Tara Benmeleh, one of five women profiled in the latest issue of Bal Harbour Magazine for their contribution to shaping the Miami landscape. Portrait by Theodora Richter.
By Tali Minor
Tara Benmeleh is many things. She’s a Miami native, a mother, a lightworker, tea server and founder of espiritútara, a conscious lifestyle brand focusing on unisex healing amulets and teaware. She’s also a practitioner of being truly present—which we can all use a little help with. Here, she takes us through some of her daily rituals, favorite acts of self-care and what her secret wellness weapons are.
Work From Home (WFH) look: I have been doing Zoom activations for both tea and collage ceremonies. For tea, I always wear white, but recently I did a collage series for seven days, going through the chakras, so I wore the color of the chakra we were working on each day for that activation. I only wear natural fibers and I am constantly looking for more sustainable brands that are understanding of the energy of the clothing, environment and industry — hello, Stella McCartney!
Benmeleh serving tea as part of the 11-day virtual tea journey she hosted last year. Portrait by Emma del Rey.
Beauty binge: I only use clean beauty products and my favorites are Josh Rosebrook, Marie Veronique, La Tierra Sagrada for hair products and Tata Harper. But, once or twice a year when Johnny Ramirez comes to town, I break my rules and let him “sun kiss” my hair.
BHS boutique you’re most likely to indulge at: I just scored these light denim “birkenstocks” from Chanel that I’m crushing on hard and wearing everywhere! I am a big Gucci fan now that Alessandro Michele is designing in his spirit animal, shamanic energy. I’m also loving all the new looks at Bottega Veneta, now that Daniel Lee has taken the helm.
Top of your travel wish list: Japan. Recently, my husband Jack and I did a mini escape to Coqui Coqui in Coba, Mexico and I cannot wait to get back there.
A cause you’ve connected with since COVID: I have been supporting more person-to-person activations. I love how contemporary artist and lightworker Guadalupe Marvarilla has supported the immigrant community in New York City both financially and by providing food. ALL DAY in Downtown Miami, which has taken really good care of the local industry workers, and Adopt a Family, which fills fridges for those in need in Miami, have received my energy.
Benmeleh at home in front of a painting by Tomm El Saieh. Photo by Bernardo Gasparini.
Style mantra: I am all about what I call “sleep to street”—or sleep to living room these days.
Most proud of: My ability to transform and adapt to every life shift. I was really proud of how I didn’t let the quarantine take me down and was able to hold space for others from the beginning through virtual activations. I was not that connected to using technology for energy work before, but it has proven to be so powerful. Now, I have an additional tool to be able to help people connect to the source, no matter where they are.
Greatest indulgence: Tea ceremony, which I do each morning and for private clients. I am currently really into Puerh Tea (which is aged and fermented.) Lately, I have been drinking teas that have been aged 30 or 40 years that are really fabulous. I have gotten into collecting teaware and recently collaborated with a local female potter to begin making tea bowls. We are working on some other magic tools coming soon.
Unwind ritual: We just had a sauna built in our garden. My husband Jack and I enjoy going in together, incorporating color therapy, essential oils and music. Usually, when I hit the sheets I am out pretty quick but when I need to unwind a little before bed I do left-nostril breathing and if that doesn’t work, I love Diddy’s sleep meditation on Audible.
The tea bowl pictured here is the first piece produced in Benmeleh’s collaboration with Kuu pottery, available at espiritutara.com.
Start your day with: Around 5:30 or 6, I do a copper tongue scrape, followed with a glass of water with vitamins, journaling and then a tea ceremony on the earth at sunrise. My five-year-old son Max Aero is a late sleeper, so I love having what feels like a full day for myself by the time he wakes up.
Wellness routine: My wellness mantra lately is radical self-care. I eat vegan, gluten free, refined-sugar free and, as my body requests, will have sushi from time to time. I drink tea and herbal infusions daily and take tons of (vegan) vitamins. I do the five Tibetan rites every day, Zoom Pilates with Karen Schachter twice a week and I host a weekly Kundalini group (formerly in my garden but currently on Zoom). I walk as often as possible and love rollerblading. I oil my skin, massage and use guasha for wrinkle reduction and lymphatic drainage and I regularly receive acupuncture and massage.
Click Here to view the full feature in Bal Harbour Magazine.
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