Treasure MaDonna
I founded MALEW | /mah-ˈlu |, after a series of mental, physical and emotional challenges.
It's a platform where I talk to women about the importance of prioritizing their self-care, shifting their mindset and creating boundaries so they can stand in their worth.
Also, creating spaces, like our luxury wellness retreats for women to gather, share their wellness stories and be inspired to fully show up for themselves.
These days, I can talk at length about my self-care practices and how I show up as my highest self, but it hasn't always been that easy for me to prioritize.
A few years ago I was living in NYC and hit rock bottom. It was one thing after another, I had to move out of my home unexpectedly, my friendships and romantic relationship took a turn for the worst and my job was closing its location and transferring me to Los Angeles.
My nervous system was a wreck. I remember one morning waking up in Los Angeles while lying in bed and feeling completely drained from what I had been through in New York.
As I began to explore new opportunities in Los Angeles, I unconsciously started to overextend myself. Relentless work-related stress, insane exhaustion, and a misaligned circadian rhythm weakened my body, which eventually led to a double shoulder injury and a hormonal imbalance that showed up in the form of acne all over my face.
It was an awakening.
While healing, I had time to reflect. I noticed a pattern. I realized that whenever I’m out of alignment with my authentic self and life path, things start to happen unexpectedly in my life. So, because I never emotionally dealt with what happened to me in New York, my health started to decline and my body was unable to handle the work-related stress in Los Angeles.
I created MALEW because I wanted to surround myself with women who looked like me and prioritized their self-care. I was suffering from burnout and completely lost the desire to put myself first. I had forgotten how to deeply care for myself mentally physically and emotionally and was looking for a gentle reminder on how to do so.
By surrounding myself, I mean virtually.
I began to find articles online of women sharing their wellness stories and self-care routines. From their mindful morning and evening routines, to their skin, hair, health and fitness routines. I was then reminded to slow down and be more intentional about my wellness practices. Self-care became more than just my morning skincare routine, it became a lifestyle.
Through the process, I rediscovered myself and my love of travel. One of my favorite ways to practice self-care is to unplug, go off the grid, and spoil myself with luxurious travel experiences. Time spent away allows me to regularly check-in, relax and stay aligned with the vision I have for my life.
That’s why it's important for me to create spaces like our wellness retreats for women to have wellness conversations, slow down and create a life that is authentic to them.