As the New Year rolls around many of us will be looking for ways to carve out a happier and more fulfilling life in 2018, and sisters Nadia and Katia Narain believe they have the answer.
The London-based siblings’ new book Self-Care for the Real World, which is released this week, details how prioritising loving and looking after yourself is the only way you’ll truly be able to do the same for anyone else.
Yoga teacher Nadia, 44, whose clients include Jools Oliver and Jimmy Carr and raw food chef Katia, 42, recommend quick and easy rituals such as taking a shower with peppermint oil or dancing to a favourite song as more fulfilling ways to spend time than half an hour online shopping or mindlessly watching reality TV.
And they insist that not taking care of yourself, is actually a selfish act.
‘We believe if you feel you are the best version of yourself, you will have more to give and to contribute to the world,’ their book explains.
Katia Narain Phillips and her sister Nadia Narain (right) are releasing their new book Self-Care for the Real World this week, endorsed by Kate Moss and Reese Witherspoon
Nadia (right) having a revitalising vitamin drip with director Sam Taylor-Johnson
‘When we feel good about ourselves we do better, kinder things for ourselves and for others, and we naturally let the good things in our lives grow. When we feel bad, we become more selfish and self-absorbed and we don’t have the energy to give to other people or to the things and causes we care about.
‘Self care is not selfish. It is all about learning self-love, self-respcet, self-compassion and seeing the impact that all of these have on your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of those around you.’
Their book has been endorsed by an impressive roll call of celebrities, including Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jools Oliver, Daisy Lowe and Lily Cole.
Kate is an old friend of former model Nadia and has said that her ‘spirituality awakes my body and soul’.
‘Through practising yoga with her it enables me to connect with my inner self,’ she added.
The sisters’ book teaches techniques such as getting in tune with your body to find out what it is you really need.
‘Do you have a tendency to try something that’s popular – like giving up sugar perhaps – then insist on everyone else trying it too?’ they ask. ‘There is no one prescription and different things work for different people at different times.
‘If you just do the things that other people tell you to, they may not give you the energy or the relaxation you crave. Do you really want to do a spin class after work, or are you going because you think you should.
‘Why are you eating that family-sized chocolate bar – for pleasure? Or did you get in a fight with someone and now there’s a big empty feeling inside that you’re trying to fill?’
The sisters’ book says that taking time for yourself is not a selfish act as it revitalises you so that you can take care of others
Yoga teacher Nadia counts Rachel Weisz, Jools Oliver and Lisa Faulkner among her celebrity clients
Former model Nadia has been friends with Kate Moss since she was 19-years-old. The supermodel has credited Nadia with spirituality that ‘awakens’ her body and soul
They also recommend embracing your flaws by realising that it’s imperfections that make you unique and interesting to other people.
Making mealtimes and sacred and eating mindfully rather than in front of the TV and practicing gratitude journalling are among their other tips.
And they recommend that when you do get a spare 30 minutes to yourself, you dance, practice deep breatihing, take an invigorating shower with peppermint oil or get outdoors rather than scrolling through Instagram or watching TV.
Self-Care for the Real World by Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips is available from Amazon from £4.99