Simona Antonović is one of the most sought-after names when it comes to beauty production. Through the years of working in the market, as CHANEL's make-up artist, beauty consultant or as one of the first names you call when shooting editorials or campaigns, Simona has become another name for quality and excellence. Moreover, Simona is a super-contributor; quiet, efficient, comfortable, calm ... But I know the part about Simona, we know mostly everyone who loves beauty and fashion visuals. I was interested in the other, slightly more private side of Simone; her spirituality and infatuation with what she says - 'health, spirituality and a better life'.
You are totally in the 'mind-body-soul' philosophy of life. How and when did it all begin?
It started after I was twelve years old, when I first encountered yoga and meditation, and began to practice them regularly. Since I was a kid, I have been attracted to everything that has to do with spirituality and a healthy life, and in my spare time I used to love staying in the library, studying various books about health, getting to know myself and others, spirituality and a better life.
It's not very common (especially in these parts of the world where yoga is equated with religion in most cases) for a child of 12 to just go to yoga and stay in spiritual subjects ... what drew you to it?
No one in my area influenced me, I have always been very much myself. Who knows what I wear from past lives that has made me so attracted to exploring myself. It is likely that some of my unhappy life circumstances in my early childhood also pushed me a little deeper into understanding myself and understanding myself and the world.
How did the transition to a healthier life go with you? People who turn to their spirituality much more naturally and find it easier to move unhealthy from life, do not want toxins in their body… what are your healthy habits without which you cannot?
I never liked meat, so it was simple and easy to remove it from the menu. I also had the support of my parents, and my digestive and health problems forced me to do more research and study on nutrition and the power of food. I started to throw out a little bit of everything I noticed that was disturbing my health.
I have cured myself of digestive problems, as well as many other health problems. All with the strong help of nutrition and healthy living.
I have not eaten meat for 28 years now, and I adore all healthy and natural foods. I endlessly enjoy the real flavors of fruits, vegetables, nuts and the like. I love teas. I avoid wheat, dairy and sugar - I don't have them at home at all. I drink a glass of wine several times a year. I always wake up long before my commitments begin so that I can prepare for the work day in peace. I walk a lot, stay in nature and practice yoga because as the Latin proverb says 'In a healthy body a healthy spirit'. That's the complete truth.
What is your day on the habit of nurturing your spirit? What are you doing during the day to be more at peace?
My spiritual practice includes breathing techniques, meditation and yoga / asana. I mostly do it almost daily. By the time I got pregnant I had been taking Ashtanga yoga classes for the last fifteen years. I go to different retreats and silence courses once to three times a year. I love the Ashtanga yoga retreats of my favorite yoga studio Pink Elephant and the courses of silence, the Art of Living Center in Germany.
What have you learned from silence courses?
I regularly go to yoga retreats, every year, and also classes in silence. Uh, that's challenging for me. And I learned a lot about myself, acceptance, which is the biggest challenge in my life. Going deep so deep knows how to be very, very demanding, but I love how the discipline of silence and non-communication with others for days can lead to wonderful insights and deliverance.
What kind of meditations do you like and practice?
I have gone through and completed several advanced meditation courses that I practice as needed. Sometimes I also give myself guided meditation, but mostly when I'm on the road, on the plane, so I tend to concentrate.
What good did that longstanding decision to do for you step into the world of yoga?
Through exercise and breathing techniques, then reading and applying deep knowledge of yoga, as well as regularly attending various yoga classes, and regular Asana, my life has changed a lot - for the better in every sense. Yoga has always only brought me good in my life, and I practice it more or less almost daily.
Apart from the extraordinary benefits for the body and health in general, it has brought me the most good for my mental stability.
It will continue to be a part of my life as I feel even more progress every day.
If people felt for just a moment how powerful the breathing is, I believe everyone would try to adopt the habit of conscious breathing, as early as yesterday. You've been consciously breathing for a long time, what has this technique taught you?
Breathing is a natural thing, there is no life without it, when we get out of our mother's womb the first thing we do - breathe in, right?! Proper breathing is conscious breathing, and breathing techniques are the memory of that proper breathing. It us in it rests, rests, and oxygenates our cells to help summarize daily events, calm the mind, and make clearer life decisions. Indeed, who would say that breathing is such a powerful tool? I recommend it to anyone.
What are the benefits that this lifestyle has brought you, one in which you are more aware of your breath?
I noticed that my quality of life generally increased; I have felt the immune system strengthening, I have been healthier for the last 15 years than ever, I have a lot more energy, I look and feel better, there is less fear.
Are you going to teach your baby mindfulness from the earliest beginnings?
Babies and toddlers are repeating everything from their parents, so I have nothing special to do except continue to live like I did before, and she will absorb it all like a sponge. I trust her, but I believe that good habits will at least make a good foundation.