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Writer's pictureLisa Pike

Coffee with Lillian

Updated: Apr 1, 2021

On Mondays we like to share a short format interview with one of our wider Gather community members. Just a handful of questions with a generous helping of everyday inspiration to tuck into over your morning cuppa. This week, meet Lillian.


This week, we've picked an optional background vibe for you, Awake by musician, Bee Bakare:



Lillian Lartey

"A message I clearly received from this episode was to REST! But how can you rest when you’ve always lived life in the fast lane?


It took time to reset my mindset, practice resting and slowing down my pace of life to match the pace my body needed in order to heal, and recover."


What part(s) of the world do you call home?

Barbados! For its hospitality, warm people, the food, sun and sandy beaches. I’ve been to Barbados three times and have always felt that inner connection each time. I look forward to going out there again soon.

What is your industry, hustle, current project or passion?

My industry is health and well-being. I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years! I first started out as an Exercise Teacher, then a Fitness Instructor/Personal Trainer and a Remedial Massage Therapist.

I now mainly focus on the area of Holistic Well-being, Lifestyle, Stress Management and Personal Development Coaching – helping ambitious business owners, self-employed and corporate professionals who have a high sensitive trait, and feel tired, stressed, overwhelmed or burnt out, achieve their aspirations, goals or passion projects feeling calm, balanced, energised and resilient. What’s an important moment that signified a first step towards where you are today? There have been two significant moments in my life that signified my steps towards the work I do today. Approximately, 11 years ago, I had enjoyed enormous success in my business. I was running three busy massage clinics in London, teaching a number of exercise classes and I had my Personal Training clients I was training. I enjoyed what I was doing and though I was working 12+ hour days, there were moments where I felt like I was on the proverbial hamster wheel. Constantly doing one thing after the other, always on the go, I never had time to rest.

Eventually, all the hard working caught up with me and I burnt out from stress – a thing I never ever thought would happen to me because I thought I was fit, healthy and strong. Quite the contrary. I had been wearing myself out and ignored the warning signs my mind, and body had been signalling to me. I gave up my classes, clients and two of my massage clinics, and made time to heal myself. However, I still had it in me to keep working and living life at a fast pace. Being someone with a high sensitive trait was oblivious to the impact stress was having on my body and in 2018 I ended up in hospital with a health crisis. I experienced rapid heart beat, severe hypertension, anaemia and a number of other ill-factors that Doctors were baffled by, but I knew it was down to stress. A message I clearly received from this episode was to REST! But how can you rest when you’ve always lived life in the fast lane? It took time to reset my mindset, practice resting and slowing down my pace of life to match the pace my body needed in order to heal, and recover.

It’s been through these learnings that I readily share with my audience and clients on how to live life that’s authentic to them, and without sacrificing their health and well-being. What is a moment you are proud of? Gosh! So many. Having the courage to leave an ex-boyfriend and sell the property we had bought together, and start over. Healing myself from years of depression. Along with my Mum and siblings, giving my Dad a befitting funeral. It was hard work (having never arranged anything like that before) and highly emotional – I know he was proud of us. Leaving my well paid corporate job back in 2003 to work in the health, fitness and wellness industry full-time - it needed to happen as the job was affecting my well-being. I’m glad that despite the concerns from colleagues and family, I had the courage to step out.

Speaking on some epic platforms and sharing my work, through to being interviewed by some high profile experts in the health, wellness space.

What advice would you give your younger self today? Go for what it is you really want. Align to your true calling. Don’t compromise. Don’t compare. Be true to who you really are. Trust the process. Enjoy the journey. Believe in you.

In one word, what is the most important thing to you in life?

Spirituality. My relationship and my spiritual faith in God is what has seen me through some of the tough seasons in my life.


Where can we find you?

People can find out more about me here: linktree - Lillian Lartey.

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