Aurora

What do you have for breakfast in the morning?

Breakfast is a sacred ritual for me. I like to wake up slowly so that I can enjoy it to the fullest. I always try to vary, but my favourite is still homemade bread with peanut butter, hemp seeds, cinnamon and banana slices accompanied by a hot matcha latte.

What is the first thing you do every morning to start your day the best way?

As soon as I wake up I drink a glass of lukewarm water and lemon, do journaling and start the day with a yoga, breathing or healing meditation practice in order to find the right energy and mindset to start the day.

What would you write on a billboard in the centre of your city?

We become what we take in. I think that the people we choose to surround ourselves with, the actions we take for ourselves, are a key part of our growth and evolution.

Do you have rituals that help you feel more confident with yourself?

First and foremost I practise and train myself to feel my body and feel strong in it. I also eat healthy and balanced food that can nourish my body properly.

What comes to your mind when you think of the word ‘success’?

I think of self-fulfilment, the path to the goal, the happiness of gaining satisfaction from so much effort.

If you were invited to speak at a conference and you didn't have to talk about your work, what would you talk about?

I would talk about health, how important it is to listen to oneself, to learn about oneself and from this to be able to work on one's body. I would talk about my journey and living with Crohn's disease and how important it is to continuously document and experiment in order to understand what is right for us.

Is there anything you believe in that other people find crazy?

I believe in the power of self-healing. I believe in the power of our mind over our body, how much our mindset can influence us. For many it is utopia, for me it is much more.

What human characteristic most appeals to you?

I admire tenacity, that strength that in important and difficult moments makes us keep going and find that extra reason not to give up.

Three people you would invite for dinner if you had the chance and why.

I would like to invite the following to dinner: Miuccia, charismatic and creative, strong and iconic; Tiziano Terzani, so I could listen live to his many adventures and learn to listen; and Moby, musical genius and great activist.

Do you tend to choose courage or comfort?

Who doesn't like comfort? It's nice to be able to sit back and wait for something to happen, for it to come like lightning. It is more difficult to get up and jump into the void and go for what we want, despite the difficulties, fatigue and obstacles that we encounter on the path of life and that make it unique for that very reason. I choose courage. Always. After all, what is it they say? 'EVERYTHING YOU WANT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF FEAR'.

If you could change your job for a day, what would you become?

I'd like to try being a haute couture designer, haute couture being my great passion for as long as I can remember.

Do you have any favourite podcasts? Which ones would you suggest?

I've only recently got into podcasts, so I don't have a favourite yet, but I'm really into documentaries so I'd recommend two crazy ones: 'Close encounters of the fifth kind' and 'Heal', they won't disappoint!

Describe your practice in three words.

Strong, encouraging, funny.

BIG SMALL TALKS

Your everyday uniform: Jeans, t-shirt or shirt and trainers or ankle boots.
Favourite flowers: Peonies and English roses.
Your comfort food: Pizza, spaghetti with tomato sauce and a piece of 90% dark chocolate.
Your favourite magazine: Vogue remains one of my favourites.
The book of your heart: Follow your Heart by Susanna Tamaro and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
Your favourite artist: Lucio Battisti
Your favourite city: Paris