LUI Ritual: Yianna Velos
Here at LUI, we love the idea of rituals: those little everyday practices that help you feel calm, centred and whole. We believe shaving deserves to be part of this self-care routine. In celebration of mindful moments, the LUI Ritual series asks friends of the brand about their own positive habits and how they elevate their day.
HI, MY NAME IS… Yianna Velos.
BUT EVERYONE CALLS ME… Yianna or Yians.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I DREAMED OF BEING… self-employed! I wanted to be a wedding planner, an investment banker or an orthodontist (mainly because my orthodontist was always going on the best holidays).
BUT NOW I WORK AS… the Founder of GOLDEN GROVES, a wellness and lifestyle brand that retails high phenolic and certified organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from my family’s region in Greece.
THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP IS… turn off my alarm and scrape my tongue/brush my teeth.
THE LAST SONG I PLAYED ON SPOTIFY… 'Music to Watch Boys To' by Lana Del Rey.
MY MORNING ROUTINE IS…
1. Scrape my tongue and brush my teeth with non-toxic toothpaste.
2. Make/drink my morning beverages (hot water with lemon and celtic sea salt and a long black with IMBIBE Miracle Collagen and mushroom powder).
3. Take five deep breaths or meditate.
4. Get changed for my workout (either strength training with my PT or hot pilates).
5. Take my probiotic.
THE PERFUME I SPRAY ON RIGHT BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… I don’t wear perfume everyday because they contain endocrine disruptors, but when I do, I will spray perfume on my clothes (never skin). My current favourite fragrance is Tam Dao by Diptyque.
MY COFFEE ORDER IS… a long black ¾ full.
THROUGHOUT MY DAY I FIND JOY IN… the small things, my morning coffee, the sun shining, walking from one place to another or conversations/ nteractions with people that are warm and soulful.
MY LUNCH ORDER IS… always something high in protein! Either four organic pasture raised eggs and organic greens cooked with Golden Groves EVOO or a large green salad with lots of seeds, a meat-based protein and avocado. My salad dressing is always the same: Golden Groves EVOO, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper.
MY 3PM PICK-ME-UP IS… sheep's yogurt with organic seasonal fruit, local walnuts, psyllium husk, coconut flakes and hemp seeds if I am at home or organic grass-fed beef sticks if I’m on the run!
AFTER A LONG DAY I SWITCH OFF BY… going for a long walk on the beach.
THE LAST BOOK I COULDN’T PUT DOWN… You Are A Magnet by Amber Lyon.
MY NIGHTTIME ROUTINE IS…
1. Drink peppermint and liquorice tea (for digestion) with my sweet treat, which is always Pana Chocolate (mint or hazelnut flavour).
2. Take my nightly supplements, including my magnesium mocktail, Calm/Sleep by IMBIBE.
3. A hot shower.
4. My nightly skincare.
5. Elevate my legs for 15-20 minutes to drain the fluid from my day, whilst I have my LED panel on the sleep function and meditate using the Open app.
THE LAST THING I DO BEFORE BED IS… put my phone on the charger.
YOU CAN FIND ME ONLINE AT... @YIANNAVEL and @GOLDENGROVESCO.