Tag: Anti-ageing

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The Holistic View

I woke up to the realisation that I wasn’t being very holistic in my approach to caring for myself & have taken a few steps to start fixing that! Let me tell you about it…

In college we learn about treating the body “holistically”, this means we shouldn’t only treat one factor/element, but approach the treatment of the body by integrating the whole person.

Maybe hearing  the word so much makes us forget the complex understanding behind it, & so, we are left struggling to sort the pieces of our puzzles. All the areas of our lives are impacted by more than one factor, even when we don’t realise it, & when we take the time to unpack it all, we will often find that everything still fits together. Anxiety, stress, pain, fatigue, gut issues, skin concerns… everything has a “Why” & it’s time we start treating it all holistically.

I’m constantly in awe of how the brain works. We have built-in safety features & the amazing human body finds ways to tell us what we need, if only we’d listen. Instead of throwing judgement & anger at ourselves, extending grace, being kind to ourselves & asking o9urselves what we need can heal us in miraculous ways.

Matis has always recognised the importance of the holistic approach. A few years ago, the super smart bunch of scientists in Paris developed a professional product called “receptivity concentrate”; which we use (now by another name) in Matis signature facials to boost the skin’s ability/ “willingness” to receive the active ingredients. Matis saw that the body’s physical & mental posture have a direct impact on how the skin behaves & how well it reacts to active ingredients. WOW! 🤯

I’ve decided to find a few “receptivity concentrates” of my own to increase my ability to fix the areas in my life that haven’t responded to the prescribed treatment plan. 😉The first step is something I hope you’ll all start doing with me… skincare from the inside! (pause to sip my coffee with collagen, Vit C & probiotics…) mmm

Besides collagen being amazing for the skin, I wanted to find a brand that would also help me support an anti-inflammatory diet, something to increase mobility, promote bone & joint health, & reduce pain! – I believe I found it!

Veniva also gave me the idea to blab about skincare & the like on an Instagram page instead of holding her clients captive in reception so I obliged 😂 I must admit, the personal page still makes me nervous but hey, they say we should share our courage with others, so here goes nothin’  👉🏽 https://www.instagram.com/thebeauty_connoisseur/

I have been so sick & tired of being sick & tired, something HAD TO change. One Sunday a friend spoke life into me after a very low few days, that talk challenged me to push back & disrupt what used to be “the norm” in my life; it reminded me of things I so easily forget. She probably doesn’t even realise how her love lifted me up, sometimes even the most eloquent use of language can’t define feelings; thank you ❤️

The plan is to create a more holistic approach in all the areas of my life to bring out the best version of myself & I just had to share it with you all. The younger, glowing, more energetic, pain free, happy & healthy version of us is waiting!

Let’s go!“

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You’re anything but ordinary.

My favourite shows are Sex & the City & Grey’s Anatomy. There are a few that come close but these are the two I always go back to; I’m not quite sure what brings me the most comfort.

I am, yet again, in the middle of Grey’s Anatomy. It’s S10 & so much has changed for all the characters, we’ve laughed & cried along the way, but the one thing that stays constant is the burning desire to be “the sun”, to be extraordinary… it’s played on my mind much more now & I think it’s because of the changes I’ve had in my own life.

We plan, we organise & try our best, knowing that things hardly go according to plan – in my case this is so painfully true. I grew a little more last year, I stretched, I sometimes broke; I hurt, healed, laughed & came to a place I didn’t quite recognise – I think this is what letting go really looks like. I took a look at my life, seeing how hard I tried in all areas to be everything everyone needed me to be & still felt like I fell just short of enough. Thinking back to that time, it could’ve been 5 years ago instead of 5 months- I’m not her anymore.

In my Instagram post a today I mention time. In The Word time is a biblical principle, in any belief system the principle of timing seems constant, – at the right time, time heals, give it time… but what if we aren’t aware when the time has come? I don’t think there’s a day you wake up & we’re just ready, I think we become ready on the road. I’ve made a few difficult decisions in January, however, these choices are necessary to support who I’m becoming, how I want to feel & how I want people to feel around me & at our little happy place 🥰

There’s nothing ordinary about you. You are indeed extraordinary. What/who do you need to let go of to see yourself as you really are? To look at yourself with eyes of kindness & the knowledge that whatever you put your mind to is achievable.

Extraordinary service is something that is so close to my heart, the way you’re welcomed, how your therapist explains things to you, a treatment full of intent & attention to detail. What are things that would make your experience extraordinary to you?

I’m so glad that I’ve had the privilege to build the kind of business culture that makes my staff want to be at work & makes my clients feel like part of the family. I believe it’s all because we are striving daily to be extraordinary.

Do it. Be extraordinary, the time is now.

 

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What’s your main concern?

Well well well… here we are again; the last month of the year, my last blog of the year.

With the significance of the month at the forefront, I have decided to slightly put my skincare teaching hat down & just spew some thoughts onto this screen.

Now that we’re all in the obvious (for most of us), “can’t wait for the end of the year” mode, dare I ask if you’ve had time to reflect on your 2023? I had a conversation with a friend last night & as I heard the words effortlessly streaming from my mind into the atmosphere, I realised how much this year taught me. Admittedly, we all know lessons & learnings aren’t generally easy, they are not without hurt & pain, & sometimes they leave scars, however, when we finally really learn, there is a peace, a comfort, an almost shedding old skin  epiphany & isn’t that beautiful?

“What is your main concern” is a line skincare therapists use all the time, it’s significant because treating your skin is in our hands, but identifying what bothers you is the starting point. I can’t help but sit here & wonder, do we ask ourselves this question enough in our day to day lives?

This friend asked me if I was a little worried about my age in relation to settling down & getting married, he also asked if I would consider being married in less than a year. When faced with questions like these, would you ask yourself “What is my main concern”? I think I’ll leave that to marinate.

This year I finally learned to understand that the only opinion that matters is God’s. I have been Christian for many years but this year I learned that I have had a really bad habit of taking issues, cares, concerns out of God’s hands & attempting to fumble my way through them-all the while wondering why things have to be so heavy, so hard, & why some things are so confusing. I vow stop trying to steer my ship & accept more rest. This life can be so tumultuous, how can we be in charge all the time? I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted!

There will always be things to complain about, there’s always somewhere we feel we’re falling short & always some unnecessary thing to deter us. I’m guilty of trying too hard in my own strength to fix everything, overthinking, & wearing myself out, but instead of doing what I’ve always done, it’s time to shift gears. Those of you who know me, know that I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, I like to think of something about myself I could work on, this will be my most challenging one at my big age 😂 I hope when you see me next you’ll remind me & remind yourself to put it down & stop wrestling.

From my amazing staff & I, we wish you a wonderful festive season, a very merry Christmas, a safe new year & most of all, a peace & joy that stays with you always ❤️

As always, it has been our pleasure to spoil you, listen to you, laugh with you & teach you about your skin this year.

We are closing on Saturday the 23rd of December & will be ready to welcome you back on the 3rd of January.

All my love, Laurien

 

P.S Thank you to Pst James for the eye opening message “God has called us to rest & not to wrestle” You & my City Life Church Lonehill family are so dear to my heart.