Meet Lisa from NewLisaLife
What inspired you to start your business, and how did it all begin?
BURNOUT! Burnout was the catalyst for my current business New Lisa Life.
I had been Self Employed as a Community Dance Practitioner, since 2002 in the UK. In 2007 I became Director of my own business, Physically Speaking’ – The Foundation for Natural Dance. The Company was a Creative Arts, Workshops, classes and training organisation working all over the UK. Some weeks I was working 50 plus hours and travelling up and down the country for hours on end. The job was creative, time consuming and very physical. In 2009, I met my partner Danny. I joined a production team creating House Music events (a long-time passion of mine) called ‘Wonk’ with him and a group of friends. I was basically working all day delivering creative workshops and then involved with events that saw me out, a lot at night, often missing out on night’s sleep on the weekends.
After years of burning the candle at both ends, I reached a point of emotional and near physical burn-out. This is a common story for those working in the wellness industry. It seems many empaths, creatives, and light workers are following the call to heal themselves from this type of experience and then they go on to assist others.
What makes NewLisaLife different?
Coming from a background of ‘old skool raving’ and having an absolute passion for house music and dancing, the burn out I experienced was one born of work and a hedonistic life-style. Doing too much of all of it without awareness of my limits. Still to this day I am involved in creating House Music parties and I am an advocate for a night out dancing and having fun. The whole ethos of New Lisa Life is ‘It’s all about Balance’. I experienced burn out. I have witnessed others burn out and I continue to observe the impact of excess and lack of self-care. I do not profess to be living a perfect, pure, light filled life. I am committed to authenticity and encouraging balance in real lives. No frills, taking off the mask, keeping it real and allowing humans to be fully rounded humans. Wellness is about being healthy, looking after yourself and having fun. It is also very much about being authentic, true to yourself, speaking your truth and embracing all aspects of ourselves. Light, dark, shadow and everything in between. This I feel is missing from a lot of wellness businesses.
How does your business contribute to wellbeing, sustainability, or healthy living?
All the work that I do aims to support, encourage and facilitate ways of living in balance. Addressing balance, acknowledging imbalance and finding ways to get in balance. With a focus on authenticity, empowering people to know themselves well enough to honour their own needs and nurture self-care and self-love practices and ways of life. Advocating living in flow with more ease which in turn contributes to sustainability of wellbeing.
What’s the story behind your business name?
In 2018, as we planned our move to Barcelona, I literally felt that I had a new lease of life. We joked about it. With a play on words and use of my own name it made sense that this would be my working name. It resonated and it stuck. New Lisa Life was born.
After 1 year living and working in the City, I was called quite strongly to find a place between mountains and the sea. I am not a City girl and after 5 years living on a mountain with goats, I was ready to find the middle ground. New Lisa Life had been birthed and born and connected around Barcelona for 12 months. A few synchronistic meetings and I found myself in Sitges where it continues.
Tell us a little about yourself – what’s your background, and what led you here?
With over 25 years of creative, collaborative, workshops, projects and event experience. Years as an artist manager, press officer, self-employed business director, facilitator and now coach, it was natural for me to co-ordinate and mentor a team, bringing together all aspects of our work.
Danny and I lived in Barcelona for 1 year. In this time, we met members of our current team, who now form parts of our Barcelona family. We shared an apartment with Emily Pendergast (aka Mimsy) who now co-ordinates our music events..
We moved to Sitges and in just over 3 months of being here, the pandemic hit. We took it as an opportunity to rest and nurture some creative ideas. Danny started a radio station called H.U.G.S – Home of Underground Sunshine, broadcasting all day every day with a team based in Barcelona and UK. I had a Monday morning slot called Holistic Hour and during that time connected with Clodagh Meiklejohn and participated in a series of Wellness videos for her Daily Dose of Wellness series.
By the time we came out of lockdown, I had a bee in my bonnet and after a few meetings with other like minds, embarked on a project to create a Wellness Festival. Equilibrium Fest was born. To date we have created 3 annual festivals and it is in this process that I met a number of the people that I now collaborate with. Including Katie and Mark of Little Paper Towns.
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a complete ‘raver’ as we call it in Northern England. I have been since 1989 and it still forms a big part of who I am. It is part my culture.
What values are most important to you in running your business?
Authenticity, balance and flow.
Do you have a personal favourite product/service that you offer?
I love all of what I do. I am what I do. If I have to break it down to services, I would say Zenergize, Access Consciousness and Wonk. Because these activities balance my mind-body-spirit and keep me in alignment. That is what it’s all about for me.
Who do you serve, and what kind of problems do you help solve?
I serve those who are ready to commit to their own self-care. I facilitate the process of removing any blocks and limitations to allow them to do that, if that’s what they choose. I set people free from their self-imposed limitations and support them in releasing anything that is holding them back from being fully themselves. I encourage authenticity, creative expression and in so doing, solve problems of fear, stress and anxiety. I am a liberator.
What’s the best feedback you’ve ever received from a customer?
“You emptied my brain” is one of my favourites.
“For me you are the most competent, professional, magic healer I have met in Sitges for over a decade”. That was pretty spectacular to read.
There have been lots of really lovely feedback over the years.
You can read more on my website testimonials and on my google business page reviews.
How would you describe the experience someone gets when they interact with your business?
When someone interacts with my business, they get me. A very down to earth, open hearted, authentic and human experience which allows space for everyone to keep it real. I am not interested in pretence or presentation. I am interested in showing up and doing the work. I am interested in getting to the root of who you really are and nurturing that.
Lisa is based in Sitges, Spain, offers wellbeing practices and coaching services to locals, expats, and visitors. Book a session with Lisa or explore more in our Wellbeing Community