In our new series, Bazaars multiplatform beauty director speaks to inspirers in the wellness world about the rituals and routines that work for them. Here, Bridget March meets Elle Macpherson, the world-renowned supermodel and founder of WelleCo, which produces premium plant-based supplements born from her personal self-care journey. Below, the 59-year-old reveals the things that make the biggest difference to her wellbeing.

Elle Macphersons moniker The Body may have originated as praise of her physicality, but its long been a business asset for the supermodel with body wellness brands central to her career off the catwalks. Since finding fame as one of the original 'Supers' in the 1980s, the Australian star went on to produce a series of workout videos, front her own lingerie collection and launch a range of bath and body care products. But its her brand of wellness supplements, WelleCo, thats her most personal project to date. Founded in 2014 with formulator Dr Simone Laubscher, she started WelleCo to share the solutions that helped her flourish Macphersons health upon starting out being less desirable than one would imagine...

When I went to Dr Laubscher [a functional nutritionist and naturopath], I was sugar- and coffee-addicted, malnourished yet putting on weight, and bloated. I wasn't sleeping well, didn't have energy and was uninspired, she tells me. A specialist in longevity, Dr Laubscher curated a multivitamin and mineral supplement packed with nutrients for Macpherson, which materialised as WelleCos hero product,

From self-loving affirmations to infrared saunas, here Macpherson reveals what it is exactly that makes her feel so well.

Elle Macpherson (right) with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christie Turlington in 1995

I start the day with self-loving affirmations. Its a sensation of gratitude, really. I say things to like: I am awake, I'm vital, I am inspired, I'm excited for my day, rather than immediately just scrolling through Instagram, which so many people do. I don't touch my phone until I'm ready to address whatever is there.

I get up and drink a big jar of water that I prepare the night before with freshly squeezed lime and a quarter of a teaspoon of Celtic sea salt so before anything Im completely hydrating my body. And then I like to make an oat-milk matcha (Elmhurst Barista has a really good clean oat milk, with a ceremonial grade matcha) and then I go and sit out in the sun at around seven oclock for 10 minutes. I put my face up to the sun, close my eyes and listen to the sounds of nature, preferably with as little clothes on as possible depending on the weather.

And then I might do some yoga poses like sun salutations. Zach Bush has a fantastic four-minute workout [shared below], which releases nitric acid into the body, so it helps your muscles function properly. I also try to put my bare feet on the ground not cement.

Then I'll have my shower and get dressed for the day.

I just like movement; I do what I feel like on the day, which could be hiking, biking, swimming, yoga I have a gym at home so sometimes I get on the elliptical or the bike and put on a documentary. Then I'll maybe hang upside down, do squats or use my chi machine, which moves your body, circulating your lymphatic system. I don't really work out to sculpt my body I work out because I believe that breath and movement is so important for our health and wellbeing. And when you do that consistently, it really shows.

Something I much prefer to do over a workout class is a Russian banya. If I'm in London, I like to go to The Bath House. Ill do a steam and cold plunge and the Parenie treatment, where they gently brush your body with birch leaves to improve circulation and the immune system. Its kind of a tribal experience.

After getting dressed I have my greens The Super Elixir, which combines 50 multivitamins and minerals, adaptogens, probiotics and prebiotics. Then from 10am I have a snack of something light but nourishing, like a chia pudding, coconut yogurt or fruit with sprouted almond butter. Then I take supplements for whatever I'm working on: good hair or skin, or immunity, for example.

At around 2pm I often have a big smoothie with everything I can find to put in it, like frozen banana, protein, coconut milk, chia seeds, flax, toka. And then I have my major meal around 4pm. I'm plant-based and follow an Ayurvedic type of diet. I do this not for any weight control, but because I love to be easy on my digestive system and I want the nutrients I consume to be readily available. So, I might have a big brown-rice bowl with avocado and sprouts and sunflower seeds, a curry, pho or sushi. I try to support regenerative farmers and choose things that are organic the quality of the food that I have directly affects the way I feel.

I work quite late with WelleCo because of the time difference with living in Miami, and my head office being in Melbourne. After I finish, I sit in my Therasage portable infrared sauna for an hour. I find this the best time to do body brushing. And then after I've done that I'll do a cold plunge. That's great for the immune system.

The winding-down process at night is important; you cant go from hero to zero quickly. I have a self-loving routine at night which includes turning off devices or wearing blue light-blocking glasses, which is really important for your circadian rhythm. I also make myself The Evening Elixir, which is part of that sleep preparation.

I read a book in bed and then, just before I go to sleep, I fill my whole body with thoughts that support me, such as I'm in perfect health, I am loving consciousness. I also go through the day and recall things that made me laugh, or that touched me, and congratulate myself on the little things that I've accomplished. Don't fill yourself with what you didn't do: fill your heart and soul with all the beautiful things that you want to percolate on while you sleep. They say that the last five minutes before you sleep, and the first five minutes before you wake, are the most important for resetting your subconscious.

Meditation is really just finding that quiet, still space within yourself. I used to do guided meditations because I didn't know how to do that. Now I close my eyes and I practice Reiki; I often go to sleep breathing into the Reiki positions.

Some people like 'box breath' meditations; some people like listening to a piece of classical music and just being transported by it. There are lots of different modes of meditation, but for me meditation is really about connecting with yourself, and with the divine.

Investing in WelleCo! And not just for my health, because there's a purpose to it thats greater than my own wellbeing I want other people to experience the life-changing understandings that I came into 10 years ago. When we are truly nourished from within with high-quality ingredients, we not only have better digestion, better sleep, better hair and better skin; we become more vibrant in our life and therefore more beautiful because we are inspired, courageous, confident and energetic. When we bring that into the world, the world becomes a better place.

WelleCos The Evening Elixir is available now from retailers including Harvey Nichols and online at harveynichols.com. To find out more about WelleCo, visit welleco.co.uk.

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Self-care rituals with Elle Macpherson - Harper's Bazaar UK