Reve Insiders is an exclusive network of global leaders, businesses, brands, professionals, and creatives we have had the pleasure of working with or have stumbled across in some shape and form. We take an inside look into the lives of some of them. What makes them tick? What are they adding to the world to make a difference in the lives of others? In this interview, we asked Anil Manley, Author, Mindfulness Coach & Intuitive Eating Counselor to share a little of her story with us and the importance of living well.
REVE INSIDERS: Can you share your journey and what inspired you to start “Mindfulness with Anil, LLC”?
Anil Manley: My company evolved from my own wellness journey. It started with a stressor, reflection, and a desire to change. I was a Fashion and Special Events Manager for 30 retail stores in my early 20s without assistance. I was anxious about making a mistake. I’ll never forget waking up in the middle of the night in a panic because I worried that I didn’t tell the DJ the right entrance to go to. Also, my hair was starting to break off.The body is always speaking to us, and we just have to pay attention.
This mind-body awareness told me to change. I quit and moved back to Philadelphia to work as a fashion stylist. It was one of the hardest and best decisions I ever made. I had another mind-body experience in my mid-30s while working for QVC, Inc. I was preparing for New York Fashion Week and one night, I was awakened by an intense sensation in my head. It felt like a million needles were crushing my skull; my ears were burning. It freaked me out. I ran around my house like a chicken with its head cut off, looking for relief. I had to call out of work because I was exhausted. I paid attention again. I was determined to figure out the root cause. I started making the connection between work, stress, sleep, and nutrition. I worked with a naturopathic doctor, changed how I ate, listened to audiobooks, practiced mindfulness and yoga, changed how I worked, and spent time reflecting on how I wanted to live.
Work-life harmony and mindfulness became some of my core values. That inspired me to switch my career from fashion to wellness. I have a master’s degree in health promotion and workplace wellness. I became a certified health education specialist. I started coaching and teaching mindfulness to employees. People spend most of their lives working, and they need workplaces that promote and support a culture of well-being. This became obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic and inspired me to create Mindfulness with Anil, LLC.
REVE INSIDERS: Follow-up question, how did you come to intuitive eating?
Anil Manley: Again, that came from my own journey. I went through a period during the pandemic when I didn’t know what I wanted to eat. Nothing I ate satisfied me or made me feel full. Everything tasted blah. Something was off. It seemed like I was always chasing hunger. It was so frustrating, and I thought something was wrong with me. I was determined to figure it out. I had to coach myself and find resources to repair my relationship with food. And that brought me to intuitive eating. I fell in love with this framework for cultivating a healthy relationship with food, mind, and body. I listened to the audiobook, read the book and workbook, and eventually went through extensive training with registered dietician, Evelyn Tribole, who is one of the co-founders of intuitive eating.
REVE INSIDERS: What role does creativity play in your coaching, and how can individuals tap into their creative potential to improve their well-being?
Anil Manley: Creativity inspires me to be curious, open, and explore possibilities. That helps me be a better coach because I’m synthesizing my client’s circumstances, pain points, interests, and goals. One of my Clifton Strengths is that I’m strategic. I’m looking for patterns and ways to simplify and create solutions that make their life easier. That helped me develop the ANIL Wellbeing framework for body, mind, and soul. A is the awareness of limiting beliefs and framing thoughts. N is for nurturing self-compassion and self-care practices. I is for intuition and learning to trust yourself. L is for liberation. This is about embodying the person you want to be and taking action. Anyone can tap into their creativity to improve their well-being if they’re open, curious, and have a beginner’s mind. I always say experiment and see what happens. What if you switched up your old workout and tried a new class? What if you added different seasonings, flavors, or ingredients to your next meal? What if you explored a new hobby or made time for what you already enjoy?
REVE INSIDERS: How do you see the role of mindfulness and holistic well-being intersecting with traditional pharmaceutical approaches, and what are the benefits of integrating these natural practices with conventional treatments?
Anil Manley: It’s important to acknowledge how social determinants of health and systemic factors impact one’s health. Does an individual have access to the medication they need? Can they afford it? Did their doctor tell them about all the available treatments, or did they only prescribe a drug or treatment based on their race or insurance coverage? Does the individual have access to and can they afford holistic practices like acupuncture and TCM? This awareness affects which choices one has over one’s health. That said, I think there’s a place for holistic and allopathic medicine to coexist. Medication can be life-saving, whether it’s for your mental or physical health. I encourage people to work with their healthcare providers, advocate for themselves, and be informed.
Go to your next appointment with a list of questions, get them answered, and ask why they’re prescribing a particular medication, what the side effects are, and the consequences of not following treatment. Then, decide what you want to do. Many of my clients are on some type of medication that helps them manage a chronic condition. They also work with me to make healthier lifestyle changes, including adding nutrition, exercising regularly, getting quality sleep, limiting alcohol, and lowering stress. Mindfulness and meditation can help decrease stress associated with chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, chronic pain, and anxiety. The benefits include lower blood glucose and blood pressure, reduced pain, and improved mood.
REVE INSIDERS: Can you discuss any innovative wellness techniques or trends that are currently gaining traction and how they align with or enhance traditional mindfulness practices?
Anil Manley: When we’re anxious and stressed, our breath gets shallow, our muscles tighten, and our heart races. One technique to relieve that is breathwork and specific patterns of breathing. Breathwork is an ancient practice. Research has shown that cyclic breathing sighing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation. Take two short inhales through the nose, filling up the lungs, followed by one long and slow exhale through the mouth. Do this for five minutes. The breath slows, heart rate decreases, muscles relax, and you feel calmer. When you calm the body you calm the mind.
REVE INSIDERS: What are some practical wellness strategies that busy professionals can incorporate into their daily routines to manage stress and enhance productivity?
Anil Manley: One practical strategy is a daily and weekly check-in. I always ask my clients, what do you need at this moment? This instantly brings awareness to your mind and body. Do you need to take a break from your screen? One of my clients started walking around her building when she needed to clear her mind and move her body. She returned with more energy and focus. Another is to sit down and eat one meal without distraction. I encouraged another client to block off her schedule and close her door so she could eat without interruption. She was hesitant to do this. So I asked, “Do you have a problem with your employees taking their lunch?”“No,” she replied. “Okay, so why can’t you do the same for yourself?” She agreed to try this for a week. She discovered she could eat in peace, and, surprise! the world didn’t fall apart. This is an example of promoting well-being in the workplace and honoring your hunger.
REVE INSIDERS: Can you describe a memorable success story from your coaching experience that stands out for you and highlights the impact of mindfulness and intuitive eating?
Anil Manley: At first, one of my most memorable clients was a challenge. I could tell in our first session that she was reluctant to work with me. In my gentle and direct way, I asked where the resistance was coming from. Despite working out regularly, she was discouraged about being in midlife and gaining weight, especially around her belly. She said she didn’t learn anything new from working with other coaches. I appreciated her honesty; it told me where she struggled andher objections to coaching. Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental awareness of what’s happening in the moment with compassion. Intuitive eating is a framework for making peace with food, mind, and body. I responded to her with compassion and validated her experience. I asked her to consider what her body does for her. She said, “It fuels me to keep on living. I can walk even with bad knees, I’m strong and independent, and I can take the trash out.”
Her motivation was to set a good example for her daughter. The next time we met, she started accepting that even though the number on the scale didn’t change, she felt better in her body. After each session, she was learning how to trust herself. She noticed that she was more satisfied and had more energy when she ate protein than fast food. She also took time after work to listen to her body instead of forcing herself to work out when she didn’t feel like it. She started feeling better about herself from the inside. I was so proud of her and the progress she made! She thanked me at our last session and said, “You’re the best coach I’ve ever worked with.”
REVE INSIDERS: Can you walk us through what a typical session with a client looks like at Mindfulness with Anil, LLC? How do you structure your sessions, and what types of clients do you typically work with? Additionally, how does your business structure support your approach to coaching and ensure that each client receives personalized and effective guidance?
Anil Manley: I work with professionals who deal with work and personal stress, primarily women in their mid-thirties to mid-fifties. Some are taking care of children or aging parents. Many are in perimenopause or menopause, which is another source of stress. My first session with a client is about establishing trust and understanding where they are in life(work, home, how they spend their free time). Then we get into their concerns about their health and what they want to be different. This is where I ask about their vision for their health, and how they see themselves in the future. I ask about their lifestyle (sleep, stress, mood, nutrition, and physical activity). Do they have a support system? How can I support them? Are they ready to change? What small habit or goal do they want to focus on? I hold them accountable and celebrate progress, no matter how small.
Each session builds on the next. We review what’s working and what’s not working. Are there obstacles that need to be addressed? Then, determine what’s next. Each client receives personalized support and guidance during our 1:1 coaching sessions. If appropriate, we do an activity that supports their goal. Sometimes, additional education or mindset shifts are needed. Other times, a different approach or strategy is required. I provide or refer them to resources that help them with comprehension and retention. My weekly webinars address specific topics relevant to their needs. I also communicate with clients via email or WhatsApp for additional support between sessions. How often we meet depends on the client, but it’s usually every other week, so they have time to work on their goals.
REVE INSIDERS: What’s one surprising or unexpected activity that helps you unwind and stay mindful outside of your coaching sessions? How does this personal practice influence the way you approach your work?
Anil Manley: Mornings are sacred. I start my day by watching a relaxing YouTube video with a body of water and nature sounds. This is my grounding practice. I use this time to sip my favorite tea, journal, reflect, set my intentions, and strategize the day. This calms my nervous system and gives me the clarity I need to get things done. I also listen to podcasts and read books to feed my curiosity.
REVE INSIDERS: If you could incorporate one of your personal hobbies or interests into your mindfulness & intuitive eating coaching practice, what would it be and how do you think it would benefit your clients?
Anil Manley: I’ve been thinking about bringing fashion into my practice. Many of my clients, as I mentioned, are in perimenopause and menopause. The changes in fluctuating hormones and body composition are frustrating. It’s like a second puberty. They’ve gained weight, especially in their bellies, and they don’t know how to dress because their clothes no longer fit. I get it because I’ve experienced the same thing. I had a little meltdown when I couldn’t fit into my favourite jeans. It breaks my heart when they reject what they see in the mirror. I can help them focus on appreciating how their body functions instead of focusing on flaws. I can show them how to respect their body, as it is now, by wearing clothes that complement and make them feel confident. This could be a VIP service I provide where I spend half the day with them and put together complete outfits that transform the way they look and feel. We could start with what they already have in their closet and build from that. This could be a lot of fun!
REVE INSIDERS: Looking ahead, what are your future goals for Mindfulness with Anil, LLC, and how do you envision continuing to make a difference in the wellness community?
Anil Manley: I’m focusing on empowering women to transform suffering into liberation, from making peace with food and our bodies to creating financial abundance. Financial education and wellness are crucial. Many women, myself included, don’t know or aren’t taught how to create sustainable wealth. I’m expanding my network and collaborating with women-owned businesses, including financial advisors and coaches, bringing more value to the women I serve. We work hard to make sure everyone else is taken care of. It’s time we put ourselves first, reclaim our power, and take sustainable action that prepares us to live well, now and later.
Connect with Anil Manley on Linkedin, Facebook, and Instagram, or explore her book, Mindfulness for Perimenopause, for practical guidance on finding calm and reducing chaos during perimenopause.
