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Balancing Act It’s time to realign body and mind

As founder of the luxury wellness travel agency and media company Compare Retreats, member of the Global Shaper Community, part of the World Economic Forum and a self-described “sociable, active ‘yes person’”, Dervla Louli leads a busy life. But as a wellness guru and certified yoga teacher, she also makes it her business to know how to relax. Here Dervla shares with us how she maintains inner harmony.

How can you tell when you need to focus on balance?

Generally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, tired or stressed it’s an indicator you’ve been doing too much. I love my work so much that I’m always “on” but to balance that I sometimes take a day to do nothing. And when I crave salty, sweet and overly processed food, it’s a sign I need to rebalance my nutrition and drink more water.

In a city like Hong Kong, how do you create that elusive balance?

I’ve learnt that I can’t control my environment, but what I can do is get enough sleep, eat healthily, meditate, get outdoors, spend time with people I love, care less about other people’s opinions of me, and create and consume positive content on social media. I think your life is made up of what you do every minute, and it’s worth taking time to find something you’re passionate about, even if you only do it in your spare time. I keep things fun too — some of my healthiest and happiest moments have been dancing (cardio, technically) with friends until the sun came up!

What are the best ways to address imbalance?

Look at your behaviour patterns and commit to small improvements where they’re needed. I write long- and short-term goals and break them down into bite-sized, actionable steps. Some are written on my fridge, which I turned into a chalkboard. I learn by writing things down, so I always have my Smythson notebook on hand to write lists and reminders. I meditate too — it took me years to find a mantra I like but I now use the Hawaiian method ho’oponopono.

Discover how essential oils can help you find balance at The Balance Bar from Aromatherapy Associates, in store at Lane Crawford ifc mall from 24 January to 28 February.

2019-02-13 00:02:00.0