In Conversation with Anita Kaushal of Mauli Rituals

Mauli ~ a sacred thread symbolising protection, connection and wellbeing

Mauli is for those who respect the power of nature and appreciate genuine quality and is offered with a wish for your wellbeing. Anita & Bittu

Anita and Bittu Kaushal are the founders of British eco-luxe beauty and wellness brand Mauli Rituals. Specialising in Ayurvedic beauty products to nurture your skin, hair and soul. A brand defined by love, tradition and wellbeing.

They both enjoyed careers in creative consulting and skincare distribution respectively, until a life changing event led them on a pilgrimage to their motherland.

It was here they re-discovered the healing power of India's natural herbs and holistic traditions. So fascinated were the couple by the Vedic scriptures that Anita went onto study Ayurvedic health and nutrition and Bittu furthered his knowledge under the guidance of his father; an Ayurvedic doctor.

Together, their passion has helped bring Ayurveda and it’s ancient teachings into the current day by creating beautiful, organic sensorial blends, inspired by science lead Ayurvedic principles with a sense of British refinement to compliment any beauty and wellbeing ritual.

I was equally excited to hear that they have created a menu of Mauli Spa Rituals that one can go and experience, offering the concept of Ayurvedic inspired face and body treatments. Layering, anointing and purifying the skin and senses with sensual oils, healing herbs and Ayurvedic techniques is at the heart of each treatment and will allow the stresses of modern day life to melt away....

They launched their rituals with Bvlgari Spa London and then Milan, following with the launch of their spa in the Raas Hotels in Rajisthan.

Intrigued to learn more, Anita kindly answered my questions so I can share them here with you to read....

What does Ayurveda mean to you?

Ayurveda means true wellness and viewing mind, body, soul, people and the planet as a unified whole.

How do you think we could make Ayurveda more accessible in our society today?

Knowledge. Maintaining and building that knowledge and then influencing the next generation, that would be a wonderful thing. Also, if practitioners sat alongside doctors for a more integrated healing system that would be the dream, and it’s coming.

Your product design embodies a traditional yet simplistic nod to the ancient practice of Ayurveda. How are you incorporating sustainability measures within the brand?

Our award-winning products are delivered to you in beautiful amber glass bottles, recyclable card tubes, recycled and/or recyclable plastic and reusable steel vessels.

Our products are made in the smallest of batches to better preserve the integrity of the rare and refined ingredients we have come to source.

Our cherishable gift boxes are made using waste cotton, block printed by artisans in Rajisthan.

We continue to explore ways in which we can build on our pure products and sustainable packaging and always value any feedback and suggestions.

We avoid preservatives and synthetics that artificially prolong the life of a product

What can one do naturally to work towards achieving a healthy, radiant skin?

Meditate, exercise, get out in nature and above all else, find your happiness. The best food and skincare in the world can’t compete with peace of mind.

Once you’ve done all this, it’s about using products that do good when they are in contact with the skin and for us that means the purest essential oils.

Your website really focuses on the ways in which one can create sacred and rejuvenating wellness rituals to help balance and reduce stress for mind, body and soul. What would be the ideal ritual to help calm a busy mind and reduce stress levels?

A busy mind is becoming a bigger issue as phones create a habit of always being switched on, so conversely now and always we need to learn to switch off.

Incorporate phone free hours through your day.

Meditate

I cannot stress the value of this enough. It’s really very simple and there are so many different methods but each leads to the same destination. A gap between thoughts, this brings immense power, so thinking becomes clear and from a loving, as opposed to fearful place. Fear depletes energy and causes a busy scattered mind.

As with all things Ayurveda, it’s a 360 degree approach to wellness and not a one solution solves all.

Sleep is an imperative part of Ayurvedic teachings and one of the key pillars. It contributes to how we feel, how we act and how we react to the day ahead.

What advice do you have to achieve a better nights sleep? Ditch the phone and create a ritual of nightly bath time with healing salts, a self massage to soothe tired limbs, do some breathing exercises to calm the mind and get back into the habit of reading something at night.

Rituals are the key as the body learns when it’s time to shut down for the night and does not fight it

Our Himalayan Healing Salts contain the same trace minerals found in the human body. As you bathe in these salts and they enter the body, lost minerals are replenished and toxins diminished. They also help induce a good night’s sleep – so vital to functioning well. If someone is interested in introducing elements of Ayurveda into their lives where should they start?

Eat local, seasonal and organic.

We are our own best practitioners and are fortunate to be able to see the signs of imbalances on our skin, so get used to observing the condition and texture of your skin, hair, nails and also tounge as these are clear signs of what’s going on in the body. Then go about correcting it. You’ll find some tips on our site too.

What are your top 3 Ayurvedic practices that have worked for you?