Dimple Duangthip Arora, Leading Ayurveda Practices in Bangkok January 29, 2010
Posted by ppantoomano in : Ayurveda, Bangkok, Entrepreneur, Interview , 2comments
Tell us your background. 
I have a business degree and am an Accredited Gemologist, Diet and Nutrition Adviser and Ayurvedic Consultant. I learned Ayurveda as a hobby 10 years ago and consult at Suchada Marwah Healing Centre in Bangkok. I have spoken at various forums and contributed to leading publications on holistic healthcare. My first book was released in May 2009 – “A New Age Manual for the New Mother, Postnatal and Beyond”, which is now being translated into Thai, to be published and distributed by a leading publisher in the kingdom. The book has been very positively received by readers and the media. I have almost sold out my first print in English!
How did you become a full time Ayurvedic consultant?
I was a part-time consultant before as I held a corporate job at Swarovski. After 2 children, motherhood urged me to be a full-time mother and that is when my writer and consultant avatar fully manifested.
What people can do to apply Ayurveda in daily life?
First of all, understand that your body has a rhythm and it communicates with you. Learn to listen. The best way to start the day is with warm water and a warm breakfast. Warm water helps to flush out toxins in the digestive tract which may have accumulated post-dinner. It also helps to gently wake up the system, like warming the machinery for better output during the day! If you are beginning to get a headache because it is lunch time and you have not eaten, then leave what you are doing and feed the body. Between 12-2pm is the time that our bio-energy governing digestion is active at peak level. Lunch should be filling and substantial for most of us, while dinner should be light and consumed at least 2 hours before bedtime (if not 3). The best way to detox the body from time to time is to indulge in a fruits and herbal drink fast once a week. Herbal drinks could be made in your kitchen using everyday herbs like ginger, lemongrass, black pepper and mint leaves. Honey could be used to sweeten the drink. If a headache manifests, the most practical first-aid Ayurvedic way would be to treat it with warm water. Drink warm water. Induce yawns. Lie down and rest. This is what your body is telling you to do. Remember to be mindful, to listen and respond with compassion. 
Networking Tips for BNOW members?
To sum it up- follow the Love, Light and Life principle 1. Know yourself and your purpose, and choose the group accordingly. (use intelligence – Light) 2. Always follow-up a lead with sincerity and be selfless in giving leads. Reach out (Love/Compassion) 3. Be enthusiastic, but don’t spread yourself too thin by joining way too many groups – it can deplete your energy. Keep up the life force within by being in touch with and being kind to yourself (Life).
What are some of your hobbies?
I love writing, poetry, travelling to exotic places, meeting interesting people, organic gardening, experimenting with natural products and methods, dancing (have resumed my classes in the classical Indian Bharatnatyam), music (I play the piano).
For more info about Ayurveda, visit
Bangkok’s Pilates Guru, Or-Yah Avni January 23, 2010
Posted by ppantoomano in : Bangkok, Business, Entrepreneur, Interview, Pilates , add a comment
Share with us your background.
I used to be a dancer and left Israel for NY to pursue this dream. I danced at the Professional Trainee Program Martha Graham School in NYC and performed in different dance projects as well as with my own choreography. In 1998 I was introduced to Pilates when I injured my knee and had to stop dancing for a while. I was told Pilates would do wonders. After only few sessions I felt a significant improvement, I was able to walk again with no pain and got back to stage. I decided to become a teacher of this wonderful method so I can share it with others. I am also a yoga and Gyrotonic teacher. I was teaching in the USA and Israel before arriving to Thailand.
When and why did you decide to start The Pilates Studio?
When I arrived to Thailand in 2002, I taught private classes in people’s houses and gradually had my hands full. In 2005 I opened the first Pilates studio in Thailand, in order to introduce the great benefits of this method to the Thai people and so everyone can come to me instead of me running around town. I am proud to own the first Pilates studio in Thailand.
We offer Pilates classes on the mat and using the special Pilates equipment as well as other classes for women while in different stages in life – prenatal, mommy and me, menopause etc. We also offer yoga, Gyrotonic and certification courses in Pilates and Prenatal. We maintain high level of teaching and customer care and introduce exciting workshops and promotions every month.
Could you give some advice on how to start your own business in Bangkok?
It took me nearly a year since the idea came up before the studio opened. I had a lot of support from my husband and we did it together. My husband worked on the graphics and designing and this was a big help. We took our savings into this business and went step by step all the way to have the business up and running.
If you want to open your own business, most important, make sure you have support from people around you who are loyal – husband, partner, and friends; people who will be there to support you along the way. Believe in yourself. Don’t be afraid to follow your dream and vision. Be patient. Maintain the highest standards, and remind yourself how lucky you are to turn your passion into business.
What are some of your hobbies?
Reading and traveling.
Any other tips?
Maintain excellent customer care and highest level of professionalism, as happy and satisfied clients will spread their satisfaction!
The Wandering Jewelry Maker January 17, 2010
Posted by ppantoomano in : Bangkok, Business, Entrepreneur, Interview , add a comment
Name: My name is Marion Carsten. ‘Marion Carsten’ is also the brand name for my jewelry line, which is a registered trademark.
Business: I am a jewelry designer – creation, retail and wholesale. Our slogan is: Fine, contemporary jewelry for women and men.
The main part of my business is designer jewelry (exclusively own creations) made of sterling silver, gems and pearls. In my own Shanghainese stores I also carry a small gold collection. Being a trained goldsmith (3 yrs of technical college and work experience), I also do custom designs for individual and corporate customers (e.g. the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Resort in Sanya, China).
Next to two own retail outlets, where I sell my complete collection, parts of it are meanwhile sold in several stores throughout China, in Bangkok, in the US and very soon in France.
Many of our customers are ‘wanderers’ like me: expatriates, globetrotters, business travelers or foreign correspondents. Over the years many emails reached us with the question “can I order?” For this reason we recently launched our ‘online-boutique’ – www.marioncarsten.com.
How long have you been in business?
As employee 4 years: I was working in a goldsmith atelier as craftsman in Germany. This atelier was specialized in custom-made fine gold jewelry and was working for rich individuals and brand names like Cartier and Bulgari.
I started my own business in China in 2003 with a small retail outlet in Shanghai – this makes it nearly 7 years as entrepreneur in this business.
Where are you from originally?
I am German, married to a French, and I have two lovely daughters.
How did you start your business?
When we moved to China in 2001 I bought the necessary tools and machineries to equip a small jewelry-making atelier at my new home. I tried to continue to do what I had been doing back in Germany: fine, handmade, high-end jewelry – the whole with rather medium success for various reasons – mainly because I lacked a ‘name’ and the necessary network. But also because of the cultural lack I had to face. There was a market for designer jewelry that was clear, so I decided to give it a next try and created a more affordable collection of designer pieces made of sterling silver. As I felt meanwhile more comfortable with my environment I found a good Chinese manufacturer to produce the jewelry up to my quality standards, and I partnered up with a Shanghainese lady to establish the retail business. The start was however rather humble in a 15 square meter warehouse on a parking lot in a commercial street. But I was lucky and eventually it worked out pretty well. Today ‘marion carsten’ jewelry is pretty well established ‘name’ in Shanghai and there are some resources to further step out.
What are the top 3 advices you would give to entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurship requires in general, next to THE IDEA, a big deal of
- Endurance (good resistance to frustration) and flexibility: keep going and keep your fighting spirit even if things don’t work, as they should (and this happens very often). Some of your ‘great ideas’ will prove to be rather useless or not doable for various reasons. So stay flexible: keep your ability to change plans according to circumstances, to grab opportunities and to learn.
- Optimism and a sense of risk: be aware that you can loose all the money you put into this venture. If you want to keep a peaceful mind grant yourself a budget, which doesn’t ‘hurt’ too much if it is gone. But also keep on thinking that it will be fine and any person working with you on this has basically the interest same interest as you: things will work out. Continue to have fun with what you do.
You will need these ‘qualities’ anywhere you want to set up a business. You might just need a little bit more of it if you do business in a foreign country as you depend somehow more on your own talents and as you act in an environment which you don’t ‘master’.
Something that worked for me pretty well but I am sure you can’t ‘generalise’ it: Don’t think too far ahead. In my case as an expat trailing spouse this would have been: “I will stay only 2 or 3 years – this is not enough to create a sustainable business, what will happen if I move?” With these kinds of thoughts you will never start. It is for sure perfect if you can ‘pack your business in a suitcase’ and if you are a good planer. But you can not plan everything and especially the beginning of a business seems daunting – so many things to be done at the same time, so many possibilities/ways of how to approach it, lack of information, just to name a few. You will have the impression to handle hundreds of ‘loose ends’ – just start somewhere or with one thing – anything else will follow.