Practical Magic
Body Psychology + the power of touch
INTERVIEW WITH MTLP FOUNDER LAURA PAVESE
I can freely admit that for the majority of my life I’ve been on a low-key search for any kind of shaman: a healer that meets you where you are, sees you for all your invisible complexities and prescribes just the right amount of magic to remedy whatever ails you. You might say I’m half-heartedly looking for a ‘chic cult’ to join as well (and honestly if you know of any, contact me here) but the truth is that nothing could have prepared for me the soul-shaking work to come after stepping inside Laura Pavese’s zen-filled space in Paris’s 3ème arrondissement. If her bookshelf of fashion and style books didn’t immediately make me want to become pals, her refreshing empathy and warm introspection as to what was going on - in both body and spirit - was enough to ensure I was instantly hooked.
We began our (nearly two hour) rendezvous by recapping a bit of life’s current wins and woes… and being that it was late 2020 and France was preparing for a second lockdown, the woes were outweighing anything that felt like a win. I found myself at maximum burnout from a year in an increasingly demanding job, a postponed corona wedding and a relentless case of homesickness of which only ex-pats far from home can seem to relate. Of course I had no inkling that this was the cause for the augmented asthma and anxiety attacks or massive knots in my right shoulder inflicting constant pain and a perpetual bad mood, but five minutes on Laura’s couch and a few rogue tears later, we were ready to move to the magical massage table, all pre-conceived ‘bodywork’ notions out the window.
Laura outlines the body psychology process on her instagram here, but as we began to move from cupping my back and looking for inflammation to specific points of toxicity that needed special release, Laura began to ask questions like ‘how is your sadness’ while she worked on distinct parts of the body - releasing, prodding and instilling what can be only described as exceptionally deep liberation. Blending the work of traditional Thai, Mexican and Chinese Medicine, Laura toils between the emotional connectivity of organs and a deep sense of healing. The transformative experience concludes with reflexology, acupuncture, and a revisit to said therapy couch to welcome the unexpected lightness of being, with ear-seeds in place and a Valerian tincture in tow.
photos by Erick Faulkner, courtesy of Laura Pavese, MTLP
Tell us about ‘body psychology’, and what does this mean exactly?
Body psychology is being more aware about what the body is telling us. Being more conscious of how it talks and understanding it.
Unifying body, mind and emotions.
How did you come to this work, and why is it important?
Since I was young my parents used to take me to acupuncture and homeopathy and I always found it fascinating. After completing a completely different study in Graphic Design I decided to change direction and start with my first studies in Massage techniques and Reflexology in Argentina, later I moved to Mexico were I began my main career. After 7 years I moved and established my practice in Paris.
I knew since my very first exam how important it was to me. I had met two beautiful ladies in Argentina and the way they felt and how they expressed themselves was everything to me. In that moment I thought I want to do this for the rest of my life.
How does our inner system affect our outer being? Are emotions the only thing blocking our ‘glow’ or does inner toxicity also play a part?
Being unbalanced emotionally is always going to affect our outer being. That’s why one of my main points is working from the inside, balancing the organs, emotionally and through diet. Completing cures of supplements is also something I always recommend.
Favorite way to détox?
I normally listen to my gut and of course follow a balanced diet. One thing I did last year was to take tinctures of medicinal plants. This year I’m starting with a daily micro-dose cure of 2 medicinal plants for 2 months.
The last year or so has thrown our lives into a constant state of upheaval and stress. What can we do today as well as incorporate tomorrow, to minimize the effects of stress and drop into a more centered way of being?
Being present. Stay present. Meditate. Express yourself. Communicate. In my personal life this is what I practise and also what I learnt from the last year.
One pressure point that is super helpful with stress/anxiety is located in the middle of the chest. Massage it clock-wise applying pressure.
For those of us who have either fallen out of balance in the last year, either by taking on a bit of physical weight or struggling with emotional heaviness - how do we begin to lighten the load? What are the most important systems to first make priority?
Write things down, it helps to take out the pressure and heaviness in your body, emotionally and mentally.
Follow a balanced diet, exercise and meditate. Shake your body. I always pay special attention to the digestive system referred to as our second brain.
Your preferred skin care and self-care of the moment?
Self-care comes from withinside you.
The Valerian micro-dosing has been so beneficial for my pre-bedtime anxiety.
Why is micro-dosing your preferred method as opposed to a larger dose of herbs or other extracts?
The term micro-dosing is commonly used for psychedelics. It is a small dose of a designed drug, mushrooms, truffle mushrooms, etc.
The micro-dose is a mix of herbal extract (mother tincture) in an hydro-alcoholic base.
I prefer micro-dose because it has a long shelf life and you can take it anywhere, you don’t have to dilute it and is goes straight to your nervous system.
Contact Laura
via Instagram @mtlp.co or email below.
Share your favorite ways to lighten the load? I’ll look forward below.
À bientôt.
xx, Blair