TRUE BEAUTY COMES FROM WITHIN

These Instagram squares has given me the confidence to put myself out there and meet people, its all about initiating, taking the time to talk, reaching out to the wonderful people that surround me and building this local community. Aoife is one of these people, we first met on a yoga event I was running last year to get women together and try something new.

Wonderfully smiley, passionate, Aoife has a wonderful calm feeling about her, her drive and determination shine through and she totally gets my Type A crazy goal orientated personality. Her mission is to redefine what is perceived as healthy, its not just looking good but having the tools and education to be the best that you can be but from the inside out.

So for those of you who are looking to increase your daily dose of veggies, wanting to add juices to supplement your diet, use as a meal replacement. or looking for a full mind & body reset cleanse take a look at Happiness Transformation NEW website!

Before you ask... I wouldn't recommend anything I haven't tried myself, pre Christmas I experienced a 5 day cleanse to inject some more vitamins into my diet and ward off all those flu nasties. Particular favourites Heart Healthy, Immunity and the Chai Spiced Cashew.

It's not just juice! Functional snacks are convenient and perfect for when you're on the go and being naturally gluten, grain & dairy free they are perfect for my little one who's a Coeliac. Catering and cookery classes are also available.

If you want to taste some yummy nutritious food. register now for Happiness Transformation Power of Nutrition Marlow Event, its free (donation based) running on Saturday 28th April. Register now

Here's Aoife Happiness Transformation story...

Tell me, a little bit about yourself…

I have spent my career, to date, working in IT which has been great as it has enabled me to support myself, travel and develop my overall business understanding, but isn’t my passion. I am a self-professed health and fitness geek. My relationship with nutrition and fitness has definitely evolved a lot in the past 10 years. I first got into exercise when I realized I could no longer eat whatever I wanted and stay in shape, however now I fully embrace and appreciate the fundamental impact the right lifestyle can have on your overall well-being.

My yoga practice first introduced me to mindfulness meditation, which has had such a positive impact on my mood and stress levels. My love for yoga led me to India, where I qualified as a yoga instructor. I occasionally teach 1-2-1 yoga classes but largely use the experience to deepen my own personal practice. In addition to that, I have competed in boxing and am part of the Ricky Hatton boxing academy and recently got into Sprint Triathlons. Being an avid cook I love creating delicious nutritious food.

How did you get into Happiness Transformation?

7 years ago I had an appendectomy and subsequently my digestive function was not the same; I ended up with severe IBS. As someone who was into exercise and loved food, it was really tough to know what to eat to maintain energy levels and performance. I saw a gastroenterologist, numerous dieticians and nutritionists and no one could quite get to the bottom of what was happening. Ever since, I have been experimenting and educating myself on nutrition. Living in Sydney for 4 years, I experienced how positive being part of an outdoorsy, health conscious community can be to your overall lifestyle, further developing my passion for this space.

Why Happiness Transformation?

I see a lot of press, heavily focused on diets and workouts to bulk up or look good in a bikini, but very little focusing on things like improved sleep, energy levels, gut health and concentration. In my opinion, these factors are far more likely to impact someone’s day-to-day quality of life and therefore should be the focal point. Having personally addressed a number of health issues through nutrition, I now feel compelled to share my experiences and help educate others. I’m keen to be part of, and drive, the well-being movement in Bucks so that others can realise the power a healthy lifestyle, and the right kind of nutrition, can have, beyond just the physical.

What's your usual week / day look like?

I’ve just gone part-time in my day job and am investing the rest of my time in my business, so a typical week is 3 days in London, 4 in Bucks. I love London, but I hate the tube, so I tend to walk and use this as an opportunity to listen to a podcast.

Exercise is what I call a hygiene factor, for me and my well-being, it’s as important as brushing my teeth, I normally exercise 6 days a week, often twice a day. I rarely watch TV, but I appreciate how important down time is, so I do try to read daily, even if it’s only a few pages and I meditate. I’m a type A personality, which means I often beat myself up for not being productive enough.

With setting up a business and working constantly, I appreciate that this is not positive habit to get into, so to balance that, I’ve started a gratitude journal that I fill in every night. I note down 5 things that I’m grateful for, or have achieved that day, it may seem silly, but I find small positive reinforcements very impactful.

Another positive action I take each week is taking time to connect with, and meet, like-minded people in the wellness space. Reminding myself that I am not alone, and am part of a community, always re-energizes me.

What inspires you?

I am constantly inspired by the amazing people I meet in this industry, I love hearing people’s stories and reflecting on my own journey and how far I’ve come. Also, a huge inspiration is seeing how I’ve helped others, when someone tells you how much of a difference you’ve made to how they feel, it makes the hard work worthwhile.

What did you want to be growing up?

Bizarrely, I wanted to be Indiana Jones. The idea of going on so many adventures and exploring the world, really excited me.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I suffered with depression quite badly as a teenager, I really struggled to get comfortable in my own skin and understand what made me happy. Overcoming that, and using nutrition and lifestyle choices to facilitate my own happiness and come off anti-depressants has been my greatest achievement.

What’s next on your to do list?

I’m the queen of lists, so I have lists of lists. From an adventure perspective, an Antarctic cruise, from a sports perspective, another boxing match.

When are you happiest?

Being outdoors, close to nature, exploring somewhere new.

When was the last time you laughed out loud?

I saw Ricky Gervais and was nearly in tears with laughter.

How as women, can we help to empower others?

Allow ourselves to be vulnerable and act as visible role-models for the younger generations. I’ve read some amazing Brene Brown books on the power of vulnerability. As someone who was always very guarded with their emotions and saw being emotional as a weakness, I’ve been blown away by how supportive and caring women are when you admit your concerns and fears. Women often see other women as competition, but we’re all in this together, I think it’s time to champion community over competition and see how awesome we can be as a collective. I think what @stylishschoolrun Friday Feature is a an amazing local step in the right direction.

What’s your style?

I’ve never considered myself stylish, so I’m not sure I have a style, but I do know what I like and tend to go for tonal textures, classic cut, with elements of hippy. I always ensure I have at least 1 crystal on me, even when I’m in my corporate work environment- much to the amusement of my colleagues!

Guilty pleasure?

Chocolate all day, every day...but I make my own raw dark chocolate to ensure I’m still healthy with it.

Life motto?

Get comfortable in the discomfort. When you’re outside of your comfort zone, you grow the most and I fundamentally believe we should all be striving to be the best version of ourselves, which requires a lot of change and evolving, even when it’s hard.

Can’t live without…

Nature/ an adventure/sunshine.