Meet Lara Zilibowitz – Yoga Teacher, Artist & Founder of Back2Roots Retreats

♥ Lara Zilibowitz

♥ First up, briefly tell us a little bit about yourself!

I am an artist and yoga teacher with a long-standing passion for creative expression through the body. Movement and creativity have been the keystones in my own quest towards health and I feel extraordinarily privileged to share these learnings with students.

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I am the co-founder of Back2Roots Retreats, hosting yoga, meditation, creativity and nature immersions around Australia and abroad, a synthesis of luxury and wilderness woven with heart. Alongside my love of movement, is my passion for creative expression. I have become known for my handmade, hand-carved mandala-designed ceramics. Each piece is unique with no two the same, and the process of creating each mandala is a meditation practice.

The most recent collaboration with the ABC for the Classic Flow podcast has also been such a joy to create – a gift of exquisite sound and sensation available to the global community.

♥ Tell us about your daily beauty routine! What are your non-negotiables for looking and feeling your best?.

I’m a pretty low-maintenance kinda gal when it comes to beauty routine! Sun, swims, lots of yoga and good sleeps tend to be a foolproof combo!

♥ Your three, absolutely cannot live without, favourite products?
Saltwater from the sea for my hair, coconut oil for my skin and frankincense essence for fragrance.

♥ Describe a typical day of eating for you – brekky, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks – the works!

I’m not strictly vegetarian, but I eat a lot of fruit and veg. And I’m a snacker! Because I’m on the move so much of the day, it’s rare that I’ll sit down for a solid lunch. I make my own granola that I have most days for breaky with seasonal fruit and yoghurt, but then throughout the day may very from chopped veggies with hummus to toast with almond butter and apple, or a good smoothie and a muffin. I eat all-sorts for dinner, too. I worked for many years in food magazines and I love to cook – from quick and easy stir-fries and frittatas to a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

♥ Lara Z

♥ How do you like to get your body moving? Describe your weekly fitness routine.

I practice yoga every day, if not at the studio then on my deck at home. It’s not only my physical practice, it’s essential for my sanity and sanctity. And a solid walk out in nature is my preferred way to get the heart rate up.

♥ Do you take part in any alternative therapies or take supplements? If so, we’d love to hear about it!

When I was 18 I had a life-threatening encounter with a glass table which left my nervous system in a state of severe shock. My yoga and meditation practice has been the best medicine for me during a long-time skirmish battling post-traumatic stress symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. Over the years I have also found craniosacral therapy extremely helpful for settling my nervous system.

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♥ How do you like to relax? What are your favourite ways to de-stress?

Getting out into nature is the antidote and I am absolutely in my element down by the ocean. There’s something about immersing myself in the vastness of the sea that clears all mental barnacles and details that may be clinging to my mind, to help me detangle stress. Getting my arms elbow-deep in silken clay, painting, drawing, carving, creating, is also a meditation practice for me.

♥ How many hours sleep do you usually get each night? Do you have any bedtime rituals or tips to help you get a great nights sleep?

My bedtime routine is very strict, as I have struggled for so many years with sleep-related issues. Getting to bed early is rule one, and I sleep with an eye mask in a dark, quiet room. I turn my phone off after dinner so my head isn’t full of work-related distractions, allowing my system to start to slow.

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♥ And lastly… do you have any top secret tips you use to keep looking / feeling great?

Enjoy the skin you’re in! I firmly believe looking beautiful comes from feeling great from the inside. Indulge your passions, pursue what makes you happy and keep orienting towards pleasure and joy.

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Thanks Lara!

Lara Zilibowitz will be leading Classic Flow Yoga at Perth International Arts Festival – a free Vinyasa flow class paired with live classical music on Saturday 18 February and Sunday 19 February at UWA, as part of Chamber Music Series. Register on Facebook here!