With our increasingly stressful lives and constant need to be connected, we often compromise on our health and wellness, resulting in us feeling anxious, tired and not at our best. Thus, at The Amanqi Edit, we’ve recently found ourselves looking for wellness hubs to optimise how we feel and to take out some time for ourselves. One of our resulting finds is the London-based Re:Mind studio. Providing drop-in meditation sessions with a variety of eight themes (think the likes of Reiki and healing sounds), Re:Mind is our new ‘go-to’ space in London to find our inner calm and take some time out for ourselves.
Intrigued by the Re:Mind ethos, we sat down with co-founder Yulia Kovaleva to discuss her journey, all things wellness and how to be an entrepreneur in today’s time.
Photo: Courtesy of Re:Mind
The Re:Mind Journey
Yulia: Re:Mind was created because of our desire to bring a space solely dedicated to the practise of meditation with qualified instructors to London. After travelling around the US and Asia together, my co-founder, Carla von Anhalt, and I had experienced everything from ashrams in India to studios like InScape in NYC and firmly believed there was a gap for meditation in Britain. In a city as cosmopolitan as London, modern-life is both stressful and competitive so Re:Mind was our way of bringing a little slice of peace.
How To Start Meditation
Yulia: The best thing about meditation is that it is your own journey and you can define your practise. I would recommend starting with short sessions, between 10-20 minutes and commit to a manageable number of days per week. Do not forget that it is very easy for the mind to become distracted whilst meditating, so just breathe and do not be too hard on yourself. Trying out different workshops, from Crystal Sound Bowls to Reiki or a workshop with a friend is a great way to incorporate the practice within your routine.
The One Natural Skincare Routine Everyone Needs
Yulia: I always prefer to use natural and organic products. I am not a huge fan of make-up, and to be honest, managing my business and taking care of my young son often leaves me feeling stretched for time so I tend to focus on the basics like good skincare. My favourite must-have products, many of which we stock in our studio’s eco-lifestyle shop are:
-A natural deodorant (I love Poppy & Someday or Fat and The Moon!)
-Poppy & Someday’s natural lipstain in Canyon or Scarlet Red
-Anything from De Mamiel skincare range
-We started carrying By Sarah Facial Oils and these have become a staple for me during the cold winter weather
-Mae Lindstrom Blue Cocoon Beauty Balm Concentrate
-If I find my skin needs an extra boost, l will always use Ilia’s Beauty True Skin Serum Foundation
-I swear by body brushing to sludge of dead skin and keep a glowing complexion, we carry high quality Red Decker body brushes in our eco-shop and are always happy to tell our customers (many of whom aren’t aware of its benefits) why it is important
Photo: Courtesy of Re:Mind
Balancing Entrepreneurship with Wellness
Yulia: Being an entrepreneur is like any job; there are always stressful times. However, I am thankful that my job is something I am truly passionate about. Time is always a struggle so I make sure I block out my diary for specific tasks, always try to look ahead with my calendar and make a conscious effort to always be in the moment (especially with my son, family and friends) rather than become distracted to a never-ending to-do list.
A Usual Day in Yulia’s Life
Yulia: I’ll get my son ready for school – he often surprises me by waking up at 4am! We’ll eat breakfast together and then I will drop him off at school. From there, I will head over to the studio. Sometimes I teach in the mornings, otherwise I get caught up on e-mails. It is always exciting to work on planning our next classes, workshops or events. I really enjoy being in the studio as it gives me time to catch up with clients and meet new ones.
The Insider Tip for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Yulia: It is a hard thing to go out and set up a business. My advice is very practical: set realistic goals and timelines for yourself and always ask for help when you need it.
A quote by Bill Gates where he says ‘most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years,’ has always stuck with me. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself of this and it helps me to keep going.
Photo: Courtesy of Re:Mind
Follow Re:Mind: @remindstudio