Meet the experts: Lucy Wakefield, Calmia
Former Health & Beauty Editor, Lucy Wakefield, launched Calmia, her one-stop brand for wellness as a way to help women balance busy and demanding schedules. Her curated range reflects her belief in Eastern wisdom and includes yoga clothing and active wear, yoga accessories, inner beauty products and home fragrance.
Why are rituals important to you?
I believe making time for rituals is one of the most accessible and effective ways we can incorporate wellness and self-care into our busy lives. This is the philosophy upon which I started my business, Calmia back in 2001.
Any everyday activity can be transformed into a mindful ritual if you slow it down and bring intention to it – from sipping a cup of tea to walking through the park. I make sure to sprinkle my day with rituals especially at the beginning and end of the day. It’s my way of saying, I love myself enough to take care of myself.
In the mornings, I always take a few moments to stretch and be grateful for another day, I hug and kiss my kids, I go for a long walk with the dog, I make some matcha and spritz the house with uplifting, citrus essential oils. In the evenings, when everything is settling down, I usually do some quiet, calming rituals – reading in Legs Up the Wall, a lazy deep bath with Vetiver, some meditation and misting my pillow with Lavender.
What is your favourite ritual?
My favourite ritual is to combine yoga and aromatherapy. In a quiet peaceful corner of my home, I roll out my mat and start off sitting in lotus, and pop a few drops of Jasmine essential oil on to the palm of my hand, warm it gently, close my eyes and spend a few minutes slowly inhaling and exhaling the beautiful aroma and maybe rub a little into my temples and scalp. Jasmine is my very favourite of all the essential oils and reminds me of special, sacred moments in my life when I was in India and Bali. Then I move on to the actual yoga asanas, just moving and flowing and not worrying too much about the sequence, just enjoying the practice and experience.
What mantra do you live by?
Be Kind. It’s easy to judge, dismiss or not bother but a few kind words, a grateful smile, a helpful gesture can transform someone’s entire day. Most people are dealing with stuff and struggling with problems that we will never know anything about – a little kindness goes a very long way.
What are your essentials for maintaining balance and wellbeing?
The simpler and quieter I keep my lifestyle the better I feel. Plenty of sleep, lots of water, fresh, whole foods, walking outside and connecting with nature, being active/exercising every day, practicing yoga, regular meditation, balancing my mood with aromatherapy and a little time on my own so I don’t feel frazzled and over-burdened.
Favourite product from The Owl & the Apothecary?
I love the Wellbeing Pulse Point for an easy, all natural, on-the-go aromatherapy boost. I love the blend of oils which I find calming yet uplifting at the same time. It has such as versatile and balancing blend of essential oils – uplifting Mandarin, soothing Lavender and spiritual Frankincense.
Thank you for your time, Lucy. You can find out more about holistic lifestyle brand, Calmia >