What does your morning routine look like?
I always start the day quietly at home before the rest of the family wakes up - I need my alone time in the morning and love it.
The day starts with a big glass of warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice to flush my body. Then I jump into a one-piece - either linen, fleece or thermal, depending on the season - and go for a 45-minute walk with my dog, Brutus.
For me, this morning ritual and alone time is my best way to recharge and gather my thoughts. When I get home, my husband and kids are waking up, and we start the day with a shot of morning boost - usually a ginger shot with Omega-3.
I often teach yoga in the mornings in Charlottenlund or drive to Solgården in Hornbæk, where I have 1:1 treatments on weekdays.
On the weekends I usually have a workshop at Solgården.
How do you best spend an hour in your own company?
An hour in my own company is best spent on the yoga mat, where I might practice a new flow or dive deep into the connective tissue with trigger balls.
What is your best advice for showing self-love and prioritizing yourself in a busy everyday life?
During my time as a chef, I lived under constant stress and put myself last. I didn't listen to my body's signals, but fortunately those times are over. Today, I always prioritize finding time for myself - preferably a yoga class with another teacher or a body treatment once a week.
In my everyday life I always find time for 5-10 minutes of meditation and some breathing exercises - it is incredibly important to connect body and mind, and then I jump in the ocean daily all year round. This connection with the water has a cleansing effect, and has helped me through the difficult periods in my life and given me the opportunity to feel my body again.
Have you made a decision in your life that has been particularly good for you?
The best decision I have made and make daily is to prioritize time in the kitchen to cook from scratch with good ingredients. From my time in France, gathering around a proper meal has always been an important part of my everyday life.
This is also where we gather as a family.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice on how to create a balanced life, what would it be?
To create a life of balance, I wish I had told myself to never doubt my gut feeling.
I've learned that it's crucial to take care of my own energy before sharing it with others. As a former chef and trained in 3-star restaurants, I've always been good at doing everything for others, but time has taught me that "you can't pour from an empty cup."
Your best tip for a strong and healthy body and a balanced mind?
My best advice for a strong body and a balanced mind is to live in “full circle” .
It's no use doing lots of sports if you eat wrong, just as it's no use doing breathing exercises if your diet, body and mind are not in balance. It's all connected.
For example, if you are deficient in Omega-3, you have difficulty absorbing oxygen and excreting waste products. And I especially make sure to take Omega-3 daily, and it has to be of proper quality - which is a bit of a jungle. I am happy to help you find the right one, as well as other vitamin combinations, you can always contact me if you need help.
I am therefore also working on developing a program at Solgården in Hornbæk under the name "Full Circle", where we integrate diet, movement, meditation and intention into one program.
Body, mind and spirit - " full Circle" starts already where you do your shopping and when you choose your ingredients.
Has your spiritual and mindful approach to life always been a part of you?
Without being fully aware of it, I have always had a strong connection to nature, the earth and the sea.
These elements were a natural part of my upbringing, and during the years I lived in different big cities, my escape was always a trip to the sea to find peace when my energy was low. This ritual, which some might find a bit spiritual, has followed me since childhood.
During my most hectic years as a chef in Paris, I probably lost some of my grounding.
Do you have an easy beauty tip that we can share with others?
During my years in Morocco, I became acquainted with the natural oil, Argan, which is used as a facial oil in the Arab world. Since then, I have only used oil as a moisturizer for my face.
If you could freely choose an activity that would give you lots of energy, what would it be?
I have always been a girl with speed and get energy through movement.
Before my riding accident was My go-to energy fix is definitely a gallop in the forest or along the sea.
Today it is Ashtanga yoga or other dynamic yoga that gives me new energy.
If you want to follow Zoe's mindful universe, hop on Instagram @christensenzoe
Solgården Hornbæk - North Coast Healing House
Solgården refugium - a breathing space for yoga, mindfulness and meditation.
The beautiful, pink gem is owned by Zoe Harper Christensen and her husband Hugo. In April 2024, they opened the doors to the historic property from 1917 on Hornbæk Strandvej, and since then Solgården has been a gathering place filled with presence, tranquility and love.
It's a place for everyone - a stress-free sanctuary, filled with positive energy. A place where you can be yourself, get down to business and prioritize both physical and mental well-being.
Solgården offers a wide range of different meditative retreats and events as well as breathwork, yoga, meditation, sharmanic workshops, detox, Body SDS body therapy, sauna, sea bathing and lots of peace, nature and delicious, healthy taste experiences.
