Denise Connects

Our treatments are a journey of reconnection to the essence – the inner source of wellbeing and joy that lies within us all. Our mission lies in supporting that journey through conscious products and actions.

ila products are brought to life in the hands of aware and passionate therapists; hence our ila training requires a commitment from each and every therapist to be open and fully present in their own journey of reconnection in order to hold that space for others. This can be challenging and requires an open and willing heart and mind.

Since ila’s inception five years ago I have been deeply touched by the sincerity, energy and loving kindness of our ila therapists and have seen so many really grow and develop. They are truly an inspiration and shining lights in the industry. This year we wanted to acknowledge our therapists through the ila Therapist of the Year Award – and I’m delighted to be able to share the news of the two winners with you below.

MADE SULASTRI from Four Seasons Resort Langkawi

ila Therapist of the Year (Rest of the World)

Lastri is grace in human form, with her extraordinary healing energy coupled with great therapist skills.  She is a wonderful role model for us all and exemplifies all we strive for in ila. Lastri shines in training and has a consistently positive effect on both colleagues and guests – but what I find so amazing is her commitment to her self-development from training as a Yoga teacher to Vipassana meditation.  Congratulations Lastri!

JODI CHIVERS from Whatley Manor

ila Therapist of the Year UK

Jodie is a perfect example of personal transformation through having an open heart and mind.  She did not stop after her ila training and continued to grow and develop.   Apart from delivering an extraordinary depth of ila treatments herself she is a great teacher: I experienced a treatment from one of the therapists at Whatley Manor, which was truly one of the most beautifully given ila treatments I have had; I was very curious to know who had trained Clare – it was Jodie. Her commitment and leadership is truly tangible. Congratulations Jodi!

In addition to our two winners, we are delighted to acknowledge all our finalists from around the globe. Not to mention the very many other dedicated and skilful ila therapists out there who consistently deliver excellence, care and love to lead their guests back to that place of connection, healing and joy.  Thank you for all that you do and all that you are.

Love,

Denise

I often find the change of seasons a challenge health-wise. In the winter months our bodies need extra rest and nourishment, in alignment with nature’s rhythm. We can still be energetic but we need to be more contained, at least compared to the summer months when our energy – like the natural world around us – is more expansive.

I am a great believer in listening to our body’s language, so when it says ‘rest and stillness’ we should listen! If we don’t, the body will create sickness – after all, it always has the final say … I’m speaking from bitter experience today: I chose to ignore the signs my body was giving me last week and am now eating humble pie recovering from flu!

By day three, my streaming nose, dry sallow skin, virus and sleepless nights from coughing had left me feeling exhausted and miserable. To my delight, my lovely team sent me an ila box from the office complete with Bath Salts for Cleansing, Body Scrub for Energising and Detoxifying, and Body Oil for Vital Energy. I poured half the bath salts in that night in sheer desperation, scrubbed my body and soaked for 20 minutes ... my sinuses and head started clearing almost immediately and I felt a nurturing relaxation flow over me. I’ve always known that the combination of cleansing wild juniper berry and nurturing wild rose geranium has a positive effect on me, but I’d never felt the restorative effects so completely. My body literally drank in the Vital Energy oil; I focused around my chest and back where I felt cold and damp, then it was time for a hot water bottle and bed.

That night, I slept deeply and peacefully for the first time in three days. The following morning, though not fully recovered, I knew I was on the mend and felt my flow of positive energy returning – the products supported me in a particular way, rejuvenating me. I felt the kindness and care with which they are made, the purity of the ingredients and the gentle presence of nature’s great energy giving me the strength to help me recover. Now, as my energy is returning and my spirits all but restored, I feel a renewed commitment to sharing the love of ila this winter.

Take care during any seasonal transitions you may be exposed to and remember to listen to what your body tells you – it knows you better than you know yourself!

Love,

Denise

It’s lovely to see this fabulous review of our Body Oil for Vital Energy on the newly launched beauty and wellbeing website ‘Get the Gloss” (http://www.getthegloss.com/product/ila-the-body-oil-for-vital-energy) where Olivia Falcon, Tatler’s Beauty and Health Director, includes it in her top five products of all time.

Olivia says: "A far healthier alternative than a cup of coffee for waking up the senses - I use it every morning on wet skin as soon as I've got out the shower, not only does it leave skin feeling silky and slightly more toned but - it has this amazing citrusy scent of wild-crafted juniper berry and rose geranium essential oils - it's perfect for days when you feel like you've not had enough sleep and gives body and mind an instant boost"

I was inspired to create this gorgeous oil by a desire to bring warmth and energy to the body while detoxifying the cells; to create something that guards against the stresses of daily life while infusing the senses and body with vitality. In fact, this oil is typical of the depth of consideration behind each of our products, as it blends only the highest quality ingredients in ways that really maximise their inherent energy.

The two base oils – argan oil and rosehip seed oil – are both ‘dry’ oils, which enable a much better penetration into the skin (unlike greasy oils that sit on top of the skin). Both of these base oils have an anti-inflammatory effect on the cells and are rich in essential fatty acids, omega 3, 6 and 9. Argan oil has a high concentration of vitamin E, which repairs skin cells from damage done by free radicals, while the rosehip seed oil is the only oil with retinol vitamin A, which heals scar tissue. At ila, we use wild grown argan oil from Morocco and wild grown rosehip seed oil from the Andes, two of the most potent types available today.

On their own, these oils are highly effective, but we then add a very special blend of essential oils that works together to detoxify the body. Wild grown juniper berry is a natural detoxifier that helps the cells release toxins and cleans the lymphatic system. During the two to three years that it takes them to ripen, juniper berries absorb vast quantities of sunlight – a warming energy that they then bring to the body. In our Vital Energy oil, we combine them with rose geranium oil that also helps the lymphatic system to release toxins, drain the body of excess fluids and strengthen the immune system. The oil from lemongrass, which is also ripened by the sun, is used to bring more warmth to the body, while restorative and nurturing patchouli oil supports the body's cleansing processes. Finally, we use lavender oil as the ‘glue’ to make all the above oils work harder and to enhance their qualities.

It’s this in-depth consideration of each and every ingredient that is so central to what we do here at ila - and what makes our Body Oil for Vital Energy so effective at boosting body and mind.
 

The recent summer solstice has made me want to get outdoors and make the most of the longish days while they are still here to enjoy.

My favourite way of doing this is with a spot of early morning Nordic Walking, a surprisingly restorative activity devised by Finnish cross-country skiers in the 1930s. It’s a totally different way of walking that helps us restore our own inner rhythm.  It’s also a great way to clear your head, open your heart chakra and boost your senses and energy for the day – plus it’s twice as effective as ordinary walking at burning calories!

You can do it anytime, but nothing beats early morning. The Yogis tell us that 4 am till 8 am is one of the purest times of day, when Nature is at its most vibrant. Our adrenal glands are also most active in the morning and Nordic Walking gives us lots of energy. Walking outdoors in tune with Nature and our own body rhythm is the ideal way to charge our cells and organs with oxygen and reactivate our nerves and self-healing. It also positively changes our physical posture and balances and energises our emotions and thoughts.

If you’ve never tried or seen it, I admit it feels a little odd at first, but stick with it as it’s amazing how quickly you settle into a relaxed, natural rhythm.

Recently a journalist asked me what made ila unique: our beyond organic philosophy, our focus on wellness, our beautiful treatments or our sustainable, ethical sourcing? 

I told her that all these branches derived from one root – love – and our utmost faith in it.

I wasn’t so much referring to the emotion of love – although I love what I do with all of my heart! – rather love as the most positive power on the planet, the essence of life, the energy of the earth.

I often ask myself about the strength of this love, and our relationship to it. Do we have a strong enough faith in its ability to hold us, nurture us, heal us and bring us the miracle of life’s joy, no matter what trials we face? Or do we instead place our faith in fear and its promises of pain, loss and torment?

In 2007 when I started talking to hotel General Managers about healing, they almost fell off their chairs. Today, my mantra has developed further to encompass love, without which healing can never be fully realised.

Love runs through every fibre of ila: from how and what we source to the way we make our products. Even our training leads teams of therapists on their own journey of self-love in order to deliver unforgettable healing experiences.

It’s a subject I’d like to delve into a little deeper over the coming few months, in an attempt to help swop ill-perceived notions of love for those that really matter - love for our bodies, our emotions, our essence and those around us - as well as to explore ways in which we can surrender to love’s tender care.

Warmest blessings,

Denise
x

“The essence of motherhood is not restricted to women who have given birth; it is a principle inherent in both women and men. It is the attitude of the mind. It is love – and that love is the very breath of life ... Let us remember that real leadership is not to dominate or to control, but to serve others with love and compassion, and to inspire women and men alike through the example of our lives.”
from “The Awakening of Universal Motherhood” an address given by Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), upon receiving the 2002 Gandhi-King Award.

As we creep towards Mother’s Day in the UK (18 March 2012; celebrated in May throughout much of the rest of the world) my thoughts always turn to the strongest example of motherhood of all – Mother Earth.

Creator of all nature, she is always there to nourish and guide us, selflessly giving us her beautiful form to inhabit so that we may develop and grow.

Everywhere, nature takes its cue from her might. As I look out into my garden on this sunny morning, the birds are making nests ready to give birth to new life, and the first buds are savouring the warmer spring air.

The essence of true motherhood lies in the lessons Mother Earth lays all around us:  the sewing of seeds for kinship and growth; the tolerance of hardship and hope of renewal; the combined beauty of strength and compassion; the vitality of spring; the joy of summer; the wisdom of autumn; and the peace of winter.

Like the best mothers everywhere, Mother Earth supports our endless blossoming and sustains the very essence of our being. By learning from her example and aligning with her patterns, we can all learn to reconnect with our own inner motherhood and – to quote Amma above – “serve others with love and compassion”.

Love and blessings,

Denise x

Photograph by Gillie Rhodes.

When we moved to the Cotswolds 14 years ago, I wasn’t so aware of the seasons. Now I am deeply connected with – and love – each one. I am so much more sensitive to all the little signs nature gives: the change in birdsong that tells me Spring is coming; our roses’ promise of Summer; the change in temperature as Summer turns to Autumn, seemingly overnight; the almost sweet-sadness of Autumn, followed by November’s stillness as Winter’s withdrawal sets in.

Nature is powerful here and her rhythms strongly felt. What I love best about Winter in the Cotswolds is the permission nature gives us to rest, nourish and retreat within. To me, this permission is putting my feet up and reading, or going for early sunset walks with our dogs before curling up together in front of a blazing fire... It’s scented baths and candles, incense and music. It’s nourishing my skin with rich creams. It’s early nights and extended dreaming. It’s a time for re-evaluation and reflection, a time when I mull over the last year and begin to nurture new ideas.

More than any other season, Winter teaches us the importance of allowing ourselves the space we need to adapt to seasonal and emotional change. Following nature’s lead and accepting her permission enables us to give our bodies the rest and stillness we so desperately need to renew.

So rather than batting out the same old resolutions for 2012, why not pledge to give yourself a little more time to strengthen in the face of change – be it seasonal, physical or emotional? If we learn to harmonise with the rhythms around us, we’ll soon rediscover the healing wellness that lies within. Here’s to a wonderful winter!

Season’s greetings!
Denise
x

Photograph taken by ‘Strange Ones’.