The Body Reset – We speak to founder of Therapy by Dee to discover the benefits of body Gua Sha

WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

The Body Reset

Lymphatic drainage is crucial in optimizing both mind and body. We speak to Therapy by Dee to discover the benefits of body Gua Sha in this transformative therapy

ferent types of massage. I also studied hypnotherapy and breathing techniques. My goal is to provide this knowledge and share it with everyone. It is a long, rewarding, and enriching experience, that affected me personally in so many ways, it improved me with a great deal of insight into how the mind affects the physical, and I am an advocate for spreading awareness about adopting a healthier lifestyle through adhering to a balanced diet, regular exercise, rest, and positive thinking – the main elements of a human being’s Life Force. How can Body Gua Sha support overall wellness and what should you look for in a therapist? Gua Sha is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Gua means scrape and Sha means sandy. According to the principals of TCM, your energy must circulate throughout your entire being so you can feel your very best. When energy becomes stagnant in certain parts of your system, it is believed that illness may arise. With Gua Sha, a therapist will use a smooth-edged instrument to gently scrape out the area of your skin where there is stagnation of energy. The goal of Gua Sha is to encourage the flow of energy throughout the whole system. By doing Gua Sha, the therapist hopes that any symptoms the patient experiences will diminish, bringing the system back into balance. For the therapists, there are many qualities they must possess before becoming a What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like/your morn- certified Gua Sha practitioner. Above all else, it is essening routine? It’s very important to commit to a morning ritu- tial to ensure that the therapist is properly qualified and al. It helps you set your day up in the right way and can have is treating the correct condition for the patient. It is imsome drastic effects on your focus and productivity. Usually portant to be comfortable with your therapist and to trust when I wake up, I make my bed, light some candles and put them to be a good match for your needs. on some relaxing music, to keep my home comfortable and Can you expand on the specific techniques of Gua Sha for filled with a clear energy throughout the day. I practise 10 the body – is it painful and what happens if there is an enermin of Tai chi, which clears my head and energises my body. gy block? In Gua Sha, a therapist scrapes your body with I grab a coffee and some breakfast and start my day. These short or long strokes, stimulating circulation of the soft are simple steps, but they help me feel better on a daily basis. tissues. They do so with an instrument known as a GuaWhat is the core DNA of your brand and the health principles Sha Massager. The therapist applies oil to your body, and you live by? Therapy by Dee was started in 2018, it was a nat- then uses the massager to repeatedly scratch your body ural start, a wake-call after spending a long period of time in a downward/upwards motion. It is generally applied to working in the corporate world, discovering that my main the back, buttocks, shoulders, arms, and thighs. A gentler passion in life was helping others improve their lives. Holistic version of Gua Sha is also done on the face. The therarefers to “a whole person” approach to wellness intervention, pist may gently press down, and gradually increase the simultaneously focusing on both the mind and the physical amount of pressure until you feel comfortable. Gua Sha is aspects of health. It’s an opportunity for patients to better meant to address stagnant Qi (pronounced “chee”) in the address their psychological and physical needs, and achieve body that may contribute to inflammation. Inflammation a complete healing. The relationship between mind and mat- causes discomfort and pain, and is often the root cause of ter fascinated me, especially in regard to immediate tangible various health problems. Scraping the surface of the body results among patients, and I deepened my study in different helps to release stagnated Qi, reducing inflammation and alternative healing methods such as Gua Sha and other dif- promoting overall wellness. The resulting appearance is

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not pretty, as you may end up with red marks and bruises as you recover. However, the benefits are significant and some people say it is the best treatment they ever had. Where do you see the most common blockages in the body and how can we improve this day to day? Due to our daily stress and activity, the brain and the body is often affected. The most common blockages are found in the neck, shoulders, hips, hands and feet, however the three key areas in the body that have the potential to be most affected by emotional stress are the pelvic floor, diaphragm and jaw. To keep stress and its effects on your body at bay, make time to put your phone down each day, take deep breaths at intervals throughout the day, hydrate, go for walks, and stretch your body. Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what knowledge did they impart? Throughout my journey, I had several mentors whom I looked up to, felt comfortable with and trusted to guide me through my personal and professional growth. Mentorship is an excellent way to learn about yourself and how you can better serve others. Having a mentor who cares enough to help you develop your abilities and push you to reach your goals is invaluable. Through mentorship, you’ll find someone who understands what you’re trying to accomplish and will encourage you along the way. You’ll also benefit from having someone who knows you inside out and can provide guidance and advice whenever you need it. What advice would you give to your younger self? I would advise myself to keep an open mind and not get too attached to anything. Don’t let fear stop you from trying something new. If it doesn’t go according to plan, then just pick yourself back up again and start afresh. Stay focused on your strengths and shine where they count. Be proud of who you are and how far you’ve come so far. You’re only limited by your own imagination. This is The Reset Issue – what is the best way to reset? A stressed mind is not at peace and won’t function at its best. Meditation is therefore one of the best things you can do for yourself to reset. It helps you control your emotions, increase your focus, and reduces stress. Even if you meditate for five minutes, studies show it will improve your wellbeing. Additionally, avoid multitasking as this has been proven to increase anxiety and cause changes in the way your brain works, making you less productive, which means you’re not accomplishing anything. Focused concentration helps you get things done faster, reduces anxiety, and allows you to clear your head. Meditation is an excellent tool for learning to concentrate.

“A stressed mind is not at peace and won’t function at its best. Meditation is therefore one of the best things you can do for yourself to reset.”

WORDS: OLIVIA MORRIS

Changing the Wellness Landscape

Jules Miller tells us how she’s changing the rhetoric in the wellness space with her brand The Nue Co.

Talk us through your career. My background has been within the wellness space. Before founding The Nue Co. in 2017, I worked in business development for London-based start-up The Detox Kitchen. It was there that I began to develop my knowledge of the wellness industry and also how to build a thriving and successful business. What inspired you to enter the wellness space and launch The Nue Co.? When I was in my mid-twenties, I developed really bad IBS – I ended up being hospitalised a few times, and I was constantly bloated and uncomfortable. I was taking endless supplements to help deal with my bloating and cramps, which actually made them worse, but I didn’t give a second thought about what was actually in them. I researched formulations and ingredients and found as a general rule, 50 per cent of the ingredients in supplements are composed of synthetic fillers, bulking agents, and processed ingredients. I was disillusioned by brands touting misleading messaging, using questionable ingredients, and producing poor-quality products. Inspired by my grandfather, who was a chemist and lecturer at Cambridge

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University and would quite often create his own natural supplements, I then set out to create a line of efficacious supplements merging innovative science and nature. When it comes to the brand, what is your approach to wellness? Our belief as a brand is that health is an ecosystem, comprising your physical, mental, social and environmental wellbeing. Our collective health is intrinsically connected to the health of the planet and we believe it’s our responsibility as a business to raise the bar for our sector by operating in a way that respects and preserves our environment, whilst supporting social sustainability. Sustainability is woven into everything we do as a business, from product development to supplier sourcing and auditing, packaging choices and giving, to operations and logistics. I truly believe that it’s through a holistic approach that we can drive real change and also support educating our customers about the interconnected ecosystem making up their health. What sets The Nue Co. apart from other wellness brands? We set out with a very simple aim, to change the way people feel about supplements. We always rely on data and science to kick off any sort of new product development. We look to ingredients as close to the food source as possible to deliver a nutrient or a vitamin, whilst focusing on absorption in its format. We also work with clinically proven ingredients and all of our products are free from toxic preservatives, additives, flavourings and sweeteners. Over the years, what have been the hurdles you’ve experienced when building the brand? Starting and growing your own business will bring challenges on a daily basis. I would say the greatest challenges I have faced have been around balancing advice and having confidence in my decisions as a leader. When I first started I assumed I needed help from people who had more experience and thought they knew more about my ideas and how they should be executed. My advice would be to always go with your gut feeling and do your homework so you can make educated decisions yourself.

Finding the right people has also been incredibly important. We have worked hard to build a strong team, not only internally, but also to find suppliers and partners that share our values as a brand. Without that confidence and trust in the people we work with, the business wouldn’t be able to thrive. And the milestones? I continue to be inspired by the products that we make and the impact that we have on our community; from the reviews from our customers to the feedback we get on social media and pictures they post on Instagram. Within the category specifically, we operate as a brave brand that often breaks down the wellness category norms in order to be part of conversations that are affecting the health of our community today. Whether that’s mental health or supporting charities across the world like our partner charity: water. I truly believe that our health is intrinsically connected to the health of our community and the planet. The Nue Co. has become loved by people the globe over. What has your entry into the Middle Eastern market been like? We’ve seen a real engagement with our skin supplements in the market which has been amazing to see. At The Nue Co., we believe in function over cosmetics and address the health of your skin rather than simply short-term appearance, with an aim to give you real skin confidence. Our signature skin supplement Skin Filter is one of our most popular products here, our formula is designed to brighten, tighten, reduce and clear breakouts and blur imperfections. As a new brand, we are really excited to continue to invest in educating our audience about the long-term benefits of ingestible beauty. What does the future hold for The Nue Co.? We hope to continue to inspire our community to look at health as a holistic picture. There is no true health without looking after your physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of your environment and the community around you! Now we’re heading into a new year, what will you be doing to reset your mindset and body for 2023? I’m a great advocate for listening to your body, knowing what it needs and when it needs it. Usually, post festive season that means lots of rest for me and focusing on my health.

My daily non-negotiable is our signature Prebiotic + Probiotic. As someone who suffered from IBS for over five years, I know the difference to your life a product like this can make. It’s a great introduction to supplements and something that everyone should start to incorporate into their routine for long-term gut health. Two capsules a day can help feed the friendly bacteria in your gut and allow them to thrive. I swear by it!