ELYSIAN Inspiring Women. Graceful Living.
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— CHRISTIAN DIOR
ELYSIAN Volume 4 • Issue 3 • l’automne 2019
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Holistic Heartspeak A mother & daughter’s journey inward. BY ALEXIA PAUL
There are few mononymous women in the world. Yet one statuesque fashion muse, legendary model, cosmetics entrepreneur and humanitarian stands heads above. BY CHRISTINE MORRISON
The healing Arts at Peaceful Mountain
FEATURES
Iman
The spa at Amangiri aims to reflect the healing traditions of the Navajo through the four elements of earth, wind, fire and water. BY JENNA REALMUTO
Inspiring Women Deborah Calmeyer page 96 Gila Guttmann page 102 Sheri Howell page 108 Martha Wiedemann page 114 INTERVIEWED BY KAREN FLOYD
“
Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?
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Lost Beyond the Blue The adventurous life of Amelia Earhart. BY LAURIE BOGART WILES
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• l’automne 2019 • readelysian.com
EVERETT COLLECTION HISTORICAL / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
”
— AMELIA EARHART
destination
DEPARTMENTS
12 travel
Adventure Women of the world. BY ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
adventure health fitness 28
Adventure full of hot air. BY BAKER MAULTSBY
Post workout recovery. BY ANGIE COMER
32 fashion
Rêve En Vert. BY CHRISTINE MORRISON
beauty wellness
How to treat cellulite. BY AMY ZIMMER
44 graceful living
Identifying your false beliefs & how to shake them. BY MARY ROGERS McMASTER A fresh take on fall. BY RHONDA WILKINS
art culture philanthropy health médecine
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Into the sea with Cristina Mittermeier. BY LATRIA GRAHAM Expanding the reach. BY C.S. BURKE
128
An Individualistic Approach to Weight loss. BY DR. KATHERINE BIRCHENOUGH
change creator 142 food dining expanding the circle Plant-based salvation. BY KAREN FRAGALA SMITH
Fresh off the grid. BY LATRIA GRAHAM
149
ELYSIAN—from the U.S. Women’s Open to Switzerland.
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closing the circle
Cover model Cassi Sherbert & ELYSIAN Inspiring Woman Martha Wiedemann.
the cover
Cassi Sherbert of Charlotte, North Carolina was photographed by Donald Latham. Hair and makeup by Tiffany Brown.
the backstory
More on Cassi Sherbert and how ELYSIAN is empowering talent.
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publisher
/
E
editor-in-chief
Karen Floyd
c h i e f o p e r at i n g o f f i c e r
Katherine O’Neill
chief business officer
Jaclynn Jarrett
e ly s i a n i m pa c t d i r e c t o r o f p h i l a n t h r o p y
Kelly Nichols
executive editor
Abby Deering
editorial director
Rita Allison
c r e at i v e d i r e c t o r
Carmen Thomas media director
Rob Springer
magazine design specialist
Ryan Stalvey
director of photography
Donald Latham Nancy Cooper
southeast advertising directors
Doug Mandel | Mandel Media Group Billy Leach | Mandel Media Group comptroller
Kristin Eastwood p r e s i d e n t o f d i g i ta l o p e r at i o n s
Taylor Brown
d i r e c t o r o f d i g i ta l c o n t e n t
Jenna Realmuto
a s s i s ta n t a r t d i r e c t o r
Tammy Owens
graceful living
Rhonda Wilkins inspiring women
Karen Floyd columnists
Katherine Birchenough, MD, Angie Comer, Mary Rogers McMaster, Amy Zimmer senior writers
Laurie Bogart Wiles, Angela Caraway Carlton, Latria Graham, contributing writers
C.S. Burke, Karen Fragala Smith, Baker Maultsby, Christine Morrison, Alexia Paul, Jenna Realmuto
copy editors
Diane High, Hadley Inabinet, Baker Maultsby, Phil Randall style director
Angie Woodard ta l e n t s c o u t / m o d e l i n g c o n s u lta n t
Robyn Shirley
production stylist
Tiffany Brown
s o c i a l m e d i a c o o r d i n at o r
Ruby Kubac
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ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC, 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. For subscription information, call 888-329-9534; visit subscriptions@elysianservice.com; mailing address: Subscription Service, Elysian Magazine PO Box 2172, Williamsport, PA 17703 All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
• l’automne 2019 • readelysian.com
The ELYSIAN team in action in New York City for a series of interviews and photoshoots. From top: Angie Woodard and Rob Springer test the lighting on location at The Dominic Hotel in Soho. • Director of Photography Donald Latham sets up his shot. • Assistant Videographer Elise Rimmer prepares for an Inspiring Woman interview. • Ruby Kubac, Social Media Manager, captures behind-the-scenes moments. Publisher and CEO Karen Floyd in frame as she conducts an interview for the Fall 2019 issue.
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P
SECRET OF CHANGE IS TO “ THE FOCUS ALL OF YOUR ENERGY,
NOT ON FIGHTING THE OLD, BUT BUILDING THE NEW.
”
— SOCRATES
urposeful change is a cornerstone of ELYSIAN. In this issue, we focus on the distinct but complementary themes of wellness and adventure. Our aim is to empower our readers in pursuit of transformative experiences. These are, of course, individual and sometimes lonely pursuits. Change comes from within, and the road less traveled can yield the greatest return on our investments. Still, our deep desire for self-reflection as well as physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing can benefit from shared perspectives. To that end, we bring you stories of women who have taken unique avenues of exploration and sustainable health: a photographer whose work promotes underwater conservation worldwide, a female-led company specializing in adventure travel for women, Malaysian sisters who have charted a career as hot air balloon pilots, and more. I have found inspiration in each of these stories, and I hope you will, too.
Inspiring Women. (Anecdotal stories)
Through the personal and professional journeys of our Fall Inspiring Women, this issue’s anecdotal stories of adventure and wellness span the globe. From Africa to India, Israel to Switzerland, the United States and beyond, an international flair permeates these pages. Zimbabwe-born Deborah Calmeyer recalls her childhood spent adventuring in the African bush. Today, as CEO of world-renowned ROAR Africa, she creates oneof-a-kind luxury itineraries so that her clients may experience their own “African dream.” Gila Guttmann, a former systems analyst in the Israeli Army, discovered the hobby of playing duplicate bridge, which catapulted her into the international world of competitive bridge. Sheri Howell, former executive of MTV, whose clients have included Verizon, the Hard Rock Casinos & Hotels, Miley Cyrus and Walmart’s Miley+Max clothing line, speaks to the benefits of Medjet, a network of air ambulances and trained medical staff ready to transport its members who are hospitalized more than 150 miles from home. Finally, wellness expert and Ayurveda specialist Martha Wiedemann, known as one of the principal forces behind the wellness program at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in Switzerland, advocates a healthy lifestyle to achieve inner peace and true beauty. We continue the tradition of connecting our cover model with one of the our Inspiring Women. Cassi Sherbet is an accomplished dancer and aspiring businesswoman who has plans to transform her love of the arts into an entrepreneurial venture. In this issue, Martha Wiedemann—a woman who has herself developed childhood passions into a successful international career—shares with Cassi the importance of self-confidence and the power of meditative practice as guiding forces that will help her focus on key career goals and decide her next steps in business.
Graceful Living. (Deliberate, spirited, bold)
Wellness is an all-encompassing state of being – and it can be achieved through not only health and fitness, but also our approach to beauty and fashion, our enthusiasm for travel and adventure, and our commitment to giving back. Stories of wellness come to life through the unique, women-driven narratives found in the pages of our Fall 2019 issue. We meet a mother and daughter who took a health journey to the Kerala region of India to become immersed in the healing practice Ayurveda. Yoga meets travel meets philanthropy in the story of Jordan Ashley and Souljourn Yoga. Artist Ulrike Arnold adds a unique dimension to a luxury retreat and resort in remote Utah. This issue also offers perspectives on healthy and environmentally friendly fashion and beauty products, giving our readers thoughtful and practical avenues to pursue wellness.
Philanthropy. (Creating legacy)
As Hilton Head Island prepares for its marquee event, The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, we salute the festival’s president and ELYSIAN Inspiring Woman, Carolyn Vanagel, who has ushered in a groundbreaking new addition to the line-up this year, Women Driving America. This 3-day program will celebrate the nation’s top female executives, designers, racers, and collectors of the motoring world. And as we gear up to recognize the women who drive the automotive industry, we also acknowledge the phenomenal rise in women-driven philanthropy. In these pages, we have highlighted the festival’s charitable foundation, Driving Young America, which supports students seeking an education to pursue a career in the automotive industry, as well as educational institutions that provide special opportunities for students entering this field. Fall is a season of change. May you take chances, seek adventure, overcome obstacles, and experience meaningful transformation.
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Thank you for taking the journey.
Karen Floyd Publisher
EXPLORE THE VIRTUAL PAGES of ELYSIAN Experience ELYSIAN beyond the printed page through interactive augmented reality using your smartphone or tablet. Shop, watch videos, view galleries, visit websites and dive deeper into our pages than ever before. Look for the interactive symbol E on our pages, then follow the simple instructions below to begin your interactive journey. Experience ELYSIAN beyond the printed page through interactive augmented reality using your smartphone or tablet. Shop, watch videos, view galleries, visit websites and dive deeper into our pages than ever before. Look for the interactive symbol interactive journey.
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&
Adventure Women of the
World BY ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
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Safaris by vehicles offer opportunities to spot elephants, zebra, lions, and hippos in three Botswana game parks. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
while
flipping through a travel magazine at her kitchen counter one morning, Mary Oves stumbled across a promotion for a horseback-riding trip in southern Iceland. It promised rides through picturesque valleys and unreal lava fields, with stops at hot springs and pools, along with a visit to a Viking farm—and most appealing, it was a female-only vacation hosted by a travel company called AdventureWomen. Oves needed an escape from her home in Ocean City, New Jersey. Her husband had passed away just eight months earlier after battling medical problems for years. Oves impulsively booked the tour, set for June 2018. “I was always passionate about travel, but we were limited on what we could do because of my husband’s health. For once in my life, nothing was stopping me,” says Oves, adding that her children were grown and out on their own. “I had to get out of my mind and go where no one knew me or what I’ve
WITH WOMENCENTRIC TRAVEL SKYROCKETING, ONE FEMALE-RUN, FEMALE-ONLY TRAVEL COMPANY IS OFFERING THE CHANCE FOR LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES.
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been through and didn’t feel sorry for me.” Arriving in Iceland, the 53-year-old was joined by eight total strangers from all over the nation. “I loved the anonymity of it. When you travel, you don’t have to disclose anything about yourself, and for me, it was freedom,” Oves says. As the days passed, the women became confidantes. “We were a beautiful motley crew. Some whole, some broken. Women lacking self-actualization or fine-tuning it.” While the trip delivered on thrilling experiences—riding Icelandic horses through the wild terrain, viewing beautiful lagoons and waterfalls, and mingling with the people who call the area home—Oves says transformational moments spread throughout the group of women. “There was raucous laughter, cathartic breakdowns. We never descended to cattiness, mean comments or cliques. We formed a bond that was strong and true.” Most importantly, Oves began to deal with past hurts that haunted her. “I had lived in fear for a long time. Afraid of losing my husband, afraid for my boys to lose their dad,” she explains. One day during the trip, her horse started galloping so fast that Oves feared she would fall off and be killed. “I thought, ‘I’m going to orphan my kids,’” she recalls. “Finally, I just let go and gave up that fear. All of a sudden, I was just done being afraid. If I fell, I fell. For the rest of the trip, people practically didn’t recognize me because I became very quiet and calm.” That stillness followed Oves home, and now one year later, she says it’s even more pronounced. And the women she met during her time in Iceland? They stay in frequent touch, travel together and will gather again for a reunion trip with AdventureWomen in June 2020. “They were the people with me when I was reborn,” Oves says. “All the dysfunction of illness, death and grief, when I was buried in all that muck, they are the ones who coaxed me out of it. They are my sisters.”
Transformational Travel
Life-changing stories like Oves’ convinced Judi Wineland to purchase AdventureWomen in September 2016. The women-only travel company was founded by adventure pioneer Susan Eckert. She reached out to Wineland to buy the company when she was ready to retire. At first, Wineland declined; she and her husband already had their hands full running their award-winning safari company, Thomson Safaris, in Tanzania. It was her oldest daughter, Nicole, who saw the potential to grow the company into something even bigger and convinced her mother to take the leap. Now, Judi serves as the managing director, Nicole vets partners and designs the trips, and her youngest daughter Erica, a mountaineer and outdoor enthusiast, is the general manager. Since taking over, the trio of
women has grown the business from around 20 trips a year to 80, with 40 destinations. The trend in women-centric travel is growing, and Wineland says they’re inundated with ladies who want to discover new places and, ultimately, new things about themselves. “What we’re seeing is women who have the disposable income to do what they want. They’re thinking about themselves. Some of their husbands would rather go fishing or don’t want to travel internationally, but these women are not staying home.” What transpires is a trip filled with women from all walks of life—single, married, divorced, widowed—with the average age range of 40-70, along with the occasional 20-something who heard about the company from a podcast. Itineraries are limitless, from hiking and horseback riding in the Canadian Rockies to a private wildlife cruise in the Galapagos Islands to hiking the Portuguese Way on the Camino, all with a mix of adventure and rare experiences. “We play hard during the day, but we have a nice place to stay at night. The luxury is in the experience,” says Wineland. Trips range from seven to 14 days and usually have no more than 14 participants. While most travelers come alone, the company now also offers mother-daughter trips. “We get mothers who want to show their daughters what life is like outside of their normal world, and it’s just so much fun for them.”
Born for Adventure
Wineland’s love of travel was sparked in 1968, when she was 18-yearsold and a member of an all-girls band invited by the USO to perform for the military in Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. “I had never been out of the country. I was a little suburban gal at Colorado State University, and I didn’t know that another world was out there,” she says. As travel inherently does, it forever changed her. “When I’m traveling, I always find myself re-evaluating who I am and questioning what my values are and why I’ve done the things I’ve done.” And, that’s just what she wants clients to take away from an AdventureWomen trip—she’s not just in the vacation business but in the transformation business. “When you put these women in a place that’s out of their comfort zone, perspectives shift, priorities shift, and they come home a different person,” she says. Wineland believes part of that dramatic shift comes from a cultural component attached to every trip. Often, travelers meet with other women in villages where they are one of three wives or have never left their village. A translator allows them to have important conversations to dig deep into
their vastly different cultures. “These are some of the most transformational moments. Our women realize that we are similar in so many ways and yet so different,” says Wineland. “When you’re somewhere like Tanzania and 20 massive elephants trumpet by you, you realize just how small you are. People leave and start protecting things they care about, even becoming conservationists or donors to the Maasai women in Tanzania to help them become entrepreneurs.” Another difference in her trips: An AdventureWomen ambassador comes along on each trip to offer support and encouragement when the travelers become tired or to help curb negativity that could easily spread among the group. “Sometimes they’ll offer a hug or an acknowledgment that it’s not a good day,” Wineland explains, “and often the other women will come to embrace that woman having a bad day. It’s so supportive.” She also kept an integral part of the travel program developed by founder Eckert: Most women are paired up with a roommate and then switch roommates when the group moves hotels or camps, so they get to know different people. Wineland added private rooms upon request, offering women the options to share or be alone. “Usually the women end up chatting until one in the morning.” It seems to be a formula for success. More than 60 percent of Wineland’s clients book another trip with AdventureWomen, and some women even take as many as four trips a year. “They may choose the destination because it’s a bucket list, but they don’t realize what will be in the bucket,” says Wineland. “The destination is just the beginning.” ■
Take in the view high above the clouds at 17,598 feet while sharing this outstanding accomplishment with your fellow trekkers after a hike to Mount Everest’s Base Camp in the majestic Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
• Above: One can snorkel Baja’s blue lagoons, swim with sea lions and participate in an authentic Mexican cooking class while glamping and relaxing on Baja’s beaches in sunny Mexico. PHOTOGRAPH BY COLIN RUGGIERO
Mount Pelion West is located in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, Australia. The mountain is part of the Pelion Range and is situated within the Cradle MountainLake St. Clair National Park at the eastern most boundary of the Murchison River catchment. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
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Adventure Awaits
For 2020, AdventureWomen has curated a lineup with several standout, far-flung destinations, and Judi Wineland offers a preview of what to expect: MOUNT KILIMANJARO. This trip is especially close to Wineland’s heart, as her entire family has climbed the highest mountain in Africa, and the company has a rare 98-percent summit rate. “Kilimanjaro is a non-stop trek up where you go through these different zones, the rain forest, the heath, the moorlands, the alpine desert … it’s just exhilarating,” she says. “A lot of women come on this trip thinking, ‘Maybe I’ll make it, maybe I won’t.’ But we really take our time. When the women summit, they can’t stop saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I did it!’ Sometimes, we don’t have faith in ourselves, but you’re supported by other like-minded women.”
TANZANIA. This 10-day trip is the special chance to embark on a safari where you’ll see majestic wildlife. You’ll also spend time with the Maasai women, who make their home in a settlement of traditional huts, to learn about their lives living in a remote village, often as one of multiple wives. “You’re in the Serengeti, the most incredible place with the largest biomass in the world. Elephants and lions walking past you, and you’re camping out in the wilderness,” says Wineland. “This is where life has been like this forever, and you feel insignificant and smaller than you imagine.”
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
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OMAN. AdventureWomen is the first women’s company to venture to this Middle Eastern country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. “The Middle East is so different from any other place in the world,” says Wineland. “There is this beautiful desert where we camp, and then suddenly we’re in an oasis where it’s green. Then, boom, you’re up in the mountains, and then you’re on the oceanfront—it takes your breath away. We’ll also meet Omani women entrepreneurs in a country that doesn’t necessarily celebrate women. You’re going to see something different, feel something different and ultimately be something different.”
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BHUTAN. This is a cultural dream trip offering the chance to discover the secret world of tiny Bhutan, a Himalayan jewel hidden in the forests and clouds, where Bhutanese culture and ancient traditions thrive. “This is a really great hiking trip, where you’re trekking high Himalayan mountain passes for breathtaking views of verdant valleys. It’s a spiritual journey in that you’re in a Buddhist country,” says Wineland. “You’ll not only visit a monastery and one of Bhutan’s two oldest temples, but you’ll get the incredible chance to participate in a spiritual drum ceremony at the Pema Choeling Nunnery, a rare meeting with the women there.”
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THOMSON SAFARIS
BAJA. Wineland describes this sunny vacation as one of the most fun trips for women. “We have a camp out on this island, and it’s literally like glamping,” she says. “There are blue lagoons, snorkeling with sea lions and whale watching in Magdalena Bay. The women learn to surf, which makes them laugh, and then relax with wine under the stars at night. This is where women just downright have fun.” For more information, go to adventurewomen.com. Average prices range from $3,000$7,000 with the exception of Antarctica, which ranges from $17,000-$20,000.
Glamping on the shores of the cerulean Sea of Cortez on one of the islands most beautiful beaches. Featuring walkin safari-style tents, sun showers, and an on site chef at the luxurious Los Colibris Casitas resort. COURTESY LOS COLIBRIS CASITAS
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We set the course. You set the pace. 6 and 12 night sailing adventures | all inclusive | 10 to 26 guests BRITISH VIRGINS | FRENCH WEST INDIES LEEWARD ISLANDS | WINDWARD ISLANDS 877.772.4549
islandwindjammers.com readelysian.com • l’automne 2019 •
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