#34. All Eyes On Emily Deslaurier
Yoga and meditation teacher, hydrotherapy enthusiast, and lover of all things French (like me!).
I first met Emily at her Deja Well launch party a couple years ago at Bilston Creek Farm. I was invited by our mutual friend Britt, who brought me as her plus one. It was a really gorgeous night that consisted of a long table dinner and mingling with other creative and inspiring women. Shortly after that, I partook in a memorable afternoon on her floating sauna boat, the original HAVN, which is docked just outside the Oak Bay Marina. It was a cold and wet November day, the perfect conditions for an outdoor sauna session. There were 5 of us on the Steam Mystic, and conversation was pouring out of us like sweat was dripping out of ours pores. It was during that time that I got a sense of who Emily was, and I was totally smitten.
Since then, I’ve been a big fan and admirer of everything she’s doing with Deja Well; educating the modern woman about cyclical living and finding pleasure in each season / cycle, and running wellness retreats to encourage slowing down and resetting. I actually just signed up for my first retreat which is in just a few weeks. After a really busy and jam packed summer, a ‘deeply nourishing reset in a log cabin’ sounds like just the thing my heart (and mind, and body) is desperately aching for.
In addition to deeply respecting the female body, valuing living an intentional life, and being a self proclaimed sporty girl, Emily is also equally as inspired and obsessed with the way of the French as I am. We joked about how butter had to be the star of the photoshoot, and I immediately respected the full fat cream that I saw in her fridge. She’s definitely got that je ne sais quoi quality about her, just you wait and see…
This interview and photoshoot was a collaboration between myself, Emily Deslaurier of Deja Well x Emily Johnston of Wildling Studios who kindly volunteered to take these stunning photos on very short notice! Fun fact, she is also the creator of my new à la carte branding :)
39 (mostly) rapid-fire questions with Emily Deslaurier
What time do you wake up? Is it different on the weekends?
Depends on the season - our house has so much light that I wake up according to the light. It’s much earlier in the summer but I love to sleep in.
First thing you do in the mornings?
Depends on my cycle! Sometimes I have my day planned and jump out of bed straight to the plan, other times I know I need to sleep longer and start slower with 3 pages of morning pages or another form of meditation with a warm drink that matches the season - usually herbal tea or salt spring decaf with lots of cream.
Do you hit snooze?
I don’t set an alarm, when I do it’s for something serious and so I try not to…
Are you a morning or evening shower-er?
Morning or early afternoon because I don’t like sleeping with my hair wet and it takes forever to dry!
How do you typically spend a day off?
Sloowwwww mornings, coffee at home, walk to get a croissant with someone, maybe jump in the gorge or a lake and then make a plan for a spontaneous adventure for that day! My favourite thing is to have no plan when I have a day off - and also to turn my phone on airplane mode.
What’s on your bedside table?
3 massive candles - I like to light them and read before bed by their light - it’s probably not good for my eyes but it feels like it washes the stress of the day away, like sitting near a camp fire.
What’s the story behind your home and how long have you lived there?
My partner actually built this garden suite as an air bnb on his family’s property in 2020. We moved in right before the pandemic started for what we thought would be a quick 6 months but we have just never left!
Favourite room in your house?
The view of the deck with the plum tree and the garden in summer or spring.
What are a few favourite things that you cherish in your home and why?
Our marshall speaker - I love good sound and this thing is very impressive.
My blendtec - it’s 10 years old and still works perfectly for every smoothie, dip, sauce.
Where do you find / shop for home decor?
Marketplace mostly!
Vintage or new?
Haha vintage.
3 things that are always in your kitchen?
Butter.
Lemons.
Garlic.
Favourite kitchen utensil / gadget?
Blendtec.
Briefly summarize your food philosophy.
In season, french inspired - butter infused, cooking with whatever you’ve got according to the salt/fat/acid/heat philosophy by Samin Nosrat:
“Master the use of salt, fat, acid, heat —Salt, which enhances flavor; Fat, which delivers flavor and generates texture; Acid, which balances flavor; and Heat, which ultimately determines the texture of food—and anything you cook will be delicious.”
Your go-to, no fail recipe?
Roast chicken.
Favourite meal growing up?
Steak and potatoes - I especially love all my moms potatoes... mashed, baked, fried, roasted - love them.
Any supplements you take / witchy elixirs you swear by?
How much room do I have!
Herbal tea - depending on the need, digestion, detox, rest and recovery
Mushroom adaptogen tinctures
Omega 3s
Plant based Protein (if i don’t get enough in my other meals)
Magnesium citrate before bed, its relaxing and helps with digestion/ elimination
Gaba for anxiety or sleep
Wild Basics roll on cottonwood bud oil - it smells like the air around a warm lake in the afternoon sun - so grounding and calming - it’s my anxiety balm
Skin on or off potatoes / yams?
Skin on.
Cilantro. Love it or hate it?
Love it. A lot.
Coffee or tea?
Tea is is SO much more versatile. Coffee is so deluxe though.
Fav local cup?
I only drink decaf so… Salt Spring dark roast decaf at home is my favourite.. When out I like esquimalt roastery decaf americano.
You’re ordering take out. What do you get?
Veggie pad thai with extra peanut sauce.
Favorite local restaurant?
Ooooo, tough… I always want to go to Brasserie L’école for my birthday, so that must be the one
Describe your personal style / style philosophy.
Classic timeless understated / sporty / 80s vintage cool mom (high wasted jeans with button up or blouse).
Your three wardrobe staples, go…
A white blouse, blue jeans, good sunglasses.
What qualities do you look for in your friends?
Genuine connection.
What’s one trend you're currently loving and hoping to stay for the long haul?
Sober partying and hydrotherapy!
You decide to treat yourself. How do you indulge?
Ice cream.
What’s the one thing you’re willing to spend more money on?
Good food.
Keys to productivity?
Cycle syncing! Adequate rest for inspiration and dedicated time blocking for productivity.
This time last year, I wish I knew…
That everything was going to be ok! Starting new businesses is scary.
One place in the world you’re dying to visit?
The islands of Japan.
What’s a movie you’ve seen in the last 6 months that left the biggest impact on you?
Not the biggest impact but I was so excited to see Jenny Slate in a movie recently because I love her writing in her book Little Weirds and I was fan girling.
Guilty pleasure?
I’m never guilty about pleasure!
Song currently on repeat?
Depends on the location… Charlotte Cardin - Jim Carrey on my headphones, Paolo Conte has been on repeat in our household the last 6 months and on the record player it’s Aretha Franklin greatest hits.
Favourite form of movement / exercise?
Yoga, swimming, dance, surf, nature runs, tennis. Is sauna exercise? That too.
If you could rename yourself, what name would you choose?
Something with one syllable… or something french. That’s a tough one!
Tell me a bit about what you do.
I meditate. I study. I write. I teach.
I help busy women find energy and ease through teaching them how to tap into their natural cycles and feminine energy.
My work is focused on self healing and empowerment through feminine embodiment. I love to bring people together to fuel up with self care.
More specifically, I help the modern “do it all women” to reorganize their lives around their hormone cycle so they can have it all - with less stress.
What’s a typical work day look like?
After breakfast, tea + quick journaling to organize my thoughts it’s focused work on building out Deja Well’s digital teaching house until I’m hungry enough to stop for lunch.
Lunch is a proper full meal now that I work from home which I love!
All meetings are scheduled in the afternoon - sometimes at coffee shops, sometimes on zoom. This is also when all other teaching is done (1:1s, live classes, workshops, recordings) or event planning (retreats). Day ends by tying up loose ends on email / social media and then planning the next day.
Movement of some kind - usually walk or yoga (swim if summer) and dinner.
I LOVE this. Thanks for sharing Emily and Karolina!