BELINDA SLY
“Discovering Ayurveda and living in-line with its principles saved my life and enabled me to rebuild my body and calm my mind.”
Belinda is an expert Facialist who blends Ayurvedic practices with her unique sustainable and 100% natural wellness treatments. She has worked for many years delivering her unique Indian Head Massage treatments to corporate clients within their offices.
She hosts transformative wellness retreat days where clients experience the harmonious fusion of ancient wisdom and eco-consciousness. Alongside also offering tailored lifestyle curation services which use a holistic approach to total lifestyle transformation through careful curation and organisation turning client’s homes into a sanctuary. Whilst also empowering them with knowledge and tools to support their lifestyles, wellness, personal style, nutrition and fitness.
Follow Belinda:
Website: slyspaces
Instagram: @slyspaces
“The principles and methods of Ayurveda have been in existence for over 5,000 years and are still used today so I figured they must work.”
What does Ayurveda mean to you?
By living an Ayurvedic life I have tremendous peace, I am extremely happy, I have a positive outlook and I am very strong and healthy.
When did you discover it?
I discovered Ayurveda in 2017 firstly when I trained in Traditional Indian Head Massage and then later that year when I was introduced to Sunita Passi, the well-known specialist in Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Medicine (who is now one of my closest friends). The Indian Head Massage training seemed to me it was like a calling as it was so far from my fast-moving retail life. Ayurveda and the Dosha’s made total sense to me and have allowed me to live my life this way ever since.
How long have you been practising it?
Since 2017 when I trained in Indian Head Massage and met Sunita Passi. I have lived an Ayurvedic life since then and will do so forever.
What drew you to Ayurveda?
The principles and methods of Ayurveda have been in existence for over 5,000 years and are still used today so I figured they must work. I love the simplicity of Ayurveda and it’s holistic approach to overall health, treating the body, mind and soul as one.
Has it helped you with anything major?
It certainly has – in 2015 I contracted Whooping Cough very badly and unfortunately, it was not diagnosed for 3 months. The violent coughing was so bad some of my ribs fractured and the struggle to breathe was extremely frightening. I then suffered from Acute Urticaria and life-threatening Angioedema for 3 years resulting in 999 calls and blue light ambulance trips. My immune system was weak and struggling from these plus the Whooping Cough, I was exhausted, stressed and burnt out with constant worry so I was obviously very vulnerable. Discovering and introducing Ayurveda into my life literally was my lifesaver. Understanding Ayurveda and identifying my Dosha type enabled me to build a strong immune system to recover by eating the right foods, exercising in the right way and allowing my mind to recalibrate and rest. By using the principles and methods every day I feel happy that I am doing the best I can to be resistant to disease, not worry or stress, have peace and harmony and enjoy life to the full.
Is Ayurveda part of your everyday life or just for your medicine cabinet or fall-back routine?
Ayurveda is very much part of my everyday life – discovering it and living this way saved my life and enabled me to rebuild my body, calm my mind and integrate it into every part of my life.
What are your top 3 Ayurvedic tips that have worked for you?
Living my life and eating for my dosha-type.
My tongue scraping every time I brush my teeth.
Listening equally to my mind, my body and my soul so they work in harmony.
What surprised you most about Ayurveda?
It works! It is ancient and still used today so that says it all.
Did you integrate it gradually or overnight for any particular reason?
Overnight for the reasons above regarding my illness, stress and worry. There are no pills or potions for Whooping Cough. I was so ill and in so much pain for so long I knew there must be a way in ancient times people healed themselves before modern-day medicine was invented.
Do your children/family eat an Ayurvedic diet? And if they do, do they know it’s Ayurveda or do they just think of it as home cooking?
I live happily on my own so no one to cater for except myself! When I cook for family or friends I don’t identify the Ayurvedic dishes so I don’t have to explain it to them, they just think it is my home cooking!
What is your favourite Ayurvedic recipe or go-to ingredient?
There are so many! To choose just one it must be Kitchari. I absolutely love it because it is utterly delicious and wonderfully healing and I can serve it to everyone whether they know of Ayurvedic cooking or not!
How does Ayurveda fit into your day-to-day routines?
Living the Ayurveda way, I am 99% stress-free enabling my parasympathetic system to govern my day-to-day life and routines and I don’t live in fight or flight mode.
What do you wish was easier in our society to make an Ayurvedic lifestyle more accessible?
In the West, generally much of society is still wary of Eastern medicine and their traditional methods of living and healing even though these date back thousands of years, are proven, still used and still work. My wish is that Ayurveda and an Ayurvedic lifestyle can become mainstream and a ‘normal’ way to live so that society has much-improved health, a better lifestyle, is stronger, happier and calmer and doesn’t rely on pills for every little niggle.
Do people around you/in your circle of friends know about Ayurveda?
No, sadly they do not.
What’s the one thing you would encourage everyone to try or you think would benefit the majority of people’s health for the better?
Find out one’s Dosha and explore how it affects your life. Integrate the findings into daily life and explore this way of living by eating and exercising accordingly. By choosing to follow the principles of Ayurveda you soon begin to see how your health naturally improves, you avoid illnesses and diseases, have much less stress and worry, and are able to enjoy life so much more. Ayurveda gives life a beautiful balance and harmony.