Electric Slide

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

Megan Roup wanted to make exercise fun again. As a college-trained dancer who went onto become a Brooklynette for the Brooklyn Nets, Megan understood how good music and a great time can get the heart going more than a lifetime spent on the treadmill. So as she began pursuing the fitness space on a professional level, she decided to have a go at it by creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere while giving clients a kick in the you-know-what. Thus, The Sculpt Society was born. We can tell you firsthand, with one class in under an hour, we were burning it up and sculpting it OUT. The method to her madness? Sliders. Yes, those little discs that when used correctly can sizzle up the abs, glutes and entire body. We sat down with Megan to talk sculpting, wellness and why sometimes, a good beat is all you need.

So, sliders...we’re obsessed. Why do they work and how did you discover them?

So much of my class focuses on hip mobility - so it was super important for me to add functional training into my class for a well rounded workout. I love using sliders in conjunction with functional training because they create instability in the movement, requiring balance and the use of small stabilizing muscles. I created my Sculpt Society Sliders (that come with 3 workouts when purchased on my website) because I wanted one that was dual sided and  because so many of my clients travel. I love that they are lightweight and small and an effective workout on their own. 

Our glutes are still burning. So yes. Can you tell us about some of The Sculpt Society’s new initiatives?

I just hired my first trainer to teach. We are introducing a low-impact MAT class. It’s the same fast paced, upbeat workout, without the dance cardio. I have also joined a new online fitness platform called Obé. Obé brings the best workouts anywhere your phone takes you. I am so excited to be able to reach people across the country

That sounds amazing and so convenient. So why do you think health and wellness is having such a moment?

I don’t think this is a moment but rather a movement. Investing in your health is the new norm thanks to the strong communities that have been built around it. You don’t just workout now, you go to a fitness class with your girlfriends and then spend quality time after catching up. Community is so important, something I am very focused on developing within my classes. When people feel included and supported within a fitness space, it can be very powerful.

We love that we are in and out less than an hour! How does the workout benefit busy mamas in particular?

I was seeing so many women spending hours in the gym. Who’s got time for that?
I really wanted to deliver a class that was under an hour and gave clients everything they needed from cardio to sculpting exercises. My class is 50 minutes and truly delivers a killer workout with positive vibes.

Do you miss dancing professionally with the Brooklynettes and performing in theater?

I do miss dancing professionally. Often in dance, you’re on your own, but dancing with a team and belonging to group of women, like the Brooklynettes, was really special. Luckily with The Sculpt Society, I am physically doing most of the class with my clients, so I still get that same rush every time a beat drops and the whole class is dancing with me as I lead them. There is no better feeling.

How does music play a role in both creating content for your method and in the actual work outs? What are you listening to now? Playlist welcome!

My class is beat based, so music is a HUGE part the experience. The workout can be killer, but if it’s not done to the right tunes, it can ruin a class for me. I use a lot of hip hop, current pop music and I love an 90’s r&b or hip hop throwback. For the dance cardio sections, I have to hunt for remixes and that can be the most time-consuming part. 

Most women mix up the type of workouts they do. What do you suggest as a good workout to compliment The Sculpt Society and how often should women come to the workout?

I am a big advocate to do what makes you and your body feel good. If that means mixing up your workouts, by all means, go for it. I think a reformer Pilates is a great compliment to TSS or a yoga flow class. If you’re a mom and you’re coming 3-4 times a week, you’re a rockstar. I think if everyone can move their bodies in some way 4-5 times a week, you’ll feel stronger in your body and mind.

What's your therapy?

Movement is my therapy. Putting a great song on and moving my body empowers my day. I’ve also started meditating, which has been very helpful. Even five minutes can turn around my day.

What makes you fly?

I feel like I am flying every day. I am beyond grateful to get to be doing what I love and hopefully positively affecting other women.

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The Sculpt Society

Ellis Brooklyn Takes Flight

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

She made her name as a beauty columnist at the New York Times and author of Skin Deep, but Bee Shapiro is spreading her wings in many ways, most recently as the creator of Ellis Brooklyn, our favorite sustainable fragrance and skincare brand. To say that her writing has served her passion would be an understatement. “I'm always trying product, which is a lot of the fun of the job, but it's also made me very conscious of what I'm putting on,” says Bee. About four years ago, she noticed a change in the industry, where skincare, haircare and cosmetic companies were becoming more aware of clean ingredients, but this exciting transformation wasn’t taking place in fragrance. That’s where Bee saw an opening. As a huge fragrance fan, and mama-to-be, she leapt at the opportunity to make a positive impact, and thus Ellis Brooklyn (and, in the process, two girls) were born. Some of our favorite scents include the illustrious Myth and seductive Rrose and the velvety Verb Excellent Body Milk is oh-so good post bath. Read on for Bee’s take on sustainability, “balance,” and her penchant for religious masking.

We are huge fans of Ellis Brooklyn. Tell us, how has the brand evolved since the beginning and where do you see it going?

It's definitely evolved! At the beginning, we didn't set out necessarily to be a sustainable company. But if you're talking about naturals, this is stuff that is growing from the earth. There are real people and locations involved. As I started working with my perfumer and packaging companies, I realized that you can't be for naturals and safety and responsibility in formulation and not also be sustainable. We're planning on making more pushes in the industry for sustainable sourcing going forward.

We love that. Can you speak to the idea of growing a business from scratch? What have been some of the pitfalls? Surprises?

I bootstrapped the business which is not for the faint of heart. I knew it wasn't the easiest way to do things but I also knew, being a long time beauty writer, I didn't want to compromise on our products. This allowed me unfettered control. The pitfalls were packaging. Packaging can be so tough! I had no idea you could literally be researching packaging for years.

Who knew?!? What is the ingredient and fragrance process like? Do you have any favorite notes or scents?

I have so many favorite notes. I love the notes that surprise you like Tuberose, Patchouli and Oud. They can almost be repelling but there's also something so intriguing, beautiful and, as the French perfumers like to say, "carnal" about them. When I'm creating a fragrance with the perfumer, I actually tailor the process to who I'm working with. Each person works differently so I want to be able to get the best work I can. For example, with Jerome Epinette, it's starting with very specific references and comparisons and then taking it to a different level. With Pascal Gaurin, who I worked with on our Fawn fragrance coming out in April, he's very into music so I sent him a description plus a song to listen to.

So cool..and how do you balance the business with your writing?

I'm not sure there is a thing in life as balance. I instead think of it as making the most of every day I have. That could mean working intensely for 8 hours straight or that could also mean taking an hour out to take my 1 year old to gym class and picking up my 3 year old from school. If we're talking about straight hours worked, I'd say my writing takes about 30% of my time now and Ellis Brooklyn about 70%. The company has grown a tremendous amount in the last year.

What's your therapy?

Masks and baths! I truly do a ton of masks. I fit them in whenever I can. Sleeping masks, in shower masks, masks right before bed—you name it. I also make time for exercise because I find I'm a better person when I workout at least 3 times a week. If I'm really spoiling myself, I'll go take a tennis lesson. I played tennis in high school and it's my favorite activity.

How has having children informed your work ethic? Values?

It's made me ask for more at work. Before, I was not a good negotiator. I didn't have that confidence to ask for more so I always low-balled my own asks. Now I always think, well if this is going to take time away from my kids, this better be worth it. It's really paid off. My career has been infinitely better since having kids.

And we always have to ask, what makes you fly?

Fly off the handle or just fly? Ha! Though I have a pretty settled existence with my family and work, I am a nomad by heart. I love planning vacations—especially those that are just my husband and me! They come very rarely, but the whole process from planning to going is delicious and exciting.

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Ellis Brooklyn

Robyn Youkilis Talks Weight Loss, Self-Love and a New Book

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

When Robyn Youkilis was growing up, no one had taught her how to have a healthy relationship with food, or with her body, even as it began to change. “There I was with hips, thighs and a generous tush at 13 years old, and was constantly comparing myself to other thinner women,” Robyn said. “I rode the diet roller coaster for years - hoping to get that ‘perfect figure’ and labeling everything I ate ‘good’ or ‘bad.’” After one too many roller coaster rides, Robyn finally got off the cycle by enrolling in nutrition school and becoming pregnant with her daughter. Throughout her studies, she realized the foods and activities that made her feel her absolute best and put the scale off to the side. Now, a mother and wellness coach, Robyn has her own vision of health that she’s imparting to others through a new book and a booming business. We sat down with this rockstar mama to chat nutrition, the all important gut and when she’s flying high.

Can you start by sharing your philosophy and how it differs from other health coaching....

I explain digestive health in a way that allows people to connect with their gut instincts, learn to make food choices from a place of wisdom, banish bloat, and leverage the power of the act of chewing. I have women all over the world making more home-cooked meals, slowing down and discovering the foods and practices that help them feel their best. My approach looks at all areas of your life. Your body wants you to feel good, and the best way to reach your natural weight is to keep your gut flora happy and balance the other parts of life that “weigh” you down. Together, these two forces will have you looking and feeling fabulous.

What was your personal "trigger moment" in starting this journey and helping others?

A love of cooking and food led me to enroll in nutrition school. Through my studies at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), I realized that every person needs different foods to feel their best and thrive. I re-learned the art of eating, and the specific foods and activities that were right for my unique body. And while I was healthier, my biggest transformation came when I became pregnant and then a mother. Not only did I have a whole other level of understanding of my body, I had this beautiful, incredible little human that I was now responsible for. I stepped up my self care game not because I wanted to lose weight or have toned abs, but because I wanted to be the best example that I could be for my little girl.

What are a few tips for us busy mamas that we can put into place asap?

First, meal prep is your friend! For many of my mama clients, meal prep has been the difference between eating the healthy food they know they want to be eating, and ordering in. I teach my totally doable (and delicious) way of meal prep in my new book, “Thin From Within.” Second, take time for yourself. Maybe that means you get a babysitter once a week so you can get to your favorite yoga class, or you get your groceries delivered so that you can have one less errand on your to-do list, or maybe that means you tell your partner that you need 20 minutes to yourself in the morning. When you take that time for you, you’re better able to show up for your family, your co-workers, your dog – everyone in your life!

We LOVE that. Why is wellness more important now than ever and how do you view wellness within the context of what you do?

I see wellness as the health of both your body and your mind – it’s not a perfect formula or number on a scale but rather a delicate balance of all parts of our lives. You can’t be fully “well” if a part of you is out of sync, which is why in my coaching and teaching I address both physical and what I call emotional weight.

How has having a child changed or impacted your vision on healthy living?

When my husband and I began talking about starting a family, I shifted my focus from “How skinny can I be?” to “How can I create the most ideal ‘home’ for my future baby to live in?” And then I had an aha moment - Our bodies are our homes—this is where we live. Shouldn’t we treat them right? I let go of trying to look a certain way. I slowed down even more at meal times and chewed my food completely before swallowing. I began to focus on the foods (and the activities) that made me feel my best. And guess what? The foods that made me feel (and eventually look) my best were those deeply nourishing foods, the foods that pack the most bang for the nutritional buck, the foods that feed and balance the microbiome (aka your gut).

Yes! So how do you put your beliefs into place at home with your daughter and what are some easy ways others can extend that healthy lifestyle towards their children?

I try to lead by example when it comes to food, how I talk to my body, and my attitude towards life. I’m constantly asking myself what would be supportive for myself, and for my daughter, rather than following someone else’s “should.” I have conversations with her too and give her the space to express herself, to communicate her needs and feelings. We loosely follow the RIE method of parenting and it’s taught me so much, not only as a parent, but as a person. I’m much more aware of honoring and validating someone else’s feelings as well as my own.

How do you find balance in your own life?

Ah, that tricky word -  balance. We all strive for it, right? Some days are definitely easier than others! Sometimes when I feel like I’m being pulled in all different directions, I just have to take a moment to breathe. Just close my eyes and take a few breaths. I try to have my family time that I hold very dear. It’s my time to put the phone down and tune into my daughter and her needs. I always find my center when I’m with my daughter!

Can you talk about the inspiration for your new book?

I didn’t want to write this book – my publisher was the one who wanted a weight loss book! But the more that I thought about it, the more I realized that this book needed to be written. My clients wanted a way to think about and approach weight loss that felt sane, that felt in alignment with their spiritual selves. Here’s the truth -  you can love and appreciate your body as it is right now and still want to lose weight. Your body is your business, and if you want to look and/or feel different and that desire comes from you—not from the media, your mom, or your boyfriend—it’s alright to take action to make your dream body your real body.

What is your therapy?

My “therapy” is any way that I’m able to connect to my body, my gut, my intuition. On a daily basis that looks like meditation, journaling, and just spending a few minutes each morning to be with self. Movement is an essential part of my life - not only does it connect me to my body and my breath, but it’s often on a run or in a spin class where I work out the things that are swirling  in my head. Spending time with my daughter is also so grounding - she reminds me what a pure joy it is to be alive, and that magic exists in the world around us. Taking time to connect with my friends and family is also important to me.

What makes you fly?

Right now I’m fired up (in the best way possible) about my new book, “Thin From Within” . The incredible messages I’ve received from readers are proving that what I’m sharing is resonating, this work is changing lives and perceptions. The biggest win for me as a coach is when someone can shift the conversation they’re having with themselves about their body. I can talk about self love for days, but when that actually lands with someone in a way that feels real and true in their life, that’s the real point of it all. 

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Robyn Youkilis

We’re in the Mood for Smood

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

Whether in the heart of midtown or down on the Lower East Side, you’re never far from Dr Smood. And we are so grateful that this chic Miami-based juice bar and wellness cafe has been popping up all over New York with a philosophy of wellness-based eating with products infused with super foods like maca, matcha, ashwaganda and turmeric. Everything is 100% USDA organic. Even the “power pastries” that are a favorite of ours (and perfect for the mini-set too) featuring cacao, dates, honey and coconut. Not to mention, the minimalist, glossy setting offers the wellness set a super stylish space to enjoy a vitaian booster. After just one visit we had to find out more, the who the what and where behind the incredible cafe. So we sat down with Dr. Etti, a holistc nutritional doctor in her own right who has been working with the Dr Smood founders on creating their tasty, healthy concoctions. Check out our interview below.

Full disclosure. We are obsessed with Dr Smood. Can you tell us about your background and what led you there?

My background is in Holistic Nutrition and Family therapy. I created a seven-day juice cleanse program called Sexi Juicing have been guiding groups through detoxification for 17 years.  René and Patrizia Sindlev, our founders, and I connected four years ago. We joined together because we are very passionate about leading a healthy lifestyle; eating healthy food and shifting the way people in America perceive healthy food.  René, Patrizia and I recognized that there is a problem with the SAD (Standard American Diet)—which is the cause of most chronic diseases—and we wanted to be part of the solution.

So interesting...and was there a trigger moment in realizing you had to join this brand?

Yes!!  It happened over dinner with our VP (Francesco Perillo), when we were discussing the impact Dr Smood is going to have in America and the world.  He said something that touched me deeply—he said, “We get to leave a LEGACY.” I had an awakening when I was 40 years old and my life’s purpose from that point on was to GIVE—by sharing my knowledge, wisdom, and healing and inspiring people to do the same. 

Amazing. So what is your role at Dr Smood specifically?

I am the Senior VP of Research and Product Development.  I create and oversee development of new products based on market research and our vision.  I also educate and help spread our vision through social media. We are constantly on the pulse finding innovative solutions to healthy lifestyle and bringing our customers “SMART FOOD FOR A GOOD MOOD.”
 

How would you describe the vision of Dr Smood and how does it differ from other holistic meal/juice brands on the market?

We believe that Dr Smood is the solution for our health crisis and we are offering the food for a better future.  We need to help to create better health for Americans today. We make it easy for people to eat healthy—we have over 90 products for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We want every person that comes into our store to find something to eat, whether they are a meat and potato person or a vegan. To ensure this, we have a broad range of menu items, including turkey, smoked salmon and tuna sandwiches; vegan salads and sandwiches, a selection of healthy snack options and our popular breakfast items. Finally, our cafés have a very warm European ambiance, making for perfect combination of a pleasurable, healing experience.

Yes, we totally agree ! We love hanging out at Dr Smood (Soho is our go-to). Can you speak to the science behind Dr Smood's programs?

Studies indicate that mostly plant-based foods that are alkaline and infused with super and medicinal foods are anti-inflammatory and help prevent diseases.  We are also aware that organic foods are much better for our health since conventional food is laden with chemicals that are then stored in our body, causing disease.  Most of our food is live: smoothies, juices, salads, pancakes, vegan milkshakes, desserts etc. Live food is tasty and filling because it is alive (it contains more enzymes, vitamins and minerals), and is full of fiber.

You're a mama, can you tell us how do you try to stay balanced and sane while being a partner at a brand and raising children?

As a single mother of four, I have a very hectic work schedule—I strive for a balanced life. A full life that will include enjoying one-on-one quality moments with my kids and my boyfriend, connecting with my women tribe, staying in touch and in tune with the cutting edge of healthy nutritious products, doing my volunteer work and having quality time for myself.  I try to stay calm in the midst of the storm. Calmness is a state of mind that can be achieved if and when we nourish our bodies, mind and spirit, by eating healthy, exercising and meditating.  I also go on a juice cleanse four times a year. I usually don't have time to juice myself, and fortunately I created a user-friendly detox program that are easy to follow and really yummy. I usually choose Dr Smood’s program number 2 - which is the intermediate level juice cleanse.  I also developed a beginner and advanced detox program to benefits all levels of detoxers. 

What is your therapy?

My therapy is dancing—it allows me to be in the moment. I breathe and let everything else go.  I also love hugs—the more the better.

TOTALLY.  How does your philosophy on wellness impact the choices you make for your kids?

My philosophy in regard to food and everything else in life is to be a purist.  Choose the best quality of whatever you put into your body or mind and let your spirit soar.  I let my kids choose what they want to eat as long as it’s the best quality.  Pizza can be great if it’s organic and gluten free. Each and every one of my kids are aware of the connection between the quality of food and the quality of their health and most of the time they choose very wisely.  I model by example and most time they like what I make. 

Lastly, what makes you fly?

Living a meaningful life.  Sharing my love and wisdom and making a difference.  Inspiring our customers to strive for the best health ever, so they can be fully available to explore life’s opportunities and the sky is NOT the limit.

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Dr  Smood

Soft Serve It Up

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

To go from fashion to plant based ice cream is a career 180, to say the least, but that’s exactly what Carli Blum did. As a wardrobe stylist working with brands like Target and Bloomingdales, Carli describes herself as a visual person who loved engaging with different colors and textures. After moving to New York from Los Angeles in 2013, she met former Lucky editor Brandon Holley and together, they launched an app called Everywear with the goal of bringing editorial expertise into the closets of everyday women. But she discovered a desire to dig a little deeper into her career path. “I knew there was a problem when I wanted to talk more about diet than a blazer,” says Carli, who has serious food allergies to soy, dairy, nuts, bananas and gluten. She soon realized she wanted to somehow combine her love of fashion and color with healthy, delicious dessert. So she created Kokus, a new category of ice cream made from cultured coconut cream featuring add-ons like Spiced Turmeric Honey, Bee Pollen, Chocolate Chia Seeds and Coconut Chips - all designed to  support and detox the body, boost the immune system and restore balance. Koku has been such a huge hit with the allergy and non-allergy community, so we had to sit down with Carli to chat coconuts, the magical gut and her goal of going global with this all natural, delicious dessert.

Full disclosure. We are obsessed with Koku. It is so ridiculously delicious. What is the philosophy or mission behind the brand?

Our product solves a big problem in the food industry today - the lack of allergen-friendly products that are truly comprised of healthful, high quality ingredients. The ingredients are: organic, clean, vibrant and functional. You should feel energized  and not lethargic after you eat. We truly believe that or product has healing magic and is better for you and better for our planet. 

What was your trigger moment in launching Koku?

I’m a believer that you need to pay close attention to what “lights you up inside” and that is aligned with your soul's purpose. I would get a little too enthusiastic over something I was able to eat. It was as simple as coconut milk on a menu, or a gluten free pancake! I knew it was time to leave fashion and start my own business in a “better for you” food space.  I’m obsessed with coconuts, they are so magical to me. Because I’m on a constant mission to heal my gut and allergies, I fell in love with the idea of cultured coconut cream. That lead to frozen coconut cream with vibrant, functional superfood toppings. I married my creative fashion background with my true love and passion for healing food and BAM. Koku was born. 

That really comes through. Can you speak to the ingredients and what was the process was in determining what should go in?

Koku’s base has eight or less superfood ingredients, including 100 % organic cultured coconut cream, coconut oil, coconut water, organic guar gum and raw honey. Our cultured coconut cream is done through a cold fresh-pressed process. We use small batches of base cream that are immediately cultured to perfection with specific time and temperature parameters. Another unique element is the raw honey. Our raw honey is never processed, heated, pasteurized or processed. I truly believe the gut is the seat to all health and by culturing our coconut cream, we are playing a part to help everyone live their most optimal lives! 

Totally! So what are the benefits to these ingredients?

Every ingredient is important and has a specific function. Due to its raw nature, it has many naturally occurring probiotics. This helps replenish bacteria in your digestion tract to regain and maintain positive probiotic balance of good bacteria over bad bacteria. The raw honey contains vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants. Our product is hydrating, energizing, nutritious and DELICIOUS!

What makes Koku unique in the all natural dessert space, or unique as a brand?

We are the first 100% organic, cultured coconut cream soft serve. We are always organic, dairy , soy, nut, gluten and refined sugar free. We are working hard on our product to make sure it always has less than 12g of sugar per serving.  I put my heart and soul into this product and will always lead with a strong product that has innovative ingredients, branding and marketing.

Why do you think a brand like Koku is so important right now?

Since launching in August, I have been truly blown away by the response. I get tons of messages from people who similar to me have autoimmune disorders, digestive disorders, allergies, chromes, lymes etc. People struggle with finding products that are clean labeled, transparent and simply that they can enjoy without feeling sick. I believe we are moving into a ‘better for you’, plant based direction and Koku is helping to solve these problems.

Love that. Where is the name from?

Koku means coconut in Hebrew! My homeland :) 

What's next for Koku?

We had a very exciting summer. We really launched with a  “proof of concept” intention and now know without a doubt, people are looking for a product like these. We are now right back to work, and  aiming to launch our first experiential brick+mortar concept in spring 2018 in NYC. We are also working on a CPG product which is very exciting. The day I see Koku on the shelves of Wholefoods I will probably be crying uncontrollably with gratitude.

We can’t wait for that moment. What is your therapy?

Watercolor painting while listening to Trevor Hall. I’m in my head a lot and watercolor painting helps me to completely escape.

Oooh. We must try that! Lastly, what makes you fly?

Besides tequila? Connecting with people to help them find their passion and purpose. And surrounding myself with people who make me laugh.

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Kokus

Malia Mills On Swimwear, Body-Love and Her Empowering Plans for the Future

Written by Lynn Levoy | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

Rewind to the 1990’s, when a design assistant with a passion for swimwear took on a project that changed her life. Her name was Malia Mills and a good friend asked her to create some suits for the “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit issue. As she ran around stores, checking out same-sized tops and bottoms clipped on one hanger, she realized something. “The tops were too big,” Malia said. “Or I would like the style of the top but not the bottom. I thought this all just seemed insane. I couldn't imagine having to buy lingerie like that. Plus, I couldn’t find fabrics or colors, prints or simple silhouettes with subtle details that looked like my clothes.” 

Et voila - the aha moment that snuck up on her. The idea - to create bra-sized swimwear separates engineered to fit like lingerie, cut from fabrics with textures, colors and prints like clothing in a woman’s closet. Fast forward a few years and Malia made her dream a reality. She established herself as a leading swimwear designer providing comfortable, flattering pieces forest women of all sizes. What began with a simple shop on Mulberry Street has become one of the most desirable names in the swim world. But Malia hasn’t stopped there. In a fashion category build around self-doubt and body-shaming, she has become a beacon of strength and truth. Whether through her campaign imagery featuring women all shapes and colors, or her “love thyself” rallying cry, or her programs for mentorship and workplace opportunity, Malia is the definition of someone who is living her truth and providing all women with the tools for social enhancement and positive body imagery. We are so floored by her vision and her work (so much so, we wanted more than anything to be a part of her badass wold, so look out for a A Wild Dove x Malia Mills collab coming soon). In the meantime, read on as she shares her story, her path and her vision for a better tomorrow.

I have personally been wearing your suits since your Mulberry Street location opened. It was the only line then that you could buy a different sized top and bottom, which I have always been. Major Gamechanger. What was the trigger moment for that?

So many dots to connect in the journey to the trigger moment! I grew up in Honolulu where swimwear was our daily uniform, each new swimsuit like a rite of passage. My mom forbade my older sisters from wearing bikinis, so they would cover up with baby doll apron tops with bikini bottoms. When our neighbor gave me a yellow bikini for my 10th birthday, my sisters howled in protest. At 11 my tween dreams came true when I bought a bikini from the trendy swim store called Splash in Waikiki. At this point my sisters had graduated to striped knit bikinis from a store called Surfline. My mom took me to pick out my very own when I turned 12. The tops were all too full for my flat chest. But I was on a mission to make one mine so I picked out a baby blue and pink striped set, took it home and sewed a seam through the top to remove the shape.

When I moved to New Hampshire at 13, I arrived at the town pool wearing a racy, high-cut leg, hot pink one-piece and found all the other gals wearing high-neck, low-leg speedos. My first taste of how a suit can feel so right in one place and so very wrong in another. In college I went on spring break with my parents and while they were off playing bridge, I grabbed the yellow pages and found a gal who made custom bikinis out of her garage. My mom drove me over and I picked out shiny white fabric for a twist-front bandeau top and sporty blue and white striped fabric for a bikini bottom. The swimwear journey continued in Paris where I read about Maryvonne Herzog, another gal making custom swimwear out of her apartment. I went over and met her and we bonded over my passion for swimwear and my very shitty French! Fast forward to 1990, I was working as a design assistant at Jessica McClintock in San Francisco when Julie Stern, my college roommate called me up. She was working on the swimsuit issue at “Sports Illustrated.” She said, “I know you’ve always been mad about swimwear - this sounds crazy but you should make us some suits for our shoot.” I left work that day and visited every store in SFO that sold swimwear and that’s when the light bulb went off.

The fabrics are amazing, they wear super well and hug exactly you where you need to be hugged. What is the sourcing process like in your fabrics?

Fabric is a key component, but the magic really happens during our fittings. We have a family of fit models - all ages, sizes, shapes and their feedback is priceless. We always challenge ourselves to use all kinds of fabrics - two way stretch, one way stretch, sometimes no stretch at all -- in unexpected ways. From knitted solids to velvets to jacquards, to men's shirting. The way we engineer beautiful fit is with multiple fittings and numerous wear tests. Each fabric has a different hand and reacts differently on the body, especially in a swimsuit where a 1/16th of an inch makes a big difference.

Wow. So technical! Switching gears. Can you tell us about your badass  campaigns? How they feature women of all different shapes and sizes? Can you talk through that evolution and brand message?

I was passionate about improving the entire swimwear experience - from how a swimsuit fits to how it makes you feel. It seemed nuts that anytime I mentioned swimwear, most gals would say ugh, gotta lose weight, gotta get tan, haven't worn a suit in years... blah blah blah. So much shit talk! Mostly self-derision with the overall message of not feeling worthy. It just felt totally wrong. So we made it our mission to say, Fuck that. Let's inspire women to love thy differences. Let's free up all that brain power wasted on trying to change the way we look and let's seize the power that comes from saying hell yes to our diverse beauty. Let's inspire gals to channel that energy towards living a kickass life and setting an inspiring example.

So we set out to create swimwear with fit and style to celebrate the rockstar you are. With inclusive imagery, celebratory language and a “no bullshit, we're in this together, the sun is setting let's get to the beach and crack open a cold beer spirit” we strive to share a compelling message with all women and girls. Love thy differences - it's our mission, our mantra, our driving force. It’s our rally cry, our soapbox, our signature anti-venom to shit talk about body shape and self-esteem and swimwear. 18 years ago we photographed 28 women for our first catalog. All ages, ethnicities, sizes, shapes… the response was incredible, both from our mavens as well as from the media.  

Love Love Love that. And, in addition to changing the way we see ourselves, you're doing a ton of work in teaching and helping young girls mobilize to be our next leaders. Can you speak to that initiative and the inspiration behind it? 

When I started the business I was young and inexperienced and naive but I had a TON of support and constructive criticism and encouragement. So many people sharing their knowledge and experience and hustle. So we strive to give back all of this good chi and to create a company that provides opportunities to learn and sharpen skills, that challenges our team to reach their greatest potential that encourages personal growth and self-reliance. We take pride in hiring for guts and glory and teaching skills - from using a drill to creating an excel spreadsheet. And we are passionate about bringing education out of the classroom and into the real world, to foster easily accessible opportunities to learn and to share the incredible knowledge of our team and our mavens.  We strive to operate as a learning center and we host our carpe revolution events for our team to share their knowledge with young girls in our communities.

What do you love most about empowering girls? Do you have one memory or instance when you realized you were making a difference? Why do you think that's so important now?

Empowering is a two way street that's all about teamwork. We are so lucky to have the opportunities to meet so many fierce gals in our stores and in our studio and we are so lucky to do what we do. We've seen an extraordinary show of awesome from women worldwide, in the past year in particular. I read a while back an interview on Lenny Letter with Ellen Malcolm from EMILY’s List, the gal who’s been working so long and hard to get more women into politics. And she had such a great way of describing making change as “sometimes a leap, and lots of times a creep.” In that you always have to keep up the creep or else you fall behind, even after you’ve made a major leap. We must remind ourselves that the trajectory of awesome isn't a straight line and, despite challenges and setbacks, to focus on making positive change, one gal at a time.

Love that. What are you hoping your brand contributes to the swimwear industry? To our culture?

We hope our brand sends an inclusive, inspiring and bold message not only about women and beauty but also about guts and glory, hustle and heart, sisterhood and small business as the engine of communities, cities, states, countries, the world. Shoulder to shoulder, with a sense of purpose, pride and humor, women everywhere are an extraordinary force for positive change.

YES. What are some future plans for the brand?

Our big crazy dream is to create a community-based philanthropic educational retreat compound as a platform for our team and our mavens to use real world experiences to share knowledge and educate women and girls and to foster forward momentum for all. We're also launching our lingerie line soon that we super excited about.  It came about because we often heard from our mavens about how they wear our tops as bras and our bottoms under sheer dresses so we took a few of our fave swimwear styles and engineered them as hell yes let’s get this day started lingerie. Soft tulle with a touch of lace, signature seaming for attitude and oomph, retro modern silhouettes to celebrate the feminine fierce! That, and the development of hangover-free wine to assist with efforts towards equality for women worldwide. Investors welcome!

I’m in for all of it. OK so when you’re not designing kickass swimwear and mentoring young women and encouraging all of us to love ourselves and our bodies, what is your therapy?

Sometimes it's wine and a bitch session about the state of the world with girlfriends. Other times it's an unscheduled walk. There are always a ton of reminders of all the good shit and inspiration out there.

What makes you fly?

Cranking tunes -- and dancing our asses off like a bag of rattlesnakes as my Dad used to say.

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Malia Mills

Our Signature Learning Workshop with Bob Roth, Master of TRansCendental Meditation

Written by Lynn Levoy

I’ve heard  so much about Transcendental Meditation for years. I have many friends, with varying professions and personalities, who swear by how it has changed their lives - that they can’t imagine life without it, that it allows them to manage their day with more clarity and focus and less stress. But I always had an excuse. I was too busy and couldn’t quiet my mind (the exact reason I needed it), or my workouts were my form of meditation (perhaps, but definitely not the same).

So, when I was given the opportunity to learn TM directly from the source, Bob Roth, CEO of The David Lynch Foundation, and the most seeked-out TM teacher with a yearlong waiting list, I could not pass it up. And the timing felt just right for me. I had recently been seeking out new forms of self care and knew in my gut the stars were aligned for this one.

After my first lesson on a Sunday night, I was hooked. It was an amazing, life-changing experience. I felt like a new person - lighter, clearer, more focused, calmer. I couldn’t wait to get up the next morning to meditate. After four days of learning with Bob - an hour and a half the first day, one hour the next three days and a mantra later - I was on my way and mediating twice a day. First thing in the morning and then again in the afternoon somewhere between 2:00-5:00. To be honest, I thought this would be impossible to fit in, but it’s the same as any other appointment. I look at my schedule the night before and figure out where I can do it - sometimes it’s in the back of an Uber, sometimes in a beautiful, quiet place. Truthfully, it doesn’t really matter, TM is an amazing tool you always have and can do anywhere. At the end of the day, I crave it and I see the huge difference it makes in my work, personal relationships and in parenting. I find I never reach that level of frustration, and I don’t need to take a breath, because I just don't get to that point. I know it’s hard to believe, but I am truly so much calmer and everything else just seems to flow with such ease. What’s also so great about TM is that anyone, no matter where they live and what they do, can learn TM from a certified teacher. You don’t have to be in New York or learn from Bob, but it really is universal, which is what’s so amazing. TM.org also makes it easy to find a certified teacher in any neighborhood. 

So with this in mind, I knew I had to gather my favorite mamas and women to have Bob share his knowledge about TM. These are the women who embody everything A Wild Dove is about and who place a huge emphasis on self care for themselves and their family. So we gathered at The David Lynch Foundation one evening, over snacks from Dr. Smood and drinks from Dirty Lemon and Bob began the session by explaining what TM is and how it differs from other forms of meditation. He spoke about the incredible benefits of the practice, how our brains find their deepest states of rest and a reduced rate of cortisol (stress hormone) of up to 40 percent (compared to an 8 hour night of sleep, which only reduces cortisol levels 10-15%).  He explained that we are given a mantra, that it is ours alone and that we use it to access the deepest, quietest purist level of the heart, that it’s a gentle effortless process.

He then invited one of his students who has been with him for nearly a decade to talk about how TM has changed herself, her family dynamic and her relationship with her husband and her son. She explained that by practicing TM with her husband, her home has reached a state of peaceful calm. They used to rush around and lose their patience easily, and now even when they’re rushing, they can invoke that calm whether on the way to school or doing the most mundane tasks. She had her son learn TM at 5 years old also and feels better knowing that he has something to call upon that is entirely his. Bob is an expert is teaching TM to children, as through his organization The David Lynch Foundation, he’s brought the benefits of TM to hundreds of thousands of at-risk children. It was a wonderful evening and I can only hope that my fellow mamas and friends will go on to learn TM and experience the tremendous benefits that I have found in such a short time. 

Even though it’s only been  a couple of months, Callum sees how important TM is to me. He recently turned 8, but I believe so strongly this can be a game changer for him. If all children were equipped with these tools, they’d be able to focus better  in school, deal with their academic and social frustrations and all sort of issues. I plan to introduce it to him gently this coming  year in the hopes that he’s up for it. For now, I plan to keep up my twice daily meditations and spread the gospel of TM to anyone willing to listen. It is truly a life-changing practice and I am so grateful for it.

Be the first to sign up for Bob's book, The Power of Transcendental Meditation, out on February 6th. All proceeds are be donated to the David Lynch Foundation, which will help provide free Transcendental Mediation instruction to veterans suffering from PTSD.

We are committed to bringing one of a kind experiences to mamas and children. Learn more about our unique upcoming events.

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Stay Sane this Holiday with Mindful Practices by Jamie Graber

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

Jamie Graber, of Organically Jamie, refers to herself as a “mindshifter.” She helps clients discover their best selves through energy and breathwork. The goal? To break old patterns and change belief systems.  As the former owner of Gingersnaps Organic Cafe, Jamie has become something of a shapeshifter, herself after realizing that her true calling came in the form of talk therapy. “My clients and I go super deep into energy work to get to the subconscious, where all of the healing takes place,” says Jamie. “Because the subconscious is always in a state of protection, we often replay bad memories and events all from a place of fear. But we don’t have to keep replaying the pain of the past. We can visit these events and thank them for lessons and move on.” And how exactly do her clients move on? Through movement and meditation, which Jamie believes is a tool to get us into the quiet long enough to see the signs to achieve the life we want and break old habits. “With meditation, our lives can come from a place of ease and grace instead of reaction,” she says.

So this holiday season, amidst the family chaos - when kids are up past bedtimes and you’ve had that third piece of pie - channel your inner mindshifter with these movement tools, straight from Jamie’s toolkit. A little self-care and self-love this holiday will go a long way.

The One Minute Breath

Jamie - "The one minute breath is one of the easiest ways to create a state of calm.  This meditation can quickly ease your mind, eliminating fear and worry.  It helps you to get deeper in the body and in the present moment. You can do this in the morning, evening, or anytime you feel stressed.

One Minute Breath = 1 cycle per minute. 20 seconds to inhale, 20 seconds hold, 20 seconds to exhale.  This is the ideal version but do what you can, 10,10,10 or 5, 5, 5…Just keep it even and work up to the longer cycles…Be calm with the breath, don’t force it."

What you’ll hear: "The audio file will include tuning in, a three minute basic spine series warm up and then 11 minutes of one minute breath.  You can continue with it longer, up through 31 minutes. There will be music and I will be calling out all the cues and when to switch.  It starts with TUNING IN and then the WARM UP.  “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” said three times. It means, I bow to the Creative Wisdom, I bow to the Divine Teacher within. Ad Guray Nameh Jugad Guray Nameh Sat Guray Nameh Siri Guru Devay Nameh said three times. I bow to the primal wisdom. I bow to the wisdom through the ages. I bow to the true wisdom.I bow to the great unseen wisdom."

Warm Up-Basic Spine

1. Then a 3 minute WARM UP of Basic Spine Flex. Come into Easy Pose (a comfortable cross-legged sitting position). Inhale as you lift the chest up high and tilt the pelvis forward. Then exhale, round the lower back, and rock the pelvis back. Remember to lift the chest up high on each inhale and keep the chin level to the ground in both positions. Continue for 3 minutes.
2. This is good to lubricate the spine, and move the energy.  It adjusts the spine, strengthens the nervous and reproductive systems, and brings the emotions into balance. It is not part of the meditation, but beneficial to warm up the spine.

One Minute Breath

1. Sit in Easy Pose with Neck Lock. 
   • Neck Lock: Lift the chest and sternum up while lengthening the back of the neck, by pulling the chin toward the back of the neck. Neck, throat and face muscles remain relaxed.
2. Inhale very slowly for 20 OR 10 OR 5 seconds.
3. Hold for 20 OR 10 OR 5 seconds, pull the spine up, drop the shoulders.
4. Exhale very slowly for 20 OR 10 OR 5  seconds.
5. Continue in that pattern. Just keep the numbers for each part of the breath the same.

Adapted from The Library of Teachings and KRI Teachers Manual.

Ego Eradicator

Jamie - "This is a great way to start your day or to give you more energy. It fires the navel chakra, the chakra for digestion and overcoming obstacles. It opens your aura and extends your magnetic field. "

Posture - Raise the arms up to a 60 degree angle. Keep the elbows straight and the shoulders down. Apply Neck Lock (Lift the chest and sternum up while lengthening the back of the neck, by pulling the chin toward the back of the neck. Neck, throat and face muscles remain relaxed.) Curl the fingertips on to the pads of the palms at the base of the fingers. Thumbs are stretched back, pointing towards each other.
 

Eyes - Eyes are closed.

Mental Focus - Focus above the head.

Breath - Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire is one of the foundational breath techniques used in the practice of Kundalini Yoga. It is important to master this breath so that it is done accurately and becomes automatic. Breath of Fire is rapid, rhythmic, and continuous. It is equal on the inhale and the exhale, with no pause between them (approximately 2-3 cycles per second). It is always practiced through the nostrils with the mouth closed, unless stated otherwise. To inhale, the upper abdominal muscles relax, the diaphragm extends down, and the breath seems to come in as part of relaxation rather than through effort. The chest stays relaxed and slightly lifted throughout the breathing cycle.

Time - Continue for 1 – 11 minutes.

To end - Inhale deeply and bring the arms overhead with the thumbtips touching. Open the fingers, exhale and relax the arms down. 

Adapted from 3HO and Library of teachings

Kriya for Healthy Digestion

What You’ll Hear -  "On the audio file, there will be music and I will be calling out all the cues and when to switch.  It starts with TUNING IN and then the WARM UP.  “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” said three times. It means, I bow to the Creative Wisdom, I bow to the Divine Teacher within. Ad Guray Nameh Jugad Guray Nameh Sat Guray Nameh Siri Guru Devay Nameh said three times. I bow to the primal wisdom. I bow to the wisdom through the ages. I bow to the true wisdom.I bow to the great unseen wisdom."

Warm Up -  "Then a 3 minute WARM UP of basic spine series going as fast as you can.  This is good to lubricate the spine, and move the energy.  It adjusts the spine, strengthens the nervous and reproductive systems, and brings the emotions into balance. It also helps to move energy up the spine to the upper Chakras to enhance meditation. It is one of the most common things to do during morning meditation, to wake up your spine and your Kundalini energy, for vitality all day long."

Beginning Windmill Pose

1. Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
2. Bring the arms straight out to the sides parallel to ground, palms down.
3. Twist to the left and then bend forward from the waist, bringing the right hand to the left foot and the left arm straight up in back.
4. Reverse the motion as you come up.
5. Continue moving up and down in a rhythm of about 10 seconds per cycle. (1 minute)
6. Now switch to the right side and continue moving up and down in a rhythm of about 10 seconds per cycle. (1 minute)
7. Continue the same motion but alternating left right and pausing for 5 seconds as the hand touches the foot. (3 minutes)
8. Continue the same alternating motion, but pause for 25 seconds as the hand touches each foot. (2 minutes)
9. Now hold position touching the foot on left side. (2 minutes)
10. Now hold position touching the foot on right side. (2 minutes)

Relaxation

Lying down, eyes closed 2 minutes.

Side Bends

1. Come standing up, with legs hip width apart, arms parallel to floor and palms down.
2. Bend to the side from the waist, letting the left arm come down the left side as the right arm comes up. Keep the right arm straight.
3. Come back to original position.
4. Then stretch down to the right side and return to original position.
5. 6 seconds per side. (1 Minute)

Standing Torso Twist

1. Start in the position of the previous exercise.
2. Inhale as you twist the torso and arms all the way to the left, exhale back to original position, then inhale as you twist on around to the right and exhale back to the center always keeping the arms in a straight line with each other. 2 to 3 seconds per complete cycle.(1 minute)

Deep Relaxation

Lying on the back, eyes closed, about 10 minutes.

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Organically Jamie

Have a Mindful Holiday

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, our lives are basically a cluster-you-know-what of holiday events - with what feels like 20 different dinners, lunches, brunches and drinks in a given week. We know that holiday dining (and drinking) every day and night wreaks havoc on our skin, body and mood. And it’s even more intense for our kids, whose stockings become stuffed with cookies, chocolates and treats. So we checked in with life coach Jamie Graber, who shares her tips on how to survive the most festive  time of year and avoid falling into a destructive cycle that will have you feeling like holiday roadkill come January 1. Her advice below...

1. Jamie, please help us! How can we keep the holidays healthy for kids and parents alike?

One thing I advise for most people and myself is the “crowding out” theory. We don’t have to tell ourselves that we won’t have this or that. But we should make sure we’re filling up with healthy things, like vegetables and salad. So by the time the dessert rolls around, which is often a place where destruction can happen, we’re already full. So when you do have dessert, it’s small but that’s enough. Some people will fast until the big meal and then you get ravenous and you end up eating all the stuff. Eat throughout the day. Crowd in all the healthy food. It sets you up to have a taste. And you should have a taste! Enjoy it. It’s a holiday. It’s a beautiful time to be with family and enjoying connection. You don’t want to be in place where you’re saying no and associating food with the bad. So allow for it and allow for it mildly. And drink water. So again you’re filling up.
 

2. Totally makes total sense. Can you share any hacks to avoid falling victim to every treat that crosses our path?

Water and filling up with healthy stuff. I also highly recommend meditating and working out over the holidays. The mindset to how you start the day snowballs and builds momentum. The better you care for your body, the less likely you’ll be to throw trash in it. Your body is a temple. Be more connected and have more understanding of what enjoyment feels without shaming it. Eat something if it will make you feel good. And move your body or meditate. There is something about taking care of the physical body in the mind and starting the day off in a good way.

3. Let’s talk post-holiday. What are some tips you can impart on getting back into normal habits and routines after the holiday, for mamas AND kids?

Often what happens is these habits snowball. They say the largest amount of weight gain happens from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. And it doesn’t have to be like that. There are ways to recognize. So if I go heavier today, I’ll go lighter tomorrow. For example, today was Thanksgiving and I had all the things and I enjoyed them. Tomorrow I will be a bit cleaner. Personally,  I’ll do liquids for the next day until dinner so I don’t start the rollercoaster. If I can catch myself quickly, I won’t go down the rabbit hole. So the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas, I’ll make sure I do all liquids until dinner and stay plant-based for that day. So you’re helping your body as much as possible. Your body is tired from digesting. So give your body more energy. Drink smoothies, enjoy some soups, and be plant-based at night. And go back to your normal ways the next day.

4. Talk to us about boozing during the holiday. Any hard and fast rules for managing intake?

As long as you have a healthy relationship with alcohol, by all means enjoy! Clear liquids and mixers are best. Part of what happens is that sugar makes a hangover worse. Any clear is better. Have vodka with lemon juice or sparkling soda. Wine is clean and simple too. Just be mindful. Have a glass and then a glass of water. Pace yourself. Or add sparkling water to make wine lighter. So one drink is split into two drinks. And before bed, drink tons of water. Also add minerals to your water when you go to bed and make sure you’re taking probiotics, especially during the holidays. They will be your friend. 

I live by Probiotics and Magnesium. They are important for healthy gut and digestion.  They help to restore and regulate healthy bacteria in the gut.  I love Prescript Assist  because it is shelf stable and powerful.  I take it every morning, on an empty stomach. Magnesium helps to calm the nervous system and it helps with sleep and digestion.  For people who have problems with regularity, this is a great non-habit forming addition to the night time routines. It is calming for the body, and helps with allowing it to release.

5. Got it , these are already in our cart. Lastly, for those of us with packed schedules, how can we best treat food/alcohol/sugar hangovers when we have back-to-back events?

Do some meditation in the morning. It sets you up for success and a good day so you can feel good about yourself. When we feel good about ourselves, we’re not as inclined to make decisions to make us feel badly. Enjoy the cake. But don’t eat the entire cake. And all you need is three bites. The first bite is confusion. The second bite, your mind figures it out. By the third bite, you’re bored. Think of all the things went into making it - the farmers, the cooks. Everyone. Enjoy it and savor it. If you do have a bad one night, go liquid the next day until dinner. Have smoothies and savory soups. There is great oil and fat in them. Get back in the body. It’s not about a six day cleanse because that starts to cycle into binge and restriction. It’s about letting the body rest and digest. 

Check out the recipe for Jamie’s favorite evening healing tonic that you can sip on after a long day-to-night holiday hustle... 

A great adaptogen tonic for relaxation

• 10-12 oz of warm water
• 1/2 teaspoon Reishi
• 1/2 teaspoon Ashwagandha 
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon Love Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of Cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon of Coconut Butter (or swap for Coconut Oil or Ghee)
• 1/2 teaspoon Manuka Honey (optional)

Put the warm liquid in first. It should be tea temperature. Warm to the touch, not scolding. Blend. 
 

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Teen KWEEN

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Jaimie Baird

Sophie Kos NEVER seizes to amaze us. When we were 18, we were conference-calling our friends, hangin' out and babysitting for some extra cash. What we were not doing was leading other teens through a kickass workout practice that provides a safe space to let out everything we are dealing with in our personal lives. We’ve claimed our love and obsession with The Class By Taryn Toomey, but now that Sophie is an official instructor, we are so excited to share her journey getting there...we interviewed Sophie back when she was teaching yoga as her full-time profession, so now that she is working her magic at The Class by  Taryn Toomey, we had to get the scoop. We are so inspired by Sophie and the choices she has made in her life. At 18 she could set an example for all women, way beyond her years as how to live our best lives and listen to our truths, wherever they guide us. Our interview with this teenage rockstar, below.

Can you describe your personal evolution from yoga to The Class by Taryn Toomey and was there a "trigger moment" where you knew you wanted to make the switch?

I have been practicing yoga for many years and continue to practice now. I have always loved and connected with the practice, but yoga started to feel a bit stagnant for me. I had a lot of fire and drive in me that I needed to let out in a bigger way.  I needed to find another practice where I could get that adrenaline rush and allow my body to move the way it wanted and needed to. The Class was and is the perfect fit for me.
 

For us too! For all the reasons you mention. Can you share what you learned about yourself through The Class by Taryn Toomey, and how it has benefitted some of your childhood learning struggles?

I have learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought. When I first began to take class, it was very difficult for me - not necessarily on a physical stamina level. The struggle I felt was more about moving my body in a bigger way energetically and staying steady within discomfort. I felt this in the past when I was struggling in school with learning and body challenges. Movement has really become my medicine. Reading and writing still do not come easily for me and movement is the only way I can express myself.
 

What have you learned from Taryn and what are the ways she inspires you?

Taryn has taught me so much about teaching but I also learn and am inspired by her everytime I go to her class, which I try to do at least twice a week. I am inspired by the way she started this method on her own and has grown it into this amazing life changing experience. I am inspired by everything she says when she teaches and how she draws from a real, raw place and speaks to things that are going on in her life. Her ability to be so connected to the room. Also she is always so real, there is nothing phony about her and I really appreciate and admire that.

Yes. Absolutely and it totally comes through. As busy mamas, we love The Class, but can you explain why it's especially beneficial for teens?

Being a teen is not an easy thing. With hormones raging and stress with school, body image, peer pressure, anxiety, all of it! I know because I am going through it now and The Class is literally the thing I come to when any of the above things are being triggered. The Class is a safe space for anyone, of any age to come and get into their bodies and do anything they need. It is a completely judgement-free zone and I think that is such a special thing, especially for teenagers to have. We are told all day in school and in life what we should and shouldn’t do. To have the space to release in lass is such a special and important thing.

We LOVE THAT. How do you think, as a teenager, you can impart a unique perspective or tone in your specific classes?

Even though I am only 18, I have gone through a lot and I speak from those experiences, As a teen, I have a different, fresh perspective on life and my speak in classes comes from that raw, honest place.

How do you think you've benefited from joining this community at such a young age?

Being able to join The Class by Taryn Toomey community at my age has been so incredible. I am surrounded by strong, powerful, loving women and have learned so much from everyone already. It is truly a blessing.

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On Beauty

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mictchell

After a 24 year career in fashion magazines, Larissa Thomson knew it was time for a change. She didn’t know what exactly, but while  shopping and researching natural beauty products online one night, it hit her. The idea, the space, the feeling, the aesthetic. And thus ONDA Beauty was born. Along with partner Sarah Bryden-Brown, the pair created an all natural beauty oasis in the middle of Tribeca, where chicsters, mothers and friends like Naomi Watts (who recently came on as a partner), could peruse their 83-product assortment of clean skincare brands like Joanna Vargas, Grown Alchemist, MD Solar Sciences and One Love Organics. More so, ONDA Beauty will offer treatments, facials (starting with Angela Caglia who will fly in from LA 4 days a month), Reiki healing sessions with Mark Connolly and positive vibe-inducing programming with the idea of all natural wellness in mind. Since we are all about self-care and making each aspect of our life healthier, more holistic and better, we had to sit down with Larissa to talk the shop, her inspiration and why her son is her number one supporter.

1. So we are beyond obsessed with ONDA Beauty. It’s one of our favorite beauty go-tos and could spend all day there! Tell us, what is the philosophy behind it and what makes it unique in the beauty space?

Our philosophy is that you come on the journey I started three years ago by learning more about and then switching to clean beauty. The beauty industry is largely based on fear. Fear of growing older, fear of not looking your best, fear of what others think of you — it’s all driven by fear. Natural beauty to me is the opposite. It’s about the experience, the ritual of carving out time for yourself to nourish and feed your body with natural ingredients that will bring out the best version of you. The key word being you — not trying to be someone else. We want to help women find their best selves and educate them along the way.

2. How do you select the labels or products for the shop? Is it all science-based? Branding? Emotion?

It's a little bit of all of that. A brand has to resonate with us on multiple levels and a portion of it is intuitive. Generally I find that most founders have a unique and fascinating story and that is usually the thing that gets us first. Why are they doing what they're doing and how are they doing it. After that, does it do what it claims to do? Is the scent appealing? The texture? And lastly we do take the package design into account. The design of a product has the power to attract someone and most people want to visually enjoy whats sitting on their bathroom shelf.

3. That is totally true. We are suckers for great packaging in addition to fantastic ingredients and results. So why do you think more and more women are playing in the organic, all natural space than perhaps five years ago?

I think it’s a natural evolution that was bound to happen. First came eating healthy, organic and local, then using green cleaning products in the home. Now people are starting to become aware of what they are putting on their bodies and how important that is. There is a strong link to certain chemicals in personal care product and many diseases. But the word is spreading fast that your skin is your largest organ and absorbs up to 65% of what you put on it in 23 seconds. If you're feeding the inside of your body in a healthy manner to get the best results why wouldn’t you want to do the same on the outside of your body?

4. You are also a mother, how do you "balance" the shop with parenting? 

It's not easy but my son is almost 12 and has been one of my biggest supporters. Because he is at an age where he understands what I am trying to do, we can easily talk about it. Because of ONDA Beauty, he is creating healthy habits at home and is already using some of our brands. When I come home late or have to work weekends he just says, 'It’s OK, you’re starting you're own business! You've got this!’ Then we make a plan to do something fun when I have free time. It makes the time we have together that much more connected and special. My hope is that by modeling for him what it takes to start a business, which both my husband and I have done, he will see that anything is possible if you have the passion and motivation to take a chance and go for it.

5. Love that!!! How does your love for the ‘all natural’ impact your parenting style or the decisions you make at home?

My son is creating healthy personal care habits already so my hope is that it becomes a lifelong habit for him. We have always tried to keep a close connection to nature in general, whether that means having him help upstate with our garden, eating fresh, local and organic as much as possible and just generally enjoying the outdoors no matter where we are and really observing what’s happening in those moments around us. Not to mention he's already pretty savvy at reading ingredient labels at the market!
 

6. What is your therapy?

Self care - in whatever form that takes in the moment. Whether it’s meditation, spending time with family, listening to music I love or getting a massage (one of my favorites). I'm also a fan of self work and the awareness it takes to always be learning and growing. Even when it’s five steps forward three steps back. Which it is often but I love the process and I love turning around and saying wow!! I would have done that so much differently three years ago! I am actually getting somewhere!
 

7. What makes you fly?

Recognizing that there are infinite possibilities in life and that everyone is capable of manifesting their dreams. It's beautiful.

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A Journey in the Self with Melissa Wood

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

We all know what it feels like to be unhappy, to not be living our best lives. Melissa Wood was familiar with that feeling 24/7. She struggled with anxiety, an eating disorder and cycstic acne and felt like she wasn’t living her truth. But unlike so many who go through life that way, Melissa found the strength to do something about it. She got real with herself and realized that she ultimately wanted to help others as she grew too. The result? Melissa Wood Health, a holistic wellness coaching program she created to bestow to the world the knowledge that helped her heal. “I just wanted to share my journey in hopes to help people dealing with the same struggles,” Melissa said. And we are so thankful she did. Here, we chat with this rockstar mama and wellness coach on her journey, life lessons and what brings her joy.

1. We are such a fan of everything you are doing in the health and wellness space. Was there one specific trigger moment you can recall in realizing your path?

I was on this beautiful trip and I felt empty. I wasn’t happy and it hit me that I wasn’t doing things in my life that fulfilled me. I spent the next weekend completely turned off: from my social life, phone calls and technology. I tuned in to myself. I made a list of everything that made me feel alive. At the end of the weekend, I read the list and saw things like, “Going rollerblading, going to yoga, eating a salad, drinking a green juice.” The next morning I enrolled at The Institute for Integrated Nutrition course to become a health coach. 

2. Amazing. Love that. How has becoming a mama impacted your views on health, fitness and food?

Becoming a mom has helped me let go of trying to control everything. It’s allowed me to realize this flow in my life that I didn’t have before. I’m more easy going now. If Benjamin wants a bite of his dads eggs, he can have a bite of his dad’s eggs. Clearly, I’m very aware of everything I put in my body, but if Benjamin wants a cupcake at a party he can have it. I want him to have childhood experiences. I will always give him a good foundation, but I want him to experience things and not feel the need to binge the second he gets to his friends house when he's older.

3. How do you extend your philosophies on self care to your family and son? How does it translate?

I live and breathe them. I truly try to lead by example and I go out of my way to make sure that if I’m doing something like making a green juice, there is enough for everyone. Then I force my husband to drink it. Just kidding... kind of.

4. Ha. Totally. So what would be your advice to mamas or women struggling to find their path towards becoming the best versions of themselves?

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. It’s challenging to just suddenly become the best version of yourself. It takes a lot of mindfulness, patience and commitment. Find your own way. My way may seem really rigid and too far left for some people. You have to see what works for you. Really show up for yourself every day. Even doing one thing that makes you happy that can keep you moving in a positive mindset throughout the day. 

5. Yes! So you must be busy helping others attain balance and mindfulness. How do you define balance and how do you maintain it? 

Balance to me is prioritizing what you really want in your life and how you want to feel. I prioritize things because I know how it feels to really feel shitty and upset with yourself. I maintain my lifestyle because I really feel my best now and it has become effortless.

6. What's your therapy?

Meditation.

7. And what are the tools you use to help you live your best life?

The three pillars that my entire business is based off - meditation, mindful eating and movement. I create the space to apply these things to my life daily. That's why I started sharing my workouts on my Fitner app channel.

““Even 10 minutes of movement can shift your entire mindset for the day.””

8.  What's the one thing you can't live without?

Love. Being loved and giving love.

9. Lastly, what makes you fly?

My daily practice. The ability to show up for myself every day. 

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Melissa Wood Health

Bob Roth Talks Transcendental Meditation and its Impact on Children and Families

Written by A Wild Dove

Imagine if you dedicated just 10 to 12 minutes a day to accessing your deepest, most peaceful state - a feeling of transcendence that even 12 hours of sleep couldn’t reach. Now, imagine if your kids could travel there, too. How much better off would we all be? That’s what Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation, set out to do with Transcendental Meditation over 40 years ago. 
 
As one of the most sought-after meditation teachers in the US, Bob discovered TM as a way to work through the tumult of the Vietnam War in 1960’s San Francisco. He found himself so stressed that he couldn’t sleep or remember things. When a friend suggested he learn TM, he was finally able to settle down his mind. Bob came to realize that he could use this tool for social transformation, particularly for  children in vulnerable communities. Together with award-winning director David Lynch, the pair created the David Lynch Foundation as a way to offer TM to children in at-risk areas as a tool to work through the stress of everyday life. The results? A dramatic improvement health, cognitive capabilities and educational performance. We sat down with Bob to chat TM and its effect on modern family life.

Bob, thank you so much for chatting with us. Let’s start with the obvious. What is Transcendental Meditation and how does it differ from other types of meditation?

Whenever I talk about meditation, I use an analogy of the ocean. You’re stuck on a boat in the Atlantic and you have these 30 to 40 foot waves, and you look up and think the ocean is in upheaval, but that’s just one section of the ocean where you have these waves. The ocean is over a mile deep, so the surface is turbulent and the depth is always calm. 
 
The word “Meditation” means thinking. According to science, there are three basic types - 

• Focused Attention - Is concentration in the form of meditation. You clear the mind of thoughts. You focus on one thought, every time. That type of meditation in this analogy attempts to stop the waves on the surface of the ocean to create calm motion.
• Mindfulness Approach also called Open Monitoring - You are observing the waves rise and fall. Open Monitoring teaches us presence and to be in the moment.
• Transcendental Meditation - Is self-transcending. In that approach, we don’t mind the waves on the surface of the ocean. We don’t mind any thoughts we have. We have a naturally active mind but we see the mind as a vertical dimension. There’s depth to the mind and at its deepest level, the mind is naturally and completely calm yet wide awake - that is what Transcendental Meditation seeks.

You mention that you are a “teacher” of meditation. These days, it seems like anyone with a smartphone can meditate. But how did your learning TM one-on-one affect your experience? Is there a “right” or “wrong” way to learn?

Somethings can be learned in a group or online. But for over 5,000 years, learning how to transcend is natural but it’s so subtle and tender. So forever it’s always been taught by a teacher who gives you a mantra. A mantra is a word or sound with no meaning. You learn over four days by practicing for an hour a day, not to concentrate or force anything. We push in life, we focus, which is fine for some things, but to access deepest, quietest purist level of heart, it’s a gentle effortless process. That’s why you need a teacher. Once you have completed your TM course in four days,  you practice for 20 min, 2 times a day (morning and evening) to realize the full benefits.

Can you define "transcending?"

To transcend, if you look it up is to go beyond human limitations, to break boundaries. We love transcendent moments. A new mother holding her child and time disappears, or some level of deep communication with a partner, or some moment and you slip into this universal moment of connectedness. Transcendent moments and those experiences happen rarely. The purpose, throughout time, is to go beyond the noisy, choppy, wavy mind and settle down with those quiet expanded levels. In TM you use a mantra and the teacher teaches you to use it. Kids with ADD even learn it and they sit peacefully.

We definitely want to talk more about kids. First, can you explain the scientific benefits behind TM? 

There’s a connection between the mind and body, when you’re anxious in the mind, your body is tense. The mind system can be heated up, while cooler minds prevail and create ease in the body. The mind can be heated or cool. In TM the “thinking mind” are the waves at the surface of the ocean. Are we thinking about hotter levels, or are the same thoughts in a calmer, cooler level of the mind? In TM we don’t push out thoughts. They are just there. They are not an obstacle. The whole thing is about settling down. When that happens the body gains a state of rest that’s deeper than the deepest sleep, measured by oxygen consumption and breath. If you get a good night sleep, cortisol levels drop 10 percent. 20 minutes of TM leads to cortisol dropping 30-40 percent every time. We are hard-wired to take profound rest at will.

Can you tell us how you started working in TM with kids? Can you describe how it affects families?

My interest in kids goes back to the idea of social injustice, why we are born into a community or family and don’t have equal protection under the law. It was unacceptable and when I became a TM teacher in 1972, I went back to San Francisco and taught at inner city schools and at San Quentin prison. The program was called Freedom Behind Bars, but my desire was always with kids. They are the next generation, how are they going to change the world? So it’s not just giving kids an equal opportunity to study calculus or memorize state capitals. It’s not just about education like that, but education that wakes up the brain. Social emotional learning that prepares a child to become an adult and to handle that tumult. So 12 years ago, I started talking with my friend David Lynch. Kids were coming to school, going through metal detectors, bringing in guns. It was a hotbed. So we started a foundation to bring TM to inner city kids for free. So we started the foundation 12 years ago. So we were teaching TM for free to a half million kids throughout Africa, the Middle East, South America, all over the world.

How Does TM help families?

Parents are only as happy as their least happy child. Each family has a collective conscience, where they may not say a word but you can walk in and think,  someone is not happy. 

““But when each person in a family can sit with their eyes closed and go deep within themselves when they open their eyes, it’s a transformation. That’s where the connection and the unity is.””

What is some advice to someone thinking of starting TM but feels overwhelmed at the thought or intimidated?

One thing you can do is find out more at DavidLynchFoundation.org. Watch a 20 minute video and learn about it. You can google TM.org and find out about TM centers in the area and non-profit educational organizations. The people who teach are wonderful, kind, generous people. It’s nothing to fear, just learning a technique that takes an hour a day over four days. And you can wake up and do it again in the beginning and end of the day and you enjoy your evening with family and friends and sleep better at night.

That sounds incredible. So what do you love most about TM ?

The technique. In the midst of a crazy busy day, where I’m running a 35 country foundation, at 5pm I can close the door in my office, or go meditate in a church or the backseat of a car or on an airplane. I can access a deep state of rest, deeper than sleep. I can do it for 20 minutes and come out of it refreshed and rejuvenated. I love that I don’t have to buy into anything. It’s good for anyone. I love the brain science.

What makes you fly?

Getting to have a wonderful conversation like this. I love to walk in New York City. Every block is like another country. I love the humanity. I love the people. I also love having a conversation about deep things. I love deep. I love honest. I love being authentic in relationships, in food, in culture. That’s what really makes me fly. Not just skimming the surface, but going deep with someone.
 

To Find Out About Our Upcoming Workshop With Bob Roth, Please Sign Up Below

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David Lynch Foundation

New Rituals to Create Lasting Change

Written by Erika Bloom | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

As mamas we are always striving to be the best versions of us AND the best parents we can be. That’s a tall order, especially when our children are having a moment or having a moment with a friend, colleague or significant other. So we enlisted Founder of Erika Bloom Pilates and Wellness Coach, Erika Bloom, in her own words, to guide us through the most challenging times and offer us the tools we can utilize in stressful situations that will help us face the day-to-day with courage, mindfulness and peace. The way we breathe, react, the rituals we cherish - whether a crystal or a workout - can help us in our weakest moments. Not to mention, our little ones will learn their own coping techniques early on in their emotional growth based on how we react to life’s curveballs. And that’s reason enough.

Take it away, Erika!

"Rituals are a tool for impacting change. Unwanted habits can be replaced with healthy practices when we cement our intention in mindful ceremony. Fall is when we create new patterns for the coming year. As you settle into your routines, try implementing rituals to change the flow of your day and the shape your life so that you can be the best mama possible. Here, I outline the most common unwanted habits and with a solution to begin focusing on the positive."

Binge Eating

If you find yourself wanting to mindlessly eat, whether late at night or when you don’t need nourishment for nutrition, instead stimulate your senses with an aromatherapy practice.

How to

Begin by choosing the scents that speak to you. I’m currently connecting with rosemary, clary sage, and geranium. Sit in a peaceful place and put a few drops of essential oil on your palms. Rub them together and then place your palms over your mouth and nose. Slowly and mindfully breathe the fragrance in. Continue through the various scents or create combinations of them until you feel centered and satisfied.

Loss Of Emotional Control

Yelling at your kids, saying less than loving things to your partner, sending petty emails at work- these are all actions we want to be rid of. They come from reacting hastily to frustration inside of ourselves. Creating a ritual that allows you to go inside and find the source of your frustration is the way to move forward, acting with peace, compassion, and love. Lashing out at others often comes from bad feelings towards ourselves. A compassionate self-care practice is the answer.
 

How to

Choose something lovely to do for yourself. Dry brushing, face masks, self massage with healing oils, or giving yourself a foot rub are all beautiful choices. Before you begin your practice, take a moment to express self-love. I value the mantra from Fritz Smith of saying ‘I hold myself in the highest regard. I hold those around me in the highest regard.’ Then mindfully practice your self-care with this intention in your mind. Make it a daily practice. This will place you in a mindset to react with love.

Coffee And Sugar Addiction

Stimulants give us false energy. Overuse exhausts our adrenals and disrupts sleep, creating a cycle of need and leaving us never feeling truly rested or balanced. Begin phasing off of your fix by allowing yourself to embrace feeling tired. Then create a dual ritual of creating energy through movement and rest through relaxation.

How to

As you go through your day and come upon moments of mental fatigue, get your blood and hormones flowing with energizing, balancing exercises.  I recommend breath of fire, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, pilates or swimming. Then, at night, create a routine that moves you towards sleep. Pick a time to begin and a time for the ritual to realize that allows you to achieve sleep at a healthy hour. Take the time to complete the steps of your ritual with intention, being mindful to not become anxious about the goal of sleep. Your steps should include the turning off of all screens and electronics, a bath or shower and a calming scent. Incorporate a relaxing movement or breath practice such as mindful breathing or sustained restorative stretching. I have also found that the habit of drinking a calming tea or herbal tonic, such as Tulsi, chamomile, SunPotion, or MoonJuice works wonders. Magnesium in the form of a supplement or Sakara Detox Water can also be especially helpful and should be consciously placed in the nighttime routine as part of your ritual.

Emotional Blockages

Our past or current life events can create emotions in us that, while valid, block us from moving forward on the path of our life. Processing these events and feelings is part of a healthy process but we also need not allow them to overwhelm us or stand in our way as we try to grow in life. Turn these emotions in to growth with a crystal ritual.

We can find ritual in so many moments of our lives by adding awareness and intention to daily practices. We give love to our bodies with mindful cooking and eating. We send love with our children to school by making them a healthy lunch. We cement the connection of our families with snuggle rituals. We heal ourselves and other with herbal teas . As you go through your day, find ways to use joy, awareness, and intention to turn the daily practices of your life in to transformative ritual. 

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Erika Bloom Pilates

@erikabloompilates

Now Entering the "Now Age"

Written by A Wild Dove | Photographed by Caitlin Mitchell

At A Wild Dove, we are constantly inspired by the cross-section of new age wellness and luxury - the idea that today’s modern women can clutch her crystals inside her Celine tote. That we can work on our inner selves and outer selves and find joy in both. Ruby Warrington has had her finger on these coordinates since having worked as a features editor at the UK Sunday Times Style magazine. Once she hit a point where she no longer felt fulfilled in her career , she channeled her loved of astrology, tarot and all things “woowoo” into the language of glossy fashion magazines, and thus The Numinous was born. Her sophisticated, stylish site features the latest in fashion, culture and “modern cosmic thinking” (we love that, btw) and shares our philosophy that enjoying a more grounded, centered state of consciousness doesn’t have to exclude life’s finer things. Ruby is also a best-selling author, having recently published her tome, “Material Girl, Mystical World,” which hails her widely embraced gospel. We sat down with Ruby to hear about her personal evolution, what exactly is the “now age” and why the teachings of The Numinous have never been more timely.

1. So we are obsessed with the site and love your book! Tell us, was there a "trigger moment" in realizing the Numinous had to be? 

As soon as I heard the word “numinous” (in conversation with an early mentor, the astrologer Shelley Von Strunckel) I saw it as the title of a magazine. I pictured it being something like The Gentlewoman, with intelligent and sophisticated articles on the esoteric arts, accompanied by beautiful artwork. Numinous means “that which is unknown or unknowable,” and I use it to describe anything within the realm of human experience that can’t necessarily be articulated with words. 

2. Wow. We love that. Have you always been tapped into your spiritual side or was that an evolution? 

I’ve been into astrology since I was a kid—I loved learning that I’d been born in the Chinese year of the Dragon. The evolution has been coming to see astrology as a “spiritual” practice. I see now how it’s a way for me to connect to something bigger than I’ll ever be able to fully understand, and that what connects me to this cosmic worldview, is my “spirit,” what I might also describe simply as my sense of aliveness, and what fuels my imagination, my inspiration, and my intuition.

3. Why do you think the Numinous is so important, especially today? 

There are so many reasons,  not least because they are in service of us answering the Big Important Questions: Who am I? What am I here to contribute/create? And what do I need to do this? Answering these becomes particularly important in what I call the “Now Age,” because the more we interact with and are governed by technology, the more we need to balance this with ancient human technologies like yoga and meditation. Also advertising-led capitalism (and now social media) has created a culture that makes it very difficult to know/accept who we truly are.
 

4. Totally. We certainly feel that way and find it important  to tap into these “human technologies” as you put it. What are some of the ways in which mamas and children can enjoy these spiritual practices together and how do you think they benefit kids? 

Other tools that help me access my spiritual self are yoga, meditation, dancing, writing, and storytelling, all of which can be made into fun activities and games for kids! I don’t have children myself, but thinking back to my own childhood I’m also so grateful that my parents always encouraged my creativity. Learning from an early age that our ideas and our imagination are of value is essentially how we learn to trust our intuition, and to have the confidence to make choices in later life that are in alignment with the path that’s right for us.

5. What is your therapy? 

In the Now Age, any time I can spend offline. Preferably in close proximity to nature. Having my Moon in Cancer also means I need more alone time than most, to process all the big feelings I experience.

6. What are the tools you use to help live your best life? 

My body, mind, emotions, and spirit. These are my tools, and all the practices I mentioned above are in service of keeping them operating at optimum capacity. Obviously diet and exercise also play a role, and in this area following what I call the “sober curious” path and cutting alcohol out of my life has had the most profound effect on my overall well-being—as, for me, it’s a substance that has a negative impact on all of the four “bodies” of my whole self

7. What's one thing you can’t live without? 

Love. For myself, for my families (blood and soul), for humanity, and for our planet.

8. What makes you fly?

In a literal sense, I’m feeling and answering the call to host more and more live Numinous events, experiences and retreats in far-flung destinations, so hopefully it’ll be my work in 2018 and beyond. And metaphorically, becoming enlivened by the possibilities of a new idea always feels like flying to me.

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The Numinous