protein becomes more important with age, not less. This is one of the reasons we take such care with our formulations at Innermost. No fillers, no artificial nonsense, just clean, science-backed blends that actually support muscle, metabolism, and recovery.  The best time to start was 30 years ago. The second best time is today. I’m glad I started lifting at 15 even if the reason back then was “I want arms like Arnie.” But the real value of lifting didn’t reveal itself until much later. Strength training has been one of the constants that’s helped me stay grounded, focused, and resilient, physically and mentally, through every stage of life. And I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the grit and determination to launch and grow Innermost without it. Whether you’re starting at 30, 40, 50, or beyond, biology is on your side. Muscle is not a young person’s game.It’s a lifelong tool.A form of self-respect.A strategy for ageing well.And one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health. Start with what you can. Stay consistent. Your future self will thank you. Read more
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