Senses is the section where we meet inspiring people who are deeply connected to their senses.
Hello Marion, can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to create Tone?
I am French-Malagasy, born in Madagascar and arrived in France at the age of 18, directly in Paris. A very beautiful experience, which motivated me even more to seek a lifestyle that suited me, a profession that resembled me, and that allowed me to be as passionate as possible. That's how I had the opportunity to work for a few years for the leading brand in Sports, to integrate sport into my daily habits and traditional Malagasy remedies, to finally become passionate about Health, about all these extraordinary things the body can do... Yoga and meditation had been part of my life since I arrived in France in 2010, and I decided to train in 2018 and have continued ever since.
Over 4 years ago, I moved to Biarritz, with the idea of taking care of myself and not postponing the lifestyle I had long envied, to live in the present moment.
Ultimately, all this mix led me to create Tone in 2023.
There are certain sports that are so present, so important to oneself, that they are the central point of a life; one organizes one's schedule, one's holidays, some of one's relationships around them, and the dream? To organize one's professional life around them as well. Surfing is like that, so exciting, so powerful, so calming, that it takes this central place for me, and I wanted to find a professional activity that had meaning, that gave me more freedom in my organization, and that allowed me to live where I could surf.
Surfing quickly makes us understand that it is Nature that decides if we can surf, which day, when, where; it is greater than us, and we are forced to surrender. I love this concept because it makes us understand that sometimes there are things we cannot control, we just have to follow this flow calmly.
Surfing also requires us to listen to our bodies; some days we will surf very well, and others terribly badly, and that's just how it is, we cannot change it, nor force it, nor be frustrated. I am just too happy with everything it allows me to do.
Finally... the last thing with surfing is that it's a movement that requires you to be relaxed, to let the flow go. When you force a maneuver, it's impossible to succeed; when you want to achieve something too much, it comes to nothing; when you surf only for the feeling, you surf much better, and that applies to life. There's no point in forcing things or stressing.
It is important for me to avoid stress at all costs... which is almost inherent in entrepreneurial life, with its uncertainty and fluctuations. Yet, people often tell me that I manage to enjoy myself, to find the time I need for myself, to take care of myself, to accept the ups and downs, and above all, to find the refuge that allows me to de-stress if it builds up – a walk on the beach or in the forest, a surf session, and everything makes sense again. Most importantly, I never feel guilty about this because I simply need it.
There's no need to rush; health is so precious. Nature teaches us that we don't need to relentlessly pursue material wealth.
An ideal day would include several rituals: surfing, 15 minutes of meditation, herbal tea, 30 minutes of yoga, laughing with loved ones, and especially good meals.
How would you say you connect with your sensuality?
In meditation, I often use the 6 senses to ground myself in the present moment. I observe what I see, what I smell, hear, feel by touch, taste, and I also take a moment to connect with my intuition.
My sense of smell is very keen; I don't always recognize scents, but I perceive them from afar, the finest and most subtle ones. I strongly link them to my memories, as is the case with the scents I found in Refeel products... Orange blossom for my moments in Provence, where my father was from, and coconut, which you smell a lot in Madagascar. Always linked to my dual identity.
The Lost Alhambra scrub was a real crush; its texture, its scent, precisely with the coconut that is light but present. I use it either in the shower, and the fragrance lingers after the shower to smell good all day. Or, more uniquely, I take it to the beach and use it there; it might not be recommended, but it's a moment when I have nothing to do and I also take care of myself.
If you come this summer, you absolutely must visit these places!
Chéri bibi
Bleach
Karabana in Anglet
My pop-up Yoga studio in July and August at Encore le Lieu.