Recently I was asked to be a guest writer in Ella Baché's quarterly mag quarterly magazine.
This edition was based on a "Beautiful' theme and the article I contributed to was about holistic beauty
Fitness - Skincare - Diet - Spiritually - Wisdom
360 Degrees of Beauty
Written by Sarah Greenway, guest writer - Dominique Le Toullec (Personal Trainer)
Beauty products, skincare creams and lotions are important tools to aid in the fight against early aging and the impacts of stress, dehydration and the elements on the skin and body, but attaining true and lasting beauty can’t be bought.
Real beauty, the kind that makes you irresistibly charming, infectiously funny, eye catching and confident, is achieved through holistic beauty. This 360-degree approach encompasses your fitness, nutrition and mindset, as well as a tailored skincare routine.
In our quest to discover the key principles behind attaining holistic beauty, we spoke to a leading personal trainer, a naturopath who’s work has been published far and wide, a yoga instructor who walks the ‘zen’ talk, and one of Ella Baché’s leading beauty therapists.
The Personal Trainer
“Mix up your training.” says Dominique Le Toullec, “Cardio is important but it’s only half of the equation. For a beautifu lean physique, weights are essential. If you avoid weights because you’re afraid of getting bulky, then you’re missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods!” Le Toullec should know. Not only is she a sought-after personal trainer at Bondi Beach Fitness and Health in Sydney, she’s also the host of Foxtel’s adrenaline-charged Fuel TV and one of Australia’s top glamour models.
“Staying active is important, but I also encourage people to constantly educate themselves about ways to improve their health - to find out where their food comes from and to understand how their diet is benefitting their appearance and the way their bodies function. Food is a huge part of everyone’s life so it’s important to know how to use it to achieve the complexion, physique and energy levels you need to be truly beautiful.”
BREAKOUT BOX
Dom’s Top Tips:
LISTEN: Trust your body; if you only need half the meal portion to satisfy your appetite, then so be it.
EAT CONSCIOUSLY: Take the time to sit, chew and enjoy every mouthful of your meal. Conscious eating helps you to know when you are getting full.
HYDRATE: Stay hydrated. Aim to drink 2L of water each day. Hydration is critical to elimination and detoxification.
MOVE: Learn to enjoy some form of physical activity most days of the week e.g. jogging, yoga or walking, etc. Exercise is important for eliminating wastes from the body and the mind.
SLEEP: Try to get a solid eight hours of sleep every night of the week.
AVOID: Steer clear of caffeinated, dehydrating drinks like coffee, as well as soft drinks, cigarettes and alcohol.
The Naturopath
“It’s often the basic things that are overlooked”, says Deborah Cooper, a naturopath, herbalist and nutritionist with nearly 30 years’ experience in natural therapies. “The benefits of exercise, fresh air, hydration and a good diet can’t be beaten. It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and other pressures but it’s really important to make sure you nurture yourself – you’ll improve our circulation, mood, fertility and overall healing power. You’ll feel more beautiful, confident and you’ll have more motivation to take on the challenges of each day.”
Cooper also stresses the importance of varying the diet to incorporate lots of different foods to make sure you’re getting a diverse range of the nutrients that support good health and wellbeing.
“Eating from a broad base ensures that we’re supporting our ongoing health and wellbeing. Choosing foods from the same sources can create food sensitivities and lead to the presence of excessive quantities of some nutrients to the exclusion of others”.
The Yogi
“We've all had those days where we can fling anything on, waltz out and door and feel like we can take on the world”, says Emma Lascelles from Power Living in Bondi Junction. “Then, in contrast, some days we can look at ourselves reflected in mirror and slump in defeat. If you asked anyone else, they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two central characters from appearance alone, but inside we feel the difference. We’re all unique and we all have challenges to face. The most important thing is that we nurture ourselves because what we feel on the inside naturally radiates outwardly”.
After a successful career as a project manager in large multinationals, Emma jumped ship to live the life she loves as a full-time yoga teacher and devotee of Vinyasa Yoga, a discipline that utilises postures and breathing techniques. This form of yoga offers a range of health benefits to those who practice it, as it encompasses all areas of mind, body and spirit.
“What we feel has the power to dictate so much of our lives. With a consistent yoga and mindfulness practice we can start to become aware of the little voice in our head that feeds our insecurities and they can easily take over if not kept in check. Instead of feeding the insecurities, with practice, we can start instead to feed the positive feeling within us. In order to look beautiful, you need to feel beautiful. Start by use mindfulness practices to appreciate the beauty in everyone and everything around you and work on finding balance in your life. When balance and harmony is reached, the physical signs follow like glowing skin and sparkling eyes”.
The Beauty Therapist
Samantha Doolan from Ella Baché in Mordialloc is not only a celebrated beauty therapist but also a successful business owner. While other salons were struggling during global financial crisis, Doolan’s salon achieved unprecedented growth. “I took a step back when times got tough and assessed the situation. I knew I had to act so I set some clear goals, developed new systems and tried new things. I also surrounded myself with people who believed in my businesses and wanted to help me make it grow”.
Doolan is a firm believer in the importance of maintaining a strong and positive mental attitude, eating a nutritious diet and avoiding stress. She also prescribes plenty of sleep and water with her clients’ skincare routines as she has seen the transformative benefits of combining great skincare products and techniques with looking after yourself.
“It’s not just about putting good things in your body though”, says Doolan. “People are more focused on overall wellbeing these days and they’re also more aware of the ingredients in their products. Natural ingredients are simply more effective in improving the condition and health of the skin than the invasive ones. Peptides, fruits and botanical extracts are wonderful foods for the skin. I’m also excited about our new SpiruLines range. Its active ingredient is Spirulina, one of nature’s superfoods, and it is a nourishing for the skin as it is for the body”.
