Can you explain the meaning of “Santosha” and why you decided to make this your brand name?
Santosha means ‘contentment’ in Sanskrit and it’s about cultivating inner peace in our lives. Often, we get caught up chasing something bigger and better, and lose sight of what we already have. The word really resonated with me while learning yoga philosophy as part of my teacher training in India. It is the second niyama in the ‘Eight Limbs of Yoga’ from ancient Indian sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Santosha is something I’ve found in my life and I want to help others achieve it through my coaching.
You’ve said that health coaching is about taking a holistic look at your nourishment, movement, resilience and connectedness. Nourishment and movement are two terms we are pretty well acquainted with, but can you explain a bit more about resilience and connectedness?
In my coaching program, resilience looks at how you manage stress, as well as your quality of sleep and time spent resting. We think about connectedness in two ways – firstly horizontal, which is how connected you are to your support circle (friends, family and community) and vertical, your spiritual support, meaning your connection to your purpose, meaning and presence. I believe when all these things are in balance you will be able to truly thrive.
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead” used to be your mantra. Was there something specific that motivated you to make some big life changes?
My evolution from party girl to health coach has been a gradual process over the past ten years. It started with sitting next to a co-worker in London who planted seeds about healthy eating and coming off hormonal birth control. I struggled with really bad acne after that so experimented with all sorts of diets and supplements before going on Roaccutane (sometimes natural isn’t the answer!). From there I started doing more yoga and had some inspirational teachers, read books, listened to podcasts, I was hooked on learning about my mind and body.
If mental health is something that runs on a continuum, how do we make sure we don’t ‘fall off the wagon’? And if we do fall off, how do we get back on?
We are all likely to suffer some sort of mental distress in our lives, but having a strong foundation in the way we choose to live can determine how quickly we bounce back. For example we know that in cases of mild to moderate depression that regular aerobic exercise can more effective than antidepressants, which is why diet and exercise should also be prescribed by doctors (and that’s where health coaches working in GP clinics come in). We also know that not getting 7-9hours of quality sleep a night will affect an adult’s ability to regulate their emotions and make decisions. Getting back to basics – eating wholefoods, moving your body, addressing your sleep routine and connecting with nature – will help you get back on the ‘wagon’. But that often requires motivation and support, and that’s where a health coach comes in
Tell us more about the art of staying still and doing nothing. What can we gain from this?
I used to judge my personal success on how busy I kept myself, but my yoga philosophy teacher asked me to reflect on this and I realised that it is a problematic Western mindset. When we allow ourselves to rest and be bored, this is when we become our most creative. I think most people are guilty (including me!) of getting their phone out when they have a bit of downtime and it becomes a habit. But I challenge you to keep your phone in your pocket and notice the world around you. Smile at people on the street, look at the natural world around you, take some deep belly breaths and be fully present. It’s the easiest way to feel connected to your inner power.
You also have a passion for Ayurveda – the Indian “Science of Life”. How do you incorporate these principles into your health coaching?
During an initial ‘Discovery session’ with a client I use my knowledge of Ayurveda to assess which of their doshas (mind-body type) might be out of balance and tailor my advice. For example if someone has a slim build, are living on cold salads and smoothies, and have a busy, anxious mind their Vata is probably out of balance. I would recommend regular meals (Vata types often ‘forget’ to eat!) with warm, grounding foods and spice and ditching the high intensity exercise for yoga and mediation to calm the mind. On the other hand someone with a Kapha imbalance may have become lazy and complacent in life. I would encourage them to get moving and seek out new experiences. Another principle of Ayurveda I talk to clients about is the importance of igniting your digestive fire and keeping it burning, this means staying away from cold water, especially first thing in the morning. I have a blog which explains the doshas in more detail.
