The Mindful Muse: Dominique Elissa
You guided our community through such a grounding gratitude session and yoga practice at our Haléau launch. What intention did you hope our guests would walk away with?
December is such a busy time of the year, especially for our beautiful mums. I really wanted to show that in just a few minutes, through a gratitude practice, you can shift your day and show up as a more glass-half-full sort of person. The goal was for the guests to feel more connected to the present and to leave in a state of rest and digest.
You’ve built a career that spans both modelling and mindfulness. How did those two worlds first come together for you?
I discovered mindfulness in my darkest days. Modelling is an incredible career; however, the pressure to strive for perfection left me with an eating disorder, anxiety, and insomnia. Mindfulness, and more specifically gratitude, were the tools that saved me from this dark place. Now it is my mission to share these tools with as many people as I can.
The modelling industry can be high-pressure and fast-paced. How has your wellness practice shaped the way you move through that environment?
It really is everything. I never miss my morning routine, which consists of hydration, gratitude, and meditation. These are my non-negotiables and allow me to show up in this world as my greatest self. I feel immense appreciation for every day, and I believe this shows up in my work. I let go of comparison and self-doubt daily.
Today, your work blends mindfulness, movement, and self-connection so effortlessly. How has your practice evolved over the years?
I started my wellness journey at a very young age; I have always been really athletic. However, there was no focus on the other pillars of health — mental, emotional, and spiritual. My practice truly evolved when I hit my rock bottom and needed to change.
I learnt to meditate at an Ayurvedic course, I started practising gratitude, and within a few months I noticed big changes in my life. Purpose became clearer, and I attracted the right people into my life. Wellness really is the hybrid of tools we use to feel our best.
You often speak about gratitude as a daily ritual. What does your personal gratitude practice look like, especially during busy seasons of life?
I created the Selfdom Gratitude Journal to share my personal practice with as many people as I could. Gratitude is about working the mind and rewiring our brain to see the good in our lives. I always compare it to working a muscle at the gym — if you wanted to get stronger glutes, you would squat every single day. The same principle works for your mind!
The journal has prompts for the morning and prompts for the evening. This doesn’t take long, and the effect is profound.
As a wellness guide and teacher, how do you hold space for others while still protecting and nourishing your own energy?
I love this question. I really prioritise rest. When I realised that saying yes to something means you are saying no to something else, I started to see a superpower in saying no. As a retired people pleaser, this has really been life-changing. I know my purpose so deeply that if something doesn’t align or isn’t worth my full energy, I have to honour my boundaries.
Our brand is rooted in slow beauty and intentional living — values that very much align with Haléau’s own ethos. What does “illuminate with intention” mean to you in your own life?
It means showing up as your best self by finding those moments to recharge every day.
At Haléau's Australian media launch event, so many guests commented on how deeply they exhaled for the first time in weeks (some guests were even moved to tears). What are three simple tools or practices you recommend for anyone wanting to cultivate calm at home?
Gratitude, of course.
Taking three deep breaths before a meal.
Calm music and beautiful scents.
When you think about the Haléau woman, what gentle reminder do you hope she carries with her?
She deserves to put herself first.
