Author: Rebecca Ronane

Meet Maryna Fontenoy

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

My name is Maryna Fontenoy, and my hairdressing business in Caumont sur Durance is Balayalchemy. I am American, born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I have lived and worked in Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California, before spending 12 years living in London UK and finally coming to know Provence. I am an avid animal lover and regularly find myself on rescue missions for anything from wild animals to dogs, cats, goats and horses. I am also a writer-sometimes by assignment or private creations.

I moved to Provence in 2011.
Like many people, I fell in love with the region during my short vacation. Seeking respite from the weather and grime of busy London, I determined that in Provence, I might find slower living, more light and a better quality of life. My husband and daughter have French genes, so I also wanted to expose my daughter to the French language by immersion. At first, we were here for an experimental year, but we did not return to London, and this is now our permanent home.

What does your business do?

I am an all-around hairdresser specializing in colour, corrective colour, grey adaptation, craft cutting, and styling. I have also owned The Beaucatcher Salon in London for the last 21 years, where I still work with my lovely clients for about a week each month. In Caumont sur Durance, I work from a studio in my home by appointment and see most clients here privately, one-on-one. I love connecting with my clients of all genders and ages because this helps me understand what I can do to help them look and feel their best, get the most out of their hair, and have some time just to themselves. We hear a lot about self-care, and hairdressing has always been one of the best ways to unwind and let oneself be cared for. Having a chemistry background helps me formulate colour solutions for most hair issues. I practice keeping up with advances in hairdressing because, ultimately, the most beautiful and easygoing hair is healthy. I am also a trained make-up artist for weddings and photography and can assist in this area for my client’s special occasions. I enjoy working on collaborative projects which benefit other local businesses.
I love connecting with people, so networking is a great pleasure. After all my years of working with humans, I feel one of the most important things we can do is help people connect to like-minded others to enhance our businesses and lives.

My website is Balayalchemy

Meet Selina Gullery Yoga teacher, Teacher trainer, Intuitive chef and Translator.

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

Selina Gullery has been living in the south of France, a dream come true, since October 2022.
B.A. in Modern Languages from Trinity College, Dublin, internationally renown

She spent 10 years studying and travelling extensively with Swami Samarpanananda, a yogi from the Himalayas and has explored and trained in numerous other Yoga styles, meditation practices and somatic movement schools.

​More recently, she commenced a voyage of rediscovering the poets, philosophers, and myths of her own country, Ireland. It is here that she found herself enraptured in a yoga of homecoming. She is a Senior Teacher at the Celtic School of Yoga and co-leads annual retreats with the founder, folklorist, archaeologist, and musician Jack Harrison.
​
In her Teacher Training, group and private classes, and retreats, she encourages the growth of the spiritual and individual self in her students by cultivating self-love, embracing imperfections, and residing in the gentle strength of the higher Self.

She leads Yoga Teacher Training in English and French in Aix-en-Provence and abroad.
She has completed a certification in Yoga for Trauma Release and is currently completing a certification in the “Yoga of Sound”.

www.selinayoga.love
+33 6 51 88 29 90

Wine and Women that Network in Provence

Published on by Rebecca Ronane

The 2023/24 Network Provence season ended on a high note with a wine tasting at the wonderful Racine’s in Bonnieux.  Jess and Pierre, the Luberon’s favourite ‘caviste couple’, shared some of their preferred summer wines, two roses and a white, in a tasting set to prepare us for the summer ahead. Besides a rosé from Corsica’s Domaine de Leccia, the standout favourites were Cadet de La Begude for its drinkability and price point, and the white we shared was loved by all-L’Odalisque de Sylvain Morey, which is set to be a summer star, produced in the Luberon.

Jess talked us through why they chose these three wines, and judging by the refills; she was right on the mark for what we would enjoy. This couple knows their profession and can answer most questions, as evidenced by our curious attendees.  We learned about regional differences, discussed the myths of pink depths in rosés and found some interesting facts about what happens to wines that are exported and rack up the travel miles.  Comme d’habitude, Jess and Pierre let their passion for wine shine with great enthusiasm, knowledge, and good humour.  They break the mould of stuffy wine stereotypes and bring a sparkle of enjoyment to learning about the intricacies of our region’s favourite beverage.

Meanwhile, Network Provence welcomed newcomers and regulars with interest and laughter, which is always a feature of meetings.  We have had a brilliant season of meetings in Aix, and at our new meeting place the Cafe de la Gare in Bonnieux.  Events this year have included talks with Nora Jaccaud, photography with Raina Stinson, an art exhibition with Miriam Hartmann featuring NP members, floral arranging with Helen Puillandre, Hypnotherapy with Mei Yee, storytelling with Sabine Copinga, to name some of the special programs at our meetings.  We have also attended many art openings and other local events and used our connections to the fullest!  It is proven that connection is one of the most important elements in longevity and happiness. There is no better group in Provence to find community and connections among like-minded women than Network Provence.  I think I speak for everyone and give big gratitude to our leader, Rebecca Ronane, for founding such a wonderful group full of networking potential, friendship opportunities, and a creative connection hub.

Although meetings will be paused for July and August, make sure you follow along through Facebook and Instagram to see what wonders the women of Provence are creating and doing over the summer.  Now is also an excellent time to review your membership status and revise any ads you have on the website.  Keeping others updated on what you do and what you have to offer is a key point of being in a group such as NP. You should also have a look to see what others are up to as well.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer until we meet again in September!

Written by Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence