Can slowly stirring a pot of steaming hot soup really calm a chaotic commute? That's the premise behind the world's first 'wellness shed' pop-up from GLORIOUS! Soups - the Glorious! mindfulness experience - which launched in Shoreditch today, and we were there to try it out.
Inside the beautifully decorated shed, built by Tiger Sheds, visitors will find a unique virtual reality (VR) mindfulness experience that involves stirring a pot of soup as slowly as possible. The VR is accompanied by binaural music which is scientifically proven to improve mindfulness.
The world's first 'wellness shed' is one of the very first pop-ups to be held at the brand new Creative Debuts venue on Curtain Road in Shoreditch. The idea behind the wellness shed is to demonstrate the benefits of taking a few moments to be mindful, whatever you're doing and wherever you are.
Dr Barbara Mariposa, author of The Mindfulness Playbook, commented: "Cooking and eating are just some of the many opportunities we have to slow down and savour the moment. Taking time to really experience the texture, colour, flavour and smell of food as you cook it then eat it really helps you have a multi-sensory experience, which is wonderful for your wellbeing. Mindfulness is about experiencing, not thinking about experiencing!
"If you're under pressure or have a deadline, all the more reason to make sure you press pause regularly, especially to eat, to stay on top of your game. Heat up a pot of soup in the microwave, stir slowly and then eat. Step away from your desk and laptop, and slow down enough to savour your soup. This will ensure you absorb all the nutrients from your food more effectively. Don't forget we need these very nutrients to help us perform effectively at work."
The world's first wellness shed pop-up is being held to mark the launch of GLORIOUS! Soups new & improved range of Super Soups. The flavours, five of which are vegan, are:
- Super Greens Primavera peas, beans & spinach
- Super Grains coconut, lime & chilli
- Tuscan chicken, tomato & grains
- Mexican sweet potato & beans
- Indian cauliflower, chickpea & turmeric
- Reviving carrot, butternut squash & ginger
Brand and Category Innovation Manager at GLORIOUS!, Claire Roper said: "Gluten free and packed with protein and vitamins, our new range of Super Soups is designed to give you the energy boost you need to get you through your working day. There's no need to worry about whether they're good for you or not – so take some time to heat up a Super Soups pot, stir it slowly for two minutes, then eat mindfully savouring all the delicious flavours.
"We really hope people enjoy our wellness shed virtual reality mindfulness experience in London as we believe it reflects exactly how we'd love people to enjoy our soups."