Body talk: 25/03/2011

MARK FAST FOR PINKO AT HARVEY NICHOLS FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY: Mark Fast, the London-based knitwear designer, famous for using fuller figured models, has designed a collection for funky, Italian ready-to-wear brand, Pinko. Pinko founder, Pietro Negra said: “Mark really knows knitwear, plus he has a very feminine style, both sensual and subtly rebellious. We’ve optimised our production processes and made great technical efforts to mass-manufacture his prototypes without losing that perfect quality/price ratio by which the market has always acknowledged us.”The collection is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, outside of London and will only be available for two weeks.

SPA SATORI EVENT: Spa Satori (previously known as Inner Sanctuary Retreat) on High Street in the Northern Quarter, Manchester is hosting an evening of indulgence in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. The ‘Ten years younger...naturally’ event will take place on Thursday 14 April from 5.30pm – 9pm. There will be beauty demonstrations including nails, facials, reflexology and massage. Tickets cost £10 and include a free Zen Chi massage and a glass of wine. To buy tickets please contact Louise Banks on or email lbanks@sah.org.uk

FIBRE HAIRDRESSING’S DRY STYLE BAR: If you’re after a quick lunchtime hair fix or after-work party style, the Dry Style Bar at Fibre Hairdressing in the Lowry Outlet Mall are offering up to the minute looks including rock ‘n’ roll curls, beach waves, smooth locks or glamourous up dos – all created using Paul Mitchell styling tools. They are also offering 30 per cent off all colour every Tuesday at The Colour Bar. Now there’s an incentive.

MILD STRESS LINKED TO LONG-TERM DISABILITY? Relatively mild symptoms of psychological stress can lead to long-term disability, according to a large population-based study led by academics at the University of Bristol. It is well known that mental illnesses are associated with long-term disability, but the impact of milder presentations of stress may have been underestimated, say researchers. The research team tracked the health of more than 17,000 working-age adults up to the age of 64 between 2002 to the end of 2007. All participants completed a validated questionnaire at the start of the study to measure their stress levels. Other aspects of health and wellbeing were also measured. During the study period, 649 people started receiving long-term disability benefits, 203 for a mental health problem and the remainder for physical ill health. Even people with mild stress were up 70 per cent more likely to receive these long-term disability benefits, after taking account of other factors likely to influence the results, such as social status, health problems, life style and alcohol intake. Dr Dheeraj Rai, lead author and clinical lecturer at the School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, said: “We know conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders are very disabling. But in a lot of people stress-related symptoms are not severe enough to meet the thresholds to be diagnosed with these conditions. The study found that these people were also at an increased risk of long-term disability.”