Inject me skinny
If you’ve been struggling with stubborn excess weight for years, the new crop of injectable weight-loss drugs might seem like a gift from heaven. Is there a catch? Metropol writer Sophie Lapsley investigates. For anyone who has struggled with weight loss or become trapped in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, injectable weight‑loss drugs […]
Barely coping: Dr Jo Prendergast
Juggling too many balls? Struggling to keep on top of everything? You’re not alone. Women across Canterbury are living on the brink, caught in the #coping epidemic. “I kept hearing the same phrase from clients,” says Christchurch psychiatrist and comedian Dr Jo Prendergast. “They’d say, ‘I’m coping… but only just. Not thriving. Not […]
Sculpt & restore your skin: Isabel Castro
The journey to beautiful skin isn’t one size fits all. From Brazil to Christchurch, aesthetician Isabel Castro brings a tailored, advanced-technique approach honed over 12 years in the industry. “Enhancing your natural beauty goes far beyond appearance,” Isabel says. That’s why her treatments are tailored to the unique needs and goals of each […]
Fitness supreme: My Body Fix
What does it take to beat out hundreds of gyms nationwide and become Aotearoa’s Supreme Exercise Facility? Meet the Christchurch-local winner. Crowned with the prestigious title of Supreme Exercise Facility at the Exercise New Zealand Industry 2025 Awards, Christchurch’s BodyFix gym has punched above it’s weight to beat out the best from across […]
Pilates at home: Freedom Pilates
More people are choosing Pilates at home to fit around their own timetable. Reformer Pilates studios have popped up around the country as Kiwis get behind one of the world’s fastest-growing fitness practices. But at-home reformers can provide the same benefits without the inconvenience of studio schedules and locations. Freedom Pilates’ co-founder Cath […]
Calculate your Personal Year for 2026
What kind of year will 2026 be for you? Where is your energy best channelled? The answer could be in your personal year number, writes Christchurch numerologist Rosina Bond. Were you exhausted by the end of 2025? Many people were coping on the surface while quietly running on empty. As we move into […]
Ditch the diet
Tired of starting the year with big intentions that fade by February? Local holistic wellness coach and yoga teacher Alex Ballagh, host of the Real World Wellness podcast, explains how to make 2026 the year you eat for good. When it comes to New Year’s resolutions and healthy eating, many of us feel […]
Neuroplasticity is the new self-care
How to rewire your brain for better living: reform, repair and renew neural pathways. Wellness contributor Cosette Calder unpacks neuroplasticity and cognitive fitness. Every new thought, habit, or mindful moment strengthens healthy neural pathways. Reforming neural pathways, (or neuroplasticity), refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections […]
Golden agers: Transition Navigators
Older life brings major changes, and one Christchurch company is on hand to help make these transitions as smooth as possible. F rom making the decision to downsize and sell the family home to suddenly finding yourself single after decades with the same person, older age introduces several major life events. To navigate […]
Blue space: The healing power of water
Metropol contributor Cosette Calder dives into blue space and its emergence as a powerful, practical tool for mental health. While ‘green space’ signifies natural environments like parks, forests and gardens, a blue space refers to any natural or manmade water body, such as oceans, estuaries lakes, rivers, dams, canals and even smaller bodies […]
