A fitting way to begin the new year, we spoke with Lisa Hedley, a longtime Washington resident and certified Holistic Health Practitioner, on wellness, her new blog, Lah Life, and more.
You have recently created a luxury wellness blog, Lah Life – what inspired you to start this venture?
The tag line is be well, savor the ride. I am inspired to help people find ways to do this for real! Leonard Cohen famously said, “the cracks are where the light gets in” and I love the idea that I can help people appreciate the cracks in themselves and let the light in, which to me means feeling more contentment. By ‘savor the ride’ I mean two things: savor each moment when you do feel great and live life. Don’t be a pleasure hater and do not deprive yourself of joys both simple and complex wherever you find them – art, books, food, the products you use, etc. For years, since selling the Mayflower Spa, I have been studying ayurvedic medicine, nutrition, and psychology, and filling up my toolbox with ways to live a healthier more balanced modern life. The blog seemed like the perfect way to share the knowledge, spread the wisdom and inspire people to live better, have more joy, spread the fun to others around them! It can be contagious, this feeling good, living well.
What are the basic tenets of Ayurveda and how would you describe these to someone not versed in this ancient Indian healing arts science?
This is the surprisingly simple science of living well for yourself. Ayurveda is a framework that invites you to understand your own metabolic constitution and learn about ways to nurture, protect and transform yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and even, dare I say, spiritually. I always ask private wellness counseling clients to think about how they want to see themselves in the world. Again, I mean this mentally, emotionally and physically. Then we look at where they are and work to match up the two realities through diet, life-style and stress management practices.
On your blog, Lah Life, you have very practical tools for people to experience Ayurveda in their lives. The ‘Five Daily Practices’ you outline seem an effective introduction, can you explain the importance of these practices?
I see these daily practices as an essential daily dose of self care. As with all things Ayurvedic the benefits are more than one thing. Performing these simple practices are not only beneficial therapeutically in of themselves, but taken together they become a profound way to get in touch with your self and build awareness about what you need to feel good and therefore live well.
On your weekly NPR show, you discuss ways to alleviate stress and bring more balance to life. What is your favorite quick meditation for people who are new to the practice?
Simple breathing exercises that bring stillness. Paying attention to the breath: the temperature, the way it flows in and out deep and deeper in to the lungs is a great way to feel centered, rooted calm and get more oxygen flowing to all systems of the body which ultimately means more clarity and better functionality. 30 seconds to start. Every day for a week. Then you can add on until you are sitting for up to 20 minutes. It is surprising how you can build into a practice!
Lah Shop, the virtual store within the blog , features in your words, “an exquisite array of lotions, potions, books, furnishings and products from around the world.” Is there a common theme in the products you choose to recommend?
Every product is clean, healthful and has a sense of luxury and craftsmanship. These are objects and products made with care and authenticity. These are all elements that self care products should have. So from the coziest yoga nidra mat to the complexion conserve facial oil these are carefully made, organic, beneficial things I have used, recommend and love.
Since you are a resident of Litchfield County, I must ask what are your favorite places to eat, shop and visit?
I used to own the Bantam Cinema and I have a deep appreciation for its existence, so I have to say that is my favorite place to visit and get inspired. I have been going to The Pantry since it opened (too many years ago to want to say) and it has remained a quality go-to eatery for us. Privet House, and Pergola, and J. Seitz, and all the other shops of New Preston charm me every time I go. The boardwalk in White Memorial’s woods is magical and I try to get there at least once a year, but then again there is nothing quite like the Pinnacle Walk in the fall or Steeprock by the river, mid-summer.
Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day is to wake up naturally from a great night’s sleep. Stretch in bed, think about how I might want my day to go. Feed and walk my dogs, get my children organized and fed and then have a full hour of uninterrupted time to do my morning practices in a leisurely way, practice a little yoga asana, take time for a twenty minute meditation and some breathing practice. Then I am ready to do things I love like write for the blog, work with several clients, get some paper-work done (some drudge work makes you appreciate the fun stuff and feel accomplished), see or at least speak to a dear friend, walk the beach with my dogs, have a great family meal, read to my daughter, read for myself, chat with my husband and go to sleep. Perfect.
What new developments do you see in your future for the Lah Life site?
I would like to see it develop into a crowd-sharing hub of information and experiences moderated by me but submitted by as many people who want to contribute! A kind of wiki answers for all things health and wellness, travel and arts. In terms of the blog, I hope to do more traveling and discovering of great products, therapies, and ideas to share.
You have some wonderful recipes and elixirs on the site, would you share one with our readers?
The Digestive Ginger Elixir and the Golden Milk would be my top picks for really therapeutic, easy to make, easy to take and great results.
Here are a few of Lisa’s simple guidelines for healthy eating in the New Year and a special recipe to get started:
Relax, sit, eat and chew with awareness.
The process of eating, according to Ayurveda, is something sacred and integral to physical health
When we eat our whole focus should be on the taste, texture and smell of the food.
Digestive Ginger Elixir
1 cup fresh ginger juice:
Start with a 3-to 4-inch piece of fresh, unpeeled ginger. Cut it up into 1/2-inch pieces. Using a juicer, make 1 cup.
1 cup fresh lemon juice:
Juice enough lemons to make 1 cup.
Combine the two juices together with 1 cup water, 3/4 cup raw organic honey, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Whisk until blended and store in a glass jar in the fridge.
Drink at room temperature about 20 minutes prior to your meal.
Lisa Hedley is well-known in the area as the co-founder of the award winning, five-star Mayflower Spa. As a long-time student of yoga practices and its literature including Sanskrit, Lisa is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, professional member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA), a graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda as an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga Specialist, a Yoga Alliance certified yoga professional, and is a Master’s Degree candidate in Social Work from New York University. Hedley previously practiced law with a special interest in Medical Ethics and holds her Juris Doctorate from the New York University School of Law.
Currently, Lisa hosts a weekly regional NPR Radio show (WHDD 91.9FM), Strategies for Dealing with Stress, where she offers insights, tools and strategies for balancing the need for harmony with busy modern lives. The entire Hedley family is a creative powerhouse; husband Tom wrote the screenplay for the iconic film ‘Flashdance’ and her two sons have careers in the film and music industries. In 2003, Lisa Hedley was recognized for her filmmaking talents with her Emmy award nomination for her HBO documentary film “Dwarfs: Not a Fairy Tale.”
Lisa sees clients privately in Florida, Connecticut, and New York in addition to seeing patients at a clinic for traumatic brain injury and neurogenic conditions in New York City. Hedley divides her time between Manhattan, Florida and Washington, Connecticut with her husband and their four children.
You can visit Lisa’s site at: http://www.lahlife.com/
or the Lah Life shop at: http://shop.lahlife.com/
