Yoga, Green Juice And Greengrocers: A Health And Wellness Guide To South East London

Whilst London’s affluent WC and SW postcodes are becoming increasingly populated with juice bars, yoga studios and healthy eating houses, there is a quieter emergence of wellness hot spots in SE London neighbourhoods.  Ceri Jones, natural chef for the Retreat Cafe, shares 5 of her favourites, found in the likes of Peckham, New Cross, Brockley & Greenwich. 

Farmers Market

Brockley Market is not the only farmers market for SE London (also in Peckham, Blackheath, Dulwich) but it is certainly the busiest, and carries the best vibe for a Saturday stroll.  It runs from 10:00am-2.30pm every Saturday in Lewisham College car park.  Fresh fruit & veg, Hook & Sons raw milk, freshly laid eggs, and even fresh juices from Greenwich’s My Detox Diet are some of the highlights.

Specialist Foods & Greengrocer  

The Allotment in New Cross stocks a diverse range of fruit and vegetables, not found in your local mini supermarket. You can also find other gourmet whole food ingredients; from organic cheeses to pestos. Drop-in on a week night and grab everything you need for a last-minute healthy dinner!

Workout

Away from the hustle and bustle of Peckham Rye’s main drag, a trendy converted warehouse in Peckham’s Bussey Building is the perfect location for a spot of vinyasa yoga at Yogarise Peckham yoga studio.  If working up a sweat doing HIIT or lifting weights is more of your thing the girls from Wonderwoman Workshops in Greenwich Park or on Blackheath, will put you through your paces.

Green Juice

Following a session at Yogarise, take a 2 minutes walk to a hidden alleyway spot off Peckham Rye, to find Ali Baba Juice & Matcha for a dose of nutrients – in the form of a fresh delicious green juice or an exotic smoothie.

Natural Beauty Treatment

I shouldn’t really tell you all about this for fear of over popularity, but one of my favourite things to do on a quiet weekend is a stroll to Greenwich Market and have a pure argan oil head massage from Sadie at Moroccan Spa usually around £15 for 15 minutes. Utter revitalizing natural beauty bliss.

Ceri Jones is a 30-something Londoner and was recently lucky enough to make her passion for wholesome food her living by training as a Natural Chef in California. Ceri now works as a natural chef for Retreat Cafe (in Fulham and Soho), a food writer and also whole food cooking instructor – teaching sometimes at SE London’s very own Blackheath Cooks.  Ceri also launched her own blog in 2011, Natural Kitchen Adventures which focuses on whole foods, paleo and gluten-free recipes. Through her blog, she explores new ingredients, cuisines and recipes, one kitchen adventure at a time.