theSKIN x Shauna Faulisi

The culinary world found me, but wellness has always been part of me. I grew up dancing — I went to an all-ballet school and was on a dance competition team at a different studio. My dance background is the foundation of my connection to myself and my body awareness.

I went to nutrition school 10 years ago when I realized my love of being of service and helping others could be combined with my deep interest in food and wellness. This was around the time when Instagram launched, and way before wellness started trending and became the movement we know it as today.

Six months after starting my practice, I was approached by an actress to get her ready for a movie. I met with her to discuss, and I had a nutrition plan mapped out based on her goals and her training required for the movie. At the end of our meeting, she asked if I’d be able to prepare all the meals I was recommending to her. I smiled and said yes while thinking to myself “I don’t know how to cook”. (say yes and figure it out later!)

I immediately drove to Barnes & Noble and went to the nutrition section and pulled a dozen cookbooks. I sat on the floor going through the pages, seeing what sounded good to me — being a New Yorker, I have a deep love for food. I decided on six books and spent all the money I had on them.

I prepared all of her meals for three months – cooking and delivering every two days. After filming was complete, she wanted to continue nourishing with my soul wellness meals. We chatted, and she told her colleagues on her show, and overnight I had a meal delivery service that was creating 150-200 meals a week. I hired a few people in LA, we cooked all weekend, had some all nighters, and on Sunday evenings, each week, I hand delivered to all 15-20 clients.

The defining moment that sparked my wellness cooking journey was when I realized the impact I was having by helping my clients feel good in their body — my mission in this life. I never knew it would be through food, but I always say don't helicopter your business or your life because it typically shows us the way. 

The on-the-go schedule can take a major toll, whether it’s a short or long trip. I know that my schedule while I’m on tour is not the norm, but here are tips for anyone who is traveling for work or holiday, or simply on the go!

Eat nutritiously, stay hydrated, and sleep. When traveling, the only constant is that there are no constants. Things change, and you have very little control. Lean into what you do have control of — eating well to feel good in your body, and taking care of yourself in ways your schedule allows. For me, this sometimes means skipping the workout to get an extra hour of sleep, even though moving my body brings me a great deal of joy and keeps me connected to myself. However, I have learned during extensive travel that sleep takes precedence. Traveling really shines a light on what’s most important. For short holidays, I’d typically advise prioritizing workouts, especially because they help your internal clock acclimate to new time zones.

When traveling for work, I’m pretty strict with how I nourish my body with nutrient-dense foods. Following my Soul Wellness Method plate of protein, fiber, and fat at every meal 90% of the time. This encompasses eating whole, fresh foods, low-sugar intake, and the preference of keeping my meals gluten-free.

On days off or on holiday, I typically divert and splurge on one meal. I like to keep my energy, blood sugar, and mood stable during the day while exploring and typically lean into the culinary arts for dinner and dessert :)

The most impactful practice I have found for my morning and nighttime routine is to stay off my phone for an hour before bed and an hour after waking up. If you want to take it a step further, you can say no to tech altogether during that time. It’s single-handedly the thing that keeps me from being reactive, and feeling like not enough. Saying no to tech during those times helps me feel in control of my day and my life. Apps, social media, and shows are designed to keep us hooked and wanting more. So, without careful interaction, it can keep up in a never-ending loop, making us feel small. These small breaks ensure that my well-being comes first.

I recommend giving yourself a Soul Wellness Method 10-day reset that includes our six pillars — nutrition, movement, inner voice, self-expression, alone time, and community. From there, start to experiment with what you want to add or subtract.

I created these pillars as my north star to start feeling good in my body. When I was on my path to feeling my best, these pillars were what brought me back home to myself. Since starting my practice, I have taught it to hundreds of clients around the world for almost a decade.

I find that each pillar ebbs and flows based on my external circumstances at the time, and where I'm at in my menstrual cycle (lol but seriously).

I’m a sucker for efficiency, and I like to be as low maintenance as possible — it’s the busy Virgo in me. When I curate my wellness routine like designing meals of protein, fiber, and fat to increase satiety and nutrient-density, partaking in workouts that include heavy weights, balancing, and compound movement, and skincare that gives me everything that need in a few steps. It’s all smart and efficient like Facile.