- Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
My name is Gaelle Bergeal. I am a wellness coach, primarily working with professionals who need to rebalance their stress levels and improve their quality of life through a holistic approach. I came to this profession over twenty years ago when I realized that my calling was to help others. This is quite different from my initial training in real estate development in Paris, after studies at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (ICH) and then a postgraduate degree in Construction and Real Estate Economics.
I left Paris and my professional career at 26 to pursue my passion, settle on the French Riviera near my grandparents, and start a new life. I resumed my studies and graduated with a State Diploma in Fitness Professions from the CREPS in Antibes in 1998.
Passionate about sports, classical dance, swimming, and running, I was also drawn to hiking in the mountains. My search for holistic training led me to Switzerland in the early 2000s to study with Pilates therapists. Even 20 years ago, Switzerland was very focused on health and "well-being," a concept that wasn't yet discussed in France.
It was in 2016 that I had the chance to meet James da Silva, the founder of Garuda, an intelligent holistic, playful and innovative concept that is a true therapy for the body and mind that combines classical dance, Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi.
I am becoming even more aware of the impact of stress on the body and the importance of daily quality of life on health.
- What does your daily routine look like?
Two-thirds of my day is dedicated to the courses I offer professionally in a medical practice in Monaco, which I share with two osteopaths. There, I welcome my students with intelligent tools that allow me to maximize their results while providing them with immediate physical and mental well-being. I also make home visits for seniors and work with companies on employee health and wellness. I offer remote consultations to business owners.
The other third of my day is dedicated to my lifestyle: between 45 minutes and an hour of walking, swimming in the sea, or practicing Garuda yoga. I always aim for a holistic benefit that allows me to recharge.
- Is there a coach or athlete you consider a role model and why?
I'm largely self-taught. Elite athletes are incredibly courageous; they push themselves to the limit, both mentally and physically. However, elite sports clash with my philosophy of well-being: these athletes are often forced to push themselves to extremes, even with the guidance of physical trainers. My philosophy, on the other hand, is to combine a balance between professional, family, and personal life with a healthy lifestyle—a real challenge for a female business owner.
- Is there an athlete or person who has become very athletic thanks to your coaching? Describe what you did for them.
The idea is not to become athletic or very athletic; the goal is to find a balance. My objective is to bring harmony to my students' lives, whether it's correcting poor posture, reducing significant weight gain, or addressing high stress levels, even though students are often unaware of their chronic stress levels. The overall aim is to help them regain a healthy lifestyle.
I often coach people who are struggling in their personal lives. They don't love themselves and have lost their self-confidence. I offer them solutions to help them regain that confidence by improving their daily lifestyle. This impacts both their personal and professional lives.
My goal is for my students to be healthier. I work in synergy with other healthcare professionals: general practitioners, osteopaths, micronutritionists, sports medicine doctors, aromatherapists…
I find the right balance for each child, thanks in part to physical activity, which is a great source of positive energy. My goal is to help them become independent in the future, perhaps by providing remote support. They will already have a solid foundation for a balanced diet, physical activity, and mental well-being. I give them the right approach by focusing on fun activities.
There is no universal recipe for personal fulfillment, but good nutrition, proper hydration, regular exercise, and meditation through yoga, Garuda, or even gardening remain essential for happiness.
- Let's talk about your Garuda method used during your training sessions. What are the benefits of Garuda for you, both physically and mentally?
The Coaching by Gaëlle Bergeal method is based on 22 years of experience, extensive training, attentive listening, and practical application. The Garuda method, created by James Da Silva, is one of the methods I use because it is holistic and fosters a true awareness of movement. This discipline offers playful movement sequences that have been studied in a clinical setting. Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and classical dance flow harmoniously together. The movement sequences are presented intelligently; it's fun and never gets boring because the movements are constantly changing. They can be done standing, sitting, or at the barre—it's very engaging.
The student discovers spiral movements, not just in alignment as in Yoga or Pilates. My program is tailored to the client's profile, their current energy level, and, if applicable, their medical condition.
- Let's talk a little about your everyday workout outfit. Why did you choose Noliju? And what are your favorite pieces?
I was immediately drawn to the profile of Norah, the creator of Noliju, and her journey as a female entrepreneur. I love her down-to-earth nature; she's a woman with a heart of gold. Beyond that, she's created a clothing line that perfectly reflects my own style and meets the needs of my clients. They are entrepreneurial women who don't have much time to change. With the Noliju line, they can stay in their outfits after work or during their lunch break, and even attend their yoga or Garuda classes. I love that the collection is multi-sport. The clothes are high-quality, very comfortable to wear, and the designs are elegant.
- Finally, what are your future plans?
I want to elaborate on two things. First, well-being in the workplace for both employees and business leaders, to combat the widespread malaise that leads to burnout, and to help improve physical comfort at work, particularly posture, for those who sit at their computers every day. Working standing up with adjustable desks is also an option, but here too, companies need to adapt to ensure the well-being of their employees.
I offer "Garuda Chair" classes for businesses, which take place while seated in a chair. A simple office chair is all you need to relax your neck and muscle tension, work your postural muscles, and recharge mentally.
I want to develop this in hotels and hospitals for staff who have physically demanding jobs, such as chambermaids and housekeepers. This solution has already been implemented for a year with the housekeepers at the Columbus Monaco Hotel, an establishment with which I have a partnership for Wellness events—45-minute classes to improve posture, relieve tension, and unwind mentally, followed by a healthy lunch or after-work gathering (supervised by nutrition coach Sandra Veziano from the company Be Healthy) and a talk on well-being. I hope to expand this to other hotels and highlight talented and courageous women entrepreneurs.
On December 1, 2022, Norah Luttway will speak on the topic: "Women's Entrepreneurship and How to Create Wellness and Ethical Clothing".
A NOLIJU conference not to be missed.
Raising awareness of the Noliju brand among the Monegasques as an ambassador is also important to me.
My final wish is to work on the fitness of seniors between 70 and 95 years old. They too crave vitality. There's no age limit to being fit!
