In Bloom With Tara O'Rourke

Discover Tara's path from the corporate world to a truly authentic, holistic approach to whole person health and well-being that encompasses a kinder, more authentic way to connect with ourselves.

It was a lucky day back in 2018 when I first met Tara for one of her exquisite facial treatments. Tara has spent the last three decades devoted to her own personal development and to sharing her many gifts with women who seek to find a deeper sense of meaning and connection in their lives. An advanced neuroscience coach, whole-system therapist, yoga mentor and skincare expert, she is one of the most authentic women I have met along the way and at Nunaïa we love her approach to caring for skin through loving touch, plant botanicals and deep intention. 

I hope you enjoy our chat as much as I did.

Nicola x

I hugely admire your authentic and holistic approach to integrative health Tara. I love the story of how you transitioned from a busy corporate career into a mindful, holistic practitioner. Can you share how your wellness journey began and how you ended up in the beauty world? 

Thanks Nicola, and likewise the approach you take in your work and life is aspirational to me and many others I know.

As soon as I hit secondary school, I began to really question the status quo of a lot of things in society. That was the catalyst for big changes, I immersed myself in music, conscious living around sustainability and animal welfare. I was reading a lot on the cosmetic industry, animal testing, going to conscious living meetings, punk gigs, demos and really beginning to see what was important to me and forming my values in life and still to this day they are more or less the same. 

I studied hotel management and business when I left school and then moved into corporate work and at 19 years of age, I had my son. I love people, I love to study human behaviour, life patterns and why we choose in life what we do and the decisions we make, what forms them. I went on to study holistic beauty and skincare and later homeopathy and worked in The Dublin Holistic Centre offering treatments. After maybe five years I made the break and went out on my own, setting up Saol Beo which is Irish for ‘Live Life’ living a life that brings aliveness with awareness and intention and not at the cost of the earth.

There is more scientific research out now than ever that shows the negative impact stress has on our body and minds including our skin. How do you manage stress in your busy life?

I have a very active dog, a collie who I love, we run or walk daily, that is my ‘get out of the house’ first thing in the morning ritual. Scientifically proven, early morning light is crucial to get the body rhythm set for the day and is literally the switch on to get things moving; everything from the skin to our digestive system.

I meditate every day, simply I just sit. I have a favourite spot in the house where the light hits and I yearn for that time. If I miss it, I feel it, my body and mind is tense, my mood is not as good and if it is missed over longer periods I can be quite rigid, controlling and judgmental with myself and others. It is a way into real kindness and that deeper sense of self. We can over complicate a practice, however in my experience – just sitting, and a kind gesture of hands on heart can be enough, it is life changing. I believe when we meditate, it is the most unselfish thing we can do as we are better in ourselves and those we encounter, it gives us time in the pause, and we also make better decisions.

Could you describe your favourite self-care rituals that help you ground and balance? 

I absolutely love a bath! Throughout all the spaces I've lived in over the years, having a bath was a non-negotiable for me. I indulge in Epsom salts, add a sprig of lavender, and light my beloved Nunaïa Sacred Space candle. The warm glow of a candle truly creates a sanctuary for quiet moments and reflection. I have a simple yet powerful ritual where I express gratitude to a few remarkable women, both past and present, who inspire me daily. One of them is my maternal grandmother, whom I never met, but I know she embodied strength and kindness.

Each night, I dedicate time to cleanse my skin using the Nunaïa Superfood Cleansing Balm. I do a short facial massage that encourages lymphatic flow while practicing conscious breathing. This rhythmic routine is great in preparation for a restful night's sleep.

Once or twice a week, I enjoy listening to a Yoga Nidra session while lying on the floor under a blanket, after lighting Nunaïa Palo Santo incense. This practice connects me to the elements of earth, fire, and air.

How do you feel after you practice your favourite self-care rituals?

Ready, strong, trusting in guidance and connecting with more than this physical body and space.

What is the hardest part about prioritising your self care and how do you carve out the time to prioritise your own wellbeing? 

The simple answer is, I write it down in a diary / digital calendar. I diary everything - gym time, coaching client sessions, a car service and my rituals are as important. I pause as much as I can even if for five minutes and see how I can gift myself some time back if life becomes overly busy.

My three life priorities are clear to me: Family/Friends, Wellbeing and Work. When I’m with family I don’t feel the need to give myself a hard time thinking I could be working more and vice versa, so it is carving out the time and doing the work on all three.

In life there will be emergencies and where I need to be more present for family and friends for example, but I will then go back to my trio and carve the time for them with equal weightings. This works for me, I used to be the type of person who was always onto the next thing and never present, clearly knowing my priorities and bringing them from subconscious to conscious mind, enables me to make time and put the effort into all.

We know you are a big fan of Nunaïa – is skincare a part of your own daily self-care ritual and what are the beauty rituals you swear by?

Yes, absolutely as I see and feel the benefits, not only on a superficial level but on a deep caring level. Self-care is not selfish, it is essential. I love how Nunaïa feels on my skin and as mentioned I use the balm for a facial massage before I add water and cleanse away the day!

I then apply the Nunaïa Nourishing Radiance Serum when in bed, I take a few drops into my hands, breathe in and out three to five times and then apply to my face, neck and décolleté. it is like the most precious ingredients are unfolding and you can feel its intention and pureness as it has a huge affinity with my skin. It is a beautiful dance of giving and receiving with this ritual. Come morning I gently cleanse my skin and apply serum prior to make-up, I also love my lipsticks daily, I believe adding a splash of colour once the skin feels good, really highlights natural skin beauty.

Does your skincare ritual influence your overall wellbeing?

Oh yes, for sure. It is mindfulness and connection. Like two wings of a bird, one is the noticing and feeling, listening as I apply and taking the pause, the other wing is breathing and meeting myself with kind words and honouring those in life (not only humans!) with respect and gratitude who look after us, I never take them for granted.

Your Nunaïa desert island product and how you use it?

Oh, it has to be the Nunaïa Superfood Cleansing Balm. I gently massage it into my skin when makeup is still on, rhythmical like movements on the skin working from the centre out, in the natural direction of lymph flow and then I add warm water feeling the palms of my hands on my face. Clean off with a warm Nunaïa cloth and then complete with a splash of cold water.

Twice per week I use my quartz rollers, I picked them up in Paris last year and love them. I put them in ice cube water and they are beautifully cold and great for a little skin care gymnastics!

I am passionate about creating skincare using whole plants that build a connection with the skin and soul that you can’t get from synthetic ingredients and that allow us to re-connect to nature. I know you have a similar philosophy to beauty and ageing. Can you tell us a little more about this?

 
With my years of training in holistic practices in Ireland and with biodynamic experts in Germany, I have learned that there is a significant distinction between synthetic and natural ingredients, such as plants and botanicals. Natural ingredients, particularly those derived from whole plants, resonate with the skin, fostering a familiar relationship. Our skin contains receptors that respond to signals from these plants. Each plant possesses a unique signature, reflecting its behaviour in nature, the timing of its blooming and fruiting, and its resilience or delicacy in its environment. These characteristics guide the selection of plants for natural skincare.

However, it begins with the soil, which is the foundation of life. The soil must be rich in nutrients and minerals to support the initial growth of plants, ultimately influencing their vitality and, in turn, their interaction with your skin when used in skincare products. In contrast, synthetic ingredients lack a life-force. Sustainability and intention in the manufacturing process are also crucial; maintaining the quality of the plant's essence during processing is vital. For instance, Nunaïa avoids heavy solvents in extraction methods, as these can compromise the essence and efficacy of the plant in skincare.

Skincare is essential, especially in our increasingly polluted world filled with dirt particles and pathogens. My advice has always been to choose your skincare wisely; doing so will positively impact how your skin looks and feels while also supporting companies that prioritise the health of our planet. 

For me true beauty is that deep connection to and self-acceptance of ourselves, nature and the world around us that you have always embodied for me Tara. Can you share your top tip on embracing our authentic beauty and allowing it to shine through in a world where the beauty industry creates so much fear and insecurity?

When I leave a yoga class or enjoy a conversation at lunch with a close friend, I can see and feel a healthy glow in my skin. While skincare products play a crucial role in preventing premature aging, the anti-aging industry has a different focus. What truly stands out about beauty in us and others? Is it a wrinkle-free appearance or a genuine essence—a real beauty, tenderness, strength, vitality, and how we feel and others make us feel?

For me, if I feel sluggish, tired, or unfulfilled, no amount of ‘fixing’ my lines and wrinkles can improve my sense of well-being. Taking care of our skin is undeniably important, as we should honour this living, breathing organ. However, striving for perfection in ourselves is unrealistic and can lead to deep suffering. My guiding principle is to embrace life, spread love and kindness, support one another, and engage in daily self-care. True authentic beauty encompasses a holistic approach: eating well, maintaining skin health, having fun, and connecting with the vibrant life within and around us.

As you know I am a believer in the magic we carry in our hands to heal through touch and how we can use this daily in our own skincare ritual to ground and calm.  You are also a big believer in the power of movement and touch to help restore balance. Can you share how you bring this into your work?

Our hands with the sense of touch are connected to our heart. All we need is an open gesture of hands to feel safe, secure and welcome in life. I often visualise this and practice daily that sense of hands on heart and hands as an offering to this life. The art of touch is what I had been trained in as a skincare therapist, for me the privilege to touch a client’s skin is like fine tuning a beautiful instrument - delicate, rhythmical, respectfully with connection. I am now a Grandmother and to touch my Granddaughter’s face is a sacred connection to the spirit and the heart.

What would be your advice to others that are curious about self-care rituals but don’t practice a regular ritual?

Begin with simple cleansing in the evenings, gift time to yourself and honour who you are at the end of each day with hands on heart, hands on skin, connect and breathe. You will begin to yearn for quieter, space and the pause. This is not fluffy or simply a nice to do, it is kindness in motion and when we begin there, everything shifts.

What projects are you working on at the moment and where can we learn more?  

Thanks for asking Nicola - I am really diving into coaching for women who are either working for themselves or thinking of making that consequential move in career or life or both. I didn’t go looking for these clients, they are naturally coming to me. I am a qualified advanced coach with neuroscience. Simply put, we can go so far with conversation and problem solving but there is much more depth to us, the energy body, emotions, and how we can make space to tap into this without going backwards but positively moving forward and growing. We begin to see where we are stuck and hold that space as it is real for now with kindness and compassion. 

I love patterns in nature, plants and how you can see the design on a leaf. We too are full of patterns; ones that stand to us and ones that can impede our growth. When we really find our patterns and consistently work with them, life is more satisfying. I work with women in coaching where they are the key to unlock this door into their own wisdom, intelligence and a sense of wholeness. When we realise, life is an open door and with many changes, challenges and opportunities we can see how we respond, our patterns of behaviour and how we are with ourselves and not only others but all living things. I support women with a framework very much like the Nunaïa ethos; grounding and connecting, we move from that sense of ‘I’ to a collective ‘we’, I am privileged to see transformation unfolding as my clients make a commitment and do the work for themselves and for life. 

I offer one to one coaching for women in business and in life and I design retreats for women who feel they need a kick start in finding  new ways into a new phase in their life.

WELLNESS WISDOM

Your favourite place to find a moment of calm and tranquility?

Inistioge, we have a cottage here on the River Nore and it is a haven of birdsong, mystery and magic.

Your favourite book, podcast, or music playlist that helps you unwind?

My all time favourite book to this day is ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’, I fell in love with Edmond Dantès! I love how it is written and how the story unfolds, it is a journey of utter love, betrayal and tragedy, beautiful prose.

Podcasts; I listen to Tara Brach, US based Buddhist teacher, Jack Kornfield and I also love ‘The Rest is History’ podcast, i by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

Top tip to restore instant balance

Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4, breathe out for 4 and no breath for 4. Continue for 4 rounds. The sacred pause is felt, I would highly recommend this practice before going onto the next task, meeting or before getting out of the car, before you open a door. The more you pause, the body relaxes, and you are present in life, new patterns are formed. Too often in life, we are in a moment and thinking about ‘what’s next’, it can be hard to keep going like this, we are constantly reaching for distractions, this practice encourages you to direct your energy more mindfully.

Top tip for building self-care into your day?

Random acts of compassion – reading a wisdom text for a few minutes, sitting in the window having a cup of tea and smiling to the life that is here now. 
Allow at least twenty minutes before bed to cleanse my skin, that sense of hands to face, gently shedding energetically and making some space with breath is so calming and for me spiritual. I thank myself for putting in a shift in the day and I take time to remember. 

Learn more about Tara's offerings at Saol Beo and on Instagram @tarasaolbeo.

Shop Tara's favourite ritual skincare here