On Beauty: An Holistic Approach

This blog post is about beauty- you know, the real stuff, the kind of beauty that comes from the inside-out and wears itself on the heart, as well as on the outside (in a smile, in the eyes, on skin)…

For the last five years of his life, my father was very ill, slowly suffocating and dying from pneumoconiosis, also known as Black Lung Disease, a disease caused from long exposure to coal dust from the years he worked as a coal miner long before I was born.  Not much beauty in this picture, you would think, but my father was so beautiful (yes, this word can be applied to men!), especially during those last years!  My father could light up a room with his smile.

When my father’s discomfort was at its worst, my clever mother would ask me to play his favorite movie from 1960, It Started in Naples, starring Clark Gable and Sophia Loren.  Sometimes I would fast forward the film to the part when Sophia sings, “Tu Vou’ Fa L’Americano” (You want to be American!),  in English with her Napolitano accent!  My dad’s pain would instantly diminish as he watched Sophia do her magic on stage.  Soon he’d be grinning and asking me to REWIND the film so he could see the scene one more time!

Video clip of Sophia singing Tu Vou’ Fa L’Americano from It Started in Naples.

The idea for this topic on beauty came to me last September as I led a yoga retreat in Umbria, Italy.  It seemed to me all the women on the retreat were beautiful.  All of them possessed a beauty that came from the inside and wore itself perfectly on the outside.

I firmly believe that practicing YOGA is one of the biggest beauty secrets any woman or man can ever embrace.  The practice embraces a peaceful way of being and cultivates an inner happiness that shows on the skin, eyes, and face.  Wrinkles caused by smiles are much more attractive than wrinkles caused by frowns or from worry.  YOGA promotes healthy eating habits, including embracing a wholesome diet of fresh organic vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes.  The yoga practice keeps the physical body toned and flexible, in an upright posture with a youthful spine, and it helps keep disease at bay.  YOGA keeps the lymphatic system moving and creates healthy blood circulation and a stronger immune system.  The yoga practice detoxifies and tones the vital organs so they function optimally.  Yoga clears the mind, rendering it sharp, positive, calm, and open to learning new ideas.  And the yoga practice frees the spirit, so the yoga practitioner sees that most any dream is possible to attain.  In addition to Yoga being the Fountain of Youth, I believe it is the Fountain of Beauty.

Of course, I had to interview the women at the retreat to ask them about their Beauty Secrets.  Their responses below are interspersed with photos of beautiful movie stars from the Italian cinema of the 60s:

Karen:

Save your “sexy” because you are only given so much! What do I mean by that?  Don’t waste time always pulling yourself together. If you want to look your best, save it for a special occasion.  If you never do anything special, use your “sexy” now.  You are the SUBJECT, not the stuff you put on yourself.  Know your own mojo and just CARRY IT. That’s what’s sexy. That’s what lasts.

Charlie who is a hair and make-up design artist has two simple pieces of advice:

Always moisturize and Keep Your Chin Up!

Patty:

Drink a ton of water.  Exercise!  Go outdoors. Moisturize. Have a day to just let go.  When I garden, I put on a hat, I dig in the dirt, and I feel sexy because I am passionate about what I am doing! I dress one way for work, another for biking, and another for going out on a date.

Lindsey:

My mom always told me that beauty is JOY, so if you do what brings you joy, you will always be beautiful! I always remember what Coco Chanel said: “When you think you are ready to leave the house, take off one accessory.” Less is more.

Laurie:

A woman can never have too much jewelry!  Don’t be afraid to wear it.  Don’t save it or wait for a special occasion. Wear it all the time.  Don’t wait for a special occasion to drink champagne.  And here is my number one beauty secret: Always wear sunscreen on your face!!  My mom always used to say to never go out with at least lipstick on.  And remember…sun or  champagne…too much of a good thing is bad.

Nora:

When you have love in your life, you feel beautiful.  Having a smile on your face is your best accessory.  Doing yoga makes you feel beautiful inside and out.  Drink lots of water and take in good nutrition. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.  Move your body.

Julie:

Get your dose of vitamin D.  I used to wear heavy make up, but now I only wear make up on rare occasions.  Instead, I now let my personality shine through!

Marilyn:

If I had to do it all over again, I would never ever sit in the sun!

Anise:

Live a stress-free life. Sunscreen is the number one beauty secret.  Physical maintenance is a life style!  Keep in touch with the people in your life whom you love and tell them how much they mean to you because it makes you a happier person.  Laughter makes you beautiful.

Ursula:

Be in nature as often as you can! Cultivate your friendships.  Moisturize three times a day.  Use Evian spray on your face and be optimistic.

Laila:

You have to go into yourself and find out what makes you happy and try to have as much fun as you can in life.  This approach gives you a very positive outlook in life.  Be nice to other people and everything will shine out.  If it makes you happy to have plastic surgery…do it.  Be brave in life!  It’s very simple. Just do what you like and you will build up good energy and this is the key to beauty:  happiness!  Moisturizer helps on the outside.  Do things that give you confidence.  Beauty comes from the inside.