Meet Anke Bodack | Designer & Sustainable Retreat Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anke Bodack and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anke, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Germany and grew up in Munich. My dad was the head of design for the German Railways (DB) and my mom was at home, cooking delicious organic meals from her garden and also very creative. She would sew me any dress or anything I imagines for example. We would travel a lot, mostly by train and spend great summers in southern Europe. My dad would always bring friends, family or even people he met on the train home. Then my mom was hosting them and it seems every week there were some visitors. We would have great dinners on the patio or in the kitchen, that is the I am now centre of the house. I am now in Encinitas California and run my own sustainable B&B I designed with some great architect friend of mine.
I feel I am living like I grew up in Germany how my parents house was, but the difference is I make my living with it.

What should our readers know about your business?
I set up and designed my business on the principles of well being and being sustainable. That means for the guests, for the environment and for the staff and myself. All our products are sourced sustainably and local. Our building materials, especially what you touch and feel is sustainable and if possible hand made and natural. This not only is great for Mother Earth, but as well for your guests, who have toxin and allergy free environment. This path of being sustainable is an ongoing process and sometimes its challenging because I run the business myself and only have certain amount of hours and cash flow to implement. But I feel also amazing support and luck, for example literally today we will start installing to EV chargers which I got through CALeVIP application I made a few years back. I in general have learned that some things just may take time and when the time is right, it will manifest. Staying positive and optimistic will help, I try to do that with daily meditation, being grateful and recently I have added journaling. I also have learned that taking care of my own well being is essential for being a good hots and running my business. I have been been getting much better with my yoga practice, going to the gym, spending time in nature with my puppy and my son and lastly enough sleep. I would love for the world to know that we can all make a positive impact on the environment, every time we make a purchase we have a choice for a sustainable or not so sustainable product. Just like our story, we feel what’s better for Mother Earth is also much better for us, it’s all full circle. And when we give, it also will come back.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would recommend our organic breakfast, but then head to a nice lunch to Atelier manna in Leucadia. Its definitely our new favorite in town! Then we would spend some time at Swamis Beach, may be take a little sandwich from Prager Brothers bakery in Encinitas. We may drive up to Oceanside and visit The Tremont Collective, get some beautiful items at Alfresco Experience.
Then book a beach Soundbath with Nobletones. After that all relaxed we would book a table either in Oceanside at The Valle, or at our in town favorites Herb & Sea or The Waverly in Cardiff.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am so grateful for my always supportive and inspiring parents! They have always believed in me and my ideas and have helped me tremendously. My first mentor when I came to California, Brenda parking has inspired me in many ways and besides her Jerry Hirshberg, who set up the incredible Design Studio for Nissan in La Jolla. His way of guiding and inspiring the studio beyond just creative design, but energy and teamwork will always stay with me. He wrote the book Creative Priority that really influenced me. My next mentor was Tom Matano, he inspired me and my creative “partner in crime” Bryan Thompson on a daily basis and I am so grateful to have worked with him at the Start up V-Vehicle. The list can be endless, but one incredibly generous vendor I had met while planning and designing Twelve Senses was Suzi Mullins. As I was almost debating not to built Twelve Senses, due to budget issues, she really convinced me to do it in sending me a generous amount back form a huge order I had placed for all my bathrooms. This essentially also gave me enough courage to go ahead, with her generous gesture and belief in my dream. Lastly Oprah and Deepak Chopra have inspired me to meditate, find a daily routine of mediation, no matter how shirt or long. But to trust my heart and listen to my inner calling and purpose.

Website: www.twelvesensesretreat.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twelvesensesretreat/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankemazzei/

Youtube: https://youtu.be/QnyyxsPisPk

Image Credits
Austin John & Ohiko Co