Welcome to the Personality Spotlight, Gina!  Your company, VedaSun, is quite unique in that you sell more than just beauty products.  Your offerings include ways to help people grow personally and spiritually as well.  We'd love to know how you came to be so spiritually aware and helpful to others.  Please share your upbringing with us, and tell us what has helped to make you the special lady that you've become.

     Thank you Sharon, so much for inviting me into the ‘spotlight’ – so glad and honored to be here.

     I grew up in Flanders, New Jersey - yes, I am an original jersey girl, but not in the generalized way of what people think of when they hear that phrase.  But I am proud to be from the same state that Bon Jovi and Bruce both hail from. :)

     I grew up in a huge Italian family, (I didn’t even know many of my cousins until I was almost out of my 20’s because there were so many of them!), plus I was born last - yes, I’m the baby of the family.  My oldest sister is 16 years older than me so that is a reason why I didn’t know many of my cousins as well – they were already grown up by the time I was 2 and I was an aunt at 5 years old!  I also have a brother and another sister, 6 nephews, 3 nieces, 3 great nephews and 2 great nieces.

     I have to say many times my siblings say they don’t know where I came from (smiling) because I am quite different in the respect of my lifestyle.  We all get along great though and I am so grateful for my family and the support that we give each other.  Anyway, I did the conventional route of college, then marriage, but here’s the first huge difference that arose – no children.  My husband and I actually knew before we got married that we were not going to have children.  I think because I grew up with my nieces and nephews, I saw all the hardships that my brother and sisters went through, (yes of course there were and are great times as well), but I believe being so young and seeing all of this made me think twice.  I believe having children is one of the most unselfish tasks you can undertake, and while I don’t consider myself selfish, it just wasn’t right for me.

     I went to the University of Delaware where I graduated with a 4-year degree in Fashion Merchandising.  I worked in that field for 3 1/2 years and then started cosmetology school, (something deep down within me always knew I wanted to do this), and graduated as a Licensed Cosmetologist in June of 1992.  In the past 18 years of being a cosmetologist, I’ve worked at the same salon for 13 years, with the last 6 of those years being part owner.  It has been an amazing experience and I have the best two business partners anyone could ask for.

     As for how my spiritual journey began, here’s the story:

     On April 28th, 1987, my father became ill and died.  I was 20 years old and at my college library studying for an accounting exam with a group of friends.  My college roommate, whom I’ve known since first grade, had to come and tell me the news that my father was in a coma.  Little did I know how deep of an impact this event would have on my life.  I thought I handled it quite well, but the real truth is I didn't handle it at all - I suppressed it way down deep inside of me.  Seven years later, I had my first panic attack.  This event is what sparked my spiritual journey.

     I lived with anxiety on a daily basis and at one time, I didn't even want to leave my house.  Fortunately, I chose to gain knowledge about stress and anxiety so that I could empower myself to really look at my life and bring into my awareness why this was happening to me.  I started practicing yoga and meditation and read a ton of self-help and inspirational books.  I discovered aromatherapy and started using essential oils on a daily basis and was astounded by the many ways in which these natural essences helped me de-stress and relax.  I studied aromatherapy by reading every book on this subject I could get my hands on and I completed a home-study program with a Certified Aromatherapist.  I also became very interested in other holistic therapies and I am now a Certified Reflexologist, Acutonics Provider (sound healing using tuning forks), Reiki Practitioner and have a deep interest in Ayurveda.  Throughout this whole process my full time career has been as a Licensed Cosmetologist as I stated above.

     Another pivotal point in my life was in 2003 when someone very close to me developed a health issue.  For a year and a half no one could diagnose or help him.  During this stressful time, I developed Grave's Disease (an auto-immune disease that attacks the thyroid causing hyperthyroid symptoms) - another message from my body telling me I still had a lot of inner work to do.  This dis-ease made me really look at what I was putting onto as well as into my body.  That's when I started formulating and researching natural products and ingredients and a couple years later VedaSun was born. 

 

Please tell us more about being a professional hair stylist and aromatherapist.  How did these passions come about and what services do you perform at the salon you work at?

     As long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to makeup, skin and hair care products.  When I was in my teens, I used to do my mother’s hair and makeup when she was going to work or out with my dad.  I loved doing that and I have to say I always did a pretty good job.  But I ended up taking the traditional route of college which I’m grateful I did because it was an amazing experience and plus, I met my husband there. :)

     Three years after graduating college and working in the fashion industry, I decided to enroll in cosmetology school.  I was out shopping one day and saw the building where the school was located.  I decided on a whim to walk in and get some information and before I knew it, I was writing out a check for the enrollment fee deposit.  Guess it was just meant to be.  My mom said deep inside she always knew I wanted to do that one day.

     I’ve also always tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I started dance school when I was 3 years old and did that and acrobatics until I was 9.  Then I got into softball and played sports all the way through until I graduated high school.

     As I grew up, I honed this path more and more and like I stated earlier, life events and challenges are what catapulted me deeper into a healthier and more spiritual journey and into the world of holistic healing.

     My salon is called Mane Attractions and I have two women business partners who are amazing.  We each bring our own unique and individual strengths to owning a business and we mesh really well.  The salon is actually in a small building that used to be the carriage house for an estate way back when.  The salon is located in Mendham, NJ and our website is www.ManeAttractionsHairSalon.com.  It’s very cute and quaint and has a very relaxed atmosphere.

     I do hair cutting, hair coloring, reflexology and facials (in which I incorporate Aromatherapy and tuning forks).  I also have a diffuser in the salon in which I diffuse essential oils daily.  The essential oils scent the air so beautifully and keep the air clean and purified.  I change the blends, putting in different essential oils depending on what season we’re in and the current weather – for instance using uplifting oils for those rainy, overcast days.

     My website is www.VedaSun.com.  There I sell pure skin and body care – no chemicals or harmful ingredients are in the products I sell.  I also started doing some teleclasses last year and will continue doing these this year.  I also love guided meditations and have created and recorded a series of Chakra guided meditations that I launched just recently.  They are also available for purchase at my website and I have more coming soon.  I plan on offering custom essential oils blends as well.  I have developed a questionnaire and I have this whole process I go through to create the blends for each individual customer.  It’s a long process, but I love doing it and the essential oil blends that manifest through this are just amazing!  This will be a new service added at some point on my website.

     I, and thus my business, have been going through a bit of a transformation these past few months and my website will soon reflect this.  I have lots of great things coming up this year and I’m really excited and looking forward to all that will manifest, and I’m enjoying the journey as it unfolds as well.

     I love everything I do and feel so lucky to actually be happy to go to work, be it at my desk at home or at the salon.  I’m also grateful for the challenges in my life because they are the catalysts that, unbeknownst to me at the time, directed me onto this journey I continue to travel on each day.

 

Does VedaSun have a special meaning?  Please tell us about your business and how it came to be.

     I officially started my business in February of 2005 when I formed my LLC.  What inspired me to start this business was a health challenge that showed itself that I described above.  That auto-immune issue that I developed in 2003 is what led me to initially create my business.  I have also dealt with panic attacks in the past after my father passed away and I was amazed how essential oils helped me with this issue.  I believe the power of our senses, especially that of smell, is an amazing tool to use when it comes to bringing us into the Present Moment, which I feel is the only true way to transform anxiety and find our center.  The world of Aromatherapy still intrigues me and I still get excited today when I'm about to create new blends.

     I love my business name, VedaSun!  It has great meaning to me.  First of all, my husband helped design the logo.  The lotus-like flower you see in the middle of the sun-like image is a doodle he drew one day and he showed it to me and I loved it.  So I hired a graphic designer and he designed the logo around that image.

     Secondly, there was no coincidence that this name ended up becoming the name of my business.  I knew I wanted 'Veda' in it because Veda means 'knowledge' in Sanskrit (and I am a huge fan of Ayurveda - ayur means 'life' and veda means 'knowledge').  And it was during a business consultation I had that the second part of that name 'Sun' came into being.  In life, everything needs the sun to survive and grow.  So what my business name, VedaSun, has come to mean to me is I supply the knowledge, energy and warmth in order to inspire others to grow as they journey through the empowering, challenging path of Self-discovery.

     My business has greatly enhanced my life in the amazing connections I have made and in the fact that I can share my gifts and passion with others.  As for my customers, both in the hairstyling and Aromatherapy world, I have had so many people give me feedback on how I, or my products, have enhanced their lives.  This is one of the best gifts I could receive and keeps me progressing and evolving onward with what I love to do.

 

What types of beauty products do you sell and which are your more popular products as well as your personal favorites?

     I sell Aromatherapy-infused face and body care.  I like to keep it simple, so my product line is not extensive.  I get too overwhelmed when I go to a site that carries so many different product types so I decided to keep it simple and relatively easy for people to make a choice.  Some people like a ton of products to choose from and that is wonderful, but it’s not for me – again we are all different and that all makes us each unique.

     I make the body oils and the face serum.  I do not make soaps but I do create the essential oil blends for the body bars that are made locally by a friend of mine – (more about them below).  I purchase the bases for the face exfoliators and add to them my essential oil blend creations and that’s how I make them unique.  I could make the exfoliator myself and have taken a class on how to make it, but that would mean housing over 25 individual ingredients, just for that one product alone, and through my current transformation I am going through, which I described above, I realized this is not cost or time effective for me.  I had to choose to either be totally behind the scenes or be ‘out there’ interacting with my customers and the latter is what I found out that I preferred.  Also, all the essential oils I use are either certified organic or wild harvested.

     Here are my most popular as well as personal favorites -

Tahitian Gold Face Bar – I never thought I would use a bar to cleanse my face but after using this one, nothing else compares.  I tried using a creamy cleanser recently - it was a product that I was asked to try, and although it was nice, it didn’t compare to this bar.  My face did not feel clean after using it.  I had to wash my face twice, or use a toner to get the rest of the makeup off which I do not have to do with the face bar.  The scent of this bar is absolutely amazing and many of my clients are addicted to this bar.  I have to say this bar is so pretty too, like a piece of art, and lasts months!  I’ve also used this bar on my body and to shampoo my hair with – and it works great!  This makes it awesome to take with you on vacation because you only need one product for all three things. :)

Wild Honey & Mango Face Exfoliator - As I say on my website, this is a product I would not be without!  It is unbelievable!  The mango scent from the mango powder and pulp combined with my essential oil blend is just heaven!  This product can be used 1 to 2 times a week and you leave it on for up to 20 minutes – here is where you customize it for different skin types – more sensitive skin will leave it on for less time.  Your skin feels so silky smooth afterwards and it provides you with the perfect canvas for your makeup the next day.  I do recommend using this product at night due to the thermal reaction on your skin from the Dead Sea ingredients (which is normal) so you may have redness because of the increased circulation brought to the skins surface, but by morning, your face will be gorgeous!

Calendula & Rosehip Face Serum: This is liquid gold in my opinion.  Every drop of this serum is precious and contains skin-loving, high-quality ingredients in this formulation.  I love it and many of my customers cannot live without this product as well.  This serum gets massaged in with water onto cleansed, damp facial skin.  To customize, oily skin would use one pump serum and more water to work it in, normal skin, 2 pumps with a little water and dry skin, use 3 pumps with very little water.  This serum is also great for cuticles and to hydrate dry skin on other parts of your body.  And don’t forget to use it on your neck and décolleté too!

Balance and Shanti Body Oil: Body oils are one of the first products I created and fell in love with.  I have been using these moisturizing elixirs for over 7 years now.  The plant base oil I created I believe is key because this formula sinks right into your skin.  I always recommend using body oils on damp or wet skin.  I keep mine in the shower and massage the oil all over my skin when I’m done bathing and then gently towel dry afterwards.  I also keep a bottle near my sinks so whenever I wash my hands at home, I massage the oil on then dry my hands.  I do not get cracked cuticles any more, especially in the winter months and having a bottle at the shampoo station at my salon has saved my hands as well.

Balance body oil has a sweet, herb-like floral scent – very calming and soothing.  Shanti (Shanti means peace in Sanskrit) body oil exudes total peace and calm.  The scent is heavenly and is a combination of rich floral, citrus and earthy notes with a touch of vanilla for sweet bliss.

Moisturizing Body Bar: As I stated above, this body bar is made by a local woman here in New Jersey.  She is a client and friend of mine and I, to this day, have tried a ton of handcrafted soaps but none compare to the smoothness and silky feel of this bar.  She uses Goat’s milk in these bars that she gets locally as well.  They have a rich lather and the scents are heavenly. :) The Balance body bar has the same calming and soothing essential oil blend as the Balance body oil.  The Wild Grass body bar is more invigorating with hints of lemongrass, gingergrass, spearmint and citrus essential oils.

I use this bar to shave with and then use my body oils to moisturize – they work superbly for this!  But to get the smoothest legs ever, remove dead skin cells with a dry skin brush first (which I also sell at my website – I found the best one ever!) and then lather up with the body bar, shave and then moisturize with the body oil…ahhh…smooth, soft legs!

To see the many wonderful comments that my customers have made please visit my site (and check out the Facebook link there too).
 

As I mentioned before, you also offer spiritual guidance.  You've written some amazing articles for the ANB Mall which have been about so much more than just 'outer' beauty.  You are all about empowering individuals to become their best, which is outstanding.  Why is this so important to you, and what do you offer through your site that is in line with this philosophy?

      Empowering people is really where my passion lies.  It has become so important to me because of the challenges I have gone through in the past 16 years starting with my father’s passing.  I have suffered and I chose to find a way through the suffering.  And I’m not saying I do not suffer any more, but I have many tools in place to keep me centered and aligned with life.  These realizations have played such a huge role in my healing, and empowering individuals is how my passion has manifested itself.

     I believe self-care plays such a galactic role in living a life of joy and ease.  But many people do not take the time out daily (and yes, it must be on a daily basis in my opinion), to devote to their own needs.  How are we supposed to serve others in the highest way, be it our family, friends, clients, if we do not take care of our own Sacred Self?

     Using our senses as a pathway to presence is one way that I serve others to get back in touch with their bodies and out of their heads, and start unleashing their most divine magnificence.  I do this through providing inspiring products and services to fill the needs of taking care of the outer and inner being: Aromatherapy-infused skin care, guided meditations and many other life-enhancing tips and resources provided through my blog and my free e-newsletter, Pathway to Presence, which people can sign up for at my website and receive my complimentary report: 'Break~Out, Be~Free: An Illuminating Report Revealing 4 Empowering Steps to Discover and Unleash Your Vibrant Inner Being'.

     One of the many opportunities that have arisen during the last couple years is the opportunity to write.  I never thought I’d be a writer, but I have come to love it!  And I love sharing my articles with people through my e-newsletter, my blog and especially through your amazing ANB site, which I am very honored to be a member of.  You just never know where your journey will lead you so always be open to what comes your way – it’s like that line in Forrest Gump – ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.’
 

 

All businesses learn as they grow.  What lessons have you learned along the way that have helped you to improve how you do things?  What advice do you have for those that are interested in going into the all-natural beauty field?
 
      A big lesson I have learned is not to rush the process.  I get so many ideas daily and I always want to get those ideas ‘out there’ as fast as I can.  I’ve learned to sit with them and let them churn, knowing they will manifest at the perfect time.

     I’ve also learned to let my uniqueness shine!  One of the biggest differences in everyone’s company is the being behind the business and the life experiences that they bring to their business – that’s what makes each business unique.  Do learn from others and soak up as much information as you can, but then let it come through you in a way that lets your divine magnificence shine!  There are so many people out there that just do things as they are told or how they learn it.  Learn it, then change it up and create YOUR business out of the passion that exudes and pours out of each and every cell of your being.  There are people out there just waiting for you to bring your gifts into the world.

     I’ve also learned how not to let my being (physically and mentally) suffer in order to fulfill the needs of others.  Being in a service business, there are certain expectations that come along with it.  One of the areas that I have practiced in my spiritual growth is not to have expectations, but I do not expect others to have the same realization.  I used to chow down my food, or not even eat, in order to accommodate my clients.  I used to come in early, stay late, not charge the full amount of my service, all in the name of ‘serving’ the client.  Well, that changed as I grew older, (ahh, a very positive attribute of aging :), and although I treat and respect my clients like they are gold because they are and it is a privilege to serve them, I do not sacrifice my health or happiness any more – if I do not take care of myself, how will I serve and care for others in the highest way possible?

     Here are a couple tips I have for those who are interested in going into the all-natural beauty field, or any other field for that matter:

(1) Spend some time alone with yourself and discover what it is you truly love to do and that ignites your inner fire.  Your business is an outer manifestation, and if your outer world is not in alignment and partnering with your inner energy, then something will surely be lacking.

(2) Mastermind and connect with other like-minded people and entrepreneurs who will support you with how you can create a business doing what you love.  You can create anything that you dream of so be in the presence of others whose energy is vibrant and alive and who are positive and living a life they love.

(3) Research your market and develop a business plan, whether formal or not and connect with professionals you resonate with who can help you bring your business into form whether that be a business consultant, business or life coach, business workshops or other mentor.

 

What are your recommendations for those that would like to go a more all-natural beauty route, as well as a more spiritually positive one?  Are there some books or classes that you would recommend?

      First thing I would say is to start simple.  If we put too much pressure on ourselves to do it all now, it will backfire.  Add one thing in at a time when it comes to switching to all natural beauty products.  For instance, when you’re ready to purchase, say a new face cleanser, do your research and buy an all-natural one.  Do this with each product you have.  Before you know it, you’ll have face and body care products that are good for you and that you love.  Organic and natural products do cost more than those you’ll find in a drug store, but you are so worth it!  You will feel so much better and this will show through your skin and entire being.  The All Natural Beauty site is a great resource because of the many companies there who are dedicated to sharing their natural products and unique gifts with the world.

     Once you start really caring for your outer being, it will naturally flow into your inner being.  Explore different tools that help you get in touch with your inner Self.  Some of these tools could be meditation (especially guided meditation), journaling, going for a Sacred Spirit walk in nature, yoga – these are just a few of the many different tools you can try.  Maybe start just becoming aware of your breath and consciously breathing for 1-5 minutes a day – you’ll be amazed at what will transpire in your life by starting to pay attention to your Self – and how your life will start to flow with more ease.

     A book I highly recommend is The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.  It's a book of 'Life' and to me, my business is an extension of myself - of my life.  This book helps us to discover what it means to be in the Now, in the Present Moment. (See link to this book below)  If we can live life in the present moment, then life flows with ease, peace and leads us to the ultimate life-enhancing quality, which is freedom.

 

Please imagine your most perfect 'pampering' day and tell us about it.  Where would it be and what types of services would it include.

      My most perfect pampering day……..hmmmmm………I don’t think there’s enough room on this paper for that.  No , seriously, it would be at an Ayurvedic Spa.  The spa has a soothing atmosphere, with new age music playing and herbal tea, nuts and fruit available in the waiting area.  I would start with an Abhyanga Massage (a soothing and restorative massage - in Ayurveda, they use oils, oils and more oils – right up my alley!).  Then I would get a Marma Treatment (specific points on the body get massaged to release stress, ease muscle pain, increase circulation and they use warm herbal-infused oils….ahhhh!).  Next would be a Scalp Massage Treatment that includes a head, neck and shoulder massage, again using herbal oils.

     Next I would get treated to an amazing vegetarian, Ayurvedic-inspired lunch. Yum!

     Then after a little time to digest, I would get a Padabhyanga Foot Reflexology Treatment – I love getting Reflexology as well as giving them – there is nothing like a good Reflexology treatment!  Then I would end with a Rudraksha Treatment which is a stress-reduction treatment.  You lie down on a massage table in a room filled with Rudrashka beads hanging everywhere and placed on you as well.  These beads emit vibrations that aid in the healing of the body and mind.  It’s a great treatment for people who suffer from anxiety, pain and many other ailments.  The first time I ever received this treatment, I could literally feel the energy and vibration enter my body – it was an extremely intense and amazing experience.  I bought a necklace that has a Rudraksha bead in the center of it and also have a Rudraksha bracelet and beads that I keep in a tiny tea cup in my bedroom.  Sometimes I meditate while holding a bead or two and you can really feel the energy of these beads enter your body and go to work on the areas needed – truly amazing!
 

 

   

 

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VedaSun