ELYSIAN SUMMER 2024 The Wellness Issue

ELYSIAN Women Inspiring Women

DISPLAY UNTIL AUG. 16, 2024

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E L Y S I A N

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 2 THE WELLNESS ISSUE / L’ÉDITION BIEN-ÊTRE ÉTÉ 2024

PHOTOGRAPH BY SASINTIPCHAI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Suzanne Somers

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BY LAURIE BOGART WILES

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India The art, the history, the romance. BY KATE MCMULLEN

Monet

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138poppies

Receiving Hope, Peace, and Rejuvenation from the Work of the Father of the Impressionist Movement in Art.

BY VERITY GALSWORTHY

Dana Harel proudly introduces her debut evening wear collection for Fall 2024.

BY SAMANTHA PAIGE

Inspiring Women

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Dr. Tabasum Mir page 154 Kimmy Powell page 168 INTERVIEWS BY KAREN FLOYD

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architecture&interiors

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Minimal design, major impact. BY CHRISTY NIELSON

travel

The timeless elegance of Amarla Casco Viejo.

BY SONIA HENRY

shopping

The best part of waking up. BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN

183 mind&body

188philanthropy

How passionate philanthropists are bringing modern medicine closer and closer to finding the cure. BY CORA WALDEN

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back story

Team ELYSIAN and the ELYSIAN Circle celebrate an unforgettable Spring magazine launch and the premiere of the award-winning ELYSIAN documentary, Fight for Ukraine: For the Children, at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, in Washington D.C.

on the cover

Kimmy Powell of Woodhouse Spas photographed by Jenn Cady Photography, makeup by Karen Thornton.

Kimmy is wearing Keshi pearls from Mara Labell’s The Posy Collection.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KATALINKS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A celestial dance of connection. BY MARCY DUBROFF

40 health&beauty Somewhere between Genesis 1:10 and 11, God Made Seaweed

BY PEARL LUSTRE

publisher

Karen Floyd

c r e at o r - i n - c h i e f

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c h i e f o f s ta f f

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newsletter

film

& video

Amber Edwards

Garrick Lane

legal

p u b l i c a f fa i r s

Eric Nodine

Boone Peeler

d i g i ta l i n n o vat i o r

philanthropy

Joey Iannetta

& i m pa c t

web design

& development

Kimberli Scott Still

Elliot Derhay

d i g i ta l p r o j e c t s

events

c o m m u n i t y a f fa i r s

Celia Wise Cooksey

Carolyn Schoepf

Ann Bible

lead photographer

photographer

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social media

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Jennifer Cady

Joy Smallwood

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writer

writer

office manager

liaison

p r o d u c t i o n a s s i s ta n t

Jason Spencer

Brenna Kehew Sculley

Becky Kerr

Rita Allison

Aidan Stanton

contributing writers

Marcy Dubroff, Sindie Fitzgerald-Rankin, Verity Galsworthy, Sonia Henry, Pearl Lustre, Kate McMullen, Christy Nielson, Samantha Paige, Cora Walden, Laurie Bogart Wiles copy editors

Nancy Brady, Monya Havekost, Diane High, Hadley Inabinet d ata b a s e

& deployment

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printer

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Greg Wolfe

Carmel Fauci

w w w . r e a d e ly s i a n . c o m ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC., 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306.

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Sinking Not Sinking #3 Original Digital C Print, under Acrylic Glass 41 inches x 33.6 inches

By Isabelle Menin

764 MIAMI CIRCLE, SUITE 132 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30324 (404) 352-8775 / www.pryorfineart.com

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BUT THERE’S A HOPE THAT’S WAITING FOR YOU IN THE DARK YOU SHOULD KNOW YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE… SHE DON’T SEE HER PERFECT SHE DON’T UNDERSTAND SHE’S WORTH IT OR THAT BEAUTY GOES DEEPER THAN THE SURFACE

here is no perfect. It is an elusive and unrealistic concept that many women strive to attain. For so much of my life I masked my inner brokenness, pain, and struggles . . . by looking outward. I largely focused on external goals that coincidentally tethered my very own health and well-being. I allowed others to validate my self-worth (as opposed to being self-actualized). Thankfully, over time I learned that by depending on other’s approval, I was effectively giving them control over my well-being.

It was not until my mid-40s that I recognized that health and wellness were not about perfect weight, the texture of one’s hair, or the smoothness of your skin, but the capacity to both love oneself and embrace a purpose larger than oneself.

Colbie Caillat’s lyrics in her song, “Try” describe the evolution or dance that many women face with their health and wellness.

“Put your make-up on Get your nails done Curl your hair Run the extra mile Keep it slim So they like you, do they like you? . . .

SO TO ALL THE GIRLS THAT’S HURTING LET ME BE YOUR MIRROR HELP YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER THE LIGHT THAT SHINES WITHIN AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE A THING THE WORLD COULD CHANGE ITS HEART NO SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL WE’RE STARS AND WE’RE BEAUTIFUL.” —ALESSIA CARA (FROM “SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL”)

Self-love . . . seeking a larger purpose…unbridled self-actualization . . .

Mind, body, and soul connection and balance . . .

Unlike the quest for perfection, these aspirations challenge us to evolve into a gentler humanity, one filled with kindness and compassion for ourselves and others. As we embark upon our own exploration into wellness, our hope is that this issue might awaken a part of ourselves and trigger our individual quest to search and seek . . .

In this Health and Wellness issue, we thank you for sharing the journey of transformation.

Much love,

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Karen Floyd Publisher

JENN CADY PHOTOGRAPHY

Wait a second, Why should you care, what they think of you When you’re all alone, by yourself Do you like you? Do you like you?”

While body, mind, and spirit are the three integral parts of health and wellness, the foundation for all three is built upon self-love, and not the quest for perfection. Colbie’s lyrics say, “So they like you, do they like you?” The fact is, unless you understand yourself, and who you are, then who likes you does not matter.

Our pages explore Health and Wellness . . . from different perspectives, whether the anecdotal stories from our Inspiring Women interviews, or our article on India’s culture, art, minimalism, and beyond.

Take for example findings from our Inspiring Woman Dr. Tabassum Mir, a renowned plastic surgeon in New York City and Miami, Florida, who is known worldwide for her innovative, noninvasive procedures. In this issue, she authentically shares that the success of surgical procedures is often measured by the emotional expectations of the patient. In the business of wellness, accomplished Kim Powell, the owner of Woodhouse Spas in four states dedicated her professional career to the transformational wellness of others. Yet, she attributes her personal success to purposely maintaining a body, mind, and spiritual balance.

While the body and mind are said to control one’s destiny, the spirit is also integral to wellness. Much like the lyrics by Alessia Cara “The light that shines within,” in India, the connection between women and the spirit is so important that it is represented by an ethereal immortal: Apsara, the celestial being in Hindu and Buddhist culture. That light is the spirit within each one of us.

Art is also a conduit of the mind to the soul… and from his paintings, color, and movement, French artist Claude Monet fills this issue with individual experiences sought to inspire. Called the Father of the Impressionist Art Movement, Monet transcends time and space, thereby touching one’s soul.

Minimalism in architecture and design is a dramatic play of color, line, surface, and texture that simultaneously requires the least amount of detail and “visual clutter.” We explore just why simple but strong themes in design feed the soul, body, and mind.

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architecture&interiors

Minimal Design, Major Impact

BY CHRISTY NIELSON

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inimalist interior design—characterized by clean lines, simple furnishings, cohesive colors, and lots of open space—is not only easy on the eyes; it can also be good for the soul. The benefits of minimalism are vast and range from mental to financial.

“It creates an expansive, soothing environment,” explains Los Angeles interior designer Erin Fetherston. “I personally think it’s very calming to the nervous system.”

Many people seek a sense of serenity and refuge in their homes, especially post-pandemic. Our experts say minimalism—a design trend that has become increasingly popular—is an avenue to that end. “In our world full of chaos and noise, research has found that coming back to an environment that promotes relaxation and calm supports mental health and overall well-being,” says designer Christine Vroom, founder of Los Angeles-based Christine Vroom Interiors.

A home that feels organized and simple in terms of design tends to bring enhanced focus and productivity while minimizing distractions, promoting organization, and making one feel peaceful and tranquil. “A minimal approach can bring mental clarity and has been known to reduce stress as it’s calming to the eye and can bring about relaxation,” adds Vroom. She notes that minimalism also encourages conscious decision-making regarding furnishings and accessories and eliminates unnecessary spending on excessive décor—a more economical and sustainable choice in the long run.

“I think there’s something very liberating and calming about living minimally,” says Alina Wolhardt, founder of Wolf in Sheep Design, which is headquartered in Boston and Los Angeles. “I personally can think better and can focus better when my surroundings are more serene. And I correlate the serene way to a minimalistic approach.”

The less-is-more mentality of minimalism has cultural and historical origins. The ever-enduring Scandinavian

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style, for example, embraces simplicity and bright, open spaces with plenty of room to practice the art of hygge, a word that has become so omnipresent today that it was recently added to the Oxford dictionary and means “the quality of being warm and comfortable that gives a feeling of happiness.”

Scandinavian design is characterized by forms that follow function, wooden furniture with clean lines, and multifunctional, flexible furnishings and spaces.

The Japanese minimalist mentality, popularized most recently by bestselling author and tidying expert Marie Kondo, is as much a lifestyle as a look. Influenced by Zen Buddhism, it embraces balance, tranquility, the use of natural elements, serene spaces, and an orderly, everything-in-its-place mindset.

The Minimalism Art Movement was another influence on minimalist interior design. Emerging in the U.S. in the 1960s, Minimal Art rejected excess in favor of geographic shapes that are simplistic, largely void of emotion, and concentrated on the form itself. Notable Minimalism artists include Frank Stella, Robert Morris, Jo Baer, and Robert Ryman, to name a few.

“I definitely have a cultural influence when it comes to my somewhat minimalist approach with my Scandinavian and Japanese background,” says Wolhardt. “But I think this can be applied to any spaces and doesn’t have to be associated with any geography or architectural style.”

Multi-award-winning British designer Kelly Hoppen CBE, founder of Kelly Hoppen Interiors, says when deciding on a minimalistic approach to design, it is crucial to consider how the style fits within the space and its surroundings. “Minimalism isn’t limited to specific styles or locations; it can seamlessly blend with various architectural designs, as seen in the works of designers like [British architect] John Pawson,” she says. “I particularly enjoy integrating minimalism with diverse elements, merging old and new for a unique aesthetic. A minimalist building can offer surprises upon entry, shifting perceptions, and creating distinct experiences within.”

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short, minimalism is about intentional design and strategic selections. “Achieving a minimalist look requires attention to detail in scale, texture, zoning, and lighting,” says Hoppen. “These elements harmonize to create spaces that feel both serene and impactful. While minimalistic design is gaining popularity, executing it well requires substantial investment due to its focus on detail.”

Interiors by Laurel Ave Project by Christine Vroom Interiors. Vroom says even if minimalism isn’t your first choice in terms of design, there are still minimalistic characteristics that you can adapt to invite the benefits of the style into your home.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANOLO LANGIS, ARCHITECT LMD ARCHITECTURE STUDIO

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With thousands of projects over the last four decades, Kelly Hoppen Interior boasts a diverse portfolio of projects includes exclusive commercial properties, private homes, chalets, turnkey properties, yachts, cruise ships, private jets and 5* hotels.

elysian.com

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY KELLY HOPPEN / KELLYHOPPENINTERIORS.COM

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CHRISTINE VROOM INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA TRAMP

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PHYSICAL CLUTTER CAN BE A WAY TO HIDE WHAT YOU DON’T WANT TO FACE—UNFULFILLED DREAMS, BROKEN PROMISES, OR PAINFUL EXPERIENCES FROM THE PAST. BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF WHEN YOU DE-CLUTTER. AS YOU HANDLE EACH ITEM, QUIETLY SAY A PRAYER, LET IT GO, THEN MOVE ON. TRUST THAT IF YOU NEED THE ITEM, IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN ANOTHER FORM AT THE PROPER TIME.” —ELEANOR BROWNN

AUTHOR OF THE OTHER SERENITY PRAYER: MEDITATIONS ON SELF-KINDNESS

Vroom says even if minimalism isn’t your first choice in terms of design, there are still minimalistic characteristics that you can adapt to invite the benefits of the style into your home. “Focusing on a couple elements, less clutter, adding more emphasis on comfort, and taking a ‘less is more’ approach in general is the way to go,” she explains. “You want to keep your focus on two or three main pieces in the room so as not to overwhelm the eye and then let those key pieces speak the loudest.”

Concentrating on functionality and a limited color palette of neutral tones and small accent colors is another way to achieve a minimalistic look. “Incorporate ample negative space around design elements to create a sense of openness,” encourages Wolhardt. “I think it always helps to emphasize quality materials and craftsmanship.”

Minimalistic design does not have to be sterile or cold. In fact, it can be very warm and welcoming. Wolhardt recently designed a Zen primary suite, for example, that incorporated key select finishes that were utilized in different ways. “Even though the finishes are simple there’s a lot of detail in how they were executed,” she explains. “The live edge stone slab under the freestanding tub, the live edge headboard, the metal edge that was used on the wooded slats on the walls, how the light washes over the wooden slats—there’s a lot of detail that went into the design and highlighted these finishes, which created a lot of warmth and layers.”

The larger the footprint of the space, the more you can afford to be minimalistic. The availability of

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“The benefits of minimalism are vast and range from mental to financial. ‘It creates an expansive, soothing environment,’” explains Los Angeles interior designer Erin Fetherston, whose fondness to minimalist design can be seen in her own home as in this striking living room.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELIZABETH MESSINA

natural light is also an important consideration because the light and its shadows can play a beautiful role in minimalist design. “When a space is smaller or darker, sometimes it’s better to do more there,” Fetherston notes. “For example, I always think a powder room is a great place to play with color and pattern.”

You want every piece of furniture to have room to breathe in a minimalist space, meaning things should not be too crowded together or placed densely in the space. Allow a path for the eye to travel through the room so that light and shadow take on a decorative role in the atmosphere. Avoid busy prints and patterns, and try to limit the color palette to a few tonal colors. Then, you can create depth by mixing and layering monochromatic textures.

“I personally love using a neutral color palette in minimalist design, but for people who are fearful of white sofas, remember that earth tones like mossy green, terracotta, and blush are colors that feel neutral, too,” Fetherston advises.

Minimalistic design is as much a way of life as a design aesthetic, our experts say. “The essence of minimalism lies not just in its benefits but in embodying a way of living. While it demands meticulous organization, its simplicity can be deeply satisfying,” concludes Hoppen. ■

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health&beauty

Somewhere between Genesis 1:10 and 11, God Made Seaweed

BY PEARL LUSTRE

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eaweed isn’t one plant. It’s the name for countless thousands of species of marine plants that arguably have covered the ocean floor and coastline since the beginning of time. In color, seaweed comes in shades of red, brown, and green, green being the oldest variety, and is an important food source for ocean life. “Previously, the oldest widely accepted fossilized green algae was about 800 million years old,” Timothy Gibson, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Yale University, explained when addressing the results of a recent study, which “confirms what many have expected based on the existing, though sparse fossil record, which is that green algae likely existed about a billion years ago.” As a group, seaweed is a form of algae that grows like weeds along rocky shorelines bounded by the sea—hence the name. With the ability to grow more than a foot-and-a-half a day and top to a height of 260 feet, seaweed is the basis for the ocean food chain and provides a critical habitat for fish, birds, and marine animals.

What we seldom hear in the arguments and protests of climate change activists is, along with kelp and plankton, seaweed produces 70% of the world’s oxygen, absorbs carbon from the atmosphere, and stores approximately 200 million tons of carbon globally each year— meaning, in short, it is integral to climate adaptation and change. Thanks to worldwide climate change mitigation efforts, seaweed is used as an additive to reduce methane emitted from livestock, reduce pollution, treat harmful nutrient pollution in agricultural waterways

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• été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com and sewage runoff, and help reduce ocean acidification caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

To this end, Oceans 250, an initiative co-founded by filmmaker and environmental activist Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter and daughter of renowned oceanographers JacquesYves Cousteau and Philippe Cousteau (Jacques’ son and Alexandra’s father), along with Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Fritz Neumeyer, have created first-of-its-kind digital tools that support the ocean and seaweed global farming communities, and launched Blue Carbon, the leading global effort to quantify seaweed carbon sequestration.

Seaweed grows naturally and abundantly. Seaweed can be farmed. Seaweed production is estimated at 30 million tons worldwide and rapidly growing. It can better the environment by being converted into biofuels and bioplastics and used as a fertilizer and soil conditioner to preserve topsoil. Its extracts, agar and carrageenan, are among the ingredients used in lotions, soaps, and processed foods. A common ingredient in sushi, soups, flavor broths, and stews, alone as a vegetable and in salads, snacks, pastries, and as garnishes, dried, frozen, or raw, seaweed is most notably used in Far Eastern cuisine, in Japan, China, and Korea, and likewise in the

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Over a million coastal people in Indonesia rely on income from seaweed farming, contributing to the country’s rapidly expanding seaweed industry.

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Russian Far East. Seaweed is rich in vitamins and minerals and contains iodine and antioxidants, which support gut, thyroid, and heart health, reduce flatulence, manage blood sugar and weight, and for these reasons, increasingly in recent years, has become part of the American healthy diet, in supplements, in smoothies, and more.

As a source of iodine, seaweed supports the thyroid which, in turn, makes hormones. The thyroid gland produces the principal hormone, Thyroxine (T4); to a lesser extent Triiodothyronine (T3), which, however, has a much greater effect on your metabolism; and Calcitonin, which regulates the amount of calcium in your body. When the thyroid underproduces, an individual may experience weight changes, fatigue, or swelling of the neck over time. The recommended daily dietary intake (RDI) for adults is 140 micrograms (mcg.) You don’t need to consume a basketful, either. Just one dried sheet of seaweed can contain almost 2,000% of the RDI, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.

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elp, also known as “sea cabbage,” is a seaweed of the order Laminariales, which contains about 30 different genera and grows in underwater “kelp forests,” in shallow oceans. Kelp differs from seaweed in that it grows in stipes, or blades, and stays afloat via multiple little gas-filled bladders, called pneumatocysts, which enables the stipe to stay close to the water’s surface. Kelp is integral to the support of diverse, nearshore, marine food webs, including shellfish such as mussels, marine mammals, and seabirds. It is especially effective in treating goiter and has been known to prevent hypothyroidism; conversely, too much can lead to kelp-induced thyrotoxicosis, an excessive production of thyroid hormone. Likewise, kelp—specifically, Kombu, among the edible species of kelp—is so rich in iron that it is proven to prevent iron deficiency. Above all, in research conducted over the past 14 years, kelp has proven to be more effective than over-the-counter slimming treatments in preventing fat absorption.

Alginates derived from kelp, and brown and yellow seaweed, are used as thickening agents in ice cream, jelly, salad dressings, toothpaste, and certain dog foods; and in dentistry and orthodontics to make impressions of the upper and lower arches of teeth. Kelp polysaccharides are used in select skin care products.

Seaweed contains antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, which render free radicals, which are the underlying cause of heart disease and diabetes, among other ailments, less reactive, and contains compounds such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which protect your body’s cells from free radical damage. Indeed, the brown algae, wakame, has more than thirteen times the antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E. There are more bacteria cells in our bodies than human cells, which explains how easy it is for the “good” and “bad” gut bacteria to become imbalanced and result in sickness and disease. Because seaweed is such an excellent source of fiber, it not only promotes gut health but in dry weight, it is as much as 75% higher than the fiber content of most fruits and vegetables. What’s more, sulfated polysaccharides, the natural sugars found in seaweed, actually increase the growth of “good” gut bacteria by nourishing the cells in your stomach and intestines.

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Braised octopus, coral, and seaweed by Virgilio Martinez from Central restaurant in Lima, Peru, is part of the menu at In Situ restaurant at SFMOMA in San Francisco, California.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZ HAFALIA / THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA GETTY IMAGES / GETTYIMAGES.COM

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Opposite: Asian style dinner with different size rice balls with black sesame and seaweed nori, served with soft boiled eggs, and soy sauce.

Scottish brown crab with green apple, seaweed ewe’s milk ricotta, and charred cucumber salad from Gough’s on Gough, 15 Gough Street, Hong Kong.

By making the gut more efficient, seaweed may help you lose weight by stopping hunger pains, and when you do eat, making you feel full longer, or actually lowering your food cravings, thereby helping reduce body fat.

Likewise, seaweed can reduce high cholesterol, and high blood pressure—which along with being overweight, plus smoking, are the major causes of heart disease.

The cosmetics industry embraces seaweed. Full of minerals, salts, amino acids, and lipids, it promotes elastin and collagen to protect the skin against free radicals and provides anti-aging benefits. Its anti-inflammatory qualities are especially helpful to sensitive skin and skin conditions, such as rosacea and acne.

The

Early Romans first wrote about using seaweed as a fertilizer, as medicine, and, like Japan, China, and Korea, as a dietary staple. Salish peoples, who are indigenous to the American and Canadian Pacific Northwest, spoke of the spiritual interdependence between the people and the sea in their myths and legends, using seaweed in fishing, hunting, and food preparation. In 16th-century Europe, brown seaweed from shallow salt waters was harvested and burned for use in soaps, glass, fertilizers, linens, and later, explosives. Indeed, when potash (wood ash + water) supplies dwindled in Scotland, the Scots began to produce soda ash (sodium carbonate) from kelp. “Kelp harvesting” was a major Scottish industry from the 18th century until the 1820s, when the business failed, which caused an increase in emigration to America by Scottish immigrants.

Among the seaweed-based skincare products available on the market today are Osea Advanced Protection Cream ($108 at oseamalibu.com), KAIBAE Baobab Face Oil ($72 on Amazon), Vitamins and Sea Beauty Sea Minerals Marine Peptides Replenishing Day Cream ($11 at Ulta Beauty), Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion ($15 at Walmart), PAYOT Source Captagon Moisturizing Gel ($54 at Amazon), and most expensive, La Mer The Concentrate Serum ($600 at Nordstrom).

These days seaweed is grown in on-shore farms in long lines 4-8 feet below the water’s surface in a process known as vertical farming, and in tanks or ponds on land-based farms, where conditions can be controlled and where species of seaweed that cannot grow in lines can flourish in abundance. A single acre of ocean can produce 25 tons of seaweed and a quarter-million shellfish in five months, opening the future to underwater farming as a means of feeding the planet. To this end, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, and National Marine Fisheries Service published a guide in 2021 that outlines state-by-state guidelines for seaweed aquaculture leasing and required permits. Ninety-seven percent of seaweed harvesting globally comes from Asia and Indonesia and in the past 20 years, that region has seen production triple and with it, an increase in jobs and income to coastal communities. It may not be the answer to the global climate question or the solution to global hunger, but seaweed is certainly a big part of how mankind embraces the future. ■

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A warm seaweed mask is applied to your body before being wrapped in a warm cocoon. This encourages your body to sweat which helps to carry toxins out of the body where they can be absorbed by the mask and rinsed away. As skin ages it slowly loses elasticity leading to wrinkles, stretch marks, and sagging skin.

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VIEJO CASA ARLA SY AM URTE PH CO OGRA PHOT A RLA.P / AMA

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the

Timeless Elegance of Amarla Casco Viejo

BY SONIA HENRY

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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMARLA CASA VIEJO / AMARLA.PA

ithin the heart of Panama City’s historic district lies a hidden gem just waiting to be explored: the Amarla (translated to “purity”) Casco Viejo. Tucked away amidst cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, this eight-room, adults-only boutique hotel beckons travelers who are seeking a unique blend of modern luxury and old-world charm.

Amarla Casco Viejo was founded in 2022 by British entrepreneurs Ashe Warr and Robin Faulkner and is one of a pair of hotels created by these innovators who believe in making a statement with properties rooted in local culture, community, and design, and that also redefine the luxury experience. The hotel was lovingly constructed from natural wood, handmade ceramics, metals, and stone, and features several restored details from the building’s early days, including 120-year-old balconies and the original front door.

Step over the threshold of the Amarla, and you’re transported to a world where history meets

contemporary elegance. The hotel’s interior seamlessly integrates elements of Panama’s rich heritage with stylish, minimalist interiors, creating a space that feels both timeless and utterly inviting. And every sense is catered to at the Amarla— General Manager Maria Antonieta Ramirez says that visitors are welcomed by the hotel’s jasmine signature fragrance in the front desk area that provides a sweet and sultry ambiance as guests embark on an unforgettable experience.

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ach of the Amarla’s rooms is a sanctuary unto itself, offering a serene retreat from the bustling streets below. No room is the same, but the thread that ties everything together is the hotel’s homage to local artistry woven through every individually styled space. From the moment you enter, you are greeted by a sense of tranquility, with soft lighting, plush furnishings, and artwork from the Amarla’s permanent photography exhibition by Phoebe Montague Warr that showcases the natural, cultural, and human beauty of Panama.

“Rooms also smell of jasmine, because we have noiseless scent diffusers in each space,” says Ramirez. Other amenities include buttery soft silk kimonos (sourced from Indonesia), stations to enjoy a cup of Pacamara coffee (the most delicious Panamanian coffee bean) served in handcrafted coffee cups painted by a Panamanian tribe, hand-spun textiles draped on the bed, and aromachologybased toiletries from France. Rooms also feature Moroccan showers to elevate the everyday bathing experience to the sublime, and authentic Emberà crafts and elegant ornaments that allow visitors to “focus on venerating Panama through silent, quiet, barefoot luxury,” according to Ramirez.

But it’s not just the aesthetics that set the Amarla apart—it’s the personalized service and attention to detail that truly elevates the experience. Whether savoring a gourmet breakfast on the rooftop terrace, lounging on the rooftop with panoramic views of the city skyline, or indulging in a rejuvenating spa treatment, every moment at this hotel is crafted to perfection.

Dining at the Amarla is no less extraordinary. The on-site Kaandela restaurant is an “unexpected, unapologetic palate party,” according to Ramirez, and an “ode to fire.” It is a candid explosion and melting pot of flavors crafted

by Chef Edy Acedo, a culinary virtuoso and a finalist on the esteemed Top Chef Panama All-Stars. Acedo’s tantalizing culinary masterpieces run the gamut from a mouthwatering and eclectic tasting menu to a full selection of enticing entrees ranging from pork belly lollipops to lamb koftas. Acedo is a self-proclaimed “sauce guy” who adds his unique spin to all of his creations.

Adding another touch of sophistication to the dining experience is Hector Ruiz, the resident sommelier, and mixed drinks created by local mixologist Nelvin “The Nomad” Gonzalez. All of Gonzalez’s recipes are made with local, fresh produce, featuring wines, liqueurs, tequilas, mescals, rums, and whiskeys.

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IT IS CLEAR THAT AMARLA CASA VIEJO LIVES UP TO ITS MANIFESTO, WHICH STATES, ‘WE ARE CREATIVE, ADVENTUROUS, PASSIONATE, AND DEDICATED, WE INSPIRE AUTHENTIC MOMENTS IN BEAUTIFUL PLACES. AMARLA IS LUXURY WITH HEART. OUR GUESTS ARE THE HEROES OF OUR STORY, AND WE ARE THEIR HOSTS.’”

The restaurant comprises two areas, each offering a unique vibe. First, the open kitchen, where diners can sit at the bar level and observe the evolution of dishes created by the chef and his team, offers a front-row view seat to the crackling fire of open grills and the expert preparation of each plate. The lower patio, shaded by palms and flowering orchids offers a more serene setting, as well as the mixology bar. With a glass roof soaring overhead, diners can enjoy the cascading gardens above while having their taste buds seduced by Acedo’s creations.

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captivating as Amarla itself may be, there is also real magic that lies just beyond its doors in the vibrant streets and storied landmarks of Casco Viejo. With its narrow alleyways and centuries-old buildings, this UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to 1673 brims with charm and character. Wander through the cobblestone streets, stop to admire colorful murals, browse artisan shops, and sample simple, traditional Panamanian cuisine at quaint cafes and bustling markets. According to Ramirez, “Casco Viejo features vibrant plazas and picturesque streets surrounded by colorful buildings.”

The town allows you to immerse yourself in a world where past and present intermingle, and panoramic views of the Panama City skyline and the shimmering Pacific provide visual memories to last a lifetime. Famous attractions, such as Canal Museum, Metropolitana Cathedral Basilica, and Mola Museum are just a short walk away. And for those who want to relax with a view, they need to go no farther than the Amarla rooftop, where a

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rooftop Jacuzzi provides the ultimate relaxation with a backdrop of stunning views across the town and Panama Bay. For those seeking to delve deeper into Panama’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, Amarla offers a curated selection of experiences designed to showcase the best of the region and to “give guests the opportunity to discover more about our country and our culture,” says Ramirez. Embark on a guided tour of the nearby Panama Canal and marvel at the engineering feat that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; venture into the lush rainforests of the Soberania National Park, where you can hike through pristine wilderness teeming with exotic wildlife and vibrant flora; or set sail to the idyllic islands of the Archipiélago de las Perlas, where crystal clear waters and pristine beaches await.

After a day of exploration and adventure, there is no better way to unwind than to take advantage of Amarla’s spa services. While the hotel does not have a spa on its property, it does have “an amazing local partner for in-room or rooftop spa services (the latter affording guests a breathtaking view of Casco Viejo), with English-speaking therapists,” says Ramirez.

Amarla books these spa experiences for its guests so they can just relax and enjoy being pampered and let their cares drift away on the gentle Panamanian breeze.

For those lucky enough to experience Amarla Casca Viejo, this enchanting destination offers more than just a place to rest your head. It is an immersive experience that engages all the senses and leaves a lasting impression on the soul. From the moment you arrive, you will find yourself captivated by the hotel’s undeniable charm and the rich tapestry of culture and history that surrounds it. ■

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Suzanne Somers on-set of the film, Nothing Personal, by American International Pictures, 1980.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GLASSHOUSE IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

The Blonde Who Pioneered the Path to Bioidentical Hormones

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Recording Artist Paul Anka and American Actress Suzanne Somers ride a Vespa in Monte Carlo, 1978.

PHOTOGRAPH BY PATRICE PICOT/GAMMA-RAPHO VIA GETTY IMAGES

uzanne Marie Mahoney Somers was born into an Irish-Catholic family on October 16, 1946, in San Bruno, California, the third of four children of Marion Elizabeth Turner Mahoney, a medical secretary, and Frank Mahoney, a laborer, gardener, alcoholic, and abusive father whom Suzanne was convinced would kill her, given the opportunity. Emotionally compromised, she wet her bed until the age of twelve, which further enraged her father. What’s more, she was a poor student, and though her father’s all-night drunk rages kept her awake most nights, frightened, and sleep-deprived, her teachers at Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, failed to identify the troubled student with dyslexia.

Winning the starring role of Josephine in Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1878 comic opera, H.M.S. Pinafore, she was expelled from school shortly after, when she was caught writing a “sexually suggestive” note that was never sent to a boy on whom she had a crush. She was fourteen. She then transferred to Capuchino High School in San Bruno, where she won acclaim and the “Best Doll Award” for her performance in the senior musical, Guys and Dolls. As one of the organizers of the Senior Ball, she was forced to make a last-minute costume change when, while dressing, her father accused her of being “nothing” and ripped off her prom dress and in defense, she hit her father over the head with a tennis racquet. They never reconciled mentally, the damage was done.

Suzanne briefly attended Lone Mountain College, a Catholic school run by the Society of the

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Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter, and Suzanne Somers attend a taping of the hit television sitcom Three’s Company on January 18, 1978, at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California.

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Sacred Heart, but was forced to quit when, in 1965, at the age of 19, she discovered she was pregnant and briefly married the baby’s father, Bruce Somers. By the time of their divorce in 1968, Suzanne had been arrested for check fraud. Her car was impounded, and her future was bleak. With an eye to Hollywood, within a week of setting out on auditions, her adorable blond good looks, and cheerful disposition landed her small roles throughout the late 60s and early 70s, most notably in American Graffiti as the blonde in the white Thunderbird.

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er career in television was launched when she played a femme fatale in an episode of Lotsa Luck, an American sitcom based on the British TV comedy, On the Buses. Followed were appearances on The Rockford Files, Magnum Force, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Love Boat, and One Day at a Time. This led to her successful audition for a pilot episode of the American version of the British sitcom, Man About the House. Produced by ABC-TV, it was called Three’s Company.

Suzanne had not been ABC’s first choice. The first pilot episode starred actress Suzanne Zenor (who would go on to play Margo in the daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives) as Chrissy Snow. She was replaced by Susan Lanier (who subsequently enjoyed a stage and screen career before she died in 2008, from complications from gall bladder surgery) and, the day before filming was to take place for the third, last, and deciding pilot episode, Suzanne won the role of Chrissy on the recommendation of ABC president Fred Silverman, who had seen her on her first of many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Her performance gave the series its green light.

The first episode was aired on March 15, 1977. Co-starring with John Ritter and Joyce DeWitt and Norman Fell and Audra Lindley as The Ropers, who subsequently spun off into their own series, the storyline was of three roommates, two single women and a lusty male who pretended to be gay. The February 14, 1978, episode catapulted Three’s Company to the coveted Number One in the Nielsen ratings and won a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice Award.

When the series began to air its fifth season at the end of 1980, Suzanne’s second husband, producer, writer, and actor Alan Hamel, failed to succeed in negotiating a salary increase from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode plus a share of the profits for his wife, and Suzanne was all but written out of the show. The series went on for three more seasons, ending in 1984. Her departure caused a twenty-year-long rift between her and co-star John Ritter, which ended shortly before his unexpected death, too young, in 2003 at the age of 54.

Suzanne would continue her long and varied career but never reached the zenith she had achieved as Chrissy Snow in Three’s Company, nor would she ever be unidentified with her character. She appeared in cover and feature article nude pictorials in the 1980 and the 1984 issues of Playboy, which was motivated by medical bills from injuries sustained by her son, Bruce, Jr., in a car accident.

These pictorials proved to be difficult for the son to accept, and so after some dispute with Playboy, she donated a portion of the settlements to the charity, Easterseals. The 1980s saw her as a headliner in Las Vegas at the former MGM Grand Hotel, also performing for U.S. servicemen overseas, and at the end of

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Suzanne Marie Somers was an American actress, author, and businesswoman. She played the television roles of Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company and Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step. Somers wrote more than twenty five books, including two autobiographies, four diet books, and a book of poetry.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AARON RAPOPORT/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES

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Recording Artist Paul Anka with Suzanne Somers in Monte Carlo, 1978.

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Actresses Suzanne Somers and Jayne Kennedy. Opposite: Suzanne Somers and Alan Hamel sighting at Studio 54 in1978

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the decade, starred in her own sitcom, She’s the Sheriff, which ran two seasons.

The 90s saw Somers return to series television in Step By Step, co-starring Patrick Duffy, which ended in 1997 after six seasons, followed by Candid Camera, which Suzanne hosted from 1997 to 1999. A made-for-television two-hour autobiographical film, Keeping Secrets, aired in 1991 on ABC-TV. Her star continued to ascend in the new millennium, and nothing seemed to stop her.

She sold clothing, jewelry, and housewares branded with her name 25 hours each month on Home Shopping Network. Her infomercials for the exercise product, ThighMaster, revolutionized the way retail merchandise was sold on American television.

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he made her Broadway theatre debut in 2005 in her one-woman show about her life and career in The Blonde in the Thunderbird, but the show was canceled after less than a week amid poor ticket sales. Suzanne launched a short-lived online talk show in 2012 called Suzanne Somers Breaking Through, at CafeMom, three episodes of which heralded the reconciliation and reunion after 31 years with her former Three’s Company co-star, Joyce DeWitt. In the fall of that same year, she hosted The Suzanne Show, a series of 13 episodes aired on the Lifetime Network, in which she and her guests focused on topics related to health and fitness, and for which she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Best Host. In 2015, partnered with Tony Dovolani, Suzanne finished ninth place in the fifth-week eliminations of the twentieth season of Dancing With the Stars and in May and June, she was the headliner at Westgate Las Vegas in her one-woman show, Suzanne Sizzles.

By the time of her death on October 14, 2023, at the age of 76 in Palm Springs, California, the actress, author, and businesswoman appeared in 32 television series,

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Star of Three’s Company Suzanne Somers and her husband Alan Hamel arrive at the 1978 Emmy Awards in Pasadena, California.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES

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I SELL MY PROBLEMS. I’M A WOMAN WITH PROBLEMS. I’VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN. AND I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO TURN MY PROBLEMS INTO ASSETS.” shows, and specials, and a dozen movies, none which topped her role in American Graffiti.

Above all, Suzanne wrote 25 books. Suzanne claimed her personal health regime was responsible for her seemingly endless energy and, under the management of her husband, her unfailing drive and positivity. Of these, twenty of her titles were related to health, aging, hormones, and cookbooks, including Susanne Somers’s Get Skinny on Fabulous Food (1999), Suzanne Somer’s Eat, Cheat, and Melt the Fat Away (2001), Suzanne Somers’s Slim and Sexy Forever: The Hormone Solution for Permanent Weight Loss and Optimal Living (2005), Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones (2006), and TOX-SICK: From Toxic to Not Sick (2015.)

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er quest to stay young consisted of a daily routine of sex twice a day (which she admitted to when she was 73) and “bioidentical” hormones, which are products chemically identical to natural female hormones. In her book, Eight Steps to Wellness, Suzanne encouraged women to use bioidentical estrogen and progesterone supplements after the onset of menopause, claiming them to be safe and effective as opposed to traditional hormone therapies, which she argued were harmful. She gathered around her experts who endorsed her claims and created a line of supplements, which Oprah Winfrey not only touted but claimed she took herself. However, she also ran into opposition from other experts in the field of women’s health.

In 2014, an article by Deborah Kotz was published by the Los Angeles Times to counter Suzanne’s position against the medical views of Adriane Fugh-Bergman, a physician and associate professor in the complementary and alternative medicine master’s program at Georgetown University Medical Center. To Suzanne’s claim that environmental toxicity had lowered the average age of menopause in women, Dr. Kotz replied there was no evidence to support that claim, and that there likewise was no evidence that birth control pills, which have been widely available since the 1970s, increase the risk of breast cancer, as Suzanne claimed. Her comment “When we restore our bodies to those optimal hormonal levels at which we reproduce, we keep our insides healthy because our brains are tricked into thinking we can still reproduce and keep us alive to perpetuate the species.” Not so, said Furgh-Bergman, who again explained there was no evidence supporting Suzanne’s claim. In fact, “ . . . findings from the Women’s Health Initiative show that long-term

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THE BIGGEST MYTH ABOUT AGING IS THAT WE CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT IT’S A ROAD TO BEING DECREPIT, FRAIL, AND SICK.”

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use of postmenopausal hormones leads to more heart disease, strokes, breast cancer, and Alzheimer’s.” What’s more, “Menopausal hormone therapy doubles the risk of dementia…and increases age-related memory problems. While some women do experience accelerated bone loss around menopause, most bone loss is age-related, not menopause-related. What’s more,” she stressed, “any supplemental hormones, whether bioidentical or not, are exaggerated pharmaceutical drugs.” And while Somers cited 40 Danish studies of 700,000 women who showed no intrinsic danger in taking bioidentical hormones, which are FDA-approved in America, compared to women who took synthetic hormones, Fugh-Berman pointed out that FDA approval does not connote safety, it’s simply the risk to benefit ration in specific conditions. Suzanne’s anti-aging, beauty, fitness, and healthpromoting vitamins continue to be available at www.suzannesomers.com.

The cause of her death, one day shy of her 77th birthday, on October 15, 2023, was the return of breast cancer, for which she was treated the first of three times, in 2000, along with several other forms of cancer, including malignant melanoma, throughout her life. In 2020, she fractured her hip and sustained a neck injury from which she never fully recovered. She had been seeing specialists in Chicago for six weeks and appeared to be improving after being proclaimed to be cancer-free, when, comfortably at home, she suddenly stopped eating and drinking, taking her medications, and finally, responding. She passed away quietly and peacefully in her husband’s loving arms, surrounded by her son and immediate family. “Her family was gathered to celebrate her 77th birthday,” the statement read announcing her death.

“Instead, they will celebrate her extraordinary life, and want to thank her millions of fans and followers who loved her dearly.”

Patrick Duffy, Suzanne’s TV husband and Step by Step co-star, said, “She beautifully passed through my life on this leg of her endless journey. My task now is to remain on the roadside as she continues on,” adding, “but the dialogue of deep and thoughtful, and silly and frivolous continues. My conversations with her now will be held solely through my daily Buddhist practice.”

No one can say whether Suzanne’s approach to health added to her time on this earth. No one can deny that she led her own personal crusade for health and well-being and cultivated many followers along the way. A world-renown surgeon, on the day of his last surgery, at the age of 89, after a career of almost seven decades, told me, his final patient, “I am pleased to say on the last day of a long and celebrated career, that the medical profession now knows one-tenth of one percent of everything there is to know about the human body.”

Suzanne did not live the long life she so desired and hoped for. But she lived her life with courage, fortitude, ambition, compassion, love, and above all, endurance.

And that, perhaps, is the real secret: it’s not how much time you have, but how well you use the time you’ve been given. ■

A general view of atmosphere of Actress Suzanne Somers former home in Palm Springs, California, 2022.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BARRY KING / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

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Land of Enchantment

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Two women dressed in the traditional Indian Saree are walking through the narrow streets of the blue city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. A saree (sometimes also sari or shari) is a women’s garment from India that consists of an unstitched stretch of woven fabric arranged over the body as a robe, with one end attached to the waist, while the other end rests over one shoulder as a stole (shawl), sometimes baring a part of the midriff.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TRAVELWILD / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM OPPOSITE: PHOTOGRAPH BY SEREE TANSRISAWAT / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

estled within the vibrant tapestry of India is a rich and multifaceted landscape of art and history, each thread intricately woven into the fabric of India’s cultural identity. From the majestic temples adorned with intricate carvings to the vibrant hues of Bollywood films that captivate audiences worldwide, Indian culture and art transcends time, offering a glimpse into the soul of a nation steeped in tradition and innovation. Tales of dynasties over centuries have left an indelible mark on the subcontinent, shaping its diverse heritage and its collective consciousness. Amidst this weave of artistic expression and historical legacy, India’s wellness practices, rooted in ancient wisdom and holistic philosophies, offer a pathway to harmony and balance for the mind, body, and spirit. Embark on a journey through the corridors of time to explore the interplay between art, history, and wellness in India, unraveling the intricate threads that bind them together and discovering the timeless treasures they hold.

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rt in India has been a reflection of its rich cultural heritage, evolving through the ages alongside seismic societal shifts. From the ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley to the vibrant contemporary art scene, Indian artists have played integral roles in shaping and contributing to the country’s artistic legacy.

The Vedic period (1500-500 BCE) marked the emergence of religious and philosophical ideologies that profoundly influenced Indian art. Vedic hymns, rituals, and the worship of gods and goddesses found expression in early artistic endeavors. The sacred texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, inspired symbolic representations in the form of sculptures, paintings, and temple architecture. The development of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions further enriched the artistic landscape of ancient India.

In ancient India, women were celebrated as embodiments of beauty, grace, and divinity. Artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization reveal the presence of feminine figures in various forms of artistic expression, suggesting the reverence for femininity prevalent in early Indian society. The worship of goddesses such as Shakti, Saraswati, and Lakshmi underscored the importance of feminine energy and empowerment in religious and artistic contexts. Medieval India saw a fusion of indigenous artistic traditions with Islamic influences following the arrival of Muslim rulers. The Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire introduced Persian and Central Asian artistic styles, producing an era of Indo-Islamic art. Notable examples of

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91 Aerial view of Jodhpur (aka “Blue City” due to the vivid blue-painted Brahmin houses) around Mehrangarh Fort in the evening twilight.

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The legendary Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

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The Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Tamil Nadu, South India, is of typical Dravidian architectural style, with the gopuram overpowering the street on which the temple sits. This temple is also a testimonial for the Vishwakarma sthapathis. There are two entrances to the temple marked by the gopuram (monumental entrance tower) on either side.

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A rickshaw wallah waiting for a passenger on the street of Puri, Odisha, India. The widespread use of rickshaws in India is largely due to their affordability and convenience. PHOTOGRAPH BY IMAGESOFINDIA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Opposite: The Green Gate, one of the four gates at Pitam Niwas Chowk of City Palace, Jaipur. The four gates in this courtyard represent four seasons. This gate (Green Gate) represents Spring. PHOTOGRAPH BY SWAPNEEL SAHA / UNSPLASH.COM

majestic Mughal architecture are epitomized by structures like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. Miniature paintings flourished during this period, illustrating courtly life, historical events, and religious themes with exquisite detail and vibrant colors.

During the classical period, women in India continued to inspire and influence art through their patronage and creative contributions. The Gupta Empire, often hailed as the Golden Age of Indian art, witnessed the emergence of female protagonists in literature, poetry, and performing arts. Women like Amrapali, a sixth century courtesan and patron of the arts, symbolized the intersection of beauty, talent, and intellect, inspiring artists and poets alike. According to legend, Amrapali was born as a princess but was abandoned at birth and raised by a gardener. As she grew older, her exceptional beauty and charm captured the attention of King Bimbisara of Magadha on a visit to Vaishali. Bimbisara sought to marry Amrapali, but she declined, choosing to maintain her independence and pursue her own path. Amrapali was deeply moved by Buddha’s teachings and became a disciple, ultimately renouncing her courtesan life to embrace a spiritual path.

Medieval India saw a complex interplay of patriarchal norms and artistic expression. While women from royal and noble families enjoyed patronage and opportunities for artistic pursuits, the majority faced societal restrictions that limited their involvement in public spheres. However, female artisans and performers contributed to various art forms, including folk music, dance, and crafts, enriching the cultural tapestry of the subcontinent.

Colonial rule in India, particularly under the British Raj, had a significant impact on the trajectory of Indian culture. The colonial presence of the British Empire brought Western art forms and techniques to India for the first time, leading to the establishment of art schools and academies. Indian artists, exposed to European art movements such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, began to experiment with new styles and themes while retaining elements of indigenous traditions.

The colonial era brought new challenges and opportunities for women in the realm of art. Western influences permeated Indian society, impacting artistic conventions and gender dynamics. Despite the imposition of Victorian ideals of womanhood, Indian women artists began to assert their presence in the art world. Figures like Amrita Sher-Gil, often hailed as India’s Frida Kahlo, defied societal norms and stereotypes, pioneering a new wave of modernist art that challenged traditional boundaries.

In 1947, amidst mounting pressure and growing unrest, the British government announced its decision to grant independence to India, leading to the partition of the subcontinent into the independent nations of India and Pakistan. On August 15, 1947, India finally gained its long-awaited freedom, marking the end of nearly two centuries of British colonial rule and the dawn of a new era in Indian history. The post-independence period witnessed a renaissance in Indian art as artists grappled with questions of identity, nationhood, and modernity. The Progressive Artists’ Group, formed in the 1940’s, spearheaded a movement towards

Ladakh, in Indian Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, India, is the highest state in India. Until relatively recently it was closed off every winter due to snowfall blocking off the mountain passes. It is a place of Buddhist monasteries, phenomenal desertscapes, mountain views, as well as having an extraordinary wildlife including the endangered snow leopards and Himalayan bears.

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The Indian elephant is one of three extant recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, native to mainland Asia. For centuries, India has regarded this majestic royal beast, the elephant, as its cultural symbol. The highly revered Hindu God, Lord Ganesha, is said to be a remover of obstacles and a provider of fortune and good luck.

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Nestled amidst the misty Western Ghats of Kerala, India, the tea plantations and landscapes in Munnar are adorned with emerald green hills, enchanting vistas, and vibrant meadows.

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Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent.

Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these dishes vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

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abstraction and experimentation, challenging conventional norms and embracing diversity. Figures like M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta, and F.N. Souza gained international recognition for their bold and innovative works.

With the release of India’s first silent feature film, Raja Harishchandra, directed by Dadasaheb Phalke in 1913, India launched itself into the growing world cinema industry. In 1931, the first sound film, Alam Ara, became a roaring success, and through the 1940’s and 1950’s, the film industry now known as Bollywood began.

Bollywood films are known for their extravagant song-and-dance sequences, melodramatic plots, and larger-than-life storytelling. They often explore a wide range of themes, including romance, family dynamics, social issues, and historical events, catering to diverse audiences both within India and abroad.

The name likely was coined in the 1970’s, a mash up of “Bombay” (now Mumbai) where most of these films were produced, and “Hollywood.” The exuberant costumes, intricate set designs, and picturesque locations further elevate the visual spectacle, transporting audiences to a world of fantasy and escapism.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Bollywood reflects the aspirations, values, and ethos of Indian society.

Films often grapple with pressing social issues, historical events, and cultural dilemmas, offering audiences a mirror to reflect upon their own lives and experiences. Whether addressing themes of love and family, identity and belonging, or justice and equality, Bollywood has the power to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and inspire change. Through its storytelling prowess and universal themes, Bollywood fosters connections and fosters understanding among diverse cultures and communities.

Like the evolution of art and film, the evolution of India’s health and wellness practices and their integration into Western societies is a journey that spans centuries, characterized by cultural exchange, globalization, and a growing appreciation for holistic well-being.

Ancient India was a cradle of holistic healing systems, with Ayurveda emerging as one of the world’s oldest systems of medicine. Rooted in ancient texts such as the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, Ayurveda emphasizes the balance of mind, body, and spirit through diet, herbal remedies, yoga, and meditation. These practices were deeply ingrained in Indian society, shaping health care and lifestyle choices for millennia.

During the colonial period, India’s traditional healing systems encountered Western medicine through British colonial influence. While Western medicine gained prominence in urban centers and among the elite, Ayurveda and other indigenous practices persisted in rural communities and among traditional healers.

Colonial encounters also led to the exchange of knowledge and practices between Indian and Western medical practitioners, contributing to a cross-pollination of ideas and techniques.

The 20th century witnessed a renewed interest in Indian health and wellness practices in the West, fueled by globalization, cultural exchange, and a growing dissatisfaction with conventional Western medicine. Yoga, which has its roots in ancient Indian philosophy and spirituality, gained popularity in Western countries as a holistic approach to physical and mental well-being. Pioneers like Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda introduced yoga to the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, laying the foundation for its widespread adoption in subsequent decades.

Young indian women in national costumes dance at the open festival of traditional Rajasthan culture in Udaipur, India.

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108 The chital or cheetal, also known as the spotted deer, is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent.

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The counterculture movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s further propelled the popularity of Indian wellness practices in the West. Influential figures like Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Transcendental Meditation, and Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, later known as Osho, introduced Eastern spirituality and meditation techniques to Western audiences, attracting followers seeking alternative paths to health and enlightenment.

In recent decades, India’s traditional healing systems have experienced a resurgence in the West, driven by growing interest in holistic health, alternative medicine, and mindfulness practices. Ayurveda, in particular, has gained recognition for its emphasis on personalized health care, natural remedies, and preventive medicine. Ayurvedic herbs, supplements, and beauty products have found their way into Western markets, catering to consumers seeking natural and sustainable alternatives to conventional medicine and beauty products.

Modern yoga has evolved significantly from its ancient origins, adapting to contemporary lifestyles and global trends while retaining elements of its traditional roots. While traditional yoga was primarily a spiritual and philosophical practice aimed at attaining self-realization and enlightenment, modern yoga encompasses a broader spectrum of goals, including physical fitness, stress relief, and overall well-being.

In its original form, yoga encompassed a comprehensive system of philosophy, meditation, and physical postures (asanas) designed to harmonize the mind, body, and spirit. Practices such as pranayama (breath control) and meditation were central to achieving spiritual growth and enlightenment. While some purists may lament the shift towards a more fitness-oriented approach, modern yoga has democratized the practice, making it accessible to a broader audience around the world.

Whether practiced for physical health, stress relief, or spiritual growth, modern yoga continues to evolve and adapt, reflecting the changing needs and aspirations of contemporary society while honoring its ancient roots.

These connections to Indian culture have spurred an interest in tourism to the nation, especially for those interested in connecting to the original spiritual source of practices like yoga. Indian temples are not just architectural marvels; they are sacred spaces that embody the beauty, spirituality, and holistic principles of Indian culture. Each temple is a testament to the profound relationship between architecture, beliefs, and the pursuit of health and wellness.

From the intricately carved facades to the towering spires, Indian temples captivate with their exquisite craftsmanship and attention to

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The Pushkar Fair, also called the Pushkar Camel Fair or locally as Kartik Mela or Pushkar ka Mela, is an annual multi-day livestock fair and cultural fête held in the town of Pushkar near Ajmer city in Ajmer district in (Rajasthan, India).

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detail. Every aspect of temple design, from the layout to the ornamentation, is meticulously planned to create an atmosphere conducive to prayer, meditation, and inner reflection. Indian temples serve as focal points for religious rituals, festivals, and community gatherings, fostering a sense of unity and collective devotion. The sacred rituals performed within temple precincts are believed to purify the mind, body, and soul, promoting holistic well-being and spiritual growth. Devotees seek blessings from deities and participate in acts of devotion such as chanting, offerings, and circumambulation, finding solace and rejuvenation in the sanctity of the temple space.

In addition to their spiritual significance, Indian temples are intricately linked to health and wellness practices. Many temples are situated in idyllic natural settings, surrounded by lush greenery, serene rivers, or majestic mountains. These tranquil environments provide a conducive backdrop for meditation, yoga, and contemplation, offering respite from the stresses of modern life and promoting mental and emotional well-being.

Temples often house traditional healing centers and ayurvedic dispensaries, where ancient remedies and therapeutic treatments are offered to pilgrims and visitors. Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of medicine, emphasizes the importance of harmony between mind, body, and spirit, with treatments tailored to individual constitutions and health conditions. Temples serve as hubs for holistic healing, where ancient wisdom and modern practices converge to promote physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.

While there is overlap between religious beliefs and health practices in India, they serve distinct purposes and operate within different frameworks. Religious beliefs provide spiritual guidance, moral values, and a sense of purpose, while health practices focus on physical well-being, disease prevention, and holistic healing. However, for many individuals in India, religious and health practices are deeply interconnected, with rituals, prayers, and spiritual practices serving as integral components of their overall approach to health and wellness.

Visiting these temples, and remembering that the practice of faith takes place in them, helps Western tourists connect to the origins of many health and wellness trends we see today. We have the romance and deep connection of India to thank for so many of them. ■

The City Palace, Jaipur is a royal residence and former administrative headquarters of the rulers of the Jaipur State in Jaipur, Rajasthan. A beautiful fusion of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the palace is still home to the last ruling royal family which lives in a private section of the palace.

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Elephants were once a common mode of transportation in India. Here, elephants walk along the road at Amber Fort, Rajasthan, India. Amber Fort known for its artistic style elements, is located eleven kilometres from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

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Claude The Rest Under the Lilacs, 1873, by Claude Monet (1840-1926).

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Monet

by Verity Galsworthy

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ou go to a museum or an art gallery, or perhaps you simply open a book, and you find a painting that holds you, thrills you, pulls you in, and lifts you, out of your space, your mundane everyday life. You are spirited away to a place of calm and serenity. You feel a tinge of excitement, a wave of sensations…this painting has conjured up passion that touches the very depths of your soul.

That’s the power of art. And when an individual engages in art—whether it is a form of fine art, music, or dance—what you see, hear, or touch directly impacts your brain. How? By inciting your emotions, you have increased your serotonin levels and the blood flow to the part of your brain associated with pleasure, inspiring new ways of thinking and feeling, and encouraging sensations of hope, enthusiasm, contentment, and joy. Experiencing art can improve your overall sense of well-being and by extension, your quality of life and your interpersonal relationships. Art can release your freedom of expression, and your suppressed thoughts and feelings that support your emotional resilience.

In the world of healthcare, creative arts therapy has been practiced since the 1940s as a means of helping people who suffer from mental illnesses. A person who engages in art herself— whether through painting, singing, dancing, viewing a painting, hearing music, or watching a dance performance—may be able to relieve her anxiety and depression, free herself from mood disorders, and even manage schizophrenia and dementia. There are many programs through hospitals, clinics, and humanities-focused centers that engage people through the arts to help them find their path toward healing. Which brings us to Monet.

In an article published in the British newspaper, The Guardian, in January 2014, Alain de Botton wrote about the French artist universally celebrated as the father of the Impressionist Movement. A Swiss-born British author and public speaker, de Botton co-founded The School of Life in 2008, whose “idea is to challenge traditional universities and reorganize knowledge, directing it towards life, and away from knowledge for its own sake . . . (to give) a sense of direction and wisdom for their lives and the help of culture.” Of the 19th-century French painter and founder of Impressionist painting, he wrote: “Monet’s painting is one of the most popular works in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood by John Singer Sargent American, 1885. This portrait has assumed an importance in the history of Impressionism because it shows the French artist doing what he advocated, painting directly from nature.

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119 Camille Monet (1847–1879) on a Garden Bench by French impressionist Claude Monet. Monet’s wife, Camille Doncieux, is as easily identifiable here well as are the mounds of geraniums in the garden of the couple’s house at Argenteuil.

in New York. This is worrying to many people of taste and sophistication, who take a taste for “prettiness” as a symptom of sentimentality, even stupidity.

“The worry might be that the fondness for this kind of art is a delusion: those who love pretty gardens are in danger of forgetting the actual conditions of life, which include war, disease, and political error and immorality. Audiences need art constantly to remind them of this kind of material, sophisticated types will propose, or they might end up deluded as to what life is actually like.

“But this is to locate the problem in completely the wrong place. For most of us, the greatest risk we face is not complacency; few of us are likely to forget the evils of existence.

The real risk is that we are going to fall into fury, depression, and despair; the danger is that we will lose all hope in the human project.

“It is this kind of despair that art is well suited to correct and that explains the wellfounded popular enthusiasm for prettiness. Flowers in spring, blue skies, children running on the beach . . . these are the visual symbols of hope. Cheerfulness is an achievement and hope is something to celebrate.”

Cheerfulness and hope—these are rare human commodities as our world continues to spin out of control, implode from war, and lose untold numbers of lives to utter starvation, violence, and drug and sex addictions, leaving few reasons to be cheerful and hopeful. So, when we look at the work of an artist like Monet, and their work inspires us and makes us whole, if only in that moment, it is, perhaps, because we need artists and art now more than ever before.

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Claude Monet in the garden of his house at Giverny, France, 10th april 1905.

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In the world of art,

Claude Monet is considered one of the greatest innovators of all time. Born November 14, 1840, Oscar-Claude Monet was born in Paris and, from the age of five, raised in the old seaport town of Le Havre, in Normandy, on France’s northern coast. The young boy showed a natural proclivity for art, which his mother, Louise-Justine Aubrée Monet, supported, and his father, Claude-Adolphe Monet, a successful grocer and ship’s chandler scorned. Sadly, Louise-Justine died when her son was sixteen-years-old. Claude was sent away to live with his widowed, childless, well-to-do aunt, MarieJeanne Lecadre who, happily, encouraged her nephew and sent him to study at the Académie Suisse in Paris.

Founded in 1815 by Martin François Suisse, the Académie Suisse was one, very large, well-lit studio with eighty stools and easels, and a rotation of life models, to accommodate aspiring artists. Suisse himself, as a young man, was an artist’s model. So empathetic was he with his students that they affectionately called him “Le Père Suisse.” Museum curators, art professors, and a moneyed clientele crowded into Suisse’s gallery to buy works by up-and-coming artists. By the time of his death in 1859, Académie Suisse, though smaller and far less formal than the famed Beaux-Arts, was the front-line of the Impressionist Movement with Monet, his classmates, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Honoré Daumier, Eugène Delacroix, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and Édouard Manet, among others. Indeed, Impressionism was more than a movement: it was a revolution that not only ended centuries of classical art but subsequently set the stage for the Post-Impressionist Movement and artists such as Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec; Cubism with Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque; and Fauvism with artists such as Henri Matisse. Upon his death, Suisse left his school to his nephew, but it was artist Etiènne Prosper Crébassol who actually ran it and renamed the institution Academie Suisse-Crébassol and relocated to a complex of six studios located in the 6th Arrondissement, in Montparnasse.

Monet was in his early twenties when a French painter by the name of Eugène Boudin, a pivotal figure in landscape painting and one of the first French landscape and marine painters to spearhead the plein-air (“outdoors”) movement, took the young artist under his wing. (Boudin’s skyscapes were so magnificent that he was called the “king of the skies” by French Neo-Classic artist Camille Corot.) He persuaded Monet to paint outdoors for the very first time and became the young artist’s mentor, frequently painting alongside him by the sea. Monet soon discovered an immediacy in his own work—a freedom that had previously been lacking. Natural light became the artist’s main preoccupation. He experimented with technique, evolving his own style, “Suddenly a veil was torn away,” Monet said. “My destiny as a painter was opened up to me.”

In 1859, a carefree Monet had soaked up the bohemian life with other young artists, such as Pissarro, and began wasting too much time merrily living an unconventional, free-spirited, artistic life. So, when he was drafted into military service in 1861,

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• été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com his father refused to buy him out, which people with means could do to avoid serving. He was sent to Algeria, where he contracted typhoid fever very early on and his aunt paid 3,000 francs to return him home, thus ending his brief military service. On his return to Paris in 1862, he promised his family and himself that he would engage in a more serious approach to life and work and, at the age of twenty-two, commenced what is referred to as his “Second Parisian Experience.” Together he painted alongside friends, such as British émigré Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, with whom he enrolled at Charles Gleyre’s Studio—thus becoming the original members of the nascent Impressionist group. In 1863, the three began to paint together in the forest at Fontainebleau, joined by Camille Corot, and together they pushed back the boundaries of academic traditions.

Monet continued painting landscapes in the 1860s. So certain now was he of his abilities and the direction his art was taking that he developed a certain arrogance even though he was not, as yet, established as an artist and, in fact, still depended on money from his family to buy painting materials. In 1866, when he was 26, he began his first major work, Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe, which he hoped to enter in the 1866 Paris Salon, an annual exhibition of Paris’s best artists and the only route to success for a young, aspiring one like Monet.

Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe was an immense canvas that proved to be too ambitious and, complicated by a leg injury that made him bedridden, Monet failed to complete the work. Instead, he submitted a portrait called Camille or, Woman in a Green Dress. The model, his companion, and future wife, proved so popular that Monet set aside Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe for a long time.

That same year he painted Women in the Garden, which he executed entirely in the open air. The canvas was so large—eight-foot-high—that a trench had to be dug so the canvas could be moved up and down. All three women in the painting were modeled by Camille; more significant, however, was his means of execution.

Monet would wait for light to be exact, a massive feature that would dominate all of his future work, as the light had to be consistent across the whole canvas. So, he painted at the same time each day so the light was consistent and made for a unified picture.

Le Grand Canal by Claude Monet. It is one of six paintings looking down the Grand Canal towards the Salute church. This Grand Canal series is in turn part of a larger series of paintings of Venice which Monet undertook during 1908 on his only visit to the city. Opposite: San Giorgio Maggiore At Dusk by Claude Monet. Also occasionally referred to as Sunset in Venice, was painted in the autumn of 1908 in Venice.

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Taking a walk near Argenteuil. Found in the collection of Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris.

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1 Woman with a Parasol-Madame Monet and Her Son by French Impressionist Claude Monet; oil on canvas, 1875. From the National Gallery, Washington DC. PHOTOGRAPH BY GRAPHICAARTIS/GETTY IMAGES

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hat the eye saw, however, was not what the intellect meant to have the eye see, Monet realized, so he dispensed altogether with the black oil paint in his paint box. He limited his palette to the three primaries and their complementaries. Brightly lit areas of color one against the darker complimentary color would, at a distance, appear as black; close-up, two colors such as red against green, were just that: red and green. Monet’s innovations were entirely lost on the 1867 Paris Salon judges, however, and Women in the Garden was rejected for entry.

In the late 1860s, as he continued to live in grinding poverty, Camille gave him a son. Unable to support his new family, Monet, Camille, and the baby moved in with his father and stepmother. His father’s hope that his son would follow him into business never had nor would be realized: nothing would deter Monet from his art, for in his core he believed he was put on this earth solely to paint.

During this period, he reunited again with his good friend Renoir, painting together, and in the process, launching the revolution that would be called Impressionism. Monet was more daring than Renoir. He used vigorous brushstrokes to capture a fleeting impression of the scene. Continuing his palette of primaries and complementary colors, he began applying color directly from the tube to achieve the full impact of color. Now, having dispensed entirely with black, the shadows created by a color adjacent to its opposite became a reflection of the object’s surroundings.

In 1870, Monet made another attempt at Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe only to have the very conservative Paris Salon reject it. This was the final straw and he gave up seeking the approval of the staid salon and gathered his contemporaries to form their own exhibitions. What’s more, eliminating the financial restraints imposed by having to paint enormous paintings as a criterion of the Paris Salon allowed Monet, Renoir, and others to paint smaller canvases, which became an important trademark of Impressionism. Artists began developing their sketches and exhibited their finished works in galleries all over Paris. This mutiny cut them off entirely from the Salon while at the same time, exposing their work to a much larger group of art buyers—the affluent middle class—which had limited budgets, limited space in their homes, and an unlimited desire to build collections of their own. For the first time, the Impressionist painters had an avid market and for the first time in their careers, achieved comfortable, steady incomes to support their work and their families. This enabled Monet to finally marry Camille, thirteen years after giving birth to their first son, Jean. For their honeymoon, they went to the seaside, where Monet painted small canvases of beach scenes. These paintings can still be distinguished from grains of sand caught by his paintbrush.

With the onset of the Franco-Prussian war, Monet and his family fled to London and then the Netherlands

to avoid conscription into the French army. In England, he experienced the work of John Constable and J.M.W. Turner, both landscape artists, and Turner himself, over the years, would evolve toward an impressionist style. Upon his return to Paris in 1871, Monet met art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, who bought one hundred paintings by Monet. This enabled Monet to move his family to Argenteuil, a boating resort famous for regattas which, along with river scenes, became his subject matter over the next seven years. His treatment of water was different from everyone else and to obtain the immediacy he desired in painting nature, he built a floating studio. He was joined in Argenteuil by Sisley and Renoir. The three spent late evenings endlessly discussing their new artistic theories and in 1873, along with eight others that included Degas and Pissarro, formally formed a society they named the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers, and Engravers, Their first exhibition, on April 15 of that year, was met with critical and financial success.

Monet was fascinated by railroads and became obsessed with interpreting the effects of steam and fog on the scene. In 1877, he embarked upon a series of twelve canvases, each a separate version of the Gare Saint-Lazare train station, all the same, but each analyzing different atmospheric situations. By now he had become acquainted with department store magnate and art collector Ernest Hoschedé, who became one of the four predominant patrons Monet would become associated with in

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A general view of Claude Monet’s painting studio in his Giverny house following a restoration project on April 4, 2011 in Giverny, France. The studio was restored using photographs taken when Monet was alive and working in the house. Claude Monet, one of the founders of French impressionist painting, lived in his Giverny house from 1883 until his death in 1926.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY YVES FORESTIER/GETTY IMAGES

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Gardener’s House at Antibes, 1888. During the winter of 1888, Monet visited Antibes in southern France. Under the Mediterranean sun his colours became lighter and brighter, and his paint surfaces more thickly impastoed. “What I bring back from here,” he wrote, “will be sweetness itself, white, pink, and blue, all enveloped in a magical air.” The brilliant colours—warm pinks, corals, cool greens, and blues—embody the sun-soaked atmosphere of the Mediterranean coast.

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The Cliffs near Dieppe by the artist Monet.

PHOTOGRAPH BY THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND VIA GETTY IMAGES

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été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com • his lifetime. He signed a contract that generated an income of 30,000 francs a year. Soon after, unfortunately, Ernest went bankrupt and moved his family into the house in Vétheuil where Monet and his family lived. He then abandoned his wife, Alice, and their five children. Alice remained, caring for Camille, who never recovered from the birth of her and Monet’s second son, Michel, and less than a year later, in 1879, Camille died. She and Monet had been together for fourteen years.

Monet’s reputation and income continued to grow and in 1883, he purchased his renowned house in Giverny, in northern France, devoting his entire time to planting two acres of magnificent gardens, along with the assistance of six full-time gardeners. By diverting the River Roux, he was able to build a large pond over which he built a Japanese bridge and cultivated his famous water lilies. There he would live for 43 years. Increasingly wealthy and celebrated, his works were proclaimed masterpieces. The 1880s was a prolific decade for Monet in which he fulfilled his artistic vision of expressing his subject with light and color to create bold contrasts, and choppy brushstrokes to depict movement, striving always to capture a fleeting moment. By the 1890s, he was a leading figure in the world of art. His series of haystacks established the high-water mark of the Impressionist Movement. Between 1892 and 1893, he completed a series of thirty canvases of Rouen Cathedral, painting fourteen canvases at a time, from three positions, creating an ethereal view of space, in all weather conditions, illustrating how time itself was the link between atmosphere conditions and mood.

Monet settled well into middle age. His unconventional family of seven children and a mistress caused gossip in the religious small community of Giverny, and in 1892, he married Alice Hoschedé and legally adopted her children. One of Monet’s adopted daughters became his daughter-in-law when she married his son, Jean Monet, and the youngest of Alice’s children was purported to be fathered by Monet.

He

spent his final years at Giverny and, despite increasing problems with his vision, endlessly continued to paint. He returned to London with Alice for periods of 1899, 1900, and 1901, living at the Savoy Hotel, during which time Monet painted one hundred canvases that included scenes of Waterloo Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament, his strokes little more than suggestions, depicting atmosphere, light, and color. He and Alice visited Spain in 1904, traveling in one of the first automobiles, which was driven by a chauffeur, and in a similar manner, visited Venice in 1908. In 1911, Alice died and in 1914, his son, Jean, also passed.

In 1898, France had promised him that the nation would build a huge round room for the sole purpose of displaying his

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Morning on the Seine near Giverny by Claude Monet. Monet traveled as far north as Norway and as far south as Venice to look for different motifs, but he always returned to the places he knew best. He painted the river Seine in Paris, Argenteuil, Vétheuil, and where it emptied into the English Channel. He turned to it again in 1896 and 1897 for his series of canvases showing how it looked at dawn. Opposite: Chrysanthemums by Claude Monet. An avid gardener, Monet produced some twenty floral still lifes between 1878 and 1883, garnering both critical and commercial success.

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lilypond painting—under the proviso Monet would agree to donate the canvases to France. Monet absorbed himself in painting his beloved lily pond and waterlilies and in 1926, shortly before his death at the age of 86, he completed his greatest work. In 1927, his enormous canvases were installed in two circular galleries built, as promised, especially to house Monet’s last works, in the Musée de l’Orangerie, in the Garde de Tuileries, known as “the Sistine Chapel of Impressionism.” Go—go yourself— and stand in the middle of the gallery become surrounded by Monet’s magnificent water garden. There you will experience tranquility and peace, created by a genius who understood the power of art.

Monet’s Water Lilies continues to attract tens of thousands of visitors every year and is the second most visited attraction in France after the Eiffel Tower. As for Giverny, it was abandoned and went into ruin before being acquired in 1980 by The Fondation Claude Monet, which precisely recreated the gardens, and restored its enchantment for the public—more than a halfmillion visitors from all over the world—to enjoy between April and November.

Monet left an unparalleled legacy. He moved the subject away from storytelling. He encouraged artists to see through their own eyes and not through someone else’s. And when you view his work, Monet will carry you—uniquely, in a way that only you can experience for yourself—to a place of cheerfulness, hope, and infinite beauty. ■

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Nymphaea by Claude Monet. Monet grew white water lilies in the water garden he had installed in his property at Giverny in 1893.

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Poppies Inspired by Claude Monet’s “The Poppy Field,” “Poppies” is a radiant manifestation of opulence, sparkle, and uncompromising glamor.

by Samantha Paige

Magnolia

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Calla

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Ivy

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Tulip

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Liv

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151 Or

A tea-length dress constructed from mirrorlike silver panels intricately attached by a delicate sheer netted fabric, creating a unique and captivating look.

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THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US INTERVIEWS

BY KAREN FLOYD

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Women Inspiring Women . . .

* Copy edited for length and clarity. * Interview videos are available to watch at elysianwomen.com

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LYSIAN was the result of Karen Floyd’s personal quest to tell and listen to stories about exceptional women. From her early twenties as a young prosecutor . . . to the women she has interviewed over the past nine years as ELYSIAN’s publisher and editor, Floyd shares insights that are intended to encourage and move our readers.

On the surface, Floyd’s interviews are about women succeeding, overcoming, persevering, and enduring.

As the number of years and interviews have grown, Floyd no longer asks, “Is it timing, virtue, luck, funding, perseverance, faith, endurance or passion?”

Instead, she concludes, “While there is no one roadmap to achievement, these remarkable women have similar attributes. At some point, each woman ‘went against the grain’ and as a result they share qualities like courage, passion, steadfast persistence, hard work, un-deterring focus, strong loyalty, self-awareness, and independence.

Though some led . . . others built, created, and changed the world. Their interviews reveal a sense of self and a belief in something greater, many call faith.”

With the thousands of interviews, Floyd emphasizes, “Their journey was often lonely, but their hardships created inner strength, enlightenment, and ultimately an intention to uplift others.”

It is that purposeful determination that Floyd mirrors in the women she interviews as she shares their inspiring stories.

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Interview Date: March 22nd, 2024

tabasum How did a child born of Arab parents in Kashmir and raised in the Muslim faith, land in a small Midwestern town to grow up amongst blue-eyed, blond-haired Christian children from whom she stood apart, only to find her “fit” at the age of 20 in the greatest city on earth: that melting pot of ethnicity, New York? The answer may very well lie with her late father, a trained physician from the northernmost region of India, who became recertified in the United States after he and his wife immigrated here with their six-month-old daughter. Her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic, held her to high expectations, and allowed “zero tolerance for mediocrity,” no matter what the task. TABASUM MIR would study at the NYC School of Medicine, train at Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital, and become a board-certified elastic-plastic surgeon who today is widely recognized as a pioneer in non-surgical cosmetic medicine and oculoplastic facial and cosmetic surgery, with a specialty in ocular and facial plastics and cosmetic surgery. Her objective? To help her patients find a place of peace where they can elevate their innate, natural beauty and actualize their most elegant selves.

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4 PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT ASCROFT/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY IMAGES

Tabasum Mir, your name is melodic . . . what is its meaning and origin?

My name is Tabasum which means smile in many different languages: Persian, Arabic, and Urdu. Each language has a different pronunciation. My family is from Kashmir, which is in the Himalayas between India and Pakistan, on the Indian-occupied side.

Where were you born and how old were you when you came to the United States?

I was born in Kashmir. My mom and dad were ready to leave Kashmir because my father wanted to have a better life for us. My mom’s parents asked them to give birth to me in India because I was the first grandchild. I was born there, but when I was six months old, we left.

Have you returned?

I was there last, 10 years ago. It’s hard for me to go back because of the political climate but I am overdue for a visit. We used to go back every four years, but I have not been regular in my visits, as an adult. We spent a couple of summers there in the second and third grades which I remember fondly.

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

I have one sister and I consider her husband like my brother. I also have two nieces.

And you grew up where in the United States?

I was in Michigan until the age of 20 and then I came to New York. I have been here for 26 years.

From where does your work ethic stem?

My work ethic comes from my immigrant parents.

There is no question about that. There was zero tolerance for mediocrity. We had to work hard no matter what we did. Whether working at a gas station or studying, we had to excel because of the sacrifices they made to come here.

Think about how hard it was for my mom and dad to leave everything they knew with a six-month-old infant. My dad knew there would be better opportunities here. Anybody who has immigrant parents recognizes a commonly held and different work ethic. Though we share gratitude, we balance feeling grateful and also feeling like an outsider. I sometimes did not feel like I was American.

Was that largely because you moved to a very small, homogenic midwestern town?

Yes, a seriously small town.

You are a brilliant and beautiful woman. How did you not feel a part of that community?

I don’t know. Everybody was blonde-haired and blueeyed. I did not match their standard of beauty, which was the traditional, wholesome kind of Midwestern girl… one that was born and raised with generations of family originating from there.

When he came to the United States, what did your dad do professionally?

He was trained as a physician but when he came to the US, he had to do his residency all over again. When we left Kashmir, first we went to London, England. My dad experienced racism, his contemporaries told him he would never be a senior physician because he was brown. So, he decided to come to the US. He flew to New York, stayed in a cheap hotel in Times Square, and started calling people that he knew from Kashmir.

He randomly called my uncle (not my real uncle), traveled to Michigan, and slept on my uncle’s couch for like a week until they found him an opening in a residency program in Huntington, West Virginia. They took a road trip to West Virginia, and my uncle tells a story of me in the back seat reading EKGs. There were no cell phones at the time. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment above a

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parking garage while my dad did his residency. We were there for maybe a year and then we left for Michigan. He was a risk taker and I see where I get it from now.

You have taken risks. I’ve watched your professional trajectory, and it is impressive. You are not the quintessential Midwestern small-town girl, are you?

A small town was tough for me. Though I hated living in a small town, by contrast, my sister liked it. It never felt right to me, which is weird to think about but in hindsight, I don’t even remember a time when it felt normal. I enjoyed the closeness of our family, and I am so grateful for that.

But even at age six, I felt claustrophobic. It was difficult.

At age 12 you entered high school. What was the biggest challenge?

Not driving. That was the biggest problem because I could not get a driver’s license until my senior year. I lied about my age in the first grade because I was five and embarrassed of being younger than everyone else. Before I had even started school, I was reading at a fourth-grade level reading because of my mom.

Your father passed away in 2005. Did he see your career path in full stride?

He saw it starting, and knew it was happening. He never

• été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com

ELYSIAN Publisher Karen Floyd interviews internationally sought-after scientific leader, spokesperson, and innovator in health and wellness, Dr. Christina Rahm.

ELYSIAN Publisher Karen Floyd interviews ‘Inspiring Woman’ Dr. Tabasum Mir.

had doubts because I was always looking for something better.

He saw me start my first practice. I told him I was being treated like a second-class citizen. The older, male doctors were giving me their scraps, not the right patients. I told him that I would be better off starting my own practice. He said, “Okay, do it.” I did it because he gave me that confidence.

Like your father, you are not risk-averse.

Yes. But I didn’t know he was like that until I was older. He would quietly watch. Looking back, I think he recognized that shared characteristic or personality trait in us both. He saw that in me, but he didn’t say anything, he let me figure things out. He did see my practice taking off in the beginning, though.

When did you know you wanted to be a physician?

I don’t know if I ever really knew there was a choice because that was what we were expected to do. We become

physicians. That’s my culture. I did really well at school, so I don’t know if I ever thought about it, I just did it.

Were you good at math?

Yes. Up until I wasn’t.

Math, physics, or biology. Which is your strength?

I hated physics until I taught it in college and then I liked it. I liked biology right off the bat.

It just flowed because . . . ?

Biology is visual.

Tell me about medical school.

I enjoyed medical school.

How hard was it on a scale of 1-10?

It was very hard. It was 11 Did you think you would make it through?

I never doubted it. I loved medical school. I sat next to a Navy Seal and there were two Navy Seals in my medical school class. One was so scary that I couldn’t even make eye contact with him. The other one, Hunter, was friendly, he could be the guy next door. I said, “This must be easy for you because you are a Navy Seal.” He said, “It is the same exact thing as being a Navy Seal because it’s all mental.” I never forgot what he said, and it has stayed with me.

Do you think that illness is mental?

I think illness is mental in a lot of ways.

Do you think that physical beauty is mental?

Yes. Sometimes results are not about what you physically see but about how you feel. I can have a perfect result but if the patient doesn’t feel good, it doesn’t matter what I did.

Can you train your mind to stay positive despite it being otherwise?

Yes. But others can impact that positivity. I was very positive until other people would get involved in my life.

Slowly and insidiously their influence could change me, and then all of a sudden, I was not positive anymore.

From a very young age, I wanted to be a doctor and go to medical school. When I was 11 or 12, a lady said, “Okay, well what’s your backup plan?” It made me so angry. You are telling me as a 12-year-old to have a backup plan?

Basically, she was implying I would fail at this, so I needed a backup plan. I remember thinking, what are you teaching your kids at 12?

That story tells me that you have run through some brick walls.

Yes. Plowed through them.

Did you have any hiccups in medical school?

I think I would just define hiccup as the following. I was very young. I was 20 when I started medical school. I didn’t have social maturity, even though academically I was fine.

When you are 20 or 21 it is difficult to feel empathy with some people. For example, at that age when people would tell me that they couldn’t quit smoking because of what had happened in their life, it was very hard for me to understand.

I remember thinking, this is killing you. Why can’t you stop?

There was also a young Arabic woman who was probably only in her early thirties and was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I lacked the emotional capacity to just sit with her and just be there for her. I had to be the doctor. I would tell you that I learned true empathy later.

You just were missing the life experiences that provide perspective?

Yes. That’s really what it comes down to. I had very little life experience in medical school.

You then became a plastic surgeon. Can you take the readers through those steps?

After medical school, you do a residency program. I didn’t want to practice in trauma, but I was interested in aesthetics.

So, I did further training for plastic and the cosmetic surgery.

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HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED ALONE? IS IT DAILY? IS IT A PRACTICE OF MEDITATION? HOW DO YOU SELF-CALIBRATE? You have distinguished your practice as specializing in minimally invasive procedures. What does that mean in layman’s terms?

The world right now is focused on minimally invasive procedures. Fifteen years ago, you had two different paths: surgery or fillers (Botox). That was it, those were your choices.

I remember people saying, “I’m only 40 years old, I don’t need Botox.” It’s funny to think about that because now, 20-year-old patients are using Botox for prevention. The whole culture has changed, and people are starting sooner to preserve youthfulness longer as opposed to waiting for something surgical. A lot of people look surgical, but they don’t look youthful.

What is the number one beauty tip that you give everyone?

Number one, used to be, to wear sunblock. I think my number one now is the less you drink alcohol and the more you can sleep, the better you look.

Sleep is really important. How many hours do you require?

I am okay with six or seven, eight hours is great. My sister needs nine hours. Whatever your body needs, but just make sure you go to bed at a regular time every day and avoid drinking too much Anybody who drinks and stops drinking sees an improvement in their looks.

You talk a lot about your sister. Tell me about her.

We are both cut from the same cloth, but we are also different. There is no other person I would consider as emotionally tough. We have been through a lot together, but we are so different. I always used to say she is more like Jacqueline Onassis, and I am more like Marilyn Monroe.

She’s very classic and has worn the same foundation since high school. I have worn hundreds. She sticks with things she likes and does not change.

Did she end up in the medical profession?

Yes. We both became doctors. She is a primary care doctor outside of DC, the DC, McLean, and Vienna areas. She is an excellent diagnostician, while I enjoy doing procedures.

What is the primary difference between your patients in Florida versa patients in New York?

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In New York, everybody asks if it hurts. There also is a lot of “shopping” in New York. Generally, by the time a patient sees you in Florida, they have decided on an outcome or procedure. In New York, there is more candy in the candy store. But the Florida patients, they know why they are there and have an idea of what they want to accomplish. There are much less expensive places in Florida, so they come to a certain caliber of doctor’s office and expect commensurate prices.

What practice do you like better, New York or Florida? You have to pick one.

New York, because it’s mine. It is small but mighty and we are doing things that some of the biggest practices are not yet doing, and I have been doing them for years. I love that and I am proud of it.

I read in a 2004 interview about what specific qualities you would hope to have in a life partner.

Oh my God, I really wish Andy was here right now. I thought that interview would be buried.

Well, I found it. I think your husband is a great life partner for you.

We make sense. I was on a reality show, and I did not know what reality TV was about. They asked me to write down a description of my ideal life partner. They said, just be whimsical, be funny, be outrageous. No one’s ever going to see this. But anyone who was on the show’s website saw it. I get so embarrassed, and Andy will routinely call the girls at the office and ask “Hey guys, did you see Tab’s dating bio? It’s me.” And he’ll read it to them.

If I am in a bad mood, Andy will text me the dating bio I wrote. It says, I want somebody who is of Norwegian descent with a nice bone structure, who is well-read but doesn’t take himself too seriously. He wants to settle down and has a great sense of humor.

Be careful what you ask for. It is literally Andy. On our second date, he found the dating bio...

Unfortunately, your father did not get to meet Andy.

No. It’s sad. I think they would have gotten along great.

My dad was very serious and stoic. If you have read

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PHOTOGRAPH BY CINDY ORD/GETTY IMAGES FOR LORD & TAYLOR

TV Personality Dr. Tabasum Mir at Birdcage Spring Launch Event at Lord & Taylor, 2016 in New York City.

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Kerry Cassidy (left) and Dr. Tabasum Mir attend PANDORA Jewelry Sponsors Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center on February 16, 2015, in New York City.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GUSTAVO CABALLERO/GETTY IMAGES FOR PANDORA

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES FOR IPIC

Dr. Tabasum Mir attends the iPic Theaters Fulton Market Opening Gala at the Seaport District / Screening of Netflix’s Mascots in New York City.

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KAREN, I THINK YOU GET THIS. YOU ARE YOUR OWN BRAND, AND I AM MY OWN BRAND, WHETHER I WANT TO BE OR NOT. I NEED TO FIND TIME EVERY SINGLE DAY TO RESET. EVEN IF IT MEANS SITTING IN A TAXI OR A CAR AND JUST TAKING A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS. THAT’S IT. INTENTIONAL. DEEP BREATHS . . . I FULLY BELIEVE IN MEDITATION. I JUST DON’T HAVE IT IN ME; I THINK I HAVE TOO MUCH ADD TO SIT AND MEDITATE FOR 10 MINUTES. BUT I DO DEEP BREATHS, INTENTIONAL, DEEP BREATHS. SOMETIMES THAT IS ALL I NEED.

about stoic philosophers, that was my dad. The man had patience and perseverance.

Epicurus and Plato.

Yes. That was my dad. He was never rattled despite my mom being a firecracker. In the eye of the storm, he would be the calm one.

When you saw Andy, did you know he was “it?”

No, I just remember thinking he was cute and funny. I was excited that I met a cute boy in Manhattan because it is “slim pickings.” I always dated handsome men. I never really thought I was going to get married and never really wanted to get married. I was so focused on my career, and I really enjoyed the independence. So, I didn’t look at him and think, oh my God, he’s the one. Actually, quite the opposite. I just thought he would be some handsome guy and maybe we would have a fling.

I feel like I have known him before in another life. In many ways, we get along so well, but there are times where we drive each other nuts, which is normal. He always tells me that my parents sent him here for me. Because I lost both of them.

What happened?

My dad died suddenly of a heart attack at age 62. It was shocking because he was in good shape and took good care of himself. He was active. It happened right after we landed in Kashmir, in 2005, so maybe it was a pulmonary embolism.

We don’t know because they don’t do autopsies there. My mom died of a broken heart. She just couldn’t get over it. She decompensated emotionally after that, stopped taking care of herself, and her health deteriorated. She did not want to be around, did not want to live.

He was her world. And we joked around and said we never knew they liked each other that much. We really did everything we could, my sister and I, to make her happy and get her to spring back to life. Nope. She was done.

How long after you Father?

Five years. I told her, you must live until you are at least 80 years old. She would look at me with such sadness. It was crazy because we never expected what happened.

Do you think that people can “will” their own death?

I do. I think your mind is very powerful.

I’m curious about your faith.

I was raised Muslim and I have a lot of comfort in the traditions that we had growing up, like attending mosque on Fridays and fasting for Ramadan, which was really special. We would wake up in the morning and my mom would always have some food ready for us. Then we would celebrate with other family members in our area, so a lot of my faith growing up was strong.

When I was singularly focused on medical school and achieving in that field, my dad said, “You will enter a season in your life when you become more spiritual and a better person.”

I didn’t understand what he was saying at the time. I do now.

In the divineness of it all, I think we are all created equally, and we are all connected. Our journey is just to figure out how to remain connected as we get older because we become so disconnected from whatever source of happiness and joy there is. I think children are connected. If you are lucky, when you get older, you become connected irrespective of religion.

Was your father a practicing Muslim?

Yes, he was. He prayed five times a day. He would never say this, but I think he was very much a Sufi. He was such a philosopher, and his religious practice transcended the physical act of prayer.

Did he regularly read the Quran?

Yes, but he lived the teachings. There are people who are religious that are judgmental and who are religious for the optics. “I’m praying, look at me . . . I’m donating to the church, look what a great religious person I am.” He was none of that. He was just quiet, and religion was his own journey. He knew I did not have the same mindset, but he had patience and faith that I would get there.

When you see the conflict in the Middle East, does it touch you?

Yes. Because the conflict is between two brothers who are fighting. We are the same, but God, this fight will probably never be resolved.

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Andy is Christian?

Talk about two pieces of a puzzle . . . I have seen so many similarities in the strength of our families’ beliefs.

Andy and I are not as religious as our families are, but we are very spiritual, which is funny because he is Christian, and I am Muslim. Our families are similar in the goodness of their hearts and their kindness. Andy’s family has shown me so much kindness.

I remember the first time they prayed. It was Thanksgiving and everybody got into a circle and held hands. They were praying in the name of Jesus, praising their family and their religion. I remember feeling uncomfortable because I felt once again that I was the outsider. But they were so... and continue to be so . . . warm, loving, and welcoming so it doesn’t matter.

Andy’s dad texts me saying, Happy Ramadan. I don’t think he would have done that if he did not know me.

Do you want children?

I never wanted children and Andy has two kids. He is a man who has always wanted children and he is wonderful with kids. In many ways, he is a big kid. I think he relates authentically, in a completely fun-loving way, with kids, more than he does with adults. He definitely plays and is present with them. He coaches kids and can bring children out of their shells. I wasn’t wired that way. I can’t explain it. I don’t know if there was a past life where I had 50 kids…I have always understood the sacrifice that you need to make to have kids, and I never wanted to do that.

Is it possible to be as driven, successful, and professionally focused as you are and also give the same dedication to children?

No. I knew that from a young age.

How do you juggle that with Andy’s children?

It wasn’t easy and requires a lot of communication.

Personally, it was really hard for me to say my feelings about having children, out loud, to Andy. As a woman, not wanting to have kids is considered abnormal. People don’t believe you and if you say it, it is an unpopular point of view. Oprah is probably the only other person I know who never wanted to have kids. I made that decision knowing the sacrifice needed and not wanting to make that sacrifice.

In the beginning of our relationship, I thought that Andy would just do what he wanted when it came to seeing the kids. But I am structured, and I need to know the schedule, which was a big challenge for us.

Alone time. Is it important to you?

Yeah. I need it to regenerate.

How much time do you need alone? Is it daily? Is it a practice of meditation? How do you self-calibrate?

Karen, I think you get this. You are your own brand, and I am my own brand, whether I want to be or not.

I need to find time every single day to reset. Even if it means sitting in a taxi or a car and just taking a couple of deep breaths. That’s it. Intentional. Deep breaths. I do not meditate because I can’t find time for meditation, not because I don’t believe in it. I fully believe in meditation.

I just don’t have it in me; I think I have too much ADD to sit and meditate for 10 minutes. But I do deep breaths, intentional, deep breaths. Sometimes that is all I need.

What are you afraid of ?

Afraid of failure and death.

You are afraid of death?

I had a strong sensation as a young kid that my parents wouldn’t be around for very long. I don’t know why. I just knew it.

Are you afraid of your death or the death of those you love?

I was afraid of my parents dying . . .

So, you faced your worst fear?

Yes. Their death has been the worst thing I have ever faced. I felt that fear from a young age, a feeling that they would die too soon. My mom would go to a party, she would come back, and I would be crying hysterically because she was gone for too long. I think it was because I sensed this.

Do you think that you were born with an enhanced sensitivity or enlightenment?

I do. I think sometimes I forget about it because I get so busy.

Are you open to clairvoyance or even reincarnation?

I am but I don’t like the word reincarnation. You know what I mean, and I suppose there’s no other real word for it.

There are just things I can’t explain but are ingrained in me.

Why did I not like being in a small town from ages 6, 7, 8?

That doesn’t make sense. How did I know? I had a bad feeling about my parents. I knew the last time I was with my mother, that it would be the last time I would see her. I actually said to myself, “This is the last time I will see my mom on this earth.”

That is truly what I said. And I remember thinking, what the hell’s wrong with you? Snap out of it. I don’t know where these feelings come from.

When you meet a person, do you have a visceral feeling?

I do.

And when you don’t listen to that, what happens?

I am always screwed. Sometimes I question these thoughts and think to myself, maybe I am misjudging them. I have some patients, that as soon as we meet, I know it will not be the right fit.

And do you say that?

Especially in this stage of my professional life, where I don’t need to take every patient that comes to me, I tend to be direct. In the beginning, when I was establishing the practice, trying to be a great doctor and do my best, I ignored warning signs and rationalized by saying, “This person needs this, that person needs that.” Now I have a talk with my staff to see how the patient is interacting with them and it helps me to gauge my gut feeling, irrespective of what they want to have done. Because, as I mentioned before, a lot of the success is not the technical success, it’s meeting their emotional expectations. I definitely have not taken patients because I didn’t think it was the right fit. I pass on being their doctor because I care and if I didn’t care, I would take everybody as a patient.

What do you want to accomplish?

I want more peace.

How do you get that?

You have to consciously seek peace. I used to be available for everybody all the time. There was no peace.

Now I need to enjoy myself a little bit more. I am taking time out to do that. It doesn’t need to be an extended vacation. It needs to be a little bit of time every day. Even if it involves not answering the phone for an hour or playing a lot more pickleball.

(Left-right) Craig Ramsay, Olympic diver and LGBT-rights activist Greg Louganis, and Dr. Tabasum Mir pose for portrait at Greg Louganis’ Pre-ESPY Awards Wheaties Breakfast for Champions at The Starving Artists Project in Los Angeles, California.

PHOTOGRAPH BYMICHAEL BEZJIAN/WIREIMAGE

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I want to hear about pickleball.

It has been great for me. The name is goofy, I wish it had a sexier name.

It sounds like an old person thing.

It was an old person thing, but those old people kick my butt. They are so good.

Do you play doubles with Andy?

No, we cannot play together. He’s way too good and I am not that good. I tend to play competitively with people who are at my level. If I play competitively with people who are his level, I get killed.

Which is not fun.

It’s not fun for me. It’s not fun for them.

And you like winning?

Yes. It’s great to win. But I like playing so if I don’t win and it’s a fun game, at least I can have a laugh or a chuckle. If I know I played a great game even though I didn’t necessarily win, it’s fun.

A lot of really good tennis players are playing now which is challenging because they jump into pickleball and pick it up like it is no big deal. They have all the muscle memory, and I clearly didn’t come from a tennis background.

If you could ask God a question, what would you ask him?

Where are my parents?

Do you think that there is fairness in the world?

I think that there is, but that is a tough question. If you expect everything to be fair all the time, you will be disappointed, because I don’t think everything is always fair. Was it fair that I lost both of my parents? No, but I think because I lost them, I really plowed into life harder.

The people that I was living for are not here anymore which taught me to live harder and proceed further. I think I did more with them not being here.

Was your father’s approval important to you?

Yes. Was he the most important driver to your decision-making early on?

No, it was my mom.

Really?

My mom was like, “You are going to do this, or I will kick your butt.” In Kashmir, she was a principal, a headmaster of an allwomen’s high school. And she was very loved and feared, just like my grandmother. My mom ruled with an iron fist, but she was also the sweetest, the life of the party while still being a firecracker.

Was she pretty?

Beautiful. She had the same color eyes that you have. Light eyes, beautiful skin. She was stunning. In fact, when she was younger, she said all the boys wanted to meet her, but she was just not interested, she was traditional. My niece reminds me a lot of my mom because she is a complete firecracker, just fearless and full of emotion. Everyone says when she would walk into the room, the room would light up. There was no question. She was the opposite of my dad who was very understated, while my mom was the star.

You have two philanthropic focuses; one is Life’s water. What is that all about?

Andy’s uncle started a project funding people in Rwanda to come to the United States to attend school. The idea is that they finish out their schooling here to return to Rwanda and make their community better.

Part of that project is providing water. In many countries, there is a lack of water for girls during their menstrual cycle.

Having the ability to access clean water in these places is

Dr. Tabasum Mir attends the LaPalme Magazine’s Summer Issue Party— Arrivals at Sofitel Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

fundamental. Think about when your water shuts off for the day or you have a water leakage. How much does it affect you? Think about the fact that people live like this with no fundamental necessities that we take for granted. Young girls on their menstrual cycle are prohibited from attending school because they are not considered clean. Water is so basic, and by providing access it allows them to just feel human.

And your other charity?

Maya’s Hope. Maya, if you meet her, is a remarkable human being, a freaking angel. She goes to third-world countries and finds orphanages where they have severely handicapped children. She finds foster homes for the children.

She is focusing now on handicapped children from Ukraine, Russia, those sorts of countries. These are kids that are just born and left to die because they are not considered human, and she finds them homes.

I have been helping with that behind the scenes. Maya has galas every year and Andy MCs them to raise money.

If you just look at these stories and the families that adopt these children, they’re incredible. I look at what I do and it’s nothing compared to what they do. They’re taking a child who the world has forgotten, who has no hope left and they bring them back and nurse them back to life.

What do you want to be remembered for?

That I was a kind and authentic person . . . and that I gave my absolute best. I guess I never really thought about it.

What piece of advice would you tell a young woman, maybe your younger self?

I did not expect so many people to not want me to succeed . . . or to wish for my failure. It is such a bizarre thing for me to grasp, I do not know why or understand it. How can someone, your average person, look at what you are doing and feel resentful? Is it because they did not try or do it themselves? I never injected myself into anyone else’s life. They never had to ask for my permission to do whatever they wanted to do. But somehow, with me, seeking my own destiny caused a lot of people to try and stop me. I’m talking in the most subtle ways. Like, “Oh, you want to open up your own medical practice? Well, do you know how expensive it is to make business cards? It cost $10,000. I don’t know how you’re going to afford everything.”

I would tell that young woman seeking her destiny, don’t listen to anybody. Create your own path and be unapologetic for it. If you are purposeful, kind, have ethics, and you persevere, you will get there. Certainly, don’t listen to the people that tell you, “You can’t do it.” Even if the person is your mother, father, boyfriend, or your girlfriend. Don’t listen.

If you believe it, then it will happen.

I don’t think that God will place a dream in your heart, for it not to happen. That is a hundred percent how I feel. If other people try to stop you, don’t listen to them. I never did.

Sometimes it would really hurt my feelings, the things people would say. I would just say, you know what? They don’t know me. Once, I took an in-service exam (an exam that monitors your academic progress) and I did terribly. I had been on call the night before and had zero sleep. A physician in my residency program took me in a room behind closed doors. He looked at me and he said, “You did so bad on this exam, we could have hired a blindfolded monkey, and the monkey could have typed in these answers and done better than you.” That was mean and cruel. I just sat there stone cold, and I remember thinking, this jerk is trying to make me cry, but I will not allow that to happen. The entire time I told myself, this will pass, and I will succeed. He will be stuck here in this room forever and I will be just fine. He was so upset that I didn’t get emotional . . . What you need is to always believe in yourself. ■

PHOTOGRAPH BY RODIN ECKENROTH/GETTY IMAGES

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Interview Date: March 22nd, 2024

kimmy A loving, joyful mother. A resilient, hard-working father. A teacher and mentor who recognized her potential and the promise in a young student who possessed a natural-born algorithmic mind. Meet KIMMY POWELL, the woman who is a ‘powerhouse behind Woodhouse,’ a nationally renowned spa franchise. As a businesswoman, wife, mother, and new “glamma,” she has met and surmounted many challenges to achieve personal gain thanks to the foundation built during her youth by her parents and educators.

However, it was “serendipity,” she says, that led her to Woodhouse. Kimmy is the owner/operator and franchise owner of four Woodhouse Spas, in four states. Juggling the demands of business and, in addition, real estate, would sap the strength of most women. Not Kimmy. She “fiercely protects her energy zone” and attributes the secret to her success, both in business and in her personal life, by taking the time necessary to steadfastly maintain a physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Of herself, she says, “I am an ‘introverted extrovert.’ I’m not lonely, but I treasure solitude.”

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You are the youngest of three. Who read to you as a child, and what are your first memories?

Wow. You know what, I do not recall anyone other than my sister reading to me. She is five years older, and we are so close. I remember vividly, playing with her, asking her if I could spend the night in her room when I was scared. She is a wonderful big sister and the pseudo-mom of the family.

You were the baby, and your sister was the eldest, who was in between?

My brother, we are Irish twins. He was born a year and two weeks before I was.

Did he go into your father’s general contracting business?

No, he is a psychiatrist. We come from a long line of doctors, although my father and his two brothers skipped the doctor generation. My grandfather was instrumental in researching polio and was the author of Fever Therapy – H. Worley Kendall.

I find women from the Midwest are different from other women in the US. What are those differences?

I think people from the Midwest are more grounded, a little more comfortable in their own skin. They are hardworking and scrappy. Southerners are very kind, but there is nuance.

I love their nuance now that I live here. But when I meet somebody from the Midwest, it just feels like home.

I really am curious about the difference.

Maybe it has to do with the Rust Belt, the large working class, and the service industries that were created. In the Midwest, we make things. I am from Dayton, Ohio, where we were known for holding more patents than anywhere in the country, before technology and startups, that is. With innovation, you need working-class people.

Your mom and dad were in construction and commercial development.

Tell me about them.

My dad was a workaholic. He was the youngest of three.

His father was a doctor, he was the chief of staff at Miami Valley Hospital. He cheated on my father’s mother with a redheaded nurse and then they ran off together. My father went from being a wealthy member of the community as a young boy, to doing paper routes to pay for Christmas, for his family.

His mother suffered from alcoholism. She was devout within the church, but the loss of her marriage sent her reeling.

My dad had to figure life out on his own. He worked harder than anybody I have ever known. He was really no-nonsense, and also a very generous man. It was his generosity that had one of the most profound impacts on my life.

Do you think that your father’s relationship with his mother made him respect non-traditional women?

To be totally honest, my dad had a debilitating stroke when he was 65. I was still pretty young and raising my family. I don’t know that he ever really thought about what I was going to do or become. He always believed in me, but my mother was really more focused on me. He was fixated on my brother and his struggle with depression. I think he assumed we would figure life out. You know what I mean? He knew we were resilient.

And your mother…?

My mom was a traditional, stay-at-home mom who kept the family together. She was joyful, loving, and always there for us.

She gave me my confidence; you would have thought the sun rose and set around me. I could do no wrong in my mother’s eyes, and that is what every young child needs, someone who believes in them. While I got my confidence from my mother, I learned hard work and resilience from my father. I was always interested in his business, and I would ask him for business advice.

Your father suffered a massive stroke at age 65, how old was he when he passed away?

He passed away at 74. For eight years he was handicapped.

I stepped in to help settle his many business affairs.

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How old were you?

I was probably 34 with small children.

Let’s rewind. How did you enter the world of technology?

My cheerleading advisor in the seventh grade, Janet Dudin, introduced me to technology. Janet was a beautiful young woman, probably 24 years old at the time. What are the odds that, in 1980 I would have a computer science, beautiful cheerleading advisor to impact my life so profoundly? I feel sometimes I should call her and thank her because I started programming computers when I was 13 years old. She was my teacher and mentor.

That is very young…is technology hardwired in your mind?

Yes. My brain is algorithmic, so how fortuitous it was that computer science was just beginning to evolve. A female in computer science was empowering, particularly because I could program, which involves both problem-solving and creativity.

You graduated from college and went straight into a corporate position?

Yes, I attended Stetson University in Florida for a year and a half. My parents never saw the school, but it was the only school I applied to. My husband now, and boyfriend then, dropped me off. I transferred back up to Dayton, Ohio, to the University of Dayton where I graduated in computer science. We were married in the middle of exams, in my junior year.

When did you first meet your husband?

I was 15 years old on spring break in Beaufort, South Carolina, with my best friend Anne, whose dad had just moved there. He owned a concrete business. My parents never let me go on vacation with other people but being the third born and a rambunctious 15-year-old, I think they just gave up. We drove to the Sound Barrier where my husband was working as a stereo installer. I fell in love with him the minute we met. There was something special about him.

Did he feel the same?

Yes and no. There was chemistry but he was four years older and more mature. We hit it off immediately and have always been simpatico. But my girlfriend and I got a little drunk and acted stupid. We were going to go to a concert, and he canceled on us. I ended up going anyway. I tracked him down later.

How did you stay in touch?

We wrote letters to each other. He was a fireman and paramedic in Hilton Head when I met him. I saw him again a year later.

Was your husband on a college path?

No. He went to college for a few months, but it was not for him. His family did not have the resources nor was there any incentive. He was scrappy, hardworking, and an entrepreneur to his core, but he needed money to survive. He would fix somebody’s bicycle and that would turn into a bicycle business.

He is a true entrepreneur because he had to be. I had a couple of boyfriends over the years, and they were exceptionally gifted students, but to date, my husband still is the smartest man I have ever met, but a different kind of smart. The kind of smart that is unscripted and full of promise.

You have been married for 34 years. Is that difficult?

Have you heard the expression, “Choose your hard?” You know, everything of value is hard. Being single would be hard. Not having him there when we went through tough times with the kids would be hard. But I think marriage is a dance or a journey. I think of marriage as a rollercoaster. It just continues to go around and around and around…each “round” is a year in your marriage.

You fasten your seatbelt and roll up a hill, there is a twist and a turn, then hands in the air as you plummet down, followed by a slow pause. A rollercoaster ride is my metaphor for marriage.

ELYSIAN Publisher Karen Floyd interviews “Inspiring Woman” Kimmy Powell in Charleston, South Carolina.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY KIMMY POWELL / WOODHOUSE SPAS

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his stroke, they put him in intensive care because they needed to put a stent in his carotid artery. My brother and I had a discussion with the neurologist who said, “If I look at your dad’s labs, we should put him on blood thinners right now.” But, because he was talking, and walking, planning on returning to work . . . being a typical dad, we made the unfortunate and wrong decision not to put him on blood thinners. His stroke extended in the ICU. I often go back and wonder if I had just made a different decision, would that have happened?

You cannot go backward, Kimmy.

I know but I wish the neurologist would not have asked our opinion. My dad was a hundred percent functioning, we just didn’t know. Taking care of a parent is hard.

Was he ever clearheaded from that point forward?

No. In fact, it was interesting because my dad was not a real warm and fuzzy guy. I don’t remember him ever really saying, I love you. But after his stroke, he was more like a teddy bear, which was kind of awesome in a way because he was a little more childlike. I loved it strangely because he was different. He was sweet. When my dad was drinking, he was very sweet, but he was not so pleasant the next day. He would be stressed out, had a lot on his plate, and all that.

But after his stroke, he couldn’t communicate. One thing he used to say which was funny was, “Yeah, right.” I would joke with him, and I would say, “I got your wallet, Dad, don’t worry. I’m going shopping,” which is how we could tell his cognitive level. If he responded, “Yeah, right,” we knew, okay, dad is with us today.

Any advice for women who are caregiving when it becomes really tough?

There is an end which is important to know, that suffering is not forever. Also, you have to take care of yourself. Caregiver burnout is real, so try to get whatever rest and support you can from your church, friends, or family. Accept help. It was really hard on my mom, and she did an incredible job of making the best of a horrible situation.

Charleston, your entire immediate family is now here, why?

I fell in love with Charleston even though we had built a house on Fripp Island. I had been to Beaufort and Hilton Head, but never to Charleston. We came to watch our son swim for the College of Charleston, and I literally fell in love.

I told my husband, “I’m going to die in this city.” It was love at first sight for me. In my book I talk about the tipping point, which is not a novel concept . . . the fear of staying the same is worse than the fear of change. It is why people move, and change jobs, right? Because the fear of the new thing is less scary than staying in the same place.

There was a point where I just could not stay in the same rut. My boys were teenagers, and they were handfuls.

I thought, if you’re going to be this stupid, you can be this stupid in a place where I want to live.

And your husband, was he also pulling you back to South Carolina?

Ironically, not really. I think he liked his country club friends and golfing buddies. We had a wonderful group of friends. Dayton is a beautiful place to raise a family, but we always were drawn here too.

My third son is getting married in May to the daughter of one of my best friends, someone I have known from kindergarten through 12th grade. He has been living on Hilton Head Island since college and we began spending more time there with them and that made us feel like we could live there too.

I believe that you should love where you live. But it never occurred to me that I could choose, which is crazy.

So how did it happen?

Well, we began to look for opportunities. Keith started a South Carolina division of the company where we established

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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY KIMMY POWELL / WOODHOUSE SPAS

Your marriage works because . . . fill in the blank?

We are committed. For a marriage to work, you have to have the commitment to not quit. Like writing a book, there are chapters and an ending, but you have to be committed to seeing it through.

Do children make the marriage stronger or more challenging?

Both. There are seasons and they all hold value. There were times when our children have brought us together, but we probably experienced some of the hardest times because of our children.

There is a beauty in being united for a cause, and all the noise dissipates because you must solve this problem quickly. Everything else becomes superfluous and does not matter. As they say, “You are only as happy as your saddest child,” which is the truest statement that I have ever heard. We feel that a happy marriage is the best and most important gift we can give to our children.

Husband and wife . . . and business owners, together. You have owned an industrial flooring business for over three decades. Did you inherit the business from your father?

A lot of people think that, but it is not true. We started out in the paint business. My parents were very good friends with the founders of Warehouse Paint Center, which was eventually acquired by Sherwin Williams. My husband started a job with them as a sales rep, but he would do his own business, pressure washing, on the side. He made more money pressure washing, than he did at the paint job. What ended up happening was he was bidding all the jobs for the painters, and he was doing all the leg work. One day he came home and said, “I want to start a painting business.” I was a junior in college and conservative . . . wanted him to just get a good job that had health insurance and other benefits. But he said, “No, I want to do it, now.” Off he went and started Summit Painting Company. I did all the bills and wrote my own computer code where we captured all the customers in a database, and what paint formulas they used on their house. The paint business started organically. I was right-brained and doing the linear work, while he was getting the jobs and producing. We were married in July 1990, but we really started the business before that.

How did the industrial flooring come into play?

We did not sell the paint business, but its evolution was a business of industrial flooring. Interestingly enough, my husband noticed an industrial flooring shot blaster. My dad loaned us the money to get the first shot blaster, which we paid back within two months. My husband recognized that the industrial flooring business was more technical and less dependent upon employees. He saw where the market was headed, and we migrated from painting to flooring, which is our core business and has been so now for over 30 years.

What is the largest project you ever did?

Largest project . . . Early on for Proctor and Gamble was a game changer. At the time our business was doing maybe $600,000 a year. We were selected for a job of $700,000. I was pregnant with our second son, and with a young engineer, we got that job and another job of that size. I really credit the young engineer for giving us that opportunity and my husband for taking it and executing it. My focus shifted into legal, finances, and workers’ comp.

When your father passed away in 2011 were you residing in Charleston?

I was in Dayton at the time, we moved to Charleston in 2014. I would have never left my mother while my father was alive and handicapped. She lives here, now.

Taking care of a parent is very hard. Did you ever expect how difficult it could be?

No. My dad was a big drinker, a larger-than-life guy. I think we all just thought he would drop dead one day, but we never expected it to go like it did - a long nuanced story. When he had

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residency at our vacation home outside of Beaufort so the boys could go to school in South Carolina. Our retirement was always intended to be South Carolina and we knew we would end up here. I began to do vision boards.

You were born with a clarity that most people don’t have?

Not in an arrogant way, but yes. I think I lived before. I do have a slight clairvoyance and I am very connected to spirituality.

Does it surprise you that many of the women that I interview have that same visceral ability or clairvoyant feeling?

No, it does not surprise me at all because I believe that we are all magnetic beings with lots of energy and what you project, you will attract. I protect my energy quite fiercely. I do not allow people to bring my energy zone down. I think people like-minded will attract the energy that they want.

If you don’t listen to that inner feeling, what happens?

Terrible things happen when you don’t listen to your inner self. There have been business ventures and things my husband and I have disagreed on, and they have failed miserably and cost us terribly. We learned early on that when we are not on the same page, it is a disaster for us. Truly.

Your sweetgrass candle. Is that something that you created, or you and your husband created?

Something I created, but interestingly enough, the Sweetgrass candle was originally born off of the Emanuel AME tragedy in Charleston. That was my inspiration. My husband later did a job for a candle company and in turn, he gave me the credit for the meditation candle line, Héron.

The candle line is collaborative in that sense. People love this meditation candle line and I just sell it through the spa. The scents of the candle line are Rise, Radiate, and Rest.

The serendipity of you becoming a franchisee of Woodhouse began in Dayton. How? The owner of Woodhouse in Cincinnati acquired the spa in Dayton, Ohio, when the proprietor was killed in a plane crash. Had he not had that opportunity, I think my life would be different. He opened Woodhouse Day Spa in Dayton, Ohio, which became my home base. I love spas, I love hospitality.

When we moved to Charleston, I couldn’t find a Woodhouse.

I thought, “This is Charleston so they must have the most beautiful spas in the world.” Back in 2014, honestly, there were one or two hotel spas in Charleston. They were okay but not great. I took my husband to lunch in Dayton, Ohio, and plied him with a few mimosas and took him to a couple’s massage at Woodhouse and said, “What would you think if I opened one of these in Charleston?” He is such a risk taker and he said, “I think you’d be great at it.” So, off we went.

Tell me about the change in the Woodhouse business model from “founderled” to that of franchisee.

Yes, when I came on board, the original business model was “founder-led” which no longer exists. I came on as a regional developer and bought the rights to 13 locations throughout the whole southeast. When I opened my first Woodhouse, I was my first franchisee and then I also became my second franchisee.

You introduced me to my third franchisee in Greenville. Shortly after Greenville, the CEO of Woodhouse sold to the first private equity firm. During Covid, a second private equity firm came in. Now I am a franchisee of four units; Charleston and Mount Pleasant (SC), Franklin (Tenn), and Savannah (Ga).

Tell me about Savannah.

I am so excited about Savannah. Savannah was originally one of the locations that I bought as the regional developer and it has always been on my list. The private equity firm bought my regional development locations, but I retained the right to open in Savannah.

Most of the Woodhouse multi-unit owners have franchises in the same city. Our four are in three states, which is unusual for a

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PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY KIMMY POWELL / WOODHOUSE SPAS

multi-unit owner with Woodhouse. I always sought strategic locations rather than having multiple in the same location.

Only time will tell if this was wise.

I negotiated both Savannah, Georgia, and Franklin, Tennessee, during Covid. I was aggressive when the market was unsteady, a Warren Buffet concept.

I knew Savannah was important and always wanted my spas on the water. I always thought Savannah was a cool city and I am drawn to artistic cities. So, when I saw the Eastern Wharf location, I reached out to them, and they said they had been trying to get a hold of somebody at Woodhouse for six months. I said, “Well, I am here.” I love that location.

When everyone else is sleeping at the wheel . . .

Yes. I tried to be super aggressive. Woodhouse corporate was very generous in “putting a carrot out,” and mandated that we opened and committed within a certain timeframe. Not many corporations are going to give you a chunk of money, so we took it very seriously, which is why I ended up in Franklin and Savannah.

Your open date and Grand opening in Savannah are when?

We’re hoping to be open to the public on May 1st and our ELYSIAN and Woodhouse Grand opening is scheduled for May 9th.

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What is the most difficult part of managing spas?

More Consistency. Better Processes. Better People.

How many hours do you work a week?

I just always work. But I try very hard to keep boundaries.

I don’t take meetings before 10:00 AM. I work remotely. I protect my mornings.

Do you work late in the night?

I never really stop working. I wake up at three and start emailing or go back to sleep, but I love it.

When we talked about scheduling this interview for Saturday you declined, which told me you had other engagements.

It is interesting you point that out. I could have met on Saturday, but it would have broken my commitment to myself. It is a good thing I didn’t, because my grandchild was born at three o’clock this morning. I knew Saturday I would not bring what you needed me to bring, and what I would bring would not honor me.

At what age did you understand that concept of energy awareness?

In the last five years. I think it is age and experience. I also think menopause plays into the equation, knowing that your nerves get a little more frayed when you do not exercise restraint.

God bless the husbands out there because, you know, menopause means “men to pause.” These poor guys, menopause rocks your world. I am aware that my edges are a little rougher. I need the world to “give me a minute.” You know? I would have had resentment on a Saturday morning because I wasn’t ready.

Saying no is hard. But, you know, it’s necessary.

It is absolutely necessary.

To protect my zone, I try very hard not to do meetings before 10 and I don’t do them after two because I don’t think as well after two.

I want to pivot now and talk about kids. Particularly in the South, there is an element of shame for women whose kids are not faring well. And it creates a silence that unnecessarily encumbers women from supporting one another.

Agreed. Yes. Let’s talk about that.

I think it is universal and maybe not just in the South. I understand the point you’re making that southern women are more private about their children’s well-being or maybe it is in the south where towns are smaller and everybody knows you.

There are these high expectations and a belief that mothering in a way is reflective of you. We were raised to believe that we were an extension of our parents and we better act accordingly.

Not that I always did, by the way - the same for our children. My husband and I have high expectations for our children, including the way they behave. I have high expectations of my employees.

Anybody that I am involved with, I expect them to share the same values and work ethic. I think the hardest thing is when your children first disappoint you. It rocks your world because you feel like you failed. That’s what I felt.

I suffered a hundred percent quietly. I only confided in my sister and my mother, but even then, I was just so tired I did not even want to talk about it. It was a lot.

I have three boys and I think issues are more prevalent with boys. What I would like to tell moms, and I’ve met some incredible, very powerful, driven, and successful women, like yourself, who have one in their bunch that went sideways. What I’d like to say to women is, what you think they’re going to be at 18 is actually going to happen at age 25.

And it’s more dangerous now than it was when we were younger. Even way back before my time, people did crazy things.

But I do feel like it got more dangerous for boys.

I agree with you, but I cannot pinpoint why.

Self-medication, abuse of ADD medications, social media… the list is long.

What would you tell a mother of wayward boys?

I wish I would have considered boarding or military school. I don’t think Public School was the right path for my boys. Even if they had the same experience away, I think I wouldn’t have been so sick with worry all the time.

It completely disrupts your whole existence.

Worrying about your children is so stressful. It rocked my world.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Your family stabilized, business is booming, and you authored your first book. Why did you write it?

Yes, for a couple of reasons. We moved to Charleston when I was 45. I started a new career and had no friends. In hindsight, to be totally honest with you, I don’t know what the heck I was thinking. But sometimes, something gets into motion, and you cannot really explain how you got there.

You were pulled forward from a force larger than yourself…your purpose?

Yes. I don’t know what gave me the courage. Once I got in, I guess I couldn’t get out. When people started asking me questions, I would ask myself, why would they want to know what I think?

And then little by little, the energy and the universe began to create something that I didn’t even know existed inside myself.

I met a gracious gentleman who recommended that I sit on the board of Governors at the College of Charleston School of Business, which I thought was the greatest honor in the world. I still do. I have always been passionate about education.

I wanted to be a teacher from the youngest of ages. In my book, I talk about knowing your inner child. Because your inner child knows what you are supposed to be doing. I always

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DO CHILDREN MAKE THE MARRIAGE STRONGER OR MORE CHALLENGING? wanted to be a teacher. As a child, I had a fake classroom in my bedroom . . . I even had a fake grade book. I do think there is that spirit in me to teach and to mentor.

What is the one question you are most frequently asked?

How do I “jumpstart” change and how do I get there? Being very algorithmic, I created a future funnel to take you through steps, which is why it is called a project. For change to happen, you need milestones, and I didn’t want it to be complicated or fancy, just easy and approachable.

Who is the target audience or end user?

While the book is business-oriented, the best reader is a college student or a young entrepreneur, which is why it speaks to someone’s legacy. The book’s purpose is to focus the reader on how you want to leave this world a better place.

What is the legacy of your Woodhouse Spas?

That is still to be determined. Right now, the succession plan is with the two general managers . . . to continue to run them and reinvest in them and not to sell but to have a legacy.

I am turning 55 this year, my original GM, is 10 years younger.

I say, “Trust me, I know what you are going to feel like in 10 years, and you are not going to want to be coming into the spa every day. You will want to be doing what I am doing today… and I know what I will want to be doing in ten years, which is probably not as much as now.”

I have a vision for their lives which is to make sure they can retire . . . I am focused highly on my executive team, specifically my two general managers. I trust that they will carry the torch for the rest of the team.

And your children?

My oldest son, who just had the baby, Buckley, has started his own real estate investment firm. He is a numbers guy.

He is considering building a family office. He’s interested in acquiring businesses and potentially acquiring the construction company. He has a strong vision for his future.

What is your other business focus?

Primarily real estate and angel investing.

Do you believe your sons will do more with the real estate business?

Well, if I had a crystal ball, what is likely to happen is our oldest son will create a family office and will acquire the businesses. He will probably begin to work with our middle son who manages a division of our Southeast office. The youngest son is in IT working as a software engineer for Data Protocol here in Charleston. He’s also a pilot, so a lot could happen.

ELYSIAN “Inspiring Woman” Kimmy Powell with her mother Christy A. Kendell.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY KIMMY POWELL / WOODHOUSE SPAS

Do they get along?

Yes. While the oldest and youngest are more similar, our middle son has this beautiful creative mind; he’s an amazing human being.

What is your “why” and what is your life’s purpose?

It is easier to take your next step when you know “the why.”

I know a lot of very successful women who are going through the motions and lack any end game. How do you want to retire?

What are you leaving for your children? What is your succession plan, whether you have a business or not? What is the end game?

In my book The Passion and Purpose Project, I created a “7Step future funnel” to help people design the life they were meant to live. The funnel was created in a way that you work backward. Because if you know how you want the story to end, it will inform you what paths are ahead like switching jobs or changing trajectories.

The “why” for me has always been my children. My “why” led me to serve on The College of Charleston’s Board of Governors. Now, two of the boys have received their master’s degrees. I said, “Do it now. If we are paying for it, you should do it.” It was a game changer for both my eldest and youngest son. My biggest regret in life is not getting my MBA. I truly believe it’s an important part of education.

And it’s not too late.

I know. They have an executive MBA program, and maybe one day I’ll do it. But I wanted that for them. Everything I do is to teach them.

Was it always like that, or did you become more focused with time?

It was always like that. Buckley always says, “I’m so lucky to grow up with entrepreneur parents” because he saw us scrappy all the time and dealing with the “day in and day out” chaos of entrepreneurship.

As I have gotten older, especially when the boys were going through those rocky years, I had real clarity. I had to figure out how to teach these boys. It was that desperation to get it together and try to transfer my skills to them.

Another piece of advice I would give mothers with difficult children is to have them get a job. Sports are great, but if your kids aren’t excelling at sports when they reach 15 years old, they feel like losers.

There should be entrepreneurship centers for our youth, which I think is part of the solution. They should be encouraged to create, like a Montessori for young adults, which is what I tried to create.

Do you think you did?

Yes, I do, and I am proud of that. I write about this in my book. I would not have done it for myself, and certainly, I would not have worked this hard for myself.

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WE FEEL THAT A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT GIFT WE CAN GIVE TO OUR CHILDREN. Imagine a day when you come home from a hard day at work. How do recalibrate or “refill your tank?”

I fill up in nature. I paddleboard a lot, so I’m excited because we recently moved on the water. Nature is critical for me.

Before the move, I walked to Hampton Park every day, which was beautiful. We also love boating, which is a big thing for us.

Water has always been an integral part of my life. I grew up on a lake, water skiing at Lake Cumberland, on a houseboat in the middle of nowhere tied up in a cove. I just love that.

Water is a great connective tissue for both you and your husband.

About the only time my stress level really goes down is if I’m on a boat.

What are you scared of ?

Letting other people down. I don’t care about me. I always say my backup plan is working at a bar in St. Thomas or something.

Are you afraid of that?

No, I am not afraid. I would be happy to take a simple job near the water and entertain others.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I am an introverted extrovert. Most people think I’m very extroverted, but I’m alone a lot and I like my aloneness. I’m not lonely. I like being alone, solitude.

How many hours a day do you need solitude?

Quite a bit. I work remotely with soft piano music playing the whole day.

Where do you physically meet with your GMs? We will meet both on Zoom and in person sometimes. The other day, we went down to the Hotel Bennett and just sat in the lobby. It is difficult to meet at the spa because there are so many distractions. I like it when we’re on Zoom, but we don’t accomplish as much. We will meet at the Harbour Club, but it is exciting because they can come here now. I love our Tuesday meetings, which are critical. I love them, they are just wonderful human beings, so I love being around them.

Do you believe in God, and do you consider yourself a Christian or spiritual?

Yes, I consider myself Christian, but it doesn’t make sense to my scientific mind how there could only be one religion. I always

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told my children, you can be agnostic, but not atheist, but you can pick your own religion. There is so much to read about each religion, so choose the one that resonates with you most.

And where did they end up?

They’re all Christian, yet none of them are real churchgoers.

It is simple, kindness is the best religion. I try to live my life in that way.

Is there a question that you would ask God? Yes. Why do good people suffer?

Like your father?

Like my father and good people who suffer with cancer, while criminals and bad people do not. It really irritates me and doesn’t make sense as a scientist, or the way I am wired with an algorithmic mind. It is completely incongruent.

You have tremendous life experiences. What piece of advice would you give a young woman that you wish someone would have shared with you?

Get your MBA. Education is important to me. I think I would have been an entirely different person in business had someone encouraged me in that direction. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

Our sons both asked, “Shouldn’t I work before I get my MBA?” I said, “Probably, but you won’t. So just get it.”

The mentors, exposure to data, learning collaboration, and meeting new people. How many Fortune 500 companies do we hear about whose founders met at Harvard, Stanford, or Wharton? Sometimes students don’t cross the finish line and drop out, right? But still, they were there. So, it’s not really the degree that I’m talking about, but the experience.

What does that do for the person, even if they don’t even want to be in business? It gives them confidence and tells them that they can. The MBA program fleshes out a person’s core competency and pushes them to achieve and be proud of something. I think there is so much baked into that.

Even if you did nothing with the degree, you would be a better person for the experience. You would know more about what you wanted to do in the world. ■

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JENN CADY PHOTOGRAPHY / MAKE UP BY KAREN THORNTON

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mind&body

a Celestial

Dance of Connection

BY MARCY DUBROFF

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TELL ME THE STORY..

ABOUT HOW THE SUN LOVED THE MOON SO MUCH..

THAT SHE DIED EVERY NIGHT..

JUST TO LET HIM BREATHE...”

he moon, Earth’s celestial companion and only natural satellite, has long been a source of wonder and fascination for humankind. Beyond its ethereal beauty and mesmerizing presence in the night sky, the moon’s profound influence extends into myriad facets of our lives, including cultural beliefs, biological rhythms, and psychological well-being, It has inspired poetry and myth, scientific exploration, love, and mysticism.

The Moon’s Cultural Significance

Throughout history, the moon has held a central place in the mythology and spirituality of diverse cultures. Lunar cycles have been intricately woven into religious ceremonies, rituals, and folklore. For instance, many ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and the Romans, associated the moon with deities such as Artemis, Diana, Luna, and Selene. The Chinese mid-autumn festival celebrates the moon’s role in the harvest season, symbolizing unity and reunion. Wiccans have long revered the moon as a representation of the Goddess—the trio of waxing, full, and waning moons is one of the most recognizable symbols of Pagan belief and represents all aspects of the divine feminine power. In astrology, the moon’s position at the time of a person’s birth is believed to significantly impact their personality, mood, and emotional response to the world around them.

The moon’s phases have also served as timekeeping mechanisms for societies since the earliest days of civilization. Lunar calendars, such as the Islamic Hijri calendar, are based on actual lunar observations; the Hebrew calendar which is used for religious observances; and various traditional Asian calendars, are all based on the moon’s cycles. This cultural connection highlights the moon’s deep impact on shaping human traditions and social structures.

Lunar Cycles & Human Biology

The moon’s gravitational pull has a notable effect on Earth’s bodies of water, causing the ebb and flow of our oceans’ tides. Interestingly, the human body, which, like the Earth, is also made largely of water, may also be influenced by lunar cycles. Some studies suggest a correlation between lunar phases and human behavior, including sleep patterns and mental health.

There is recent research that has explored the potential links between the full moon and changes in sleep quality. A 2013 Swiss study with 33 volunteers, for instance, did find that during a full moon, the subjects took longer to fall asleep and also spent less time in the deep sleep phase. Subsequent experiments, however, failed to replicate these findings. While results are inconclusive, anecdotal evidence and cultural beliefs persist in associating a full moon with altered sleep and heightened emotional states. Understanding these potential connections could lead to further insights into circadian rhythms and human well-being.

There is also a strong anecdotal link between the full moon and mental health. After all, the word “lunacy” derives from the word luna, meaning moon. And it is common to state that “there’s a full moon out there” when everyday occurrences seem out of place or people act erratically. According to an article in Scientific American, this link dates back millennia—both Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder believed that the brain was the “moistest” organ in the body and thus, much like the tides, was more susceptible to the phases of the moon. This perception continued through the millennia, in particular, the Middle Ages when humans were reported to “transmogrify into werewolves, vampires” and other such nocturnal monsters during the full moon.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SONTAYA CHAISAMUTR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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—HANAKO ISHII

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HOW SWEET THE MOONLIGHT SLEEPS UPON THIS BANK! HERE WILL WE SIT, AND LET THE SOUNDS OF MUSIC CREEP IN OUR EARS: SOFT STILLNESS AND THE NIGHT BECOME THE TOUCHES OF SWEET HARMONY. —WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

However, according to that same Scientific American article, “research demonstrates that the lunar lunacy effect is merely an astronomical and psychological urban legend . . . (most likely) due to the illusory correlation, or the perception of an association that does not in fact exist.” Study after study has concluded that there is no connection between the moon and incidents of crime or madness.

The Moon & Women’s Health

PHOTOGRAPH BY KDSHUTTERMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

One common belief is that the moon is linked to fertility and women’s reproductive cycles, fostered in part by the alignment of the 28-day menstrual cycle that loosely synchronizes with the monthly lunar phases. In fact, the Greek word for moon (mene) and the Latin for month (mensis) provide the roots for the word “menstruation.”

Many cultures have associated the moon with femininity and fertility, in particular, the menstrual cycle, and these societies, including the Greeks and the Romans, personified the moon as a supernatural being, with a connection to the ebb and flow of life. Although there is a limited scientific basis for coupling the moon with the menstrual cycle, these myths have persisted throughout the generations.

Many cultural narratives suggest that women’s menstrual cycles synchronize with lunar phases, however, research on this subject remains inconclusive, and studies exploring this possible synchronization have shown no real connection between the two.

One recent study, however, published in Science Advances, and authored by a team of German biologists, indicates that women, whose menstrual cycles were longer than 27 days were intermittently synchronous with the moon’s luminance and/ or gravimetric cycles. However, “with age and upon exposure to artificial nocturnal light, menstrual cycles shortened and lost this synchrony.” Contradicting this, however, is another study, conducted by the period tracker app Clue, which analyzed data from more than 1.5 million users and found no correlation between lunar phases and the menstrual cycle.

Despite the lack of robust support for a direct connection between the moon and menstruation, the cultural symbolism persists, fostering a tapestry that links the moon’s cyclical phases and the rhythmic nature of women’s reproductive cycles.

At the other end of the reproductive spectrum, menopause, which marks the end of reproductive years in women and is a significant life transition accompanied by hormonal changes and physical shifts, is also linked to the moon. While the moon’s influence on this life stage is less explored compared to menstruation, some cultural beliefs and alternative health practices suggest a potential connection. Certain holistic approaches to women’s health, including traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (a natural system of medicine originating in India), incorporate lunar symbolism into menopausal discussions. The moon, representing cycles of renewal and transformation, is metaphysically linked to the transformative journey of menopause. Though these connections are often rooted in cultural beliefs, they underscore the diverse ways in which the moon is woven into the fabric of women’s health experiences. Acknowledging the moon and lunar symbolism as a means of understanding and embracing the cyclical nature of life fosters a sense of connection with nature and self, encouraging women to embrace the uniqueness of their health journeys.

The Moon and Our Well-Being

While the moon can’t be categorically linked to many health phenomena, there is no denying that the moon’s influence on our psychological well-being is a topic of interest. Moonlight, the reflected sunlight from the moon, in particular, has been romantically admired for centuries. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, many participate in the practice of “moon bathing,” a centuries-old tradition of basking in the nighttime glow of our celestial friend. Yoga encyclopedia Yogapedia describes this practice as “connecting with the moon’s energy and healing power, enabling us to take a clear view of our lives, to focus on healing what ails us, and releasing what no longer serves us.”

Additionally, the sight of the Earth from the moon, one of the most iconic images in photographic history taken by astronauts, offers a perspective to many of the fragility and interconnectedness of our Terran ecosystems. This “Overview Effect” has had a deep and abiding influence on environmental awareness and a sense of global unity.

The moon’s impact on human well-being is multifaceted, spanning cultural, biological, and psychological dimensions.

From ancient mythologies to modern scientific endeavors, the moon continues to influence our lives in profound ways.

Understanding and appreciating this celestial dance of connection can deepen our relationship with the cosmos and foster a sense of interconnectedness, contributing to the holistic well-being of humanity. As we continue to explore and contemplate our lunar neighbor, the moon remains a timeless source of inspiration and reflection. ■

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philanthropy

How Passionate Philanthropists are Bringing Modern Medicine Closer and Closer to Finding the Cure

BY CORA WALDEN

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ancer. It used to be an ugly, frightening, awful word that evoked images of the Grim Reaper, and justifiably so. In America, 5,500 people are diagnosed with cancer every day. This year, it is projected that more than 600,000 individuals will lose their lives—1,680 deaths a day—to this all-consuming disease. But there’s good news. The decline in the fatality rate over the past 30 years has been steady and sharp. And for that, you can thank the foundations listed below and many more, the ceaseless work of physicians and scientists, and above all, the vision and generosity of philanthropists who have made—and continue to make—their advancements possible through their personal resources, fund-raising, and determination to find a cure for the second most common cause of all deaths globally, after heart diseases.

The AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH (AICR) http://www.aicr.org, founded in 1962, focuses on lifestyle, diet, and physical activity in cancer prevention as an adjunct to 65.2% of its funds earmarked for cutting-edge research for universities, hospitals, and research foundations in the United States and worldwide in the search for a cure for cancer.

For over a century, the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (ACS) http://www.cancer.org has been the largest funder of cancer research in the United States. Twenty-five percent of its resources go to cancer research. The remainder is devoted to patient support, such as classes to encourage selfesteem; a variety of services and cancer support groups where cancer patients can openly discuss their feelings, experiences, and challenges they face along their road to recovery; and outreach programs that focus on prevention, education, detection, and treatment.

THE CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CRI) http://www.cancerresearch.org, a nonprofit organization, has been the front-runner in immunotherapy research since 1953. A collaborative global network of scientists is dedicated to finding ways to improve the body’s immune system’s ability to identify and fight all types of cancer at every stage. Immunotherapy drugs are in the early stages of development; nonetheless, increasingly they have proven in many cases to transform the treatment of advanced cancer. At the same time, CRI is devoting its efforts to detecting the early stages of cancer, which is a much more formidable endeavor, as cancers are clever, and cell-blockers—the abnormal cells that hide behind healthy ones to escape detection—must first be identified. Ninety percent of donations to CRI are earmarked for cancer research programs.

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Some of the cancers that most often affect women are breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, and skin. Knowing about these cancers and what you can do to help prevent them or find them early (when they are small, haven’t spread, and might be easier to treat) may help save your life.

BREAST CANCER

If you feel a lump in your breast, it may have been as long as 10 years in forming. That’s how slow they tend to grow—unless you have an aggressive form of breast cancer, which grows much faster. About 80% of breast cancers begin in the milk ducts, 10% in the lobules, and the remainder in the breast tissues. There are several types: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, or Stage 0 Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) which is non-invasive. In DCIS, abnormal cells contained in the canals that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple openings during breastfeeding, or milk ducts, have not invaded nearby breast tissue. This is called “in situ,” or “in place.”

Without treatment, however, DCIS can develop into invasive breast cancer—which is why early diagnosis and intervention are so vitally important.

Invasive breast cancer happens when those abnormal cells in the milk ducts travel into the nearby breast tissue or other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is why you hear about testing the lymph nodes in the underarm area: it is the first place the abnormal cells are likely to infiltrate.

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV, or “advanced” Metastatic Breast Cancer, means the abnormal cells have spread through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body, most likely the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.

These foundations are at the forefront of awareness, diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment: For over thirty years, the NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION (NBCF) www.nbcf.org has provided help, inspiration, and hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. Founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, who was diagnosed with the disease in 1980. At the age of 34, she found herself forced to decide what to do about her health with very few options available and little information. After her treatment, she committed to helping the one out of every eight women who is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime to learn about early breast cancer detection, to have access to information and education, and more than anything else, to realize that she is not alone. NBCF is one of the most recognized and respected breast cancer charities in the world, earning 99%, the highest 4-star rating, by Charity Navigator, America’s

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premier charity evaluator, for the past 16 years. Eighty percent of funds are directed to NBCF’s life-saving programs.

SUSAN G. KOMEN www.komen.org THEIR STORY: “Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures. “Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested more than $1.9 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.”

The BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION www.bcrf.org is the highest-rated breast cancer research organization, given a 100% across-the-board rating with Charity Navigator. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF has raised more than a billion dollars to pursue its mission: end breast cancer. Seeking out the best and brightest in science and medicine through unique, streamlined grant programs, BCRF will award $60.2 million in grants for the year 2023-2024 to more than 250 scientists, universities, and medical institutions. In addition, The Evelyn H. Lauder Founder’s Fund is a multi-year international program, and the largest privately funded project exclusively focused on unraveling the biology of metastasis in the search for a cure.

Austrian-American businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist, wife, and mother, EVELYN LAUDER, Senior Corporate Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, raised much of the funding to create the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which opened in 1992 to diagnose and treat breast cancer. She funded the endowment to fund critical research, and launched National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1991, formalizing the “pink ribbon” as its symbol. By 2008, the Estée Lauder Companies, founded by her mother-in-law, Estée Lauder, estimated the firm’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign had raised $335 million toward research and distributed 80 million pink ribbons, and $190,000 from the sale of Pink Ribbon and Clinique brand’s “Berry Kiss” pink lipstick. She died at home in Manhattan four years after being diagnosed in 2007 from complications of nongenetic ovarian cancer.

(Her story from bcrf.com) It all started in 1993 at Evelyn Lauder’s kitchen table. Over a cup of coffee, Mrs. Lauder and her dear friend Dr. Larry Norton began a conversation that would, over time, change breast cancer history. Recognizing the power of research and its potential to change the lives of millions of women and men worldwide, they realized that to tackle this disease a new approach was critical.

At the time, a breast cancer diagnosis inspired fear and little hope. Scientific understanding of the nature of the disease and how it moved through the body was still nascent. Investigations on prevention strategies were fledgling, screening methods were limited and treatment options were few.

Mrs. Lauder, along with Dr. Norton and her husband, Leonard, committed then and there to change that. They believed research was the way forward and founded BCRF on the belief that funding was the only obstacle standing between breast cancer and a cure.

Years before, Mrs. Lauder was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and chose to channel her experience into action. A model of resolve, she took it upon herself in 1989 to help establish a state-of-the-art breast and diagnostic center at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she was a board member. The facility, known today as the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, set a new global standard for cancer care offering the most up-to-date prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services under one roof.

In that same year, Mrs. Lauder created the signature pink ribbon with Alexandra Penney, then editor of SELF, and launched the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign within The Estée Lauder Companies. The program distributed the ribbons, along with self-exam instruction cards, at Estée Lauder counters across the United States and around the world, helping to raise awareness about the importance of breast health and effectively placing breast cancer at the public forefront.

Since then, Evelyn Lauder’s life’s mission has become ours: to rid the world of breast cancer. Today, BCRF stands as a testament to her fierce dedication, keen intuition, and extraordinary vision.

WHAT CAN YOU DO

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual CT lung cancer screening for people who meet all of the following criteria: • Are between 50 and 80 years old • Have a 20 or more pack-year history of smoking • Currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years • Are healthy enough overall to undergo treatment if diagnosed with lung cancer.

The American Cancer Society also recommends screening for those who meet the same criteria, but unlike the USPSTF, it does not place a time limit on when to stop annual screening. The second leading cause of death in the country, until there is a cure there are ways you can proactively apply to your own life and lifestyle to gain better odds.

1. Don’t smoke or use tobacco products of any kind.

2. Maintain a healthy weight for your height, build, and age through exercise and a plant-based diet rich in fresh produce, beans, nuts, and legumes. Rich in phytochemicals, which provide plants with their color and smell, they function as antioxidants that prevent damage to DNA and other cell components, reduce inflammation in the body, enhance immunity, protect your brain, and fight cancer by helping repair DNA, slow the growth of tumors, and facilitate apoptosis, or cell death, which rids the body of abnormal cells. As another added benefit, a plant-rich diet also decreases the incidence of colon cancer. Beef, dairy, eggs, and other animal-based foods are not excluded, but limit the amount you eat, and how often you consume these foods.

3. Avoid extended exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays that emit from the sun and use sunscreen. ■

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SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL

Your Adventure Awaits

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND

SHEM CREEK

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Discover the allure of South Carolina through unique experiences that cater to every traveler’s dream. From the tranquil waters of Shem Creek to the legendary fairways of The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, each adventure invites you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and rich history of the Palmetto State.

Glide across serene creeks, sail on azure waters, explore sprawling trails by bike, or witness the majestic flight of hawks at Caesars Head.

Each destination provides a perfect backdrop for creating unforgettable memories, whether you’re seeking a romantic wine weekend, a golfing getaway, or the tranquility of nature. South Carolina awaits to enchant you with its diverse landscapes, captivating wildlife, and luxurious retreats.

Kayaking in Shem Creek

Embark on a captivating adventure along Shem Creek, exploring the serene waterways by kayak or paddleboard, and perhaps enjoying a beach picnic along the way.

Nestled in the heart of Charleston’s vibrant coastal landscape, Shem Creek is the perfect setting for both beginners and seasoned paddlers to explore the tranquil waters, rich with wildlife and breathtaking views, and alive with history. Glide across the creek on a paddle board or navigate its gentle currents in a kayak, and you’re likely to encounter a diverse array of marine life, from playful dolphins to majestic birds.

Nature Adventures experts ranging from marine biologists to master naturalists will lead your journey, past the colorful shrimp boats and on to Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary, a 22-acre island used as nesting grounds for a number of shorebirds, from pelicans to egrets to the state threatened species, Wilson’s plover. Book your trip outside of the nesting season (March 15 through October 15) and you’ll be able to beach your kayaks to comb the island for shark’s teeth, shells and other treasures.

Tours range from two to six hours, with the shorter tours being the most popular and the longer ones being more specialized.

When the day’s adventures are done, the proud and noble Hotel Emeline nearby awaits to wrap you in luxury and comfort.

Sailing on Hilton Head Island

Set sail on Hilton Head Island for an unforgettable romantic adventure with Vagabond Cruise, where the azure waters of Calibogue Sound beckon couples seeking a unique bucket-list experience. Imagine the thrill of stepping aboard the Stars & Stripes, the 65-foot yacht designed and skippered by the legendary Dennis Connor to win the America’s Cup Challenge in 1987.

Departing from the prestigious Harbour Town Yacht Basin, your sailing journey promises wide-open vistas and unparalleled elegance on the open sea.

But the enchantment doesn’t end with sailing. Hilton Head Island offers a myriad of couple-friendly activities, from serene standup paddle boarding in tranquil salt marshes to dancing under the moonlight at The Rooftop Bar at Poseidon.

For an unparalleled romantic escape, choose The Sea Pines Resort as your sanctuary, where every detail is tailored to ensure your getaway is filled with unforgettable moments. From leisurely strolls on private beaches to exploring the natural beauty of the island on bike or horseback, the resort transforms every activity into a romantic adventure. Savor exquisite dining, indulge in spa services, or simply relax in the sophisticated ambiance of your accommodation. The Sea Pines Resort isn’t just a destination; it’s the backdrop to your most cherished memories on Hilton Head Island.

Hiking & Biking at Palmetto Bluff

Grab a canteen and set off on an adventure at Palmetto Bluff, a sprawling 20,000-acre sanctuary nestled in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where hiking and biking adventures await at every turn. With an extensive network of trails that span the entirety of this breathtaking landscape, Palmetto Bluff is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in the area’s natural beauty and rich history.

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KIAWAH ISLAND – THE OCEAN COURSE

KIAWAH ISLAND

Whether you’re seeking a peaceful stroll beneath the canopy of century-old live oaks, an invigorating hike through diverse ecosystems, or a leisurely bike ride past historic landmarks and scenic vistas, Palmetto Bluff offers a variety of paths to explore.

From the serene Old Palmetto Bluff Road Trail, perfect for all modes of travel including biking and golf carts, to the adventurous Long Leaf Pine Trail designed for experienced mountain bikers, there’s a route to suit every preference and skill level.

For those who prefer to pedal, the allure of cruising on a Pedego electric bike opens up a world of possibilities. Effortlessly navigate the network of trails, enjoying longer rides and the freedom to explore further. Take a guided bike tour from Wilson Landing to delve deeper into Palmetto Bluff’s fascinating history, visiting the History Center, the Conservancy, and picturesque spots like the Wilson Treehouse and bird island.

After a day filled with adventure, retreat to the Montage Palmetto Bluff, where luxury and nature blend seamlessly. This exquisite resort offers the perfect respite for the active traveler, providing plush accommodations, world-class dining, and a tranquil spa to soothe your senses.

CAESARS HEAD STATE PARK

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Golfing at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island

Elevate your golf game to legendary status by conquering The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, an American icon where the sea meets the green. With the distinction of hosting the most seaside holes in the Northern Hemisphere, this Pete Dye masterpiece offers an unparalleled challenge and beauty, providing unobstructed views of Kiawah’s stunning coastline from every angle. The genius of Dye, enhanced by the strategic suggestion of his wife, Alice, to raise the course for better views, brings the Atlantic’s unpredictable breezes into play, making each round a unique test of skill with up to an eight-club difference on shots.

Golf enthusiasts will revel in the opportunity to play on a course that demands versatility, strategy, and a deep respect for the game, all while being surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. The Ocean Course is not just a round of golf; it’s a bucket-list experience, designed to challenge and awe in equal measure.

After a day on the greens, retreat to the luxurious comfort of The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. This exquisite seaside hotel offers refined accommodations and unparalleled Southern hospitality, making it the perfect complement to your golfing adventure. Stay at The Sanctuary to immerse yourself fully in the beauty and challenge of Kiawah Island, where every detail of your visit is as meticulously crafted as the courses themselves.

Romantic Wine Weekend & Hawk Migration at Ceasars Head

Experience the awe-inspiring spectacle of hawk migration at Caesars Head State Park, a fall phenomenon that captivates birders and nature lovers alike. As these majestic raptors make their annual journey south, the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area becomes a stage for one of nature’s most breathtaking performances. Join the

Hawk Watch program led by expert rangers and marvel at “kettles” of broad-winged hawks soaring effortlessly on thermal winds against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. This unique natural event offers a rare glimpse into the wonders of avian migration, with opportunities to spot several species of hawks, including the swift peregrine falcon, known for its astonishing speed.

After a day spent in the embrace of nature’s grandeur, retreat to the idyllic Hotel Domestique for a romantic wine weekend that blends the enchantment of the South Carolina Upcountry with the sophistication of a European getaway. Noted for hosting professional cycling events, Hotel Domestique offers an intimate setting where love and wine flow as freely as the conversations.

Explore nearby vineyards, Victoria Valley and Eagle Mountain, each offering a distinct taste of the world’s finest wine regions.

Back at the hotel, indulge in a sumptuous dinner at Restaurant 17, where every dish is a testament to love, crafted with “rustic elegance” and locally sourced ingredients by 2022 South Carolina Chef Ambassador Haydn Shaak. At Hotel Domestique, every moment is an invitation to celebrate each other, surrounded by the unparalleled beauty of South Carolina’s mountains.

Discover South Carolina

Endless adventures await around every corner in South Carolina.

From serene kayaking and exhilarating sailing to picturesque hiking, biking, and world-class golfing, the Palmetto State is a treasure trove of experiences that cater to every interest and passion. Whether you’re seeking a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a solo retreat into nature’s beauty, South Carolina offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable memories. Start planning your visit now at DiscoverSouthCarolina.com and open the door to a world of enchantment and adventure.

été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com • DiscoverSouthCarolina.com

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midst the solemn ambiance of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, a distinguished gathering of governors, congressmen and a congresswoman, state legislators, and dignitaries from around the world convened to commemorate the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. The premiere of Fight for Ukraine: For the Children, a poignant documentary spearheaded by Karen Floyd, our founder and publisher, offered a gripping insight into the harrowing realities faced by the resilient people of Ukraine, resonating deeply with attendees and viewers.

As the evening unfolded, Lieutenant Colonel Sheri Biggs, DNP, our Military and Service issue’s cover, was revealed amidst discussions and reflections, and it became clear that the film serves as a poignant reminder that the fight for freedom and the well-being of children is far from decided. As the world bears witness to Ukraine’s struggles, it is imperative that we unite in compassion and determination, ensuring that their voices are heard and their sacrifices never forgotten. ■

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• été 2024 • l’édition bien-être • readelysian.com

Top, from left: Parade of flags at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD); Scenic Washington, D.C.; Karen Floyd with ELYSIAN Spring 2024 cover Lt.Col. Sheri Biggs, Anita Zucker, Dr. Christina Rahm, and SC Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD). Middle: Karen Floyd with Ukrainian dignitary & film producer, Artem Petroshchuk (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD); Sarah Smith and Karen Floyd reveal the cover of the Spring 2024 issue; Dr. Christina Rahm signs copies of her book, The Roots of Military Science (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD). Bottom: Lt. Col. Sheri Biggs (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD); Lt.Col. Sheri Biggs with Dr. Christina Rahm (PHOTOGRAPH BY JOY SMALLWOOD); GA State Representative Sandra Scott with Jody Thomas, Executive Director of the National Foundation for Women Legislators; ELYSIAN’s documentary, Fight for Ukraine: For the Children, debuts at the Kennedy Center

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