Xochi Balfour is a holistic wellness guide and trainee naturopathic nutritional therapist. Through her writing and work with groups and individuals, she explores all areas of vitality – combining diet, natural healing and various methods of self inquiry to guide her readers and clients in cultivating more balance and harmony within and without.  She recently published her first book, The Naturalist: nourishing recipes to live well, and is a contributing editor for Psychologies magazine. She holds regular retreats with her husband Ben and works with teachers near and far to deepen her understanding of what it means to be well in the 21st century. 

 Xochi pictured here with her husband Ben. She wears Stella Dress, he wears James Shirt. Xochi's jeans, Ben's jeans and shoes are their own. 
Photographed using Apple iPhone 6.

Who or what last made you laugh out loud
Xochi: My husband Ben who has the most playful and magical imagination I’ve ever encountered and has me in giggles most days.
Ben: Probably my wife. We work together and definitely spend too much time together and have a lot of fun in our little house.

Who or what inspires you
Xochi: People living in harmony with nature, following their hearts, being brave enough to break away from the trappings of modern life we often come to know so well. Strong women who quietly carry the world forward. All my teachers and the teachers who came before them. Nature.
Ben: I would say my myriad of friends, who provide so much inspiration, support and guidance as we navigate life in our thirties.

Your words to live by
Xochi: Listen to your body, trust it, respect its wisdom.
Ben: Be kind to yourself, and be kind to others.

What cause or causes do you feel passionate about
Xochi: Women’s wellness, the need for community and open communication in a safe space for the modern human being, helping myself and others achieve optimal balance and harmony within and without… nourishing the individual to better the collective way of living.
Ben: Helping people live in a way that is more connected to themselves and nature, more aware and inspired, and in greater harmony with the planet.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given
Xochi: What you resist persists…look at it and let it go!
Ben: Accept yourself.

Your London in an hour
Xochi: I’d probably head for Covent Garden and have lunch at Wild Food Cafe, a massage at Neal’s Yard, a quick vintage snoop… Or an hour long walk on the Heath.
Ben: I’d spend it all at Kew Gardens.

Your favourite London view
Xochi: The top of Hampstead Heath.
Ben: Sitting on the hill in Greenwich Park, where I grew up.

Are you working on anything at present
Xochi: I am running holistic retreats with my husband Ben, in London, Somerset and Andalucia - there is lots coming up and it’s an exciting time to create a group space and explore all areas of vitality with new friends. I am also about to finish my naturopathic nutrition diploma and feel really excited to start practising.
Ben: I am running groups and retreats with my wife, helping people to come together and dive deeper into their inner skies; we travel extensively to learn off different teachers and really enjoy incorporating many different techniques and traditions into our retreats. We are eternal students of life and just keep learning on this path.

Describe your style
Xochi: It’s always changing but essentially pretty laid back and usually not smart (enough). I have always liked more androgynous clothes but am recently embracing more feminine silhouettes. Anything soft, hand knit with a special texture, I adore - and I always like to gather little accent pieces from different cultures and traditions and mix them with a plain palette or the occasional pattern.
Ben: Pretty casual and understated, jeans and a t-shirt will always do. I do appreciate beautiful silhouettes and fine tailoring but in my current roles in life I am usually pretty paired back.

Whose style do you most admire, past or present
Xochi: This also changes every day! All the hot hippies who blazed the trail… My granny, who is always so chic without even trying. Florence Welch because she goes for it in every way and it always works.
Ben: My wife, she has really fun style and I love it that I can leave her to go shopping with me and she instinctively finds everything that I like.

Favourite piece from the ENLIST collection
Xochi: Oh my goodness, where to start! I loved everything but if I had to choose it would be between the Stella Dress and the Willow Coat.
Ben: Roll Neck Sweater in Rust- super cosy and I love the colour.

Xochi and Bens edit