Mayuri Punjabi On Optimising Health Through Mastering The Mind
The holistic health coach gives us the lowdown on optimal wellness.
Mayuri Punjabi, holistic health coach and founder of MyEurekaLife. (Photo: Courtesy of @ameerkb)
What’s your definition of wellness? Is it eating healthy? Exercising every day? Or having a positive mindset? Hong Kong-based holistic health coach Mayuri Punjabi @myeurekalife boils it down to one thing—a “no-nonsense approach” to food intake.
A degree holder in Genetics and Biochemistry and a certified ashtanga yoga teacher, Punjabi has helped her clients regained control over their health by making right food choices without following any diet fads or counting calories.
With a 12-week and 24-week programme to choose from, her coaching method has resulted in body transformations with lasting results, empowering individuals with knowledge and confidence that will bring change not only to the body but also the mind.
What were you doing before MyEurekaLife?
Prior to starting MyEurekaLife, I was a homemaker and have called Hong Kong home for the past 13 years. I was born in Indonesia, brought up in Singapore, and have also lived in Nigeria, Dubai, Switzerland and London.
Growing up, I never gave my health any thought or considered my lifestyle choices; I just lived life, ate and drank what I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I never categorised myself skinny or fat, but fast forward to 11 years ago, I found myself 32 kilograms overweight, pre-diabetic, with Hashimotos and suffering from PCOS.
I had my very own Eureka moment as I stood in my toilet, pinching the fat on my belly, before I was about to inject myself with pre-diabetic medication. I said to myself, “THIS IS NOT HOW I WANT TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE!” I have two children, and realised in that very moment that I wanted to be around to see them live their lives. My epiphany was that I am here to thrive, and not to merely survive my life.
Armed with a new mindset, my journey towards discovering the miracle that my body really is began. I leveraged my scientific background to delve deeper into the impact food had on my body and state of mind, which led me down several other paths, such as spirituality, physical activity, relationships, and an understanding that mastering our mindset is everything.
Once I began to put all my research and knowledge into practice, I began to lose weight; my PCOS and pre-diabetes disappeared, and my Hashimotos is now under control.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I did not imagine in my wildest dreams that I would embark on an entrepreneurial venture. It started off purely as a passion for the health and wellness space, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to translate this into a business where I am able to help individuals and be a part of their transformative eureka moments.
After my own experience, I wanted to share what I learned and be able to help individuals in their own journey. I began, almost five years ago, by supporting my friends and family, which in turn caused a ripple effect to those around me, and is how “MyEurekaLife” was born. I launched MyEurekaLife officially as a business two years ago.
I communicate with my clients regularly virtually or online; I’m always a message or phone call away, something that is not as easy to accomplish face-to-face. This also allows me to work seamlessly with clients near and far, from Los Angeles to Thailand to Dubai.
MyEurekaLife is an amalgamation of a lot of different methodologies, trial and error, and experience that has been gained by catering to each client’s needs individually. Over 12 and 24 weeks, I curate things according to not just how much weight individuals have to lose, but also according to their personality, lifestyle, long-term feasibility and underlying health conditions.
What defines a modern woman in 2021 to you?
A modern woman is someone that knows and appreciates themselves and has control over their mindset. Mastering your mindset is everything, as it can help you overcome any challenge or situation with a sense of clarity and calm. It’s also someone who can do it all, but does not have to do it all, and is okay in either situation. In every scenario, you have a choice.
What’s one accessory every woman must have?
One accessory that I believe all individuals should have is the ability to take responsibility for any relationship, circumstance or situation that they find themselves in. This involves taking ownership, and understanding that you have the power in every situation you encounter.
What does your self-care routine look like?
My self-care routine is truly listening to my body and understanding what it needs for nourishment and function. Most of the time, I leverage fasting as a tool to care for myself.
Fasting is a tool to cleanse the body and develop mind skills. The world is extremely fast paced, with everything at our fingertips, we are all constantly reacting without thought and as a result of impulse. Fasting is essentially a training field for your mind, showing that you can choose to respond versus react, while simultaneously building will power and discipline, that are valuable to every facet of your life. The benefits I have experienced from integrating fasting into my lifestyle include: being more in control, experiencing weight loss, not waking up in the middle of the night, to not having brain fog, feeling more energetic overall, and is extremely anti-ageing.
What’s your favourite female-owned brand(s) at the moment?
Natasha Moor Cosmetics: A female-owned brand by an incredible entrepreneur, Natasha Moor. I swear by these products, from the formula to the beautiful shade range of lip products. My favourites are the Molten Matte Liquid Lipsticks and the Liquid Magic Concealer.
Organiac: A small organic shop in Hong Kong run by a wonderful lady, Roma Kalwani. She sources organic produce and products that have been grown and packaged by farmers. As part of her inspirational social enterprise, a portion of her sales are allocated towards supporting, training and empowering these farmers.
At this moment, what does being ‘well’ mean to you?
To me, “well” means that I am able to put my head on the pillow at night with complete peace of mind; this is my compass. Reaching peace of mind entails taking a moral inventory of myself before I sleep, making sure that I have done everything to the best of my ability; ensuring that I haven’t hurt anyone and if I have, taking the steps required to clean it up with a genuine willingness to do so.
Who’s your Chika?
I wouldn’t say I have only one Chika, but rather three incredible women by my side, Sahara, Manisha and Sunita, who have stuck with me through thick and thin. Each person brings a different perspective to the table, and this is what makes them an invaluable support system in my life.
I would also like to special mention another incredible Chika in my life, Natasha Moor. She is an inspiring, strong and empowering individual that has played a significant role in taking me to the next level. I am so thankful for her.
