Hello! My name is Natalie Musaphia

Hello! My name is Natalie Musaphia.

A few months ago I started a facebook page called na:mu. I took the first two letters from each of my names and then found out that ‘namu’ actually meant “take refuge in” or “dedicated to” in Sanskrit.

This name turned out to be so appropriate, considering that my page was started purely to promote positivity and kindness and to help people understand that truly being themselves is the best thing ever. People can read my posts and take refuge in the fact that being different to everybody else is ok, and I am dedicated to helping people improve their happiness.

I figured that I couldn’t directly help with all the major problems in this world but that I could have a positive effect on the people closest to me, plus all of those I come into contact with, and that this would create a ripple effect.

So, I treat people how I would like to be treated and I carry out random acts of kindness, purely to brighten someone’s day. I know that they will more than likely pay it forward. For example, the other week, a recycling lorry was blocking the road I needed to drive down. I sat there for a bit and then thought that I may as well get out and help instead of just watching. So I did! The men were very amused and we all had a laugh. I realised how hard their job is. I only threw in about 15 bags but it was tough! Hopefully I brightened their day a little. I love these random experiences!

I find great quotes and post them to my page along with my thoughts on the subject. The feedback has been great. People send me quotes to use, tell me stories that remind them of me and let me know when lovely things result from their good deeds.

I used to conform to what society dictated. I went to University, became a Broker in the City and followed all of life’s rules. The one day I realised I didn’t really like shouting at men all day and hated all the fake behaviour that went on. I didn’t see my lovely flat because I was away from it for most of the day/night. So, at the age of 24 I left my job, sold my flat, went back to live with my parents and embarked on an Intensive Beauty Therapy course. I loved every minute. It was as hard as my degree but I was so interested in what I was learning that I thrived.

When I qualified I started work in a Spa in Canary Wharf. I lasted 2 months. I’d been taught so well and wasn’t happy with the corner cutting that went on. I believed I could give better treatments working for myself and so started as a mobile Therapist, treating friends and family.

After a while I started renting a flat with my soon to be husband and made one of the bedrooms into a treatment room. After getting married we went on to buy a house and have three children. After the third and final child I started to realise that my husband and I weren’t compatible anymore, we weren’t partners. I started going to the gym more and more and now realise that it was my escape from my unhappiness.

By the time the children were 10, 7 and 4 I was divorced. At one point in the time leading up to it, I hit rock bottom. Badly. And then I Awakened! It took getting to my lowest point ever, to realise all of the good things I actually had in my life. The simple things. I had the choice to lay in bed all day worrying about the future and feeling depressed, or to be happy. Everyday. I chose the latter and have never looked back.

I wake up grateful every morning. I live every moment as if it’s my last. People think I’m drunk because I’m so full of joy! I’m teetotal. I teach fitness now too – Bodypump, Circuits, HIIT and run a Bootcamp in Chingford, as well as still having a treatment room at home but have cut my treatments down to massage and facials, as they are my loves. I am now also a Life/Happiness Coach as I realised my calling is to help others unlock their potential and get to great places in their lives. To properly live and not just exist. Seeing people grow and reach for their dreams is so rewarding.

The three areas I work in really complement each other. I have clients who will maybe have fitness training one session, massage the next and some coaching the one after. Or a combination of all three in one appointment. It’s a very bespoke service. I do not advertise, the right people always find their way to me. My mission statement is to “make people happy.” Everything I do must improve my clients’ lives in some way, big or small, and enhance their natural beauty and personality. I hate fake. Fake nails, fake hair, fake eyelashes, etc etc. We shouldn’t mask who we are, we should love ourselves and the more this is taught, especially to children, the better.

The older I get the more wild I become. I rarely wear make up nowadays and am truly comfortable in my own skin. People say I have this glow about me, this aura. I put it down to the fact that I am truly authentic and happy. I have no other explanation!

Since my life change, I now rent a house, and have gone from being the main carer of my children to joint carer. I have them for 4 days a week and they spend 3 days with their dad. To me, that is priceless. That quality time they now spend with him is worth everything I went through. They are happy. I am off the scale happy. I am living my life to the full. Everyday is an adventure. I am not wasting one minute. I’m quite Buddhist in my way of thinking and practice mindfulness. I only surround myself with positive people and I attract similar. I teach at Repose Studio in Buckhurst Hill on Monday nights, and it was there that I discovered, or rather, was drawn to, Yogaleggs clothing.

I now hardly wear anything else and that isn’t an exaggeration! I love how comfortable everything is and I really love that the company was started by two passionate, lovely, likeminded, local women. I have a rule that everything in my house must be either needed or beautiful. Yogaleggs’ clothing is both. We fit. It’s funny that after I started wearing the clothes, strange little things started to happen. For example, I was in a deli, in a town that I never go to, wearing my yogaleggs clothes, and I bumped into Amanda, who, of course, was wearing her brand’s clothing. We hadn’t met properly before but were both so amused by the coincidence that we had to have a photo together!

Since then, Amanda and Becki have been tagged in various Instagram photos of me wearing their clothing. I was at the Wellbeing Festival at Olympia a few weeks ago in the ‘inhale exhale repeat’ sweatshirt when the owner of one company who made beautiful things (dept store for the mind), asked if she could take a photo of me because she uses those words on one of her products. Of course I obliged!

Then I was asked to write this guest blog for the Yogaleggs website. I jumped at the chance to share my thoughts. There’s always the chance that my story may inspire at least one person to do something that could make their life a little better. I tell my clients to do things that scare them. Facing fears gets you to some great places! I know this better than anyone.

Be yourself, love yourself and look after yourself. Great things will result.

Lots of love and happiness,

Natalie xx

nataliemusaphia@gmail.com