Rich Woman Switzerland Magazine - Winter 2020/21

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MAGAZINE THE WOMAN RE-IMAGINED

SENSE & SENSITIVITY Without guilt?

Mother & Daughter

Creating beautiful relationships

The Legacy Of Time

Living a double life

Overcoming fear, shame, mental health and eating disorders

Seeking Happiness With Lesley Calvรณ

HOW TO FALL IN LOVE with life (AGAIN) Building effortless prosperity

Secrets to A Sustainable lifestyle How to feel grounded and peaceful

Living the DREAM

Wellness, Ageless Beauty & Wealth

EIGHT Steps to Harmony

12 GOOD REASONS TO MEAL PREP

The latest on

Taste, style, health, travel and culture

RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | THE SWISS WOMAN RE-IMAGINED | RICHWOMAN.CH | WINTER 2020 | 20 Fr.

Contents Regulars Cover Stories: Giselle Rufer - A Legacy of Time (48), Zalina Wälchli - A Journey Into Wellness (180), Penney Megginson on the Mind-Body Connection (194) Guest Editor’s Letter, 10 The women behind this edition, 22 Editor’s Letter, 33 Gems from the stars, 246 15 Delicious and Easy Healthy Snacks to Make at Home, 156 Good Reasons To Meal Prep, 162

Women & Society Maggie Berry OBE, Women’s No 1 Global Matchmaker, 42 Changing The World: Unlocking our full human potential, 58 Why Evolution Depends on Diversity, 61 Living A Double Life: Fear, shame, mental health issues and eating disorders, 62 Sense and Sensitivity Without Guilt, 66 Interview with Paula Bohland: How to fall in love with your life again, 72 Grand Passions, 74 100 Loving Ways A Girl Can Say Yes! To Happiness, 78 I Dare You To Step Into Your Feminine Power And Put Your Name On Real Wealth, 86

Fashion The real power of styles , 104 Luxury Brands: Fashion shows at your fingertips, 106 Best way to surf and overflowing wardrobe, 108

Food & Nutrition The Alba White Truffle, 150 15 Delicious and Easy Healthy Snacks to Make at Home, 156 12 Good Reasons To Meal Prep, 162 Want To Release The Quarantine Weight? Don’t Skip Breakfast!, 166 Elements of Good Nutrition, 168 9 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet, 170 How to make the perfect cup of English Tea, 176

Health & Wellness Penney Megginson On The Mind-Body Connection, 196 The Power of Luxury Self-Care Rituals, 202 5 Best Self- Care Tips To Feel Rich, Luxurious And Confident, 204 How To Boost Your Resilience To Become A Happier and More Fulfilled Woman, 208 Parents & Quarantine: What Is It About Teenagers That I Just Don’t Get? , 212 9 Ways to Balance Your Sleep Cycle and Stay Focused While in Self- Isolation, 216 A Girls Confessions, 220 8 Steps into the healing power of writing, 228 How To Keep A Journal, Free Your Mind And Take Control Of Your Mental Health, 232 Is Yoga a solution for Fertility? 234 What Does Your Nail Polish Say About Your Health, 236 Craving Human Connection, 238 The Power of Sisterhood- How Women Express Their Human Potential, 242

COVER LOOKS

Happy Home 8 Easy steps to beat chaos and enjoy harmony during quarantine, 112 Inspired by nature, 116 Creating a luxury living room, 128 A Christmas to remember, 122

Travel Alpine Escape, 126 Are Trains Making a Comeback?, 130 How powerful is your passport, 134 A Spin Into Lisbon’s Royal Love Story, 140 Vitamin SEE - The Best White Sand Beaches in the World, 140

In our search for the next cover girl of Rich Woman Switzerland Magazine we came across too many incredible women who are actively re-imagining themselves and their world. Simply put, we were spoiled for choice! So, what better way to start anew and celebrate the ushering of 2021 then bringing to you our multi cover Winter 2020/21 edition.

Front Covers Zalina Wälchli

Giselle Rufer

Penney Megginson

Photography by Hannes Kirchhof Makeup & Hair: Reslie Mundwiler

Photography by Darie Nani Dress by: Ruth Woldeselasie

Photography by Ryerson Anselmo

Cover designs by: Darie Nani

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RICH WOMAN MAGAZINE THE BRIT EDITION

ORDER TODAY shop.richwoman.co

The True Richness of Swiss Life When this project began it was before Covid-19 and we lived in a different world. We have all had to learn how to adjust, be flexible and find new ways to stay close to the ones we love.

One thing that struck me during this time was how adaptable we are, how compassionate we can be and how, even faced with adversity, we can manage to find the positives.

As women, very often juggling professions, family, pets and homes, we are used to multi-tasking, improvising and creating positive situations out of whatever arises in front of us, however unexpected the situation may be. Finding the richness, the qualities of depth, beauty and substance where you would least expect it, is one of many strengths women have.

For this first edition of Rich Woman Switzerland I focus on the richness within our lives and unveil the true richness within each one of the remarkable women behind this edition. Each guest contributor brought together stories of hope, compassion and resilience and inspired us with their unique ability to break through glass ceilings.

In my 13 years as a transformational coach I acted as a catalyst for women seeking true happiness, passion and purpose. Every woman who changed their lives became empowered and understood the true meaning of love and their self-worth and at the same time, contributed to my own story.

I believe every one of us has a story to tell, an inspiration to give and a gift to share. There is strength

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and a vulnerability that is awe inspiring once we allow ourselves to be seen.

I hand picked stories of women who have broken through their own glass ceiling to create incredible lives for themselves and found ways to touch the lives of many others.

Within these pages there are stories about women overcoming and winning deep internal battles, and every story will inspire you to re-imagine yourself.

Stories about the importance of sisterhood and human connection, about how to create a milliondollar company. Stories of resilience and hope, sustainability and self awareness, showing the importance of luxury rituals in our everyday lives.

Every story came with a new insight, a new wave of

hope and a new sense of change. As I looked into the depth of every beautiful, inspirational woman who is brave enough to share their story with you, I was touched by the diverse abundance and authenticity of each one of them. Switzerland is full of women who lead a remarkable life! Yet, too many incredible stories are left untold...

One of the reasons I decided to be a part of this brilliant magazine is that I believe we do not have enough platforms celebrating and showcasing these women who are quietly changing the world.

For centuries, women were conditioned to believe that we are not worthy of happiness, love, success and money, often thinking we are not enough. Thinking we need to be ‘good’ and stay within a stereotype role

of wife, lover, mother or daughter. Though we can be all of those things and we can be so much more. We can be true to the light inside of us. We can be true to our dreams and our passions. We can change the world.

This magazine is filled with stories told by women who are doing just that. They are embodying their talents, their bravery, their genius and their inner power. Women who are blazing the trail for women in Switzerland, to re-invent and re-imagine the true meaning of richness.

Lesley Calvo Guest editor

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GUEST EDITOR

LESLEY CALVÓ Accepting who you are...

O

ften we talk about the fear of failure, about not reaching our goals and our dreams, about going through this life without ever fulfilling our true po-

tential.

But what about the fear of success? This is not often mentioned though it is just as real.

Many of us have deep seated negative beliefs surrounding what may happen when we do make it. What would that mean for us and our relationships? Who will we become on the other side of success?

And, weirdly, these beliefs can be the very thing that hold us back from the success that we crave. Underneath it all the unconscious mind is not allowing the success to manifest because it is protecting us from our fears.

I remember a time when I did the inner work around this, I was so surprised to find that underneath my ambition and drive was a belief that was tightly holding the reins of my future.

I believed that if I succeeded in the way I planned my husband would leave me and my friends would abandon me! As you can imagine this is going to be a huge unconscious driver NOT to succeed.

This was a belief I had no idea that I was carrying around and even though in my mind it seemed ridiculous, deep within me it was very real. The fear that I had was holding me back from the very things I was telling myself I wanted.

As I looked at myself in the mirror I needed to find the truth, the real truth under those beliefs. Was it about success? Was it about my relationships? Or was it my feelings about myself?

I needed to find the truth and to let that go and give myself permission to succeed and to feel safe to do that. In finding the truth I learnt that like so many beliefs we are unconsciously holding, it came from a place of fear of being rejected.

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We often stop ourselves with the fear of being too much for people, too enthusiastic, too brilliant, for those around us to cope with. We dim our light so as to not make others feel uncomfortable. I realised that I had turned down my brilliance to ‘fit in’ and many years later had no idea where the dimmer switch was to turn it back up again. Over the years helping clients become free from their own beliefs led to the realisation that so many of us are doing this.

What if we are all dimming our lights so as to not be too much. If we are all looking left and right so as not to offend anyone- all scared to reveal our true selves to others, ‘just in case’.

The irony is that when we see someone who has stepped into their power un-apologetically we are drawn to them. We call them ‘stars’ and we are fascinated by them as our soul calls us to realise our brilliance too.

What are we ultimately scared of? Why do we feel the need to tightly keep on the public mask that we feel is our protection? Is it?

Really? Or is it just another way of keeping ourselves small. Hiding behind an idea of what we think is acceptable to others.

We build up an idea of who we should be and then we chastise ourselves for not being able to be that perfect version of ourselves. The self that does everything the ‘right’ way, says everything the ‘right’ way and behaves in the ‘right’ way. We beat ourselves up for not being able to live up to a concept. Scared of revealing our true selves because we know deep down that we are not perfect, ignoring the truth that none of us are.

Imagine what could happen if we took away the impossible standards we have for ourselves and just accept ourselves as we are. Accept all the parts of ourselves, even the parts that we are not proud of and just let them be, rather than hating ourselves for having parts that are not perfect, wishing they were not there.

We all have them, that is our shadow side.

And it is because of them that we have our brilliance. Without them we wouldn’t have nurtured and grown all the qualities in ourselves that we are proud of. Without the roughness, we couldn’t have the smooth.

What if we ALL started to let out our own brilliance shine? How much light and richness would be in the world?

Imagine what happens when you give yourself permission to succeed and feel safe within that. Imagine knowing deeply that by achieving your dreams and your potential that your fulfilment, your relationships and your happiness would grow. Imagine just how much more joy you would feel when you give yourself permission to accept yourself exactly as you are.

A life lived fully, with the wind in your hair and true love for yourself is a life well lived.

Meet the Women behind this edition

Carla Kaufmann

Carla Kaufmann has an masters degree in law from the university of St. Gallen. After working for PWC she bought the online platform companymarket.ch and is ever since working in a highly specialised ecommerce business. In 2012 she also founded the association geschaeftsfrau.ch where especially women get trained in taking over a business.

Tatjana Kotoric

The experienced stylist Tatjana Kotoric is known for dressing the men and women at the largest Swiss media company. Tatjana has developed a completely new styling concept that makes you look and feel just as good. She conveys her knowledge in a very pleasant way so you learn to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion.

Gabriela Zoltakova Hjorter

Gabriela Zoltakova Hjorter is a former Medical Nurse and Spa Director for top luxury hospitality brands worldwide, turned Energy Medicine Practitioner, (RMT) Reiki Master Teacher and Founder of The Wellness Tribe. With over 20 years’ experience in the world of wellness, spirituality and wellbeing in USA, Asia, Africa and Europe she brings an innovative approach applying scientific & ancient healing modalities to harmonising overall health and wellbeing in your personal and professional life. Gabriela is very active in her local community in Switzerland and globally, facilitating wellbeing workshops, gatherings, Reiki courses and healing retreats for women.

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Claire Corbett

Claire Corbett is based in Zurich. Originally from Ireland, has lived in the US, France, the UK and now Switzerland. With a vast start-ups experience in the Silicon Valley and corporate banking, Claire is the founder of Golf Morocco and Right Point, and is helping other entrepreneurs to adapt their business in this time of change.

Susie Poole

Susie Poole is a climate change/energy thought leader and an advocate for women empowerment, particularly for leading the transformation to a post carbon and sustainable economy. She is a partner of a global permaculture climate change initiative – 52 Climate Actions, a partnership of 10 International organisations. Together with her role at WOMENWAY, Susie aims to empower women and organisations to create a better today and a tomorrow to look forward to...

Martina Fink

Founder of the transformational program Perfectionist Rehab and the host of The Glow Life Podcast, Martina helps perfectionist and high achieving executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like you overcome overwhelm, trust your intuition, and feel great in your body, so you can work and stress less, love yourself, and feel alive again.

Helena Zachariassen

Helena grew up in Helsinki, in the capital of Finland, as a part of a small 5% minority of the country, the Swedish speaking Finns. Since she was born her family spent all their summers out on a remote island in the archipelago in the Baltic Sea, with no electricity, running water or other commodities but the sauna. She learned to love the simple and beautiful nature life there, loving the rough island climate, picking wild blueberries for breakfast, waking up to the sounds of the sea and the sea gulls, and falling asleep with the never setting sun during the summer days of endless light. With a Masters in sociology and social psychology from the University of Helsinki, as well as a certification in life coaching, Helena is constantly seeking the magic of joy in all her endeavours. In the last 15 years she worked in different fields of the corporate world, mainly in international business consulting with a special interest in career and personal development and growth. At present she lives in Switzerland from where she runs her own consultancy practice with the desire to inspire, support and help others living a healthy, balanced and happy life to their fullest potential. Helena is the Founder and Owner of My Happy HomeCertified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach

Ella Lacey

A lifestyle and personal branding photographer based in Switzerland, Ella is seeking human connection and finds that her most rewarding work is helping others. Creatives and entrepreneurs go to Ella for help in capturing a connection, personality and emotion to reflect the ethos of their business through the power of images.

Danna Levy Hoffmann

A leading health and lifestyle coach and an expert on living a nourishing lifestyle. Danna offers deliciously sustainable lifestyle-changes, providing women all over Europe with reinvigorated vitality, smarter eating habits and sustainable nutrition solutions.

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Deborah Hladecek

A truth seeker, Deborah is the founder of The Clary Sage.

A NAHA certified aromatherapist with diplomas in body product formulation, natural parfumerie, herbalism, and energy medicine, Deborah created luxury ritual self care products and tools to nourish, balance and restore your vitality Reclaiming the ancient wisdom and cultivating a relationship and knowledge of plants has been essential to her holistic approach. Located in Zürich, Switzerland, Deborah offers the local community aromatherapy workshops and other alternative healing opportunities.

Ariane Signer Ariane Signer has been writing her thoughts, fears and dreams in journals since the early 90’s. A personal development, she has been working as a creative freelance writer since 2016. A native Canadian, she has found her home in a small town in Switzerland, where she lives with her husband and two young sons. Ariane established her blog, The Shadow and The Shimmer, in 2014. The blog afforded her a space to let out her (sometimes complicated) feelings about being in a longdistance relationship, struggles with alcohol and battle with panic disorder. In 2019, Ariane compiled some of her writings and published a collection of poems, called 'Things That Shine'.

Leslie Kuster

Igniting and inspiring women entrepreneurs to financial and personal freedom, Leslie Kuster has a multiple seven-figure e-commerce clothing brand called Back From Bali, which offers women beautiful bohemian chic resort clothing, ethically made by women owned businesses in Bali – and which affords Leslie the freedom and lifestyle of her dreams.

Leslie encourages women to live their true freedom by creating a business that aligns with their deeper values and yearnings, and enables women to work in a way that brings ease and flow into their lives so they can live the life they really want. With over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Leslie’s passion inspires women to pursue entrepreneurship in order for them to step into their independence, know their value, develop their feminine power, and earn the big bucks! To find out how you can work with Leslie to start living your freedom contact her by email at lesliekuster@gmail.com

Klara Debeljak

Klara Debeljak is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the Founder of Nourishi, a nutrition consultancy specialising in women’s health. To learn more about how you too can transform your health through personalised nutrition and optimising your sleep, movement and stress management, apply for a 1:1 discovery call with Klara

Patricia Ordody

Patricia Ordody is a holistic Health Coach supporting busy, career-driven people in making nutritional and lifestyle changes to improve their mental, physical, social and emotional health for a happier and more successful personal and professional life. She founded her company Health is Wealth because of her personal health journey, through which she became passionate about helping anyone with similar struggles related to work-life balance, addictive behaviours, weight management, hormone health, stress management and more. Visit her website to learn more and contact her today for a free discovery call: www.healthiswealth.ch

Asiya Durrani

Asiya Durrani is a visionary and creative business strategist with great experience in defining and directing fashion/luxury brand vision. With over 25 years experience she is globally recognised as a creative business developer and a solid reputation for establishing international brands, Asiya's focus on defining ‘brand direction’ gives her an unique perspective into the world of fashion.

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Anna Cortesi The Editor in Chief of of Healthy Woman Magazine, Anna Cortesi is a Certified Dietitian, Clinical Nutritionist, Personal Nutrition Coach, Wellness Influencer, and Owner of Cortesi Nutrition. Her passion for nutrition is routed in her own story when she struggled with eating disorders and aims to upgrade the everyday lifestyle of other women. Anna is an internationally recognised nutrition expert, with experience in the various roles of orthomolecular nutrition, weight loss, longevity, human body, psychology and overall health.

Annette Ebbinghaus Annette Ebbinghaus is an ASCA certified Master Sophrologist as well as a Hypnosis and NLP Practitioner, Mindfulness and Cardiac Coherence Coach working with adolescents and adults since 2008. Her professional life progression went from MSc Civil Engineer building bridges, MBA working in industry and academia to a complete shift to mind and body health when she became a mother while living in Singapore. Her signature work is teaching adolescents techniques to support their mental and emotional health.

Anandi

Anandi is the creator of ‘Sleepology® which is designed to resolve sleep issues with a specific methodology using principles done in a particular order. Anandi is an Ayurvedic consultant, NLP practitioner, Senior yoga teacher and teacher trainer and has been in the wellness field for 30 years. She’s also the author of ‘Breathe Better Sleep Better’.

Anandi has appeared in the press all the major glossies including Cosmopolitan, Women’s fitness, Psychologies, Daily Mail, In the Moment Magazine, Spirit and Destiny and the London Evening Standard.

Esther Buerki

Esther Buerki is an international book writing expert, author and life coach living in Winterthur, who supports others to write their books and stories. Her inspiring attitude is her ultimate strength. Her earlier study of French, German and English literature brought her closer to the world of literature writers, but far away from her own writing. She no longer dared to write her own content. At the age of 55, she finally published her first children’s book “Leonard and Loulou”, a story about bullying for sensitive children, in German, English and French. This year, the story of the boy Leonard and the little cat Loulou got its sequel in the book “Leonard and Lea”. Her upcoming book “Living without fear” about her own story will be published soon.

Ysanne Lewis

London based Timing Adviser, Astrologer, Speaker and Author.

Ysanne’s work spans over 40 years and she celebrated her ruby work anniversary earlier in 2019. She has clientele in the USA, Asia, Europe and South Africa. Working with individuals, families and businesses, she seamlessly weaves the meanings of cycles, timings and patterns in educational, inspirational and humour-filled ways into the beautiful tapestry which is Life. She acts as a bridge and navigator between the maps of the heavens and our inner landscapes and their timekeepers. Her consultations are for individuals, relationships, optimum timing for events social, business and for start ups, children’s birth charts and for re location. Ysanne is also a colour therapist. An award winning author of “THE TIME CATCHER- How to time your actions to turn challenges into opportunities.’ Proceeds from the sales of this book will aid the eye clinic in Spiti Valley India.

Zeenat Noorani

Zeenat Noorani Resilience Wellbeing Coach, NLP, Hypnotist, Kinetic Shift, Mindfulness, EFT Practitioner, Speaker, Mentor &Author Helping you to “Empower Your Mind To Have The Life You Desire”

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Sandra Deira

Sandra is passionate about wellness. The Global Director of Health Tribe, she loves helping people achieve their business goals, optimise their knowledge of general health and improve their healthy lifestyle.

Looking forward

SPRING 2021 EDITION

Ultimate Wishlist Destination The complete guide to Post-Covid Luxury Travel

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Editor’ s Letter

The difference a female’s perspective can make In a world designed for men, Rich Woman Switzerland Magazine dares you to re-imagine yourself so the world can finally see your true worth. A digital and print publication, RW offers a happy medium for philanthropic minds and affluent women seeking a sustainable enriched life.

Every page brings you the difference a female’s perspective can make, a difference that might otherwise remain absent, unseen and unheard, a difference that ignored will definitely leave humanity at a great loss.

For as long as we can remember, we were conditioned to believe that the lives of men in human history represent humans’ story. While women were busy at home, taking care of their man leading the household, for the best part of human history, men were also conditioned to think that “the other half” of humanity belongs to them, not to the world.

When you look at the other half of our society, after thousands of years, the gap of silence is still blocking who you could become as a woman, and what you could bring to the table.

And I mean, everywhere, in the news, health, politics, science, finance, movies, sport, literature, fashion, wellness, luxury brands, education, technology and business.

What is the source of this absentee mindset at present? Yes, we live in a world designed for men, by men. But how many men will tell you that they need you more than you need them?

Generations of great men before us fought for women to become visible, relevant, present.

A whole new generation of kind, extraordinary men are thinking the world about their sisters, mothers, and partners.

When is the right time for women? Is there such time when everything is perfect for us to step into our own light? Yes, for centuries, the story women are telling themselves, about themselves, when nobody is listening, is the story their mother told herself, and her mother before her told herself the same story... The stories we, as women, tell ourselves about our past, present and future, are all conditioned by a background, painful, silent presence. And this is the cause of the gender data gap.

180 We curated a collection of titles to show you the other half’s real life story, beyond mainstream brands, trends and lifestyle.

Rich Woman Magazine’s focus is to give a place and a voice to invisible and unheard female brands. We strongly believe that every woman who dreams is an undiscovered brand!

In this edition we featured female leaders, creatives, mothers, wives, sisters, inspired by their unique talent. We showcased developing trends sparkled by local women who are taking their brands globally, to make you curious of the next big thing, fresh, untamed talent. Secretly we hope to make your soul scream Yes! and inspire your heart to sing your own song.

I want to thank our team of editors, designers, and to our guest contributors for delivering tailored content for women who will inspire men to deliberately honour the women in their life.

My heartfelt gratitude must go to Lesley Calvó, the Guest Editor of the first edition of Rich Woman Switzerland Magazine for delivering the Swiss Woman Re-Imagined!

For the most part of this year since we started to work together, the whole world came to accept that uncertainty and difficult times are the new normal.

We decided to focus on our unique message not knowing how long is going to take until the travel ban will be lifted, and transformed our living rooms into newsrooms.

Working together behind the scenes, we learned the deep meaning of resilience and gratitude.

Constantly seeking the next Stardust story, undeterred by challenges, removing one obstacle after another, and delivering one story at the time.

It is a true privilege to get to know

Lesley who formed and conducted the local team of guest contributors. At times it seems that we were on a treasure hunt...and what treasures she brought to light! Here we are, humbly gifting the world with the most beautiful women who re-imagined themselves against all odds.

Presenting this edition filled with priceless human treasures, she is, no doubt, creating a new wave of awareness on what women bring to society and on what a woman could be telling herself when nobody is listening.

We give you over 260 pages of wisdom and knowledge, from remarkable women who dare to re-imagine themselves, their lives and a fairer society!

While I pencil this letter for you, UN celebrates the international Day for the Eradication of Poverty. “In a world characterised by an unprecedented level of economic development, technological means and financial resources, that millions of persons are living in extreme poverty is a moral outrage. Poverty is not solely an economic issue, but rather a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses a lack of both income and the basic capabilities to live in dignity.”

As I read this, a spotted the image of a Haitian woman who prepares "clay cakes" — sun-baked disks of clay, butter & salt — that have become a symbol of Haiti's struggles with extreme poverty and hunger.

I can’t hide my astonishment: why is eradication of poverty still debatable?

The answer is obvious: the world needs more teachers. Teachers don’t need a classroom to share their knowledge on how best to lead your life. You could start teaching today, switching on the light on somebody’s dark hour.

I could only imagine what is possible when every boy and girl is given a fair chance to become better than the generation before them.

I could only imagine what is possible when every woman and man is given a fair chance to become better daughters, sons, husbands, wives, friends, colleagues, neighbours, learning from each other to be kinder human beings.

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The gift you received at birth is yours to develop and share with the world.

Why not let your unique talent help others flourish?

With a humble heart, I am proud to introduce the women behind the first edition of Rich Woman Switzerland Magazine!

Marina Nani 64

84

P.S. I was about to sign off the final version of this edition, all checked and ready to go press.

And then, something happened and made me realise that the real message I want to convey in the editor’s letter is not about you, the woman others think you are, but the heroine who resides inside your untold story.

That evening before going press, I’ve watch a documentary "In the shadow of Mary Seacole" with David Harewood, who went on a three-year journey across Britain, Jamaica and Crimea, to document the efforts made to unveil a statue honouring the Jamaican woman who made the wellbeing of soldiers during the Crimean War, her life mission.

As David Harewood tells the story of building a statue to honour, for the very first time, a black woman, I finally have the proof that if we want to change the world, we have to give men the chance to grow up in the shadow of heroines.

The statue standing opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, might very well be honouring one exceptional woman, but for me means a lot more. A whole world more.

How many other remarkable women took their story to an early grave?

Mary Seacole is a beautiful, heartbreaking story and thanks to a brave group of passionate people who, 100 years (and £500,000) later, managed to deliver the recognition Mary Seacole deserved.

This is what Rich Woman does at every page turn: electing a statue for a woman who deserves to be honoured while alive.

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Women & Society

Maggie Berry OBE, Women’s No 1 Global Matchmaker

by Dr Marina Nani

H

ave you ever imagined going global? Maggie Berry, the “Matchmaker”, is known for blending an elite certification and connecting women- owned businesses into the global supply chain.

Gone are the days when matchmaking was about finding an ideal husband. In today’s world, women executives know that time is of the essence. Why not take the hard work out of finding your supply chain partner? If you are a woman in business seeking success, knowing Maggie Berry is a must have privilege.

Founder of Women in Technology Network, Maggie Berry has received an OBE for services to Women in Business and Technology.

Currently, the Executive director for Europe at WEConnect International, Maggie Berry is responsible for the management, leadership and development of the organisation’s network of registered and certified women business owners across the UK and Europe.

WEConnect International’s corporate members represent $1 trillion in annual purchasing power and are true pioneers in inclusive sourcing and global supplier chain development. In Europe the network is matchmaking women’s businesses with the likes of Accenture, EY, IBM, Intel, MSD and Proctor & Gamble.

A passionate advocate for women working in tech roles for the last 15 years, Maggie has focused on raising awareness of women succeeding in business. Championing women is an ongoing challenge, and with the storm that hit the global economy in 2020, we reached out to Maggie Berry OBE to see how is she doing during the lockdown. What drives her while in self isolation?

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Locked in her home in England’s countryside and facing the heights of a tough reality, Maggie Berry is socially distancing with a new and unexpected sense of “as if”. Her travels, conferences and speaking engagements in Switzerland, Belgium, France and other countries in Europe had to be postponed, due the imposed travel bans, projects are stuck and progress made is cut down while supply chains are facing global uncertainty.

Aware that not only her company was hit by this unprecedented epidemic but every supply chain is rethinking their strategic steps into the unknown, Maggie is living the life of a modern Phoenix. Instead of feeling trapped, she keeps calm and carries on, doing her meetings online, cooking for herself and her husband and transforming uncertainty into creative solutions for the millions of business women who are looking up to her answers.

Her day job is sourcing women-owned businesses, certifying their products and services with multinational corporations through a global supplier diversity campaign is attracting millions of businesses from around the world.

“The drive and the organisation’s global vision is all around women’s economic empowerment and putting financial power into the hands of women. Our network of womenowned businesses are stepping up to provide goods and services addressing the challenge of the current pandemic. The global vision and the passion is clear for everybody. From our CEO Elizabeth Vasquez to my colleagues, to my counterparts in different regions of the world, to all of the different support people who work with us to make this happen.”

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Reflecting on how her own passion for supporting the growth and development of women in business started, she tells us: “When I think back to being a student at university, then a little bit later at the beginning of my working life, I first started to really look at the women in business and business initiatives. Connecting with senior women who were incredibly generous with their time, with their insight, with mentoring, with informal advice, and listening to amazing men and women speaking at events about their career, sharing their journey, inspired me to grab opportunity with both hands… I took little bits from all the interactions and from a multitude of experiences that have come together and started to selfmotivate myself and package opportunities for women.”

Maggie is socially distancing at present but she always loved working from home, and here are a few simple but effective morning rituals.

“I work from home. Although I travel a lot and my husband commutes to London every day and he leaves the house very early, I give myself between 6:30 and 9 o’clock. That’s my time. I don’t go online in the morning, instead, I really enjoy having breakfast in bed, and then go for a run or exercise. When you’re sitting in front of a computer all day, every day, you have to look after yourself and your own energy levels. I don’t drink coffee, I’m a tea drinker. But I have to admit I would normally only have one cup of tea every day. I drink a lot of water instead.”

Championing women requires a systematic ongoing process. How does Maggie mentally handle herself when facing challenges?

“Spending a lot of time working from home or remotely, it can feel a bit lonely. I take each challenge as it comes and I try to break it down into constituent parts, to understand what are the elements of it, what’s happening, why, what bits are concerning me, what are my biggest worries and tackle those individually.

You can’t just work it all out in your head by yourself.

Sometimes it’s just a case of talking to a colleague.

Sometimes I talk to my husband when he comes in and ask for his perspective on things. It’s about working out what the actual concern is and how I can tackle that rather than actually looking at a problem or a challenge in its entirety, because that can sometimes feel really overwhelming and calling on support when you need it.

Knowing that there are people I can call upon if I need support is a key part of creating success.”

Surrounding herself with a powerful team, she works with different teams for different projects, but what makes her so loved by her team?

“We have a small team here in Europe that work

“

Receiving the Order of the British Empire was completely and utterly unexpected

specifically on our campaign here. We’re part of a wider ecosystem.

I try and communicate effectively. We are not working together in the same office but we work remotely, we’re in touch every day, multiple times every day. We use the phone, we use Skype, we use WhatsApp teams, whatever the technology is, we keep the communication channels open, all the time.

I try to be really honest and clear about why I’m asking them to do different things and what the context is, so they know what’s going on and what they’re working on. We openly discuss what are the priorities and the challenges ahead. Communication is the key thing.”

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2019 recognises Maggie’s outstanding achievements and she was invited to Buckingham Palace to receive The Order of the British Empire, one of the highest honours in the land.

“Receiving the Order of the British Empire was completely and utterly unexpected, and the whole experience was just so amazing. Going with my family to Buckingham Palace where I actually received the medal from Prince William, who asked me some really great questions about the work we’ve done around women. During those couple of minutes with me he really wanted to learn more and that on its own was a complete honour.

It also helped me understand more about the honour system in the UK. Made me think of other people who deserve recognition for the work they do as well, not only people in the business world, but also maybe some of the other people that I work with at the community association, people who volunteer hours and hours of their time to support that organisation. On reflection, there is so much more we can do as a society to recognise people who volunteer their time and support others. I feel truly privileged to experienced such an honour.”

About Maggie Berry Maggie Berry is the Executive Director for WEConnect International in Europe and joined the team in December 2012 – she has lead responsibility for the management, leadership and development of WEConnect International in Europe. Her role involves matchmaking women’s businesses with global supply chain partners and growing the database and network of over 1,000 selfregistered and certified women business owners across the UK and Europe – WEConnect International is active in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.

Previously, Maggie was the Managing Director of Women in Technology, an online job board, recruitment and networking forum for women working in the technology profession in the UK. She was involved with Women in Technology’s inception in the autumn of 2004 and managed all aspects of the website and the networking activities Women in Technology organised. She continues to run the Women in Technology Network on an informal basis in her spare time and she is a Freeman at the Information Technologists’ Company in the City of London.

Maggie’s personal drive and focus is to increase the number of women who are succeeding and achieving in their business lives – whether they’re working in the corporate world or running their own business, are in the early stages of their career or are seasoned professionals. She does this on a day to day basis at WEConnect International and in her spare time everywhere she goes!

Listen to the full interview

The Stardust Hour Podcast Available on all podcasts apps or find every episode at richwoman.co/ podcasts

46 | RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21

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A legacy of time

By Dr Marina Nani

F

“

or centuries, poets and artists, writers and musicians tried to capture the essence of femininity. But it took a woman to bring a new perspective on focus. A woman known for inventing the only Women Swiss Watch to inspire women, the epitome of beauty, elegance, sophistication and self confidence.

Giselle was only eight when she lost her father, a little girl trying to help her mother going through challenging times. One day she found a four leaf clover and gave it to her mother, Odette. “Mother, we are saved. I found a four-leaf clover!” Her mother placed it inside her pendant. Four decades later, when this little girl became a businesswoman, and was facing difficult times, her mother, Odette, unlocked that pendant and showed it to her daughter. Little she knew that with that she unleashed the feminine power in her daughter’s life and a whole wave of inspiration will take the world by surprise.

Like her mother, Giselle missed her father greatly, but found comfort in her mother’s strength. She learned from her mother the old saying “ Time is Money” but found that is no longer a true reflection of a women’s perspective in the business world.

The

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Four decades ago, before women’s role in society started to make the headlines, I decided to empower women and inspire my sisters all over the world.

business world needs a woman’s perspective: “Time is Life”.

Giselle Rufer decided to create a Swiss watch for women that will remind her of her father, and it will honour women and their contribution to society, their commitment to life. In an industry where historically only men are allowed, she stepped up to the challenge and became a prominent entrepreneur creator of the chic Delance watch for women. She received numerous international awards and accolades for Innovation but she is yet to be recognised for her contribution to closing the gender gap.

Only 1% of the world population owns the Delance watch at present: famous actresses, politicians, businesswomen, athletes and inventors from around the world. But with every watch, Giselle helps another woman connect with her inner teacher and unleash her self confidence, her full potentiality.

Here is our latest interview with Giselle.

Cover Story

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Cover Story What do you remember about the time when you were a little girl, who was Giselle as a child? Tell us about your parental home, your childhood, your dreams back then…

My parents were both born in Paris. They married very young and I arrived into the world in 1946. They moved to Porrentruy, a small Jura town in Switzerland when I was 5 years old. I was a tomboy, very energetic and wanting to discover the world. The old city was our garden and we were investigating all the places in search of treasures and adventures.

My mother had a shop in the old city, selling beautiful tableware, Limoges porcelain, Baccarat crystal, Christofle cutlery, tableware coming from France. She was the “Parisienne”, so beautiful and talented- she was my queen.

The picturesque region of Jura in Switzerland is the cradle of watchmaking industry. The Swiss Jura has been industrialised since the 18th century and has several cities at very high altitudes, such as La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, and Sainte-Croix (renowned for it’s musical boxes). It is hard to resist it’s natural beauty and features such as the Creux du Van, peaks such as the Chasseral, caves such as the Grottes de l’Orbe, and gorges such as Taubenloch and my undying love for this regional heritage goes way back to childhood and makes me very proud of my origins.

Since you developed a sense of trust with yourself, and the outside world, you went on an adventure of the mind, re-imagining your life, and that takes courage. What impacted your self confidence?

As my mother was busy running the shop, I grew up to be independent and take responsibility for my own actions. On the other side, my father was encouraging me to dream big and believe in myself. I still hear him telling me: “Everything you want to obtain, you will be able to achieve it !”

I grew up in self confidence and probably my childhood years impacted all my decisions I took later on in life. My father being very passionate about the watchmaking and selling Swiss watches in France, cherished the idea of creating his own watch brand. It was his dream that became mine after his death. He was only 32, I was 8… It was my father’s idea to name his watch brand “DELANCE”, the name inspired by our family name. I made my father’s dream mine since I was a child back then but 40 years late, I designed the only Swiss watch for women.

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When I reached adulthood I worked in the watch industry but I could not find the watch I was dreaming of. I wanted a watch that has an unique style and mirrors every woman’s authenticity and courage. I wanted a watch that reflects the feminine personality and values, a talisman, a symbol of life, harmony, spirituality ticking with a feminine rhythm. I could not find it so I had to create it.

In 1994, I decided to create a watch that is a silent mentor empowering women to reach the sky. I had to do it, it was my mission. Four decades ago, before women’s role in society started to make the headlines, I decided to empower women, inspire my sisters all over the world. Since then I attended thousands of international conferences with the desire to instil self confidence in the feminine talent and help every woman I meet re-instate her self confidence.

“

“

The business world needs a woman’s perspective: Time is Life

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The Delance watch is more than a watch, is a silent mentor...

You live at your family home in Switzerland and since the travel was banned your daily routine has changed. What are your morning rituals? Take us through your day...

Since the Covid brought the world to a stand still, I cannot travel all over the world anymore, to speak at international conferences and to organise the distribution of the Delance watches. When the lockdown was declared I was just returning from my tour in Asia. I had a shock discovering that I am a person at risk.

No, not me… but in fact I am a person at risk as I am over 60. What can somebody who travels for a living do when there are no air plains in the sky, no people to meet? I decided to discover more about myself and travel inside my mind, find out more about living a joyful life while social- distancing. I decided to take a coaching session called “Joliment vieillir” (“Nicely grow old”) with Veronique, for one month and I have to admit that the result is great.

When I wake up, I take the time for me first, drink a glass of water, then brush my whole body to stimulate all the connections, and I am ready for a good day. Depending on my agenda, I will find time for meditation and relaxation time during the day. I have the chance to live in the country so I go for a walk as often as I can. When I go to bed, I make sure I sleep enough. I am very young at heart and I feel well in my body but I take the time to listen to it. I have to find ways of rerejuvenating so I could carry on my life mission and inspire my sisters with my strength.

Cover Story

Since you created your Delance the only Swiss women watch from ground zero, you have faced endless challenges. What drives you to unite women in sisterhood ?

Through my life experiences, I noticed that all women, from very young age are facing difficulties, all over the world. I am the oldest of four sisters and I had to support my mother who became a widow and my sisters. I we survived after the death of our father, we have the support of our circle of women to thank you for. I learned the power of sisterhood since early childhood. Women who support each other know there is no value in competing against each other or being jealous. I suffered from the jealousy of other people and I remember those times being very difficult.

Probably I was too much for them and they couldn’t accept me… I wish I could help them understand sooner that I am a woman on my own mission, and not a competitor.

We are facing a new social algorithm that impacts our behaviour, as consumers. At a time when self isolation brought humanity closer together, as the head of Delance Watch, what do you think is the role of women in society?

I grew up in the city where you could find all kind of shops, butcheries, bakeries, grocery stores, and all those shops were kept by women.

I remember as a little girl, I noticed that the cashier at the checkout, it was always a woman handling the money. In my eyes, those women look like queens, they were the face of the shops. There were men doing the job in the back shop, but when the wife was ill, the shop was closed.

Since the dawn of time, the contribution of women in all fields has been immeasurable.

Now is the time for women to openly assume the role they deserve in society. Now is the time for men to recognise the contribution of women in all areas, listen to our voices and support us as we supported them for thousands of years in history. Even the world EVEOLUTION, puts the name of a biblical woman, Eve, at the core of this world’s meaning.

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What seems to be even more powerful than Coronavirus, is the fear of the unknown.

There are no rules anymore, what are your thoughts during the self isolation slowdown?

A woman can conquer the fear of the unknown. We had to overcome it so often. The first time when we become aware that it is our role to give life, then the first child, the child leaving home, the ageing, and everything in between, is a journey into the unknown. Each one of us walks in beauty and love, through every difficult step and survive. Together we will reinvent ourselves and enchant our lives.

I am confident we will overcome the pandemic too, we have no choice, we have to get stronger for ourselves and for our children.

Like you always said, we really have to reimagine ourselves. .

Brands, old and new have the chance to overcome the fear of the unknown, what is your advice for business leaders after the outbreak of Covid-19? Are you re-thinking a new strategy for Delance Watch? Do you think there is opportunity in calamity?

The recovering will not be easy. My mother who was a very wise woman, told me: “After the war was nothing left. We had to rebuild everything and we did it”. Now we will have to rebuild our society, our companies, and our businesses. It will perhaps be a long way and we have to be courageous and ready to work more and to have less. With creativity, love and work we will continue. We have to concentrate on what is really important for ourselves, our family and our society.

Sure a watch is not a priority and there are millions of women who don’t think of a watch right now. But the Delance watch is more than a watch, is a silent mentor, an inner teacher, reminding you who you truly are. As we created a community for the women who are Delance Ambassadresses, it is the symbol of our solidarity, a proof of our multiple talents and a sign of recognition for women who want to make the world a better place for all.

Cover Story

Changing the World: Unlocking our Full Human Potential

by Susie Poole

W

e exist in two worlds, the external world, what we see and touch, and our internal world, our thoughts, emotions, and self-care. These two worlds are constantly interacting and shaping each other.

The external world can consume our lives – the demands of work and family, rushing through each day, conforming to social norms, trying to keep up with everything, leaving little time for ourselves. We tend to believe the external world drives and dominates our internal world. And here’s where it gets interesting.

Scientists now believe, and are proving, that our internal world significantly influences the external world. In other words, when we feel valued, respected, loved, and supported, we feel nurtured. And it is this nurturing that is the key to unlocking our full human potential.

Nurturing shapes more than our daily behaviour – it shapes our internal world for life. Before we reach the age of seven, our brains are operating at low frequency, like hypnosis, yet developing rapidly: still absorbing without constantly questioning. What we take in becomes our belief system and how we speak to our children becomes their inner voice.

From age seven, the developing belief system drives our subconscious mind – our behaviour, our perception of ourselves and the world, our ability to connect and form meaningful relationships, even the circumstances we are drawn to in life. When we nurture our children, delight in them, laugh and play together, they learn to delight in being themselves and in life.

We have three “brains”: the head, the heart and our gut. They each have their own intrinsic nervous systems and neurons, and can take on information, process it, store it, change and adapt. Together they span what we think and what we feel. The head is our source of thinking and rational processing; it makes meaning of things. The heart is our source of processing emotion and home of our values, from which we connect with others; and the gut is where we park safety and self-preservation, courage, and motivation.

According to renowned executive coach and mentor, Brian Gorman, all too often business leaders are either disconnected from their heart and gut brains, or if they are connected, they still screen 58 | RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21

Women & Society

messages from the heart and gut through their head, because rational thought must win at all costs. They veer away from depending on gut instinct and rule emotion out of the equation.

Conversely when we consider some of the most inspiration entrepreneurs, innovative thinkers and leaders around the world, it is clear that the “other two brains” the heart and gut, have been a major influence on the decisions they’ve made and subsequent actions they’ve taken.

A name that is probably popping into your head right now is Sir Richard Branson. On a local level I would also put our own inspiring Carla Kaufmann of Get Diversity as a “three brain thinker”. Effective leadership requires all three brains, especially during times of change.

When we connect to all three brains, it can improve clarity, create a connection and evoke conviction. At a corporate level, learning when to utilise each of the three brains and which ‘brain’ Is best suited to deal with any given situation is increasingly being recognised as a powerful tool for effective decision-making or driving change.

If all three of these brains – head, heart and gut are equally valued in how we think and make decisions, then emotion and nurturing can also play a key role in driving change and optimising our lives.

When we feel connected and ‘nurtured’, for our brains, which evolved to keep us alive in the wilderness, this equals safety. And when we feel safe, this allows our brains to be engaged, we become more productive, innovative, creative and we reach out to others, optimising team work and collaboration.

Leaders who connect and nurture relationships spur innovation and productivity.

At a personal level, using all three brains, allows us to fully engaged with our work, our lives, and our full selves. Connecting to our heart provides what we all seek in life: our happiness and well-being. The clearest message from the longest study on happiness of 75 years conducted by Harvard University is: ‘Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.‘ More than money, recognition and fame, it is having relationships with mutual love, appreciation, and a feeling of connection – simply having relationships with heart coherence – that matters most.

So, if our thoughts, emotions and behaviour create our reality, how do we create what we want from life?

How do we make our world a better place for us and future generations? Neurobiology and epigenetics are telling us that we achieve this through nurturing, being in heart coherence and at a more profound level changing our self-limiting belief systems. Science is finding our belief systems are not fixed for life! There are now ways to re-program these to ones that support us to help us achieve our goals and aspirations.

Essentially science is revealing that when we live more from the internally driven world than the externally driven world, this shifts us from a fear-based consciousness to a heart-based consciousness.

Living by the externally driven world, we live the Darwinian paradigm that life is about “survival of the fittest”. It assumes that the essence of life is about survival and conjures up the image of the lion chasing us. We are in stress mode. Our fight, flight and freeze mode is activated, driven by fear. Fear closes down our “thinking brains”, eventually numbs the body, disconnecting us from ourselves and others; and ongoing stress can cause all sorts of health problems. In the external world, we are in reaction mode, relying on brute force and physical strength. We are operating at a sub-optimal level.

In the internally driven world, we seek “heart coherence”. This is a highly efficient state in which, according to the Heartmaths Institute, all of the body’s systems work together in harmony, increasing the alignment of our mind, body, emotions and spirit. The process is the object – the enjoyment of life. In the internally driven world, we are at our most powerful when we operate from our imagination and have our mind, body and spirit fully engaged to create a better reality. We are operating at peak performance.

Shifting from fear-based external consciousness to a heart-based internal consciousness is not about hugging trees, but rather about elevating humanity to a new level of consciousness to fully realise our human potential.

For centuries, women have been dis-empowered, often dismissed as “too emotional for a man’s world”, limited to the role of nurturer and carer, while men assumed the roles of providers and rule-makers.

Thankfully over the last one hundred years or so, the

women’s movement has been a considerable and persistent force in influencing change. Opportunities for women to step beyond these limitations have increased substantially but sadly, gender-based stereotypes of emotional vs. rational still exist.

The women’s movement has been instrumental in changing how society views gender roles, but this has been more focused on the external factors of equality and pay. Nurturing is seen as an emotional task and while appreciated within the family context, it has until recently, been grossly undervalued and seen as a weakness or “soft skill” in the business world. Because of this, insufficient value has been placed on women’s role in nurturing and the valuing of others.

When we begin to understand the benefits of nurturing, it becomes clear that this emotional work is not only a woman’s strength, but also has the potential to change the way we as humans live on this planet.

The role that nurturing plays in shaping our internal world has an impact on our external world. It comes as little surprise that studies show that firms with women on the executive board are more profitable. Only last year, the Swiss parliament mandated that on publicly traded companies, boards of directors should have better female representation, which will be good for those companies and the Swiss economy.

By elevating the importance of nurturing, it opens it up to greater accessibility and alignment with both genders. It frees up men to have greater choice in choosing to be a homemaker or part-time worker and to share in the nurturing role with their partner. Just as valuing nurturing liberates women, it liberates men, giving them permission to fully access their hearts and whole selves to reach their full potential. Where governments mandate paid paternity leave as well as the more traditional maternity leave it further endorses the value placed on nurturing as a powerful influence on how we raise future generations. It recognises that nurturing need not be solely the domain of women.

Continues on page 65

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Why Evolution Depends on Diversity

By Carla Kaufmann

A

t some point we have to decide who we want to be. What is important to us and where the journey of our life should lead us. Which doesn’t mean that we will get there. All of our plans are of no use if things turn out differently than you thought. COVID 19 is currently showing us another side of our ability to adapt and change. It is not better, it is not worse, it is different.

We have to learn to deal with new circumstances and we have to get involved, and this is the only way we could take the next step into the unknown.

I remember a scene with my father where he asked me over and over again: are you sure that your statement is correct as it is? Why do you think it is so, why can’t it be different? – Frighteningly fast I didn’t know what to say to him anymore. I was 12 years old at the time. When I was 16 I had a neardeath experience. I saw myself from above.

Wrapped up in pain, as people rushed to me to try and bring me back. Although I didn’t actually decide to come back myself – I did. Why? We don’t question ourselves enough. We don’t question the status quo enough. We live merely to survive, whereas we should create, improve, innovate. We take it for granted that things are how they are. Why? The long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our economies are not yet foreseeable. It hit our global economic system like a tidlewave and led to lockdowns all over the world. During these trying times, many entrepreneurs are likely to have seen their entrepreneurial existence from above as well.

An entrepreneurial near-death experience, so to say, wholly unexpected and unprecedented. – What now? Do you keep on going? And, if so, why?

In Switzerland, the Federal Council declared the lockdown on March 16 and upheld it until May 11, 2020, thereby shutting down a large part of economic and social life during almost two months.

Only four weeks later, on June 9, 2020, the Swiss parliament passed the “Aktienrechtsreform” bill and thus implemented gender guidelines for listed

companies. Without people noticing. 67% of Swiss public limited companies with more than 50 employees do not have a single woman on their board of directors (Diversity Report 2020). Why? Evolution is not a status; it is a process. We are in the middle of it and we are part of it. What evolution is in nature, innovation is in business. But we have only one primary source of innovation, and that’s our imagination. The imagination of the people we interact with, the people we discuss our challenges with.

Evolution has caught us off guard – what innovations do we respond to it with? And, more importantly, how do we imagine to respond to it in the future? Widen your imagination and surround yourself with inspiring people, men and women. If there has ever been a time to enlarge your perspective, to include different, diverse perspectives it’s now. – while we are still alive.

About the writer: Carla Kaufmann has an masters degree in law from the university of St. Gallen. After working for PWC she bought 2010 the online platform companymarket.ch and is ever since working in a highly specialised e-commerce business. In 2012 she also founded the association geschaeftsfrau.ch where especially women get trained in taking over a business.

Living a Double Life

Fear, Shame, Mental Health Issues and Eating Disorders

by Patricia Ordody

L

iving with mental health issues and addictive behaviours, made me live a double life, to protect my social status, and hide my fears, shame, mental health issues and eating disorders, until

one day‌

My truth shall set me free – which truth is keeping you imprisoned?

I am not a health coach, who came from a healthy place. I am a Health Coach who beat the odds of a 17-year battle with an eating disorder, depression and severe anxiety. I was successful on the outside, yet terrified, alone and broken on the inside. This article is not only to honour my personal journey, because I am no longer afraid or ashamed, but also to give hope to those struggling. Be it a bad habit, personal, professional or health challenge, or an addictive behaviour to whichever degree, there are many of us who have struggled, who share your pain, who have overcome, who understand. Knowing that can already make a difference.

I was always a perfectionist and thought negatively about myself, even though to everyone else I was a happy kid with a great life.

The negative thoughts spiralled from anxiety into obsessive compulsiveness at age 10 and at age 16, I developed a severe eating disorder that followed me for the next 17 years, sometimes extreme, sometimes I managed, but I never felt like I could overcome it.

There were countless moments of despair.

The loneliness, guilt, shame, rejection, fear, and self-hatred that I often experienced is not something I wish upon anyone. Be it anorexia, orthorexia (obsession with healthy eating), bulimia or a mixture of disordered eating, whatever overwhelmed me was numbed by abusing food. Restricting it, shovelling it down, purging it, controlling it, ignoring it, lying

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about it, hiding it, throwing it away, buying excessive amounts of it. Something would trigger me and it was as if a switch went off in my brain. I was on a mission to just focus on food in one of the previously mentioned ways.

In my worst episodes, I was in such a state of delirium that whatever happened over the next few minutes, or perhaps hour, was literally a blur when I came to my senses. It was uncontrollable and terrifying, yet often my only way out of feeling whatever it was I thought I would not survive feeling.

This is a reality I know I am not alone with.

Nevertheless, the tolerance and understanding for eating disorders is low in our society.

Alcohol, drugs and gambling are understood as dangerous. For those suffering like I did, food is or was that numbing substance. I was judged for wanting to be skinny, despite my slim frame, and for not being logical.

Food is normal, it is necessary. How messed up must I be not to be able to manage this basic need on Maslow’s hierarchy? We do not need drugs and alcohol to survive, yet food is constantly in our face. It is part of practically every social setting on a personal and professional level. Being social meant I had to lie, cheat, pretend and hide even more in order for the truth not to rear its ugly head. Being social meant I had to persistently control my addiction in front of others, because my greatest fear was losing face: to have others look at me with the contempt, disgust, hatred, fear and shame that I saw staring back at me in the mirror every day.

Especially in Switzerland, where I have lived for the last 14 years, this issue is still shoved under the carpet. Nevertheless, many people struggle with eating disorders, disordered eating and, as in my case, the often related issues of depression, severe anxiety and insomnia to only name a few. Mental health issues, addictive behaviours, or whichever category you want to select, the problems are real and too often kept quiet.

I tried every form of support from alternative methods to classical psychology and am still

Women & Society grateful for all the help, input and inspiration I received. I made progress, but not feeling understood made me doubt if I could be helped at all. Furthermore, I lived a dual life the entire time – successful, competent, social and pretty on the outside versus lonely, depressed, terrified and broken on the inside. I felt like a liar and a fraud. I often wished I could speak to someone who has overcome the illness successfully, but never found anyone around me. Why? Sharing your truth and struggle means letting others know about these real issues no one wants to discuss.

Whatever is not understood, real and different is feared and shamed. Opening up means being vulnerable and it means taking responsibility. While I did a lot of work on finding out the cause of my illness, this did not give me a peace of mind. The reality is that the emotions and fears driving my illness were not resolved with a simple answer to a question.

Who cares about the “why� when you cannot get through the day? I blamed myself for how and who I was, but this was as useless as blaming someone else, since the outcome is the same: victimisation and inaction. It had nothing to do with taking responsibility, but no one told me that, or perhaps I could not hear it since I felt completely alone and not at all understood. I could write a book on the countless ways I tried to cope, improve and recover.

Often the process was two steps forward, three back, but there was progress. When I felt like I had come to a good point in my life with a more suitable job, healthier family relationships and friendships, and somewhat stable food habits, things took a turn for the worse.

Over three years my health disintegrated and I was shoved into the “burn-out” bucket, because my symptoms made no sense to anyone and to be honest, no one really wanted to take time to take a closer look.

A blessing in disguise What I experienced thereafter is what pushed me to become a Health Coach. Getting physically ill to the point of struggling to move, digest or sleep, forced me to slow down, to study, to carry out a lot of research, to ask the difficult questions without the help of a doctor, since I had lost hope and had no more strength to seek out anyone else.

Getting help and truly taking responsibility are two different things. I had to stop searching for answers outside, thinking “if this…then that,” and do the hard work of taking my anxiety, emotions, traumas, experiences, relationships, habits, thoughts and beliefs apart with the right questions. The process forced me to understand the signs my body has been sending me for so long and to slowly learn to accommodate what I need.

Things did not change from one day to the next, but setting goals and taking committed, concerted action every single hour of every day, will lead to progress. I stopped planning one year ahead and focused on getting through hour by hour, day by day. I tried and tested dozens of tools, questions, healthy coping strategies until I was equipped with those that got me through those difficult days. They still show up, but I accepted that an addiction does not disappear.

I remain vulnerable, I remain honest. There is still too much shame attached to addictive behaviours and mental health issues, even when someone has beaten the odds, which quite frankly should be celebrated and shared. Today I celebrate and share my success of making the impossible possible, of making my pain my purpose. I had to learn that in order to heal, I don’t need the truth, I need to honour my truth. I was scared to share this story for years and realised that as long as fear and shame dominate, I have no real chance to live fully. Fear and shame are prisoners to our souls. My truths may not be yours, but I urge you to honour your own.

Which truth is keeping you imprisoned? Discover it, honour it, work through it and allow that process to set you free.

About the writer: Patricia Ordody is a holistic Health Coach supporting busy, career-driven people in making nutritional and lifestyle changes to improve their mental, physical, social and emotional health for a happier and more successful personal and professional life. She founded her company Health is Wealth because of her personal health journey, through which she became passionate about helping anyone with similar struggles related to work-life balance, addictive behaviours, weight management, hormone health, stress management and more. Visit her website to learn more and contact her today for a free discovery call: www.healthiswealth.ch

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Changing the World: Unlocking our Full Human Potential Continuing from page 60 Yet despite women’s traditional role as the nurturer, women are neither taught how to, nor encouraged to explore, utilising caring for others as a significant strength. This secret superpower influences not only the family and the home, but also the workplace, the community, and the very foundations of society.

However, nurturing is not just about the gender issue.

It is about nurturing ourselves as well as others.

Some of the issues we are facing in 2020 – Black Lives Matter, the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing and dealing with the consequence of climate change – all require change. Major change is now our new normal. To manage the challenges of a global pandemic, or to rapidly transition to a postcarbon economy, we need all the benefits that

nurturing community among Swiss and international women.

My vision is to help women recognise where our power lies, so we can learn to use our power mindfully, understanding the impact and creating realities we want for ourselves and all of humanity. And when we collaborate, our impact is magnified and multiplied.

We can be the drivers of change for the world we want to live in. We are more powerful than we realise.

nurturing provides: tapping into our potential for a boost in creativity, innovation, productivity, collaboration with others and effective change management. World leaders who have earned some of the highest praise for their responses to the COVID crisis are women, such as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

Earlier this year I was delighted to be invited to join the board, in October, of one of Switzerland’s largest women’s business networks, Womenway, as Director of Environment, Social and Corporate Governance.

Board-members and executives make up 43% of Womenway’s community. In this role I will be driving a new strategic imperative called “Women Leading the Way” by collaborating with partners, the focus of which is to empower and inspire individual action and collaboration on local and world issues; and to create a

About the writer: Susie Poole is a climate change/energy thought leader and an advocate for women empowerment, particularly for leading the transformation to a post carbon and sustainable economy. She is a partner of a global permaculture climate change initiative – 52 Climate Actions, a partnership of 10 International organisations.

Together with her role at WOMENWAY, Susie aims to empower women and organisations to create a better today and a tomorrow to look forward to...

Sense and Sensitivity Without Guilt: Alexandra Brändli- a Woman of Limitless Talent

By Lesley Calvó

M

otherhood might not be the first thing people associate with Leadership. However, Alexandra Braendli is proving the power and diversity it can bring to leadership roles.

When I've met Alexandra, an intelligent and sophisticated woman with formidable linguistic ability and limitless talent- a consummate professional, I realised that she is a woman who earns respect through sense and sensibility. Able to sense the nuances of different cultural settings, business projects, political and economic trends, Alexandra is a woman of limitless talent who, as a wife and mother of their three amazing children, is mastering the art of motherhood- withoutguilt between conference calls and board meetings. Here is our exclusive interview...

What was the journey like to get where you are today?

Full of privileges but also containing enough manageable challenges for me to constantly grow.

I grew up with my parents, a technical entrepreneur and a nurse, and two younger brothers near a little Swiss town called Aarau.

While I had a beautiful childhood, I also learnt early on that working hard and doing a great job doesn’t automatically mean that you have a salary at the end of the month and can easily make a living. I started earning my own money as soon as the law allowed. First during holidays and weekend, but soon also away from home to learn other languages, something which I’m passionate about.

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When I was 15, I did a stage at a bank in the Italian part of Switzerland. At 17, I left for Spain for an exchange school semester and to dance Flamenco (to be honest, I rather spent most of my time having fun with my friends).

Since then, Andalusia is treasured in my heart.

The warmth of its people and how they celebrate life as well as each other is something which shaped me.

At 20, I went back to Sevilla for another year to dance Flamenco.

One job I did to get to the end of the month was going from door to door selling alarm systems. Another one was selling beauty products. Not my dream jobs, but I learnt a lot during that time. Like doing a sales pitch with the same attitude, positive energy and genuine interest for the person you are talking to after being rejected 20 times as if it was the first one that day.

On a rainy summer day in 2014, I put on my red flamenco dress and married Richie, dressed up as Mad Max, alongside 200 guests.

Some people could not understand why we had a fancy dress wedding. We couldn’t care less and planned it based on a white page ignoring cultural norms or the expectations of others. And believe me, we couldn’t have wished for a better wedding. We celebrated love and friendship together with our dearest people and had the party of our lives.

A few months later, I got pregnant. Richie and I were over the moon. While I had felt that women face different challenges and expectations than men before, it was only when I was expecting a child that I truly realised the differences. Even Though I was known to be ambitious, people often asked “if” I would like to go back to work after maternity leave, or, how “I”, not “we”, would organise myself when the baby was here. While I believe parents equally share the responsibility to care for their children, it’s still mainly seen as a mother’s job in Switzerland.

Here’s a funny example from later on that shows that. One of Switzerland’s largest retailers has a platform where parents can get advice on family matters and products. As our family manager and hence grocery shopper, Richie signed up for their newsletter. One day he finds an email in his inbox saying: “Now! Win a wellness trip with your girlfriends, dear Mister Schwarz” with a picture of four women relaxing in a whirlpool. I don’t know what went wrong there, but we thought it was hilarious.

Or another one, a promotion email of a toys store, said: “Dear Miss Schwarz, ….” And there’s more of these examples. It’s amazing that these marketers think their audience is exclusively female.

I always knew I wanted to continue with my career as a mum. When I was pregnant for the first time, I started to look for female colleagues and managers who had gone back to work full-time after mat leave. I wanted to get inspired, have role-models to look up to and ask all my burning questions. But, I couldn’t find anyone in our Zurich office. I had to go to New York, London, Paris, Milan or Madrid to find them. I’m so glad that things have changed in the meantime and that we now have our little club of full-time working mums in our Zurich office. I get a lot of energy out of those connections.

You can only be what you can see. Countless scientific studies prove that diverse teams perform better. I’m convinced that the power to inspire more people is one of the positive effects of diverse teams, especially diverse leadership teams. And the more people a company inspires, the bigger its talent pool and probably also client base due to a better reputation.

And when it comes to parenthood, the cultural norms and traditional company set-up which assume that men are primarily committed to the company and women to the family doesn't work anymore. Many women want to have careers as well. And more and more, men want to be more engaged at home and take care of their children as well.

I think we should also adopt a much broader definition of the caregiver role. Providing flexibility and paid-leave to any form of care giving for loved-ones in need, whether it’s ageing parents, a sick relative or young children would not only be fair and making companies more attractive to talent, it paradoxically would also take pressure off new parents and especially reduce the bias against

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mothers.

To come to the end of my journey. As we are doing this interview, I am on maternity leave with our third son who was born one month ago, at home of course with my entire family, catching up with my colleagues whom I think about a lot, and on conference calls with the other board members of our family business which – like so many others - is dramatically affected by the crisis caused by the Corona virus. Yet we are so lucky. We are all healthy, haven't lost a loved one to the virus and live in a nice place. Also, luckily my income isn’t affected by the situation, unless Richie’s who has lost several important freelance jobs. I’m thinking of all those in less favourable positions and simply hope this will end soon and hopefully bring a few good things with it as well.

What do you feel has been the most important part of this journey so far?

Having a strong and supportive partner.

Richie is the most important person in my life.

Our relationship is the source of everything, both privately as well as professionally. I have the utmost respect for single parents – the job they do is beyond comparison.

What has been the greatest revelation behind achieving success as a woman in a global corporate environment?

I find it surprising how often I observe intelligent and experienced leaders have biased thinking cloud their judgement.

With the model we’ve chosen to make our living, Richie and I represent 2% of Swiss families. This means we definitely don’t represent the norm, something I’m reminded frequently through social interactions (both positively as well as negatively), promotion, and lower recommended salaries.

I have two real examples illustrating that the motherhood penalty is real this from my closest circle of friends and family: A friend of mine had been in a management role working 80% for a Swiss NGO for several years when she got pregnant. Without even asking her about her plans after maternity leave, her manager, a woman, told her it would be impossible for her to keep her management position as a mother, even if she’d continue to work 80%.

My dear sister-in-law had received a special bonus in spring 2016 for her outstanding performance as a marketing manager. In November of the same year, after a long adoption process, she became a mother. Again,

without even getting her view, her manager informed her that she would no longer have her current job. She got downgraded. He argued that the reason behind his decision was the fact that her focus would shift now that she’s a mother and that he wanted to protect her. According to herself, she had never been more motivated and energised in her job simply because she was so happy. Also, what the manager didn’t know was the fact that her husband had just lost his job which made her the primary breadwinner. So much for protecting her.

In both cases, these women suddenly didn’t feel appreciated anymore. The value of their skills, knowledge, experience and network and the potential costs of losing them appeared to be secondary. The managers’ actions seemed to be driven by short-term thinking, their personal assumptions and values and an unconscious - or even conscious bias - towards mothers. Biases are a natural part of life and not all are bad, but they have to be addressed and we have to be aware of them when we make decisions.

I would like to use this opportunity to highlight some positive effects parenthood had on my way of working: I believe I’m more pragmatic, focused and productive since I’m a mother. Even Though I also get distracted a lot at work, it’s nothing compared with the level of distraction at home, so I enjoy every chance to focus. And because I want and need to leave at a decent time and the phone could ring anytime because something happened with the kids, I need to be as efficient as possible.

I feel I’m now also more patient and more resilient to stress. Having kids definitely made me stronger.

And although I have a very busy life that requires a lot of energy and leaves minimal time for myself, I feel more balanced thanks to the fact that my kids draw me into the presence and into their world which forces me to switch off from work when I’m with them. And that’s very healthy.

And, last but not least, becoming a parent takes you through a leadership fast-track course: There are many parallels, for example the need for empathy and clarity, between leading people at work and raising kids at home and I try to leverage both as much as I can.

What has been your biggest challenge in combining your career with a caring role so far?

There are the obvious challenges that I want to be honest about. Being pregnant with small children at home and dealing with pressure coming from a heavy workload, responsibility and a lot of travelling at work can be tough.

Although, I imagine being on your own at home with a two and a four year old all day while being pregnant to be even harder. Also,

going back to work after mat leave isn’t a piece of cake.

However, the part about being a full-time working mum I was struggling most with was the criticism. I get very little understanding for my choice. And interestingly, it’s when I have a moment of weakness because I’m exhausted, ill or need help, that the criticism gets loudest.

That’s when I hear things like “it’s too much for you”, “you are too career-oriented”, etc. Even though the only thing I would need in those moments is support. I think in those situations people who disapprove of our model are reassured in their assumption that it doesn’t work, that I can’t do it. And that’s annoying and it’s something I first had to understand before learning how to deal with it. It also made me learn to not feel guilty anymore or defend myself whenever I’m asked how much I work and the reaction is “whaaaat? full-time?”. That’s when I used to quickly add, “but I have three to five hours of pure quality time with my kids every day because my fantastic husband takes care of eeeeeverything else, etc.” The energy that goes into defending yourself can be used much better elsewhere.

On the positive side, these experiences have made me stronger and I can’t stress enough how privileged I am. Apart from my family, I have a wonderful team, a truly supportive and inspiring manager and a great employer who all made it possible for me to advance in my career while having three children. I also hope that these experiences will make me a better manager going forward.

How did these experiences mould and shape you into the leader you are today?

I see myself as an open-minded, caring leader with an entrepreneurial spirit.

Entrepreneurial for me means taking full accountability, thinking long-term and not feeling precious about the type of task that needs to be done. For me a good leader doesn’t walk past a piece of litter lying on the floor without picking it up, helps clean up a meeting room before the next clients come if need be, or – using my parents as an example – to be out in the streets and sell ice cream for 12 hours in a row.

Caring because for me the essence of our life are the people we spend it with, it’s the quality of our relationships that make us happy or not. And I believe we are so much stronger together.

Leaders who don’t look after their people are simply not inspiring to me and I believe – or maybe hope – their businesses are not sustainable.

Open-minded because anything else wouldn’t be fair nor clever. Rejecting the status quo, questioning the norm and getting rid of old patterns are important leadership skills in my view. If we look at things differently, I believe we

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will grow personally, progress faster and be more creative and inclusive.

What was the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, and did you follow it?

Always listen to your intuition. And yes, I do follow it ever since.

What excites you about your future?

Going on adventures with Richie and the boys.

It’s going to be so much fun. I envision us skiing, surfing and hiking – simply enjoying nature together.

I also very much hope to make a little difference for parents in the workplace. To show them that it is possible to thrive combining a caring role with a career.

How did you find your definition of success, what does success mean to you?

To look into the mirror and love the person you are, be proud of and satisfied with what you do with your life and if possible make a difference to others. All that while being grateful for being in a position to own your life. It’s a privilege that not everybody has.

What is your superpower?

My eagerness to continuously learn and develop, look for new challenges and step out of my comfort zone.

What’s one limiting belief you have overcome and how?

I grew up believing that only if you are stressed you are working hard enough. As I got into the work force, I had to learn how to manage stress.

I’m still not a pro at it but have become much better at it.

What are your top 3 ways to deal with stress and/or practice self-care?

1) Like most of us, I’m drawn into different directions all day. Also, I’m the type of person who enjoys planning ahead and filling up my life with exciting stuff. Therefore, I have made mindfulness a central part of my life. I try to be present and focus on what I do in the very moment as often as possible. At work but also at home. I completely focus on my children when I’m with them and simply enjoy being together, what exactly we do is secondary. For example, I love bringing our eldest to Kindergarten every morning. Even spending time waiting at the doctors can be beautiful if you focus on the positive side of it. I see any moment with my loved ones as so-called “quality time”, no matter where, when and for how long it is. I also try to grab a moment to meditate whenever possible.

This can be a yoga class over lunch, my bike ride into the office, a ten minutes meditation some time during the day at the office, or just focusing on three slow, deep breaths before going into the next meeting. A new habit I have started is to have lunch on my own during office work days.

And when I do so I only focus on eating, no phone allowed. It’s efficient and relaxing. For social interactions I prefer to go for a coffee. This allows me to better focus on the person I meet.

Another important routine is that I always focus on my breath to fall asleep.

Exercise: dancing Flamenco, skiing, yoga, hiking. I need to do sports regularly to stay balanced.

Flamenco is an important part of who I am. It’s my passion. Not only because of the dancing itself, but also because of the many friendships connected to it, the music, the spirit, the inspiration and the incredible energy that comes with all of it. Even Though I am embarrassed to admit that I’m sometimes on the verge of giving it up temporarily due to the lack of time and just feeling too tired, I know very well that it would be the worst thing I could ever do, and I have asked Richie to help me to never ever allow it to happen.

I’m grateful for how lucky I am. Every day.

Alexandra Braendli is a woman who challenges and questions the boundaries of normality, not easy in our social climate but she accomplishes this with passion and finesse. Her experience has led her to become an advocate for more diverse leadership teams, including more women, and the benefits motherhood can bring to a leadership role. She is a shining example of this, having been promoted three times since starting a family.

With 15 years of experience in communications, marketing and sales, today, she holds the role of Director Communications & Marketing Europe at the Property, Casualty and Specialty risk division of a global insurance company. She is also a member of the board of her family’s 125 year-old chocolate business.

Alexandra is married to Richie, a part-time freelance video editor, who manages their household and is the primary caregiver to their three boys. Alexandra has a Masters degree in Science of Media and Communication, Business Administration and Business History from the University of Zurich. Her passion is Flamenco dancing. She is fluent in German, English and Spanish.

How to fall in love with your life (again) and build effortless prosperity: Interview with Paula Bohland

By Lesley Calvó

D

o you feel out of love with your every day life? If your daily routine starts to overwhelm you, it is time for new rituals, fall in love again with your life. where do you start? We reached out to Paula Bohland to find out how do you re-set your intentions to embrace your inner truth and effortless prosperity. Learning how to make the little, extra changes and effort make a huge difference in your life and success. Getting some assistance in seeing what those changes may be for your will take your life to a new level of prosperity.

Paula Bohland, Founder of Maven Soul, is an award winning motivational speaker, author, blogger, consultant, and master business coach who specializes in personal and business growth and development. She is passionate about assisting people in finding their purpose, success, and joy. She works with women who are making bold moves to live fully, intentionally, think, dream, love and live big. Her pioneering project in Guatemala has involved the creation of coaching schools for women from the lower social economic level.

These women have little or no chance of education or employment.

This project enables the women to support themselves, their family and others by following their business dreams.

What do you feel is the most important part of your journey so far?

The most important part of my journey so far is connecting with all aspects of myself and finally “standing in my own shoes”. When I stopped reacting to all the “noise” of what I should be doing, who to please, what methods to use, what to do to make money, and made the decision to design and follow the best path for me, everything changed. My income tripled and is continuing to grow exponentially, my business is soaring, my relationship to my goals and dreams changed and I am truly happy.

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How do you follow your own inner truth and unwavering belief?

I have developed a deep connection with my intuition. This came about through the development of my daily spiritual practices and a decision to live in a spirit of gratitude. I also seek out other ideas and people who are managing successful businesses and lives in a similar manner. I limit the “noise” that is provided by others and our culture from the belief that success is only achieved through working constantly and driving yourself into the ground.

Who are you helping now?

As a Master Business Coach, I support many types of businesses to develop and grow, from small start- ups, women living in poverty, to multi -million dollar corporations, management teams, female executives (and those leaving corporate roles) and CEO’s. I am proud to be working globally, assisting women who live in severe poverty in Guatemala to create sustainability in their family. I assist them to develop successful entrepreneurial ventures and also become coaches in their country. It is beyond wonderful to be on this journey and impact lives so importantly in my coaching role.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Before I made the decision to work from my values, focusing on gratitude, my inner guidance and belief in myself, my business was a failure. I was not really assisting any clients, I was broke, about to lose my home, worried about how I would feed my son, overwhelmed, and tired. I could not figure out why I kept failing even when I had graduate degrees, experience, training, worked all the time, and was doing everything everyone else told me to do. I kept trying for years. I almost quit and just accepted “my lot in life” was one of being broke and hopeless. The decision to work from gratitude, intuition, setting intentions and belief in myself and my inner guidance changed it all quickly. I grew financially but also became truly “rich”, living from purpose and using my gifts to impact and help people in the world.

Do you think our fears and doubts can be a catalyst and fuel for change?

Yes! Fear and doubt are negative emotions. We are programmed to run away from that which feels bad so naturally we run from these feelings and get into doing instead of being. It is counter intuitive but if you go to the feelings of fear and doubt and just be with them, explore them and allow them to be part of you, often you can learn a great deal and overcome them. If one uses fear and doubt as a catalyst to examine why those fears are present and what they represent, they can understand and resolve that which is holding them back from being their best self, and living stronger and bigger.

As you learn from the emotions, they can be a super catalyst for change and empowerment.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Before I made the decision to work from my values, focusing on gratitude, my inner guidance and belief in myself, my business was a failure. I was not really assisting any clients, I was broke, about to lose my home, worried about how I would feed my son, overwhelmed, and tired. I could not figure out why I kept failing even when I had graduate degrees, experience, training, worked all the time, and was doing everything everyone else told me to do. I kept trying for years. I almost quit and just accepted “my lot in life” was one of being broke and hopeless. The decision to work from gratitude, intuition, setting intentions and belief in myself and my inner guidance changed it all quickly. I grew financially but also became truly “rich”, living from purpose and using my gifts to impact and help people in the world.

What was the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, and did you follow it?

One of my mentors once said, “Golden opportunities come infrequently, when you see one and feel it in your gut, go after it with all that you have in you”. I have followed that advice, and share this advice often with others because it has proven to be a great guide to my success.

How did you find your definition of success, what does success mean to you?

I chased external success- large sums of money, houses, and “things” that society told me made me “rich” for many years. I found that focusing only on external success made me overwhelmed, negative, depressed, empty and needy. Through trial and error I found that real success is achieved both internally and externally and should not be forced. I like having money, financial security, a nice home and freedom and I have those things.

However, I treasure my sense of direction, working from purpose, connection with a higher spirit, feeling excitement to get out of bed every day, feelings of peace and joy for living, being part of a loving community, and living in the moment of knowing what is right for my life and business intuitively. I called this way of living ”effortless prosperity” and those who have it are the really rich people.

Grand Passions

T

o quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion." Christina Schläpfer knows all about this particular passion and, indeed, parted ways with a career as an architect to follow her dream of working with the horses on her family’s farm.

With their long, arching necks, high tail carriage and beautiful, elegant demeanour, the Arabian horse is one of the most famous equestrian breeds in the world. While stud farms and training facilities certainly exist, they are usually kept separate (although some trainers do offer both).

Christina was able to see the potential for combining both of these elements and at the same time taking things one step further. She enhanced her parent’s stud farm into a place where horses are not only bred and trained in one place (both in hand and under saddle), but also presenting the animals at international shows, thus providing a holistic experience for the animal and a comprehensive history for any potential buyer. We caught up with Christina to find out more about this exciting, revolutionary approach.

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Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

My father was always an entrepreneur, even from a young age and I always saw him working hard to fulfil his dreams. This was inspiring to me and my two older siblings and we always sought to emulate that same work ethic and dedication.

Growing up, I also saw the lifelong passion my mother had for all things equestrian and how she pursued her own dreams in that direction. After visiting a horse show in Austria, both my parents fell in love with Arabian horses and my father bought a pair of Arabian geldings as presents, named Mogambo Ibn Munim, for my mother and for my sister, Sabaal Ibn El Sayed. My father built a barn next to the house for the geldings to live in and we then introduced two mares to complete our small Arabian horse family. We were quite excited at the prospect of having our first foul and once that happened our passion for breeding really took off!

As for my own journey, I studied architecture but soon realised that it wasn’t the life for me. I couldn’t stand being stuck at a desk all day, staring at a computer. I grew up around my parent’s horses and was always passionate about equestrianism in all its forms. I saw the joy it gave my mother to work with our growing stable and decided that I wanted to follow my passion as well.

I began working at the farm full-time. We started purely as a professional stud farm but our innate drive lead us down new, exciting paths and now we also run a successful training facility.

“

Every horse, like every person, is different and their personalities are as complex as our own.

I’m really lucky because I had the chance to turn my beloved hobby into my livelihood. My mum and I have a great relationship and a shared enthusiasm for Arabian horses, so we are able to work as one and reach our goals together.

How did you develop the business?

It all happened organically really. My mum had already started the breeding programme, and this was a successful, thriving business in its own right. I then came up with the idea for the training centre as I was really in favour of having the breeding and training take place in the same location. It’s been an industry standard that people breed horses but will bring in a trainer from the outside. I guess what makes us special is that we both breed and train the horses and as already mentioned, we also present them at international shows. I actually don’t know many farms who do everything in one place, like we do. There is an ultimate reassurance for our clients that they know not only the full progeny of the horse but also the entire history of that particular animal, as we can tell them everything about it from its birth right through to the present day.

Tell us about the stud farm, what is it like?

Our stud is located on the outskirts of Adetswil, a small village in the Zurich Oberland, only 40 minutes from the city of Zurich or Kloten Airport. The stud is surrounded by around three hectares of lush pastures and a further 13 hectares of meadows, which are used by the family to produce hay. The stud farm has 30 horse stalls, 11 of which with runout, and large all-weather paddocks.

Since 2018, the stud has also had a covered horse walker and an integrated covered round pen as well as a spacious and bright indoor riding arena. The latest integrated technologies simplify our everyday work and help optimise specific horse training. A solarium for horse care, a treadmill for horse training as well as the manure suction system and the goods lifts simplify and enrich our daily routine.

Ernst, Maja and Christina Schläpfer designed, planned and constructed the facility especially suited for breeding and training and it was realised by the family-owned company. A place where not only the horses feel like they are in a five-star resort, but which also invites the people to stay and enjoy themselves. Our heaven on earth.

What challenges have you faced?

One of the main problems that we hope to address is that people often think that Arabian horses are crazy, unrideable and even dangerous. The truth is that these horses are super intelligent, sensitive and, ultimately, just like humans, each have their own personality and character traits. If you train them in the right way, treat them with respect, then they really rise to the occasion. You can do nearly every equestrian sport with them from dressage to show jumping to western riding and endurance.

In terms of day-to-day challenges, then scheduling and timetabling can sometimes be unpredictable. We sometimes take a lot of time to make up our schedules, only to find out that we have to change it at the last minute. This is the reality of working with animals, we have to be adaptable and change plans if necessary.

What is the best thing about your job?

That every day is different. We are working with animals who do not communicate like we do but their personalities are as complex as our own. They all have their own characters and daily moods. This makes it a privilege to work with them, seeing them being born, growing up, developing, being trained and educated.

Every horse, like every person, is different.

There also is a genetic component which I am fascinated by. As we breed, we look at your female and search for a suitable male. Are they more like their father or mother. What will the foal look like? There are so many interesting aspects to the breeding.

People really appreciate our work and effort.

They feel honoured to be able to purchase a horse of our breeding programme and I can see that they are enjoying every moment at our beautiful stud farm. It is also very satisfying when we win a competition, as we would have been preparing for a long time and putting a lot of work.

What is the best piece of advice you can give someone starting their own business?: Believe in your project, keep going for it and don't give up when something doesn't work immediately. Be realistic but also full of dreams.

Finally, how do you define success?

Success is simply when you are happy with what you do, every day.

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100 Loving Ways A Girl Can Say Yes! To Happines s A conversation with Personal & Professional Development expert, Dr Novie Johan

By Dr Marina Nani

T

he latest World Happiness Report released in March 2020 ranked cities around the world, and showed how the social, urban and natural environments are affecting our happiness, girls and women seeking a happy life. Having someone to count on, having a sense of freedom to make key life decisions, generosity, and trust are some of the factors contributing to happiness. We reached out to Dr. Novie Johan, a London based lifestyle consultant to learn more about living a happy life. “Each day I see 100 loving ways a girl can say yes to happiness. Women need to be happy first”, she says.

Dr. Novie Johan has made happiness the focus of her life. An agent of change herself, she believes that all women can love and can transform into happy women through the power of self-love.

Here she shares her own experiences, as well as her thoughts on how women can be happy in everyday life. “Health, happiness and success go hand in hand.

Whatever we do in life, we are seeking the same thing – desire to be fulfilled and to live a life of contentment.” She started by reflecting on the source of her own happiness, and later on she researched the topic of transformation scientifically. The findings have now been published in one of the top journals in management worldwide: Academy Management of Learning and Education (September 2019): Informal and Incidental Learning in Liminal Space of Extended Independent Travel.

Her interest in people’s personal and professional growth and transformation continues to grow, as we are navigating challenging times. Here is her story, and how she lives her life based on her very own principals.

What is the most important transformation you experienced?

Since I was a child until my early teenage years, my extra-curricular activities were most important to me: I was busy dancing and acting, participating in modelling, operettas, dancing shows, advertisements and voice-overs for children’s and teenagers’ TV shows and audio stories. I really enjoyed all that I did, and I must say I wasn’t very studious at all. Then Sculpted Sleeve Dress by KAREN MILLEN P h o t o b y M i ch e l l e Ju dd

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my mom took me to my first European trip. For the first time, I saw a different world than what I used to know. For two short weeks I was travelling to various European cities.

I loved it so much that I found myself inspired to study abroad! When I went back home, I suddenly started to study really hard so I could get good marks.

No one, including myself, could understand this sudden change of heart. However, this change led me to study abroad and helped me later on with my academic discipline. On reflection, it was the first big transformation of my life, and it was completely unplanned: I never planned for it, and neither did my parents. Travel inspired me as a young teenager, and after that, life was never the same.

What does transformation mean to you? Can it lead to happiness?

Each person takes different meanings from their experiences. Throughout my life I have been transformed many times over, each and every time I travel, and each and every time I face new circumstances. Transformation, for me, was always a very positive experience. For that reason, I have always believed in transformation that is positive, is always available, and it is up to us whether we allow ourselves to observe and capture these opportunities to change.

For me, transformation is never a heavily loaded word. I change along the way, and every change is natural and almost happens instantaneously throughout my life.

We are born to adapt and change. We hear a lot about changing the world, as if it is a distant external goal, and there is a disconnect between ourselves and the change. The truth is that by changing ourselves first, we will inherently change the world.

Becoming aware of our ability to transform into better people, makes us happier people. Each one of us is an agent of change.

How do you define an agent of change?

Anyone who is comfortable with change internally is an agent of change. I believe that when you allow yourself to be who you truly are, you become your authentic self and it is easier then to embrace change at the pace of its occurring without any interference from the outside. When it comes to personal transformation, change can only happen when you start loving yourself more.

I will give you an example. A good friend of mine used to cry on my shoulder about her being unhappy with her body. I couldn’t understand it fully because I think she was beautiful the way she was. She used to be slim, but after a difficult time with her family, she gained more weight and started to hate her body.

She wanted her old body back, but even though she had been on a diet, eating healthy, and exercising, she couldn’t release any weight.

One day, when we were trying on new dresses, she complained about her body again. I moved her closer to the mirror so she could look at herself up close and asked her to say out loud: “I love myself and my body!”

She couldn’t say those words and big tears started to roll down her beautiful face instead. I continuously encouraged her to express her self-love and self-acceptance. About a month ago, in one of our video calls, she told me: “Surprise!”. And surprise it was: She has lost about 26 kg (from 93 kg to 67 kg) just by doing the same thing I asked her to do, loving herself more!

She finally found herself again and is feeling so much happier, as her body started to change for the better and she blossomed. The change continues as we speak, and she is getting her wardrobe ready for the upcoming season!

Remember, she said she couldn’t love herself for a long time, ten years of her life, but the moment she decided to face that very challenge and love herself more, she took charge of her own life and made the changes she wanted. I never even told her to change, in fact I accepted and loved her for who she was, but she wanted the change and so she did. This is why I believe in self-love, and how it changes people, but that transformation does occur only when you love yourself. Transformation is happiness. Change is a form of happiness that needs to be shared with the world.

What makes you happy?

As a business and lifestyle consultant, I lost count of the ‘aha’ moments and the men and women I helped to be happy. And, THAT makes me happy!

I previously have worked in different industries, in a number of countries around the world: from profit to non-profit organisations, from academic work to humanitarian work. Early in my career, in Canada, for instance, I worked with the universities and varying levels of Canadian ministers, councils, and agencies on some interesting projects such as assessing the needs for training and calculating the returns on such investments, and investigating travellers’ behaviours and level of satisfaction as well as their impacts on the economy. Also in Canada, I worked with a large non-profit governmental foundation in Toronto helping the young workforce to start and take off on their career pathway in the retail industry.

In the U.K., I have had a few interesting, happy roles such as working with an English mentee who worked for the Royal Household. I was mentoring him throughout the year, which included his service period during Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding, and preparation for one of the Queen’s summer visits to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. More recently, I also personally had one-to-one coaching sessions with a few international finalists of The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme who eventually met the Queen to receive their awards at Buckingham Palace, London.

You love helping young people, young entrepreneurs/start-up with their goal alignments and continuous motivations towards success. You worked with the finalists of Social Impact Awards Switzerland over the years. What made you happy?

One of the teams I worked with was Cuisine Lab, a non-profit organisation supported by the United Nations, who presented at the United Nations Peace Talks at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva and won 2017 Social Impact Award. I also attended the Social Impact Award Summit that gathered more than 150 winning entrepreneurs from across Europe, the Baltics, and some African countries to provide them with experts’ feedback about their new start-ups. For the local communities, I have contributed mentoring them when I was in Geneva as well as in London. And, again, that made me happy!

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S i l k S a t i n Ja ck e t b y PAU L E K A | H o t P i n k M i n i A z a e l e a D r e s s B y S E L F - P O R T R A I T | P h o t o b y M i ch e l l e Ju dd

What do you do to maintain a happy work-life balance?

I pay attention to what makes me happy. I look at my own routines and schedules and keep myself flexible at the same time. This allows me to focus on health, sports and happiness more seriously. For example, I walk everywhere, and I like to do fun things like: dancing, wall/rock climbing or even ice climbing, and diving, even right now, when there are restrictions on travelling, finding the time for the things I enjoy and value in my everyday life keeps me happy.

Spending time communicating with other enlightening people, is nourishing to your inner self.

I indulge in connecting with those in the same capacity of mind and heart, and enjoy spending time discussing various topics with them. Personally, I really enjoy spending time working on initiatives that help others, our environment and society, as I feel that I am bringing a positive impact to the people I work with. There are many things that could keep your inner-being healthy, you just need to discover what makes you happy.

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You lived and worked in Switzerland, the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, and you have travelled to many other countries too. What is your favourite cuisine? What is your favourite dish?

Home is an important place to me. I am a curious mind and I love trying new recipes in the kitchen.

Growing up in Indonesia was a blessing, I was surrounded by delicious cuisine with a large variety of dishes. One of my pursuits has always been to sample local cuisine wherever life takes me. I enjoy food that is both scrumptious and healthy, and the winners go to Lebanese, Greek, Japanese and Korean food. It is hard to name what my favourite dishes are, since I love them all, but I love eating well.

A quiet and serene breakfast is my favourite time of the day: the best way to start my day right. Eggs are my most preferred items – soft-cooked eggs (soft boiled or sunny side up), which usually are coupled with fresh fruit and tea. I make Eggs Benedict on special occasions. Alternatively, homemade oatmeal or granola, and fresh juices or smoothies are also my perfect breakfasts.

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For lunch, I tend to keep it simple: any type of salads. I enjoy super ingredients, from quinoa to edamame, and like to play with seeds and dressings.

For early dinner, I tend to have a combination of small-size meals: bite size or varied small plates if possible – from assorted appetisers and canapes to seafood dim sum and gnocchi al Gorgonzola and sometimes a small cheese platter.

At any break-time, I enjoy my ‘whole rose bud’ tea from Savoy and my English finger sandwiches. I also like to end my day right, usually by having my hot chocolate or lavender tea before bed!

If you haven’t tried this delicious beverage, Indonesian avocado milkshake is my favourite beverage recipe (they call it ‘Alpukat jus’ in Indonesia). It is made by simply mixing milk (or milk alternatives) and fresh avocados with a little bit of ice crush and additional dark chocolate for garnish and taste. Heavenly!

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the world came to an abrupt halt this year when we were asked to stay home. How did you adapt in order to remain happy and healthy?

Since I was a kid, my favourite hobby has been reading books and quotes that are mesmerising about life and characters of people. My mom worked for a national publishing company, and one of the things I loved to do in my leisure time was going to the company’s many bookstores and get new books that talk about life, emotions, and people’s happiness. I remember my favourite book; it was a hardcover book that I truly cherished all my life: “100 ways to say I love you”. It was the first English book that I bought with my pocket money when I was about 12.

I loved the way it looks at love, and it touched my heart forever.

I learned to surround myself with people who are exhilarating, not just to inspire myself, but also to contribute to their happiness and create a positive atmosphere around me. I love being surrounded by these kinds of people; it makes life worth living. It is so liberating to be able to discuss various things with them and at the same time it is so powerful to feel happy together with them. Indeed, each person’s life is an interesting book to be read.

On this basis, my stay-at-home plan was ready to go. I continued to work by meeting clients online and over the phone as arranged; I wanted to minimise the disruption for them as much as possible. On a personal level, the lockdown gave me the opportunity to try many new homemade recipes.

That, and stacks of read-worthy books, as well as plenty of people, friends and family to be in contact with virtually. In addition, my yoga mat has been put to a lot of good use! What the whole experience has taught me is that life continues to be a happy occasion when you adjust to change and continue being happy, willingly.

What do you think makes a woman special?

What could be her superpower?

In answering those questions, personally, I am the kind of person who is serious, but not too serious either. I love having a laugh, and I love comedy. Life should be lived seriously enough, but not being overly too serious that you forget about the purpose of life itself: to be happy. We come into this world to experience happiness.

It helps a lot if a woman can be positive, also if she can be sincere in feeling happy for others, and in helping others. I am confident that love is the proposition that can make people not only happy, but also successful in life. You can be certain that when you have pure happiness in your heart, you will also be successful in life. Your happiness is so important, and that is what I am standing for. I would like to be the case of happiness for everyone involved, and I think every woman should be the same for each other.

In answering your second question, considering that my first and favourite purchased book was about love, and I enjoy reading life quotes, I think to a certain degree I was also born a romantic and a thinker. What makes a woman unique and special is her life journey, and also the kind of belief that she has in herself. I personally made it through ‘living life’, travelling and meeting people along the way, and each experience helped me to see things differently.

This can work in slightly different ways for different women.

A woman’s ability to understand love is what makes her remarkable. A woman loves others as much as she loves herself. This is exactly what we need in the world today: a true understanding of love.

Every woman has a superpower! I use my superpower to help women realise that, believe in that and do just that so they can enjoy much happiness in their lives. I want to leave you, the reader, with a simple question: What is your superpower?

VISIT NOW

www.noviejohan.com

About Dr Novie Johan Dr. Novie Johan Ph.D., M.B.A., B.A. runs a personal and corporate consulting and coaching practice. Her main areas of expertise is Learning, Transition & Transformation, Personal & Professional Development, Cross-cultural Analysis, and Career Management. She has published and presented internationally in the fields of Management, Education and Sociology, and Hospitality & Tourism.

Novie has worked and lived in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America and has travelled extensively. She studied at the University of Cambridge (U.K.), University of Surrey (U.K.), University of Guelph (Canada), and Swiss Education Group (Switzerland). In addition, she lectured & researched at the University of Surrey (U.K.), Griffith University (Australia), University of Guelph and Ryerson University (Canada).

Novie is a Fellow of Higher Education Association, and an Affiliate of the Institute of Coaching (McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliate), a Member of Academy of Management and Association of Coaching. Travel and philanthropy are her passions as she continues to work internationally on research and projects that bring positive social impacts and transformations. During her time off, she enjoys yoga, dancing, rock/ice climbing, diving, and attending various sports and cultural activities. Contact Novie by visiting her website: www.noviejohan.com 84 | RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21

I Dare You To Step Into Your Feminine Power And Put Your Name On Real Wealth

By Leslie Kuster

H

“

ave you ever looked beyond your status quo, and said to yourself “Must be more to life!” and suddenly spotted a hidden opportunity to embrace reality, identify your unforeseen feminine powers, but lacked the courage to step into your next level of personal growth?

Back in 1991, I travelled to Indonesia for seven months and loved it. I loved the culture, the handicrafts and most of all the people.

When I returned home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the gorgeous batik clothing and beautiful fabrics I’d seen in Bali. And with that inspiration Back from Bali was born. For over 25 years, our clothing has been ethically made by family or women owned artisan businesses in Bali. Our rayon fabric is locally sourced in Indonesia and sustainably produced.

My goal is to make you happy by bringing you beautiful boho inspired clothing designed and created in Bali so that you feel great and look great wearing it.

It took me until I was 53 years old to be honest enough to say to myself “I want money!” It just seemed like something I shouldn’t say out loud. But when I finally said it clearly and passionately, that was the moment that started me on my path to where I am now –CEO and Founder of Back From Bali, an eCommerce fashion brand, that does multiple seven figures in annual revenue, and affords me the lifestyle and freedom I’ve always dreamed of.

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It is never too late or too early to step into your feminine powers and embrace real wealth, ladies!

Women- it is time to stand and shout, “I want money,” and not to cringe while you say it – not to be embarrassed, or deemed greedy.

Creating your own money enables you to step into your feminine power, be independent, take care of your family and live your freedom.

Money gives you real wealth- the ability to stand on your own feet and be the sovereign of your life.

Listen, I know it doesn’t sound so politically correct that I am asking you to stand up and shout I want money. It could seem like you are a money hungry feign and on top of that – it certainly isn’t very lady like. As a woman you are allowed to say “I NEED money” but certainly not I WANT money. Women are expected to say they want to help, they want to give, they want to support their families, they want to change the world- they want to collaborate – not they want money!

But, if you do want more money, if you do want to earn more, you must become honest with your desire, and then have the courage to say it. Making this bold statement is what will get you on the path to achieving it. Being wishy washy, being uncertain, or pretending money is not that important, will also ensure your path of not achieving it.

Taking 100% responsibility for your feminine powers The truth is many of us, still want to be taken care of, we still want to be saved, we still want and feel we deserve a comfortable life – hey we raised the kids and that wasn’t easy! I was guilty of this too. When I married my first husband back when I was in my 20’s. I remember saying to him “Promise me you are going to make $100,000 a year! ” It didn’t even dawn on me to promise myself to do the same!

I always worked but I felt my husband was the one who ideally should be pulling in the big bucks. In my mid 50’s I began to have strong stirrings inside of me of wanting to be more successful myself. I wanted to be able to buy with my husband our dream apartment, I wanted to have more financial freedom, I wanted to feel independent and that I could afford to take care of myself. And the biggest realization of all: If I wanted this, I had to take 100% responsibility to get it.

Like the princess in the tower waiting for prince charming to save her I realised I had been waiting to be saved. I was waiting, just like so many of us women do, for a man to save me and buy me what I wanted. I was waiting for something I wanted to change, but waiting for that change to happen was no longer an option for me.

Actually ladies, this isn’t an option for you either. It certainly didn’t work for Barbara Stanny, author of Sacred Success, as she tells the true story of handing her millions she inherited from her father, to her husband and watch it all disappear when he ran away with it.

There are still way too many women who are married and still have no idea about their finances because their husband is taking care of it. There are countless, millions actually, of women who marry “wealthy” men and who disassociate with “their” money. They live in a nice house, have a card for their own purchases and their partner pays the bills and handles investments. But they do not actually “have” the money, nor do they know how to access it.

When you can stand on your own feet, and know that you can truly take care of yourself and your family it is a moment when we truly grow up and take 100% responsibility for our money, our relationships, our homes, our jobs, our businesses and our happiness. We no longer cover up our light and power, cover up our dreams and desires, in order to remain safe and comfortable. The truth is women are scared of their own power because becoming powerful means you can’t act like a little girl, you can’t hide from your true wants, and you can’t pretend you don’t understand things.

As Ali Brown, one of my most cherished mentors describes this awareness, “it’s time to put on your big girl panties.”

When you put on your big girl panties you step into true feminine power, you put economic control into your own hands. And we all know, when economic control is put into women’s hands, they contribute to the world in a positive way.

Creating money and wealth for yourself gives you freedom. It gives you the independence to know you can stand on your own feet. You can care for yourself and for those you love. With earning your own money you do not need someone else to make you feel safe – not a partner, not a husband, not a father. You can do this on your own.

Having control of your own life is freedom – and it is freedom that you want. Freedom to define what is important to you, freedom to help others if that is your choice, freedom to live how you want.

You deserve that!

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Made for Each Woman JW PEI with its modern minimalist aesthetic, puts forward and seeks to celebrate feminine beauty and strength through fun and creative fashion.

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Fashion fades, only style remains.

COCO CHANEL

The Real Power of Style

F

ashion, far from being a frivolous or superficial pursuit, can have a profound effect on our day-to-day lives. The clothes we wear have the power to completely alter both our own moods and the moods of others. From the cosy, comforting pajamas we pull on after a long day, to the trusty little black dress that engenders confidence, to the expensive gym kit we wear to feel strong while we work out, our outfits speak to our inner psyches and the world around us. So what are the clothes that make us feel the most powerful, the most confident, the most fearless and the most ourselves in the workplace and how can we create and cultivate our own style?

The Changing Face of Workplace Fashion Sometimes to know where we are and where we are going, we need to look at where we’ve been. Women’s workplace attire has been a subject of controversy for many years, with employees suing their employers for discriminatory clothing policies and women’s outfits being scrutinized far more thoroughly than men’s. You only have to look at the intense media attention bestowed upon the clothing choices of female political leaders to see how much emphasis is placed upon women’s aesthetic appeal. But there is an inherent power to our clothing, a sense that we can do anything in an ensemble that makes us feel bold and full of verve.

MAX MARA Crepe wool blazer | Available at www.maxmara.com

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The Color Palette There have been many articles written on subjects as diverse as: how to find the correct color palette for your skin tone, how to match colors, how to use color, how the colors you wear affect how others see you and many, many more. But there is some truth to this hidden (in plain sight) truth. The majority of shoppers (over 85%) believe that color is the single-most important aspect when choosing a new item of clothing. Red is considered to be the ultimate choice for a daring, self-assured look, with blue being the color of confidence and yellow the color of optimism.

We very often have go-to colors in our wardrobes that we know suit us but it can be an interesting activity to try on new, different hues and see how they make you feel.

Know Thyself With sustainability and slow-fashion becoming more and more ubiquitous, the idea of following trends and wearing looks hot off the catwalk has, ironically, become slightly outdated. The days when women would have to slavishly follow fashion’s latest styles are, quite possibly, over. With this brave new world comes with it multiple opportunities to create your own style, one that is unique and, most importantly, makes you feel good. In a recent article, published on The Psychology of Fashion website, Anabel Maldonado writes about the prevalence of trends and the tendency for people to fall back on them, when deciding how to cultivate their style. She advises the following: “I always discourage this line of thinking, and come strong with my fashion psychology theory, explaining that better styling can be achieved through an assessment of one’s personality traits and finding the aesthetic that best complements them.”

And she’s not alone, with a piece in Psychology Today, clearly delineating between fashion and style, with style being “a reflection of your unique complexity as a human being.” For example, a beautifully-tailored, bespoke suit may make us feel powerful but we can make it our own by adding dashes of our own personality to it, like adding a necktie for a bolder look or wearing a pastel blouse with softer lines, to create a fusion of masculine and feminine elements. It depends on what you want. Fashion is the clothes we’re told to wear. Style is how we creatively develop our own self-expression through those clothes.

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Slowly Does It One of the best ways to adopt this individual cultivation of style, is to embrace the idea of slow fashion, as mentioned above. Simply put, slow fashion is a reaction to the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. With the luxury fashion houses continually putting out new lines and high street retailers creating thousands of new products daily, the emissions from textile production account for more carbon emissions than the maritime shipping industry and international flights combined.

For the individual consumer, this means buying less new clothing and, when you do, investing in long-lasting pieces that will weather the storm of passing trends. It’s a chance for us, as consumers, to slow down in all aspects. From genuinely thinking about what we feel really good in to then researching the brands that make good-quality clothing that fit our shape and personal style. It may be a bit of work at the outset but it can have lasting rewards.

Feeling Good Ultimately, our clothing should make us feel good, both physically, mentally and ethically. The effect of wearing the right clothes for you can be truly transformative, making us stand tall, stride out with confidence and feel totally and completely ourselves.

MAX MARA Cashmere blazer | Available at www.maxmara.com

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MAX MARA Blazer and trousers in wool twill | Available at www.maxmara.com

&

LUXURY BRANDS

FASHION SHOWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

It would be nice to choose whether to meet physically or not but if we don’t meet in persons, the experience has to be equally intense

“L

Alessandro Michele, Creative Director, Gucci

By Asiya Durrani ike many who have worked in the fashion industry for the past decades, I have quite some time before the Covid-19 pandemic, questioned the relevance of the current fashion calendar.

Due to the multiplication of fashion weeks, shows, celebrity and influencers playing central stage instead of the designers creations and the inevitable budgetary costs. Saint Laurent’s decision to opt out of Paris Fashion Week started people talking and rethinking the format of shows.

The Parisian house, whose past shows have included the spectacular backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, opened a sharp debate by announcing it would “not present its collections in any of the preset schedules of 2020”. This has followed with the Gucci brand, opting instead to take control of its own calendar.

Saint Laurent’s move is shifting tides obviously and at stake is Paris’s status as the epicentre of fashion.

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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, French fashion’s governing body, has cancelled Spring/Summer 2021 men’s fashion week and launched a digital alternative. The principle of the official fashion calendar is maintained, the event intended for professionals will be available to a much wider audience in this format. It will allow to showcase Paris and the creativity of the houses listed on the calendar of the Paris fashion Week with unity. Paris wants to remain the fashion capital where key, creative and leading events take place. Paris is a hub as all the big houses are located there and true business of ordering, pivoting developments and the heart of fashion beats.

In Milan Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana announced that it will present men’s and women’s precollections during Milano Digital Fashion Week from 14 to 17 July. The digital platform will feature video content, all organised in a calendar with slots for each brand. For its part previously the British Fashion Council said that London Fashion Week will go ahead during scheduled dates 12 to 14 June, with a digital platform, and will merge its womenswear and menswear shows. Paris’s Haute Couture Fashion Week will go digital this July, translating the craftsmanship of couture to a virtual format for the first time. Videos from accredited Couture Maisons will be aired on a dedicated platform from the Federation. The videos will be accompanied by additional content and a roll out on a schedule, mimicking the flow of a physical fashion Week.

The Spring/Summer 2021 presentations in September will depend on governmental measures and whether there are international flights and no second wave of the pandemic. New York, London and Milan fashion weeks in September are also still in position to go on as scheduled, however most likely in the new format, as for now. As regional organisations make difficult decisions around the future of fashion week, designers are left wondering how a unifying event could be replicated, or a new event invented, to take health and economic conditions into consideration.

Houses that can afford it, either economically or creatively, can say “We can present where we want, when we want and to whom we want.” This is the direction Alessandro Michele Creative Director of Gucci has announced stating,

“It would be nice to choose whether to meet physically or not. But if we don’t meet in person, the experience has to be equally intense.” Hardly even needing to add that rules are no longer appropriate, that from now on, shows will be experimental in format.

For sure, digital will be the prominent player. Several technologies involving the digital experience including Google Glass to watch a show from home, AR, VR, avatars as models and holograms are all in the pool of thought. While these technologies have been tried and applied to some extent, they haven’t fully taken off by fashion shows. Bringing the human element to the shows, with 360-degree sound, vision or new tools allowing the audience to comment on the show live.

VR maybe more suitable to accessories than ready-to-wear which requires staging in movement.

Also again this is extremely expensive for a 20 minutes show and possible by houses that can afford as younger, smaller brands will find this an impossible cost. As the fashion world and shows are a “ necessity” in the world and a truly relevant business, we can expect rapid innovations in this short time. The challenge of the physical shows will be to very limited audiences but the relevance of physical shows remain important because of sight and feel.

Fashion Houses will become broadcasters, embodying diversity of content, targeting different audiences and time of airing worldwide. Fashion shows will be smaller respecting social distancing and presentations where you can receive guests 10 by 10. Going back to shows in salons of Maisons or in the Atelier, with an ultra exclusive dimension, with this current era in mind when presented.

Fashion shows are not going to die.

There will be restrictions and much change for some time. Like all group entertainment, sport, theatre and exhibitions social interaction will develop into new evolved presentations.

About the writer: Asiya Durrani is a visionary and creative business strategist with insight for defining and directing fashion/luxury brand vision.

With over 25 years experience as a globally recognised creative business developer and a solid reputation of establishing international brands, Asiya's focus on highlighting trends in order to define ‘brand direction’ gives her an unique insight into the world of fashion.

Best ways to surf an overflowing wardrobe

By Tatjana Kotoric

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f you are one of those ladies who are desperately looking for the perfect outfit in front of their overflowing wardrobe in the morning, you are not alone! How would you like to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion?

Here are a few tips that work a long way

Less is more How do you choose your best outfit in your everyday life to radiate joy and confidence?

When you swim in a very large wardrobe, it is difficult to commit to a clear personal style; you quickly lose track of things and switch between different styling directions.

This means that the desired effect of your style does not come across clearly and you are constantly tempted to make new quick purchases that you later regret or buy clothes that you don’t really need. Somehow the joy of a piece of clothing seems to be dependent on the length of time it takes to consider the purchase. With quick purchases, the joy often fades as quickly as it came.

The overflowing closets are the result of the “fast fashion movement”, which seduces us every day with new bargain offers to make purchases and leads us to believe that we have to try out every fashion trend. We all know the negative consequences of fast fashion and there are several sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions to clear your closet: donation, recycling, and don’t discount selling your gently used clothes. Somebody is going to love them!

To create outfits that make you feel radiant and confident, first, you have to declutter your wardrobe of dated, worn out and ill-fitting clothes. There is nothing more overwhelming than a huge closet filled with clothes you no longer want and no longer can wear. If you want to build up your signature wardrobe and enjoy what you wear every day, it is time to say good bye to your past loves.

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The art of enjoyable shopping We consume at a fast pace and are conditioned to believe that “more is more”.

Take enough time to think about whether the new outfit suits you and your personal style. Is it even necessary? I often hear from my clientele: “I have a huge wardrobe and nothing to wear” It is nothing wrong with indulging in spontaneous purchases from time to time. But if you don’t want to lose a lot of money and time, try to discover the art of enjoyable shopping, An investment in well-known classics and timeless pieces of high-quality fashion always pays off- it is passed on from generation to generation. For decades they have defied all fashion trends and have retained their reputation and value. If you are enjoying thoughtful shopping despite today’s fast-paced world, Congratulations! You took a big step towards your perfect style!

How to manage your image and signature wardrobe If you want to learn about how you view the world, your relationships and your future, open your wardrobe.

At a closer look, every dress and belt, every coat and pair of shoes reflect your personality and outlook on life. Take time to think about what you want to wear at the next night out or board meeting. Plan ahead, as the clothes you pick are always telling a story about who you are and where are you going.

Cloths are loaded with memories, good and bad. If you start your day staring at clothes that make you feel negative, this will impact your mood for the whole day ahead. Why not choose those clothes which remind you of a good day out, or a successful day at work?

Always pay attention to quality and make sure you treat your clothes with the love and care they deserve. An army of creatives worked passionately behind the scenes to create your image.

Your wardrobe is our personal business card.

When setting up your signature wardrobe, give careful consideration to who you are and what impression you want to convey through your appearance. Gradually build up your image, one dress at a time. Like an art collector, you look for the perfect clothing and accessories that allow you to present your personality to the outside world in the best possible light.

GERRY WEBER Scarf with fine fringes | Available at www.gerryweber.com

About the writer: The experienced stylist Tatjana Kotoric is known for dressing the men and women at the largest Swiss media company. Tatjana has developed a completely new styling concept that makes you look and feel just as good. She conveys her knowledge in a very pleasant way so you learn to build up your ideal wardrobe and to put together beautiful outfits for every occasion.

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Home

8 Easy Steps To Beat Chaos and Enjoy Harmony In My Happy Home During Quarantine Times & Beyond

By Helena Zachariassen

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o we’ve all been at home with the family for weeks in a row now, so enjoying it enormously while others are going nuts. The Internet instantly got inundated with funny videos about moms getting grey hair in no time and drinking wine for breakfast. How were we, over night, to cope with working from home and at the same time becoming teachers, IT support, chefs,housekeepers, fitness instructors, nurses, coaches, mediators not to mention remembering there might also be a partner in the equation?

Is there a way to truly enjoy the quarantine instead of getting on each others’ nerves every 5 minutes? I believe so.

Honestly, there is no right or wrong. The simple truth is that both of these worlds and feelings are profoundly ok, even if they some days might take us by surprise and happen all at once!

The most important thing is to acknowledge them and at the end of the day, accept them for what they are.

Feelings. We are not our feelings. Let’s allow them to come and go. Just like the waves of the ocean. You create your own haven of harmony.

I have 2 young kids, who are now 7 and 4. I love them to bits but with those two a beautiful chaos called life moved in too and hasn’t left since! However, these kids are the purest of joy gifts, and they’ve taught me more than anything that less is more, on so many levels.

In the past few years I’ve decluttered our home and my life so thoroughly that I found my missing peace of the puzzle, became an entrepreneur as a KonMari Consultant & Lifestyle Coach in one go and I now support others choosing joy, organising and creating a home they truly love by simplifying their lives too. And I absolutely love what I do.

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What does it mean to simplify?

Simplifying and de-cluttering your life is like an artichoke. Little by little you peel the layers away and with time you reveal the heart of it all. The things that truly matter in life.

Are you able to see beyond what you already have in life? Gratitude goes such a long way and being able to cherish, appreciate and enjoy what is already there in front of our eyes. I’ve put together an introduction to simplifying your life, with small, easy manageable steps, doable during a quarantine or after.

Whenever you feel the time is right.

1. Take down the expectations, a level or two You can’t expect as much from yourself and each other as before the lockdown. You still only have 24 hours in a day and one pair of hands. Relax and take a break. You’re perfectly imperfect just as you are.

2. Presence & grounding To reduce any potential stress levels the first step for you to do is turn off your phone and decide what kind of (stayat-home) life you really want and need right now.

Sit with the thought and let the answers come to you. Your intuition will help you find the most important things for you. Invite your kids to do the same during a quiet moment. The next step is to take out everything that isn’t what you want right now. And I don’t mean physical items only.

We’re talking about social media, TV, the flow of (bad) news, junk food, negative people…you name it.

3. Minimise your to-do list It’s not the end of the world if you haven’t finished your never ending to-do list or that the kids’ homework is not perfectly done every single day. Do me a favour, cut down your to-do list to only a few carefully selected items for each day. You will notice how much more feasible it feels and maybe you tick them off quicker than you’d expected? Regardless: you are still enough even if you don’t finish a single thing.

4. Gratitude and togetherness It’s really helped my family to hold regular family gratitude moments to share and truly listen to each other, even if the needs are quite basic for the small ones, they might mean the world to them! The biggest wish for the kids has mainly been about doing a small activity together, all 4 of us. It’s the little things that matter most.

5. A tidy home truly equals a tidy mind Clutter is simply anything that stands between you and your ideal lifestyle. Your home can be perfectly tidy and still filled with clutter. Or it can also be filled with things and still provide an ideal source of growth. We’re all unique and one size does not fit all of us.

Simplifying is not about minimalism, the amount of belongings or how it looks. What matters is how all these things help and support you move towards your ideal lifestyle. Think about how your home and environment make you feel? If you could get from feelings of overwhelm, maybe even hopelessness to light, happy, airy and joyful…would you do it? Lead by example for your family and start with any small (or big) tidying project that support you feeling amazing in your home.

Tidying is contagious, you might be surprised…

6. Be more with less Be mindful about what comes in to your home. Shop less if you can, and if you do need to shop, be aware, do some research on the origin, material of the items and working conditions. Make sure you choose well, long lasting and environmentally friendly.

Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose is a concept that works perfectly well in any household, especially when you don’t have direct access to shops right now. And honestly, the less material possessions you own the easier your home and life is to manage and maintain.

7. Tidy tips and slow living When your home gets (too) messy invite your kids and family to take responsibility of a task or area, share the tasks and be involved. Let each family member visualise their ideal home and make a list of the most important organising goals for everyone. Make a visual list if helpful. Make sure that all things are returned to their homes after being used. As soon as people start leaving things around it will quickly get untidy. Ultimately the aim is to have less to do and to do more of what makes everyone happy!

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8. Find your inner Sisu Sisu is Finnish and has been defined as the word almost describing Finland. It has a vast amount of different meanings, from having guts to strength of will, determination and perseverance to sustaining courage.

Sisu is in my Finnish DNA, it’s almost magical to us. Whatever your worries may be, find your inner Sisu – it will encourage and help you face your challenges. For more tips on home organising, a well balanced happy home and Nordic living, head over to my blog, or follow me on Instagram.

Stay healthy and happy in your homes!y

About the writer: Helena grew up in Helsinki, in the capital of Finland, as a part of a small 5% minority of the country, the Swedish speaking Finns. Since she was born her family spent all their summers out on a remote island in the archipelago in the Baltic Sea, with no electricity, running water or other commodities but the sauna. She learned to love the simple and beautiful nature life there, loving the rough island climate, picking wild blueberries for breakfast, waking up to the sounds of the sea and the sea gulls, and falling asleep with the never setting sun during the summer days of endless light.

With a Masters in sociology and social psychology from the University of Helsinki, as well as a certification in life coaching, Helena is constantly seeking the magic of joy in all her endeavours. I the last 15 years she worked in different fields of the corporate world, mainly in international business consulting with a special interest in career and personal development and growth. At resent she lives in Switzerland from where she runs her own consultancy practice with the desire to inspire, support and help others living a healthy, balanced and happy life to their fullest potential.

Helena Founder and Owner of My Happy HomeCertified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach

Inspired by Nature Design Accents for Your Home

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rchitects and interior designers, craftsmen and engineers who create our bedroom furniture and our open plan kitchens start with the human experience in mind.

New trends are inspired from finding the balance inside our homes, harnessing creativity, driving new technology and innovation, reimagining our relationship to each other, ourselves and the outdoor world.

When imagining your Post-Covid home, they all understand that everything changed already, and is evident that many households and organisations have undertaken radical changes and that includes the way we live. Spending more time at home, staycations and interactions are conditioned by a holistic approach to all human activities.

Due to the pandemic designers have already started to consider a more holistic approach to the way we live in our homes, challenging the new reality of forced social distancing and spending so much more time indoors.

Not surprisingly, the latest trends are human centred and focus on the welfare of the “bubble” in each household, attending to your loved ones emotional needs and wants, mental health, physical fitness, interior designers use human-centred approaches to address how we live today.

Aristotle was one of the first to advocate for “love of life”, at the early stages of biophilia, delving into the term philia (friendship), the concept of reciprocity and its benefits to all involved in seeking happiness.

Pre-pandemic lifestyle involved an average of 48 weeks or almost 400 hours a year in an office space, and yes, you brought your plant and placed it on your desk. As we approach the end of 2020, the time we spend inside buildings, cars and other small spaces is increasing and with it, our desire to connect with all things in nature, redefining the way we interact with nature, seeking a deeper connection with nature.

With the technological advancement, there is a growing concern for a lack of connection with the rest of nature outside our reach; re- connecting with nature has become important, and we try to re-create that connection with nature at home. We are attending any available green spaces indoors, seeking more and more an interior design revolving around nature. The number of domestic and wild animals adoption is on the rise, the up-keeping of plants and flowers in and around our homes is very fashionable and reflects our

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EDUCATION natural love of life and a growing desire to sustain life.

Human inclination for natural beauty is easily found in our desire to reestablish a connection with nature, in the way we decorate our homes. There are clinical evidences that it helps the neuro-endocrine and immunological system, and we show more consideration for nature when we are social distancing and spending less time outdoors.

A good example would be the introduction of handles inspired by nature for every room in the house, a sustainable design strategy that re-connects people with nature, brings the natural world inside our homes and, at the same time, diminishes the side effects of living indoors for longer hours or travelling less than before the pandemic.

You might be surprised of how little you need to fulfil your natural need of outdoor life and the vibrancy of natural beauty. At a closer look, every handle inspired by nature is able to re- connect with a specific natural environment.

Every handle is designed to strengthen indoor life, unburden our cognitive system and recognise more information from experiences we had in the past in a natural environment.

Same way having plants or murals with scenes from nature in patients’ room in hospitals could speed up their healing process, having handles inspired by nature in every room, could help you relax and enjoy

your time indoors.

Top Destinations for Design Inspiration In a recent survey by world renowned jewellery hardware designers, Pullcast, designers often quoted their sources of inspiration coming from some of the most wondrous destination on Earth.

Their favourites included:

Douro Valley, Portugal Listed as World Heritage Site, The Douro Valley is known as the enchanted valley for its magical beauty. The Douro is a majestic wilderness, one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world. Wine lovers and those looking for beautiful sceneries will certainly enjoy a trip to this beautiful part of the country.

Koh Samui,Thailand Thailand’s second largest island, lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus. It's known for its palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves and dense, mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and posh spas. The landmark 12m-tall golden Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai Temple is located on a tiny island connected to Ko Samui by a causeway.

Glenorchy,New Zealand Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middle-earth™ magic. Set against a background of native beech forest and towering mountain ranges, Glenorchy’s surrounds are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Crafting a Luxury Living Room How to give your living room a gorgeous makeover

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ometimes described as a sitting or lounge room, a living room ought to be comfortable, welcoming, and have a touch of luxury. Over time, it has gained more and more attention, and nowadays it is even considered by some designers as the heart of the house. Most modern living rooms serve more than one purpose and are the main area where guests stay most of the time, so it is important to have all the conditions decor-wise to make the best impact possible.

LUXXU gathered some of the most beautiful living room design schemes, from a residential penthouse apartment to a modern minimalist home with a neutral color palette.

These inspirations will be of great assistance for one to craft the most unique luxury living room space brimming with elegant products and sophisticated combinations.

“

For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond and balance one another.

Andre Putman

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LUXXU Crackle Mirror. Available at luxxu.net

Luxury Penthouse with Major Opulence Perched in the highest floors, penthouses by definition are luxurious, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes from their glass curtain walls. Usually, they match those views with stunning interior decorations, where contemporary design takes on a new life and encourages creativity with unique pieces.

In this interior, the green coloration of the sofas is a great contrast with the golden accents from the McQueen chandelier. It is one of those unique pieces inspired by one of the most irreverent designers of all time, Alexander McQueen. This masterpiece is as powerful as his exhibitions, combining the best of luxury with the most exquisite handmade materials.

Maintaining the opulence that penthouse living rooms bring, the sofa can truly be a focal point of the room especially when it combines beautiful design with practicality and comfort.

The black leather of the Anguis Sofa reflects the refinement of its manufacture and guarantees high levels of durability and comfort while its peculiar shape ensures outstanding adaptability to any design project.

Simplicity is the Ultimate Form of Luxury When given too many choices, people tend to worry that there is something better out there than what they decided on, and that is the main reason why sometimes less is more. In this interior, LUXXU chose as a statement piece the Waterfall Suspension made of brass and crystal glass that matches perfectly with the neutral-toned furnishings, certainly a gorgeous blend between simplicity and luxury.

Everything we create, we believe in redesigning your definition of art.

LUXXU’s Empire is shaping its future by setting trends with timeless pieces and refined elegance. Lighting was the start of a luxury journey stating itself as classic with a modern twist. Today, a new epoch unveils at LUXXU. Daring ambiences are an everlasting aesthetic language shared by every element.

LUXXU now allows you to create those ambiences as the brand uncovers a crucial imperial complement, a Furniture Collection. Offering resembling noble materials and finishing, where customization blossoms as brand capital. Be our guest and get inspired by a distinctive collection of timeless pieces.

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BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK Is orange the new black? Not if you take into account the enticing character of the black color, as it is timeless and symbolizes elegance, wealth, and power.

That is one of the main purposes of a living room besides comfort, and this luxurious interior by LUXXU assuredly transpires that feeling. The Anguis Sofa pairs beautifully with the Ocadia Armchair, where materials such as velvet and leather create a fluid and rich narrative.

All shades of black merged into this meticulous design get a glimmering touch courtesy of the Shard Suspension, which brings the whole decor together.

LUXXU Shared Suspension. Available at luxxu.net

A Christmas to Remember Amalgam of elegance and winter trends

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inter has come and with it, one of the most anticipated holidays.

Christmas is the time to put it all on display, from the warm hues of gold, to the elegant accents of black and gray, and never losing the sight of textures with soft wools and leathers. It is the best time of the year to have the best interior design to welcome the whole family and share the warmth of a good fireplace while we wait for the present to be opened.

LUXXU compiled some curated interior design inspirations for a luxurious and delighted Christmas eve.

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The Snow White Look The soft tones of the snow-white look is beautiful although it can be hard to master even with Christmas decorations, it needs to have a perfect balance with darker shades and warm colors. With an amazing golden finish, The Waterfall Suspension gives a beautiful contrast to the lighter tones of this interior, making it the highlight. Add a lovely rug that not only keeps your feet warm, but also brings in some texture to an overall outstanding design.

Dark wood and light Leather details Black is a wonderful color, a powerful neutral that is often used in small doses, however it can be used as the main color for a room if all other shades are based on it. It’s also popular for leather furniture, as shown by the beautiful Charla Dining Table, it looks sleek and timeless in a luxurious living room especially when teamed with amazing gold-plated brass accents from the Babel Snooker.

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Fusion of Colors and Textures This interior is elegant and sophisticated, yet it’s not teeming with color. Both the floor lamp and the suspension offer a cohesive look making the lighting the focal point. With a mixture of dark wood tones paired with soft gray leather, the complete dining set transpires a warm feeling. The perfect place to have a wonderful diner with the family while watching the snowfall.

Crystal Glass Surface The entryway is the first room that your guest stumbles upon, and the first impression is everlasting. Without a doubt the Trump Chandelier is the centerpiece in this beautiful interior, stunningly embedded into the staircase. The glass crystal reflecting the amazing checkered patterned floor that in turn contrast with the Christmas decorations in shades of green, all coming together in a fantastic design inspiration.

...travel

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Alpine Escape Taking Time Out from Life

By Ariane Signer

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aking time out from life is a joyful experience.

When is the right time to let serenity feed your soul? Winter is slowly winding down, and thoughts of long, sunny days at the lake are starting to infiltrate my mind. Though I have three decades of experience braving harsh Eastern Canadian temperatures, I still struggle with the lack of sunshine and fog that dominate Switzerland during the winter months.

Lucky for Swiss residents, the sunshine can often be found at the top, where sprawling ski hills and quaint cabins sprinkle the mountain ranges.

Each year, just before the springtime blooms and the sunshine hours extend into night, I set off on a spa escape with my best friend. This time away allows us a moment to recharge our bodies, minds, and spirits before getting back to the obligations and duties of our day-to-day lives.

We decided to explore the beautiful Alpine village of Leukerbad (Loèche-les-Bains) in the canton of Wallis (Valais).

Easily accessible by public transit, we embarked on a 30-minute bus from the Leuk train station, which dropped us a few minutes away from our hotel, De France By Thermalhotels. The bus ride up offered stunning views of the Alps, sprawling pine forests, and cosy cottages. A perfect way to start the weekend!

We booked the hotel based on its proximity to the Walliser Alpentherme & Spa Leukerbad, one of three thermal bathing spots in Leukerbad. At 1400M altitude, Leukerbad is a typical Swiss vacation town, where restaurants, gift shops, and a few banks are the only commercial offerings. If you are looking for a respite from the city, there are few places more suitable than here.

After a quick check-in, we crossed the street to the spa (we realised later that there was in fact an underground tunnel connecting our hotel to the spa, super convenient if you don’t want to lug around your outdoor gear).

The spa, which is sprawled over 11,000 square meters, includes a shopping and eating area leading into the main entrance. Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese spa treatments are on offer, and the indoor and outdoor swimming pools are filled with natural spring water straight from the Leukerbad mountains.

A traditional Valaisian Sauna Village complete with steam bath, Swiss Chalet, and glacial pond are available to guests. There is also a Roman-Irish Bath, where cleansing rituals are performed over a 2-hour deluxe session. Full relaxation and stress-release are pretty much guaranteed. Our hotel included free access to the thermal pools with our booking, but otherwise, the thermal spa can be accessed with a day pass that costs only CHF30. The pools open from 9:00-20:00 every day.

Access to sauna area is at a surcharge, and fluctuates depending on the treatments booked.

We had a quick, traditional Swiss lunch before gearing up in our robes and bathing suits, and hit the water.

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The outdoor pool was where we spent most of our time over the weekend. Sunshine beat down on us as we chatted and laughed in a surprisingly unpacked pool. From the outside pool area, the views of the Daubenhorn mountain are spectacular. The mountain, which has an altitude of 2350M, offers the longest secured climbing trail in the country, but it is not recommended for beginners! The trek up to the top takes an estimated 6 hours, and offers incredible views of the Canton. You can see as far as Italy from the top, a treat for all nature lovers.

With relaxation our main priority, we bathed in the thermal waters, feeling completely connected to the natural world, nestled among the beautiful Alps. The snow shimmered in the sunshine, looking like it was filled with tiny diamonds. Watching skiers make their way up and down the small ski run completed the experience. In the distance, the magnificent Torrenthorn mountain peaks through, providing an Alpine panorama that will take your breath away.

Switzerland certainly has no shortage of fine thermal spas, and there are options that suit every taste. Accessible from all parts of the country via rail, the Walliser Alpentherme & Spa Leukerbad is a great pick if you want to beat the winter blues and find comfort in the simplicity and beauty of the Swiss Alps.

If you want to experience a traditional Swiss escape, you can’t get much closer than this.

About the writer: Ariane Signer has been writing her thoughts, fears and dreams in journals since the early 90’s. A personal development and self-help junkie, she has been working as a creative freelance writer since 2016. A native Canadian, she has found her home in a small town in Switzerland, where she lives with her husband and two young sons. Ariane established her blog, The Shadow and The Shimmer, in 2014. The blog afforded her a space to let out her (sometimes complicated) feelings about being in a long- distance relationship, struggles with alcohol and battle with panic disorder.

In 2019, Ariane compiled some of her writings and published a collection of poems, called 'Things That Shine'.

SUSTAINABLE Down jacket with water-repellent surface by Marco Polo

Are Trains Making a Comeback?

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ravelling on mountain railways, soaking up the picturesque English countryside or the dramatic Alpine views, it was an old dream that one day came through. As we travel by rail through the heart of the Swiss Alps on the world-famous Glacier Express, stunning scenery regales us. We’re immersed in this journey into different locations of luxury brands but found it difficult to superficially browse through the rich culture and natural beauty of Switzerland; it is simply breathtaking! Time to time, we put our heads down in our laptops to add a short note to the story we are working on.

Flight Data showed a 91.8% decline recorded in July 2020 followed by August air travel international passenger demand plummeting 88.3% compared to August 2019. A web search away from finding the actual price of travel, you could easily learn that there is a price to pay for travels beyond buying your return ticket. Is there a return to the way we used to travel half a year ago? Or we need to go way back in time and re-imagine our travels?

Air travel is one of the fastestgrowing contributor to CO2 emissions and global warming, adding to an all time high alarming body of evidence produced by overconsumption and over- indulgence of industries like fashion or livestock, well known for the harm caused to the planet. Recent studies show unequivocally that lifestyle choices could make or brake the future of the next generation, our own children, in this is not a myth.

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Take the train to cut your CO2 emissions by up to 90%

Easy choices to cut your travel CO2 emissions at present and in the future Eurostar commissioned independent research to assess the CO2 per passenger produced by a London-Paris Eurostar journey versus a London-Paris flight and the conclusion is that taking the train to Paris instead of flying, cuts CO2 emissions per passenger by a staggering 90%.

Eurostar’s ‘tread lightly’ initiative, recycling their own waste and collecting it off the trains, positions Eurostar at the top of sustainable travel choices. What is the difference you make when deciding to become an eco aware passenger? A return trip from London to Paris by plain is 3.5 hours (check in and boarding time not included) and adds 244 kg CO2; same trip by train is 91% less, in 2.75 hours adding only 22 Kg CO2.

You could make similar environmental saving as choosing Eurostar when compared to flying, travelling with Highspeed TGVs across France, which is using electricity from the same sources and are technically similar to Eurostar.

Comfortable, enjoyable and more environmentally-friendly than any flight, with infants going free and great scenery on the way, you will find it hard to travel by plane in the future.

It is no secret that Eurostar offers sustainable choice for short-haul European travel, with a journey between London and Paris resulting in 90% less carbon emissions per passenger than the equivalent flight.

Eurostar is planting a tree for every service that it operates across its routes, making customers active supporters of the reforestation of woodland in Europe.

A city-centre to city- centre journey is less time consuming and if you are a frequent traveler, a quick check-in, up to 30 minutes before departure, it is not just convenient but is adding more life to your days, giving you the chance to enjoy and plan more quality time while away. For your yearly holiday, a generous baggage allowance with no weight restrictions, free WiFi and onboard entertainment, are all great advantages that your family will enjoy.

Have lunch in London and dinner in Switzerland with a minimum of CO2 emissions Same way, you could leave London at lunchtime and have dinner in Switzerland without setting foot on a plane. Swiss scenic trains are worth considering as you can stop off at famous Swiss mountain towns, such as Interlaken and Zermatt. For your convenience here is the short list of the most scenic trains in Switzerland for your next journey: Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Jungfraujoch, Golden Pass, Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, Gornergrat Bahn, Gotthard Panorama Express, Luzern Interlaken Express and Mont Blanc Express.

Your travel reimagined: “Sleeping�

Trains return with the promise of saving on CO2 emissions Looking to scale up to even more environmental friendly trains? Sleeper trains across South of France, from France to Italy or Spain, have fewer passengers per car than a high-speed trains and travel at lower speed than Eurostar, having one conventional locomotive instead of two big power-cars plus two more powered bogies in the adjacent passenger coaches. Sleeper trains make a significant saving on CO2 emissions when compared to flying but also take us back to a healthier lifestyle which could bring back the past good times. I guess, this is where our journey takes us a few steps back in time, all the way to a more glamorous age, conducted by brilliant minds who could help us reimagine travel as an unforgettable adventure.

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1. Venice Simplon-OrientExpress The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is quite simply the most famous set of carriages in the world, and on this overnight journey between London and Venice you’ll enjoy it at its elegant best. With its polished wood, sumptuous upholstery and antique fixtures, the train epitomises the glamour and elegance of the Golden Age of travel. You won’t just travel across Europe – you’ll also be transported back in time. www.belmond.com

2. Belmond Royal Scotsman Embark on a grand Highland fling on the Belmond Royal Scotsman as it travels through some of Scotland’s most dramatic heather-clad scenery. Ensconced in your mahogany-clad car, crystal decanter at hand, you’ll enjoy extraordinary meals prepared from locally-sourced game and the choice of over 50 single malt whiskies from the well-appointed bar. Combining Edwardian elegance with the comforts of a country house, the UK's only luxury sleeper train is an experience you’ll never forget. www.belmond.com

3. Golden Eagle, Russia This is an unique opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest rail journeys in unabashed luxury – passing endless steppe and travelling alongside the world's largest freshwater lake as you indulge in the finest cuisine as a pianist tickles the ivories. Your luxury suite features en-suite bathrooms, air-con in the summer, full heat in the winter, laundry services, and an English-speaking doctor on call. Traversing eight time zones has never been more comfortable. www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com

How Powerful Is Your Passport?

What are your Visa Free Destinations in 2021?

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ith 2021 round the corner, we could only dream of a time when the travel bans are lifted and we are free to discover new places, experience destinations we visited before Covid-19 restrictions. How far can you go?

Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the latest Global Mobility Report released by The Henley Passport Index delivers an accurate insight into the possibility of moving around, confirming the countries you can visit without a visa.

If you are an American woman your passport ranked 7th in 2020 and you have a list of 185 countries to visit Visa Free.

With Hawaii on your doorstep, how far do you really need to travel?

Photo by Braden Jarvis, IG: jarvisphoto 134 | RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21

Where will you travel to in the third decade of third millennium?

Perhaps you could try a smaller country, like the Republic of Singapore, a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia, with four official languages: English, Malay, Chinese, and Tamil; with English being the lingua franca. You could experience the beauty of multiracialism (enshrined in the constitution) which is shaping the local lifestyle, the education and welfare system and politics.

If you are a Swiss or Canadian woman, your passport ranked 9th in 2020 and there are 183 countries where you can travel visa free. But with a country as beautiful as Canada, do you really need to travel abroad?

Our recent survey shows that Europe is always a great destination for women living in Canada.

If missing the sun, Portugal is bordering Spain and makes a great destination on the Iberian Peninsula. Salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, dating all the way back to the 16th century when its location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many aspects of trades as a powerful maritime empire. Wondering barefoot on the Algarve’s beaches or walking the cobblestone streets in Lisbon, there is always the chance, or the danger, of falling in love with this destination and relocate. You will never know unless you try…

View from rooftop bar at Lumiares Hotel & Spa, Lisbon: www.thelumiares.com

With its winding hills and tram cars, it’s no wonder Lisbon is often referred to as the San Francisco of Europe (bridge and all!)

If you are a British Woman, your passport will take you visa free to 185 countries.

Ranked 7th in 2020, after Japan, ranking 1st, for the last three years. Where would you go?

An Afghan Woman could only travel visa free to 25 countries, and a Woman born in Iraq is able to travel visa free in 26 countries.

Here is the one mystery I struggle to understand: why is your next destination depending on your country of origins? Was it a choice you made before being born?

The Shard, London, United Kingdom. Credit: Aaron Gilmore, aarongilmore.com

Located in Knightsbridge on the edge of Hyde Park, The Bvlgari Hotel London is both a haven of calm in the centre of the city and yet under a minute’s walk from such landmarks as the famous Harrods department store. Since opening in 2012, Bvlgari has set new standards among the luxury hotels of the British capital. www.bulgarihotels.com

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26

27

28

United Kingdom

United States

Australia

Estonia

179

34

33

32

31

30

Panama

Macao (SAR China)

Grenada

Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)

St. Lucia

Grenadines

St. Vincent and the

Mauritius

Trinidad and Tobago

Costa Rica

Seychelles

Antigua and Barbuda

Uruguay

Vatican City

Bahamas

St. Kitts and Nevis

Mexico

Israel

Barbados

Brunei

142

144

146

148

150

151

153

154

155

156

159

160

161

166

167

168

170

171

172

174

178

55

54

53

52

51

50

49

48

47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

39

38

37

36

35

Ecuador

Timor-Leste

Qatar

Kuwait

South Africa

Belize

Turkey

Albania

Georgia

Russian Federation

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Micronesia

Palau Islands

Moldova

Marshall Islands

Kiribati

North Macedonia

Montenegro

Tonga

Tuvalu

Colombia

Venezuela

Ukraine

Nicaragua

Vanuatu

Solomon Islands

Samoa

Guatemala

Serbia

Honduras

El Salvador

Peru

Paraguay

Dominica

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 13 October 2020, and in certain instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here.

13

Slovenia

Latvia

Iceland

Slovakia

180

181

Lithuania

11

12

182

Hungary

10

Poland

183

Canada

Malta

Greece

29

25

Switzerland

Czech Republic

24

Norway

184

23

185

New Zealand

Belgium

21

Sweden

22

20

Portugal

Andorra

San Marino

19

Netherlands

Hong Kong (SAR China)

Brazil

United Arab Emirates

186

Ireland

France

Denmark

18

Argentina

187

Austria

Bulgaria

Croatia

17

Luxembourg

Romania

Monaco

Cyprus

Spain

16

188

Italy

Finland

9

8

7

6

5

4

South Korea

Chile

189

Germany

3

15

Malaysia

Liechtenstein

190

14

191

Singapore

2

Visa-free score

Japan

Passport

1

Rank

91

95

96

101

111

114

115

117

118

120

123

124

125

127

129

130

131

133

134

135

141

76

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56

Cuba

Zimbabwe

Ghana

Philippines

Dominican Republic

Cape Verde Islands

Uganda

Azerbaijan

The Gambia

Zambia

Tunisia

Tanzania

Indonesia

Kenya

Malawi

eSwatini

Kazakhstan

China

Belarus

Lesotho

Namibia

Suriname

Saudi Arabia

Bolivia

Thailand

Oman

Bahrain

Papua New Guinea

Maldives

Botswana

Jamaica

Guyana

Fiji

Nauru

64

65

66

67

68

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

83

84

85

86

88

89

90

89

88

87

86

85

84

83

82

Burkina Faso

81

Kosovo

Angola

Jordan

Algeria

Central African Republic

Turkmenistan

Guinea-Bissau

Comoro Islands

Chad

50

51

52

106

105

104

103

Somalia

Vietnam

26

28

29

32

33

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

46

47

48

49

henleypassportindex.com

Afghanistan

Iraq

Syria

Pakistan

Yemen

Palestinian Territory

Niger

Bhutan

Nepal

Mali

53

Cambodia

102

North Korea 101

Togo

Libya

Sudan 100

Madagascar

54

99

Lebanon

55 Guinea

Equatorial Guinea

Iran

Bangladesh Senegal

56

Eritrea

Congo (Dem. Rep.)

South Sudan

Sri Lanka 98

97

96

Uzbekistan

57

58

Ethiopia

Nigeria 95

59

94

Myanmar

Djibouti

60

93

Gabon

Cote d’Ivoire

Tajikistan

India

Mauritania

Rwanda

80

61

Congo (Rep.)

Sao Tome and Principe

Liberia 92

Mozambique

Haiti

Mongolia

62

Cameroon

Benin

Laos 91

Egypt

Burundi

Sierra Leone

63

Kyrgyzstan

Armenia

Morocco

79

78

77

The Henley Passport Index: Q4 2020 Global Ranking

A Spin Into Lisbon’s Royal Love Story

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ove is the most powerful emotion of all times and while world history is filled with wars and controversy caused by love stories, music and art galleries host priceless masterpieces inspired by love. We went looking into Europe’s most beautiful love stories and made our first stop is 19th Century Portugal.

In anticipation of King D. Pedro V’ s birthday on 15 September, we take a spin into his love story with his Queen, Stephanie Josepha Friederike Wilhelmine Antonia, and the love legacy they left behind. They got married when they were both short of a few month of their 21st birthday. Welcomed with a lavish lifestyle at her new home, Stephanie wrote back to her parents a letter saying that Portuguese understood luxury better than dignity.

Keepers of the happy memories, the gardens at the Royal Palace are inviting for long strolls and nothing could stop you imagining The Royal Prince and the love of his life, Queen D. Estefânia holding hands and sharing concerns about the future of Portugal.

After his loving Queen died, only 14 month after they got married, the King honoured her memory and focused on the development of his country. He became the founder of the School of Letters, getting involved in choosing the its professors and courses himself.

When Lisbon was evacuated during the pandemic, aristocracy had to leave immediately, but the Royal Prince refused to leave his subjects, and instead of seeking safe refuge, he selflessly helped the hospitals, the ill and payed tribute comforting the grieving families.

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Lisbon is still celebrating the Royal Prince and his Queen’s legacy for love, kindness and compassion. Casa do Príncipe takes its name after the Royal Prince, King D. Pedro V, and each of its 9 palatial suites and rooms refer to a meaningful part of this King’s life.

Authentic frescos, 13ft height intricately stucco work ceilings, real hardwood floors are enhanced by beautiful restoration work bring along aristocratic grace, discretion and elegance.

Right at the heart of Lisbon, Casa Do Principe is a place for love and compassion, facing the Príncipe Real Garden. Its spectacular location on the doorstep of fashionable shops and city sights, signature restaurants and historic attractions, makes Lisbon Europe’s most well-kept secret and inspire us all to imagine the next modern love story.

Vitamin SEE The Best White Sand Beaches in the World

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hen the cold weather gets the best of you, what could possibly prevent you from dreaming of a white sand beach and your next exotic destination? Must be a paradise kissed by the sun after your own heart, somewhere! Imagine yourself strolling along the white shores of sand and gathering loving memories. Where would you go? Until the travel ban is lifted we give you the Vitamin SEE, packed with the best white beaches in the world! Every single one of these destinations is calling your name!

Credit: Sean O. seanoulashin.com

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North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii Our editorial team had to agree that if we are announcing the best white beaches in the world, we must start with Oahu, Hawaii. The Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay are a stretch of coastal paradise, the mecca of surfing, known for big waves and professional surfing contests, snorkelling among colourful coral and fish and calm water. When back from the beach you could surf the shops, the Indie galleries, and Hawaiian plate-lunch spots filling Haleiwa town, or adventure into tropical gardens and pineapple fields.

Bora Bora, Tahiti The turquoise lagoon makes Bora Bora a superlative romantic suntrap. What could be better than being captive to this lavish natural beauty of a Polynesian island and its giant web of active break? Spoiled for choice, it will be hard to prioritise your time at the turquoise lagoon between long walks on the white sandy beach, sunbathe and swim or diving in the natural underwater park among fish and corals.

Make sure you take a break before the midnight dinner on the beach. Matira Beach is an enchanting destination that can spark the magic in your life.

Credit: Julius Silver, www.foto-julius.at

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Nassau, Paradise Island, Bahamas Credit: Jared Rice, unsplash.com/@jareddrice

Words are not enough to capture the beauty of a tropical utopia, spread across 683 acres of pure euphoria. Nassau & Paradise Island are what the name tells you: paradise. While the beach calls for you to explore its serene beauty, there is a world of fine luxury in the unique culture and equally divine human heritage designed for your enjoyment. Local golf clubs, shops, hotels, restaurants could keep you mesmerised all day long just to lead you into the nightlife.

Saona Island, Dominican Republic Seriously stunning, the white beach at Saona is a paradise surpassing your imagination. The Dominican Republic’s largest coastal island, with a population of little more than 300 locals, Saona is part of the National Park of the East, memorable for the white sands, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters.

Breathtaking sunsets, plate-crystal azure water, exotic drinks, Caribbean cuisine and bali beds are equally inviting and comforting. Luxurious Nature and fine luxury define this unique island, its delicate white sand and the forest of coconut palms which bent towards the sea, forming the perfect natural backdrop for your memories.

Credit: Kamil Kalbarczyk, instagram.com/kamilkalb

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Credit: Sean Resa Cahya, unsplash.com/@bagus_resacahya01

Bali, Indonesia Beach life doesn’t get any better that contemplating a beautiful sunset over one of the 25 beaches in Bali. Salty hair, sun-kissed skin and a good book, are all included in your paradise. What could be better than walk along these stretches of golden sand, and retire into a beach bar or back to your five-star hotel, footsteps away from the mirage of waves.

Himandhoo, Maldives If you want to live the tropical dream, the beautiful lagoon in the W Maldives, is the right destination. Fully backed by the ocean breathtaking backdrop, its cool collection of vibrant, natural architecture is curated for perfect relaxation.

Swim, snorkel or drift along and bask in the sunshine. Lounge, gaze and sigh in contentment at one of the over water lagoon villas overlooking the breathtaking turquoise lagoon, or take a plunge from your deck.

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Escape to W Maldives, a luxury 5-star private island resort setting the stage to fuel guests’ lust for life. Imagine waking up to the sound of the waves drumming against the infinity pool, a wonderland of white-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and breathtaking reefs. www.marriott.com

Credit: Xavier Coiffic, instagram.com/xaviercoiffic

Trou Aux Beach, Mauritius the Eden Garden could very well look like this strip of white sandy beach, a 35-hectare tropical garden, a turquoise lagoon with crystal-clear waters, on the north west coast of Mauritius. An idyllic setting where any girl dreaming her perfect wedding day, would enjoy dramatic sunsets and romantic breathtaking scenery. Awarded the World’s Best Beach a decade ago, the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ offers vibrant, spectacular landscapes, snow white sands washed away by turquoise waters. A perfect gateway!

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Food & Nutrition

The Alba White Truffle The Star Of The Table At The ‘Unusual Dinners’ Finest Experience

T

here’s no doubt that there is only one way to celebrate the Alba White Truffle: at the table. This is why, the star of the table at the Unusual Dinners of this 90th edition is The Alba White Truffle, and we want to help honour it in the best way possible.

Hunting for the Alba White Truffle Culinary connoisseurs get together each year to honour the white truffle, a gastronomic treasure only available for a few months and for a high price. Top chefs value the freshness of this star of the table, as only a few grams shaved over a plate, will make your dinner a luxury experience.

Being hunted from late summer thought out autumn, there are no cultivation techniques for the most wanted culinary prize: The Alba White Truffle. A truffle- hunter is a trufflelover, passionately searching for this valuable hypogeum fungus. He will go hunting into the woods with his dog (and the dog’s experienced nose) and it will not be satisfied until he can finally hold this precious treasure in his hand.

Alba White Truffle life cycle’s takes place in the earth and to produce the precious sporocarps, truffles need no attention to grow, however, they could only be found in certain areas which are treated with agronomical loving care. Truffle’s pale yellow peridium and its rounded shape, are unexciting at first but its uniquely flat and irregular body comes in variable in size. The inside is a display of different shades of milk, antique, deep pink and pale

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Training a Gold Digger Who would have thought that gold digging is not just a metaphor and all you need to find gold is eight years of patience and a good dog?

The most expensive food in the world, Alba White truffles can start at $3,600 a pound (Tuber magnatum) and for those who can’t afford that kind of luxury, there are Black Diamonds, available for a few hundred dollars for a small packet of shavings from French Black Perigord Truffles (Tuber melanosporum).

A successful truffle farming experience is a cocktail of mystery, fun of the hunt, patience and good dogs who can dig for gold all day long.

The potential financial windfall, attracted large attendance at White truffle festivals for five years in a row and created a new industry: truffle dog training classes.

France and Italy have a rich truffle history as white truffles were hunted and served for centuries across Europe to the royal families delight.

American farmers are finding their way into the diet of the rich and famous and sell for a healthy profit.

While the native truffles that grow in the Pacific Northwest of the United States are priced for less than the European truffles, American farmers have an unfair advantage: the scent of a fresh truffle is priceless for a Michelin Chef as it will land on its kitchen overnight, while the truffle is still fresh.

Expected to become a $6 billion global business, truffles are highly prized as a culinary delicacy in the Italian, French, Spanish, Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine.

browns. Truffles live in symbiotic relationships with certain trees, and these mysterious plants demand a delicate environmental balance to be maintain thought-out the year.

In the heart of the historic centre of Alba, the largest truffle market in the world returns, the hub of a fair dedicated to safety and quality The focus of the 90th edition of the Fair will be, also for this year, the World Market of the Alba White Truffle, hosted as usual inside the Cortile della Maddalena. In the heart of the city, within the historical central area overlooking Via Vittorio Emanuele II, enthusiasts of the most precious fruit of this land will be able to discover it’s scent and secrets every Saturday and Sunday of the nine weeks of the Fair, with the additional special openings on Monday and Tuesday December 7th & 8th.

THE WORLD MARKET OF THE ALBA WHITE TRUFFLE AND THE CULINARY EXCELLENCE OF ALBAQUALITĂ€ The undisputed symbol of the Fair and its culinary excellence is renewed in form, but its substance is more than confirmed, with the World Market remaining the ideal location to discover the extraordinary heritage truffle of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, as well as a perfect place to appreciate and buy the finest specimens of Tuber magnatum Pico with controlled and guaranteed quality.

In fact, the International Alba White Truffle Fair applies a rigorous selection protocol for

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the fresh product for sale. Every year the Municipality of Alba appoints a commission composed of experts who draw up the rules to regulate the sale of the truffle, rules that all the sellers present at the Fair (the “trifulau”, in Piedmont dialect, as well as the “hunters”, but also the merchants) must comply with.

And so every day, before the opening of the World Truffle Market, the sellers present their truffles to the judges of the Quality Commission, who perform an accurate sensory analysis by selecting only the products suitable for sale which, at that point, are counted. and weighed.

In order to effectively control the characteristics of the product, the Quality Commission delivers a special numbered bag, to be used compulsorily for the sale of each truffle, for each truffle that passes the control.

To celebrate the 90th Edition Dinners in the best possible way, a special event will take place on November 13th at the only Three Michelin Star restaurant in the Piedmont area, with an exclusive event that will feature Enrico Crippa at his “Piazza Duomo” in Alba

National Centre for Truffle Studies, says: “The big news this year will concern the ways to use the Alba White Truffle: the International Alba White Truffle Fair will be the leader in the application of the procedural guidelines adopted by the Piedmont Region to regulate the use of the White Truffle in all the fairs dedicated to it, within the regional borders. A dedicated commission has in fact defined the specifications for a purchase method ensuring the complete protection of both the buyer and seller, while assuring that handling and smelling the product will be carried out in total safety: the truffles will then be placed in a special glass container, equipped with a lid in silicone specifically for food, to ensure the usability of the product to avoid possible risks “.

Among the events confirmed, within the Cortile della Maddalena, you can find the food and wine review AlbaQualità which, as the name suggests, offers an exhaustive and complete panorama of the Piedmont food and wines offered. Particular attention is paid to the artisanal production of the area, with a choice of products for tasting and to buy, a tasty souvenir of your visit to the International Alba White Truffle Fair.

A specific area is also reserved for tasting the wines of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato offered inside the Grande Enoteca by AIS Piemonte, the regional section of the Italian Sommelier Association. Inside the World Market of the White Truffle of Alba, as per every year, you can also find the Alba Truffle Show.

This is a space dedicated to cooking shows hosted by great chefs, to workshops, to the Sensory Analysis of the Truffle. There are also opportunities to discover other regions through the excellence of their food and wines, as well as experiential paths to allow visitors coming to Alba from all over the world to make a journey through the flavors that best represent the Italian “bella vita”.

When possible we encourage you to have a memorable Italian dining experience, supporting local restaurants in your city this November.

If at home, be inspired and celebrate the magic of The Alba White Truffle by enjoying a memorable Italian dining experience .

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15 Delicious and Easy Healthy Snaks to Make at Home

By Danna Levy-Hoffman

Y

ou might be surprised, but it is possible to lose weight without giving up snacks. Even more than that – some snacks can even help you balance your weight and accelerate the weight loss process.

To make it easier for you, I’ve created a list of snacks that would work for everyone. Some of them are low-calorie snacks, some of them are high protein snacks, and all but one will be highly appreciated by vegans. But what unites all of these snacks is that they are both healthy and delicious!

1.Raw Nuts Nuts are a great source of protein, unsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and vitamin E. Moreover, the Mayo Clinic emphasises that eating nuts can lower your cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease overall.

Just mix and match raw nuts, enjoy your favourites and make sure to try others too. Just make sure not to overdo it with Brazil nuts. Keep to only 4-6 a day, as they are very high on selenium, which when consumed in high amounts, could lead to selenium toxicity.

2. Fruit and Nuts Yes, we’ve covered nuts in the previous paragraph, but the combination of fruit and nuts will not only be delicious and full of nutrients, but it will also help the body break the fruit sugar slower, allowing you to feel more saturated and have more sustainable energy.

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3. A Piece of Fruit With Nut Butter Same as above, yet enjoyed in a slightly different way. Apples and almond butter with a bit of cinnamon, banana and peanut butter, pear and tahini, anything goes! You’ll love the taste of it and there’s so much room for the experiment!

4. Overnight Chia Pudding Chia seeds don’t contain many vitamins, but they’re a great source of calcium and they are also gluten-free, which makes them a popular protein source for people with whole-grain sensitivities or celiac disease. And the fun thing about chia pudding is that you can play around with any flavors you want.

Berries cinnamon lemon zest, peanut butter banana walnut, tahini cinnamon medjool dates, mango coconut pecan, cacao raspberry orange zest… the sky is the limit!

5. Homemade Smoothies There are so many benefits to drinking smoothies. For example, they can help you lose excess body weight without skipping any meals, they can prevent your body from dehydration and let you be in control of your cravings. Simply make sure that in your smoothie, you don’t use more fruit than you’d be having in one go if you ate them whole.Just make sure to have one cup of fruit to 3 cups of greens, adding nut butter and other healthy fats to the equation for a well-balanced delight.

6. Hard-Boiled Eggs Hard-boiled eggs are extremely low in calories and rich in many important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are so necessary for you to feel well. What makes the hardboiled eggs better than the fried eggs is that they are prepared without additional oil or butter, so they’re lower in calories and fat.

So, if you’re not sensitive to eggs, you can enjoy a couple of hard boiled eggs without feeling guilty.

7. Avocado and Tomato During the right season, this combo will be super nutritious and crazy delicious!

I love making a quick guacamole mixing my crushed avocado with salt, pepper, turmeric and good quality olive oil (and a squeeze of lime if I have one at hand). Then I cube the tomato and mix it in. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

8. High Quality 70% Dark Chocolate Yes, it’s not only tasty (even though it is a bit more bitter than milk chocolate), but it is also rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and a few other minerals.

Even exercise capacity increases when consuming dark chocolate!

All in all, the 70% dark chocolate will, by default, have more cacao and less sugar. If you’re lucky you can even find chocolates that use healthier replacements to white sugar and will taste delicious!

If it’s a raspberry season, I recommend getting some organic raspberries and placing a small piece of the dark chocolate inside the hole. Best combo ever!

9.Homemade Hummus Homemade hummus is just great for a snack or as a meal! Hummus can help you help improve your bone, muscle, skin, and blood health. There are many ways to make hummus at home, either using canned chickpeas, or going the extra mile to soak and cook dry ones. Whichever way you prefer making your hummus, make sure to use high quality tahini, and extra virgin olive oil for best results!

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10. Veggie Sticks Mindlessly eat as many vegetables as you want, your body will only thank you for it. There’s really not much else to say .

11. Olives Olives are an ultimate heart-healthy snack that helps you improve circulation and has anti-inflammatory benefits.

I recommend buying olives with the pit as they have more flavor. A great combination of the healthy fat and delicious umami flavor.

12.Roasted Veggies Even though roasting or steaming vegetables can change their nutritional profile, they still keep the majority of their nutrient values: they stay full of fibre, low in calories and rich in minerals.

Play around with different spices, or roast with just good quality sea salt and avocado oil.

Eggplant, Brussels sprouts, carrots, zucchini, Jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, green beans, kale, anything goes! I challenge you to try roasting a vegetable you usually don’t like, and see if this method of cooking changes your mind.

13. Homemade Energy Balls It’s as easy as taking a bunch of nuts, and some Medjool dates or any dried fruit you like, whizzing it all up in a food processor, adding cacao or lemon/orange zest and a bit of cinnamon, and there you have it, the perfect snack!

14. Roasted Chickpeas The best part about chickpeas is that they are high in protein and fibre, which makes them a filling food that can help lower appetite and reduce calorie consumption at meals. Just as with the roasted vegetables, play around with spices and flavors.

15. Edamame Edamame is a delicious, nutritious bean that’s an outstanding low-calorie snack option. The best part – cooking it is extremely simple. Unlike most other legumes, edamame doesn’t require a long time to cook. Just boiling it for 3-5 minutes is usually enough, but it can also be steamed or panfried.

I hope my article helped you complete your shopping list. In the meantime, if you’re looking for a safe nutrition program, I’d be happy to assist you. My Urban Cleanse Program will help you lose weight, feel energised, control your health, and enjoy every single bite! And YOU WON’T BE LEFT HUNGRY, GUARANTEED!

160 | RICH WOMAN SWITZERLAND MAGAZINE | Winter 2020/21

Healthy

Home-cooked MEALS DELIVERY �epared by a certified healthy Coach

12 Good Reasons To Meal Prep

By Danna Levy-Hoffman

W

ho hasn’t left work late, dreaming of a good meal but feeling energy depleted and very little desire to shop and then cook? A quick takeout meal could be the answer, even if that means turning a blind eye on the expanding waistline and calorie-laden trap that you are deliberately stepping in. Nothing stops you from imagining yourself walking through the door where waiting for you is a delicious home-cooked dinner, every day of the week! Meal prep is a great planning tool to help keep you on a healthy eating track.

While there is no one master formula, planning your meals is effortless, depending on your food preferences, love for cooking and mindset, but it will help you create your own style and take deliberate control of your waistline.

To truly be healthy and feel amazing in our bodies, we need to give it the nutrients it needs, in a sustainable way that doesn’t make us feel deprived.

Unfortunately, we are vulnerable to living out the unhealthy habits and conditioning from our parentsthis includes what we eat, how we shop, snacking habits, food pre techniques and emotional eating tendencies.

Each person ticks differently and I’m there to help you discover the path that’s right for you.

There are many good reasons for Meal planning and here you could find a few tricks Disclaimer: I’m going to give heaps of advice and good tricks in this article. They will not all work for you! You have to find that happy spot where meal planning takes the edge off, rather than put more pressure on your daily life. Doing everything I advise here is too way too much. You will find what works for you, and you will use it to your benefit. Until then it’s all about trying new ways in a slow and sustainable way!

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Why meal plan?

Meal planning saves you time when shopping – you don’t have to look around too much, think about what you’ll be making while checking out all the options out there. The 30 min a week it will take you to plan out the week, will be totally worth while, as you’ll be shopping once for the whole week.

No more standing holding the refrigerator door, hoping a recipe will somehow jump at you.

Everything will be planned, and if you do it smart, you can also make enough to rely on leftovers!

Saving money AND food waist – When you go shopping with a prepared list, you’re more likely going to spend less money, as you will not be inclined to buy things that are not on the list. You can also avoid food waist as you don’t buy something you already have at home or will not be using.

Healthier Eating – You’re more inclined to eat healthier, as you base your menu plan around good healthy recipes, rather than the frozen pizza that’s on sale this week.

Reduces Stress – Everything is written down and planned out. There’s no reason to stress. Not about food anyways! This is especially true if you have an online supermarket that delivers to your home and offers high quality, local organic ingredients, which means you can do your shopping in your pyjamas.

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So how do we go about it?

01.

Make sure you have an organised place where you save recipes. If it’s in a hand-written recipe book, a special app, or saving your loved recipes on Pinterest, having them all in one place makes life much easier.

02.

Make sure to come up with enough recipes to have a nice rotation. Having seasonal recipes will help not get tired of making and eating the same meals over and over again.

03.

Dig through old recipes and “healthify” them to add more to your repertoire.

04.

Revolve around ingredients you already have. Check out the pantry and fridge for ingredients that should be used, and work from there.

05.

If your house is bare naked and has zero ingredients (which sometimes does happen), revolve around favourite veggies . That way you base meals around the healthiest part, and add side dishes of grains or protein.

06.

Plan around fruit and vegetables that are in season. There’s no point in planning on guacamole when avocados are overpriced, taste like Styrofoam, and had travelled half the world to get to your plate.

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07.

Know your schedule – Book specific dates and times for shopping and cooking! Mark it in your family calendar, with a permanent marker, and make sure to activate your family members to get extra hands helping.

08.

Figure out what time of day you are have more time and energy to do the planning and shopping.

09. Always make extra! If you’re already going

to spend time in the kitchen, you might as well make enough to last you a couple of days. Alternatively you can make a larger amount of just one part of the meal (either whole grains, protein, or vegetables), and reinvent the leftover as a whole new recipe.

Make sure leftovers are also in the plan. There’s no need to have something new every single day.

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10.

Speaking of leftovers, make sure to have one day where you simply pull out all the leftovers for a “fridge clean” meals.

11.

Only focus on 1-2 new recipes a week. The rest should be recipes you know and love. That takes the pressure off and keeps things realistic.

12.

Use your freezer wisely! Broth, sauces, beans/legumes, prepped veggies, or whole prepped meals to simply warm up or cook are all great ways of using your freezer.

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Want To Release The Quarantine Weight? Don’t Skip Breakfast!

By Anna Cortezi

A

ny weight gain in quarantine (for some just a few pounds, for others a bit more) should not keep you worried as it can be easily lost if you just follow some day to day, simple and reasonable advice.

I know it sounds cliché, but DON’T skip breakfast! Systematise your breakfast intake so that you gradually boost your metabolism and therefore your calorie burning ability, and don’t fall head over heels for the next bigger meals.

Ideas for healthy breakfasts: • Breakfast cereals, fortified with fibre (rye, barley, oats, etc.)

• Wholegrain bread and 1 boiled egg with vegetables • Yogurt with honey and cereals Or fresh/dried fruit Say goodbye to the daily prolonged couch breaks that until now took hours of your time, accompanied by unhealthy delivery, take away or fresh-cooked meal choices that you made with so much mastery using mainly fat and sugar. To get back to a healthy routine, a good idea is to avoid frequent food delivery orders or even eating out once possible, no matter how much you have missed your favourite restaurants and fast food diners. Usually in these circumstances it is very easy to get away with overeating certain food combinations, going down with sugary or alcoholic drinks and desserts.

Avoid high-calorie drinks and beverages that have no particular nutritional value, such as soft drinks and milk or cream based drinks that do not cause the same satiety that a solid meal can give us, but will definitely give us all the extra calories that we do not want, especially at this point. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to get the most out of your daily fluid intake. As for alcohol, we know that it provides a lot of calories and no nutrients at all, often causing dehydration during consumption.

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Do not leave your stomach empty with no food for more than 2½ to 3 hours. Start consuming quality snacks of around 100-150 calories (fruits, nuts, yogurt, wholemeal crackers, etc) that will help balance your blood sugar levels, increase your metabolism and prevent you from feeling intensively hungry.

Don’t skip dinner for that promising, faster weight loss you’ve read about – this is a myth and in no way does this theory apply when practised. Aim for a lighter dinner that has half the energy value (calories) of your lunch and always consume it 2-3 hours prior to sleep.

I will not dwell on the importance of sleep, because more or less, we all have enjoyed lots of sleeping in self isolation. However, going back to your work routine, don’t forget that good quality sleep will help you balance your hormones and of course, your weight!

If you want to lose the quarantine weight fast, it is important to understand that the first 2-3 kilos may be lost in a short time after you start paying attention to your diet, but in order to continue having positive and healthy results, you should try to focus on a balanced diet that will improve your metabolism, body composition and your overall well-being in a realistic and sustainable way.

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anna.cortesi "I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health." - Voltaire #AnnaCortesi #Dietitian #healthy #nutri‐ tion #health #lifestyle #happiness #gratit‐ ude #healthquotes #nutritionist #loveyourbody

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Elements of Good Nutrition

W

ith the amount of information that exists about good nutrition, you would think it was a big mystery.

The truth of the matter is, there is no mystery involved in getting the proper nutrients that your body needs. Why should you care about getting the proper nutrients? Many people are under the misconception that eating healthy is for the young because they are growing.

Tissue and cells are constantly being renewed in both children and adults. The failure for these elements to repair themselves can result in diseases of lifelong misery or worse, death. To lower your risk of developing a disease, you simply need to follow three simple steps of good nutrition.

Proper Hydration

Plain and simple, your body needs water. Being properly hydrated will benefit you from head to toe.

Water keeps your cells hydrated and flowing throughout your body. It doesn't take long to witness the benefits of drinking sufficient water. Just a week of being hydrated and your skin will have a new glow.

If you need to lose weight, water can help you achieve your goal. In many instances, people misinterpret thirst for hunger. Unless it's been a few hours since you have eaten, have a glass of water the next time you have hunger pains.

There are numerous guidelines for how much water to drink. Consuming eight glasses of water each day is the most popular guideline. People have different needs. A better indication of how hydrated you are is your urine. When you are properly hydrated your urine is almost clear. There is the possibility of water intoxication so you don't want your urine to be completely colourless.

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Eating Healthy In addition to being hydrated, you need to eat a variety of foods. Forget fad diets that restrict certain foods. The key to healthy eating is to eat in moderation and variety. Your food choices should include a large percentage from complex carbohydrates, which is sufficient for energy. You should also consume several servings of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy every day. You should limit your servings of protein and fats to two or three servings each day. By including all of these food groups in your diet, you are less likely to be hungry or have cravings for sweets and other nonnutritional foods.

Vitamin Supplementation As long as you live in a country where food is plentiful and produced safely, you should have no problem obtaining the amount of vitamins and minerals your body needs. However, food allergies, dislikes, and illness may prevent you from eating certain foods. Some people, for example, are lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products. In these instances, supplementation should become a part of a plan for healthy nutrition. You don't need a prescription to purchase vitamins, but it is a good idea to discuss your particular needs with your medical doctor. Consuming excessive amounts of some vitamins can cause toxicity and unpleasant side effects.

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9 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet

I

t’s no secret that antioxidants are incredibly beneficial to good health. It’s believed the antioxidants in food can help prevent cancer, reverse or slow ageing, enhance your immune system, increase your energy and improve heart and other organ health.

Given all we know about antioxidants and their beneficial properties, it’s amazing more people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, the primary sources of antioxidants. Experts recommend a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but say getting 7-10 servings is best.

01.

Breakfast

Breakfast doesn’t have to be a hurried toaster tart on the way out the door. Throw some strawberries, 100% juice and yogurt into a blender; pour your delicious mixture into a cup and head out the door. You’ve just added one to three servings of fruits to your daily intake. Or throw some berries onto your cold or hot cereal.

Say you truly have no time in the morning and usually grab something on the run. Even the Golden Arches can be of some help here. Order a fruit and yogurt parfait and some apple slices. For about £2, you have a breakfast providing one to two servings of fruit.

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HEALTH

02.

Snack s

Here’s an easy way to get more antioxidants in your diet. How about a handful of raisins for a snack, or some fresh red grapes? Dip some strawberries in yogurt. You’ll feel decadent, but the berries provide the colour you’re looking for.

Need crunch? How about some baby carrots dipped in hummus? Consider a handful of pecans for crunch and a nice antioxidant boost.

03.

Lunch & Dinner

It might sound trite but adding a salad to each of your main daily meals can add loads to your overall health and well-being. They do not have to be boring, and they do not have to be just salad greens. If you are going classic, add some red pepper slices to your green salad, some tomatoes to the Greek salad, or tart cranberries to your field greens. Whip up a broccoli salad for lunch or be adventurous and mix up a rice salad with a mélange of fresh vegetables like string beans, tomatoes, peppers, and red onions.

04.

Des sert

Berries, with or without whipped cream or chocolate are a wonderful way to end your day of healthy, antioxidant-rich eating.

05.

Beverages

Replace your soda with tea or coffee, both of which boast antioxidant compounds. Have a glass of wine with dinner, or for a real change of pace, pour a glass of chai tea.

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06.

Think outside the box

We know we can get our antioxidant fix from berries, salads and the like, but researchers say powerful antioxidants can also be found in a variety of unexpected foods, like russet potatoes, artichokes, and small red beans. The beans, in fact, may have more antioxidant power than blueberries, experts say. So, to your rice salad full of vegetables, add some beans for even more antioxidants.

07.

Cook Lightly

You think you’re being good, preparing vegetables each night for your family’s dinner. But if you’re overcooking the vegetables, you’re cooking out a lot of the beneficial properties of the antioxidants. Steam (do not boil) vegetables and stop cooking them when they will have all their bright colour and most of their bite.

08.

Plant a garden

Experts believe that people who plant and harvest vegetables from their own yards are far more likely to eat more vegetables and fruits than people who buy their produce from the store. So plant a garden, watch it grow and eat the fruits (literally) of your labour.

09.

Take your healthy diet on holiday

Too many of us consider going on holiday an opportunity to take a break from everything, including healthy eating. Think of your holiday as a way to be introduced to new foods. Order interesting dishes and meals and experiment with the local food culture. After all, what’s the point of eating the same old thing you would at home? Plus, you never know when you may discover something totally amazing you can bring back with you.

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How to make the perfect cup of English Tea

W

hile the perfect cup of tea is different for everyone, here is your shortcut to continue the qu i n t e s s e n t i a l l y English ritual of Afternoon Tea. In-keeping with English tradition, choose your favorite tea and remember that English Tea is a delicate flavor. After you decide on your profile blend, find a place that is dry, dark and protected from extreme temperatures to stow your tea leaves in an airtight container.

Start by warming your teapot by pouring a little hot water and rinsing through after a few moments . Beneficial to a more intense flavor, it also protects your fine china of your tea service. Once the teapot is warm, pour away the water and start preparing your tea without while the pot is still hot.

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Always start by heating fresh, cold water.

While it might be easier to use cooled and re-boiled water, this will result in producing flat tea. Only freshly poured water is able to bring out your blend’s individual flavor and bring the tea to life, Add a generous 2.5 grams of tea leaves to every 200ml of 158°F hot water, for white and green tea leaves. Alternatively, if you prefer brewing black and Oolong leaves, you will aim for 185°F. Herbal infusions require boiled water at a temperature of 212°F and chamomile is best suited to 194°F High end quality tea leaves require just 30 seconds – but others may need to rest in the teapot for longer.

Let the tea brew before pouring.

Adding milk to tea, not tea to milk, or a slice of lemon is optional Scones, shortbreads, sandwiches, light salads, a biscuit or delicate piece of cake can be the perfect company to a cup of tea It is not unusual for a luxury London hotels to serve in excess of 7000 scones and shortbread biscuits in a range of flavors from classic vanilla to caraway and lemon.

To transport yourself into the perfect afternoon tea time, play soft classical music in the background.

English Breakfast Tea with Smoked Salmon & Kale Salad For Two Find a deep baking tray and a cooling rack that fits within the tray and can sit on the top of the woodchips Place the woodchips and tea leaves into the bottom of the baking tray Score the fat on the salmon Place the baking tray on a BBQ or hob and let the woodchips catch fire gently so that it starts to catch fire. Blow out the flames and place the salmon, skin side down, on the cooling rack. Cover the salmon with a layer of baking paper and then cover the tray fully with foil making sure no smoke can escape Allow the salmon to smoke for 10–15 minutes Leave the salmon to rest Toast the pine nuts on a gentle heat in a dry pan until brown, save some for the garnish Chop the hazelnuts Segment the orange and squeeze any juice into the dressing bowl Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl Wash all the Kyle leaves and pick the parsley Place all leaves in a bowl, mix through the nuts, orange segments and tender stem

Ingredients:

30g pine nuts (toasted)

1 x fresh salmon skillet

30g chopped hazelnut

500g Wood chips for smoking

150g of tender stem broccoli

6 x ETS English breakfast teabags

1 handful of flat leaf parsley

35g watercress

For the Dressing:

1 orange, or blood orange if in season

Juice from the orange

1 head of chicory

3tsp good quality olive oil

70g radicchio or mango

Salt & pepper

70g rocket 100g kale

1tsp sherry vinegar

Slice the salmon into strips and mix through the salad Dress the salad, season to taste and mix thoroughly Serve on a lovely plate and sprinkle over the pine nuts and thinly sliced radish or cubes of mango to garnish

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...beauty & wellness

A JOURNEY INTO WELLNESS AGELESS BEAUTY AND WEALTH

T

rinidadian born, Zalina is a passionate woman, a veteran in the beauty and fashion industry with accreditation in Switzerland, Paris, Berlin and New York.

She freelanced for both Hollywood and European stars before moving from New York to one of the most beautiful cities in the world — Zürich, Switzerland.

The entrepreneur mindset is in her DNA since she started in the Caribbean family run business, at 11 years of age. Growing up on the sunny tropical shores of Trinidad with a single mum who passed on her wisdom on how to be self-reliant and how to self-heal the body with natural alternative medicinal plants, Zalina is building her company with the focus on holistic health, beauty, wealth and wellness.

Her passion for life, nature and an active outdoor lifestyle in Switzerland have added more perspective and inspiration to her mission to advocate natural beauty and organic skincare.

While beauty remains a focus for Zalina, she also continues to tap deeply into creative and innovative ideas to self-empower and reinvent herself.

Simultaneously, she has been working as a financial consultant combining her diverse talents with wealth management. Coming from the health side of the money equation, she has realised that money can't buy happiness if you cannot take care of your health

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Zalina believes there is a direct inter connectivity between health, beauty, wealth and wellness. “The better you are in tune with yourself, your health and your personal finances, the better you can take charge of your life and ultimately, the happier and more fulfilling you are.” she says.

A green beauty enthusiast, nature lover and single mum of two, Zalina has been sharing her organic recipes for ageless beauty and a healthy lifestyle for over two decades and has mentored and transformed many clients, both private and groups. Her favourite topics are health, beauty and nutrition with the aim of striking a happier and more sustainable life balance.

Zalina feels ( and looks!) ageless surrounded by a digital generation of innovators and forward thinkers, not to mention like-minded, empowered women entrepreneurs and mentors.

We had long conversations in the last year since we discovered Zalina and believe that her unique message of wellness, health, beauty and wealth, will inspire you to see yourself in a different light. We are delighted to present her story as it’s happening. But be worn, this just the beginning!

Cover Story COVER STORY

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Cover Story Wellness Covid19 continues to test our strength, faith and capacity to stay in control of our lives. What could women do to thrive during these uncertain times?

We can amplify our healing and renewal through adopting optimal lifestyle habits. This involves bringing greater awareness in our daily lifestyle choices such as sleep, dieting, exercise and movement, and stress. These changes do not have to be stressful but an awareness that brings joy and happiness ...one step at a time.

I’ve discovered that maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle not only improved the quality of my life -spirit, body and mind but also allowed me to adopt a positive outlook on life and to meet the challenges of each day with a sense of enthusiasm knowing that all will be well.

Being active is a tall order if you are stuck at work for hours and at the end of the day feel exhausted and lacking the energy to exercise. What would be a simple tip to get active?

Remember your favourite childhood playtime skipping rope with your friends?

Well it's been used for centuries by professional athletes as a top cardiovascular exercise routine. Skipping is a simple, yet powerful exercise that has an extraordinarily positive effect on the human body and mind.

Why? A cardiovascular exercise and helps the circulatory system to improve the delivery of blood, oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. Also, a great sport to help you boost your immune system, balance your metabolism, and improve your overall health.

As the body improves, so does the mind. A balanced cardiovascular system improves brain functions! Those who practice jump rope, state that they can think faster, experience improvement in self-confidence, and instinctively react better. A body in balance releases the feel good hormones: endorphin, dopamine, and serotonin, thus reducing depressive moods and improving energy and vitality.

“

These changes do not have to be stressful but an awareness that brings joy and happiness ...one step at a time.

Another benefit of skipping rope is losing weight. The reason why rope skipping is so efficient in losing weight, is because the exercise applies beneficial strain on every muscle of the body once it is in the air. You don't have to be a professional, anyone can do it!

So get yourself a skipping rope and skip your way to burning as many as 1600 calories in only an hour after work, or while in quarantine and lock down!

Practising healthy habits on a daily basis can help you achieve better physical and mental health outcomes...it’s never too late. Take time ...savour life.

Everybody, without exception, is experiencing difficult times. What immediate changes in attitude could help mental health?

Your belief about yourself is incredibly powerful and you cannot allow your fears to write your personal narratives and undermine your power. The fact that you could criticise and judge your flaws and circumstances, by the same token you could also credit your vast capabilities that you could never develop all your potential in one lifetime. You are limitless...the choice is yours to harness it.

Ageless Beauty You are so young and so vibrant. What is your secret?

Getting older has become quite a scary scenario in the past decades, especially for women. We are expected to forever stay young or at least offer a convincing enough illusion to the general public.

The pressure is enormous and it’s a legitimate road to Hell or at least to the pitfalls of mild to severe depression. All because we keep forgetting one little detail, and that detail is – the alternative. Yes, ageing can seem scary, but the alternative is far more unsettling, right?

Like so many life dilemmas, this one can also be resolved by a simple change of perspective and a bit of care, love and tenderness for you in the form of making the right choices.

So “your body is your temple”?

It’s not poetry, all right, but it does make a point.

You only have this one and only body to carry you through your own, unique life journey so you might as well learn to appreciate it more.

There isn’t much appreciation or grace for an ageing body from the outside world. How do you support the process of ageing?

I see ageing as a privilege, a new stage of enthusiasm, strength and wisdom. You are only as old as you think. I think we are conditioned within our family of genes to perceive it’s genetic.

We live in a world of stress, pollution and pandemics, I think it all comes down to removing toxins from your body and stress out of your life.

Practising daily spiritual practice, gratitude, meditation, yoga, proper nutrition (increase antioxidants) and exercise, you add more years back to your life. To see results you need to change your mindset. It’s your responsibility...the choice is yours.

There are simple rules that anyone can apply at any age but above all, you need to become very particular about how you are treating your soul’s sacred container.

You look so young and beautiful, basically, you’re like an ageless Goddess. Our readers would be interested to learn how to stay beautiful forever? I know you really love your food. I would start by asking what do you eat?

Today we are learning more and more that food is medicine. We are all unique, therefore, we eat right for our unique type or bio-individuality. It is known that genetic differences distinctly influence metabolic responses. These intricate interactions can be explored not only to cure diseases, but also to prevent them and improve overall health and wellbeing.

And you are absolutely right, I love my food!

I eat a balanced diet and maintain a regular fitness regime.

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Cover Story

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Cover Story So what do you eat?

On a typical day (if there is such a thing) I start my day with lemon and apple cider vinegar with warm water and green smoothies which includes a variety of super foods rich in antioxidants such as moringa, chlorella, hemp, bee pollen, kombucha, matcha and my favourite, oatmeal.

I usually have a late lunch since breakfast keeps me quite full. Lunch includes: high protein vegetarian mix of fermented mung beans, mixed nuts, salads, tofu, not to mention 80-90% dark chocolate…my weakness!

Dinner is usually very light – a cabbage, pumpkin or miso soup.

My fitness regime includes a mix of daily yoga, meditation, weight training, Pilates, forest walks, cycling, wake surfing, skiing, boxing, swimming and jump rope.

“

Zalina’s Recipe As the winter is approaching, I would like to share with you a beauty elixir that is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and provides instant energy needed to deal with the “winter blues”.

Use organic ingredients.

Soothe cold winter days with the colour green, it's refreshing and calming. This beauty Ingredients:

1 leaf of aloe vera peeled 1/2 cup of kale (peeled) 1 tbsp moringa 1/4 cucumber 2 tbsp flax seeds 3 cups coconut juice

Use a bullet or smoothie mixer to blend.

I see the products I have now developed as a fusion of the different cultures I have embraced in my life

You talk about “clean beauty”. How does it translate in everyday life?

Clean green beauty has become mainstream as more and more big time beauty companies choose to “go green” especially since the onset of Covid19. It has become a huge catalyst for “conscious consumerism” related to the chemical and synthetic ingredients in skin care and nutritional products.

In this context – green actually means clean, or to be more precise – organic and not tarnished with too much processing or too many chemical interventions. And that is what counts the most amidst the unprecedented pollution threat that we encounter daily, especially in big cities or industrial areas.

And so the timeless concept of beauty and care has been reborn, as a logical human reaction to the path that seemed already set out for us, one which was moving further and further away from nature. There are many shades of green to explore when it comes to fully understanding this holistic approach to finding and keeping your own special brand of beauty, both on the inside and on the outside.

Pristine What inspired you to create your own luxury organic face and body nutrition?

From my early life in Trinidad, I was aware of the benefits and healing properties of natural alternative medicinal plants. As I became more knowledgeable about the source of mainstream beauty skincare and wellness products, I was inspired to create my own organic skin care products from the knowledge and wisdom I had developed in experimenting with and creating green beauty organic formulas. Having studied the science behind natural ingredients and the benefits they provide, I realised there was an opportunity to spread this ideal by originating my own formulas for all skin types. I wanted to help everyone to be aware of what else is available to them in nature so I started developing and sharing my own recipes in seminars and workshops. I see the products I have now developed as a fusion of the different cultures I have embraced in my life, the warmth of the Caribbean, the energy of New York City and the purity of Switzerland.

My brand aims to align with the expectations of conscious consumers committed to social values such as reducing the carbon footprints, respect for animals and environmental sustainability.

Wealth What is your wealth mindset and how do you view money in general?

Understanding personal finance was not something which came naturally to me in the way that advising on health and well-being has always been part of my DNA. But through a combination of necessity and serendipity, I have embraced the importance of this in recent years.

While I have always advocated the principle that ‘Your Health is Your Wealth’, it is vital to understand both sides of that coin. I realised that to fulfil my vision of providing the 360 Holistic Health, Wealth and Well-being service, I needed to step outside my comfort zone and develop my expertise in financial advice.

You may have heard the phrase ‘money doesn’t buy happiness,’ and the person who told you that likely had a lot of money. But they aren’t completely wrong.

What’s closer to the truth is – “Having money is not everything, but not having it… is.”

Here’s a tough question for you. If you stopped working today, how long could you survive? And if your spouse passed away – how long can you survive financially?

One of the reasons we see so many women getting into difficulty financially is because they are historically less inclined to understand finance, which is more or less a minefield. When a financial crisis hits them, they have to deal with the immediate emotional pain and loss. They’re now expected to manage money and considering they never dealt with finances before. Oftentimes women don’t know how to do that, and that’s why a shift in our mindset is a priority.

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Cover Story

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“

For centuries, women were limited to believe that the man takes care of the family finances. What can women do to change this social conditioning to their advantage?

We take charge. But we must act. No more placing our heads in the sand believing it will never happen to us. Maybe it won’t! By taking the steps today to ensure that it doesn’t.

Nobody wants to face a divorce or a funeral, but life happens with or without our consent. Financial literacy is the most important decision a woman can make right now for her own sake and for her loved ones.

Sounds like a tall order. Can you walk us through the top ten steps to getting financially healthy?

At the top of the list is to get educated. Speak with someone who is qualified to give you the advice you need going forward. Family and friends will offer their help and advice… and that’s great. Thank them and keep going.

Start small – but start! And don’t get overwhelmed. You are heading in the right direction, and that’s to be applauded.

Set up automatic payments for all your regular monthly outgoings. If it’s going out automatically you won’t have to think about it – it’s paid. This way you can budget and manage your money far better, with peace of mind in the process.

Spending. Is it something you need or is it something you want? A simple yet instant decision maker.

Making lists for a 30-day period – before deciding to make a purchase, write it down and do nothing for 30 days. Our purchases are often emotional ones, and emotions can change in a nanosecond. It’s a good exercise to use in other areas of our lives too.

Pay with cash. We are slowly seeing an end to where everything is paid for in cash. Until that happens however, cash payments can curb spending habits. If you don’t have

While being rich won’t fix every problem in your life, saving money regularly is a worthwhile pursuit. And when you become financially free, you will no longer make every decision solely based on money.

the cash with you, it is almost guaranteed that you won’t withdraw more to buy what tempted you in the first place.

Carry cash for what you need and no more. Keep to the budget and what you are spending.

Start saving. Try to look long-term when it comes to saving.

When you invest long-term typically that amount is locked away for a period where it can’t be accessed. Short-term or access to funds should be all we need for the normal monthly outgoings with a little extra for emergencies. A jar on the shelf is good, but easily dipped into on our ‘not so strong’ days.

Get excited when you see changes happening. When we change our thinking and we do so by following through consistently, it forms a habit. And once you get into the ‘habit’ of making good choices, it can be far more rewarding to see what we have accomplished, than it would by splashing out on an inanimate object that we don’t necessarily need.

Stay away from the ‘All or nothing’ mindset. One thing at a time, as and when it needs to be addressed.

Don’t try to do everything at once. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Enjoy the journey you are on.

Don’t stop! As cliché as that sounds – it’s true. It’s much harder to start all over again than it is to keep going. Results will come. Some quicker than others, but they will come.

There is a clear inter connectivity between the key facets of our lives - health, wealth, beauty and wellness. Having your Podcast series was your dream for years but you never had the courage to become a “voice” yourself. Now you host “Pristine Conversations” to inspire Rich Woman Magazine’s listeners apply smart tools and techniques in their daily lives for a happier and healthier life balance. What drives your determination to advocate for wellness?

I've always wanted to make a positive impact in people's lives, help others to heal naturally and by hosting remarkable professionals who come to my show to share their knowledge in the field of the key facets of our life - this has been a dream come true.

I've lived in 3 continents that have added valuable knowledge, experience and wisdom and an appreciation of diverse cultures. There is an incredible wealth of wellness and well-being practices in other parts of the world that are unheard of. I thought it would be great to bring awareness, connect and co-create through the myriad of my guests’ voices.

Hosting the podcast allows me to help the audience tapping into my guests’ unique expertise and support the health, wealth, beauty and wellness industry.

My Mum cultivated one basic value at home when you give you get. That has stuck with me ever since. I am passionate about connecting with people from all walks of life and sharing their voices. The Podcast is ubiquitous, easy to listen to on the go, while driving, cooking, housecleaning, fitness or relaxing.

Overcoming the fear of hearing my own voice has helped me to feel confident and comfortable to interview anyone in the health, wealth and wellness space. For me it has become a true journey into serendipity.

Subscribe

Pristine Conversations Podcast Available on all podcasts apps or find every episode at richwoman.co/podcasts

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Connect with Zalina Zalina Wälchli is a wealth mindset expert and best known for her wellness and finance wisdom.

Helping women survive the realities of Covid-19 economic crisis, Zalina is inspiring them to enrich their life with financial literacy so they can finally remove the fear of investing.

Zalina empowers women and men to change their money mindset, drop the money struggle, pay off their debts and optimise their personal goals in wealth, health and well being. Her aim is to help them adhere to the right mindset and make positive changes in their lifestyle, using clean, sustainable, simple and holistic methods to feel good inside out, increase longevity, vitality and become a better version of themselves. Happiness is not an external goal but a journey you take into serendipity…

We hope her story will inspire you to break through financial ceilings and take ownership of your life regardless of the reasons why your dreams are held hostage at present.

If you want to know Zalina better, Rich Woman Magazine launched a new podcast hosted by her: Pristine Conversations

On The Mind-Body Connection

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ur lives are becoming increasingly stressful and fragmented, which can lead to a range of physical and psychological health problems. This year’s ensuing pandemic and lockdowns’ have further stirred up levels of mental health issues demonstrating the disconnect between modern healthcare and the everyday, lived experience of the individual. Solutions are short-sighted, with a lack of holistic awareness for each person’s unique understanding and interactions with the world.

Penney Megginson, however, is pioneering a new approach to physical and mental health that promise to bring different approaches together to provide a holistic, connected response to the unique challenges of each individual. Trained as a physiotherapist and Pilates / yoga instructor Penney Megginson saw a missing link in healthcare. Conventional medicine was failing her clients with unexplained symptoms and chronic pain.

When she listened to their stories, Penney realised that many had suffered serious traumas. Others had experienced a series of small stressful events, something she had also experienced first hand after suffering a serious sporting accident.

The conventional treatments available clearly needed a new approach to healing, which not only treated the body, but the mind as well - that aspired to wellness, not just treating illness.

And so, the Megginson Method was born as a fusion of neuro strategies and modern medicine. Penney’s clients have achieved major breakthroughs with her unique combination of techniques.

The transformations she has witnessed have inspired Penney to become a passionate advocate for mind-body medicine, especially among other healthcare professionals.

We caught up with her to find out more about this innovative, life-changing approach.

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Cover Story There needed to be a different approach to healing that aspired to wellness, not just treating illness. There needed to be a fusion of neuro strategies and modern medicine, in a new, transformative way.

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How did you get started in this field?

I trained as a physiotherapist and Pilates and yoga instructor initially and also worked as a personal trainer and nutritionist. I have a Master of Science in Physiotherapy and a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami. I’ve trained with Brent Anderson from Polestar Pilates, various gurus in Astanga, Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. I am also trained in EFT and Matrix Reimprinting under Founding Master Karl Dawson and qualified as a Health Coach through Integrative Nutrition. I produced two fitness DVDs "Skilates - Pilates for Skiing" and "Trilates -Yoga and Pilates for Triathletes" both filmed in Verbier Switzerland.

I was training for an intensely demanding ski touring race, called the Patrouille des Glaciers from Zermatt to Verbier, when I fell and tore my ACL knee ligament.

My experience with medical professionals after that injury inspired me to create the Megginson Method.

What was your experience with those medical professionals?

I was told by every doctor that I would never ski or run again without surgery. Being a physiotherapist, I knew this was not the case so I worked hard to strengthen my injury and found a combination of techniques to help speed the healing and was able to rehab my injury with no medication for pain.

How did you get through it?

My own strength of mind, in knowing that I could overcome these challenges and also incorporate everything I had learned during my life so far, with respect to certain neuro-strategies. I was able to heal naturally, avoiding pain medications and surgery. From my experiences with clients, I had already seen that conventional medicine was failing people who had unexplained symptoms and chronic pain. The more I listened to my clients, the more I saw that many of them had suffered from stress and even serious trauma.

People were struggling with pain and injuries and also engaging in self-sabotaging behaviours and bad habits that they didn’t seem to know how to change. Most needed a new approach to healing, like the one I had adopted personally during my own recovery. I knew at that moment that I had to share my knowledge and experiences with the world. And so, the Megginson Method was born.

How did you create the Megginson Method?

I decided that there needed to be a different approach to healing that aspired to wellness, not just treating illness. There needed to be a fusion of neuro strategies and modern medicine, in a new, transformative way. I used a combination of techniques, such as specialised breathing patterns, combined with visualisation and tapping techniques to remove negative emotions and baggage from the past. I created morning and evening rituals that could be integrated into people’s busy lives, done anytime and anywhere. This combination of practices and routines enable people to feel their best and perform at their peak while also feeling balanced. I was seeing a few clients during this time, utilising what I’d learned with them and getting great results, which encouraged me to continue.

What can you help people with?

Everyone can benefit, but it is especially useful for those who suffer with chronic pain or symptoms, frequent headaches/ migraines or those who are under stress and seeking balance in their lives. A year after my own injury, I went back to do the ski race and I used the same visualisation, meditation and breathing techniques I’d learned and it got me through the event. It was amazing to see how it actually does work and I now use it for everything. I think that because I have personally used the method for my own recovery and in my own lifestyle, I am able to promote the benefits in a real, palpable way.

Our strategies allow people to incorporate small changes to their daily routine, that they can do anywhere, when they’re on the go, at their computer, sitting on their flights or in hotel rooms, rather than a one-off solution that has no long-term benefits. The great thing about a combination of elements means that people can find what really works for them, rather than seeking out an unrealistic panacea. The effects are dramatic, from increased energy levels to better resilience and overcoming chronic pain. It is a holistic lifestyle change that has real, practical results. It also helps with anti-ageing because of its positive effects on stress and hormone balance.

What are the techniques themselves?

We put the emphasis on mind over matter; that the mind has a strong influence over the body. It’s a combination of many elements and it will depend on what the person is using it for. For example, a technique we use to help people who are suffering with chronic pain is to visualise their pain, to imagine what it looks like.

Then we ask them to actually see it leaving the body, in combination with mindfulness and breathing techniques.

I think ultimately what makes the techniques so effective is that they are individualised for each person, with some preferring the visualisation techniques and others preferring guided meditations or mindfulness.

Each person finds their own unique combination of elements that works for them. This, and the fact that they are simple quick exercises that people can easily incorporate into their daily lives, make them appealing and achievable for most people, without the need to go to a specific class at a specific time. People automatically feel like they are getting better sleep, feeling more relaxed, less anxious and improving other health conditions.

‘Positive Minds Create Positive Lives’ can show you the route to health and happiness.

The specific techniques and activities described in the book will allow you to retrain your mind in order to create a sense of positivity and gratitude. This will boost your self-confidence and help you dissociate yourself from negative thoughts and people.

Negativity can distract you from your goals, and without it, you can be more present and Sandra Deira proactive.ByThe key is to take a holistic approach, training the mind along with the body.

Great tips and strategies for immediately working on past issues ...

An excellent life guide book

Find out more at www.megginsonmethod.com

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It’s integrating a range of approaches for the benefit of each, individual person and the symptoms they are experiencing. I want to emphasise the importance of a total lifestyle change, rather than merely glossing over deeper, underlying causes and issues.

Who inspires you? Who do you most admire and why?

For inspiration, I turn to scientists such as Bruce Lipton who is continually creating more research to back the mind and body connection and how the mind can heal the body.

I admire all of my clients who battle with chronic pain or stressful lives and manage, through my method, to do amazing things and still keep a balanced life.

What’s the one practical bit of advice you give people?

I think one of the most useful, effective techniques is deep, belly breathing. Short, shallow breathing is often a symptom of stress and these symptoms in turn create more stress and anxiety in what can be a self-perpetuating feedback loop. This is linked to our sympathetic nervous system, essentially the flight or flight response that our body triggers when faced with a stressor. By slowing down our breathing, taking deep breaths into the belly, we turn off the sympathetic nervous system, essentially telling our bodies that we are safe and it’s time to relax. This technique is great because it can be done anywhere, at any time of day and have amazing results.

A quick solution to managing your stress and also achieving greater focus and concentration is to practice this simple to follow mindfulness routine. First, find a spot to focus on and stay focused on it with your eyes and try not to blink. You will find it difficult at first but keep with it. Eventually, the spot will disappear or you will see only the spot and nothing else.

Next, focus on a sound and make it your goal to not hear anything but that sound. Try to find a very faint sound such as the buzz of the computer or a bird outside. Finally, focus on all the sensations that you feel. For example, the pressure from the weight of your body as you are sitting on your chair and the feeling of your clothing on your skin. Focus on each of these sensations and then finally stay still and try to not feel any sensation. If you find yourself noticing an itch try to resist scratching it.

During this time, try taking deep breaths into the belly.

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The Power of Luxury Self-Care Rituals

By Deborah Hladecek

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e-discovering yourself as a mature woman, mother and a truth seeker is never easy unless you understand the power of luxury self care rituals for renewal and vitality.

When I first heard the term, ‘Luxury Rituals’, it felt somewhat contradictory. What exactly is a luxury ritual? I had to unpack the individual meanings to make sense of it. My understanding of ritual was grounded in tradition, symbolism, discipline and healing with intention. While I equated luxury with style, opulence, grand expense and posh comfort.

How could these intersect in a meaningful way? The deeper I explored this paradigm the more I had to redefine what luxury means today. I realised that time is the new luxury.

Not the fancy car, designer handbag or holidays, but time to do whatever sparks joy for us. Feng Shui expert Alex Stark, says that “a ritual is a way of connecting with the earth and calls for a re-balancing of male and female energies to help our species survive”.

One of my ritual teachers, Daniel Foor, says that “ritual is a way of rebalancing the integrity of a space or a situation in order to create a potentially better outcome”. Put in this context, it doesn’t feel selfish to take time out for self care rituals. But, self care isn’t something you do once every 6 months and check it off your list. A key component of ritual, although not wholly defining, is repetition. Doing them daily, even in small ways can help bring us back into balance and soothe our souls.

The Dalai Lama, for example, is committed to sustaining his lifestyle of self care by knowing when to say “no” to others to preserve his daily self care rituals.

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I Celebrate Myself And Sing Myself WALT WHITMAN

If only we had more time to follow the Dalai Lama’s lead; to be present with our children, to read that anticipated book, to have a quiet cup of tea or to just have 10 minutes alone in the bathroom. For most of us, finding the time or the energy to take care of ourselves is a challenge; even when the benefits of self care are clear. If you could make more time for self care rituals, what would that look like for you? Self care has been shown to strengthen our immune systems by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (rest + digest), it makes us more productive, boosts our self esteem and causes us to be more compassionate to others. When we fill our own bucket, we are then able to fill another’s.

Daily Sustainable Luxury Self Care Rituals I like simple self care rituals because it makes them more likely to be sustainable. For a simple, daily practice try experiencing a cup of herbal tea, mindfully, with all of your senses. Breathe in the aroma and feel the warmth of the tea cup in your hand. Focus your attention and all of your senses in the moment. Rituals don’t have to be elaborate. The practice can be practical rather than poetic. It can just be 10 minutes, but will give you so much more in return. Or, try walking barefoot on the earth and feel the grass under your feet, grounding you. If you take your cup of tea into the garden, your feet will connect you to the yin earth energies, while the volatile components of your tea will connect you to the yang sky energies. I suggest looking at your motivation and intention of your ritual to be better connected to its power. Rituals are dynamic, so allow for unexpected things to happen. This way we are not attached to a particular outcome.

The healing power of Luxury Self Care Rituals My favourite self care ritual takes a little longer, so I aim to do it weekly, rather than daily. I renew myself with a 20- 30 minute mineral bath soak with essential oils + flowers. Water energy is associated with the sacral or second chakra and is about fluidity, empathy, femininity and connection to our emotions. For thousands of years mineral salts have been used to detoxify the body and assist with cleansing the aura, along with crystals or the ancient practices of smoke cleansing with aromatic plants. The cleansing and healing powers of water make it a regenerative self care ritual. I always feel like a reset button has been pressed after emerging from a bath.

There are many simple rituals you can begin to incorporate into your life; from elevating your nighttime skin care routine by adding an intention or affirmation to dry brushing to promote cellular renewal and vitality. You could try the practice of alternate nostril breathing, called Pranayama in Sanskrit or yoga and meditation. You may already have a meaningful ritual and need to prioritise yourself to make it happen. Giving yourself the luxury of time and attention with intention regularly, is an act of self love.

If you agree with the poet and author Rupi Kaur, who says “How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you”, then it’s time to prioritise your time.

The shift into Sustainable Luxury Self Care Rituals Finally, when I think of luxury in its original meaning, I think a shift towards ethical and sustainable luxury is the future. This means luxury products or services with conscious, sustainable values as their ethos. There are products and services that aim to generate meaningful moments to support you on your quest for re balance or self improvement. These can be useful in your self care rituals, but you shouldn’t feel as though you need anything outside of yourself to fulfil your luxury self care ritual.

5 Best Self- Care Tips To Feel Rich, Luxurious And Confident

By Martina Fink

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aking sure that your daily rituals make you feel rich and luxurious – in my words I would say „glowing“ – I have put together my top five selfcare tips for you to be productive and feel confident and radiant, so you will never again feel like an unmotivated couch potato!

Now that a lot of us have spent quite some time at home, maybe you got a bit in a rut, put on yoga pants every day, had your hair in a messy bun, and skipped the makeup, unless you had to show up for a call (and sometimes even then!)

To feel rich and confident upgrade your skin care to clean, green and ethical products Your skin is a reflection of your soul and of how well you’re taking care of yourself. It is the biggest organ and is what separates our inner body and organs from outside impacts. It is how we regulate our body temperature, and is therefore important that we take care of it. My skin care routine is one of the first things I do every morning. I cleanse, tone, and moisturise my face every day, mornings and evenings. The products I use are clean, transparent, and come in luxuriously designed glass bottles, and this ritual just makes me feel so radiant from the inside out.

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Start your self- care rituals with a glam breakfast In my Glow world, I like to make every aspect of my life glowing. This also includes making a breakfast that is not only healthy and delicious, but also looks pretty, is colourful, and like you added a lot of vitamin L (love) to it! So this can be a green smoothie with spinach, banana, silken tofu, plant-based protein powder, oat milk, and hemp seed topping, an oatmeal bowl with frozen cherries, banana slices, and cacao nibs topping, or a smoothie bowl decorated with fresh kiwi, banana, cashew nuts, and flax seeds. Nourish your body with as many organic and fresh plants and fruits as you can and stay away from anything toxic, packaged, and processed.

Confident clothing make you feel rich and glamorous throughout the day when you work from home While yoga pants and hoodies are comfy and just the right thing to wear at times, they often don’t give us a very confident, rich, and luxurious feeling about ourselves. I’ve found that wearing jeans and a cute t-shirt, or my favourite robe can make such a difference in how I feel! I then also put my hair in a braid or a high pony tail, use some organic hair spray to fix it, wear my favourite earrings, and do my makeup – just because. These little things have the power to boost your confidence on days you need it a little more! As without so within – change how you look on the outside, and it is going to impact how you feel on the inside!

Make your home a reflection of the rich and luxurious life you desire If you desire to up level your life, manifest more abundance, better relationships, a higher income, more success, peace, and happiness in your life, you need to align yourself with that vibration before you get it. Like attracts like, so when you’re on the vibration of the rich and luxurious life you dream of, you will attract the rich and luxurious things you desire.

Home is a place where we spend quite some time at and it’s where we start and end our days. Making your home a reflection of the life you desire is the first step to getting there. Now what exactly that means depends on exactly what you desire.

Want to feel more grounded and peaceful? Get yourself some beautiful plants.

Want to feel feminine, nurtured, and beautiful? Get yourself fresh flowers every week.

Want your home office to reflect the success that best version of you will have? Add little elements like a plant, wall prints, and a journal that resonate.

Want to create space to receive all the abundance you desire? Declutter your home and release, throw out, get rid of anything that keeps your shelves full, your tables messy, and your wardrobes overflowing.

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What is the best tip to end the day with confidence and feeling rich and luxurious?

We can’t feel rich and luxurious if our bodies are exhausted and you wake up in the morning feeling like you got run over by a truck. Getting good quality beauty sleep every night is just as important as moving your body daily and drinking enough water. While lots of people turn their phones off the minute they turn off the lights, this can pretty much guarantee that you’re not going to get into restful and deep sleep. Get some no-phone time before bed and turn it off at least an hour before you go to bed.

Your bedroom should be an oasis for relaxation. Don’t work from bed, don’t turn it into an office, and keep your electronics out of the bedroom. You’re saying you use your phone to set your alarm? Just get an alarm clock.

Upgrade your bed sheets and pillows to organic cotton, and use a calming pillow mist. Rub some lavender oil onto your wrists and inhale deeply. When you close your eyes, go over your day and think about all the things that went well and that you’re proud of. Express gratitude for the people in your life, your health, and the life you get to live on this earth.

About the writer: Martina Fink is the founder of the transformational program Perfectionist Rehab and the host of The Glow Life Podcast, Martina helps perfectionist and high achieving executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and celebrities like you overcome overwhelm, trust your intuition, and feel great in your body, so you can work and stress less, love yourself, and feel alive again.

How To Boost Your Resilience To Become A Happier and More Fulfilled Woman

By Claire Corbett

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n the new world we find ourselves facing changes beyond our personal control that have impacted our small businesses in a big way. Many of us have frozen in terror as a large part of our revenue stream has suddenly disappeared. If you like me, panicked and felt paralysed with fear and hopelessness in the first days, as the reality of the impact of the COVID 19 virus sunk in, keep reading.

Moving from that gripping place of fear to a place of hope and action Have you ever felt in awe of how some women seem to be able to ‘ride the storm’ better than others? Why some come out on top, regardless of how bad things get? Don’t be fooled that this is by chance or indeed, that it is easy. It takes a magical blend of hard work, selfawareness, attitude to stress, peppered with a good dose of optimism.

Let’s take a look at the common habits of these resilient women so that we can learn and use their ways as a guide on how we can boost our resilience to become happier, more successful and fulfilled women in business and life.

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Stand your ground Growing up with 4 brothers, I learned early on how to stand my ground, be resilient and tap into my natural source of power. It didn’t happen overnight, this took years of trying, falling and getting up again.

I remember learning the hard way, how to choose my battles and deal with disappointment when things didn’t go my way.

However, it was not all plain sailing. In my late 20’s, my personal and business life went pearshaped overnight. The company I was working for folded, my 7 year relationship ended and I was not longer happy with my life. I was surprised and disillusioned that my childhood learning didn’t rescue me. I realised that there was more work to do.

The days and weeks that followed, I fought my new reality like an over-tired child that can’t sleep. Then, I slumped into a paralysis of sorts, where I did nothing and stared into space for hours, then something changed, something finally shifted in me.

I dug deep, real deep and found a very faint light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly, I got up, got dressed, got on my beloved yoga mat and asked the million dollar question “what now?”

The light grew brighter.

During what was sometimes a painful process, I started to look inward, which I hadn’t done much before this. I began asking questions like, “what makes me happy”, “where is my passion” and “what can I do to build my life back up”.

At this point, I realised that the way forward involved accepting and, dare I say embracing, my new reality and still come out with something good, meaningful.

Looking back now, this was a couple of the most enriching years of my life. I learned how to re-frame what I perceived as failure, whilst developing invaluable skills such as selfawareness, relying on my intuition more and prioritise where I put my energy and focus.

“ Adapt to change As I got back on my feet, I moved continents, prioritised my family, changed careers, became my own boss and most importantly learned to thrive and adapt in turbulent times.

Over the years, I became really curious about how we can develop these life and business skills of being resilient, optimistic and brave, especially in work where women have to work in challenging, often male dominated environments.

Through my research and case studies, I uncovered some very interesting facts that shattered some of pre-conceived conceptions.

You are not born with resilience, you learn resilience.

I discovered, we need to learn the adult version of resilience, in order to successfully navigate the challenging terrain of modern life.

How do you continue to boost your resilience in turbulent times, like a global pandemic, slump in our business, missed promotion or personal crisis, like loss of a loved one or divorce? Read on for some of my guidance below.

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Be kind to yourself The first step is to acknowledge what is going on. Denial is tempting and often a coping mechanism but believe me, it doesn’t increase your resilience and reality will surface one way or another. If we ignore our reality, suffering comes… eventually. So, as painful as it is, acceptance is the first major step to getting back on top. Be kind and give yourself time to accept what’s happened or what’s happening right now.

Get clarity on your Purpose The next stage involves figuring out your priorities and values, which, like your life, ebb and flow. Use them as your roadmap to get clear about your purpose and become more resilient. Stay in touch with your core values.

Focus on what you have Refocus is the next phase. Shifting focus to what is good or going well in your business and life is a great way to reframe your current situation. Be thankful for the clients you do have, the kind colleagues in your company or your adorable child or pet that makes you heart melt. This refocus will make you stronger and motivate you to go on.

Allow yourself to dream My favourite phase of this process is reenergising. This is about ‘blue sky thinking’.

Remove all barriers and negative self-talk.

Allowing ourselves to dream and think outside the box opens the door to the possibilities.

Here’s where the magic happens.

Be brave and take action. Now this is your time to use your new resilience skills, weather the storm and take positive action. The tough times gives us a chance to sharpen our resilience skills, refocus and adjust our sails!

About the writer: Claire Corbett is based in Zurich. Originally from Ireland, has lived in the US, France, the UK and now Switzerland. With a vast start-ups experience in the Silicon Valley and corporate banking, Claire is the founder of Golf Morocco and Right Point, and is helping other entrepreneurs to adapt their business in this time of change.

Parents & Quarantine: What Is It About Teenagers That I Just Don’t Get?

By Annette Ebbinghaus

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OVID 19 has affected each of us in different ways, while in self isolation. For families with teenagers you may be experiencing an increase in push back about the “rules”, high emotions that seem to come out of the blue or watching them make breakfast for lunch, and finding the WiFi extremely wobbly at times.

If you are working and managing school schedules quarantine could really be testing your fortitude.

What is actually going on in my teenager’s brain? Their body seems fully developed and their brain has to catch up. It is one of the reasons adolescents live more in the moment, act impulsively and take risks.

The adolescent brain has an amazing capacity to learn. This is due to the teen brain having more neurons and excitable synapses (grey matter) than it ever will again. It is like having an overgrown hedge of grey matter. The brain begins to prune the hedge when puberty begins and continues until your teen is 25 to 30 years of age. This pruning happens during sleep and is why teenagers need 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

Signals in the brain pass through what is called the myelin sheath (white matter), a protective fatty layer protecting the neurones in the brain. In adolescents this layer is about 80% developed where signals take longer to move around the pre-frontal cortex where judgement, decision making, inhibitory control, assessing danger, empathy, understanding consequences, and goal setting all take place.

Photo by Anthony Tran

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@anthony.fotography

Think of white matter as the brain’s WiFi system. If the WiFi signal is weak and you’re online streaming your signal gets stuck causing you start to lose interest in the show or the plot.

This is why quick decision making can be challenging in teens and why situations can go from being awesome to out of control in a matter of seconds. When you ask your teen “What were you thinking?” the answer is, they were not.

The limbic brain, referred to as the seat of emotions and the cross roads of the brain is fully developed in the adolescent. This is where the amygdala are located. The amygdala are the oldest part of the brain and their main concern is survival. When we are under “perceived threat” the amygdala activates our body’s stress response. The overly excitable adolescent brain combined with increased hormone secretion and the lack of rational brain development is like driving a car with a fully functioning gas pedal and a half-installed set of brakes.

This leads to adolescents craving intense experiences be it; social media, extreme sports, romantic relationships, experimenting with drugs. Combine this with the fact that adolescent brains have more dopamine and cannabinoid receptors than adults, it is easier for teens to become addicted to substances or form unhelpful longer-term habits.

The way the adolescent brain works is amazing and it does not set up excuses for them. Our understanding of their brain helps us to help them on their road to adulthood.

How does this impact us during quarantine you ask?

Your adolescent is used to having a certain amount of freedom and time away from the family when they are at school. They might feel like they are under a microscope in our current situation. Teens are social and their relationships with peers and other adults helps their development.

Remember, their brain is all about individual survival and pleasure seeking.

Below is a list of tips for getting the most out of quarantine with your teen. If you have an adolescent that is showing signs of depression, seems overly concerned with COVID or is cutting themselves off from friends or you suspect substance abuse, seek professional help.

TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF! Give everyone time to not be productive. It gives the brain some time to reset and that is when we can access our creativity and ponder life itself.

STRUCTURE Humans need some form of routine. It is what relaxes the amygdala in the limbic brain and the teenagers is already super charged. Work with your teen to support them setting up routines for themselves.

FUN & CONNECTION Schedule time for fun and social connection everyday. Adolescents are tribal and they need to check in with their tribe regularly which will keep the dopamine receptors happy and fed.

Ask them what they think is reasonable.

FAMILY TIME Give everyone the opportunity to suggest some family activities with no judgements. Set the ground rules ahead of schedule about phone use during family time.

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SLEEP Now is your chance to help them get those 9 hours of sleep. Allow your teens to sleep as long as possible before online classes begin.

CHORES Use this opportunity to teach them how to cook, include them in housework and yard work and do not expect them to be as thorough as you are. These are teaching moments, not pressure moments.

RELAXATION & REFLECTION To truly switch off and let the amygdala really rest, I suggest practising a form of meditation. It can be Sophrology, Mindfulness or other meditation practices. This time off helps us be more creative, solve problems quicker, strengthens our immune system and can smooth out the release of hormones and emotions.

EXERCISE The dopamine and endorphins that are produced from exercise are the only drugs your body really needs. You can make this a fun little competition or it can be a ritual family walk after dinner, a bike ride, hula hooping, use the stairwell in your apartment building and see how long it takes it to you climb the equivalent of a nearby mountain peak, skip, set up an obstacle course, With exercise it is just like Nike says “Just do It�!

About: Annette Ebbinghaus is an ASCA certified Master Sophrologist as well as a Hypnosis and NLP Practitioner, Mindfulness and Cardiac Coherence Coach working with adolescents and adults since 2008. Her professional life progression went from MSc Civil Engineer building bridges, MBA working in industry and academia to a complete shift to mind and body health when she became a mother while living in Singapore.

Her signature work is teaching adolescents techniques to support their mental and emotional health.

9 Ways to Balance Your Sleep Cycle and Stay Focused While in Self- Isolation ByAnandi

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t may seem like a dream working from home, but it can also become very stressful when there’s no structure.

When working from home, it’s important to create rhythm and rituals that support balance, wellbeing and sleep. It’s tempting to be disorganised, stay in your pyjamas and simply get nothing done.

Avoid home jet lag Keep bedtime and get up time the same as if you were going out to work. This will keep your sleep cycles balanced and you’re more likely to wake up feeling refreshed. Chopping and changing your ritual will create a type of ‘home jet lag’!

Going to bed one day at midnight, the next day at 10pm, then 1am, will play havoc with your sleep cycles. You’ll likely to get pulled out of a deep sleep by your alarm clock which will make you feel groggy for the first few hours of the day. This is called ‘sleep inertia’.

However, if your body is used to sleeping between 10pm and 6am, it will adjust your sleep cycles so you wake up practically without an alarm from a light sleep. When you wake up naturally from light sleep, you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the day.

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Start your day with meditation or yoga This might sound scary if you’ve never done either. However, yoga doesn’t have to mean standing on your head or sitting for hours in lotus pose. It can be just simply sitting and watching your breath. This will immediately calm your nervous system and refresh your mind. Try at least 15 minutes in the morning before you look at your phone or your computer.

Finish your day with a wined down In order to sleep well, your mind needs to slow down. You won’t sleep well if your mind is still busy.

Working on your computer or surfing the internet will inhibit the release of your sleep hormone melatonin.

Dim the lights, turn off everything off instead. Do something relaxing like reading or listening to a meditation.

Create a beautiful work space Make sure your work space is tidy and remove clutter. If possible have your desk near a window so that you can open the window on a nice day. Make sure it’s freshly dusted, light some incense in the morning to create a nice energy or even a scented candle. This will encourage focus and creativity.

Plan your day with your top three priorities At the end of every day, plan your priorities for the next day. This will keep you focused and you’ll have a feeling of achievement when you tick them off as done. If you wander through your day, with no priorities, you’ll feel like you’re not achieving anything.

Eat fresh healthy food and cut the stodge In order to stay positive, feel energised and sleep well, you need to pay attention to your diet. Sugar will rob you of your energy, give you brain fog and create inflammation in the body. Focus on fresh vegetables and organic food if possible.

Drink plenty of water and watch the wine!

Practise gratitude Have a gratitude journal. Gratitude keeps the mind positive and improves mood. You’ll be nicer to be around!

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Have work time and off time Set up your day and week where you have work time and off time. Working at home often means you get nothing done, or your work spills over into the evenings and the weekends. With no travel, you should be able to get more done in less time!

Work on yourself This is a great time to work on yourself.

Check out inspirational speakers or inspiring books to improve your mindset and inspire your contemplations!

I recommend Jo Dispenza, Deepak Chopra and Anthony Robbins.

About the writer: Anandi is the creator of ‘Sleepology® which is designed to resolve sleep issues using a specific methodology using principles done in a particular order. Anandi is an Ayurvedic consultant, NLP practitioner, Senior yoga teacher and teacher trainer and has been in the wellness field for 30 years. She’s also the author of ‘Breathe Better Sleep Better’. Anandi has appeared in the press all the major glossies including Cosmopolitan, Women’s fitness, Psychologies, Daily Mail, In the Moment Magazine, Spirit and Destiny and the London Evening Standard.

A Girls Confessions ABOUT

Simple Living, Self Love Adversity

&

by Sarah Kopinsky

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hear more people focus on simple living, self love, resources, resilience, confusion and the power of connection during this high level of adversity. The chaos, suffering and great pain, for me, unleashed many unexamined and sometimes dark parts of my own personality and made me think and write a lot about our collective (dis)functioning. When I handle what I find and do not like about myself, or the results I now face as the result of my own thinking, beliefs and actions with grace and calm, I learn much things that help me connect and honour others differences a lot more.

I tend to spend more time rethinking how I used and plan to spend my existing resources. Here are some things that I learned from speaking and working with the people I most admire who helped synthesise some (hard) lessons from this experience:

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Setting the bar right and letting go Many people can experience a strong routine change and shift of their relational and life paradigms. There are so many aspects which now, almost by force, have most of us take effective and very directed action.

I rethink the roots of some persistent issues, the ways in which I behaved and responded and how present I really am in all parts of my life. What I take, do not take, and should take to heart, is seen a bit differently. The strong physical social and health changes have led me to re-examine my competitive nature to constantly perform on high levels and reinvent the ways in which I show up to my loved ones and for myself. I learn that I can let go of what I really must and can finally let more things be.

It gave me a chance to set the bar right, where it used to set very high or lower than I could honestly handle and it helped me find out that I “fail� less than I thought I would and became, somewhat, more productive and useful. I know that many high achievers are looking for opportunities to help their businesses and their relationships survive this very strange reality and without much certainty, and I admit that changing your energy, thought and emotions, is really hard when feeling this level of unfamiliarity, is really hard.

I hear more people focus on simple living, self love, resources, resilience, confusion and the power of connection during this high level of adversity. The chaos, suffering and great pain, for me, unleashed many unexamined and sometimes dark parts of my own personality and made me think and write a lot about our collective (dis)functioning. When I handle what I find and do not like about myself, or the results I now face as the result of my own thinking, beliefs and actions with grace and calm, I learn much things that help me connect and honour others differences a lot more.

Letting things work for me, rather than control who I become Being in constant control does not always feel like it allows for much room to change perspectives and change how I spend most of my time. I spend so much time on the go, travelling, reaching, so much time thinking about solving problems, and most my time working, so I can reach goals faster. When I now notice that to be sucked out of my routines and experience a total loss of some aspects I used to control, I tend to focus more on the things I was not noticing anymore.

I see how many women are demonstrating enormous resilience, patience, clarity of mind and hard work to help themselves grow through this time, and that many of us also -somehow- find it in them, to help others where possible.

Changing the way we handle our own space and others’ through the power of acceptance I learned that I may also choose to evolve and grow and face things head on, instead of (literally) going someplace else, because now I cannot escape my personal environment. This experience can require us to train the way we handle our own pain and react to the pain of others.

If in the past I viewed others, their work or my entire relationships as the problem instead of the situation and focus on conflict, now I prefer to finally have those real talks, dare myself and others, and try and solve any conflict in ways that are beneficial for my own personal development. Allowing myself and others their own space, freedom and autonomy and better understanding the importance of my own and each others need for individuality and boundaries has become a though lesson I needed to do better at.

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This is where my self-care, self-love and development may have become lacking and I find myself considering how and where my boundaries and levels of assertiveness are and how I feel about this and the results that it manifested. To guard my own sense of well being and desire I also need to feel that I have enough space and air between myself and others and learn to ask for it and give it, and point it out in areas that I feel I miss it.

I became more aware that I tended to be silent and kind and lacked a transfer of my own business skills into my personal life when it came to uncomfortable situations and behaviours and rejections from others.

Where I would speak up to the highest person in the company hierarchies and advise them, I would in my personal life avoid conflict and focus on harmony, and let things in a lot more without questioning their criticism about who I am and questioning how to address their possible projections.

Understanding I have underestimated the value of simple things in life This is obviously a world old clichĂŠ, and reason for agony in many generations who tried to enhance our levels of wisdom by installing more wisdom in us, but the truth still is that I tend to see some things as small when they are most important. Now that I am forced into simpler living I rely- again- on the power of connection in adversity.

I, and we all, greatly depend on our social bonds and its messages and the shared information since prehistoric times. These are the tools designed for our evolution and survival. And we have not done bad by using it, until now‌knowledge is wired in our brains, body, and instinct. We used to protect each other from danger and treats by attaching great meaning to these messages. This is the reason that I, and many others are so very sensitive to rejection, but also to affection, and most of us have come to ignore much of it since the time of the industrial evolution.

The global crisis we are now in could be found to restore a sense of (inter)dependency and make us aware of our high social needs. I, undeniably realised that we need each other, and that our collective wants could be found to be very simple and maybe even primitive, but of great meaning. Being seen, heard, helped, felt and present with and for each others lives functions as an antidote for much pain, fear, anger, frustration, and confusion for me.

Connecting with nature and making meaningful connections with self and others in time of crisis I find a deep desire now, more than ever to connect with nature and I appreciate it a lot more. I find myself wanting to connect with my own and each others natures more. We have been so very destructive towards nature, its animals and life and are now learning that it is not only wrong, but that it absolutely backfires. I often forget that we too, are part of nature and that we put out into it at some point can reach us.I now feel that nature wants us to start treating it differently because that the way we collectively consume, behave and live is harming us all.

We are interconnected but have also become accustomed to over-consumption and success and forgot to look over to the things which appeared to be of less importance. I find myself talking about shared problems, realisations and emotions with others because we are in the exact same crisis. Although keeping the distance is critical, many people around me also seem to find so many ways to really connect with each other in much more meaningful ways and try to help each other out.

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Activating Resilience and appreciating the strength of talent in our global community I have experienced tremendous outreach in groups and on social media where I was asked to help in some projects or by doing something for others, and I was so touched by the stories of how resilient and strong and caring people were, in spite of being in such an uncertain experience themselves. Many people connected with me and shared ideas and solutions and helped me understand that the financial and health pressure is hurting many and causing great problems. We are massively reaching out to each other and connecting with people we would normally never speak with. Maybe this is because there is more time to notice the needs and the precious talents of others that (virtually) surround us.

I became more interested in what others are doing and in their stories and identities, in what drives them and I find myself becoming more real and genuinely interested. Maybe there is a greater desire in many of us to embrace and look after each others well being, success, creativity, and true desires and needs, because we understand that we are in the same boat.

This situation can inspire thoughts about what we would like to keep, change, and leave in our lives.

Thoughts about how our active interconnectedness is helping us make things happen faster than we might have experienced before, or how it can be used to change and stop collective dysfunction, outer pollution and destruction.

Understanding that many of my resolutions were just about me flirting with possibility, not real desires because I did not make them into concrete and properly scheduled plans.

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My focus on personal developmental areas and evolving takes much power, discipline, dedication, and patience. I still work, but do have more time now, and it goes by regardless, but I am now able to clearly see that even when time is made available, some resolutions were never real plans or priorities. This is because I never really wanted them, and they – very likely- never originated from and for myself in the first place.

For me this meant asking for guidance on areas of struggle or where stagnation is still experienced, and where I don’t seem to change or get the same experiences and results over and over again because I am doing something wrong or not changing something I should. I analysed it and concluded that these resolutions were only temporary flirts with fantasy and a curiosity for possibilities, from the very start. I desired and lusted an image I had about my ideal self and my true essence for a moment, but even if I would reach it, it is still not congruent with who I really am and want to become.

This is a time where many with me will likely separate from our own falsehoods and attach greater meaning to becoming closer to our own truths. For me this time now results into taking greater action and making structured scheduled plans which help me make those genuine lifelong connections which

help me on my own true path. I choose to invest and dedicate much more resources, time, and power in making big steps in my life, physical health, the work I choose to do, friendships, romance and in my family and goals.

I feel that this experience finally freed me from a lot of thoughts about myself and others which were really mostly illusions and it helped me realise and remove the things that weren’t really good for me. If anything, I now see that they would have ended in some level of disaster or ended up making me very unhappy. My friend tells me: “Want only that which is good for you”. And I realised that the things we might think we desire, aren’t in our lives because we know they aren’t good for us. I freed myself from those long held beliefs and ideas that were mostly created and believed for me and installed in me by others.

It seems to me that I am not alone in experiencing the results of this time as not just being physically separated to protect others and myself, but also as a time where I separate myself from many other things which never served me to get closer to what does and truly belongs with me.

We can’t help but notice the unified rise of global respect for those whose work puts them on the front line and away from their families There has been massive sacrifice on behalf of the true global hero’s whose service is going on for a very long time now. Many have not properly rested, seen their families, and worked incredibly hard without end to help us stay as safe and healthy as possible and to help those in need. We owe them a tremendous deal and we owe them to stay unified and respectful to one another.

This situation has had a disastrous toll on families, business, live and health in the lives of many who we love and love us the most. Although there is much light still left in the darkness, these are undeniably hard times. If we can help, by connecting and reaching out, we should. If not now, when?

8 Steps Into The Healing Powers of Writing

by Esther Buerki

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don’t know about you, but the last few months have been the most prolific period of creativity and personal growth I have experienced in my entire life. The woman I am today is a very different woman than the woman celebrating last Christmas!

Information was fast to come in but what really happened was transformational: I became aware of the healing powers of writing.

While my desk is in the same spot by the window, where it always has been, everything feels and looks different to me. While in self isolation, I found myself contemplating the natural beauty in the back of my garden and having long conversations with myself, an inner dialogue that took me to amazing places, from self doubt to courage and compassion, from shame to acceptance, from being a total stranger to understanding, finally, who I am and who I could become…

In the process, I have changed the narrative, the story I tell myself when nobody is listening… I have learned to let go of toxic thoughts, I have learned how to speak my truth to my inner world in love and honesty. I learned to be kind to myself, and in doing so, I finally understood that this path I took into the unknown, brought me inner peace and resilience and all this remarkable transformation happened through the healing powers of writing!

A lot of women have asked me about my writing process. How did I make this happen?

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What does writing look like for me?

Have you been told at school that you are not good at grammar or that you are mediocre at writing an interesting essay? May this be the reason why you have developed a kind of allergy towards writing since then?

I can understand you very well. I know exactly how this feels.

And then, there is an inner voice telling you that you wish to write your story and your book. But you gave up this idea, because selfdoubts started popping up. You heard again your teacher’s voice.

Don’t listen to the teacher. Listen to your inner voice. Start writing. Writing is like healing.

Where do you start?

Start writing without fear Step

01

Collect all your ideas. Take your time. This first step may keep you busy during weeks or months. Put your ideas on sticky notes or record your ideas on your smartphone or take a little notebook and whenever you have an idea during the next weeks, write it down. You might be very enthusiastic during this first step or during the writing process. But there might come up a lot of self-doubts. Your critical voice in your head – or again your teacher’s voice – will want to destroy your project. Don’t let it happen.

And believe me – your book is already in you.

You just have to put it into words.

Step 02 Read all your notes. Do you already see a red thread in all your ideas? If yes, go to the next step. If not, give yourself more time. Don’t rush. A human being takes nine months to grow and to come into this world. Such is your story. Enjoy this time of being pregnant with all your ideas.

Step 03 What will the mission of your book be? Can you write it down? What do you want to tell others about your life story? Think about how you can inspire others, when you tell them how you overcame your challenging times.

Watch out: Don’t give fear or self-doubts the even smallest place in your thoughts.

Step 04 Imagine the outcome. It is important to have a clear picture of how your book will be.

Sometimes, as I said before, it is just a matter of letting out your book which is inside you.

Step 05 Write down your summary. By writing down a summary of your book, you help yourself to get an even clearer picture of your book.

Step 06 Dissect your summary. You may juggle with your parts and not tell from A to B to C, but change the chronological order and start with a small part C, the very end, and go on with B or C. You’d want to put a certain suspense into your storytelling.

Step 07 Start writing! Choose your favourite chapter, the chapter, which is the most clear and joyful to think of. Writing doesn’t have to be painful. It gives you a lot of joy, if you sit down to write when you are in a good mood.

If you don’t feel enthusiastic, do something else first, which puts you back into a beautiful emotional state of mind.

Step 08 Write without reading back every sentence or every chapter. Keep on going. Stay in the flow. Reading what I’ve already written brings back the critical voice in your head. Leave it.

Don’t read anymore until you’ve finished the manuscript.

As a former journalist, I know a lot of writing tricks. But this one is the most important one: No reading and re-editing during the writing process. Otherwise, you won’t finish your story and your book.

If you choose to write your own story, you’ll discover how writing gives you the possibility to look at your life from the outside. You’ll be experiencing, how suddenly a lot of puzzles pieces are coming together. You may not believe how powerful this feels when you start understanding for the first time why the things happened in your life as they did, and that it suddenly makes sense.

I wish you an enriching writing and healing journey. And I’m sure, one important puzzle piece in all this will be the discovery that your teachers were wrong.

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About the writer: Esther Buerki is an international book writing expert, author and life coach living in Winterthur, who supports others to write their books and stories. Her inspiring attitude is her ultimate strength. Her earlier study of French, German and English literature brought her closer to the world of literature writers, but far away from her own writing. She no longer dared to write her own texts. At the age of 55, she finally published her first children’s book “Leonard and Loulou”, a story about bullying for sensitive children, in German, English and French. This year, the story of the boy Leonard and the little cat Loulou got its sequel in the book “Leonard and Lea”. Her upcoming book “Living without fear” about her own story will be published soon.

How To Keep A Journal, Free Your Mind And Take Control Of Your Mental Health

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s we are returning to life, I keep writing in my journal which helped free my mind and take control of my mental health during lockdown.

If you would had told me 4 months ago that we would be living in this surreal situation, fighting COVID-19 pandemic globally, I might not have believed you. A horror movie brought to reality! In such a short space of time, the virus has utterly transformed the employment landscape and people’s lives worldwide. But history taught us again that during crisis, there have been winners and losers. With billions of people in self-isolation, mental health is rapidly sweeping the globe. We are social creatures and we have evolved as a species that is hardwired to interact with others, more so in times of stress.

Resilience, technology and the mental health lessons learned during lockdown There are some days when I feel on top of the world and empowered but there are other days when I feel helpless, wanting to crawl under my duvet. And that’s okay to not feel okay and have a bad day. While revisiting the lockdown period, my greatest win is learning to stop feeling ashamed that I wasn’t feeling positive and that things aren’t going great.

There is a lot of strength having the courage to be vulnerable, to be authentic and true to yourself.This one lesson has changed my life and the way I do business. I experienced resilience at a whole new level and while it always has been a huge part of my life, I feel so much better knowing that I passed the test.

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My business has taken a real hit, from losing all my clients to zero new client sign ups. For me it was swim or sink- I chose to swim and explore the different seas, and I have Technology to be thankful for not sinking!

However, lockdown left me spending much more time than usual on technology. Not Great! I began to notice changes in my mental and physical health, mood, sleep, focus and productivity. This is not a healthy nor productive way of living. It’s draining!

Newsflash, if you start to feel overwhelmed by the constant presence of technology, it’s a sign to step back. Begin with small changes in what you are doing.

Stop feeling ashamed of your feelings and start keeping a Journal to free your mind and take control of your mental health Looking after my mental health and wellbeing comes with maintaining healthy sleep patterns and eating habits, both generating more energy and focus overall.

Sleep is vital. I am so bad with my sleeping patterns but by seeking support has been a life changer. Developing a regular relaxing bedtime routine should be a non-negotiable part of your life. A good idea is to stop watching any screens at least an hour before bedtime and avoid mental over-stimulation from blue light from your screens/TV. Also, it is a good time to enjoy the things you like, such as reading a book (not on a tech device), have a warm soothing drink (non-alcoholic), a bath, listen to music or meditate or write in your journal.

As I am sharing my notes with you, I am looking at my journal, and if I would recommend anything for your mental health, is keeping a Journal. Keeping a journal is a simple but effective tool which can be so uplifting while reflecting on your circumstances and reevaluating your options moving forward. When committing yourself to writing down what is happening in your world, you unlock your feelings and allow your mind to flow. It is amazing how only 15 minutes in your daily routine could give you the clarity you need on the 70,000 thoughts going on in your head daily, and de- clutter your mind.

Keeping a journal is great for both your personal life and business.

Keeping a journal helps you acknowledging your thoughts and feelings, even the most difficult ones like anxiety, grief, anger or boredom. Find a quiet place sitting with those thoughts and feeling acknowledging when and where y come up in the body. Perhaps you could even share what’s going on with someone you trust to help with the process and move you through them. Taking a new perspective on negative thoughts and feelings could bring a more positive outlook and multitude of positive effects on our mental and physical well-being, helping you to focus and re-energise.

Writing in your journal is not about recording your thoughts and feelings, or chronicle every last thing that happens to you during the day. Feel free to unleash your creativity, doodles and day dreams about being married to Prince Charming are allowed!

Creativity helps you unwind, unleash it!

About the writer: Zeenat Noorani Resilience Wellbeing Coach, NLP, Hypnotist, Kinetic Shift, Mindfulness, EFT Practitioner, Speaker, Mentor &Author Helping you to “Empower Your Mind To Have The Life You Desire”

Is Yoga a solution for Fertility?

Valentina Salonna on Yoga, Science and Acceptance

V

alentina Salonna has been on the road to self-discovery all her life and has managed to find peace with herself after embracing all she can.

She believes that having a deep understanding of the practise can aid a person in every aspect of their life, from physical and mental health to grounding and awareness. She gives an account of her beliefs regarding yoga, as well as her fertility awareness understandings, to further make people aware of the tremendous benefits it can provide to everyone and anyone who is willing to accept it as a lifestyle.

“

Yoga is not only a matter of helping posture, but also a way of understanding and managing our own overall health.

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What inspired you to create your business?

Ever since I was young, yoga has been a big part of my life. My father always said to me, “Valentina, you are born to teach the essence of yoga!”, and I started to think, what if he was right? The moment to structure my knowledge and to receive an official acknowledgement of my yogic skills had come, so I signed up to E. S. Y. (Ecole Supérieure de Yogathérapie). I remember my first years of teachings in Epenex with a funny group of young curious scientists; they inspired me a lot!

What problems are you solving? How does it work?

I work predominantly with women and couples all over the world as a yoga therapist, sexologist and fertility awareness counsellor.

My goal is to open up man and womankind to a new way of understanding yoga therapy, and I am creating a new way of conceptualising it, bringing together scientific credibility and natural fertility. I am part of the change I want to see in the outside world and therefore, share my experiences with you. I encourage people to remember that if there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do us no harm. We do not have to be perfect to be what we want, to do what we want, to have what we want.

Who are the people that could benefit?

Women and couples who want to come back to a conscious sexuality and a healthy approach to fertility, stopping the side effects of birth control pills or any other artificial/mechanic contraceptives. I work with both men and women who want or need to make a difference on this planet before they leave it. Also, I help couples receive the gift of giving birth naturally, especially when there is no more hope according to modern medicine.

What are the challenges in making the public aware of your work?

It can be challenging to make the public understand that yoga is not only a matter of helping posture, but also a way of understanding and managing our own overall health. Something I emphasise during my workshops and conferences is that for me, fertility awareness is much more than simply a method for natural contraception or a contraception aid. It is, in all respects, a lifestyle. Socially and anthropologically, we are living in a very interesting and innovative time!

In human history, the correct, consistent and reliable practice of the symptothermal method is very recent, as interest in the woman’s cycle has arisen only recently. Women themselves haven’t focused on themselves as individuals for a long time.

Who is one person that you admire the most? Why? For me, it’s Nelson Mandela – interestingly, not a woman. I greatly admire how a human being can remain human despite his role, his job, his convictions, his limits and his resources. His power of forgiveness and his capacity to remain humble and above it all, despite the injustice is more than an appropriate example for me. It is a reminder to stay worthy and enough, no matter what life throws at you. Mandela’s life is, to me, a tool to manage the infinite; a way to stay fertile and available to life’s proposals, even when your freedom is taken.

About: Valentina Salonna is originally from Italy and is currently in her final year of studying for her PhD in Life Sciences, “Yoga Therapy and Mindfulness”, at the University of Lausanne. Her field of expertise is yoga, and both in the frame of this discipline and the art of living, Valentina became an entrepreneur, a yoga teacher and therapist, a sexologist and an expert in fertility awareness and natural conception.

What Does Your Nail Polish Say About Your Health

By Sandra Deira

E

very week I look at the weather forecast for the coming 7 days. Will I get to enjoy the sun, wear sandals and a ravishingly blue colour nail polish? Or will it be a shiny nude because it will be raining cats and dogs, my toes will be stuffed away and I will not get to wear one of my favourite bright colour dresses?

Sometimes I wonder how did women chose their favourite colour nail polish half a century ago? Going to the cinema in those days was a real treat. Women around the world were inspired by famous Hollywood actresses to paint their nails bright red. Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe come to mind. Did Marilyn imagine that her beautiful red nails will become a world class inspiration for women? What else didn’t she know about nail polish?

Would she ever guess that nail polish presents a considerable health risk?

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control has proposed listing nail products containing toluene to be under it’s Safer Consumer Products programme.

The chemical toluene, a toxin that may cause birth defects and developmental problems in children of pregnant women who have had extended exposure.

They also looked for dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which has been linked to birth defects in studies involving lab animals, and formaldehyde, a carcinogen.

Then there is Triphenyl phosphate, or TPHP, a suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical, which is commonly used to make plastics and as a fire retardant in foam furniture. And if you wear nail polish, it could be in your body too.

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Researchers at Duke University tested the urine of 26 women who had recently painted their nails and found evidence of TPHP in every participant. Evidence of the chemical in the women’s urine increased sharply after they applied the nail polish.

TPHP is listed on the ingredient labels of a wide array of nail polishes now on the market.

Out of more than 3,000 nail products in EWG’s Skin Deep database, half disclose the use of TPHP.

Could nail polish pregnancy and children?

affect

As a mother-to-be, prior or immediately after hearing that you are pregnant, you will naturally make a few healthy decisions; you will stop smoking, stop drinking, take more rest, you will pay more attention to your diet.

Not only for yourself, but especially for your child. Would this also mean that you would have to give up your well-groomed nails for a while? Absolutely not. However, considering all the possible toxin material in your nail products you would want to put in some effort to do some research and pay close attention to the quality and content of your products. There are nail care products and brands with beautiful lacquers who will not get in the way of you and your baby’s health. Look for brand quality labels like the Big 3Free, Big5Free and up to even the Big10Free which will identify how free of harmful chemicals your product really is. Your nail polish must be free of formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, foluene, camphor, TPHP, parabens, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and led

About: Sandra is the Global Director of Health Tribe and loves helping people achieve their business goals, optimise their knowledge of general health and improve their healthy lifestyle. After completing her studies at the Waltham Forest College in London and earning her degree at the University of Applied Science in Amsterdam, she has spent the past 30 years working in Recruitment, HR and Telecom industries gaining experiences in areas such as commercial sales, management, communication, and support roles.

“

There are nail care products and brands with beautiful lacquers who will not get in the way of you and your baby’s health.

Nail Industry, Economy and Business Market analysts predict that the global market of nail polish will represent a value of 9 billion dollars by the end of 2019.

A recent survey found that female respondents in the UK spent on average £112.65 per month on their appearance.

Nail-care services account for an estimated 10% of the overall beauty and hairdressing industry revenue of £3.7bn in the UK alone.

Nail-care services prices range from £10 for basic nail-varnish services to £100 for permanent nail extensions using bio gels.

Exponentially nail polish is the fastest rising and most sold product in the cosmetic industry. Nails Salons are the 7th most popular type of start-up business. A never-ending inspiration, new nail bars open daily and ambitious entrepreneurs promote their brand, products, services and business to attract their ideal target audience.

The rising demand for nail polish especially among young people contributes to the strong sales increase. About 91% of girls between 9 and 17 years old use some form of nail polish or other nail care products. When you let this sink in for a while, one question might come to mind.

Who is actually buying the nail polish for a child?

Usually it is their mum, their grandmother or friends and family. Perhaps you could share this article with them!

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Craving Human Connection- Beyond the Void of Modern Lifestyle Human connection is what shapes us, and without it, we can become lost, stuck somewhere at the centre of a void, and it can be hard to come back

By Ella Lacey

I

n a fast moving, loud, crowded world, craving for human connection is a reflection of the void we feel in our modern lifestyle.

Sometimes it takes one picture, a single still image, to stop and make a meaningful connection with yourself or total strangers. It is mesmerising to look at an image that conveys a meaningful, essential message, a message that connects you with something from the outside world that resonates with you, a message that a thousand words would struggle to describe.

The art of photography is designed to create connection and desire; images not only have this magic which makes people feel they are part of something bigger than themselves but capture the present moments- soon to become memories.

I have this picture of my mother in my mind, the image of woman who lights up a room when she enters: you feel her, not just see her. On reflection, I wish I was able to capture THAT image of my mother when I was a little girl.

Dad is a paramedic, who puts the needs of others first. When I was a young girl, I felt protected by my parents and my older brothers; I felt loved. We had a happy home in rural Australia, but we took the strength of our connection for granted.

I was sixteen when my parents divorced, and our family connection broke. None of us dealt with it well, but it became one of the most significant points in my life. The separation of our parents left me confused, insecure, heartbroken, and searching for re-connecting with the past through ways that were harmful and unhealthy.

I decided to leave Australia and go into the unknown travelling; it was the bravest and the best thing I ever did. I became a global citizen and discovered there is more to life; each day was another chance for more connections to make, meet more people to love.

By all standards, age eighteen is a young age, too young to know who you want to spend the rest of your life with, but I knew when I met my now-husband that I’d met my soulmate. Our bond was immeasurable, so we threw caution to the wind. We are still connected, still journeying together, and learning from each other.

My work as a photographer connects me to people in a meaningful way. Over the years I learned to listen, leave my ego behind and dive head-first into the story that needs telling – not my version of it, but my clients’ story.

I believe we learn from everyone we meet, the good and the bad, and when you connect with good people, you connect with their story.

Before I became a photographer, I worked in the Mental Health industry. I spent ten years forming connections and advocating for the needs of vulnerable adults.

The people I encountered were in the depths of darkness, dealing with complete disconnection from reality and struggling to hold onto some aspect of their life as it once was. At the root of their heartache was the shame they felt for themselves. Many had mental illnesses so extreme that they could not fathom how to make their loved ones proud of them again.

I spent thousands of hours listening, consoling, and working with the delicate emotions they held inside.

The work was never complete, but I helped people on the long road to recovery. Sadly, it was also a journey that overwhelmed many who took their lives to stop the noise and relentless suffering.

Connecting with people when they needed it most didn’t feel like a job to me; it was more like a life mission. During this decade of my life, I learned to listen while playing my part in normalising imperfection and breaking down the stigma around mental health.

The birth of my first son led me to make some lifestyle changes, and the chaotic nature and emotional demands of my work became a lesser priority. I stepped away, and I spent the first year of his life connecting with him and working out who we were together and as individuals.

I became a mother and felt a great sense of joy, and although I had my son, I couldn’t shake the lifelong dream of being a foster parent. The decision to have more children felt inevitable, so we took the plunge, and during this time, we met many broken little souls who were craving human connection.

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As a family, we contributed to their learning about kindness, love, patience, and nurturing. Throughout this time, we opened our home to social workers and other people’s children so that we could connect with people struggling through a broken system. We did our best.

I feel deeply about the connections I make with each and every person I have worked with and I connect in meaningful ways with people through the stories I capture for my photography business. I think of myself as a mere vessel for the message of truth and honesty in their story, and as a reflection of the stories I learn along the way.

I’ve captured beautiful moments at weddings, of families and businesses, and I love it all. But the project that has stayed with me longest was photographing babies who had died during or shortly after birth. I volunteered my photography skills to honour and support the grief of parents who lost their babies.

This was indeed one of the most incredible things I could do for grieving parents. It was my job to capture the essence and give my best shot. My role wasn’t to connect with their grief and take it on board, but to honour it and make it shine through their suffering. I focused on delivering the best images I could capture, so their connection with their baby will stay alive.

Throughout my life, I have sought a human connection with people, and I try to represent their situation or personality best. I love to create unique images that tell a story or display the milestone you are documenting. Human connection adds value to the void of modern life – our work, the world, and each other.

About the writer: Ella Lacey is a lifestyle and personal branding photographer based in Switzerland, Ella is seeking human connection and finds that her most rewarding work is helping others. Creatives and entrepreneurs go to Ella for help in capturing a connection, personality and emotion to reflect the ethos of their business through the power of images.

The Power of Sisterhood- How Women Express Their Human Potential

By Gabriela Zoltakova Hjorter

E

xpressing yourself as a woman could be a tall order and many generations before us were conditioned to believe that women weren’t good enough to lead or bring their unique talent to blossom. During this year we experienced very difficult times but Sisterhood acts as a catalyst and amplifier for women’s human potential. Together we celebrate the cycles of nature and ourselves and feel more connected, relaxed, nurtured and recharged.

There is a sense of belonging in Sisterhood that helps us feel balance and grounded, empowered, confident and radiant.

It’s Wednesday afternoon, three o‘clock board’s meeting as I rush through the office hallways in my grey suit and red pumps wishing I would have taken the black ones instead this morning. Is the colour too much?

Too happy and joyful? Are they too feminine?

Last thing I want is to appear too feminine and not be taken seriously, again. But, I just love how these red pumps make me feel and lift my mood … maybe no one will notice!

The boardroom is flooded with the spring afternoon sunshine and bird song seeping in through the slightly ajar window. I am grateful for this gift of fresh air in that stiff room. The sea of dark suited men colleagues seated around the table. Water bottle, check. Note pad and pen, check. No one makes eye contact as the faces are buried under the deep mask of important ‘busy-ness’. Check.

“

DAVID BOWIE

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Wednesday meeting adjourned and I am questioning my silence. I have not let my voice to be heard, once again, even though I truly believed in my heart that my contribution can make this project shine. That’s what hurts the most. The fact that I kept my ideas to myself, and as a result, no one could benefit from my contribution. And you know what else? For not allowing myself to shine my light on me. Ever felt like this in your life? At workplace, with your partner, friends or family? I did.

A few years later, I went exploring ancient healing modalities in South East Asia, peeking into Hinduism scriptures in Indian ashrams and delving into Tibetan Buddhist studies with monks in Himalayas. Little I knew that I was on a journey of Self-discovery. Finally, I understood that having a voice is the most powerful act of self-care. Women’s lives are transformed when they decide to step into their feminine power and, against their own vulnerability and limiting self beliefs, are willing to be heard and become visible.

There is a time in your life when you feel everything and everyone. Making meaningful connections with other women and yourself is about cultivating the divine feminine principles that represent the essence of life force and allow me to express my authentic self. In a sisterhood you start learning how to be compassionate of each others life journeys, birthing our hopes, together. How do you enter that invisible world of meaningful connections, where the energy becomes palpable, move-able, mould- able?

When setting intentions and making bold choices in your personal life and carrier, you meet with your highest potential and start aligning with all you want to attract into your life. It wasn’t until I start tapping into higher consciousness, that I became intimately familiar with the quality of our own energy fields. For me, like for all the empaths out there, this was crucial. When you absorb everything (and everyone) you also loose sense of what is “ yours” and what isn’t.

Sharpening my listening skills helped me expand my mindset and consciousness further, and I am now experiencing unlimited personal growth within our sisterhood. Listening is so underrated and yet, it is precisely these golden moments of active listening that make us better women, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends. Holding space for other women by listening without offering advice is deepening our intuition and empowering women to intuitively tap into their own intuitive abilities.

Listening I learned how to say NO with love and compassion.

We also enjoy infinite skills and talents held within the container of Sisterhood, bringing new ways into being authentic with courage and trust, applying the divine feminine principles of receptivity, openness and collaboration versus competition.

A woman is a woman, regardless where she is coming from or where is she going. No matter what a woman does for a living or what title she holds, we all share that essence of womanhood, that innate desire to connect in a meaningful way with each other– to be sisters – share, laugh, cry, support, empower and heal as a force of good. Our wrinkles tell the story of where we have been, what we have experienced and lived through, as women.

The leaf of the tree turning rusty color in the autumn, crisp from the sun, doesn’t look back to it’s green days. Every season is beautiful and has that certain magic in it. Find yours beautiful woman.

About the writer: Gabriela Zoltakova Hjorter is a former Medical Nurse and Spa Director for top luxury hospitality brands worldwide, turned Energy Medicine Practitioner, (RMT) Reiki Master Teacher and Founder of The Wellness Tribe.

With over 20 years’ experience in the world of wellness, spirituality and wellbeing in USA, Asia, Africa and Europe she brings an innovative approach applying scientific & ancient healing modalities to harmonising overall health and wellbeing in your personal and professional life. Gabriela is very active in her local community in Switzerland and globally, facilitating wellbeing workshops, gatherings, Reiki courses and healing retreats for women.

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Gems From The Stars and Astrological Insights

by Ysanne Lewis

I

am so happy to be writing to you and sharing my insights and forecasting on the wonderful connection between YOU and the wisdom of the stars and planets above.

We are all interconnected - a vibrant web of energy - and timing is a very important part of being in health so as to avoid stress and the mismatching of ourselves with people, places and opportunities.

As we women have an instinctive link with the moon’s cycles and the flow of the tides within and outside of us, it is important to recognise the lunar as well as other planetary movements during the month. The word moon is linked with mother, matter and month! How well are you furnishing your inner home?

Softer skills are to the fore as we stay at home more and it is lovely to see more empathy, listening, crafts and caring emerging!

The journey we are on at a core level is expressed by the qualities and lessons of our star signs. The Sun travels through the 12 in its yearly journey – from the perspective of the Earth – and they are divided into seasons and elements. It Starts with Aries at the spring equinox.

We are all experiencing how and where we spend time in a very different way at present, so here are some nuggets of advice with a look at your personal star signs for the month ahead.

About the writer: Ysanne Lewis is a UK based Timing Adviser, Astrologer, Speaker and Author. Her work spans 41 years and she celebrated her ruby work anniversary earlier in 2019. She has clientele here and in the USA, Asia, Europe and South Africa. Working with individuals, families and businesses, she seamlessly weaves the meanings of cycles, timings and patterns in educational, inspirational and humour-filled ways into the beautiful tapestry which is Life. She acts as a bridge and navigator between the maps of the heavens and our inner landscapes and their timekeepers.

WINTER STARS December, January and February – the winter months, or summer in southern hemisphere – speak to us of celebration, reflection and new beginnings. They straddle the old and new year, allowing us to inwardly cleanse and renew. Perhaps, like no other year in modern history, we have had to pull on our inner resources and adapt. With these abilities we can face the new year of 2021 with added courage and new skills. What un-lived roles or parts of you have come on stage and found a niche?

December sees the New Moon on 14th and the Full Moon on 30th. Mars, the planet of action is in direct motion now having turned direct on November 13th, after many weeks in retrograde motion.

More clarity and straightforward approaches will become obvious.

The big news is a major conjunction of the giant teacher planets, Jupiter and Saturn. They leave the hierarchical and ‘tough love’ sign of Capricorn and move into the air sign Aquarius. Jupiter and Saturn line up every 20 years, but they haven’t come together in freedom loving, humanitarian Aquarius since the early 1400’s!

Conjunctions represent a meeting and new beginnings. We can expect after December 21st and the winter solstice, a wave of change and futuristic thinking. The old order starts to get replaced by new values and change.

At a personal level we have opportunities to teach and mentor ourselves in better ways and recognise our role in society in new ways. Are you becoming more a rebel, reformer or team player?

How can you make that role wise and caring as well as individualistic?

As we move into January 2021, there is a question we can ask ourselves… what do we truly need to leave behind and what do we really want to move forward with? Mars, after many months in Aries, its ‘home sign’, enters earthy Taurus and we see a more practical and planning energy available to us. There has been so much uncertainty, so this will be welcome. The New Moon is on 13th and the Full Moon on 28th. The 14thth – 16th are dynamic as Uranus sparks off the conjunction so use it wisely, even if others don’t, for enterprise and changing oneself within.

In February, Mercury goes retrograde until the 21st, suggesting we hold off impulsive decisions and, instead, re trace our steps and re visit ideas and plans. Inventive ideas and new contacts and freedoms appear. The New Moon is on 11th and Full Moon on 27th.

Fire Signs

December 2020

Aries Mars, your ruling planet in your sign till the second week of January, says take full advantage of the power available now. Fellow fire sign Sagittarius is up and running and this helps you find direction and forward thinking. There has been a big need for patience these past two months, not easy for an Aries, so now you can let off steam and be in the lead. The 10th and 11th are your days for doing just that!

Your need to play and being creative – even original – beckons you and you will feel lighter than you have for a while, especially up to the 21st. Take stock then to see how far you have come this year and how inner discipline has matured you. Your romantic side emerges and attracts people around 16th. Just be clear whether you want an entanglement at this time! Maybe just flirt and charm.

This is your time for being yourself, not always so easy in a partnership.

Leo Do you want to take up a new hobby now? Well aspected planets in that arena of your horoscope suggest the need for fresh air and creative expression. The part of you which is a performer (whether you are shy or not) is ready to come on stage in some way. Travel may beckon too. It is important you use December well and productively. There is really no excuse to hide your light… or be lazy.

How you use time now is the key. Act spontaneously and you won’t be disappointed. Children are around you more this month and, if you are thinking of having a baby, now could be the right time. If not, you can birth a project which will fulfill you. Re designing or decorating your home is a positive idea this month.

Color in your life is essential now.

Sagittarius Your time of year for free thinking and travel of mind and /or body! What do you plan for these few weeks? The solstice time on 21st augers well for good timing with connections and speaking your mind. This is a fertile month for you and, with your ruling planet Jupiter to the fore now, much luck and opportunity come your way. You may have felt dampened this year by restrictions, but inwardly now at least there will be a sense of optimism and enthusiasm. The 19th is a day to celebrate this.

Take advantage of Mars still in a fellow fire sign, Aries, this month and be adventurous. You decide how! After the 16th, with lovely Venus in your sign until well into January, your powers of attraction bubble up. Expect an admirer. This person loves travel and learning.

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Earth Signs Taurus Venus, goddess of love and creativity- your ruling planet- is lighting up your relationship zone now and you can take full advantage of this by allowing your self-esteem and inner beauty to shine brightly. Effortlessly you will draw timely opportunities and meetings. It is important to tap your depths and not just flit on the surface of experience.

December time is transformation time for you so, just as goddesses could shape shift, so can you now – into ways and even appearances that enhance the real you!

The once in a lifetime of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, on December 21st highlights your career zone. What changes, prunings and advancement do you want? You have had to be a strategist for many months now. Be patient still until January when Mars - entering your sign- can move on from that role and encourage you to be more energized and in control.

Virgo Your home and domestic life may be changing in some way.

Whether small or big changes, they are timely and you would be wise to allow this. Family members are changing residence too.

Finances need re assessing and this is a good month for clearing and being flexible with changes. The new moon on the 14th is significant for these matters, especially after 21st.

After mid month things settle more and the newfound space and clarity, whether inside or outside, will feel welcome. Time to play more then and be creative with chores and ideas. Being extra loving over the holiday season will be timely as Venus enters your communication zone.

Capricorn Until the 21st when the Sun enters your sign, get more rest and await the tides changing. Your inner world and psychic side are strongly influencing you and this is the time to surrender more and let go of the past and traditional ideas. A feeling of closeness to someone strengthens. Your compassion also heightens. This is not weakness but strength and others will benefit as well as your relationship to yourself.

Later in the month you feel like making bridges between past and future and widening your social framework. This is a pivotal month for you to get a perspective on many areas of your life.

Choose your companions wisely as you need ‘good’ energy people around you this month.

Air Signs

December 2020 Gemini The upcoming December 21st conjunction of the teacher planets Jupiter and Saturn sits nicely with you Geminians. In Aquarius, that aligns well with you, a fellow air sign! You are ready for change and fresh air in your life and relationships.

You don’t have to do this all at once though. Get the ideas spinning, brain storm more and even write them down.

Until the 21st when the sun enters Capricorn, really speak your truth and needs with a partner or friend. Openness suits you now, as does keeping things simple. It would be too easy for you to complicate things and overload.

Use the new moon on the 14th in your sign for starting a new project or activity. People will want to be around you more than usual. Choose them carefully as you will get bored easily this month. Discernment is the key word.

Libra Your zone of communication, learning and short journeys – oh, and siblings and neighbourhood - is accented this month. News you have been waiting for arrives. So it could be a busy time. Learning or teaching, even just joining in with networking, is favoured well, and it would be good to use those lovely brain cells of yours to keep you in good health and optimism.

Mars, the provoker and energiser of action, is still in your opposite sign of Aries till January, so be discerning about how you cause reactions in others. Most of the time these are positive reactions but obviously tread carefully with some people.

Partners can press your buttons so keep the humour going.

Not everything is personal! After the 16th, and the new moon two days before, you can easily move forward successfully with interests, meetings - virtual or in person. The ‘highlighted’ date, 21st, puts a spring in your step.

Aquarius This is your special month for a booster influx of Aquarian energy! Are you ready for this? Of course you are. Jupiter, expansion and Saturn, the builder – the giant planets – are combining forces in your sign and will stay a while. This magic occurs on the 21st and opens inner and outer doors for you. What are you going to start manifesting in 2021?

The Sun in Sagittarius- an adventurous, far seeing sign – is occupying your zone of friendship and social goals till then as well, so this is a great month for advancement and opportunity.

Venus is occupying your career and goals zone till mid month, so influential people come your way. Receiving is the key. Until the second week of January your mind is very stimulated so try to pace yourself and allow time to absorb.

Don’t spoil things by rushing or getting burnt out. Romance may come about via friendships or work.

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Water Signs Cancer Make the most of Venus travelling through a fellow water sign, Scorpio this month as, with fire and earth signs dominating, you can feel a little lost. The end of the first week sees a lovely alignment between her and Neptune, allowing you to simply flow with events and create your own pace rather than trying to match other people’s pace! Take time to dream and be creatively inspired then.

Your work arena is very active now so do delegate more and ask for help. The word allowing is useful this month. With Mars in your zone of goals as well as wanting you to take more leadership, know that the most successful outcomes rise from simplicity as well as the spadework. The full moon on the 30th in your sign sees you giving birth to the seeds or fruits of a new project.

Scorpio With Venus in your sign till mid month take advantage of your glow of sex appeal and warmth. Your sensual side in all ways is very attractive now. Massages and beauty treatments would be good for you.

Not just with people, but in the financial area, you can draw abundance. We all have different ideas of abundance but you will know what it is and what it feels like when it comes. You will be looking at your values more and what you want to create now to represent them. Work is highlighted in this framework and it might be the time to start inspecting whether your job or whatever role in life you are playing reflects your values and sense of purpose.

With rebellious planet Uranus in your opposite sign of Taurus there is a pull between change and the familiar. Scorpio is not comfortable with endings but Uranus likes change; keep centred and take your time.

Pisces As this year draws to a close it is always good to reflect on it.

This applies very much to you with the Sun transiting the zenith of your horoscope and highlighting your goals and public image. Communicator planet Mercury is there as well and I would suggest that leading up to the solstice time on the 21st and the Jupiter /Saturn ‘meeting,’ that you take stock, review, then set a vision, if not a goal, for 2021.

Doing this in a relaxed way will bring the answers easily to you. You operate best when attuned to your intuitive mind and right hemisphere brain, and, around the 6th and 7th when your ruling planet Neptune aligns with creative Venus, you will get strong insights about your professional and your love life. Whether you meditate or just relax into the intuitive power at your disposal, it is important to do this.

Your travel and higher seeking zone is open to ideas and plans this month. If you have friends abroad do contact them.

Fire Signs

January 2021 Aries A month for looking at your goals, work wise or otherwise.

Early in January travel beckons, or at least a plan for it. Ease your way in to the 6th and 7th when your ruler changes sign.

Make sure your actions are solid and have firm foundation.

Balancing the old and new, zany and conventional, this could be a strong month for making your mark and showing your true self.

When the Sun enters Aquarius on 20th, make the most of new encounters and breaking free of unnecessary restraints.

A parent or parent figure needs to attention more. People will look to you for leadership and decision making. Being authentic and standing in your power and honesty serves you well now. You want to be part of the new time spirit emerging and your pragmatic wisdom will be needed.

Leo December’s conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in your opposite and complementary sign, Aquarius, is waking you up now to your need for expansion. It is vital you have a project or goal in this early part of the year of 2021. This is your opposite time of the year – after the 20th- and you need to keep a perspective. Watch your energy flow and don’t stress your nervous and circulatory and heart system. Pacing yourself suits you now. All will get done!

Issues of fairness arise and you can be a good spokesperson for change or for causes now. A partnership takes more time to understand now. If single, a new kind of partner appeals to you. Different from your usual type and it will help you grow and develop latent talents.

Sagittarius Finances excite you now, in the sense you enjoy making them or a scheme work for you. Money is energy and a partner/associate may encourage you to back or initiate a project.

Mars is entering your work arena after 6th highlighting increased energy for hard work and passion. Take the right steps and with foresight and vision you can be successful. The sense of adventure I mentioned under December stars will find a worthy outlet here! Saturn in direct opposition to your Sun at this new year time, encourages you to be responsible and keep plans in order. After 20th things feel lighter and more relaxed and you can concentrate your mind on other things too.

Learning new techie things and even new information accompanies the last 11 days of January.

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Earth Signs Taurus So, it is time now as you enter the second week of this month, to assert yourself in new ways and be in command of your direction. The Sun in Capricorn – a fellow earth signuntil the 20th, sees you wanting to explore new horizons and grow! With Venus there too an attraction to people and foreign countries may occur.

Mars enters your sign and stays there till early March, really empowering your decisions and self image. Productivity is the key word and alongside that you create a philosophy of life that really suits you. Mercury, provides inventive ideas regarding projects and goals. Keep some to yourself as they will be excellent ones and you can capitalize on them in due course. Use the new moon time on 13th for good timing and an adventure!

Virgo The social side of you is still up and running from later December! It increases as Venus enters your romance and play zone after the 9th. In fact, if you choose so, January is a wondrous month for initiating imaginative projects and being open to encounters out of your usual mold.

Mars, in your travel zone now till early March, may well see a trip in the offing. Plan now; it may be a place further away than you normally consider. After the 20th duties and work take precedence but you will glide through this easily as your confidence will have increased these past weeks.

The mentor in you can help a younger person well. Offering your skills to do this or to educate is a pathway opening for you, whether professionally or in the voluntary sector.

Capricorn New goals emerge this month and you can use the new and full moon times to energize these. Venus is in your sign from the 9th, and a love interest surfaces. Maybe it is someone you already know. Look for the 11th and 12th regarding this attraction. Use the power of the sun in Capricorn until the 19th to awaken your intents and more masculine side. Masculine energy can be well balanced with your feminine power now.

Use it wisely.

Work can also see a push forward. A boss or influencer wants to help you. Accept this help. It is yours to receive. Let the inner critic go off stage! You are ‘enough’ and you need to show this more.

Air Signs

January 2021 Gemini A more paced time for you with the Sun and Venus in Capricorn until the 20th. That is not a bad thing as all the bright ideas you have been having can now find a home and foundation. And as you go into February you can edit some and make good decisions. Conserve some energy as you need to be ready for a bright Spring time. Look after your chest/ lungs and keep warm.

New year is excellent for feeling more free in your heart and plans and the 27th and the full moon on 28th will see an adventurous and playful side on the stage of your life. New technology will appeal. Check it thoroughly though before purchasing. Is there a book in you? Quite probably!

Libra You will find the new year an optimum time to establish new comfort zones and with more space for you. After the 6th when assertive Mars moves into the earthy sign of Taurus, which, like Libra, is ruled by lovely Venus, you can establish better boundaries. This is overdue, isn’t it?

The recent move of Jupiter and Saturn into airy and freedom seeking Aquarius, suits you well, as it is time for new beginnings and a new approach to an existent or possible new relationship. Your domestic life needs some fresh air so changes in routines and appliances are likely.

After the 7th expect flirtations and your ability to use words expressively to show up. Children bring joy to you, and your inner child gets an airing. Walk this month with a light step and you will really enjoy it.

Aquarius Your arrival on your stage of life this year comes after 20th when the Sun enters your sign. With three other planets there too do make the most of contacts, more freedom and new ideas. Until the 20th take time to listen to the whisperings and promptings from within and prepare for this next big part of your innovative life.

Mars enters the arena of your home on the 6th, so get up to speed with any repairs or changes you are desiring. Else, when Mercury goes retrograde in February, there will be additional expense due to delaying these. Balance your energies between forging ahead and staying put. Tai chi and similar exercises will help you!

Your ruler Uranus after many months of retrograde goes direct in motion on the 14th. Use around that date for choosing to exteriorize ideas and change.

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Water Signs Cancer This is a productive month for you. However, with the Sun in opposition to your Cancer star sign, watch you don’t over strain yourself. Partners are helpful, whether personal or business ones and can provide good feedback when most needed for you.

Especially after the 6th when Mars moves out of your career and responsibility zone and into the team playing one, you can get a better balance and know when to share projects more and brain storm easily. The new moon on 13th highlights new partnership or a change of role possibly in an existing one. This will be timely. If you are single there might be a growing need to be close to someone romantically. Allow that desire or prompting to grow!

Scorpio As January speeds up you will be feeling a greater sense of freedom and wanting change. Home or property changes may be on the agenda or have recently happened. A bigger plan is forming in your mind and by early Spring there will be noticeable changes within your lifestyle. But for now let your inner world begin to sort this.

Active Mars enters your relationship zone on the 6th. Depending on your circumstances, you could either draw a dynamic partner or choose to break up some habits and grievances in an existing relationship. Nothing stays the same, and for growth to occur, airings of issues and seeing a person with new eyes are essential. Venus in your zone of communications and agreements from the 9th, encourages you to reach out to people, mend fences and use words gracefully.

Pisces Your friendships, teams and group activity are up and running; this is the month to energize them and bring people together. They need your input and grace and you may even be feeling like setting up a group on line or in person. Your intuition is still very strong at this time and you can help others a lot.

Around the 8th there is a nice link between your ruling planet Neptune and the Sun and you can use that time for aligning with your heart and others hearts. A good way to start and end the day!

Mars is energizing how you speak and discuss things. Being a force for change in a gentle but definite way will bring you to the attention of certain people who can introduce you to others who help you further! If you are not working, may I suggest some kind of voluntary work as your skills now are needed? A friendship may develop into a love relationship at this time.

Fire Signs

February 2021

Aries Friendships and team work take precedence this month.

People from the past re appear and new contacts have an air of familiarity about them! The full Moon on 27th sees this likelihood strengthening. February can be a romantic month so give time and space for nurturing yourself and being open to receiving. A friend creates an introduction for you. Return the favor as well when the time is right. An increased understanding of give and take, masculine and feminine approaches, is present.

Your finances need a bit more balancing. Be aware of impulsive buys- with Mercury retrograde from 2nd to 21st, you may find you may want or need to return them! After the 18th a softer way of approaching problems develops.

Leo Taking things in a paced way still till later month is still advised. You can accomplish much if you do things in rhythm and flow. Relationships are your priority this month and you will sense how to negotiate and solve any misunderstandings- which can easily arise with Mercury retrograde this month.

Ego and co-operative drives need aligning. Pause before re acting. They can coexist in harmony! Shine your light and make space for others to do the same; Win–win! A special social event lights you up towards the end of the month.

Make February a creative month for your innovative mind. Don’t overtax your analytical mind; instead honor your intuition and instinct more. It will pay off and engender respect all round.

Sagittarius With communicator planet Mercury in retrograde motion from 2nd to 21st do back things up, do a general MOT and re-edit things. In fact, the prefix ‘re’ is good to use now before words and actions. This applies to us all but especially for you Sagittarians as it is occupying your arena of communication and arrangements and travels/commutes.

Check details and small print.

After 18th with the Sun in your home arena, maybe a bit of time out to relax and unwind. Less is more then. Short journeys will escalate but, again, be sure arrangements are double checked. Writing may appeal this month. You can draw on your recall memory well now and help others with ideas and information.

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Earth Signs Taurus With trickster Mercury retrograding in your zone of career this month, be extra clear with details and changes. Steady and reflective progress suits you now.

On a lighter note, old opportunities may re- emerge.

After 21st you can see more clearly your goals and results. Do you need to change your job? Or add a new skill to the present one?

If you do not work the same influence can apply to any activities outside the personal life and how you handle authorities and organizations. Either way, people will be noticing you, suggesting improvements and new avenues of expression! After the 18th a new group activity and friendship develop. Spreading your wings is the message for late winter. It is not a time to be a stick in the mud or too stubborn.

Virgo Your ruling planet Mercury is in retrograde motion now till 21st. So‌ how about re shuffling day to day activities a bit and avoid over sweating small details and worries? Health niggles can be exaggerated now by worry and imagination, so deal with them, then move on. Don’t rush ahead too quickly. Let your metaphorical feet catch up!

Your mind can work against you this month so get more grounded in nature and working with your hands. By 19th you will hand over the reins more to others and feel more at peace and laid back. Breathing deeply will aid you and you will find your own innate healing skills surfacing whether with people or animals.

Capricorn Your finance zone is being highlighted by Mercury going retrograde until the 21st. The air element is strong this month so make sure you are fully present and up to date, not just with money but values and ongoing projects. Watch the 6th for impulsive behavior from yourself or another.

On an easier note Mars is on your side in fellow earth sign Taurus, and you can energize people and make long reaching plans. After 21st treat yourself to culture and pleasures. The last week of February is just right for that, especially from the 26th onward.

Words come easily to you and others flatter you. Writing is well aspected then for you.

Air Signs

February 2021

Gemini Mercury in retrograde motion till 21st may work in your favor as it aligns with the Gemini energy and brings old information back to you to look at and use. Someone from your past re appears and gives you an interesting choice to look at. Planets in airy Aquarius this month speed you along towards goals and pastures new. A place abroad draws you and you are tempted to go there.

A note of caution. Don’t be too clever because things are going well. Take times out to pause and let things settle. Be extra careful to back up data and mot things. You don’t want to lose precious things. Any new purchases can be open to being taken or sent back so be sure you really want them, especially technical or appliances.

Libra Involvement with young people and creative projects can delight you now. You are being drawn to being more center stage and will be looking at ways to do this. An old or new interest in the arts and culture absorbs you so keep attending live or on line exhibitions and performances. What were your hobbies as a youngster? Can you activate them again and fulfill an old dream?

Mercury retrograde till the 21st, keeps you on your toes with arrangements, travel plans and decisions. Use this time till then to listen to the whispers from your higher self and be very present and focused. A romance is there for you this month so be open to it, whether short or long lived. Romance takes many forms so put magic into everyday things.

The new moon on 11th is a good time for making a wish and ‘intending.’

Aquarius Venus is in your sign this month, happily accompanying the Sun in its travels. Attractions to others occur and you will have a special energy about you - like a magnet. More visitors abound (if lock down restrictions allow) and certainly you will feel like surrounding yourself with a variety of types of people. People from other backgrounds are useful and enjoyable this month.

Boredom will not sit easy with you this month. Returns from the past are likely until the 21st. A creative work project comes your way after the 18th and, the 11th and 12th, when Venus and Jupiter line up, auspicious for meetings and for finance. The 25th is a good date for firming up or manifesting something. In many ways February brings out your curiosity and capacity for trying new things and ways!

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Water Signs Cancer This is a month for going more deeply into matters. What re birth or transformation is required from you? What do you feel passionately about and want to bring to public attention? Ideas and causes from the past will rear their heads whilst Mercury is retrograde till 21st.

Ancestry and family matters need some healing and attention and after the 18th you will feel the pull to either travel or to link with some foundation, charity or – for you important cause. Around the full moon in Virgo on the 27th this will come together and get going. A sense of team effort strengthens and grows. Your spiritual side guides you more after 19th and you realize you are never alone! A bequest of some kind may well be coming your way this month. You will know how to use it!

Scorpio Whatever your home is like, you will be feeling the draw to make creative changes. Choosing who you want in it in the form of visitors and the like will be important. A family member- maybe older- needs your help, and your emotional power is very empowering. The new moon on the 11th amplifies this. Taking time for you is important this month.

Mercury retrograde till 21st, causes you to reflect more and process things. Your mind can get over active otherwise and little mishaps can occur. Remember to breathe deeply and get outdoors more. That is where you will feel more space within yourself and get a perspective. The Sun entering a fellow water sign, Pisces, on the 18th, helps you to honor that time for solitude. Creative pursuits become important then.

Pisces With Mercury retrograding this month until the 21st, your listening skills and creative talents are to the fore. Music and performers need all the help they can get at present, so bring your skills, attendance and support to them this month. If musical yourself bring that alive in your own home.

Someone from the past pops up and you will feel quite a soul connection with them. The full moon in your opposite sign, Virgo, on the 27th helps you get a perspective on a matter where you feel confused. A partner or associate needs your help or advice then. After the 18th when the Sun enters your sign, give more time to you and your needs.

You can move forward better then, balancing your wishes with those of others. This is a month of choosing to get more rest. Cat naps help a lot!

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Editor in Chief Dr Marina Nani Head of Finance M. T. Nani Creative Director Darie Nani Deputy Editor Alice Demetriad Executive Assistant to the Editor in Chief Ivayla Dimitrova Digital Director Chris Demetriad Guest Editor Lesley Calvรณ Food & Lifestyle Editor Danna Levy- Hoffman Contributing Lifestyle Editors Ysanne Lewis, Sandra Deira Guest Contributors Fashion Asiya Durran, Alexis Body Style Tatjana Kotoric Health & Wellness Anna Cortesi, Anandi, Deborah Hladecek, Klara Debeljak, Patricia Ordody, Martina Fink, Zeenat Noorani Women & Society Carla Kaufmann, Claire Corbett, Leslie Kuster, Suzie Poole Lifestyle Helena Zachariassen, Annette Ebbinghaus, Sarah Kopinsky, Gabriella Zoltakova Hjorter

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