Living with intention with Sophie Jaffe
Living with intention with Sophie Jaffe
Sophie Jaffe is a yoga teacher, raw food chef and founder of Philosophie, an online destination that inspires people to lead more healthy, radiant lives.
ON EATING ORGANIC PRODUCE
When I was 18, I realised for the first time that I had a choice in what I put in my body. I moved to LA straight out of high school to live closer to my dad and I started to peruse the local farmers’ markets. I fell in love with fresh, organic vegies and fruit, and I started introducing my body to all these newly discovered foods.
ON BECOMING A RAW FOOD CHEF
After I graduated, I started working at an organic raw juice bar near my house. I began changing my own eating [habits] to alleviate some of the discomfort I felt when I was eating dairy, meat and other foods that didn’t seem to sit well. I was encouraged by how great my body felt after making these changes, and felt inspired to help change the eating habits of others. So I went back to the books and became a certified raw vegan chef, and my passions for healthy eating ultimately lead me to create my website, Philosophie (thephilosophie.com).
ON FOOD PHILOSOPHY
I look at food as nourishment and eat from a place of love. Instead of constructing a diet based on rules and limitations, try to consciously eat foods because you love how they taste and you love how they make you feel. That’s the most important part. As soon as you engage in something that is ‘good for your health’ without having any passion for it, is the moment that it loses its vitality. Choose whole foods that are local, seasonal and organic when possible, and eat them mindfully. And don’t deprive your body of a treat every now and then. It’s all about moderation and balance.
ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE
I used to feel so stressed about making sure that everything in Philosophie was moving forward, while also being the best mother and wife I could be. One day, it hit me: as long as my kids are safe, happy and healthy, that’s all that truly matters. Everything else is an added bonus. In addition to using this standard for my definition of ‘success’, I also meditate and set intentions for my day, returning to those when I need a positivity boost. Working out and eating healthily also play an integral part in helping me feel.
ON SETTING INTENTIONS
Everyday, ask yourself: “How do I want to feel? Relaxed? Energised? Grateful?”, then set an intention to feel that specific emotion or feeling. If you want to feel energised, whip up a wholesome smoothie. If you want to feel relaxed, brew a cup of herbal tea and add a drop of soothing honey. Then, while you’re enjoying your smoothie or tea, acknowledge how you’re feeling, that you are now, in this moment, completely relaxed. And thank yourself for taking you to that place, to that destination that you sought out with your intention. Instead of acting out of fear, do things from a positive place of self-respect and self-care.
ON PRACTISING YOGA
I started taking classes at my local YMCA in Hollywood more than 10 years ago. I met a beautiful instructor who took me down a path of learning about my body, spiritual practice and the ebb and flows of life. She taught me how to breathe and take yoga off the mat, into the world.
I found a home within yoga and began to passionately study it, which lead to me becoming a member of the Yoga Alliance and do hundreds of hours of training. Later, I became certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer.
ON BEING A YOGA TEACHER
As a yoga teacher, I get to help people connect, nurture and celebrate their bodies exactly as they are. Yoga is all about how you feel and move on your mat in the present moment. Seeing people of all ages and backgrounds learn to settle into their bodies is such gift.
ON SELF-LOVE
I try not to look in the mirror. I really have never been much of a mirror person, and I find the less time in front of it, the less I think about my image externally and I can focus on the internal light and beauty. I sweat daily, which is so loving for my mind and soul. I try to get at least eight hours of sleep, which helps me love myself more and stay balanced and tuned in all day long. I practise a lot of loving thoughts. I quickly turn myself around when I hear negative thoughts and words coming through.
ON VULNERABILITY
Vulnerability is the state of being open to injury or appearing as if you are. It might be emotional, like admitting that you’re in love with someone who might only like you as a friend, or it can be literal. Once we overcome the fear of being incredibly raw and vulnerable, we have the capacity to truly grow. Sharing my own intimate experiences has helped me heal and come to terms with some of the more difficult moments in my life by creating a space for others to discuss these sorts of issues and just know that they’re not alone in dealing with them. It also helps us connect more deeply with one another. By stripping down to our truest selves, we allow others to see us for who we really are, and they, in turn, are so much more likely to share with us their true selves, ultimately allowing for greater trust and compassion
ON MEDITATION
Yoga is deeply connected to meditation and it’s helped me be more conscious of the here and now. It provides increased focus, assists me in setting intentions for my day, and brings me back to what is most important in my life.
ON FEELING GOOD
I believe that feeling good – feeling nourished, healthy, vibrant, and self-empowered – is what fuels us to work to be better people: better mothers, wives, sisters, friends, and active contributors to our world. Feeling good really just comes down to some basics: movement, rest, paying attention to what we put in our bodies, thinking positively. I know that sometimes it can seem anything but basic and easy, and this is where I found my calling: making health and wellness simple, accessible and a daily joy.
