Elaine Dodson - Beauty and Wellness Guru

Elaine Dodson is an internationally acclaimed expert in natural/organic beauty, wellness and regeneration. An industry pioneer, Elaine has always believed that “outer beauty is simply a reflection of a state of inner wellness.” Her passions include empowering women through the sacred power of beauty, teaching beauty and wellness practices for regenerating body, mind and spirit, and, through this work, rebalancing the divine feminine energy on the planet.

For over 40 years, Elaine has been practicing a healthy lifestyle that includes Ayurvedic and vegetarian cooking. Elaine studied in India for seven years. In the late 90s she was asked to serve as the household chef for her spiritual guru in Cambridge, England, which led to a long study of Ayurvedic cooking techniques throughout India. Over the years, Elaine developed recipes and a style of Ayurvedic cooking geared towards today’s busy lifestyle, which she now teaches in her popular cooking classes. Elaine also foundecd two successful vegetarian and Ayurvedic restaurants: Kalachandiji’s in Dallas, Texas, and Govinda’s in Cuernavaca, Mexico. licensed cosmetologist, aesthetician, and trichologist.

Elaine has 35+ years of specialized training in hair design and hair health, skin analysis and treatments, make up artistry, wardrobe, color and image consultation, holistic nutrition, and natural living. She has studied under the personal tutelage of industry icons such as Vidal Sassoon, Jehrri Rhedding, Paul Mitchell, and Aveda founder Horst Reichenbacker. Elaine is certified in aromatherapy, reiki, and macrobiotic and ayurvedic cooking, and has years of practical studies in nutrition, health sciences, psychology and esoteric spiritual practices and philosophies including Native American and Eastern religions, yoga and meditation.

Elaine’s award-winning day spas were known for the wide range of all-natural, and organically-formulated products and services offered, as well as the integrated, holistic approach she took with her clients. She created the first Makeover Salon in the Southwest and worked with Fortune 100 corporations to assist them in the creation of a contemporary business image for their employees. Elaine’s production company, Sunbelt Circle Productions received national acclaim for deluxe extravaganzas that promoted local artists in the areas of beauty, fashion, health, and theatre. Elaine’s work has been extensively covered by international media including The Dallas Morning News, The New York Times, The London Times, D Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, Southern Living, Vogue, Glamour and Allure. She has been featured on many television programs and was the beauty expert on The Today Show where she hosted segments on makeovers, makeup artistry, wellness consciousness, and a meat-free lifestyle.

Elaine has also presented at numerous seminars and symposiums, featuring leading wellness experts including Dr. Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. A consummate networker, Elaine is one of the founding members of both the Dallas Holistic Chamber of Commerce and the eWomen Network, an international organization that has grown to over 35 chapters in the U.S. and Canada. An avowed vegetarian, Elaine also established Kalachanji's Vegetarian Restaurant in 1980. Today it is still recognized as “Dallas oldest and most revered vegetarian eatery.”

In 1992, Elaine and her husband moved to Mexico “to retire.” She quickly became friendly with the local artisans, holistic practitioners, healers, drummers, shamans, and medicine men and women in and around Tepoztlán. Within two years, she and her husband founded Mexico Sacred Journey Retreats as a way to share the beauty, magic and power of this special place. What started as visits by family and friends, turned into a body, mind, spirit self growth journey with women coming from all over the world to experience the transformational healing energies of this ancient Aztec-Nahuatl village. Today Elaine is a makeover specialist, writer, teacher, gourmet vegetarian chef, seminar and retreat leader. Her commitment is to continue educating women on staying dis-ease free and in balancing the areas of body, mind, and spirit in their daily lives, while looking fabulous, of course! Elaine works as a global citizen for world peace, the environment, non violence, and her different spiritual affiliations. She and her husband Michael currently live in Dallas, Texas.