The value and perceived opulence of silk have persisted to the modern day thanks to its remarkable qualities. If you remember, way back, when we introduced The Beddha fashion line, we talked about the natural fibre and we also briefly mentioned about Sericin.
We think it’s time to spend some time describing its properties and varied uses.
Sericin is a macromolecular protein that is the sticky substance produced by the Bombyx mori (silkworm) that holds the strands of silk together. It constitutes 25-30% of silk protein.
It envelops the fibroin fibres with successive sticky layers that help in the formation of cocoon. Most of the Sericin is removed during raw silk production, that is called the ‘degumming’ process.
Legend has that in Japan, during this process, older workers, despite keeping their hands in water for long hours, had the softest hands-skin. This was and is the outcome of the sticky protein.
The degumming process can cause water pollution, however, Sericin is a biomolecule of great value as it has antibacterial, UV resistant, oxidative resistant and moisturising properties.
Sericin is composed of 18 different amino acids, of which 32% is serine. It’s the serine hydrogen bonds that give its glue-like quality.
The recovery of silk Sericin from degumming waste cocoons reduces the environmental pollution, finds applications in creams and shampoos as a moisturising agent and is used as an important biomaterial agent for several applications (including textiles).
Medicine
Due to its elasticity and tensile strength, along with a natural affinity for keratin, Sericin is used in medicine for wound suturing. It is used as a wound coagulant as well, being a natural infection resistance.
But not only in medicine. The silk extracts are highly favoured in the beauty industry as well because of the remarkable qualities of Sericin (along with fibroin).
Cosmetics
When used in skincare, Sericin has been found to improve skin elasticity and other anti-aging factors, including anti-wrinkle property. It promotes cell repair and cell regeneration. It reduces transdermal water loss and hence helps to maintain the skin’s hydration levels. It may also boost collagene levels, which leads to firmer skin.
In hair products, the silk protein helps to reduce hair damage caused by colour or bleach treatments and helps to prevent breakage as well.
Sleep masks are the traditional ways silk is used to deliver moisture and active compounds to the skin. In addition, innovative silk based spa-focused facial masks are an increasingly popular new way to obtain these benefits swiftly.
Japanese legend or not, it’s a fact that Sericin is really known for its amazing qualities, that’s why we thought to use the gelatinous natural bioactive extract in cosmetics, creating a new addition to our beauty care, available on our shelves and during BTC Frida Beauty Ritual: a compressed silk mask for DIY rituals. Join us and try it.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Despite the season (full winter), beauty is in full bloom. And its rise doesn’t seem to decrease. With so much attention, customers are always on the search for the next thing.
Therefore keeping an eye on conscious consumerism, the environment and keeping up with market requests, is not an easy task.
The last appealing “trend” in self-care, integrates all these aspects. We are talking about DIY beauty!
A trend that really looks interesting, and we’d say it’s an evolution of what was already there.
In the last few years brands have introduced the possibility to add and blend drops of serums or boosters to basic components. DIY beauty is a step forward.
It embraces sourcing materials and freshness, self-love and rituals, personalisation and control. And it can be “fun” because it’s an interesting practice where you are in control and can create a sort of daily ritual.
The concept is to reduce the number of shelf products because you don’t need everything. You just need some basic ingredients that you can mix together according to your need, climate and season materials availability.
Ingredients like cream bases, oils, serums, topic solutions that can be blended together addressed to specific skin concerns.
Though this trend is relatively new and unknown to many, it is no longer a niche pursuit. According to some market research reports, about 41 per cent of beauty consumers use a DIY product on a monthly basis, with facial cleansers being the most popular product to create.
How many of us can relate to this report? We at ESSIREE can certainly do. Despite this encouraging data, well known brands have not embrace the trend.
Why is that?
There are some reasons including costs involved, short shelf items lives, difficulty in sourcing fresh materials, low margins, efforts required to educate the public. Not every customer is DIY- friendly user. At least so far.
But not an issue for us, and we believe not for our public.
Sourcing materials can be challenging since you always need pure ingredients that must be stored in safe places and shipped quickly to guarantee freshness. Establishing relationships with local artisans and global farms is therefore important so to be able to trace the exact origins. Something conscious consumers are well aware.
It doesn’t have to be complicated though. Pre-mixed products can be created to give an easier way for customers to tune in with this concept. Or bundles that come with detailed instructions explaining how to blend ingredients. Therefore information is key.
Is it just a fad or something more?
Difficult to say, but conscious consumers and consumers in general want to be more and more in control. And this is an effective way to beauty personalisation.
Since we believe in rituals, in educating the public to new use of products, in self-care; since we have built a platform where visitors can navigate, gather information and educate themselves about wellness and a conscious consumption; and since we run events where attendants embrace beauty rituals, DIY beauty resonates with our brand vision and personality.
It means we have embraced the new trend and experimented with it to deliver a new addition to The Beddha collections. Stay tuned to know more about the new line named "Goddess of Alchemy"!
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Welcome to a new year of exciting BHTGs and BTCs!
2020 is going to be fantastic for wellness, travelling, and The Beddha.
Our calendar is full of events and dates because we have noticed and experienced firsthand the growing interest showed by our community of goddesses (and gods). The enthusiasm, attendance, and emotional involvement have outgrown our expectations. Full of this renewed energy we have thought to dedicate our first 2020 The Beddha Holistic Travel Guide to Italy, focusing on The Beddha Tribe Camp experience.
Italy could be the next well-being mecca and we are among the first to say it and introduce our holistic way to goddess lifestyle!
We truly hope that our desire will become a reality. In the meantime, we are doing what is in our power and in line with our personal philosophy, to contribute to the expansion of self-care according to the new holistic lifestyle approach that has been taking the female sphere by storm.
If you embrace our same vision you can finally take part to the experience joining one of our events held in Italy, that are changing the way women look at wellness and themselves.
Just one held yesterday in Vicenza at Historic House Squarzi Palace (pic on top) but more are coming.
We welcome you to our BTCs on:
Saturday January 25th 15:00 | Frida Beauty Ritual | NovellaraWe have created a unique Goddess Circle workshop as Beauty Rituals for women tap into their divine feminine and learn how to heal their skin, mind and soul using meditative beauty tools and ancient wisdom.
Beauty Rituals experienced as Mindful Activity. Meditative moments dedicated to the higher self, moments that require mindfulness, intention and time.
To date, The Beddha experience consists of 3 formats that differ and get personalised according to the practitioner skills and background. They are: Detox Beauty Ritual, Crystal Beauty Ritual, Frida Beauty Ritual.
Check out here to see details of each event.
And there is more.
1. BTC is expanding its offering and we will make events branded ESSIREE. In spring/summer we will introduce retreats and all day events.
2. Just launched and in full operation is ‘Partner With Us’, a marketing service addressed to practitioners already working in the market, or to individuals new to this field:
Uplevelling Suite: marketing solutions to experts that don’t have time to forge and build clientele, and marketing tailored strategy to promote our partners’ conscious events. Free Welcome Package material is available for professionals to download. Go here to know more.
Conscious Concierge: a curation service offered to like-minded individuals who are new to creating events or are struggling to do it all on their own. Go here for more information.
From few hours to all day long events, from marketing solutions to consulting, the view on holistic approach is changing in Italy thanks to BTCs and ESSIREE (of which, events soon to be launched). Happenings held in partnerships and hosted in prestigious venues first throughout Europe, and now in Italy.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
New and interesting offers materialize in The Beddha's product portfolio.
Two devices will be introduced (matched with a new slogan you will find on our packaging, "The Expert Collection. When Technology Meets Meditation", which embrace modern technologies capable of accompanying women on their path of personal care. That is, two instruments with coloured LED light, designed to assist during the phases of chromatic visualization and chakras meditation.
Why offering these cutting-edge technological products? Because we feel two needs:
That of merging past and present, and offer, alongside the millenary tradition, cutting-edge technology. Because we feel that only in this way there will be a real progress capable of breaking down mental and cultural barriers. So next to the more traditional gemstone products such as gua-shas and rollers, which remain our core reason and mark our beginning, you will soon find other offers that demonstrate our growth. We are inspired by the past, but we live in the present.
That of responding to all the possible requests that occur in a woman's life cycle, as expressed by the different types of women. Needs and wants that reflect age, lifestyle, personal curiosities and different budgets
This is how we see inclusiveness. Which in practical terms means:
Including what is technologically modern
Including all categories/market segments, even the most exclusive or niche (individual or SPA/beauty centre)
So, with these considerations in mind, we have decided to introduce:
A third generation LED mask with NASA technology, 3RD EYE Led Mask. A very innovative product in the beauty sector
An RF/EMS & Led device, I-CRYSTAL, a small tool that will be included in the BTC, our expanding events that now have a second format
The Led Mask, a premium product for a niche and professional market segment, has features that make it unique with its exclusive technology (a patented LED NIR module) and the higher number of lights (690), compared to other similar products available on the market, in red, blue, pink mode. For visible results in less time (2/4 weeks compared to 4/8 standards). Addressed to problematic skin and to those women who are always looking for the next and exclusive thing in order to tone and reduce signs of aging. A mask whose result is the outcome of researches aimed at solving the needs of a demanding niche that wants visible results obtained in the comfort of their home. Which translated means practicality and ease of use (with wireless solution).
The RF/EMS & LED tool is a small device that combines LED light (same colours as 3RD EYE Led Mask, red, blue and pink, but with only 4 lights compared to the 690 of the mask) with RF and EMS radio frequency. In addition to these features, the thing that makes this tool special is its design that takes the shape of a crystal. I-CRYSTAL, in perfect harmony, reflects the spirit of the brand so as to have generated a turning point within the Beddha Tribe Camp. The second format takes the title of BTC "Crystal Beauty" with Chakra Meditation and Beauty Balance and includes the use of chromotherapy, crystals/facial grid and the new device.
In the next article we will explain in more details the benefits of radio frequency combined with LEDs. So stay tuned because wonderful synergies come to life ...
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
We have not mentioned being mindful of other people. It therefore seems right to us to go into this aspect in greater depth.
Living consciously means being present when talking to other people, listening and paying attention. A sign of good manners that should not require effort. But is this really the case? It is fair to say that unfortunately it is not, fully immersed as we are in our own thoughts and problems.
We spend 95% of our time thinking about ourselves!
Let's do a test.
Observe in the next few days how much real attention you pay to the people around you at home but especially at work or in extra work activities, and note the time you dedicate to them. It doesn't matter what is your job role.
You will notice that on many occasions, your mind will be distracted!
So make it your personal priority to change this attitude.
It is easier to be present among friends than with colleagues from work or strangers. So it is to them that you must therefore devote more attention.
Being aware of other people means to respect their sensitivity and therefore avoid making criticisms, jokes or gratuitous negative comments. It is not necessary to comment on everything or underline mistakes.
We are all able to exonerate ourselves in case of mistakes but rarely we reserve the same treatment towards others. We are ready to condemn without second thoughts. Recriminating and reproaching too often, unpleasant episodes happened in the past. On the other hand, well done things go unnoticed without ever being appreciated. And these things can be an occasional project or an habitual task, like that of a family member preparing a good dinner for us.
To change this behaviour, besides being present, be generous with compliments. Not to be confused with flattery, which is dictated by interest and is therefore not genuine. At work try to sincerely appreciate someone for the effort made, even if only for a simple task and even if it is part of the job.
Before making a comment, ask yourself: is this really necessary?
Before giving a feedback, ask yourself: how can I provide a feedback without hurting feelings?
In addition to the gesture, this behaviour will improve your relationships with colleagues, friends and family. And it will have a greater benefit on your and others' performance because it increases self-esteem. We all love to be appreciated whether we admit it or not. It makes us proud. It makes us important. It makes us alive. It has been proven that offending does not end in positive results, because it does not lead to change.
This approach means revolutionizing much of our behaviour. But this is what mindfulness stands for in real world.
Be mindful. Be respectful.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
]]>A few weeks ago we launched a new unisex collection, THE CCHIUI, which in Salento dialect means "do more". A new addition to The Beddha family that introduces an extra principle and completes the brand lifestyle mission.
There are a few reasons for this new line.
• First of all, it means we answer to male requests (until now we only intercepted female needs), including them as well
• Furthermore, we introduce the principle of active living as opposed to a meditative and mindful lifestyle that has been our point of reference since the beginning of The Beddha. This new chapter, completes the brand mission and offering. In this way we will be able to cover all aspects and needs of a healthy and conscious life. Two different aspects that compliment each other, like yin and yang.
Let us introduce to what is meant by active living.
By active living we mean that behaviour that involves movement (not necessarily physical activity, though it can be part of it), in everyday life (such as walking or cycling), as opposed to moving with motorised transport.
A movement that is gradually gaining popularity because, as statistics show, life habits are increasingly closer to health patterns. At least compared to the recent past where alcohol and tobacco consumptions were higher. And cities are changing to approach this new way of life, redesigning urban landscapes to make room for cycling paths, wider sidewalks and green spaces.
Having said that and given an explanation of its principle, for us active living means also something else.
In fact, we should not only understand active living from the point of view of physical action. For us, active living means physical activity, fitness, self-care, but also caring for the self, conscious nutrition, travelling the world and following true passions. An active mind is also part of the context. A mind that asks questions and leads to action. The mind can be trained just like a muscle. A muscle can be trained just like a mind. They both require discipline and technique and a mindful approach.
Our goal is therefore to encourage the public to do more in the sense of moving more, self-caring, acting with awareness and conscience. Physically, mentally and spiritually.
It has been proven that physical activity improves mood and health (thanks to the production of endorphins, the hormones of happiness), reduces the risk of chronic diseases, improves general well-being, reduces stress, gives energy. Equally helpful is inner search that makes us aware and conscious, assisting us in reducing anxiety and mood swings, and in building resilience.
Although the two principles of activity and stillness may seem distant, from our point of view, there is a common denominator that connects them: awareness. That creates an almost symbiotic relationship that leads to an active and mindful way of living.
We are just at the beginning of this new chapter of THE CCHIUI. The debut lifestyle product of the new line is Iron Core, the myofascial stainless steel soft tissue mobilisation tool for athletes and sport-minded people.
Follow us on this new path that merges into the ESSIREE platform.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
]]>Since 2010, the city has secured itself a place in the list of the most interesting places to visit for self-care practices and services.
One of the early adopters of the Now Age Movement, London rapidly caught up with other wellness hotspots around the world, showing great interest towards female wellness. Spiritual approaches spread from East to South to West End. What was once seen as a new trend embraced among cool kids in fashionable areas, is now becoming less of a treat and more of a way of life.
Wellness hubs are also becoming the new social hubs, where women from different walks of life gather and find peace. Along with relaxation and body treatments, these spaces are becoming places to meet, connect, share ideas and learn new things, while improving the overall well-being.
A load of new openings happened in the last year in the capital, along with the appearance on the scene of new products and things. Fads will evaporate, but true interest will remain.
We have compiled a list of treats, places and events, some experienced first hand.
• Aura photography and reading
We are energy and aura photography captures the electromagnetic field surrounding the body. Special equipment, created only for this purpose, converts the Aura. The end result is a polaroid portrait showing your aura as a snapshot of the moment.
Pictures are beautiful to look at, plus there is the colour reading based on the results.
Each colour (red, orange, tan, yellow, green, blue, purple and white), has a different meaning
• CBD
Products containing CBD have become increasingly sought after in the UK in recent times. CBD is an all-natural compound found in the Cannabis genus plant that does not have psychoactive effects (in contrast to THC another compound in the plant). CBD has become renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, so to become a popular ingredient in beauty products, with some studies claiming it can reduce symptoms of acne. Stay tuned for future updates... we are working on new products with CBD
• Reiki, crystal healing and spirit-infused skincare
In the last few years crystals made a comeback. What’s happening now in London is that the healing power is becoming mainstream.
From skincare to accessories to candles to water bottles, crystals are part of the everyday routines to the point people no longer realise it
• Infrared saunas
Already popular in wellness hubs in NY and LA, backed by celebrities, infrared saunas are gaining popularity in London. Infrared heat can provide waves of a type of heat and light that can penetrate deeper into the body and heal deep tissue. Sweat benefits include: detoxification, skin glowing, reduction of stress
• SLC
Of course, the little cave where we held our Beddha Tribe Camp, She’s Lost Control, is the place to visit for all soul searchers and modern mystics. A space that offers amazing events and ethically sourced crystals
• The Mind Body Spirit London Wellbeing Festival and Live Well London
Two of the many events dedicated to wellness held in London in 2020 for yogi, spiritual seekers and urban hippie
See you in London x x
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
]]>We talked a few times in the past about visualisation, and you probably read elsewhere, as manifesting, setting intentions and visualising are part of mindfulness.
Practices that if well used, can improve your life.
But this is where the problem starts.
Despite the vast use of these words, what you often read are generalisations, that never really go into details. If we really want make things happen and succeed in our plans, we need to go behind the act of visualising, starting from scratch.
And this is where and when we thought that it could be useful to create a Practical Guide to help you find a method.
What we would like to do in the following weeks as part of our Mindful Thinking and Goddess Lifestyle series on The Beddha Mindful Rooftop blog, is to go deeper and write a path, where you can find exercises to reprogramming your life, that’s what we aim to. Manifesting and visualising are part of this process.
In this way we think it will be easier for you to incorporate various techniques in your daily life and live experiences you always dreamed of.
In order to do that, you need to take charge of your life and be ready and prepared to embrace change. If you don’t, someone or something else will do. So you will always find excuses to avoid this change.
If you want to take charge of your life, you need to take responsibility for yourself, for your actions, for your decisions. And face what makes you feel bad and separate you from the life you aspire to. Remember, you are the one who decides.
It can be tough, but the journey is well worth.
We believe the starting point is to change the way we perceive our self image. Mentally and physically. Because much starts here and affects our behaviour.
• Reprogramming your self-image
Our social, working, and personal life is determined by how we perceive ourselves. And this perception comes from our family history and the culture we live-d in. And it has nothing to do with our true, authentic self that is who and what we really are. Though we cannot change the past, we can change how we perceive ourselves therefore see things. And because imagination is more powerful than logic, we can use it and reprogram our self-image realigning it to our true self.
In order to do that, try this technique:
Breath in. Breath out. Relax your muscles. Clear your mind. This process helps unlashing your imagination that’s what you need in this exercise
Now imagine a new you standing in front of you. Imagine your authentic self in its true splendid nature
Look at how your true self looks, acts, moves, talks. Ideally how your authentic self solves problems and handles situations
Step into your true self. Look through its eyes. Synthesize with your true self and feel how good it is
Finish your session by imagining/daydreaming how good would it be live your life as your authentic self. Being who you really, truly are. Being true to your authentic self and not to the idea/byproduct of someone else’s dream.
Practice this exercise every day until you find you have realigned your self-image to your true self. It could take some time before you can actually create this image. But when (not if, instead when) it happens, you will feel liberated. This will be the first step in reprogramming your life, because change starts from the inside before it changes on the outside.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
As you know by now, The Beddha is one year old! A year full of hard work, fulfilment, and joy.
After the first BTC, to further celebrate the milestone, our founder Stefania, decided to launch a new project: ESSIREE.COM
Unveiled just a few days ago, the new platform is the culmination of things our CEO loves and lives for, and wants to share. With its own motto Living Better, ESSIREE has been designed keeping in mind the brand core principles: products, events, people.
A whole holistic experience that includes:
• The Collection. A shopping area where you can find female and male products made by The Beddha and The CCHIUI, alongside goods made in partnership with other brands (so far you can find Beddha & Spell but more to come in the following weeks/months), plus a curation of creations collected from around the world presented in the ESSIREE Box (further information will be provided in more details later on)
• Community. Profiles of women ESSIREE collaborates with. Beddha Tribe Camp & Retreat, a list of dates of workshops held in Italy, Europe and around the world in unique locations. Playlists and videos made to sensorially introduce the platform visitors and customers to the brand core values
• Editorial. More space will be given to our magazine, Mindful Rooftop, produced with the idea to educate and inspire women located in different parts of the globe; and to Say OM Project, our series of interviews to women who embrace The Beddha lifestyle
• Academy. Our circle of leading holistic experts in different fields of wellness and beauty, located around the world (stay tuned for further developments and announcements)
After explaining the platform structure, let’s spend some words on its meaning. ESSIREE embodies a principle very dear to our founder.
The word comes from the Salento dialect, and means stepping out. The word has been chosen to be associated with the idea of getting out of the comfort zone to embrace the unexpected, the intangible, freeing from what holds down. Only overcoming fears and limits we will be able to align mind, body and soul, achieving the ultimate goal that is living a holistic life.
A fresh path well worth the effort.
ESSIREE is a glocal place, where the local meets the global (if you know the founder story, how The Beddha evolved, you can see the project is another step in her own journey), and has been created to provide soul and body explorers with the right tools...
THE CCHIUI, the new unisex products collection naming, follows the same principle. It is an adaptation of the Italian word ‘più = more’ pronounced in Salento dialect.
A much needed explanation, to honour a complex behind the scenes job, thoroughly thought and planned.
Before coming to the end of this presentation, don’t forget to follow ESSIREE on Instagram. A community and an exclusive club that opens its virtual door to the general public only two days a week. So, if you don’t want to miss out on premium insights and news, join the club and be part of the journey to have full access.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
As you know, the 1st October we held in London our first Beddha Tribe Camp to celebrate our first anniversary. And let us say: what an event!
We would like to thank anyone who took part in the happening, and celebrated with us. And we would like to share the experience with you.
The event consisted in a beauty workshop for an intimate circle of beauty, wellbeing journalists and influencers.
• The concept - theory
The circle was led by Lifestyle Entrepreneur Camilla Meshiea.
Each participant had her own Tribe Camp kit so to be able to test product samples (As A Flower, Rose Quartz Gua Sha along with text of the beauty Mantra ‘I’m the light of my soul’), and was introduced to the brand. Who The Beddha is. Why the whole journey started. The mission and The Beddha vision for the future (the business including the Academy and the Club). Information we shared in many of our previous articles and you can always read on Mindful Rooftop blog.
With the help of Camilla and her beauty practices, we then introduced the concept of beauty rituals to illustrate The Beddha philosophy and how rituals can be experienced as Mindful Activity. Meditative moments that you dedicate to your higher self. Moments that require mindfulness, intention and time as opposed to quick fix (chemicals) treatments.
We then moved to sisterhood and formed a circle of women to embrace the presence of other women present and inform of the ancient ways to heal the body, mind and skin from within.
The Beddha Tribe Camp experience encourages women to take back the power of the male gaze and redistribute ideas of beauty to strength from within the divine feminine.
• The ritual - activity
We accompanied the brand introduction with a step by step ritual.
Camilla saged the room cleansing the space from previous presences. She then went on cleansing each woman place and asked each participant to introduce herself to the group.
We created an Aroma Meditation for testing As A Flower. Camilla put the herbal blend in a bowl and poured hot water to get anyone else to do the same. While steaming face, women were encouraged to reflect on past memories activated by the flower blend fragrance (smell triggers memories).
This activity was followed by a Gua Sha tutorial:
- First step: nourishing skin face with a cotton pad infused with flower water and olive oil drops
- Second step: repeating this action with slow movement
- Third step: doing Gua Sha scraping in a slow meditative repetitive motion while Camilla illustrated how each face section was being affected by the work of the scraping action (stagnant energy releasing)
We closed the beauty rituals listening to the mantra song ‘I am the light of my soul’ and singing back ‘I am the light of my soul’.
We then concluded the workshop sharing feelings, thoughts and difficulties experienced during the ritual and meditation practice while Camilla supported the circle with tips.
We also had a small cold finger buffet that included three CBD infusion blends accompanied by saffron cookies and saffron honey to sweeten herbal teas.
Tempted by the experience? The video of the event is available for you to watch on The Beddha social media. Thrilled by the first Beddha Tribe Camp, we decided to add new dates that will be soon announced. So keep following us to get updates.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Next destination: Sacred Miami! A city that holds a special place in the heart of our brand. If you remember Becoming The Beddha (and if you don't this is a good occasion to read the article), Miami is the place where everything started for our brand.
As Stefania, The Beddha founder, says: “Miami has two souls. You can go wild or follow a mystic path and have a Kundalini session early in the morning (early as 4 am), yoga at 6, pilates at 9 followed by meditation at 11. And you still have a full day to do other activities”.
There are classes in many places every 15 minutes. Some are free to attend, others require small donations. Vegan tastings in open houses, every type of sound baths, followed by theme dinners. Along with workshops come teachers, healers, experts trained in many holistic disciplines and philosophies from all over the world.
We have selected three places where our brand founder developed her knowledge and expertise in meditation and holistic practices, attending some of the many amazing events that Miami offers.
• The Sacred Space Miami
This place gathers experts from different disciplines and ideological paths. Leaders, healers, speakers, monks, masters, educators, shamans that share their vision to offer a choice for every individual in search of her/his own path.
The aim is to assist the individual for personal growth offering a variety of holistic and integrative experiences. Trainings, events, workshops, vegan cuisine for transformational holistic wellness journeys.
The Beddha founder has only beautiful words for this place where she attended Kundalini classes at 4 am. Yes, 4 am! And these classes were fully booked. When you say the power of the will...
• Modern Om
For another conscious direction there is Modern Om, a place that aims to open a conversation on what it means to be mindful in the modern world. A business that sells products inspired by the 7 Chakras. A community in the form of a social club that brings conscious minds together.
• Innergy Meditation
A place dedicated to meditation only. A place where meditation is not associated to any religion instead embraced as a science that can increase health and happiness. Here you will find an eclectic mix of classes for all levels (SoBe Mindful method, Flow, Sound, Visualization and many more). Along with classes, special events and teachers trainings and workshops are held here.
We would also like to introduce you to Conscious City Guide an international virtual place where you can list your real events. As we did! Because let us remind you, in this occasion, that in a few days the first Beddha Tribe Camp will be held at She's Lost Control, a magical little cavern in East London!
This will be the time for many of you to get in touch with the brand, that opens its doors to the public for the first time. Why this event? Because it's The Beddha first anniversary, and for the occasion we have organised a smashing celebration. Goods like Goddess Couture, Goddess Care, and tools will be available for purchase for a special showroom price. But the occasion will be more than simply do some shopping.
So join us for this special time and celebrate with us our first anniversary. If you cannot make it, then follow our IG account for insights.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Ready to attune with the season of abundance, we have rounded up a wellness and skincare list that you can implement in your beauty rituals. We hope that these tips can help you align mind, body and skin, with the new season, reminding all of us that Autumn is also known as the time for letting go.
So, mirroring nature, let go what no longer serves you. Keep what best serves you. Plan your next steps. Try new things. Create new regimen and habits.
Days will become cooler, prepare your body and skin keeping them warm and calm, hydrated and moist. The first step to start is exfoliation.
Exfoliate
Glow is the word of the moment in beauty (along with dewy), a radiance effect that you can achieve by following a healthy lifestyle and skincare rituals. According to statistics, cosmetic is emerging as the new market vs make-up. Because beauty as we mean today, comes from the inside. Applying layers of false masks won't help revealing your essence.
Exfoliating the old (cells) will assist you in restoring the skin's natural regeneration process, helping to reveal your true beauty and glow for the new season.
Exfoliate body and face skin, including lips that becomes chapped as the temperature decreases. This weekly process will allow you maximum absorption of your products, helping reduce the amount needed.
Treat
Implement the use of specific skin masks to reduce redness, congestion or dullness that comes when the season changes. Try pink clay. Or be adventurous and test enzyme based solutions.
Botanical Steam
It's that time of year when it's nice to warm up water again and immerse your body in floral bath and have some facial steam to open your pores and allow skincare treatments to be more effective. Emotionally, the flower scent inspires optimism for a positive effect on your state of mind fighting back Autumn melancholy (and as the season changes again, winter blues).
Aromatherapy helps with stress and anxiety, and gives a sense of relief from nasal congestion. Statistics show that anxiety is on the rise since 2011 (people search anxiety-based products). Just imagine the effect of The Beddha Queen of Kings Bath on your skin and on your senses, dream about the support it can deliver to your physical and emotional state.
Hydrate
After the summer months you probably need some extra help to hydrate your face skin. Add some booster drops to your daily moisturiser. There are many options available for all types to help congested, damaged, dull skin.
Mindful breathing
Mindful breathing and meditation can help achieve healthy skin, reducing stress and having a positive impact on hormone balance. Since you relax and release tension, skin tissues receive more oxygen released by the mindful breath work.
So, breath, walk, glow!
Nutrition
The focus is to keep your body warm as the season becomes cooler. In order to do that, embrace a holistic nutrition lifestyle and avoid cold and raw foods. Instead eat soft and warm seasonal vegetables. Stock up on vitamins. Add warm milk and tisane.
Embrace the new and let go the old.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
We are almost all back to work, in a office or in our own studio-home. Our question was, how can we migrate from Summer to Autumn, from reclining beach chair to desk without losing the positive energy gained during breaks and holidays?
We thought about some mindful ideas to share, that you can implement in your work life, to make you feel more present and alive and hopefully more productive.
• Be aware
Be more consciously present, avoid operating unconsciously, that is often what we do (even when driving...). Evaluate your emotional state. Pay attention to your physical sensations. If you notice you get distracted acknowledge the fact, and bring your attention back to the task you were doing. This exercise will also help you understanding your state.
• Focus on a single task at a time
Multi-tasking is an illusion. It makes you lose time. It's not always a choice, but sometimes is. Studies show multi-tasking is ineffective. You lose time and data when you switch from one duty to the other. Honestly, who can do two consuming tasks at the same time?
• Be awake
It's nice living in our internal narrative but it's not productive. Up to 47% of our day can be spent lost in thoughts. Auto-pilot mode is not good for your work production. Make it a habit to be present and let go your mind in a dreamy mode only when you take your break. Watching the world going on is not as bad as people think. But reduce this state to a minimum.
• Slow down, pause, focus
Don't overdue. Your efficiency drops to almost zero if you work too hard for long hours and don't get enough sleep. Rush leads to bad decisions. Reflect. Slow down to speed up.
• Some stress can be good
Don't be stressed by stress. Accept it as part of your life. Stress sharpens your senses and can improve your productivity.
• Be grateful
Way too used as a concept, but gratitude is the antidote to negativity. Especially when it comes to tasks or a job you don't enjoy, applying some gratitude helps. It adds some balance. You don't like your job but at least you have a job! You don't like your task, yet there could be something new to learn, it could be a way to make you noticed. You can be grateful for talking to your colleagues. And if you don't really find anything to be grateful for at work, maybe it's time to let it go. Remember, positivity helps finding jobs or roles. Nobody likes someone who complains about everything...
• Accept yourself for who you are
It doesn't mean you don't need to improve yourself. It doesn't mean giving up. It means you accept the person you are and are aware of your limit. You accept the situation you are in. This is the way to start improving, you are ready to listen and learn. You are ready to change.
Mindfulness is about self-accepting. You are awake.
• Be open to new possibilities
Don't be in denial. Be open to new possibilities. Adopt a growth-mindset. It means you adopt a good attitude. If you are given a challenge, embrace it. If you are given a task, be open to take on more responsibilities. Because you believe you can improve and grow. Of course there is a balance, but because you are awake and aware, you know when it's time to say no.
Last but not least, try this exercise
• S.T.O.P.
If something doesn't go your way: stop, take a breath, observe, proceed.
This, we believe, is a smart and mindful way of working to embrace the season of abundance.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
As a welcome back to your daily life, after a long warm summer, we wanted to offer you something special. We asked ourselves, what could have a positive impact on someone's life, help and inspire a woman to acclimate to her normal life schedule, and be fun and self-discovering and useful at the same time in the long term? Guess The End was our answer.
Before explaining in more details the project, let's talk about the mind.
One of the things psychologists say is helpful to overcome blue periods (like post holidays) and lack of confidence, is to imagine ourselves in positive situations. So for example if we want to succeed in exams, job interviews, work or start up projects, or simply increase our energy and happiness, we start creating a film of that situation in our mind depicting every single moment, adding as many details as possible, including happy memories and feelings. And ending our own film imagining ourselves succeeding. In other words, what we should do is to visualize our well-being.
We talked in the past about visualization and how to manifest our intentions, and in this occasion we add just a few other pieces.
Paul McKenna calls it The Power of the Mind.
The mind influences what we do, and if we think and act more positively and confidently, we noticeably improve our life, mastering our emotions run our own mind. Deliberate ways of thinking and acting create results. So if you imagine and act in your visualization for an happy ending, it is likely you will achieve the result you are looking for.
Negativity intoxicate our behaviour letting us believe we are not good enough and have an impact in our beliefs and actions. Negative thoughts are like a virus because they act in the unconscious mind.
To achieve a goddess lifestyle start from the mind. Re-programming means you have to repeat positive messages, and while you do that think about things you want to change in your life. It is also a practice that requires a deeper understanding of why you are who you are.
Each day dismantle one of the negative generalizations you have learned during the course of your life. Invert the process and build positive ones. In time you will make tiny changes that initiate a chain reaction that will affect many other aspects of your life.
To go back to our project, in addition to the details explained on The Beddha Instagram account, here is the why.
Like us, you probably read many posts on social media about self-confidence, self-love, self- knowledge, etc. Great messages but we have started noticing a lack of depth. They all look the same. It's like a mantra that has lost its message. That's why we thought about something that could be different. A game that it's playful but thoughtful: Guess The End Challenge! Though it's only a game, if you take part you are invited to activate your imagination. And when you do that, inspired by the beautiful photograms, think optimistically. Think mindfully. Instil positivity in your mind!
The project also coincides with the Venice Film Festival and September, the season of abundance.
Because of all the reasons above, read below to participate.
To celebrate the events we are offering you the chance to get a massive 40% off The Beddha products + a free surprise gift.
How? Guessing the ending of a fragmented video.
Go to The Beddha IG account. You will see the first of three fragments of the same video (stay tuned for the following videos) displayed not in the correct order. The first video shows Goddess @khmelly in three different moments of her Goddess Lifestyle.
A fourth full version of the video will show the correct ending.
To enter:
Like the post
Share it tagging a friend in comments
DM The Beddha with your guess (DM will be the way we give you the CODE to get the discount if you answer correctly the ending).
A selection of gifts are available. If you want to have a guess, you can start now, no need to wait for the other 2 videos.
Let's play. Let's make the impossible happen.
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
With its rich cultural heritage derived from its Chinese, Malay and Indian population, the tiny island of Singapore is becoming one of the healthiest (and most expensive) city-state in the world.
Filled with green spaces, Singapore is great for cycle and running lovers.
An interesting place for food enthusiasts as well, thanks to the mixture of cultures.
For those curious about heritage and oriental culture, a must-see visit is Thian Hock Keng, the oldest and most important Chinese Temple in Singapore. Also known as Temple of Heavenly Happiness, this sacred space is a reminder of Chinatown's beginnings.
Built for the worship of Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, the Temple was visited by early Chinese immigrants to give thanks and offer incense for their safe passage across the vast waves of the South China Sea. Today's worshippers come to the sacred space to pray for peace, protection and good health.
A rare example of Temple, that encompasses Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Ancestral Worship - other deities located in the temple are Baosheng Dadi (the God of Medicine and Health), Guansheng Dijun (worshipped for spiritual protection), Kai Zhang Sheng Wang, Cheng Huang Ye (the City God) and Confucius – it keeps attracting devotees of different dialect groups and from all walks of life with dedicated festivals, events and rituals.
During these times, cultural performances, guided tours and other activities are held at the Temple, expect the place to be crowded.
For all Buddhist culture lovers, another must-visit cultural site is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, where you can immerse yourself in the five-storey Temple and admire its impressive array of relics.
Built in 2007, the design was inspired by the Buddhist Mandala, a symbol of Buddhist culture that represents the universe, and it gets its name from what the Buddhists regard as the left canine tooth of Buddha, recovered from his funeral pyre in India and displayed on the temple's grounds.
Revered artefacts of the Buddha, such as bone and tongue relics are held on the third floor of the Temple, where The Buddhist Culture Museum is located.
It's important to note that “the Buddha Tooth Relic is housed in a giant stupa weighing a whopping 3.500 kilograms and made from 320 Kilograms of gold, of which 234 kilograms were donated by devotees. Only monks are allowed into the relic chamber, but visitors will be able to see the tooth relic from the public viewing area”.
An interactive workshop is led by the Temple's resident venerables to whoever wants to discover more about Buddhism.
Chinese Heritage Centre is the place to visit if you want to find more about overseas Chinese communities and admire the building’s architecture.
The best way to appreciate the cultural diversity of Singapore, is to take one of the main multicultural walks. Because ethnic diversity is apparent out on the streets.
An interesting walk is Feng Shui Tour, where you can embark first-hand on learning more about this ancient practice, rooted in Singapore, that influences culture and has shaped the city skyline.
Take a trip down memory lane and visit pre-colonial places like the Sultan Mosque. Or follow a sensory trip through the aroma of spices, and visit Little India and Chinatown.
And then comes Waterloo Street, a 550-metre-long strip, that shows harmony among different religious practices can co-exist. Here Buddhists, Jews, Christians and Hindus share the same little space and devotees pay their respects to their cult. Shuttle between Sri Krishnan temple to Maghain Aboth, the oldest synagogue in Southeast Asia to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.
There are also natural attractions. One stands out, Flower Dome, probably the largest glass greehouse in the world.
Among our Holistic Travel Guide destinations, this location is probably less spiritual than others but interesting in its own way.
Enjoy the difference
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Sometimes, we have to go far away to explore the realm of our inner worlds. That’s what we want to com- municate through The Beddha Holistic Travel Guide. Long distances travel in the outer world, to find inner balance. Real journeys that can also be imaginary for those of you who prefer to stay in, but find compelling these experiences...
Tibet offers guidance to those on an internal quest, with its spiritual and meditation retreats that can take you through the meditative calm of the Himalayan lakes, to beautiful Buddhist monasteries, palaces and temples. And then there is nature, remote and wild, with its spectacular views of majestic mountains and giant rivers that cut the Tibetan Plateau.
Tibet peaceful and tolerant culture will awake spirituality in anyone exploring the country. One of the least explored places on earth.
Lake Manasarovar is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and other religions, and part of the Tibet spiritual retreat. According to Hindu mythology, the lake is the epitome of purity. Fed by the Glaciers of Mount Kailash, ex- pect breathtaking scenery.
The holy city of Lhasa features many ancient cultural and spiritual sites with its monasteries, including Dre- pung Monastery and the famous Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Built in the 7th century, the Temple gathers pilgrims from all over Tibet. They walk with prayer beads and wheels in their hands, focusing on achieving enlightenment.
Jokhang contains statues of Buddhas, lamas and protectors that have been collected between 639 and 1959. The central chapel houses Jowo, a 2500 year-old statue of the Buddha brought to Tibet 1300 years ago. Pil- lars embed priceless jewellery.
Murals cover the walls, depicting the history of Tibet and Buddhism, including the construction of the Tem- ple itself.
Drepung is the largest monastery in Tibet, and one of the few that still possess relics, especially if compared to other sacred places destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
Barkor is a sacred circumambulation route around Jokhang Temple. Here Tibetan pilgrims come from far away, to cultivate good karma. A deep spiritual experience for those who believe and share this vision.
Potala Palace was once the Dalai Lama residence, and it is now a museum and World Heritage Site. Built on a hill, it is located in the centre of Lhasa city. It contains 13 chapels and it’s made of mud and wood Gold embossed tombs from past Dalai Lama, adorn the place.
To the east of Lhasa is located Yerpa, a place that offers numerous monasteries and meditation caves where hermits live.
A long walking pilgrimage site for Hindus, Buddhists and Jainis is the Sacred Mount Kailash, a mountain that dominates the Tibetan landscape. According to Hindu mythology, the place is associated with the god Shiva.
Another spiritual retreat is located in the heavenly Namsto, a picturesque mountain lake, known for its beau- ty (Namsto in Tibetan means heavenly).
For those looking for the untouched, the rarely experienced, explore the country side and spend time with no- mads and spiritual masters in far remote area where modernisation has not arrived yet. They say this is the last remaining of an ancient spiritual civilisation where people struggle to preserve it.
Terdrum is a beautiful valley with sacred history with natural hot spring that Tibetans believe to be medici- nal spring that cures diseases as it was blessed by the Guru Rimpoche. An ideal place to meditate and take bath.
Every culture has a different perception of what happens when we die. For Tibetans the body is a vessel, a temporary guest house. Therefore bodies are exposed to the elements because once life has expired, there is no need for it to be preserved. In some regions of Tibet celestial burial is practiced, a ritual where bodies are given back to nature, nourishing other living beings like birds or vultures (considered sacred animals by Ti- betans).
And Dregung Monastery is renowned for sacred sky burial, as celestial burial is also referred.
Though still common in rural communities, officially recognised and protected, sky burial is increasingly dif- ficult to practice due to various reasons, including costs and detractors that see this ceremony as primitive and distant.
Probably not the easiest destination to visit, due to some restrictions.
Don’t search for self-proclaimed gurus that abound today. Look for teachers with a good reputation and come from a long tradition. And be realistic about your expectations and outcomes of these experiences. Rest because due to time and climate, bodies need to work hard to adjust to the altitude. Yoga is therefore more spiritual than physical.
Live, rest and enjoy
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
We selected Byron Bay as our fourth destination because it is a popular tourist and wellness location that offers an eclectic mix of retreats that provide healing and wellbeing experiences.
There are new-age shops re-imagined for the now-age, spiritual services that include yoga and meditation, alternative medicine and holistic healing centres.
But also sisterhood clubs and getaway surf experiences run by experienced female surf coaches (where in between surf lessons you can enjoy massage and daily yoga circles. Yoga and Byron apparently go hand-in-hand).
All these factors have contributed to establishing Byron Bay, the spiritual and healing capital of Australia, as an alternate wellness tourism destination for local and international visitors. An amazing place to re-balance, de-stress, detox, reboot and rejuvenate yourself spiritually and get fit physically.
Aboriginal elders say it’s been a sacred healing ground for tens of thousands of years. And often visitors agree, seduced by its bubbling nature (the place is surrounded by protected areas), and indefinable magical quality.
With its open-armed approach, it’s a magnet for healers and seekers of all kinds, that want to connect with themselves or just with nature. Rainforest meets the sea, dolphins frolic in turquoise waters, and people from all backgrounds gather here for short or permanent breaks.
Compared to our previous destinations, Byron offers a more western approach to wellness and spirituality, adding diverse alternative health therapies to the traditional menu. Like a diet of juices and mineral broth, herbal teas and ionised water, to detox your body and get rid of toxins by fasting under the professional supervision of naturopaths and healers. Colonic hydrotherapy is another treatment you can find in many spas, used to clear out years of debris blockages in your digestive system.
These therapies are really focused on urban-dwellers, and in the case of Byron, we can say that wellness and holiday are spoken in the same sentence, as you need to make a conscious effort to stop from your daily activities and embrace these experiences.
For all crystals lovers, Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens cannot be missed, the home of the biggest and most beautiful crystals in the world. A spiritual sanctuary where you can enjoy meditation in the Enchanted Cave, find peace and wander through the sacred gardens full of hidden gems like the amethyst rock wall, the labyrinth and crystals, some dating back to 500 million years. The experience must be amazing even if you don’t appreciate the power of stones. You just need to sit and nurture your sight following the scenic journey.
Things to find in this magical place are: ancient amethyst cave, giant crystals, Wings of Eternity mural, 5 hectares of botanical Shambhala Gardens and rainforest, the largest stone Blessing Buddha in Australia, the World Peace Stupa (a project blessed by the Dalai Lama), Crystal Experience.
Nature has an important role in Byron, and if you want to connect with it, many interesting options are open to tourists.
Along surfing at The Pass, experience one of the many Byron Bay kayaking with dolphins tour guides. You can have the chance to get up close to dolphins, sea turtles and even whales on their annual migration north through Byron’s Ocean waters. A bit of history here, Byron Bay was famous in the Sixties for 3 things - whaling, meat and surfing. Meat is no longer part of it, but seeing whales and dolphins during their migration along the coast, is. Same for surfing. Thanks to the 7 major breaks there are always waves in Byron Bay. Therefore one of the most popular surf spots in Australia and overseas that brings many visitors in.
Go to The Sanctuary, as the Tree Sanctuary is know to many locals. A chunk of preserved rainforest in the area of New South Wales that was once covered in. Visit the place and meditate with the sound of birdsong.
Watch the sunrise from Byron Bay Lighthouse and take part in one of the many funky workshops held at Arts Factory Lodge. Their motto is: relax, rejuvenate, recycle! Maybe a hippie accommodation stuck in a time capsule but it reflects the cultural spirit that Byron was built upon with lots of yoga and meditation classes.
Women need a tribe, and Byron Bay thrives in female circles where you can revive the ancient sisterhood and learn to create strong female bonds and relationships, immersed in the beauty of the bay.
Wow, what a destination. Really, what can you ask more from a place?
Relax, rejuvenate and enjoy
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
What does come up in your mind when you think about Peru?
Ancient civilisation, nature, walks, trekking, colourful and tasselled clothes, mythical heritage wall- hangings, but not that often Peru is viewed as a place for yoga and meditation. Well, think again, because Peru, our third destination, has a lot to offer to serious spiritual seekers, thanks to its sacred spaces, tours and especially ceremonies and rituals.
Within the pristine natural beauty of Sacred Valley of Peru, sacred feminine retreats are organised where women can join circles of sisterhood and embark on transformational journeys. Experiences that can be more powerful than traditional rituals and can include Shamanic (plant) Ceremony for a deep exploration of body, mind and spirit. Yoga and meditation are included, along with goddess invocation, dance, group sharing, expansion, manifestation, harmonization, connection to sacred sites and prayer.
These ceremonies can be very intensive with profound inner transformational consequences, therefore these rituals are addressed to responsible individuals ready to open their hearts and minds. The idea is to cut away layers of illusion, to empower women and unveil the Goddess within.
In the same area of Sacred Valley is located the Temple of the Sun, a small terraced amphitheater that is considered one of the most spiritually powerful places of Peru. Here at the rhythm of a shaman’s drum receive the blessings of the mountains, and follow a profound inner journey.
A different introduction to the wild landscapes of Peru is the massive red rock of Aramu Muru, deeply embedded within a shaped doorway. A mysterious project that nobody knows when it was built, that, when touched with your forehead, gives you a sense of gateway to higher levels of consciousness. The wall and two adjacent shafts transmit energy to individuals who believe in the power of the past. The doorway is a sort of initiation and one of the most spiritually activating places to visit in Peru. It is known as the spiritual doorway of the Incas.
The village of Amantani offers sunrise ceremony to Viracocha, the supreme god of the Incas, where you are encouraged by birdsong to walk in the dark, to go up the steep hillside and be present when the sun rises while the shaman burns incense.
Explore the magical vortexes of Machu Picchu and experience the crown jewel of Peru’s sacred sites. The place to meditate with its scene of solar alignments, roofless temples, and crumbling buildings.
A must visit along with the Amazon Forest with its overwhelming loud energy of the forest that can lull you in deep reflection.
If you want to reconnect to the divine, embrace Ayahuasca ceremony. Ayahuasca is a sacred plant medicine revered for its healing and divinatory properties. The ceremony includes purgative qualities so train yourself and follow a pre and post diet prior to the sacred event. It’s a conscious ritual that involves a mental and physical cleaning process. Toxins, accumulated over a lifetime, will be expelled. A profound path of growth and reconnection with one’s own deep soul.
Because of recent popularity, ayahuasca ceremonies are big business. So be vigilant and protect your boundaries from unscrupulous people.
Speaking of Inner journeys and spiritual adventures, another less known ceremony held in Peru, is San Pedro.
San Pedro, also named Wachuma, is a cactus that has been used in sacred medicine for 3000 years. It’s a plant used in ceremonies to help people to connect and better perceive the self overcoming barriers and limitations. A sacred heart tool that makes possibile to connect the individual with mother nature and the divine.
As you can see, all these events require time and real belief. They can last a daylong, require attention, and intention. Because of this, and since they can be profoundly deep and transformative, you really need to be willing to do them. So as usual, and even more than usual, if you want to go through these experiences, select the best services and check the logistic, including the presence of an experienced guide/teacher during the entire ceremony, to provide you with assistance and advice.
Sending good vibes
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
India is our second destination of The Beddha Holistic Travel Guide.
Why India? Well, it's hard to find a place on earth that is more spiritual than India, the birth place of many religions and spiritual practices like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. A reach spiritual country where a varied and divers range of beliefs and traditions are practised. A place for spiritual seekers and, despite its cliché, for soul searches. A place where you can recharge. A place known for its hospitality and generosity, for its temples and for its food.
And it's the birthplace of yoga and Ayurveda!
If you want to travel or start you own pilgrimage, here are some spiritual places you might find interesting.
Varanasi, known as The Spiritual Capital of India, because it is said to be founded by the Lord Shiva, the god of creation and destruction. A place of spiritual power.
Declared by the Indian Prime Minister as the country Spiritual Capital, Bodhgaya is the place that marked the beginning of Buddhism, therefore a pilgrimage site for all Buddhists from around the world.
Mathura, Lord Krishna's birthplace and therefore a place that host a large community of Hare Krishna movement practitioners.
There are places where you can practice yoga with emphasis on meditation, breathing and cleansing techniques. Since yoga is considered a lifestyle, you might also experience some community service (like cooking, gardening, cleaning), in some places over others. The question before selecting any is, what type of yoga and what type of accommodation you are looking for. Located in different parts of India, these places offer retreats that follow different practices, from Hatha yoga to Ashtanga to Bio-Energy retreat to find your aura.
Rishikesh, known as the Yoga Capital of the World. One of the holiest places in India for Hindus, it sits in the foothills of the Himalayas. A place where yogis from all over the world come to learn yoga and meditate without distractions.
An excellent place for vegetarians. Due to its religious practice, the city is strictly vegetarian and alcohol is not permitted.
There are spiritual retreats located here, where you can find possibly the most authentic Ayurvedic wellness destination in India, for soul, body and mind, immersed in nature.
Other places for radical self-love and healing rituals seekers are placed in Goa, an ideal place to chill out for many thanks to its colourful beaches. The location is home to different types of retreats. The majority are more resort style than traditional Indian ashram.
Of all the retreats you can find, one is probably worth mentioning as The Guardian listed it as one of the best in all India. And this place is Purple Valley, Assagao. Along with Ashtanga yoga, the retreat is known for its fabulous Ayurveda treatments.
India is not for everyone, so do your research, trust your intuition, honour your boundaries, switch to Indian-time, and get as much information as you can before leaving. Unfortunately it has been home to various scandals and disputes.
In case you just contemplate the journey from home, like me, no need to worry then.
Enjoy
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
After receiving a few questions about The Beddha video filmed in Bali, we thought would be a nice idea to start a short holistic travel guide and share with you feelings we experienced during the journey on this magic island.
A trip can have different meanings including being a spiritual journey, so either you stay in the comfort of your home, or you enjoy short/long breaks, The Beddha Holistic Travel Guide is for those of you who like to travel physically and also emotionally.
As always when going under a new experience, we should ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing. And in case of travelling, why we are going where we are going. We should know the reasons that move us. Even if we are guided by intuition.
There are places professional healers recommend, and we have included some of these places in our guide. So, take a journey with us and travel to Bali, our first destination.
The place is filled with culture, heritage and spirituality, packed with landscape, architecture and art. A magical island that struck more than one soul.
They say there's something about Bali. It's in the wind, it's in the air.
Could be the reason why many travel to the island as the only place where someone can fully recharge connecting to the elements and listening to the wind. Nature has a big part in this journey, with its tall cliffs, gorgeous views, great weather, and blue-green ocean.
And it's at the top of a seaside, that temple Uluwatu is located. A place where you can meditate and connect. Temples are a must see for anyone visiting the Island of the Gods, as Bali is also known.
The centre of all the spiritual activities is Ubud, one of the best places in the world to practice yoga (in an island that is one of the best places in the world for yoga retreats, the best of the best so to speak...). A mystical place that became very popular after the publication of the book Eat Pray Love and the movie that followed, where the author starts her spiritual journey in India and end it in Bali And it makes sense. India is yoga and meditation birthplace, Bali is probably the best place to practice it. It's safer, especially for women travelling alone, it's cleaner and more modern.
Ubud is the perfect place to relax and live the Balinese experience. But what if you are not into spirituality?
In Ubud one of the most visited site is Sacred Monkey Forest, a natural forest sanctuary that is home to a horde of grey long-tailed macaques. You can walk into the path and enjoy the experience, no worship involved.
There are other locations that attract digital nomads and surfers for their beaches, cafes, restaurants and bohemian lifestyle.
Canggu is known as a surfing spot and it happens to be the place where Tanah Lot Temple is located, an ancient sacred Hindu house of worship, and one of the most important landmarks in Bali for its significance and beauty.
If you just want to hang out for sunbathing on golden sands and blue-green seas, there are great beaches, like Batu Bolong Beach, Nelayan Beach, and Pererenan Beach.
If you are travelling with kids Taman Segara Madu Water Park is the place to go.
If you like scouting for markets, then visit the Sunday market at Old Man's.
If you are a foodie raw and vegan restaurants abound.
If you like walking and cycling, go for a rice walk or ride through the local rice paddies. Though from a tourist point of view, you can still experience the local villagers way of life, like watching a farmer herding his flock of ducks.
If you are into trekking a very popular destination is Mount Batur.
Culture is everywhere. From rituals to ceremonies to festivals, from small sacred offerings to temples that reside everywhere. Balinese practice their religious obligations with devotion and dress immaculately for the temple.
And coming back to spiritual practice, even if you are simply visiting a temple, bring with you a sarong and a sash, for your legs and waist. In case you don't own one, you can buy or rent locally. Both women and men need to cover their legs when visiting a spiritual practice place.
We listed some interesting spots. Before going make sure to do some research as yoga and wellness are becoming too popular. Ask friends and check reviews. If you are not planning to visit Bali, enjoy The Beddha video, read Eat Pray Love, or watch the movie.
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Rituals. Goddess. Mindful lifestyle.
We hear these words with increase frequency in the wellness and beauty industry.
People use them for many reasons: because they are part of this new movement, because of words of mouth, because they follow the flow and it’s nice to be part of something. And sometimes just to take advantage of the moment, because they are trendy and cool.
Different reasons that can all have an impact.
For The Beddha they are part of the brand philosophy, at the core of its values, and are one linked to the other. So that these words are included in the packaging and labels, therefore the natural next chapter of ‘how to read our labels series’.
Mindful Collection
If you are familiar with The Beddha, you probably have already read about it, but for those of you who may be new to the brand, on Mindful Rooftop blog you will find a thread that illustrates what it means a life mindfully embraced. What it means being fully in the present, learning to celebrate a female essence and taking time for the self.
This is the message once the product is in your hands.
But this conscious journey starts long before the product is delivered to you. It starts when the product is thought and designed, and then produced with attention, intention and love. It goes from concept, design and style, to material and supplier selection to human business relationships. Always having in mind the benefit each product will bring to the final consumer and to all the people involved in the process at different stages of the production cycle, including the brand owner.
It’s not just the product in itself that is important, but also the self-actualisation that comes from doing an honest and good job that you know will bring calm and balance in someone else’s life.
It’s the whole concept that we want to get across, a concept that is made not just by one moment or one product, but by little steps and pieces. Every step, every product reflects the brand values.
Rituals for a Goddess Lifestyle
As much as it takes time to conceive The Beddha products, it takes time to appreciate them and see results. The whole collection is not meant to be used in a rush or handled with no care.
That is why The Beddha has thought to remind you about mindfulness in every moment, including the time you receive the goods and see them for the first time.
Our packaging is planned to send direct and indirect messages from labels to color palette selection. Every sticker and ribbon has a reason to be there.
Some products have detailed instructions that require time to follow. They also require some time before visibile results can be appreciated. Some messages are more evident than others. A gua sha requires more time to be skilfully handled than a kimono. Yet a kimono conceals a hidden message: wrap yourself with care and patience and treat yourself like a goddess because you are precious. Take your time. Indulge in discovering who you really are and want.
The Beddha collection is meant to be embraced with calm.
Body, mind and spirit, all require time to align, balance and recharge.
It is also designed in an holistic way, and by that I mean that every product is conceived to stand alone as well as in synergy with the others. The collection has been mapped so that you can follow a path and find your own, in the natural sanctuary that is your home: you start a ritual by undressing from your daily mask and wear a kimono and keep proceeding by self-caring using natural products followed by a bath and a meditation session under the light of a I Om candle to end your day on a silk pillow for a sweet slumber. You can take only one step or embrace the full journey, in solitude to retreat in yourself, or in company of other sisters.
So, next time you slowly unwrap a new delivery, next time you hold a new product, remember this few lines, remember who made them and the love and intention put in every good to give you the best support in your life. Knowing and appreciating how things are made it’s already a conscious choice that nourishes your mind and soul.
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Resurrected in the last few years, the Silk Road was the ancient network of trade routes that once ran between China and the West during the days of the Roman Empire. For centuries a central cultural interaction, through this network silk first made it to Europe, becoming the first item exported from China.
A lucrative trade developed thanks to the desirable fibre that its price has, at times, exceeded that of gold. A fibre that maintains all its sumptuous and sensuous personality to these days.
Silk is categorized as a natural protein fibre, and is naturally produced in an exceptionally fine continuous filament by the Bombyx mori moth larva (the larva or caterpillar whose name comes from the Latin and means silkworm of the mulberry tree), which has been achieved as a result of centuries of selective breeding.
The sericulture practice of breeding silkworms for the production of raw silk, consists of a long process. From moths laying eggs to mulberry leaves feeding, to silk worms spinning protective cocoons by secreting silk filament and sericin which hardens upon air contact, to cocoons completion within a few days to sorting, maceration, reeling, thrown threads, de-gumming and finally spinning (to be ready for weaving or knitting).
Because of the way it is produced in China, Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk available for purchase in the world. More refined than other types, mulberry silk has a pure white color, and is made up of individual long fibres. Products made from 100% mulberry silk are among the most durable, odorless and hypoallergenic (thanks to the fibre natural protein sericin), and produce the most luxurious silk goods. A beautiful and healthy choice for bedding and personal care. Therefore The Beddha choice to select this superior type of silk for the brand fashion collection.
As part of ’how to read our labels’ series, and in addition to what we have already talked about in previous articles, kimonos and pillowcases, we want to focus our attention on the Oeko-Tex certification and what it means for us as producers and for you as consumers.
Oeko-Tex in short stands for International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology and issues the product-related labels Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex (formerly Oeko-Tex Standard 100).
These labels and certificates confirm the human-ecological safety of textile products from all stages of production (raw materials and fibres, yarns, fabrics, ready-to-use end products) along the textile value chain. Therefore a way to protect consumers from potentially harmful chemicals.
The Beddha fashion line from our catalogue, are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified non-toxic dyes to make it obvious to you as our consumer, that the labeled products have undergone laboratory testing for a wide range of harmful substances, and that the content of those substances remains below the limit values established by the Oeko-Tex Association (where standard stays for a globally standardized quality assurance system to compensate regionally different evaluations in order to make things easier to be implemented). Test criteria and limit values are globally binding and are updated and expanded each year. The Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex is the product label for textiles tested for harmful substances with the largest prevalence worldwide.
To be certified, a brand has to conform and meet all components required criteria. To have a textile product certified by Oeko-Tex, manufacturers must supply samples of all components (including accessories like zips, sewing threads, labels or prints), for analysis to a laboratory at one of the Oeko-Tex member institutes. After successful testing of the materials for compliance with the Association standards, a Oeko-Tex certificate is issued as a declaration of conformity. Prior or after the issuing of the certificate, a company audit is conducted at the certified item’s production facility. After that, audits take place around every three years. But to verify continued compliance, unannounced annual checks can be carried out by the Association for at least 25% of all issued Standard 100.
photo: The Beddha Kimonos on Glamour.it
Both Silk and Bamboo Kimonos are subject to this process and quality check control to be certified. And being bamboo an alternative plant fibre, human ecological requirements to be complied with, are even stricter. It means the fabrics have been tested to be safe for human safe. Oeko-Tex 100 does not mean that no chemicals were used in the processing of the material, but that no chemicals were detected in the final product.
This long presentation is a way to illustrate what it means using the highest quality of fibres and get them certified. It’s a sign of quality assurance for the consumer and of prestige for the brand. It’s a conscious effort made by brands who want to reduce harmful substances within the fashion industry. Therefore the natural choice for The Beddha.
Love to all the women who make efforts to produce goods in a better way
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
This is the season of renewal, when flowers blossom.
This is the season of Yunnan flowers, where our raw material comes from.
We think that the most beautiful way to introduce The Beddha second hero product, As A Flower, is taking some time explaining where our raw material comes from.
And our flowers come from Yunnan, the province in the very southwest China that thanks to its location and weather conditions is home to 14,590 higher plants, about half of China’s. Though Yunnan literally means ‘South to the Clouds’, due to its wilderness and landscapes is also known as ‘Kingdom of Plants’. And its capital, Kunming, a historical and cultural city with a civilized history of more than 3.000 years, famous for its year-round mild climate, is often called ‘Spring City’ as well as ‘The City of Eternal Spring’ and the ‘World Spring City and Flower Capital’.
With a capital endowed with flowers blooming across the four seasons in a year, Yunnan produces a little more that half of China’s fresh cut flowers. Some say even more, and closer to 75%. There are 190.000 individual household producers of flowers. It is therefore home to one of the biggest flowers market of the world, with Dounan Flower Market, the biggest fresh flower trade center in Southwest China. And given all this natural abundance of varieties and scenery in the region, flowers are appreciated in literature, food and beverages, and used as well for decorations.
During the festival season, peasants go across the rape flower fields in Yunnan province counties, like Luoping, dressed in colorful embroidered dresses, to collect flowers in full bloom. A mindful visual ritual and experience in itself, that perfectly matches the spirit behind The Beddha mindfulness philosophy.
The Yunnan region is also known for its parks, venue for the annual Oriental Cherry Flowers Festival of Kunning, held in the Yuantong Park, for the Crab-Apple Flowers in Green Lake Park and for the Pear Flower blooming in the Wangxichong Village.
Floral demonstrations are set up as much for tourists as for commerce to encourage local production in other counties. The recent trend in Yunnan is that new production is expanding beyond the traditional rural growing areas and beyond simply fresh cut flowers. There are a variety of new products including perennial flowers and plants, ornamental seedings, edible flowers, traditional medicinal applications. It is estimated that by 2020, 950.000 tons of flowers will be able to be transported by air from the Kunming Airport.
These are massive numbers that show how important the business is becoming and the efforts put in the business by the Industry Federation, by flower companies and even local growers. Large amount of money are spent in the development of new techniques to cultivate more flower types and increase the already huge variety of flowers (600), some of them extremely rare.
Along with the uniqueness of the region, nature and beauty, comes the diversity of the Yunnan’s population. The province is in fact, home to over half of all China’s minorities.
Speaking of another park, there is the Yunnan Ethnic Village, a cultural place dedicated to honoring and educating people about the many Chinese minority ethnicities. It is a collection of 26 villages, and each one displays its own architecture, dress and customs.
As reported on Folk Customs of China, most of the minority women (and children) living in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces wear embroidered cotton shoes, dresses and hats. Often they are good at dyeing, weaving and embroidery and at making their own clothes. One typical peasant cloth is the “Magpie Dress”, made of a black cloth scarf wrapped apron on the head, a white tight jacket covered with a black lace vest, an embroidered apron around the waist, blue pants and embroidered cotton shoes. It is so called because it reminds of the magpie bird which is regarded by the Chinese as a lucky bird.
Given the history, the tradition, the beauty and the abundance of raw material, it seemed to The Beddha the natural choice to start producing As A flower blends and collections from this region. For The Beddha, As A Flower is more than a product. It is part of a sensory mindful ritual. A ritual in itself even when it comes to our flowers selection, drying process and scent preservation.
To give you an insider’s peak about our botanical production, as part of our project how to read our label, here is a list of technical steps we follow:
Our new blend options will be soon available on the market. Though each blend is different, benefits and ultimate goals (listed on our labels) stay the same. We have designed a system/method to guide you through the process where benefits (to meet your skin goal), are highlighted with stars from 3 to 5.
Enjoy
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Do we take time to read labels and consider what goes behind a product? How many of us really contemplate them?
We do sometimes read ingredients and materials used by brands especially when it comes to food or if we suffer from allergies, but we don’t do much else. We are fascinated by a brand storytelling but we don’t go further than this, to see if the price matches what the brand says in its messages.
As part of this new movement that promotes a mindful and thoughtful lifestyle, we promote education and transparency. We believe it’s important to understand what goes into our products, to explain antecedents and implications about our collaborations, and why our products have the quality, the style and the cost they have.
There are so many products available today, with prices ranging from few dollars/euros to hundreds. It’s important for us to illustrate our process and show some pictures, so that we can separate our brand from the competition. It’s important for you, our customers, so you can appreciate and trust the label. Because a better educated public makes better and independent choices.
We have in mind to explain in more details our 4 best-selling products, and the first hero product we’d like to talk about today is: The Tribes
What goes behind the The Beddha roller and gua sha?
With regards to tools but as a general rule as well, if you go into a new business there is no need to invent the wheel, instead, improve what is already on the market.
Following this principle, The Beddha founder started working on building block for her business from rollers and gua shas, that had been around for centuries with effective results for women face fitness. Because her mission was to provide alternative beauty products to women.
She studied and tested some of the offers at hand, so to be able to deliver a better choice. Once selected the design (tools on the market are similar but if you look into details you notice they come in all different models, shapes, sizes and raw materials), she then contacted some suppliers and manufactures to start the prototyping process.
And this is the part that takes time and determines quality, price and end result. Because it starts a forward and backward process between brand and manufacturer where defects and problems and issues arise and are highlighted. It can take up to three months before a Beddha product gets the final approval and is ready for production. For many brands problems can be caused by bad execution, lack of time, wrong design, inexperience and sometimes poor communication.
One of the most difficult things that requires time and patience is to identify the right collaborator to partner with. The goal of an entrepreneur is to achieve long-term business relationships, but finding the right one, the one that works for both parties, requires time, skills and some luck.
From idea to product the process involves:
Searching for suppliers and manufactures
Explaining the project and making a first selection for the right suppliers/manufactures to collaborate with on the prototype
Slimming down the list to the one that best fits the project
Sending forward and backward feedback to improve and resolve issues regarding the prototype
Final prototype approval
Production
Quality control that involves a first skim made in production facilities and then a second quality control made by The Beddha staff
We have documented some of these moments where you can see the process, where issues arise like crooked rollers, surface scratch, material opacity, rough edges, asymmetry, dark zinc, even noise! Things you have no idea can happen when you hold in your hands a finished product like The Beddha roller.
The unexpected can always happen, no matter the effort and attention to details. There will always be one or two pieces that skip our quality check. And someone will complain. But a throughly work will reduce the chance.
Isn’t it a great thing that you can see what goes behind one single product and understand the process and notice the differences? Next time you hold your tribe in your hands you know how we made it as well as how to use it with The Beddha daily/night protocol (another topic so important to us - to teach you new techniques we make constantly studies and tests).
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
You talk. We listen. And from messages to products, The Beddha is expanding its vision.
We have reached a point in our brand history where we believe it’s time to explain and share the spirit behind the story and tell about our 3Ps (philosophy, production and process) that interconnect with each other.
Philosophy
Women and their needs are at the heart of The Beddha philosophy. And that should be now clear. Our mission is to empower women and make them feel like goddesses that in practical terms means, providing women with alternative tools and the right mindset to take care of their inner and outer beauty with no sense of guilt or regret. Making women self-aware and helping them during this acceptance journey is part of our mission. We host monthly Females' Circles around the world to hear from women, our direct source, what is going on in their lives.
To meet these needs we globally searched for natural remedies and developed our lines of holistic products based on traditional methods integrated with modern principles.
To be true to ourselves and our brand, we travel the world, taking long term/long distance journeys, to discover what’s next. And we do it 6 to 8 times per year.
We know by experience that to be relevant in our saturated market, we need to be vigilant and ahead of the curve.
Production
Our products are derived by nature and supported by laboratory tests, using unique blends and powerful combinations, so that the result looks and feels good for all senses.
We visit our production facilities for quality control and have regular on-site trainings provided by our manufacturers/suppliers to be fully informed about market trends and latest developments without compromising our core philosophy (that for us equals to nature and tradition).
We use high quality all-natural vegan ingredients and materials. Our exclusive organic The Beddha formulas are free from toxic colours, chemicals, pesticides. Our fashion line is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified non-toxic dyes.
We spend months in research and development to create the right prototype, and only when we feel confident about the right formulas we produce our exclusive designed The Beddha goods in small batches. It means The Beddha doesn’t buy stock from other producers. We design and produce our own lines only in small quantities and only from premium ingredients/materials 100% organic and vegan.
We store our batches in-house, in order to provide a dry and hygienically controlled space and maintain products quality.
(Business) Process
We started as a direct to consumer brand, selling our products online through our website.
From the very beginning we received many requests from independent merchants that wanted our goods on their shelves. We had to decide early on, what strategy to adopt.
Our priority is to maintain high quality product standards throughout the entire process as we know the efforts we put to produce and store our goods.
In order to meet our client’s expectations, secure our reputation, and deliver a fresh product, we need to be selective in choosing our resellers. We don’t want to see our efforts go to waste. Our products to maintain their freshness and quality cannot be stored for too long in unknown spaces.
That is why we partner with medium/big size retailers to make sure our quality standards are met. It means we turn down many requests from smaller traders and buyers that we think won’t be able to meet our needs. We believe this is the best strategy for our deluxe brand. We don’t aim to have a widespread distribution. We aim to be in selected places and control our quality and your satisfaction.
We believe transparency is the best way to communicate with our public, that is why we are sharing our vision with you. We also believe you cannot be everything to everyone. As a brand you have to decide what strategy and market share you want and can fill.
We don’t produce beauty treatments just to make you look better. We produce rituals to make you feel better. It works from inside out. Each product is sold with a mindful protocol in mind, because our ultimate goal is to educate women to learn new habits and unlearn old stereotypes.
Each product is charged with positivity and works as a motivational tool, to bring you forgotten or neglected experiences.
Along with a mindfulness protocol that educate on its use, each product is thought and paired with a mindfulness practice, designed specifically for the end use.
We want to be open about our story, so that you can follow the journey with us.
Sending all big love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
“We need to take risks. We need to prove them wrong, simply by not giving up”.
I like this thought by Awk Wafina, and I like to interpret it as an encouragement addressed to all women including the ones who are venturing into an holistic business model or are already involved in it, and feel alone or overwhelmed or notice there is not enough support for them out there. No matter the role we play in the society.
It is not easy.
The good news, though, is that we are an army! An army of determined women who don’t want to give up on their aspirations and have finally decided to take risks equipped with good intentions to improve people lives. Especially women involved in the wellness industry at large.
Going around and listening to many of you, I learned that most female wellness businesses started out with the goal to improve the quality of women’s lives, providing options across different categories. From fashion to beauty to food.
Like for The Beddha, it was also and is the outcome of a personal need, a want to share an idea/product with the world, and a desire to help raise consciousness. Women on a mission to answer questions other women often ask from how things are made and where they come from, to how to live in harmony according to how mother nature has always intended to.
And this is what a holistic lifestyle means.
photo: Britney Gill
We question what we wear, eat and put on our face (to the point it is becoming too much of a trend, so we need to be vigilant and tell what is genuine from what is marketing), we want to live by our own rules and work with what is best for us. We keep our mind and body busy. We meditate. We listen to our bodies. But it wasn’t so common just a few years ago, when some earliest starters to the sustainable living movement, started it all. At a time when what was available to meet green ethos was limited.
The wellness industry has evolved but ethos and missions that moved and move women today stay the same. Whatever role you play, consumer or producer, you are part of this community of women who live on good vibes, keep a positive mind frame, believe this is the time to take control of our lives and look after ourselves in order to express our femininity and ambitions, and trust we can make a difference for other women. In a world dominated by men, it’s important to make sure that we help each other.
Living a natural lifestyle also means living a meaningful lifestyle. Caring for us, for mother nature and for others.
It’s interesting to see how conscious consumption is intersecting with other movements like the eco movement and feminism. I have also noticed there are some common traits female holistic lifestyle producers and consumers share: social and environmental good principles. Like:
A want for fair wages (and equal pay at work) and working standards
A will to improve women’s livelihoods in every part of the world
A desire to support other women (when they follow their aspirations or when they want to end the cycle of poverty in developing countries)
A wish to sustain craftsmanship (to retain traditions)
A need for a conscious ethical consumption. We are human being and it’s part of our nature to consume and have an impact on the environment. But we can reshape our habits and ask for a better moral production
An aspiration to educate consumers about production, costs and value. Explaining what’s behind the price tag
This is something we were unaware until very recently. I have to admit I never thought about it. But it’s a real problem in poor rural areas, where girls miss school due to their periods.
Some female producers are starting taking into account this issue and other female consumers are responding to it.
Making a conscious effort to improve is a small step to a better life, for us and for others.
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
Continuing our behind the brand story, and seeing the connection of all things, The Beddha was born from a personal need as much as a response to a collective female request. An initially tacit request made by those women who met together in the local community and shared their evening rituals practicing mindful moments. In Miami. And elsewhere. In London. In New York. In Sydney. And soon in places where women hadn’t been unable to express these same feelings yet.
But who were and are those women?
Those women are us. They are like the founder and myself. Women in their 30s, 40s, 50s who found themselves at some point of their existence, unsatisfied by their personal, working, social life, by unresolved issues and by how things in this world are run. How they had been induced to perceive themselves by conventional traditions. And started wondering how they could change things alone and together. How they could cultivate a simpler, natural, slower, graceful and fulfilling life. A life with a purpose doing meaningful things. And find a way to reconnect with their center and intuition, and deepen their celebration of the selves in shared spaces and in the comfort of their own places.
A mindful and feminine lifestyle that someone could say was and is a reaction to the fast and beauty culture emerged in the last decade and more..
photo: Britney Gill
Finally awaken some started a personal journey that involved self-discovery, re-discovery, meditation, a change of lifestyle and mindset. A challenging process arrived maybe after years of soul searching around the world. With a possible change of career.
Some others took a step forward and thought to share this self-awareness process with a larger community so that other women could benefit.
And that is where The Beddha started as we have seen in our previous post.
It was this female energy that initiated the holistic all female lifestyle brand to serve these needs and provide women with alternative ways to celebrate their femininity and beauty. Women who are not scared to question and challenge social stereotypes, and are willing to replace them with fresh inclusive principles.
Natural lifestyle is a big part of this request. A more transparent, organic and genuine way to produce and consume, that embraces more respectful rhythms towards us and the environment. We produce and we consume. But we do it in a stylish and respectful way.
This is a great time, the one we are living now. A time for new connections, new discoveries, new friendships, and a new openness to ideas and thoughts. We are breathing and waking up to this new age of consciousness that reconnects us to nature and to our true nature. We join female tribes and groups to share experiences and re-emerge fearless, intuitive, free, confident women that we are, and certain of what our soul and body and mind want.
“The chance to be part of this happens briefly. The invitation is not to show how inventive and imaginative you are, but how much you can notice what you’re already part of, and appreciate it and share it, and care about those that are around you and look out for their welfare while you are looking out for your own. That’s it!”.
Do you feel these words by Guy Burgs resonate with you?
If you are reading this blog, chances are you are part of this intergenerational female movement that is awakening around the world. It means you are not alone, you are like us, you are us, part of a community of women that has this need to explore inner self, celebrate the female essence, discover divine feminine magic, implement healthy habits, practice gratitude, and feel the oneness with the universe.
We enjoy mindful moments to complete our daily self-care rituals and meditation. We like the idea to be part of something and the fact that this something is bigger than us. We are working on accepting who we really are, becoming our own soul mate, because the first step is to be in right relationship with ourselves.
It’s all part of one’s “spiritual” life.
If you are new to exploring your soul, remember that this is a process. You may want to spend a few moments each day trying new little things. Experiment a new form of meditation, experiment with intentions, spend time taking care of yourself.
Easier to say than done. Yet it is happening. And we are here a brand run by women for other women, to guide and provide tools for this journey. We are part of this movement that promotes a natural, mindful, thoughtful lifestyle.
Enjoy the ride and join our tribe.
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
In the last ten years the wellness industry has undergone an evolution lead by a new generation of women. Changemakers defined not by age or place, but by passion and lifestyle. A vision shared with other women around the world.
In our next series of articles we will introduce the story behind The Beddha. Our brand.
We will explore who these women all over the world are and why they embrace mindfulness lifestyle. Our target market.
We will then continue investigating the wellness business world from a female prospective. Our sisters.
We will come to an end talking about making a positive difference, shaping the future and leaving a legacy for the next generation. Our contribution.
The gradual development of The Beddha was a very organic one. A natural progression born from a personal need, interest and passion that the founder had at some point of her career.
This is a path that resonates with many women around the world, today more than ever. We want to follow our aspirations and we are no longer afraid to start a business and make things happen.
Always interested in holistic health and wellbeing, after years spent working as an image consultant in Italy, Stefania the founder left the country to experience a new chapter in her life and go through a physical and metaphysical journey. She settled in Miami, Florida, where she opened a coaching agency. Despite an unexpected early success, she felt something was missing in her life and went looking for that. She discovered something was happening in the local female community. Women were starting to explore new ways to reconnect with their inner soul and divine femininity. These like-minded women were gathering in sacred spaces in circles and practicing mindfulness exercises.
This soulful experience was a revelation. During these enriching female ritual events, she realized that the missing piece she has spent years looking for, was finally there.
Just to be clear, this is not a fairy tale, so when you want to start a business you need to go beyond you personal passion and investigate if this idea you have, is also something other women are interested in. Or it will remain a hobby.
And our founder did just that.
She noticed that her intuition and observations were supported by studies and market researches. Data collected showed that women were reclaiming their spaces after years of neglect and wanted to live experiences. They were willing to practice daily routines to reaffirm their personal connection with a purpose. This was the style of life they wanted.
Interviews revealed that a new need of consciousness along with a self-care and spirituality want was rising.
Strong with these new insights she relocated back to Italy to establish her brand and business merging Italian culture and skills with the new view. A brand able to bring the benefits of meditation along with healing natural products for self-care to all the women around the world. From Europe to Australia to Dubai...
A label built around a holistic and beauty lifestyle for modern goddesses.
It didn’t take too long to make her vision to happen.
Starting from finding the name, she designed a collection of wellness products that reflects and supports principles of self-love, self-awareness, women empowerment, sisterhood, modern femininity, and uses ancient knowledge and modern philosophy to enhance women beauty. A collection that is handmade and produced only in small batches, with ingredients carefully sourced to deliver luxurious products in accordance with principles of the slow life movement.
And so, after years of diligent research and testing, in the autumn of 2018, The Beddha, that means the beautiful, was born. A brand and a place where female wellness and spirituality are placed at the core of the label philosophy.
We have already illustrated in details the collection made of luxurious loungewear, detoxifying skincare, dedicated meditation tools able to heal and align mind, body and spirit. If you missed them, have a look for more information on our previous posts.
Though The Beddha was born from a personal need before it was The Beddha, the brand progressed into a business that provided and provides a solution for a real need solicited by women. And this is what makes an idea a solid business: finding a solution to a need, a problem women have, and making it viable on the market.
A lesson that all aspiring businesswomen should learn...
Sending big love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything. So says an old irish proverb.
And as we come close to the end of our batch of articles focused on daily rituals, we can gently bring our mind to a place of rest in our last post, and talk about sleep.
I don’t know how many of you were aware but a few weeks ago was World Sleep Day, an annual celebration of sleep and call to action on issues related to this recurring state of mind and body.
We spend one third of our life sleeping. Yet, it seems that sleep is often the first activity we sacrifice in order to meet our obligations or engage with personal activities. With negative consequences for our body as we disrupt its natural cycles and put stress on our mind. Without mentioning aches and pains.
When it comes to sleep deprivation, whether ongoing due to stress/work, own nature (light sleeper), or as a result of a single night’s out, there are some approaches for rest relief and quality sleep that can help your body synch with its natural circadian rhythms and help you make up for lost sleep. I selected some of them.
A short nap during the afternoon (a mere 10 minutes can be enough), common in the past or among elderly and babies, can provide an energy boost and a pleasurable relaxing remedy for lack of sleep. It can improve mood and memory.
Try to take a nap at the same time each day but make sure you don’t fall into deep a sleep.
Comforting balms, sleep mists, essential oils. They can trigger a sense of stability and induce a deep sleep in response.
Sleep comes when the mind is at ease. Therefore, mindfulness practices can improve your sleep in the evening. Pay attention to your daily habits from caffeine to alcohol you drink to physical activities you undertake. Try to listen to some relaxing music designed to quiet the soul. Calm your mind with some drawing and coloring. Relax your body with gentle sequences that ease tension in the body and help you let go of your day.
Learn to become less reactive to not sleeping. Learn to not let being awake bother you so much. Maintain a sense of calm. Being perfectly relaxed helps getting you a significant amount of healing rest even if you aren’t sleeping. But non-reactivity comes only with practice, and meditation helps getting there.
Yoga for sleep. Look inwards and use movement, stillness, breath and mindfulness to quiet your mind and lull yourself to bed.
Evening rituals. As mentioned in many of our previous articles, creating an evening ritual where you come home to yourself and practice some self-care/self-love exercises, take a warm petal bath, treat yourself with a mini-facial, helps to disengage from your daily events. In your sacred space you can find your buffer zone that moves you away from your work-day active self to your relaxed self. Or you can intentionally transform your bedroom into a sleep heaven.
Last but not least, surround yourself with soft pillows and blankets while listening to soothing music that has the ability to pull you out of your thinking mind and into the present moment.
And speaking of soft pillows...
They say the feeling of pure silk against the skin is as close to heaven as it can get.
An adage that perfectly fits SILKLANDIA, The Beddha trademark naturally hypoallergenic pillowcase made of 100% Mulberry Silk (the beauty secret of Chinese empresses), that comes with a lava pendant that collects essential oil for aromatherapy. A duo set designed for mutual benefits that helps you prepare for your beauty sleep.
The smooth surface of the fabric is like a massage for your senses, a cuddle that lulls you to a sweet slumber. Silk helps reduce stress, stimulating many of the skin’s sensory points while the essential oil gives the benefit of aromatherapy. Breathe deeply and allow the calming oils to help quiet the mind.
It is also an anti-aging solution that many professionals recommend (from hairdressers to dermatologists to holistic health coaches). Silk is less absorbent than cotton, leaving hair and skin more glowing. Silk is also an ideal solution for anyone with problematic skin conditions.
Take sleep seriously. It increases your concentration, attention, decision-making, creativity, social skills and health. It reduces your mood changes, your levels of anger, your impulsivity.
Prioritize you, prioritize relaxation, prioritize positive thoughts, reduce light exposure and turn off your digital devices long before bed time. It’s hard but a good night’s sleep is required to meet the demands and intentions of the following day.
Sending love to all the goddesses
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI
In our last post we mentioned sacred spaces are the ideal place to set intentions for the day (depending on the time your daily rituals take place).
To begin with, an intention is a manifestation of how you want your day to go. It means that if you are to go out in the day with no intention, you have no direction. So it’s important to set intentions for your day, week, month, year.
If you know where you want to go, the power of setting an intention is going to help you get there, because you don’t rely on fate or destiny, you don’t allow the day happens to you passively. You rely only on your own will. You activate your receptivity and attract in your life what you intend to. You have the power to tap into your mind and transform your life.
Having said that, and having created and cleared a sacred space through saging, how do we identify and set our intentions, where do we start from and how do we stick to them?
Some life coaches say to connect to your intuition and work with what resonates with you. Focusing on what you want to attract and what you’d like to let go off.
Kelsey Patel says that setting intentions is not just about tangible, physical things, it’s also about how you operate internally. That’s why she suggests to work with mind, body, spirit. The idea is to first check the triad and accept what it is that you are really seeking, not just blindly throwing things on the list.
It’s a good place to start but at The Beddha we believe that it’s important to start from what makes you happy. Especially if you are new to this practice. Setting positive intentions bring in good vibes, and you can only do that if you begin your journey from what makes you feel good. Don’t force yourself into something that doesn’t resonate with you just to conform to a trend.
Do what makes you happy first and then progress gradually from there into things you are less familiar with.
A second step is to stick to the intentions you set.
Again, it’s easier if you are in a happy place inside out, but it’s only possible if you create a habit.
Make very concrete plans.
Make a list of your goals.
Set up a specific time and place.
Make sure you won’t be disturbed when you set up your intentions.
Planning and regularity will help establish a ritual for you and it will be easier to integrate the practice into your daily routine.
The Beddha has created a set of signature scents named I AM & I OM to bless this journey and bring high-vibe energy into your intention ritual.
photo: Britney Gill
Light one of the set candles with your intention. I AM is a female rose fragrance that features the note of imperial rose mixed with a drop of sandalwood and two of Jasmin. I OM is a mixed scent of sandalwood with basil and citrus fruit. This last one is particularly recommended for your daily rituals, as due to its fragrance, it turns sense and mind in a state of still. The distinctive characteristic of the set is that once the candle is finished burning, you are left with an intention quote jar that reminds you of your daily goals.
Do your affirmations. Verbally share your intention with yourself.
Create a mantra. Any I am/I om affirmations in the present sentence where you live.
Meditate.
Spend a few minutes everyday just writing down a few things you are grateful for. Gratitude is a very important part of the intention-setting process because we are in a state of always wanting (nowadays more than ever because of the insta-success culture). Being grateful for what you have achieved and for what you have in your life, gives you a sense of calm.
Do some visualization. It keeps you on track. It can be a physical vision board filled with images, or a metaphysical board manifested only in your mind. It can include tangible or intangible things you aspire to avoid negative thoughts that pollute your mind.
Blow out your candle once you have completed your intention ritual and then let go.
It can be a very helpful practice that anyone can achieve. It’s a matter of being really honest and clear on what you want to bring into your life and appreciate every step and every progress you make.
Stay positive, stay focused.
Love
✒ BY MARGHERITA ANTINORI