We meet again today, with a new Portrait from Petite. Lisa, 1.59m tall, is a naturopath. Her career path is very inspiring, as she has recently EDITd careers. She began her career in banking. I'll leave you to discover this portrait.
The microbe is nothing, the field is everything
Hello Lisa, you're 31 years old, you worked for 8 years in banking and two years ago, you decided to make a career EDIT to become a naturopath. What made you take the plunge?
I'm a passionate person. Ever since I was a petite, I've been passionate about the environment and health. I've always been very interested in these subjects. But during my studies, at no point did I think of going into these fields. My parents came to France in 1988. They wanted me to study. And as I didn't really have any role models, I followed the path they wanted me to follow. At the time, I didn't ask myself any more questions. So I did a Bac +2 and then a degree in banking because I liked the contact.
In parallel with my job as a bank employee, as I had a lot of time on my hands, I got very involved in community work. I worked on a number of projects. I volunteered for the Goodplanet Foundation and Générations Cobayes. In the end, through volunteering, I was doing what I'd always wanted to do. Which was to share and pass on information about health, food and the environment.
I was more enthusiastic about sharing through the volunteer workshops I ran, than working in banking. I began to wonder why I shouldn't make a career out of it. To confirm my choice, I went to meet women entrepreneurs.
Which ones have had the greatest impact on you and inspired you the most?
There's Leila, the founder of Bliss Home. Bliss Home is a platform that lists trusted therapists. It's also a holistic house that organizes wellness workshops and yoga classes. I really enjoyed talking to Leila. She's a very humble person. Her journey shows that it's possible to be an entrepreneur, while being caring and remaining true to one's values.
Then there's Cindy, who had breast cancer. When she went into remission, she became aware of the whole health dimension and created Curcumabox. Her flagship product is Curcunola, a turmeric granola.
All these encounters have done me a world of good. They gave me self-confidence. My career EDIT was underway! I decided to quit my job in 2018. Then, in October of the same year, I began my training as a naturopath.
Can you explain what naturopathy is?
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies naturopathy as the world's 3rd traditional medicine, after Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Naturopathy aims to preserve and improve an individual's overall health through natural means such as dietary advice, stress management, physical activity and so on.
As a naturopath, you carry out vitality assessments. What does this involve?
The vitality assessment consists of measuring the client's state of fitness. In fact, it's like an audit of the body. We start with a morphological observation (study of face, hands, body shape). After all, our bodies say a lot about us! Next, we ask questions about your family history, eating habits, sleep patterns, lifestyle, etc. And finally, we give you some advice on what to do. Finally, we offer advice and recommendations. The naturopath's role is really one of prevention. We are health educators. Our aim is to train our customers to become autonomous in their own health.
You live life to the full! You work as a naturopath, run workshops and volunteer for various associations. How do you keep fit? And what are your tips for keeping up with the hectic pace?
I've got lots of energy! The basis is sleep. I need 8 hours of sleep a night: I know that my body is not at its best with only 6 or 7 hours. I also practice intermittent fasting. This consists of resting the digestive system. We all get a bit tired when we digest, because our body uses our energy to digest. So logically, when the body isn't digesting, it has a lot of energy that can be used for other functions. Very often I have dinner, and I don't eat again until lunchtime. And I'm not even hungry in the morning when I get up.
What are your tips for avoiding getting sick in winter?
There are three basic ruThe to avoid illness, and to have a "good terrain": a healthy diet, restful sleep and exercise. In naturopathy, we say that "the microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything". I haven't fallen ill for two years now, because I follow all these basic ruThe. My trick is a three-week royal jelly cure at the start of winter (late November, early December).
But sometimes you just can't sleep! When you're a parent, for example, and you're awake all night. Experience speaks for itself! What can you do about it?
Take micro-naps of Thes than 30 minutes. It's also important not to sleep in too late. When you want to catch up on sleep, you need to sleep 8-9 hours, no more. Beyond that, your sleep rhythm is out of whack, and that's not good.
We all know that good health depends on a healthy diet. So what foods should we ban from our diet?
Naturopathy favors organic, seasonal food, using only the most raw ingredients for cooking. Industrial and refined products (which are full of preservatives and colorants that are carcinogenic in high doses) should be avoided at all costs. When cooking, I recommend gentle steaming or wok cooking to retain as many nutrients as possible.
And finally, a few questions to get to know you better.
A delicacy you can't resist?
The galette des rois, I love frangipane!
Your beauty routine?
I rinse my face with a cold-saponified solid soap. This technique preserves all the minerals and vitamins. I love using soaps from De Marseille et d'Ailleurs. Next, I apply rose floral water spray from Herbes et Traditions. I use it as a toner; rose moisturizes the skin and has anti-wrinkle properties. I finish with my Omoi Skincare day cream.
The three things that never leave your handbag?
My cell phone, lip balm and petit grain bigarade essential oil.
What is this essential oil used for?
It's a relaxing essential oil. I put a drop on my wrist and inhale.
Your last read?
My latest read is a health and well-being magazine called"Plantes et Santé" (my mother-in-law subscribes to it :)).
The outfit you wear every day?
I love wearing skirts with little tops that I tuck inside the skirt. I love velvet: in dresses, skirts or tops. I don't have any particular favorite brands. Lately, I've been doing a lot of swapping and dressing-room clearing with friends to renew my wardrobe while giving clothes a second life. And I try to support designers and brands committed to ethical and inclusive fashion.
Your favorite piece from the Petite and So What collection?
They're the Natalie pants because they're easy to pair with a top, shirt or tee. And perfect with the velvet belt that dresses up the pants and shows off our pretty waist!
What's your latest favorite?
This is the gong bath, an ancient Asian technique. It's a sound bath that produces a sensation of well-being through the vibration of the water contained in the body (FYI: our bodies are 70-80% water). During a gong bath, you lie on a mat between two gongs. Tibetan bowls, played by the sound therapist, are placed on and around the body. Gong baths bring an intense feeling of relaxation and well-being, and rebalance energy pathways. There's no better way to relax and let go. I really enjoyed the ones practiced by Breton sound therapist Olivier et Marët and by Zen & Sounds in Paris.
Thank you so much Lisa for all these discoveries!
I invite you to follow Lisa on Instagram(@Thegrainesdelisa). If you're interested, Lisa can welcome you for a vitality check-up at Bliss Home. She can also come to your home. Lisa also raises awareness of "sustainable health and prevention" through workshops and naturopathy initiations for companies and associations.
Have a nice day and see you soon! Xxx