We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristin Bibat. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristin below.

Kristin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?

The best boss I ever had was Carrie Brackin. She was the store manager at lululemon athletica, where I was part of the management team from 2009-2011. At that time, my main goal was to complete my yoga teacher certification. Carrie, who is a yoga teacher herself, supported me in my goal to pursue teacher training, and even connected me with her teacher who was hosting a training at the time. Carrie gave me space to grow in my role as assistant manager, and supported me as a newly certified yoga teacher: encouraging me to teach community yoga classes hosted by our store, and pursue mentorship with two other well-known yoga teachers in our community. It was empowering to work for a manager who not only supported my goals within the company, but also supported me in my dream of being a yoga teacher. Her support is something I will never forget. Being a yoga teacher has taken me on a healing journey, helped me feel so fulfilled in what I do, and opened me up to a life of endless possibility and entrepreneurship.

Carrie & I continue to work together, and our relationship has come full circle, as I teach Ayurveda and aromatherapy modules at teacher trainings hosted by her studio every year. In addition, I offer my aromatherapy expertise, creating her studio’s signature aromas, and providing custom products for her yoga retreats.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Kristin, and I’m a 2nd generation Filipina-American. I set foot in the wholistic wellness industry 16 years ago as a yoga student on a journey to find ways to cope with stress through movement. I showed up to my mat regularly because it made me feel better. I was less stressed out, felt less pain in my body, and my hyperthyroid symptoms were more manageable. I found myself on a path of reconnecting to myself, learning to love myself again through yoga & self-care. I’ve been a certified yoga teacher for over 10 years, leading classes that cultivate mindfulness, body awareness, connection to self & to community. In addition, I’m an Aromatherapy Specialist/Alchemist, Angelic Reiki Master Teacher, and Ayurvedic wellness guide.

As a working mom, I understand how chaotic life can get, and how a couple minutes to myself can positively impact my mental, physical & emotional wellbeing. I’m here to encourage mamas to take mini moments of self-care for themselves everyday to nurture self-love. I’m here to remind mamas that when we take time to care for ourselves, and do more of what replenishes & rejuvenates us, we are free to share our time & energy without feeling depleted.

I offer a wide range of wholistic wellness services to nurture one’s mind, body, soul, and emotions, cultivating a deeper connection to oneself through: virtual yoga classes, Reiki Energy Healing, AromaAlchemy sessions, and artisanal aromatherapeutic self-care products. Each offering encourages mamas to reconnect and be proactive in their health and well-being. Clients can choose the form of self-care they feel most called to, integrating yoga, Reiki healing and aromatherapy together, or experiencing each one separately.

Gardenia Apothecary products are rooted in Ayurvedic philosophy: the belief that the first step in promoting positive change in our lives is through mindful breathing. When we breathe deeply and mindfully, it shifts our awareness, calms our nervous system, and creates space to be proactive versus reactive. Gardenia Apothecary products promote lymphatic movement, which according to Ayurveda, is the key to our immune health. Since every person is unique, and is drawn to different aromas, Gardenia Apothecary offers a wide array of blends and product types.

Gardenia Apothecary is unique in that we offer AromaAlchemy Sessions, where custom blends are intuitively created for clients based on their specific needs. I’ve formulated blends for clients who needed support to relieve physical symptoms like: restless leg syndrome, headache/migraines, motion sickness and arthritis, as well as blends that help with emotional support such as grief, stress & anxiety. In the 9 years of formulating custom formulation, every single blend has been unique. I’ve never had 2 of the same blend, even when clients had similar concerns or physical symptoms. Gardenia Apothecary also offers an annual Feelin’ MySelf-Care Subscription Box that includes exclusive blends & products. Subscribers get to customize their boxes, receive special gifts & discounts for purchases in the online Apothecary Shop! Gardenia Apothecary also offers a best-selling product called Envelop Restorative Balm, a natural remedy formulated to relieve severely dry, irritated, and itchy skin caused by eczema. It’s a client favorite, as well as mine & my family’s.

I’ve formulated every Gardenia Apothecary blend and product through intuition and knowledge, drawing aromatic inspiration from: intentions, emotions, words, places, memories, experiences, and people. My philosophy of aromatherapy alchemy brings together the ancient healing practice of Ayurveda, and the science & therapeutics of aromatherapy. The healing magic in Gardenia Apothecary products elevates any self-care ritual, whether you spend 1 minute, 11 minutes or 1 hour in self-care.

I have worked with aestheticians, yoga studios and wellness coaches in formulating signature aromatic blends for their brand, studios & clients, and designed and crafted self-care kits for events & retreats. I love collaborating with other women-owned small businesses to offer self-care to their clients & members.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Aside from training and knowledge, what I believe has been most helpful in being successful at what I do is trusting my intuition. This is true in every aspect of my wholistic wellness offerings from teaching yoga, to Reiki Healing sessions, and Gardenia Apothecary products.

In my Gardenia Apothecary products, intuition is key. Taking into consideration plant chemistry, therapeutics & safety are incredibly important, but it’s my intuition that elevates my self-care products. A blend formulation session begins with quiet meditation, where I set an intention or goal. It’s difficult for me to formulate or create any blends if I’m not grounded, so I always take time to meditate before starting this type of healing work. After meditation, I’ll either have a clear idea of what essential oil(s) need to come together, or I bring together the oils that would “marry” well and see which ones resonate most. Every now and then, I’ll even use my pendulum to help me in intuitively bring the blend together. In my experience, I’ve learned that when I let my intuition take the lead, it rarely steers me in the wrong direction.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I believe that everything I’ve experienced in my life has led me to where I am right now, and to this specific industry. I try not to spend too much time and energy “wondering what my life would be like if…,” because it takes me away from being in the present. If I was given the chance to “do it again,” I believe I would be guided to the same profession. Perhaps the path would look different, but I’d still be in the wholistic wellness industry because I believe it’s what I’m meant to do. There’s nothing else I envision myself doing, and nothing that lights me up more than creating spaces for self-care and encouraging self-love.

The choices I’ve made and experiences I’ve been through have all shaped me into who I am today. Without these experiences, trials, tribulations, accomplishments, and celebrations, I wouldn’t have the same wisdom or insight. I know that as long as I continue to trust my intuition, live fiercely, and follow my heart, I’ll continue to evolve, grow and transform into an even better version of myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gardeniaapothecary.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardeniaapothecary/

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Michael Bibat, Derick Santos, and Kimberly Ocampo-Shah. All product photos courtesy of Kristin Bibat