Women In Wellness: Ivana Daniell On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
This positive attitude, this connection with your body that you will rediscover through healthy and intelligent movement, is the first link of the chain that will anchor you to a future of health and vigor for the rest of your life.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ivana Daniell.
Ivana Daniell is a graduate of the Laban Centre in London, and the founder and director of Ivana Daniell BODY ID. Born in Italy, she is an authority and visionary on functional exercise and posture, I have worked in collaboration with renowned doctors and clinics around the world. She was also a consultant to the Aman Resorts hotel group for nearly a decade. She now runs her posture and movement re-education clinic in London.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
In spring of 2009, I was visiting London — at the time I was living and running my clinic in Singapore.
A doctor friend from London mentioned to me that a VIP patient needed a posture consultation, and I shared my full availability. The day after I received a call from Buckingham Palace saying that my presence had been requested by a member of the Royal Family.
Of course, I will not disclose more personal information, but I wish to share with you one of the most magical moments of my life.
At first, I thought it might have been a joke, I did not know what to say. Buckingham Palace?
It was unreal. I was polite and answered dutifully, but still thought it might be a very well-planned joke, so I played my part. It was only later that day when I received an official email invitation, I realised this was real!
The day after I felt I was walking on clouds, at 4pm I entered Buckingham Palace for the first time, it was like a dream!
It is an experience and an emotion I will never forget, and I will treasure it for the rest of my life. I have been entering that door now for the past 13 years, it’s a gift and an honour, and that magical emotion it’s the same as for the first time.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
I was working with a dance company in the late 80s in Paris, the much-awaited Gala Show at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. I had persistent pain due to my back injury.
During the show, a colleague noticed my discomfort and suggested that I apply some of his magic cream to numb the unbearable pain.
No one thought to mention that the “magic cream” was a hot chilli-based cream to rub into the muscles to warm them up to the point where the intense heat would ease the pain. Dutifully, and with gratitude to my helpful colleague, in the rush of a costume change, I rubbed the magic chilli cream into the area of pain… my lower back… my very lower back…
You can imagine the effect of the chilli cream in my rear… It was fire… chilli hot, in fact! I jumped and leapt through the air with seeming effortlessness. The show was a resounding success. I had survived the chilli treatment and given a hot performance on the stage.
That night after the show, after the ridiculous incident with the chilli cream, I decided I could no longer continue like this, living with chronic pain. The following day I went to the hospital to see an orthopaedic doctor. After a thorough examination and an x-ray, I was told I had a herniated disc in my lumbar spine. I was advised to rest and be very careful. My long journey to recovery became the inspiration of my future career.
Can you share with our readers a bit about why you are an authority in the fitness and wellness field? In your opinion, what is your unique contribution to the world of wellness?
I have worked in the wellness industry for over 30 years now. I was at the right place at the right time back in 1998, when I introduced the Pilates Method and other Intelligent Movement approaches to Singapore and South-East Asia. The success of that endeavour, led to collaborations with some of the most renowned doctors and clinics all over the world. I was one of the first consultants to talk about Menopause openly, to educate women to better understand their bodies.
My Body ID Method, which I outline in my book “A Manual for a Contemporary Body” is based on many years of professional experience in dance, intelligent movement and movement therapy and observations of the human body. It is a Holistic approach that encompasses a person’s lifestyle, body type and characteristics and mindful wellbeing.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I have a long list of people who have contributed in a very significant way in my career.
First, my wonderful clients, who have inspired me and supported me across the arc of my career. They have given me the opportunity to explore the infinite potential of the human body. Their dedication to my work sets an example for those who are searching for a more intelligent and healthier way of moving.
Working in Singapore for 10 years at the incredible Camden Medical Centre. The doctors and practitioners who have supported my work. They also have been my teachers and I have been blessed to learn so much from them.
Ok thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. We all know that it’s important to eat more vegetables, eat less sugar, exercise more, and get better sleep etc. But while we know it intellectually, it’s often difficult to put it into practice and make it a part of our daily habits. In your opinion what are the 3 main blockages that prevent us from taking the information that we all know, and integrating it into our lives?
I believe that information shared in the public domain on how to live our lives healthily, and happily, is not sufficient, confusing, and often incorrect.
Unfortunately, we have become a society where we follow, instead of listening to what our bodies need.
We follow the latest fad we read about in magazines or on social media, or we are influenced by the friend who swears that the gym or by a particular exercise or sport that changed his/her life. Or we impulsively decide that we want to get fitter and lose a few extra pounds, so we join the gym next to our office without professional guidance and body awareness.
The old idea of physical exercise and physical education has today radically changed, and sadly, not always in a positive way.
In a world of mass information, there is no filter, the so-called “word of mouth” is disappearing.
You just need to have a look at the web today where you are bombarded with applications and photos showing you how to get fitter; how to get a better body in a few weeks, or a sexy chocolate-bar-shaped six-pack.
I look at these applications with horror and recognize that most of them could be very harmful to the public. Especially as they are often pitched as a quick fix, which leads to deflation and disappointment if results aren’t seen overnight, and then the cycle begins again.
Trust me, there is never a quick fix!
It all comes down to our Body ID — one step we can take is to better understand our body type, which can then help us to then start working with our body in harmony.
Can you please share your “5 Non-Intuitive Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve One’s Wellbeing”? (Please share a story or an example for each, and feel free to share ideas for mental, emotional and physical health.
I believe that the following 5 tweaks (and sticking to them) will dramatically improve anyone’s wellbeing.
· Be aware of your body identity — understanding what type of engine you have is critical.
· Move and exercise in a safe and intelligent way — knowing what your body needs will ensure a happy body and minimal pain.
· Exercise according to your body type and movement personality
· Follow a healthy and balanced diet — food is fuel!
· Keep a positive attitude and be grateful for this wonderful gift called life.
As an expert, this might be obvious to you, but I think it would be instructive to articulate this for the public. Aside from weight loss, what are 3 benefits of daily exercise? Can you explain?
A healthy body, free from pain and capable of enjoying the freedom of movement will give you a sense of general well-being.
This wonderful natural “high “called endorphin, accompanied by that positive feeling, is the most powerful anti-ageing and anti-depressant combination, a truly natural life motivator.
This positive attitude, this connection with your body that you will rediscover through healthy and intelligent movement, is the first link of the chain that will anchor you to a future of health and vigour for the rest of your life.
For someone who is looking to add exercise to their daily routine, which 3 exercises would you recommend that are absolutely critical?
Three things that anyone can do easily to add movement to their daily lives is to put their feet on the street — either a 40 minute walk alone; conscious mindful walking (taking care to manage posture), or short walks throughout the day… walking is the best exercise you can do.
After all these feet are made for walking! It’s easy, it’s accessible to everyone and it’s free.
Walk as much as you can; it’s wonderful! I have learned that my feet are my wheels, and they can take me everywhere.
Walking gives you a lot of benefits, and if it’s done correctly and efficiently, it can be considered a very effective form of exercise. We all know that a good walk, especially in nature, does wonder for your health and for your mental well-being. A 30- to 45-minute daily walk can have several benefits:
· It can improve your general fitness and cardiac health.
· It alleviates depression and improves your mood.
· It can help you manage your weight.
· It improves your circulation.
· It will help you to maintain a healthy posture.
· It is a low-impact form of exercise; it will not damage your knees and your back, and it can be done for long periods of time.
On top of your daily walking routine, you can add then, a favourite sport or activity — for example dancing, swimming or yoga. This will only be chosen according to your BODY ID, and it would be very different for everyone.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story?
There are so many books that made an impact on me it would not be fair to name just one.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
It is a doomed future that our children are facing: a non-movement- orientated future lifestyle that will surely lead to a life plagued with chronic aches, pains and weight problems.
We need to be seriously aware of the damage that can result from living in this virtual world and start educating our children about the importance of movement and good posture. We need to be encouraging them to lead a healthier outdoor and movement-orientated lifestyle. This should be our mission as responsible parents.
My mission, my vision, goes even further.
I dream of a new concept of School Physical Education, where children are properly educated from the beginning of their school life on how to understand their body and the dangers of a non-movement-orientated lifestyle, or the damage caused by long hours spent in front of computers and sitting at desks that do not support a healthy posture.
A school environment is an excellent place to provide the right guidance and an appropriate programme of postural education.
Over the years education departments have introduced classes on personal hygiene, personal grooming and sex education. Why not introduce the most important health issue of all, posture and physical education?
The biggest challenge would start with re-evaluating the configuration of the classrooms. The way our children are sitting at their school desks is totally unsuitable and schools should seriously consider a much more posture-friendly environment. After all, these children are our future!
In order to give a healthier environment to my son, I had to decide to send him to a school in the woods, and literally back to the roots. Not all children can be given this opportunity and not all parents may consider being separated from their children a viable option. Mine was a big sacrifice, but it was worth it!
Can you please give us your favourite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
“It is never too late”
I love this quote, because it really is never too late to change your life, to enjoy a healthy and pain free life — I have experienced it first hand with my own healing journey — And through my wonderful clients, who have been my teachers, my inspiration, and greatest supporters — I have learnt so much from them, listening to and sharing their stories, their aches, their pains and listening to their bodies. I have experienced the joy and blessings of being told “I feel 10 years younger,” “I feel great — I have no more pain” — “I feel so confident now”.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂
No doubt, it would be Oprah Winfrey
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
You can purchase a copy of “A Manual for a Contemporary Body’ from all book shops. Or you can contact me online or follow me on Instagram.
www.ivanadaniell.com
Instagram — ivanadaniellofficial
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Ivana Daniell on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.