Latest news with #TEDx
Associated Press
6 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
LaKoradior Haute Couture Shines at the 78th Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet – Three International Female Leaders Redefine Haute Couture Aesthetics
At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, LaKoradior Haute Couture commanded global attention as Hollywood actress Arielle Raycene, supermodel Patricia Contreras, and entrepreneur-fashion influencer Jenny Gordienko unveiled the brand's 2025 collection on the red carpet. Their looks—ranging from gilded elegance to sustainable poetry—cemented LaKoradior's status as this year's haute couture tour de force. Stellar Moments: Three Leading Women on the Red Carpet Arielle Raycene: The Golden Multihyphenate of Hollywood As an actress, theatrical performer, and tech entrepreneur, Arielle Raycene appeared on the red carpet in a champagne-gold haute couture gown. Adorned with hand-embroidered metallic threads that shimmered like liquid gold under the sunlight, the dress mirrored her multifaceted career. A prodigious talent who earned her SAG membership at just three years old and starred in Mel Gibson's latest film, Raycene chose LaKoradior to express her philosophy: 'True luxury lies in fearless reinvention.' Patricia Contreras: A Transcontinental Fashion Icon Italian-Mexican supermodel and actress Patricia Contreras stunned in a violet mermaid gown inspired by orchid petals. Meticulously handcrafted with gradient silk threads, the dress showcased three-dimensional embroidery with Eastern elegance. A muse for brands like Armani and Balmain, and winner of Cannes' 2019 'Best Lifestyle Influencer' award, Contreras remarked, 'Wearing this gown felt like dancing with centuries of artisanal heritage.' Jenny Gordienko: Where Fashion Meets Influence Forbes-recognized 'Top Influencer Marketing Expert' Jenny Gordienko opted for an aqua-blue haute couture gown with wave-like pleats, reflecting her commitment to sustainable fashion. As a TEDx speaker and founder of educational initiatives, she stated, 'Fashion is the ultimate medium for cross-cultural dialogue.' LaKoradior's Cannes Moment: Global Resonance of Haute Couture The trio's red carpet looks sparked immediate international media frenzy, proving that 'LaKoradior doesn't just dress stars—it redefines the language of the red carpet.' Behind this success stood global fashion catalyst CrossMode and its visionary approach. Creative Director Mei Zhan noted, 'Our mission is to create alchemy between traditional craftsmanship and modern icons. Cannes isn't just a showcase—it's a dialogue with history.' About LaKoradior Haute Couture LaKoradior merges architectural precision with poetic fluidity, crafting bespoke creations for business leaders and silver-screen legends. Each collection serves as wearable art, preserving vanishing artisanal techniques through collaborations with master workshops. Media Contact Company Name: LaKoradior Haute Couture Contact Person: Mei Zhan Email: Send Email City: Paris Country: France Website: Source: Press Release Agency
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How Arab women are rewriting the rules of identity and empowerment
Amid life's many businesses, sparkling accomplishments, and hard knocks, we often encounter rankling questions that blow the wind out of our sails. Questions like 'Who am I?', 'What do I want out of life?', and 'Where am I headed in this mad rush?' leave us suddenly adrift, realising how far we've strayed from who we once were as individuals, professionals, and participants in society. The search for answers leads us into a labyrinth of doubts and fears, and sooner or later, we find ourselves in need of a lighthouse — someone to steer us gently back home. Back to ourselves. It was in one such muddying moment that Asmaa Al Kuwari, now a multi-award-winning executive and life coach, stumbled upon a training programme that changed the course of her life. What began as an attempt to reclaim her bearings during a period of inner unrest eventually became her mission. In a world that often defines women and their typecasted roles before they discover who they are, Al Kuwari chose to unbend all that was hoisted upon her by tradition and society. A certified coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Back to THAT, she has become a guiding voice for self-actualisation in a region where identity is often prescribed before it is understood. Her work is not just a career. It is a calling: To help Arab and Muslim women navigate the maze of societal roles and cultural expectations, and return to the essence of who they truly are. Al Kuwari, whose early years were spent in the US, was raised for the most part in Qatar and it was here that she began to sense there was more to her personality and purpose than what had been predetermined by societal norms. 'This combination, even though it might have started as a culture clash for me, taught me how much of our identity is shaped for us, not by us,' she says with the clarity of someone who now knows both what she wants from life and what she hopes to give back to it. That inner friction between who we are expected to be and who we truly are, she adds, became the very foundation of her life's work. She staunchly believes that a woman's personal growth must be both respectful of her roots and revolutionary in spirit. From this insight emerged a coaching framework that gave women full agency over their lives — helping them unlearn what no longer serves them and pick again from new options, this time with intention. 'Helping them to choose what aligns with their true selves, their values, their faith, and their vision for the life they want, that's my objective now,' she says with a conviction that bears the quiet power of someone who has walked through the darkness and now holds a torch for others. It was this desire to help women who had the power and potential but lacked a roadmap to retrace their way back to authenticity that led her to write her Back to THAT. The journey hadn't been easy for Al Kuwari. She had to confront resistance from all quarters, starting from her immediate family to extended segments of her relations, to whom her endeavours were not only new but also a bit radical. But in time, they were convinced that she was on a path to improve lives of women in the region, and that it didn't come at the cost of giving up traditional values and religious compliances. What she was seeking to achieve was to allow women to tap into their potential that they kept under wraps for long, and letting them find their own place in the world. She held space for them, not to rebel, but to reclaim; to come back to their own centre after years of surrendering their desires to societal dictates and generational expectations. Her coaching wasn't about defiance; it was about alignment; about helping women step into their power without veering out of their truth. In Back to THAT, she offers more than self-help strategies. She offers companionship through guided reflections, value-based practices, and gentle prompts that nudge women towards clarity. 'It's not just about awareness,' she says. 'It's about the action you take when you create that awareness.' The book thus becomes a conversation between the reader and her forgotten self, and a manual for her to follow to fruition. Al Kuwari believes that true societal transformation must begin with women, who form the foundation of families and communities. She sees women as the origin point of generational influence — first as wives, then as mothers and grandmothers — and therefore considers their empowerment essential to lasting change. There are women who recognise the limitations placed on them by society, but lack the courage to act. And there are others who are willing to break the mould and redraw the contours of their lives, but don't know where to begin. It's the latter who find in Al Kuwari's guidance a valuable and feasible formula to empowerment. In a world where external validation often dictates identity, she gently turns women inward, helping them tap into their inner reserves and claim their rightful place in society, and in their personal and professional spheres. She teaches them how to draw boundaries not as lines of defence, but as spaces of becoming personal sanctuaries where they can rise, perform, and unlock parts of themselves they never knew existed. Yet, this journey is far from easy, she reveals. Most women who come to her grapple with deeply ingrained mindsets and limitations that have long shaped their sense of self. The biggest challenge, she says, is guilt for wanting more, for choosing themselves and for not conforming to deep-set conditioning. 'This guilt and emotional tug-of-war can keep women stuck in survival mode. In my coaching work, I help them name those emotions, confront them with compassion, and take small, courageous steps toward what truly matters to them.' To guide them from 'performance to presence' and assure them that their struggles are neither unique nor isolating, Al Kuwari founded the 'You're Not Alone' community — a space for like-minded women to gather, share stories, engage in meaningful conversations, and hold one another accountable. It's here that support transforms into strength, and individual narratives of self-doubt are rewritten into collective affirmations of worth, courage, and purpose. 'That's the magic of collective support; it normalises growth and gives you mirrors to your own strength. Women from the community have come together to collaborate for projects, and some have found their best friends from the community,' she reflects with a pride becoming of someone who holds the distinction of being the first Qatari woman to lead the International Coaching Federation Chapter in Doha (ICFD). The many awards and recognitions that have come her way may have amplified her voice and broadened her reach, but Al Kuwari doesn't let them define her worth. To her, they are instruments of visibility meant to shine light on the work she does, the message she carries and the countless women who find themselves reflected in her story. The accolades are, above all, a responsibility, a reminder to stay accountable to the purpose that drives her. Her remarkable journey from a perplexed young woman unsure of her path to a visionary leader for Arab and Muslim women across the Middle East underscores one truth: self-actualisation isn't a luxury. 'It's the fulfillment of our purpose. I always say God has created each and every one of us with a sole purpose to achieve in this world before our time is up. When we deny that need, we shrink, we settle, we live on survival mode. But when we honour it, we expand, we create, we become; and that's the ultimate goal.' Al Kuwari is now focused on building an international digital community for Arab and Muslim women, expanding the reach of her book so that it may serve as a beacon for those ready to take a transformative step forward, and scaling her coaching programmes globally. She also plans to certify future coaches through a self-created methodology rooted in cultural awareness and human-centred growth. As life coaching continues to evolve in the region, she envisions it becoming a profound tool for healing, growth, and leadership — one grounded not in western models, but in personal values and local identity. Her mission is clear: to give women the tools to shape the lives they yearn for, and to enable them to become the protagonists of their own powerful stories. As she affirms, such initiatives will grow more culturally aligned, and 'more Arab women will rise — not just as clients of change, but as creators of it.'
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Attorney Hillary Walsh's Vision for Helping 1 Million Undocumented Immigrants
In a small courtroom in Phoenix, Arizona, a woman named Carla, bruised emotionally and silenced by fear, sat gripping a manila folder of documents she barely understood. Her U.S. citizen husband had weaponized her immigration status for years, telling her, "You'll be deported before they believe you." He beat her, berated her, and warned her that if she ever left, she'd lose her children. But across from her sat Hillary Walsh, wearing a blazer that didn't quite hide the fire in her voice. "You don't need to keep suffering to stay in this country," Walsh told her. That day, Carla began her application under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)—a rare and powerful form of protection that grants immigration status to abuse survivors. For Walsh, it was another day of dismantling cages built not just by abusers, but by the complex web of U.S. immigration law. For Carla, it was a step toward freedom. From Kansas to the Supreme Court Born in small-town Kansas, Hillary Walsh doesn't look like the typical face of immigration reform—and that's precisely the point. She's a mother of four, a former law professor, a TEDx speaker, and a military spouse. Her journey from flyover state roots to representing clients before the U.S. Supreme Court is not just improbable; it's instructive. It underscores her approach to advocacy: relentless, unapologetically hopeful, and unconcerned with precedent when people's lives are at stake. In 2019, she founded New Frontier Immigration Law , a fully remote firm long before the pandemic normalized Zoom courtrooms. From the start, Walsh had a radical idea: that an immigration law practice could be both high-performing and deeply humane. "We're not just trying to win cases," she says. "We're trying to rewrite how people view the undocumented—especially those who've been dehumanized or abused." The 1 Million Mission At the core of New Frontier's operation is an audacious goal: to help one million people gain immigration documents. So far, the firm has served over 4,000 clients, primarily undocumented individuals trapped in the legal shadows of American life. The strategy to scale isn't just about hiring more attorneys. Walsh's team is building out from Phoenix and Dallas to cities like Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. But the firm's engine runs on more than geography—it runs on empathy, digital strategy, and innovation. Their website, , is more than a digital business card. It's a trauma-informed portal with bilingual content, quizzes to assess eligibility, and a 4.8-star rating from over 1,000 reviews. Potential clients—many of whom don't realize they qualify for relief—are guided gently into clarity. Behind this success lies Walsh's specialty: T visas and VAWA cases. These protections, reserved for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, are legal lifelines often underutilized due to fear, shame, or ignorance of their existence. "These aren't just applications," Walsh explains. "They're acts of resistance. When someone like Maria, a trafficking survivor, walks out of court with a work permit and a future—she's defying every system that told her she was invisible." Data, Demand, and Disruption The U.S. immigration legal services industry is projected to reach over $3.2 billion by 2033, driven largely by increased demand from the country's 47.8 million immigrants. Yet, even as the market grows, so do its gaps—especially for undocumented people who aren't sure the law was ever meant for them. Roughly 80% of those in need of immigration help begin their search online. With keyword searches like "immigration lawyer near me" spiking in cities like Phoenix, New York, and Los Angeles, the fight for visibility is fierce. But New Frontier's content-forward, client-centered strategy has allowed it to dominate where others merely post and hope. And it's not just about SEO. Walsh has launched a first-of-its-kind legal assistant training program for humanitarian immigration cases. She runs a podcast, Immigration Law Made Easy, and co-hosts Let's Get Rich, a values-driven show with her husband, a recently retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. Innovation, for Walsh, isn't a buzzword; it's how she cracked an industry that told her a non-Spanish-speaking immigration lawyer wouldn't survive. Her team now serves a majority Spanish-speaking clientele with a staff that's majority women, many of whom are LGBTQ+ or Hispanic. More Than Just a Firm There is something distinctly narrative about how Walsh runs New Frontier. Clients are not treated as files; they are stories, waiting to be heard and told. "We ask people what freedom would mean to them," she says. "Sometimes, it's not about work permits or green cards. Sometimes it's a mother finally feeling safe enough to call the police if something goes wrong. That's what we fight for." Through the New Frontier Foundation, her nonprofit, Walsh extends support to survivors via therapy and recovery resources. The firm also trains its 100+ staff to operate with what they call the "I. L.I.V.E." framework—Inspiration, Legacy, Innovation, Vested, and Excellence. It's culture-building as advocacy. The System and the Soul U.S. immigration law is not just complex - it's chaotic, by design. And in that chaos, people disappear. But Hillary Walsh is determined to find them. Like Bryan Stevenson in Just Mercy, she aims not only to win legal victories but to shift national consciousness. Her TED Talk, which exposes how immigration law enables domestic violence, is one piece of a broader campaign to humanize the undocumented. "We've built a system that punishes people for surviving," she says. "My mission is to change that story." One million lives changed. One case at a time.
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Longevity Strategies for High Performers After 40: Energy, Focus, and Purpose
Today's high achievers are redefining what it means to grow older. Professionals in their mid-30s and beyond are proactively investing in the mental sharpness, energy, and purpose that fuels long-term... This story originally appeared on Calendar Today's high achievers are redefining what it means to grow older. Professionals in their mid-30s and beyond are proactively investing in the mental sharpness, energy, and purpose that fuels long-term health and success, personally and professionally. Health and performance expert Tracy Gapin, M.D., emphasizes that longevity is about more than living longer. Peak performers must invest in maintaining peak cognitive and physical function to maintain the momentum as they age. Gapin is a board-certified urologist, men's health expert, and founder of the Gapin Institute of Precision Medicine. He's given TEDx talks, shared inside secrets on the current state of longevity and biohacking. In this article, he offers eight key insights into how high achievers can optimize their health, manage stress, and sustain high performance throughout every stage of their career and beyond. 1. Know Your Numbers, And What Affects Them This is ground zero for any meaningful long-term health effort. You can't track progress or understand outcomes if you don't have the right data. It's as true in personal health as it is on a business balance sheet. The key is knowing what long-term health markers to track. In an interview on the Health Fix Podcast in December 2024, Gapin explained, "Every man out there needs to be doing the diagnostic testing to really, what I call, "find your blind spots,' because there are a lot of issues that your traditional doctors don't even know about, don't understand." Key Markers to Assess and Monitor The following graphic outlines five key pillars of data to be aware of, which can affect your performance. Ensure you know the numbers that count and then watch them over time. Source: The Gapin Institute Identifying the right metrics is just the beginning. What truly matters is digging deeper than surface-level benchmarks to understand what those numbers mean for your long-term health and performance. 2. Don't Accept Basic Metrics Once you're tracking the right health data, the next step is learning how to interpret those numbers with precision. This is where many high achievers fall short—not because they lack discipline, but because they rely on outdated or overly general benchmarks. That's why Gapin cautions against accepting basic metrics at face value. DHEA is one example of a hormone where you want to watch DHEA sulfate (the active form) for mood regulation, metabolism, and energy. TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is another common hormone doctors watch, but T3 is the active form. There are 50 hormones alone to keep an eye on, let alone heart rate, oxygen levels, and other important markers. Invest in understanding each one so that you can strategize with precision and achieve optimized results. 3. Leverage Technology for Real-Time Monitoring To maintain peak physical and cognitive performance after 35, you need more than an occasional check-in at the doctor's office or a bathroom scale reading. Today's high achievers leverage real-time, continuous biometrics to get ahead of issues before they surface and fine-tune their performance in ways traditional medicine often overlooks. From wearable rings and watches to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), the tools are more advanced—and more accessible—than ever. Dr. Tracy Gapin uses CGMs as an example: "You know, they're not just for diabetics anymore. We can put a small sensor on your arm—about the size of a quarter—that tracks blood sugar 24/7 for two weeks straight. It gives us a real-time picture of how food, stress, sleep, and exercise affect your glucose levels." But blood sugar is just the start. Gapin emphasizes tracking a broader panel of real-time long-term health markers to understand your body's response patterns: Heart Rate Variability (HRV): A key metric for recovery and stress resilience. Low HRV may signal that your body is under-recovered or inflamed. A key metric for recovery and stress resilience. Low HRV may signal that your body is under-recovered or inflamed. VO2 Max: A measure of cardiovascular efficiency and endurance, often called the "gold standard" for aerobic fitness and longevity. A measure of cardiovascular efficiency and endurance, often called the "gold standard" for aerobic fitness and longevity. Sleep Stages (REM, Deep, Light): Sleep quality is just as important as sleep quantity. Monitoring stages can help optimize cognitive recovery, memory consolidation, and hormone balance. Sleep quality is just as important as sleep quantity. Monitoring stages can help optimize cognitive recovery, memory consolidation, and hormone balance. Resting Heart Rate & Oxygen Saturation: Useful baselines for identifying early signs of stress, illness, or overtraining. Useful baselines for identifying early signs of stress, illness, or overtraining. Body Composition Tracking: These insights go beyond basic tracking—they allow for targeted interventions and personalized optimization, whether your goal is to sharpen focus, reduce inflammation, improve recovery, or enhance physical stamina. With the right tools and strategy, you can manage your biology with the same precision you bring to your business or career, turning wearable tech into a personal performance dashboard. Source: The Gapin Institute 4. Address the Stress Stress is everywhere. From money stress to worrying about that gray hair or how fast you can recover from an injury, stress can be consistent and intense. Gapin recommends getting ahead of the stress, knowing the long-term harm it can cause. "We see issues with chronic systemic inflammation. Stress will drive up our stress hormone called cortisol, which will lead to systemic, chronic inflammation." Sustained inflammation, in turn, causes damage to the gut. This can spiral into food sensitivities, which can lead to further downstream consequences. The key to preventing these problems is to address the stress. Start with basic maintenance, prioritizing things like good sleep. Along with getting at least seven hours per night, make sure to optimize your sleep quality. A good routine can help you fall asleep — and stay that way. For Gapin, this looks like: Reading a paper book (no screens, not even a Kindle) Taking a sauna Meditating for five to ten minutes Journaling Having sex Tackle a healthy diet and consistent exercise with a similar degree of thoughtfulness. Make sure to consider exercise quality as well as quantity, too. From there, work on mental health, including mindfulness and social engagement. 5. Prevent and Minimize Cognitive Decline Many assume cognitive decline is inevitable with age, but prevention is key to long-term mental clarity and high-level thinking for driven professionals. Gapin argues it absolutely is not. Prevention is the catalyst for maintaining a strong mind for a long time. To sustain healthy cognition over the long term, Gapin recommends that individuals focus on: Reducing systemic, chronic inflammation Optimizing hormones Controlling blood sugar Reducing stress Improving sleep quality Fixing micronutrient levels Addressing overall nutrition Cultivating gut health Maintaining fitness levels He emphasizes the importance of each factor, noting, "All of these directly affect cognitive function and can help prevent cognitive decline." 6. Don't Fall for the Hype Holistic solutions and science-backed answers are key to long-term health, especially at older ages when your body won't recover as quickly from stressors and toxins. Anything that promises pristine health and longevity with a single pill is likely hogwash. While some supplements work well as anti-aging tools, especially for men, Gapin is quick to point out that each person is different. "I'm always careful here that it needs to be individualized based on what your needs are. This is where I really like to emphasize, you need to focus on an individualized, personalized approach, and first of all, the diagnosis will help you understand what you need." It's tempting to listen to an influencer's compelling pitch and buy into the hype. But the "latest and the greatest" concept doesn't hold up when it comes to supplementation. The same things that have perfected the human body and mind for millennia — sleep, exercise, healthy (mostly plant-based) foods — continue to be the foundations on which anti-aging and longevity are built. We may understand them better and use them more precisely, but they haven't changed. 7. Get the Fundamentals Right Before Chasing Biohacks Ever heard of red light therapy? How about cryotherapy? Hyperbarics? Plasmapheresis? Gapin sees the value in these experimental, avant-garde treatments, but he's careful to say so with a caveat: Start with the fundamentals. "They're great treatments," he said, "but I like to think of them as the icing on the cake. And the ingredients of your cake are nutrition, proper optimization of your gut health and hormones, sleep, minimizing the impact of stress in your body, clearing toxins, optimizing fitness, and micronutrient levels. All of these key fundamental foundational aspects of health are what really are going to be the biggest drivers." The fundamentals are necessary, and biohacks never take their place. This is the same principle that applies to a "miracle" supplement. Don't believe the hype. That doesn't mean you have to become the world's worst cynic. Just take each pitch with a grain of salt. Consider the science behind any claims, and engage in each activity or treatment with reasonable expectations. Above all, don't go for the fancy stuff until you've mastered the foundational elements. 8. Live With Intention and Know Your Why Living with energy, clarity, and purpose doesn't happen by accident—it requires intention. For high achievers, the goal isn't to slow down but to channel ambition into the next phase of personal and professional growth. Unlike the stereotypical retiree, a high achiever's end goal for post-work life cannot be "doing nothing." A game of golf a day, eating out, and traveling at will may sound good on the surface, but again, these are icing on the cake. You need something substantive beneath them if your retirement years are going to have value. You need purpose. When asked what one thing he wished every 50-year-old man would do as they approached retirement, Gapin said, "I think it's living with intention. Focus on what's important. Focus on their why and what they need to do to get there." The journey is critical — and not just in broad strokes. Be deliberate and detailed in your planning for your life in retirement. "When you can focus on how all of these little things add up and can directly affect your performance, your energy, your vitality, your longevity," he said, "then that's what's going to make you be more likely to stick to it and create some accountability to yourself." Maintaining Your A-Game Beyond 40 A sedentary lifestyle is no longer the aspiration. High-performing professionals want more than just to feel okay—they want to thrive. Whether you're scaling your business, starting a new chapter, or simply wanting to stay mentally and physically strong, health optimization is key. There are plenty of ways ambitious individuals can set themselves up for a successful third act. With longer life expectancies on the horizon and evolving views on retirement, it's time to reinvent the latter stages of life. Today's high achievers have an opportunity to design a fulfilling, vibrant life that keeps them alive and thriving for the long haul. Image Credits: All images provided by The Gapin Institute; Thanks! The post Longevity Strategies for High Performers After 40: Energy, Focus, and Purpose appeared first on Calendar.
Metro
4 days ago
- Health
- Metro
‘After nearly dying, I reversed my biological age by over 30 years'
Dr. Alka Patel is 53 – but going on 23. It may sound nonsensical but it really isn't, she insists. A Longevity and Lifestyle Medicine Doctor based in London, Alka tells Metro that despite being in her fifties, 23 is her biological age. 'It's pretty simple. When we talk about biological age, we're referring to the actual health of your cells and tissues — not just the number of candles on your birthday cake,' she explains. 'A younger biological age means your cells and tissues are functioning as though you're much younger: in your heart health, your brain sharpness, your skin glow. It's not just about feeling better; it's about becoming younger.' And becoming younger is a passion for Alka. A GP for over 20 years, and now a Media Medic and TEDx speaker, she is on a mission to help people live longer and stronger. But why is this so important to her? 'Because I nearly died — and I don't want anyone to go through what I went through,' she says. On her 39th birthday, Alka was hospitalised with burnout afte spending all her time taking care of her patients and her family, and neglecting herself. It was so severe, her organs started to shut down. 'I had a terrible fever and no one could work out why,' she remembers. 'I didn't know if I'd live to see my children the next day. That moment truly terrified me. I was cut open by surgeons in an attempt to find the source of the fever – but it was a mystery. In the end I was diagnosed as PUO – Pyrexia of Unknown Origin – and left with the surgical scars of my burnout as a harsh reminder to take care of myself. Being forced to confront her mortality was eye opening for Alka: 'I wasn't ready to leave my children without a mother. That experience didn't just change me; it redefined me.' She knew she had to rewrite her own health story — and in doing so, became determined to help others avoid the fate she nearly faced. So how did Alka drop her biological age? 'I redesigned how I lived: what I ate, how I moved, how I slept, and how I responded to the daily demands of life. Total lifestyle reset.' She also utilised her medical background: testing her biology – aka her hormones, nutrient levels, toxins, inflammation – and using wearable health trackers to see how her body was really responding. 'It wasn't guesswork, it was grounded in data,' Alka explains. 'I approached it with my 'Foundational, Functional, Focal' model. 'I got the foundations right — optimising lifestyle, nutrition, sleep and movement; then I moved to the functional layer, testing for hormonal balance and nutrient levels; and then I got focal: targeting specific goals based on the data, such as improving my cognitive clarity. I ended up unlockinglayers of health I didn't know were possible.' Alka describes her day-to-day routine before her health crisis as 'chaotic'. Juggling motherhood (Alka has three children), a demanding career, and 'a personality that said 'I can do it all'.' Life would be eating packets of biscuits between patients, optional sleep, and constant stress. 'I was living in reactive mode – always firefighting; never fireproofing,' she remembers. And now? 'Now I'm in charge. I start my mornings with what I call 1-10: The Sunshine Sync, which means one minute of stepping out into the morning light followed by 10 seconds of gratitude for the day. 'I also prioritise protein and fibre with my meals and structure my day with micro-movements, like doing calf raises as I'm brushing my teeth.' Alka also measures her metrics with wearable devices like a Continuous Glucose Monitor for blood sugar control and every decision is deliberate, she says, before adding another alliteration: 'Data, Devices, Decisions'. Some of those decisions have been a little out there, she admits. 'People raise their eyebrows when I tell them about the seven days of complete silence. But silence is the ultimate biohack. It recalibrates your brain; resets your emotional state; and boosts your cognitive clarity. 'I've also run two marathons, do regular sauna sessions for detoxification and cell health, and commit to five-day fasts.' Alka is quick to point out that while sometimes she does water only fasts ('while wearing my glucose monitor to stay safe and motivated'), other times she does eat – and that assuming you don't during a fast, isn't correct. 'It may sound contradictory but we can fast in a way that nourishes the body with a small amount of food while still providing the prolonged fasting benefits,' she explains. 'All of these thing challenge not just my body but my mind. It's all about discomfort as a path to discovery.' Alka admits that many of her colleagues are sceptical, but puts that down to the healthcare and medical education systems 'not being set up for health; they're set up for sickness.' In today's world, it's hard to escape our current obsession with living longer, especially when you think of Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur – known for his Project Blueprint – who takes 100 pills a day, had an infusion of his son's plasm and spends millions on diet, fitness, tracking and treatments to reduce his biological age. Alka tells Metro she is a fan of his work. 'Bryan is pushing the boundaries of what's possible — and that's a good thing,' she insists. When asked whether his method of using young blood plasma to rejuvenate ageing cells – parabiosis – is a step too far, Alka insist not. 'There's fascinating research behind parabiosis. (And cryotherapy – using extreme cold in surgery or treatments – for its stress benefits.) I'm a believer in doctor-guided biohacking because the body is complex, and taking control of your health with an expert by your side is how you ensure precision and safety. 1-10 The Sunshine Sync: Step outside for 1 minute of morning sunlight, the close your eyes for 10 sec and set your purpose for the day 2-20 The Power Pulse: walk for 2 minutes then sprint as fast as you can for 20 seconds 3-30 The Hydration Habit: Take 3 gulps of water every 30 minutes 4-40 The Compliment Catalyst: Give 4 compliments every day that take 40 seconds to deliver 5-50 The Flexibility Fix: Do 5 different stretches and hold each one for 50 seconds 6-60 The Breathflow Boost: Slow down your breathing to 6 breaths for a minute every 60 minutes 'I'm also mindful, though, that just because something is possible it doesn't mean it's practical or right for everyone,' she adds.' But why doesn't anyone want to get old any more? 'I don't think it's about not wanting to get old, it's about wanting to stay vibrant, independent, and strong for as long as possible,' says Alka. It's about living well; not just living long. Getting older is inevitable; how you age is a choice. I'm not afraid of time catching up with me; I'm just moving faster than it at the moment.' There's no doubt that hers is one tough regime. She admits that the food noise that comes with five days of fasting is incredibly difficult to deal with, while running a marathon made her legs numb with pain – 'but I'd tested my DNA and knew I carried genes for endurance,' she adds. More Trending She also believes that growth doesn't come from comfort. 'I'm not afraid of discomfort; I'm afraid of stagnation. I've never felt stronger, sharper, or more beautiful. 'I'm more focused, more driven, more present than I've ever been. My energy doesn't fade halfway through the day – it's constant; it's consistent. These days I'm running on premium fuel instead of fumes.' View More » Click here formore information on Dr. Alka's 10 Years Younger in 10 Weeks programme . MORE: The menopausal content creator with over 350,000 followers: 'Being online is unhinged' MORE: I said goodbye to my stillborn baby on Christmas day MORE: I have a rare disorder that makes me stink of rotting fish — it's ruined my life
