10 Minutes With Lara Mead, co-founder of Varley

Co-founder of super stylish activewear brand Varley talks to Joie... 

When and why did you start Varley? 
We started VARLEY in 2013 because we were both unhappy in our professional careers and wanted to build something together that we would both be proud of. We also wanted to travel, explore, and grow the company together, sharing the journey. We also could see that there was a gap in the quickly growing market, and both love an active lifestyle, so it seemed like a natural move. 

You originally started life as a swimwear brand, what inspired the decision to add activewear to the line up?
I’ve always been a huge fitness fan, I grew up in a sporty household with my dad being a professional footballer and started competitive athletics at the age of 10.  Combined with my passion for fashion, activewear just seemed like a natural evolution.  I was also spending a lot of time in California where the market was flourishing.

Who or what provides you with inspiration?
My husband! We work together and he’s a constant source of inspiration.

How do you personally like to stay active?
I have recently been working hard in the gym with my trainer Ben Reed (founder of G14 Chiswick). He has been working to realign my body since I had a baby and I must say – he is an absolute genius! I can’t recommend him and his team more highly. When I’m in LA, I love nothing more than interval training on Santa Monica Beach. I will do a sprint session and mini circuit on the beach four mornings a week, it really sets the day off to a great start.  I’m also a big fan of Lagree fitness, and try to do it at least three times a week. 

What does a day in the life of Lara Mead look like?
Chaos! I wake up at about 5.30am and make myself and my husband a cup of tea then we both catch up on overnight emails from America in bed until my son wakes up at 7am.  Then I feed and dress him. We all head out on a morning walk with our Labradoodle Wispa, stopping for a flat white en route. Once back from the morning walk I spend about five minutes doing my hair and makeup and out the door to the office. We try and have a morning meeting most days. Mid morning I usually head to the gym and have an hour training session with Ben Reed at G14. Then back to the office for a couple of hours. I usually grab lunch at my desk, and then finally head home, walk the dog again, then it’s bath time, and play time with my son. Once the dog and baby have settled for the evening I love nothing more than to cook something super nutritious for my husband and I, before settling down to watch a box set. 

Why do you think that what you wear has become such an important factor in working out for the modern woman?
I think firstly it’s become much more acceptable to wear your gym kit all day, from walking the dog, dropping the kids off, to even meeting friends for lunch. I also think working out and having a fit strong body has become the height of fashion, and women no longer want to just throw on their boyfriend's old tee shirt to wear to the gym. We want to look stylish and feel confident and sexy!

How do you define a joyful life?
A joyful life for me is if my family being healthy and happy!

Shop the brand at www.varley.com

Getting ready for spring

10 Minutes With Shona Verue

Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor Shona Vertue radiates good vibes. The Aussie babe has over thirty thousand followers on Instagram and after having a quick scroll through her feed, it's not hard to see why. Photographs of vibrant and nourishing meals are interspersed with impressive handstands and selfies taken in exotic locations all finished off with a large dose of realism. Her straight-talking, honest approach to health and wellbeing makes her posts all the more engaging. 

Please could you tell us a little about your background, what you do for a living, and how you came to do this?

I am a qualified Yoga Teacher and Personal Trainer. My background is in Competitive Gymnastics and Dance, because of this it was very natural for me to move into the health industry as a profession.

Do you have any daily rituals? If so, what are they?

Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I stretch and meditate - I make a conscious effort to avoid picking up my phone, and my alarm clock is actually a sound file of Wayne Dyer speaking about the power of thought. It puts me in the perfect mind frame! After all that, I have apple cider vinegar in warm water with Lemon and Manuka Honey and eat protein for breakfast. Not only are these my daily rituals, London living means they have become absolute necessities. After breakfast, literally anything is possible... 

What does a day in the life of Shona Vertue look like in terms of eating and exercising?

After a few years of Body Building and strict dieting I don't follow a structured plan (it's just not good for the body or mind in my opinion - variety is the spice of life!) 

I do however live by a couple of diet rules:

1. Protein for breakfast - Always

2. Delicious starchy carbohydrates with dinner (to stimulate serotonin to help me sleep)

3. Lots of greens

4. Blends, not juices (to maintain the fiber content of the fruit and veg)

5. I always hydrate before I caffeinate (so no coffee until I've had a sufficient amount of water)

Exercise is usually three days of weight training a week, three days of yoga and HIIT sprints and one day of rest.

You have a huge Instagram following, why do you think your account has become so popular with followers?

I really try to make it educational, rather than just motivational. In my opinion, education is the best motivation anyway as it provides people with a "why" e.g.” Why am I doing this yoga pose", "Why should I lift weight", "Why should I eat more chocolate?". I aim for it to be as inspirational as possible, rather than aspirational by which I mean I'd rather people feel inspired to live a healthier life by understanding how they can (and see that it is attainable) rather than to just feel like they should aspire to be like someone they've seen on Instagram. 

What mantras do you live by?

In every cloud there is a silver lining, that every painful experience I've ever had in my life, has had the purpose of helping me to grow and expand - so we shouldn't fear negativity or discomfort - it's often where the magic happens.

How do you find balance in your daily life?

I have let go of guilt. A lot of the fitness and 'health' industry is about shaming you for your choices, or guilting you into making 'healthy' choices. I feel as though this is just so damaging and is often the cause of the 'dieting to bingeing' vicious cycle that so many of us fall victim to. If I want chocolate or crème brûlée I just eat it - I recognise that I am just partaking in one of the many joys of life and there is nothing wrong with that. I train hard and because of that I actually want to choose healthy food most of the time, otherwise I will just feel rubbish and my workouts will be heavy and uncomfortable.

Do you have any exciting projects in the pipeline?

I have been working on the exercise component of an App for Madeleine Shaw which is launching in January. 

I am launching a new exercise class called the Vertue Method in central London which is a fusion of yoga; weighted circuit training and meditation, designed to both uplift your soul and your butt. I will be announcing where I'll be teaching it soon. 

What’s the best piece of advice you can give someone who is looking to lead a healthier lifestyle?

Self-Love is the key ingredient to a healthier, happier life. You can't out train or out-diet a low self-esteem, you need to find a way to truly value your life in order to see the value in eating clean and training hard. This is why I always encourage people to train towards a skill rather than aesthetics. When you train for the sole reason of looking leaner or better your motivation will always be at the mercy of your self esteem (which we know can waiver based on life circumstances, relationships, jobs etc). However if you base your training goals on achieving a skill, like a push up or chin up, you will feel happy after every training session, knowing that with each abs burning movement, you are getting closer and closer to achieving those goals. Obviously the benefit of being able to do chin ups and push-ups are abs, toned arms and a skinnier body anyway! It's a win-win situation.

What does it mean to you to live a joyful life?

Authenticity is a great start. But I believe it's also living in harmony with my surroundings by not causing harm to myself or anyone around me. I haven't totally perfected it, but it's about the journey not just the destination right? 

Find out more at www.shonavertue.com  @shona_vertue

Joie Meets: Olivia Crighton, Owner and Creative Director of Glasshouse Salon

I was recently lucky enough to experience a cut and colour with Olivia Crighton, owner and creative director of Hackney's beautiful Glasshouse Salon. Set in Netil House next to London Fields, the salon is a haven away from the nearby bustling Broadway Market on a Saturday afternoon. Olivia prides herself in taking an as natural-as-possible approach to hair care whilst never compromising on style and aesthetics…

What is the story behind Glasshouse salon - how did it come to be?

In my early twenties I began to develop a passion for a more natural and organic lifestyle. I used to suffer from a lot of allergies and skin sensitivities, and began making lifestyle changes which involved using more organic products, from food to make-up. I wanted to incorporate this approach not only into my personal life, but also my work. Traditionally the hairdressing industry has been quite chemical heavy. When I moved to London seven years ago I began working for Organic Colour Systems as their head trainer. I felt like there were preconceptions that natural-based products didn't work as well as their chemical counterparts but actually for me they worked better and leave the hair condition more intact. With that in mind, I wanted to create an environment that utilised these products and also informed clients on the best way to cultivate long-term hair health. The general aesthetic of Glasshouse was also something that was at the front of my mind - I wanted to combine a strong visual identity with an ethical and natural approach, which I felt like other brands hadn't achieved before.

Tell us a little about the products used in the salon, why is it important for you to use organic/ mostly natural products?

It’s important to me because of my own personal desire to look after myself and my body. I’m also a big supporter of animal welfare and considering the environment. We try and uphold this ethos across the salon, from our shampoos to the coffee we serve and the cleaning products we use.

The Organic Colour Systems range is formulated with the highest proportion of certified organic ingredients (their colour ingredients are 95% naturally derived and at the point of use are 60% organic). I think using fewer chemicals is safer for my staff and also creates better results for our clients. We’ve recently expanded our product lines and launched an online shop for a little slice of Glasshouse straight to your door step.

Cult natural make-up brand RMS has probably been the biggest hit in the salon - their products are designed to care for the skin whilst offering a good coverage and range of colours. Amongst others, we also stock East London organic skincare brand, Guy Morgan, Japanese Binchotan activated charcoal products from Morihata, 5-free nail polishes by Kure Bazaar and many more miracle workers…

Do you find it easy to incorporate natural/ organic cosmetics into your everyday regime? What are your favourite products to use?

I try and use organic/natural products as much as possible especially when it comes to my face and hair. I have some long-term favourites and then constant new discoveries which fill up my make-up bag. I use bases by RMS, and love the really pigmented lip shades by Bella Pierre but also adore Ilia. Current new discoveries include a natural deodorant balm by the Natural Deodorant Co which we’ve just started stocking. The idea of a natural deodorant is particularly important to me due to its relation to the lymphatic system, which when clogged can sometimes lead to more serious health problems. It’s great to finally find a product that actually works and smells great too!

How would you recommend clients maintain strong and healthy hair?

There are two main things I would say are crucial for maintaining the hair’s optimum condition. Firstly is prevention and protection. I always suggest avoiding the use of heat and using a good heat-protection product (Organic Colour System’s Thermal 2 Twenty is a powerful, easy-to-use heat protection spray). Hair with a heat-damaged cuticle can be difficult to get back to good condition once it’s felt the effects of heat, therefore I highly recommend minimising the use of hot tools like irons and tongs. Reducing the hair’s contact with potentially harmful chemicals, ammonia is the big one for this - it degrades the natural protein and moisture from the hair which can lead to some of my client’s most regular hair problems - colour fade, tangles and breakage. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulphate are both commonly used in shampoos to create a lather, but can dehydrate and degrade condition over time, stripping colour faster and aggravating the scalp for a lot of people. Sodium Chloride (table salt) can also have a similar effect and is found in lots of shampoos as a thickener. All our shampoos are free from these ingredients.

The second step: repair. Hair in good condition is much more manageable and resistant to damage - this is because it’s more resistant to moisture and less porous unlike damaged hair. In the salon, we look at the protein and moisture levels of the hair and prescribe reconstructive treatments accordingly. Chemical or heat-damaged hair is often lacking protein - the Organic Colour Systems Power Build range is high in wheat and quinoa proteins which is formulated to tackle this. For me, hair in good condition is the root of long-term hair health - colour lasts longer, hair grows quicker and it’s so much more manageable. It really is that simple.

Aside from natural beauty products, how do you implement alternative therapies/ holistic living into your everyday regime?

So many ways! Although it’s always a tricky one to try and keep doing from week-to-week. Meditation is important to me, even if it means just taking a break from the day to focus on being mindful for 5-15 minutes. I love the Headspace app - it’s not your stereotypical meditation stuff, it’s much more approachable and has a really simple system that’s easy to follow. Working in a salon can be quite physically demanding, I find gentle yoga very restorative, it also helps relax and stretch my muscles. I get regular acupuncture and also an occasional massage when I’ve had a particularly full-on week. Something I’ve recently started doing is seeing a nutritionist, Danielle Heyhoe, who writes a well-being series for our journal. I’m a great believer in the effects of a balanced diet and seeing Danielle has helped me eat well to target my own individual needs. When I’m feeling emotionally and physically balanced I’m much more productive and able to be the best to my clients and staff.

What have you learned from starting your own business?

So many things! But number one, make sure it’s something you are truly passionate about. Running a business is hard work and you need to be creative and passionate when times get tough. I’m still only three years in and constantly learning all the time from each difficulty and success. And lastly be prepared. Prepared to learn a lot, branch outside of your existing skill set, and to work hard.

What does it mean to you to live a joyful life?

A negative and fearful mindset can be so narrow and restrictive, and I think the key to a truly content life is acceptance and encouraging a positive mindset when and where possible. I’m on a journey towards achieving this- I feel like I haven’t quite reached this outcome just yet. For me it’s been about learning to accept life for what it is and when to surrender to its twists and turns.

Find our more at www.glasshousesalon.co.uk

Balance

I absolutely love this manifesto. It sums up everything I believe about finding balance within one's daily life. We are constantly told how to be healthy by eating or avoiding certain foods, sleeping more, exercising more, talking more - the list goes on. While all of these things are super important, to me being healthy also means having a little of what you fancy now and again. Balance is so much healthier than restriction. How do you find balance? This is the Yin Yang approach to living - as my yoga teacher would say: each of us has both within us so embrace your light and dark sides!   

Moodboard: Balearic Beauty

I'm off to Ibiza in two weeks' time for some serious R+R, and neither of those Rs stand for Raving. I have heard such great things about the north of the island - all clear turquoise waters and chilled bohemian vibes, the opposite of the notorious party areas. To say I'm excited is an understatement.
All images below taken from Pinterest.