In a world where the pace of life often overshadows our need for self-care, Neeta, the founder of Grounded 1002, offers a refreshing perspective on wellness. With a mission to promote an intuitive lifestyle through natural and spiritual products, her brand encourages a harmonious connection between mind, body, and soul.

Drawing from her own transformative journey, Neeta blends traditional practices with modern education, guiding others to embrace their wellness journeys. In this interview, she shares insights on her motivations, challenges, and the essence of Grounded 1002.

1. Grounded 1002 is all about promoting wellness through natural and spiritual products like gua sha and palo santo. What inspired you to start this brand, and what does wellness personally mean to you?

My journey began after spending nearly 20 years in the corporate world, which was heavily data-driven. I felt people were losing their intuitive abilities, something I personally reconnected with after facing life-threatening experiences. Through holistic practices which connected the mind, body, and soul, I found profound healing. Grounded 1002 promotes an intuitive lifestyle through education, products and experiences, encouraging individuals to be the best version of themselves. We aim to create a more mindful world, and embody a community spirit.

2. In a fast-paced world, many people struggle to balance productivity with self-care. How do you see the use of your products helping people achieve that balance?

Modern trends often contribute to this struggle. The essence of Grounded 1002 is to help individuals harmonise their mind, body, and soul, ultimately leading to a more authentic existence.Although we have educational content on social media, I offer up to two conversations per year/per client, who want to go deeper to engage with their intuition. We focus on integrating natural elements into daily life, and use different techniques for the client to enhance their mind and body awareness. It is different for every single person. The goal is for the client to tune into themselves, not the trends. People think following trends is easy, when actually it contributes to mental health issues hich later manifest into physical health issues. But, watching our YouTube channel is a great way to start. We're just getting started.

3. Can you walk us through your morning wellness routine? How do you integrate your own products into your day to enhance both wellness and productivity?

I use my gua sha (#rockwithcare) for three minutes across my entire body. This helps me check in with myself, feeling the textures beneath my skin, which helps me connect my breath throughout my body. This quick scan of my body removes any knots AND I look amazing after. The body and skin wake up because of all the extra oxygen and circulation. It's ultimate self care. I also light palo santo (#stixandstones) for the aromatherapy benefits, while the smoke moves stagnant energy in my space. The benefits of both practices are endless... I can talk about them all day. These two practices are meditative and every person gains something different with each use. It's beautiful.

4. The wellness industry is constantly evolving. How do you stay informed about trends while maintaining the authenticity of your brand?

I don’t focus or believe in trends when it comes to wellness. My priority is somatic healing—anything that connects the mind and body authentically. When I feel a benefit from a practice, I repeat it. Eventually, I educate myself on it if any research exists. Science is a very new discipline and has much remaining to research. Until something is studied, I guess it's considered spiritual. Once it's researched, it's legit. And once it's legit, it's a trend. Whether it's tumeric or avocados or mushrooms. These hyped up trends had no value until they were studied and are now all the rage. It shouldn't be this way in my opinion. Grounded 1002 promotes an intuitive lifestyle, so I also offer up to two conversations a year per client. The purpose of these conversations is to guide individuals in discovering what truly resonates with them. If I offered more than 2 sessions a year for each client, they would be tainted by my projections, which defeats living an intuitive lifestyle. Authenticity is paramount to me.

5. Many of the products you feature in your store have deep cultural and historical significance. How do you approach educating your customers about the respectful and sustainable use of these products?

While practices like gua sha have rich histories and stem from ancient Chinese medicinal studies and rituals, many older cultures utilise forms of healing through prehab. Most older civilisations use nature, aromatherapy, sound healing, and self massage techniques to increase circulation, breath, mobility, agility, and overall wellness. Education is a core part of my brand. Each product includes an informational booklet detailing its origins and techniques. Whether through social media content or 1:1 sessions, I reference Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mayan Rituals, and more! I believe mixing up the rituals is one of the most sophisticated forms of healing, esprecially when coupled with our modern day research. I don't need the research because I believe in how I feel; but many people want to know before they attempt to feel.

6. What challenges have you faced as an entrepreneur in the wellness space, and how have you overcome them to grow Grounded 1002?

When I first started, cultural appropriation was something I was concerned about, but I've been respectful and educational about everything as these practices are not a trend for me. It's how I've lived my life. Being a 43 year old woman with a high power career, transitioning from corporate to wellness was interesting and it still is. I had to overcome imposter syndrome, while navigating a marriage breaking down while being a mother to a 6 year old. In the last decade, I experienced two major physical incidents from which, I was also shifting. My son Deia, has been invaluable as inspiration and reason to overcoming challenges I placed on myself. He's a big reason of why I keep showing up as a better version of myself... for me, for him, for my business, and for the world. 

7. For people just starting their wellness journey, which Grounded 1002 products would you recommend, and how should they incorporate them into their routines?

I recommend starting with our "Mind, Body, Soul" playlists on Spotify. Listening to these playlists can help you tune into the connection between your mind and body. Music is a gentle entry point for exploration. Also, check out our shorts and long form videos on YouTube for more insights and guidance.
For more information, visit Grounded 1002.