Laila and her sister run Bikram Yoga Middle East in Tecom.
http://www.bikramyoga-me.com/
“When I moved to Dubai five years ago from the States, I wanted to do something that was not related to my finance background. I wanted to do focus in the health field and enjoy myself as well. At that time there was only one Bikram Yoga studio, which I thought was not as friendly.
So we wanted a wellness centre, which was friendlier and laid back. Coming from LA I caught the acting bug and when I moved to Dubai, I looked for film festivals or film groups. I was lucky to find a community here that is active in writing and who also submit their movies to film festivals such as Cannes and Sundance.
I also started presenting with a film director, interviewing interesting people (similar to what you're doing she says with a laugh). This exposure began bringing me new offers.
My day is spontaneous and not planned. I am pregnant right now so not teaching class but I like to teach at least one class a day because I like to connect with my clients, it is important for them to see me there. Plus i also work with my team and participate in the 48 hour film festival in Dubai or other film festivals.”
What brought you to Dubai?
“I was born here and then moved to the States when I was 17. I was away for 15 years and came back because I needed a change from LA and the Dubai I came back to was so different to the one I left. I came back to new opportunities and childhood friends because there are no friends like the ones you grew up with. For me Dubai was always my home, so I feel at ease here and have not had the desire to go back to the States even after 5 years.”
During the course of our conversation her husband walks in and I ask Laila to tell me about him and how they met.
“He is a performance coach for the UAE rugby team and also a famous dietician in Dubai who runs Bespoke Wellness. We were working together and through work started liking each other.”
What does Dubai mean for you?
“I have a lot of respect for Dubai, I don’t think any city in the world has progressed in such a short span of time as Dubai has. Being back, I have accomplished so much in 5 years than I had in the 15 years in the States. I think the land of opportunity is here now, it used to be the USA but it is the UAE now. There are a lot of distractions here but if you stay focused on your goals and passions, I think anyone who comes here can make it big, even someone from a third world country who comes here as a waiter can end up owning a hotel and I know such a person I think anything is possible in Dubai.”
I have something for you and not a lot of people know this. Three years ago I fell of a horse and broke my spine, it was a turning point in my life. I was pronounced paralyzed at the hospital. You know it is when you are at the lowest point in your life that you truly really appreciate the simple things in life, which is your health. I could not sit, walk or do anything. We had just started the studio and all my intentions of teaching as a yoga instructor seemed hopeless. Slowly, slowly I got myself in the studio, but the doctors said to forget it.
But I never gave up, I had lots of hope and faith that it is was just a time that will pass.
There is always a fall to get to the top. I stayed positive and within six months I was up and running. I have two rods and six screws in my spine. Your mind can achieve so much, I refused to be defeated, that is my story.
Where do you like to spend your time?
I love to visit new and upcoming trendy, funky, urban and organic restaurants. I recently went to One Café, Omnia Gourmet. I like Comptoir 102, Bistro in Galleries Lafayette and Tom & Serg. I love food and if it is healthy it is even better.
Enforce stricter laws for reckless driving.
Managing Partner of Bespoke Wellness
Tell us about what you do?
“When I first came here I was working in a clinic but I saw a gap for sports dieticians. People here go see a nutritionist in Jumeriah, then a sports psychologist in Healthcare City, then a chiropractor on Al Wasl Road and none of these people communicate between them. What I wanted to do was to put together the best western educated staff and integrate them. In our clinics we have all these under one roof and all these people communicate to get the best out of somebody. Bespoke wellness is located on Emirates Golf Course and the Creek Golf and Yacht Club, it is in a less clinical setting and is a nice experience. People come to palm trees and grass, which is more relaxing compared to going to a hospital, where most people get nervous.
I also work with an Italian company called EP world, who are one of the biggest, if not the biggest food production company in Italy. I am helping them set up with nutritional plans as they are trying to penetrate the healthy food market for schools and corporates.
We’ve developed a meal delivery service and when clients to come to me and say I want to run a marathon, I want to put on 5kg muscle, I want to lose weight, I want to reverse my diabetes, we can actually deliver food to you that caters to your requirement. That is what I do with EP World, who supplies all the food.
Another project I am working on is, I’ve taken over nutrition for Fitness First in the Middle East. I conceptualize the whole project, we are implementing dieticians and nutritionists at Fitness First.
I have been involved in the sports industry as a dietician. I am one of the few people in Dubai who has worked as a dietician in the food industry as well as on the clinical side.”
What brought you to Dubai?
“I dunno (he says in his Scottish accent), the Middle East has a strange magnetism on me. When I was 21, I went and lived in NYC for a year; I enjoyed it but was unsettled. I have lived all over, Cyprus, Italy, England, my native Scotland but there is something enticing about this place.
I had two friends who lived here and told me how good it was. Healthcare in the UK is not exactly well paid and when I left University I worked with Kellogg’s for a bit. That showed me how nutrition could be used in the corporate environment and I wanted to see how I could use nutrition and apply business principles to it, which was not feasible in the UK, especially given high rates of tax.
So I came here and got a job at a clinic. When I first came here, you would only get paid for every client you see. I was earning 2500 aed per month so I had to get other jobs to subsidize things until I developed my client base.”
“It is interesting because Laila came to interview me. She was fascinating; I was bowled over by her smile and her character.”
DXBMeetsWorld – Did you ask her out right away?
Andy - “No, I played it cool. I looked for reasons to go see her and over the next three months. Took a bit of digging about to find out she was single. I met her and instantly I knew I was going to marry her for some reason. (Laila is sat sipping her coffee nonchalantly and smiling).
I just knew it man. I went to the yoga studio, tried to do different ventures with her and it just came to happen. “
Laila – We talked about a dairy business but did nothing about it.
Andy – “We are helping each other in business now but I think Laila wanted my database. I managed to marry her with the lure of my database.”
How has Dubai helped you?
“As much as it has given me, it has taken away from me. It has given me a lot in terms of business.
I now meet clients one day a week because it is emotionally draining. I used to see them five days a week, 10 people a day. When people come to see you nutrition, there is more going on to it, Dubai is competitive and most people here suffer from work and financial stress.
I am an empathy, so I feel people’s pain, emotions and issues but after six years of helping others I began to neglect my health. Even me as a role model I got sucked into going after the money.
This year marrying Laila I am trying to rebalance myself. I now don’t work six days a week, I work five.”
