Born and raised in Italy and a proud mom of two, Francesca is the Founder of Philosophia Botanica and Shen Mantra and divides her time between the U.K., South Africa and Italy, to facilitate Masterclasses rooted in Skin Wellness and Chinese medicine, wellness retreats and workshops.

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A Chinese medicine practitioner and a keen Yogi, she first became interested in healthy living and eastern methodologies 25 years ago while living in South East Asia. Seeing how the majority of the world used more traditional methods such as herbs, acupuncture, bodywork and eastern practices to heal the mind and body was an eye opener to her. Over the years she has immersed herself into the study of Chinese and Thai medicine, spending considerable time in Asia, training and specializing in a variety of eastern techniques such as five elements acupuncture, cosmetic acupuncture, thai yoga, jap-sen, herbal therapies, gua sha, tok sen, cupping and yoga to mention a few.

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An international wellness and spa consultant, educator, sustainability and wellness advocate, as well as podcast host with over two decades experience in the holistic health, spa and wellness industries, having worked for and with a wide variety of international five star Spas, resort Spas, yoga centres and wellness retreats. Her specializations includes facial acupuncture, traditional pulse reading, acu-beauty magnetism rooted in TCM, internal heat and Qi imbalances, and personalised wellness journeys.

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She is the creator of the PRO Gua Sha Facial and of the award winning Spa Ritual: Eastern Facelift Ritual, and successfully runs Shen Mantra training in the U.K. and South Africa and regularly facilitates wellness retreats around the world. Over the last few years, she has consulted, handled and engaged with hundreds of guests from far and wide, coaching them in the art of skin wellness, facial mapping and self-care gua sha and taught over two-thousand therapists  in the past two decades.

 

She has become one of the most requested spa wellness professionals to run in-house exsclusive masterclasses for guests and teams and she has crafted an esteemed reputation working with top hotels, spas and destination resorts who trust her experience and unmatched track record. 

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Francesca launched Philosophia Botanica in South Africa in 2013. While living in Cape Town during her first pregnancy she felt inspired by the Cape indigenous flora, the wilderness of the African plants and botanical oils, the magnificent nature surrounding the Atlantic Ocean, as well as her passion for eastern traditional technique and Chinese medicine, Francesca had a desire to create something in the holistic space that is truly unique.  

 

''As a wellness professional, I am aware that there are plenty of yoga retreats, luxury spas and high quality beauty and wellness brands, but no one brand that combines the best of these worlds in a complete holistic approach rooted in wellness, self-care and botanical treasures - from seed to skin products, to self-care Masterclasses, to adaptogenic inside-out beauty tonics, to unique Spa rituals, to wellness retreats.''

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She takes a holistic view of well-being, healing and life and believes that one cannot be separated from the other.  A daily Yoga practice, meditation, exercise and a healthy diet help me to centre, focus and connect to the moment.  

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Her book, 'The Face Mapping Art Of You'© will launch September 2023.

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