Sri Lanka is famous for its tea, temples, and tropical beaches, but I arrived seeking something more profound: Ayurveda, the ancient Indian wellness system known as the “science of life.” Ayurveda takes a holistic approach to health, aiming to balance mind, body, and spirit. At its heart are the three fundamental energies, or doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. In simple terms, these doshas are like elemental personality types. Vata (air and ether) is the energy of movement – think creativity and spontaneity, but also restlessness. Pitta (fire and water) is the force of transformation – passionate and driven, though prone to intensity. Kapha (earth and water) embodies stability – caring and calm, but sometimes complacent. Each of us is born with a unique mix of these doshas, and if they fall out of balance, Ayurveda says our well-being suffers.

My journey led me to a boutique wellness retreat in southern Sri Lanka, where I hoped to discover which dosha dominated my being – and how to bring my life into harmony. Little did I know I’d be balancing sun, sand, and centuries-old wisdom on this trip.

My quest for balance began at Christell Wellness, an Ayurvedic spa tucked within the luxurious Aditya Boutique Hotel near Galle. On arrival, I was greeted with a warm smile and a cup of herbal tea. Soon I met Dr. D, the in-house Ayurvedic doctor, who had trained for seven years in Ayurvedic medicine – the same length of training as a conventional, Western doctor. The consultation was unlike any standard check-up – more personal, more compassionate. Dr. D first took my pulse, gently pressing three fingers to my wrist. She closed her eyes in concentration, feeling the rhythm of my blood. This ancient pulse-reading technique felt oddly familiar; traditional Chinese medicine uses a similar method to glean insights into one’s health. Much like a TCM practitioner, Dr. D was not just looking for symptoms, but aiming to understand my constitution. She examined my tongue and eyes, observed my posture and skin, and asked detailed questions about my diet, sleep, and stress. The holistic, individualised approach seemed to focus on the whole person rather than looking for disease or isolated symptoms.

After this thorough once-over, the verdict was in: I am a classic Vata-Pitta type – a blend of two doshas. This didn’t surprise me. I’ve always had a (relatively) light build and racing mind (hallmarks of Vata), yet I’m also intensely goal-oriented and warm-natured (very Pitta). Dr. D smiled knowingly as she described my tendencies: “You love new experiences and travel,” she said – true – “but you push yourself hard and can overheat – physically and mentally.” Also true. It was like having my personality read back to me in ancient poetic terms.

What came next was not a bottle of pills, but personalised life-long, life-hacks for my Vata-Pitta balance. Dr. D’s recommendations were refreshingly down-to-earth – basically, lots of “cool” tropical fruits and chill, less espresso and frantic living. She advised me to incorporate more cooling, hydrating foods into my days: think crisp cucumber salads, juicy watermelon, and plenty of king coconut water (Sri Lanka’s ubiquitous orange coconut, loved for its electrolytes and cooling effect in Ayurveda). I was to avoid chilies and sour foods (noooo!), as well as cut down on coffee, black tea, alcohol, and other stimulants, since all of these crank up the heat and dryness in a Vata-Pitta person.

Instead of my usual spicy curry obsession, I should favour meals that are creamy, sweet, or bland to soothe my doshas – foods like whole grains, ghee (clarified butter), leafy greens, and sweet ripe fruits. To my relief, being healthy didn’t mean starving: “Eat regular, warm, moist meals,” the doctor emphasised. In fact, regularity is medicine for someone like me who is often on the go – a steady routine helps calm flighty Vata (no more skipping meals). Healthy fats like ghee are pacifying for both Vata and Pitta, keeping my body nourished and cool.

As I scribbled notes, I couldn’t help noticing how much of this advice resonated with good old common sense and even with Western health trends: stay hydrated, eat fresh whole foods, don’t drink alcohol, don’t over-caffeinate. It also echoed tips I’d heard from a TCM nutritionist – for instance, both Ayurveda and Chinese medicine warn that too much coffee or alcohol can aggravate heat and agitation. Dr. D was effectively blending ancient wisdom with practical health coaching. The mystique of the pulse reading gave way to a very pragmatic wellness plan – one I was eager to try out during the rest of my stay.

Side note, I am over a month into applying the doctor’s advice and here’s what happened. The first week was hard as I cut caffeine, spice, and alcohol. Week two was easy and I felt more rested, energetic and focused. I used to feel exhausted in the afternoon and would often need a nap. After two weeks, I was waking around 6am to have an active, full day and then sleep well from 10pm, no naps needed! My stomach stopped feeling bloated, my problematic periods (so far) seem calmer. My skin is glowing, my eyes bright. I feel well. 

Discover your Dosha 

Over a soothing cup of gotu kola herbal tea, I learned more about the other doshas and how anyone can recognise and rebalance their own.

Vata – The Airy Creative: Vata people tend to be slim, energetic, and imaginative. They often talk fast, think fast, and walk fast. When balanced, Vatas are lively and enthusiastic. When imbalanced, they may feel anxious, spacey, or suffer insomnia. How to spot one? Cold hands and feet, variable appetite, a love of travel or movement. Balance tips: Keep warm and on a routine; favour warm, soft foods like soups, stews, cooked fruits and grains. Vatas thrive on moist, nourishing meals – think oatmeal with ghee, hearty root veggies – and should avoid cold, raw, or dried foods (like salads, crackers, or ice cream) that aggravate their naturally dry, airy nature.

Pitta – The Fiery Achiever: Pitta types have a medium, athletic build and sharp intellect. They’re natural leaders – organised, driven, and competitive – but can get irritable or “hot-headed” under stress. How to spot one? Warm body temperature, strong appetite, and a tendency to flush or get red when upset or after a spicy meal. Balance tips: Think cool and calm. Pittas feel best when they chill out (literally and figuratively). They should favour cooling foods and drinks – plenty of fresh water, coconut water, sweet fruits, cucumbers, and leafy greens. Meals should be less spicy and oily, more light and refreshing: imagine a watermelon salad or a bowl of coconut rice. It’s wise for Pittas to avoid excess chili, hot spices, vinegar, red meat, alcohol and coffee, as these inflame the inner fire.

Kapha – The Earthy Nurturer: Kapha folks are solidly built with a calm, easy-going demeanour. They’re the reliable, loving types that everyone leans on. Balanced Kaphas are patient, strong, and sweet-natured. Out of balance, Kapha can turn to lethargy, weight gain, or melancholy. How to spot one? Sturdy frame, slow but graceful movement, and they rarely get flustered. Balance tips: Invigorate and lighten up. Kaphas benefit from spicy, warming foods and lively activity. They should reach for fruits and veggies of all colours, lean proteins, and use warming spices (ginger, turmeric, black pepper) liberally. Light meals like steamed greens with ginger, or a spicy lentil soup, are great. Kaphas should moderate heavy, fatty, or super-sweet foods – think twice on that cheesy dessert – as those can increase sluggishness. A strong cup of ginger tea is Kapha’s best friend.

Most of us are a mix of doshas, and identifying your dominant one(s) is empowering. The Ayurvedic bottom line: to stay healthy, increase the qualities that balance you and reduce the ones that throw you off-kilter. It’s elegantly simple and highly personalised – one reason this 5,000-year-old system is still around. 

Aditya – the affordable 5-star resort in southern Sri Lanka

Armed with my new self-knowledge, I felt ready to embrace the next part of my journey: living the good life at a stunning beach retreat that merges luxury with wellness.

Aditya Boutique Hotel is located in Rathgama, on Sri Lanka’s south coast, about a 25-minute drive from Galle Fort. From Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, plan on a 3–4 hour drive by car (the new highway can shorten the trip to around 2.5 hours). It’s best to book a private car or Uber through the hotel for a smooth and scenic transfer. It’s really a beautiful drive – so green and colourful. We slept for an hour and then enjoyed the gorgeous scenery for the rest of the drive. Our driver was super friendly and professional, and we felt safe. 

Flights from London to Colombo start at around £400 return with a stopover, or direct via SriLankan Airlines. From Hong Kong, expect routes via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore or direct with some airlines. 

Rates at Aditya start from around £150 per night (approximately HKD 1500), which includes a huge, sprawling suite with plunge pool, thoughtful service, and personalised attention you won’t find elsewhere. If you’re a Hong Konger, this bang for your buck will not disappoint. This hotel is curated, quiet, calm, and elegant. No crowds. No fuss. Just you, the ocean, and the scent of frangipani in the air.

To book: https://aditya-resort.com/ | https://www.christellskin.com/

What makes a home? In a city as dynamic and ever-changing as Hong Kong, it’s a question that lingers long after you’ve unpacked your bags. For Myriam Shemtov, a true global citizen who has called over 11 places across Africa, Europe, and Asia home, the answer is neither a place nor a possession—it’s a feeling. It’s warmth, it’s clarity, it’s belonging. It’s about creating a space that feels grounded, no matter where you are. And it was this pursuit that led her to establish Mensō, a brand born from her own rich life experience.

Raised in Senegal, with roots in Ivory Coast, Myriam’s life is a mosaic of cultures and experiences. After business school in France, she embarked on a global career that took her to the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Monaco, mainland China, and now Hong Kong. As the Global Head of Product and IT for a major logistics company, Myriam’s life is marked by constant movement and innovation. But when it comes to finding true comfort, it’s not technology or sleek boardrooms that inspire her—it’s the simple act of building a home wherever she goes.

“I don’t have a background in interiors,” Myriam admits. “But I know what it means to create an environment that feels right. I’ve built homes in so many places, and I’ve learned that tidiness, a clean home, and scent is one of the most powerful ways to make a space your own.”

Creating a Home Away From Home

For Myriam, home has never been defined by physical walls or possessions; it’s something more intangible. Having moved across countries and continents, she found that home is a construct we carry within us. It’s about the familiar—the scent of a candle, the warmth of a space, the comfort of those we love. It’s these small, everyday moments that transform a new city into a place where we can finally breathe, relax, and feel truly at home.

The idea for Mensō emerged from this very philosophy. The brand name itself combines the French word maison (home) and the Japanese ensō (circle of enlightenment), representing a balance between comfort and mindful living. It’s a collection built around fragrances that don’t just fill a room, but cultivate an experience—a feeling of grounded calm in the midst of a busy, transient life.

“My husband is the safest place and person I know,” Myriam shares. “He makes every house feel like home.” In both her personal and professional life, she follows the philosophy that “leaders eat last”—a belief she carries into every interaction, from boardrooms to business ventures. It’s this deep sense of humility and grounded leadership that influences her approach to Mensō: a brand rooted in real experience, rather than trend-chasing or artificial perfection.

Building a Brand From the Ground Up

Mensō wasn’t born out of a business plan or a focus group—it grew organically from Myriam’s own journey. After each move, she had to rebuild—not just physically, but emotionally. She understands better than most that the key to feeling at home is creating an environment that reflects who you are. In frenetic paced cities like Hong Kong, this philosophy resonates deeply, especially for those that understand the challenge of finding balance amidst constant change.

“Moving so often has taught me that the small things matter,” Myriam explains. “The scent of a candle, the feeling of a familiar space—it’s these little elements that make a new place feel like home.” It’s this knowledge that drives the design behind Mensō’s collection. Each scent is a journey—a carefully crafted fragrance that taps into universal emotions like calm, nostalgia, and comfort. These are the scents that, no matter where you are, can transport you to a place of safety, clarity, and connection.

For those of us living in Hong Kong, a city that can often feel like a transient hub of busy professionals and changing faces, Mensō offers a rare opportunity: the chance to pause, breathe, and reconnect. “I wanted to create something that helps people slow down,” says Myriam. “We live in an energy of constant movement, especially in Hong Kong. I wanted to provide a moment to savour—to reconnect with yourself and the space you’re in.”

The Mensō Approach: Slow Living in a Fast World

In a world obsessed with speed, technology, and the next big thing, Mensō’s approach is one of deliberate, thoughtful design. Unlike the mass-market home fragrances that flood our homes, Mensō candles are not about novelty or fleeting trends. Each scent is intentional—crafted to evoke a specific emotion, to help you pause and be present. Myriam doesn’t just want to sell candles; she wants to create experiences that feel authentic and personal.

“We don’t chase trends,” Myriam insists. “We focus on creating something that feels timeless, something that lasts.” And this philosophy extends beyond the products themselves; it’s a way of life. In Hong Kong, where the pressure to perform and keep up with the city’s rhythm can feel overwhelming, Mensō offers a moment of reprieve—a chance to create a sanctuary in your own space.

What Does Home Mean to You?

For many of us, the idea of home can seem elusive. But for Myriam Shemtov, home is not defined by geography—it’s about the people and experiences that ground us. Whether it’s the safety of a loved one, the clarity of a familiar scent, the satisfaction of a clean home, or the stillness of a quiet space, Mensō is a brand that helps you cultivate that sense of belonging.

For those who have lived in multiple countries, constantly on the move, the search for home is universal. It’s not about the place; it’s about the feeling. And in a city as vibrant and ever-changing as Hong Kong, Mensō offers more than just a candle—it offers a reminder to slow down and create a space where you can truly feel at home, no matter where life takes you.

So, what does home mean to you? Is it a place, a person, or a feeling? Mensō is here to help you find that answer.

—

We hope you enjoyed this WOI interview with Mensō. You may also enjoy Hong Kong Parents, Are You Making This Critical Mistake? Why Reading With Your Child Is More Important Than Ever.

Follow Mensō

F/LIST^® Pure Metal Finish, Fresco Décor, and Glass Wood Veneer bring original textures, dimension, and design options to jet interior surfaces

Thomasberg, Austria/ 29 September 2021. Austria-based F. LIST GMBH, expert of handcrafted interiors for business & private jets, yachts, and exclusive homes, is introducing three new surface finishes to the business jet market. The first-of-a-kind Pure Metal, Fresco Décor and Glass Wood Veneer finishes provide distinctive decorative results, designed to embellish cabin schemes throughout the aircraft.

The sleek Pure Metal Finish employs genuine metals and alloys to produce striking patterns and textures on virtually any surface type and structural shape. Four surface finishes – smooth veneer, fine stippled, coarse stippled and brushed – are currently available in copper, tin, bronze, and brass. In addition, Pure Metal Finish weighs 20 percent less than conventional metal finishes, making it a practical, beautiful addition to any cabin surface.

Introducing organic shapes and forms to bulkheads, furniture fronts, or side walls, the ground-breaking Fresco Décor finish delivers luxuriously embossed, three-dimensional surfaces to normally one-dimensional areas. Ultraleather, Ultrasuede, or other specified soft materials, are fashioned into different shapes, with embossing depths of up to 4 mm, to create subtle light and shadow effects. In addition to bringing natural forms to the interior, the material also has acoustic properties that can dampen sound, making it an attractive and practical surface, for quiet zones, sleeping and rest areas.

For an ultra-deep gloss appearance, the Glass Wood Veneer adds an exquisite sheen to real wood veneers by layering high-tech, hygienic, Aviationglass™ onto flat surfaces in the galley or wet areas. To create stunning, tailored cabin inlays or graphical highlights on defined surfaces, segments can also be customized with layers of the mirrors to represent corporate logos or other representative images. As interiors become more technology focused Glass Wood Veneer also incorporates interactive technologies to optimize cabin functionality, while retaining cabin elegance.

With the launch of these new finishes F/LIST is expanding its product portfolio to evolve cabin design possibilities. The organic nature of each product supports the creation of dynamic movement and provides the opportunity to add another dimension to interior configurations. The creation of finishes that complement each other, as well as existing aircraft surfaces, amplify the opportunities for enhancing the next generation of cabin concepts, while improving the customer experience, by surrounding them with cabins enriched in form and function.

Certifiable for aviation use each finish is immediately available. “We anticipate that these stunning new options will inspire, aviation designers, OEMs, and completion centres to think even more creatively about interior styling. Cabins now represent offices, leisure areas, conference rooms and homes, often all in one flight, which is why we want to provide our customers with new ways of enhancing them. Interiors are also becoming a significant factor in purchasing decisions and we remain committed to helping our customers make their offerings stand out”, explains Anita Gradwohl, Group Director Customer Relations & Sales of F/LIST.

For further media information:

F/LIST GMBH Media Contact

Sigrid Stocker, Director Marketing & Communications

Arena Group – Jane Stanbury
M +43 2644 6001-0 / +1 438 998 1668

E s.stocker@f-list.at  / jane@arenagroupassociates.com

ABOUT F/LIST

F/LIST is a worldwide provider of exclusive interiors for business jets, yachts, and residences, and engages about 900 employees at eight locations in Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Passion, reliability, and a visionary spirit determine every step of this Austrian family-run business.