Wellness Influencer Interview: Katherine Lonsdale-Cooper

NAME: Katherine Lonsdale Cooper

OCCUPATION: Naturopath and owner at Tonic Room in Auckland

Please tell us a little about yourself, your business and how you got to where you are now in the wellness industry...

Tonic Room is an integrative wellness clinic that has a wonderful team of holistic practitioners including naturopaths, holistic nutritionists, massage therapists and an integrative doctor. We have a beautiful boutique apothecary stocked with practitioner-only supplements, herbal tonics, teas and an amazing selection of cult natural and organic beauty brands.

I grew up having a big interest in health and wellbeing, mainly through exercise, food and nutrition. It was whilst living in London in my early twenties that I decided to study to become a Naturopath. Studying in NZ was the easiest option, so I moved back to NZ and studied three years full time towards my diploma in Naturopathy. Unsure of what I wanted to do with my qualification, I travelled back overseas. It was on this trip that I became inspired by beautiful spaces, mainly in London and Melbourne, which offered a wonderful experience when choosing natural health and beauty.

I decided I wanted to head home to NZ and open a holistic haven, offering a unique and luxury wellness experience to people interested in alternative therapies. I wanted to make natural health and natural beauty desirable and more accessible within our busy and modern lives. I had the opportunity of buying a natural health clinic that was already established, but in need of some love, style and attention. After months of planning, accumulating and testing natural health and beauty brands, my vision for Tonic Room was created.

What does 'Living Naturally' mean to you? 

To me, living naturally means being conscious about your environment, what you put in, and what you put on your body.

What does a typical day in the wellness world look like for you? 

I wake up around 7am for an hours exercise at the gym. When I get home, I have an apple cider vinegar shot, make breakfast and spend an hour or so catching up on emails, social media and other admin. I aim to head into Tonic Room at 10.00am most mornings. A day at Tonic Room is never the same. I love being in the shop helping our customers and supporting our practitioners.

Natural skincare is a huge passion of mine, so I love offering advice on what product is right for each individual. When it is quiet, I spend time planning new avenues for the shop and clinic. I spend a lot of time researching and buying new product lines that fit the brand at Tonic Room. Accounts, looking at figures and budgets take up at least two hours of every day. I have also started to spend a lot of time writing for upcoming blogs and newsletters.

I love that each day is different, varied and never predictable.

What are your top 3 tips for staying fit and healthy? 

1. Without wanting to sound predictable or clichéd, for me health comes from choosing to eat a predominantly wholefood and nutrient dense diet. Eating organic or spray-free when possible. Avoiding processed foods loaded with artificial colourings and flavourings. Drinking lots of clean and filtered water every day and getting at least 40 – 60 minutes of regular exercise 4 – 5 times per week.
2. Remembering that my skin is my biggest organ, I choose just as carefully what goes on my body as what goes in my body. 
3. Everyday I try to acknowledge the things that I love and value about myself. I try not to beat myself up about the small things. The mind-body dynamic is powerful. Allowing myself to daydream plus taking regular dance and laughter breaks helps me to bring a lighter and more creative quality to a healthy outlook on life. 

In a nutshell, what's your food philosophy? 

Balance! 80-90% of the time I have a very clean diet, but if there is a special occasion, I am travelling or having fun with friends, I allow myself to indulge.

I generally avoid sugar, gluten and dairy. I aim to avoid grains, but will occasionally eat brown rice. I eat fish as often as possible. I also eat chicken and the occasional bit of red meat, but it has to be organic and freedom farmed (that is probably my one strong non-negotiable when it comes to my diet). I love fermented foods. Without fail, I drink at least 2 litres of clean and filtered water daily. 

What do you do to 'reset' the balance button when life gets a bit hectic? 

Escape for a few uninterrupted days to my beach house at Matapouri Bay. If time does not allow that, I get a massage with my wonderful massage therapist Sarinah Hurford. Sarinah has the most nurturing and therapeutic approach to massage I have ever experienced.

We're all about balance around here... What's your biggest indulgence?

Pinot Noir! I love a glass (or two) of a great Central Otago Pinot Noir.

What healthy snacks might we find in yoru handbag?
 
My first go-to snack is the Coconut Rough Balls from my friends company Snack Pack. I also love mixing Chocolate Nuvset Protein powder with Coconut Water for a quick pick me up.

Do you have a favourite affirmation or quote that you remind yourself of when life throws you a few challenges? 

I read something the other day from my favourite Instagram account @celestineeleven. It resonated so true with my approach to life, when things are tough, that I had to share it.

They wrote “Everything is fine. Everything is exactly as it should be in this moment. Everything is unfolding perfectly. Amidst chaos, this is sometimes hard to be sure of, yet it is also the only thing of which we can be certain. There is a plan – and it is happening right now, and will happen infinitely”

What are your goals or aspirations for the coming year? 

My aim this year is to grow the natural beauty services within Tonic Room. I aim to have therapists working from Tonic Room in the next few months that can offer bespoke skin care treatments and services.

Thanks Kat! Love all that you have created at the Tonic Room  x