I worked in a Design Studio for a Publishing Company based in the United Kingdom, I loved my job. In my spare time I was a sponsored athlete, training before and after work, travelling at weekends to cross country Mountain Biking and Multi-Sport Adventure race events. My life was all about nutrition, training, rest and recovery and being the best I could be for my team, and sponsors. To help my body and mind I was a huge fan of complementary health including Massage Therapy, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, and Aromatherapy.
New Horizons
The opportunity to relocate from the United Kingdom to France followed by a permanent move to Australia, this was both exciting, yet challenging with no friends or family in either country.
My passion for natural therapies took me back to full time education eventually becoming qualified as a Holistic Remedial Therapist. It was during this time I was hit by a car while out cycling.
I fractured my lower back, right hand and sustained multiple soft tissue injuries and permanent nerve damage. I have to this day not been back on a road bike but do mountain bike away from roads and cars! Following the incident I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Meet The Founder
I eventually ‘retired’ from competitive sports, but still took part in triathlons for fun, one day while training on my road bike
I was hit by a car
OUR STORY
New Life, Love & Loss
Along came my everything in the form of a little human, my son. I sold my clinical practice and worked part-time with clients from my home clinic.
My drive to start my own holistic plant-based skin care brand began after I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). From that moment I absolutely knew I had to overhaul every single aspect of my life in order to recover both my physical mental health, and my quality of life. This diagnosis followed on from having Adrenal Fatigue and Glandular Fever both often precursors to full blown CFS.
It has been a roller coaster journey back to health, CFS is not unlike grieving a death of a loved one, in a way I had died, I was not me anymore, or more not the one I had identified so strongly with! I could no longer trail run, go to the gym, swim, kayak, cycle, enjoy pilates or yoga. I had zero energy for friends or being social, I had hit the wall at high speed and my entire identity of being a happy, bouncy and active person died.
Depression set in which was further compounded after being diagnosed with Postnatal Depression (PND) following the birth of my son. My father died just before my son turned 2 and within 6 weeks my adored pooch also died. He had been by my side for 11 years living in 3 different countries; my faithful and the most loyal companion a human could ask for, died in my arms.
For along time after this accident I was in crisis, my joy and passion in life of being able to exercise had gone - while I recovered from my physical injuries, little did I realise it was the ongoing mental trauma that was my biggest challenge.
I worked in day spas, with a Football Team, Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centre, Spinal Unit Recovery Centre and eventually ran my own successful clinic incorporating Lymphatic Drainage, Myofascial, DORN and the full spectrum of massage therapies from sport rehab to facial and scalp treatments.
During my practice I came across all types of issues and conditions, I enjoyed incorporating aromatherapy (essential oils and plant oils) into my practice and developing my own blends and balms to help soothe and calm client’s bodies and minds. My curious brain started to research plant based skincare and I began to make some of my first formulations for my own reactive skin.
Time to make a choice—to be angry, and I was for a long time, I had been living in constant cycle of "stress" my body was inflamed it was time to go back to basics, start again and rebuild my health and along with it my life.
I was raised an ‘organic’ child, in the English countryside, vegetables and fruit were grown at home and Mom cooked with raw ingredients, from scratch, she taught me how to grow and gather herbs and use them as skin and hair care products.
I had lost my way in this world, strayed from my truth and my connection to nature, I worked only on what I could put into myself rather than what
I could get out of myself. I started eating only organic, and locally grown, seasonal food, cutting out wheat and dairy and slowly restoring my
gut-health.
I learned to practice self-care and self-love, as a stubborn empath I was great at caring for others but did not ask for help. Creating FIFTY7KIND provided mental stimulation and helped alleviate the frustration from not being unable to exercise for the joy but also for the stress-relieving effects.
By the end of 2019 I was about 90% back to full-health and able to exercise again, daily 5-10k walks and short trail runs were back in my life along with gentle yoga and mountain biking. November 2019 was the launch of FIFTY7KIND'S first product 'TANU Skin Affinity Coactive Serum'.
Putting Gabrielle Back Together Again
The Year That Changed The World
In March 2020 our main family income disappeared overnight. I lived in a constant state of stress, unable to digest my food properly when I did actually eat. In May I was experiencing unexplained pain, I pushed on until October when I went to see a Doctor; by this time I was struggling to walk, and suffering from the effects of broken sleep due to being in constant pain. I also entered the next life stage of 'perimenopause' which was also contributing to my inability to have restful sleep, I was a hot mess literally!
I was finally diagnosed in March 2021 with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disorder. Currently there is no pharmaceutical cure, medications are available to help lessen disease progression, and reduce systemic inflammation. I have found that radical self acceptance, challenging my 'life narrative' (and changing my story i.e beliefs) and lifestyle changes have had more of a profound affect on my health than any pharmaceutical drug.
I practice intermittent fasting, eat fresh in-season vegetables and fruits, wild-caught fish, and avoid processed food, wheat and cows milk and limit sugar, which means cooking my food from scratch. I choose not to drink alcohol, meditate and get outside into nature daily . These lifestyle adjustments have made a big difference - I am now officially in 'Clinical remission'. I believe in a holistic approach to my skincare formulations and lifestyle choices. Chronic stress causes disease, self-care is not selfish it is a critical part of our well-being and ongoing health. This I know for sure.
much love Gabrielle
" I understand the toll chronic stress takes on your mind, body, and skin.
Throughout many years of figuring out my health issues, I have channeled my existing Holistic Remedial Therapy knowledge and up-skilled to create a collection of Award-Winning, Holistic, Luxury formulas elevated by High-Performance Clinically Proven Actives, designed to treat the impact of stress, by calming, nurturing, rejuvenating and restoring the skins health"
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AT A GLANCE
You should probably know
I am a Guinness World Record holder
EVERY DAY BEGINS WITH
ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA
(A MEDITATION AND JOURNAL)
Largest Simultaneous Massage (2010)
SUSHI IS MY
FAVOURITE FOOD
HAPPIEST OUTside
SOMEWHERE in NATURE
JAPANESE SENCHA TEA IS MY AFTERNOON "POWER-UP"
All About
Tea, daily time in nature, exceptional skincare, podcasts, deep and meaningful conversations, books you can hold, trekking in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, laughing until it hurts, real food, love and kindness.
NOT ABOUT
Hustle culture, unconscious consumerism, racism, gender inequality, discrimination, plastic-pollution, deforestation, lifeless skincare, greenwashing, small-talk, fast-fashion, and mosquitos.
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