Chef, author and Ayurvedic specialist Jasmine Hemsley, 42, reveals her wellness and beauty secrets, including her new haircare collaboration…
By Suzanne Baum (Photos: Nick Hopper Photography)
‘I always try and live my life through Ayurveda principles. It is a philosophy and a health system in one, helping us to understand that we are nature and we are of nature. I love following the ancient teachings that promote a 360-degree approach to wellness. It really helps you get to focus on your mind and body, and understand yourself.
‘I’ve always been into wellbeing and this 5,000-year-old theory is fascinating. I am constantly on a learning journey. Through Ayurvedic, I have learned that the different seasons can determine how your skin reacts.
‘Winter, for example, is a season that makes you feel a bit sluggish and your skin can get quite dry. I swear by body oil and slather it all over to stop drying out like a raisin! In winter, I love to use Vita Coco
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as an eye make-up remover or on any cuts as it’s antibacterial.
‘During the colder months I also use almond and sesame oils. And I’m a huge fan of the natural beauty brands Ren and Tata Harper, both of which really nourish skin.
Jasmine Hemsley: ‘Ayurveda is a philosophy and a health system in one, helping us to understand that we are nature.’
‘Ayurveda plays such a big part in my wellness routine that I created two of my own tools. The first is my copper Tongue Tingler tool (£12), which is a tongue scraper designed to make your mouth happier and healthier, which is key to a happy, healthy gut. Tongue scraping is the first thing I do before I brush my teeth or kiss my partner!
‘The second is my Kansa Wand (£45), which is a traditional Ayurveda massage tool. It’s designed to activate the vitality points on your body to increase blood flow and can be used all over, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. They’ve used them in India for centuries.
‘I’ve recently combined my love of Ayurveda with haircare, to create a treatment menu for Hari’s Hair Salon in London. The treatments combine natural ingredients and self-care rituals from this 5,000-year old philosophy. Each treatment is designed to feed and future-proof the hair and scalp – it’s a truly holistic experience. All my friends, clients and new mums love it as it really cares for and repairs the hair.
‘My work as a foodie is well known. During the Hemsley and Hemsley days, I was keen to add my Ayurvedic ideas into our recipes but I wasn’t sure people were ready for it. What I try to promote now though is the importance of taking time to appreciate your food, as much as what that food is, and not to shove it down your throat without tasting it.
Jasmine Hemsley: ‘I try to promote the importance of taking time to appreciate your food, and not to shove it down your throat without tasting it.’
‘Some simple things you can do include not eating at your work desk or in front of the TV. Take a breath, slow down, and eat and enjoy your food. Ideally you want to take 25 minutes to eat a meal, which will give you a level of fullness and satisfaction so that you won’t feel inclined to eat anything else quickly afterwards.
‘Ayurveda is about bringing wellbeing into everyday choices, such as drinking hot water instead of fizzy drinks and understanding where your food comes from. One thing that helps lower my anxiety is to not work on my laptop late at night. Instead, I focus on ways to calm my mind, which is what much of Ayurveda is about.
‘I also do a lot of meditation and breath work, and I teach people about how to focus on their breathing. Breathing is something we all do naturally and without thinking about it, but when you put your mind to it, it can really improve your mental, physical and spiritual health.
‘I am a huge fan of sound baths and run regular sessions with clients. These include for corporate events and anyone else interested in them. Crystal sound baths are a great way of relaxing you.
‘Obviously, I get some people who think it is a load of rubbish and not at all up their street, so I advise them to come along anyway and just see for themselves how it can help them. After, they tend to always say what a calming effect it has. Some have even fallen asleep during the sound baths!
Jasmine Hemsley: ‘Crystal sound baths are a great way of relaxing you. Some have even fallen asleep during the sound baths!’
‘I love massage and have learnt the art of practising it on myself. When I am stressed, simply applying hand cream or oil on parts of my body helps me chill out. Ayurveda has helped me so much as it’s all about calming down and taking life at a slower pace.
‘This has helped a lot since I became a mum, but also because I’ve seen a lot of changes in my body, one of the biggest being that I always feel hot. I think that has a lot to do with breastfeeding.
‘Having a good bedtime routine is important. Watching TV too late or doing anything that excites the mind makes sleep more disrupted. Obviously having a baby turns that on its head, too! But having the tools to cope has made the process of becoming a new mum much easier.
For details of Jasmine’s work with Hari’s salon, visit harissalon.com/harisxhemsley.
