We Talk Holistic Living With Caroline Høgh Groth

When it comes to health and happiness, Caroline Høgh Groth is a wellness guru who practices what she preaches. This is because her advice on wellbeing comes from a place of experience and understanding.

As a passionate foodie, self-taught Yogi and mindfulness advocate, Caroline has turned her own life around in just a few short years.  

Following a lymphoma diagnosis in 2012, Caroline decided to overhaul her life. Though she had always held a zest for adventure, she believed she had taken her health for granted with an approach to her overall wellbeing that was rather lazy and negative. She very quickly realized that in order to make a full recovery she needed to overhaul her life – and that she did.

What followed was diving deep into a plethora of health, healing, yoga, meditation and wellness books. You name them, chances are Caroline has read them. Adopting a vegan lifestyle and overhauling her fitness, Caroline went into remission. With the new mantra of loving yourself inside and out, Caroline's lifestyle became more conscious, spiritual and filled with healthy practices.

Nowadays Caroline shares her holistic, albeit slightly less strict, approach to food, health and wellness through her blog Greener Resolutions. We wanted to know more so we spoke health, wellness, yoga and food with the inspiring Caroline.

How did your journey as a Health and Wellness Guru begin?

It began when I decided to make a better life for myself when recovering from cancer. It made me realise how much better I should become at taking care of, not only my body but also my mental health so that I could live a holistic and positive life that I love. 

As the years have gone on, how has your exercise philosophy developed and changed?

I used to put myself through excruciating spinning classes, running and much more, and I never really liked it. But I thought I had to in order to keep fit.

Now, and the older I get, I realise I never should do or spend my time doing anything I don't fully enjoy. There are so many exercise types out there nowadays, that there is no excuse putting yourself through something you don't enjoy or see results doing.

I'm starting to appreciate my body more for what it is - a physical item carrying my non-physical true self, as the energy I believe we all are. Exercise wise, that means sometimes slowing down the practice and taking rest days, or just going for long walks instead of hammering through a hard training session that won't benefit me in the end.

As I'm changing, I'm also realising I'm not training for the sake of having toned legs or a flat tummy, but because it keeps me healthy and provides my mind with a calmness I can't find anywhere else.

What is your approach to food? 

As I'm getting older (and hopefully wiser!) I find that having a balanced approach to food is incredibly important to me. That means not obsessing over eating 'healthy' to its core all the time, but also not falling into the trap of just grabbing the first and best when you're hungry - finding an approach that is 80/20 (80% healthy, 20% 'naughty') is something I'm trying to work at being better in my life.

For many years, growing up, food has ruled my life significantly, and I'm finally starting to have a more relaxed approach to food and the holistic aspect of it. 

What does a typical day food diary look like?

My days vary a lot depending on whether I'm having a lunch meeting in one of our restaurants (I work full-time as Marketing & Digital Communications Director for a restaurant group), I have an event after work or it's a weekend, but a normal weekday looks something like this: 

• 7.30am: Full-fat latte with stevia before heading to work 
• 8.30am: 2 pieces of rye bread w/ avocado, spinach, 2 scrambled eggs & a coconut water
• 10.30am: An apple or banana with peanut butter and a full-fat latte 
• 12pm: Sushi, Rice-paper rolls with shrimps, Ramen or a Chicken Wrap with hot chips (Yes, it's my vice, CHIPS!) 
• 2pm: An organic cashew & almond muesli-bar 
• 4pm: An apple & a hot chocolate 
• 7.30pm: A big green salad w/ a serve of rice or vegetable frittata or green vegetable curry w/ cauliflower rice or fish w/ salad. 
• 9pm: a few scoops of my homemade ‘Raw Caramel Sauce' (purely made out of raw dates, almonds, coconut oil etc.) YUM! 

What has been the most challenging aspect of overhauling your life?

Finding a balance. You can get very caught up in the entire thing of exercising, eating well, healthy, raw, sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan - you name it. We live in a society where, unfortunately, it's still very common to be accepted and acknowledged for your looks and your weight, and that can quickly play havoc with your mind. It did with me, and it often still can. So finding a balance is, for me, the key to a holistic approach to life. 

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

All the amazing people and opportunities it has presented me with. The opportunity to help people, and give back when so many people and organisations helped me when I was sick and going through a rough time, and still continues to support me.

Being an ambassador for Pink Hope is a thing I'm very, very proud of and to continue to help bring Krystal's vision to life of a better and more preventative healthcare system for women & especially women's genetical cancers is something I'm very passionate about.

I'm also doing Dry July this month to raise money for cancer patients and making their journey more comfortable for themselves and everyone involved. 

Some women find the thought of Yoga intimidating. What advice do you have for those hoping to start?

Stop thinking, stop asking - just feel, and then DO. Don't be afraid of baring yourself to a new opportunity in life. Visiting a few yoga studios in your neighbourhood and finding out what type of yoga practice appeals to you is a great first step.

Then the next step? Jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride.

What is the biggest misconception about Yoga?

That there is a handbook on 'how to do yoga' or 'how to achieve perfect poses'. There is no handbook, there is no right or wrong, no perfection or imperfection, no reaching the end - that is exactly what the practice is about.

It's about this very moment, it's about always discovering a newness to yourself and the pose over time you practice. There will never be a time where you have mastered a pose. As you practice, the pose will forever keep evolving and changing pending on where you're at in your life. 

What is the most rewarding part of a class? 

When I've gone to crinkly and undiscovered parts of my inner self that I never knew I could reach or feel to the extent that I have done. 

You have been known to travel and visit amazing health and wellness retreats. What has been your favourite?

Byron Bay holds a very special place in my heart. My soul-sister and I stayed at The Byron at Byron Resort & Spa which is just magnificent in its own right. Waking up in the rainforest, walking barefoot to a sauna and a swim, and practising yoga on the sandy beach in your bikini while the sun is warming your body is healing and accepting on a level that's very hard to explain in words, but can only be felt. 

What is next for Caroline Hogh Groth? 

Uh, what's next - that's a good question. My career has always been my number one priority, and I think a lot of people think I do my blog and Instagram full-time but really I have a very senior management position that requires 45-50 hours of attention (at least) a week.

However, I believe that's why I can connect with people the way I do, and perhaps why people find it appealing to follow my journey - it's never forced, fake or impressive, it's just ME - in my natural birthright, and my spiritual being.

That said, I'd love to travel more to yoga retreats, and foreign and far destinations to connect further with myself and my inner energy, and show my tribe the wonderful parts of, not just the world, but the discovery of oneself.  

Credit: Caroline Høgh Groth – Yogi & Wellness Guru

Instagram: @carolinehgroth
Blog: Greener Resolutions