Look good, feel good

Think Ma Pau and Sweet Lime ... to be a full-time mom and support her husband’s newly established business, Spark Technologies, a home-alarm and electronic security systems company.
She was also looking around for a business of her own, not just to earn extra money, but for her own self-development. She stumbled upon Energetix. Formed in Germany in 2002, the company also has a base in the US.  They produce a range of designer magnetic jewelery that looks as if it came straight out of Rodeo Drive.

We in the West Indies love to try alternative therapies; it’s just a part of who we are. 
Grandma wears a magnetic bracelet for her arthritis.  The hunk at the gym drinks purified water from a magnetised bottle. 

But the taste for alternative medicine isn’t restricted to this region, or even to this era.  Hippocrates thought magnets were a smart way to improve one’s well-being and boost energy.  All over the world, people use magnets, especially magnetic jewelery, to improve their circulation, reduce body acidity, lower toxicity, and help with a veritable shopping list of aches, pains, and ailments. 

Those who believe in the existence of chakras, or the centres of energy within the body, use magnets to bring balance and harmony to their energy flow, leaving them with peace of mind and a pervasive sense of calm. 

Medical science turns up its nose at the mere idea of magnetic therapy. Supporters of conventional Western medicine argue that, as with many other alternative treatments, it has not been adequately tested to determine whether its effects on the human body are genuinely therapeutic.  Those who practise alternative medicine, however, are as excited now as they have been for the last several thousand years.

Baksh-Subnaik was intrigued by both the look of the jewellery and the idea that they could actually affect a person’s sense of well-being.  Energetix was offering a free magnetic bracelet, and, unable to pass up free jewellery, she shrugged, requested one, and gave it a try.  To her surprise, it seemed to work for her.  “I used to get migraines, sometimes every day.  The bracelet has made me feel much better.” And the cynic became a convert.

When considering the business opportunity the jewelery represented, the former auditor approached the company (and the concept) with a healthy dose of caution.  “I don’t ever believe in hype.  I read up on everything I do.  I don’t just drop into things.”  She combed the net, and the company’s literature, for information.

She also drew encouragement from her mother, a long-time believer in alternative therapies.  “You know how some people say when you get sick, you put a cut onion in your room?  She’s one of those people.  She always believed in those kinds of things.  But,” she adds with a laugh, “you know you never really take on your mother.”  So she read the testimonials and did her research.  Convinced, she signed up, and became the first distributor in T&T to offer the Energetix line of designer jewelery.

And while the company steers well clear of claiming to offer a cure for any ailment, they do say that their clients feel relaxed, tranquil, stimulated or energised.  And, very importantly, they look great doing it.
What comes to mind immediately when we hear about magnetic jewelery is those heavy, clunky bangles and pendants, with all the grace and style of an orthopaedic shoe.  Good enough for Grandma, maybe, but not for today’s modern, stylish woman.  And this is what sets Baksh-Subnaik’s goods apart from the others.

She doesn’t toss the term ‘designer’ out there just because it sounds good. Her jewelery could grace the pages of any glossy women’s magazine.  The magnet is just half the story; the other half is a tale of Swarovski crystals and semi-precious gems.  Pieces are gold, rhodium, copper or nickel-plated, and are all allergy-free.

What’s more, clients can configure their pieces to their taste, choosing the material, the gems, charms and pendants, before placing their order.  There’s also a children’s line, with cute versions of the adult creations for every client’s mini-me. 

Pet lovers can rejoice.  Energetix doesn’t just produce magnetic jewelery for humans, but for their four-footed companions as well.  Apparently, animals can benefit just as much from magnetic therapy, and, if anything, their stylish collars and dog tags will cause a stir wherever they go.

Baksh-Subnaik has great plans for her business.  She intends to open up a store soon, and is also approaching local spas and salons to showcase her jewelery.  The children’s pieces starts at about $160, and the grown-up pieces start from $280.

T&T women who are interested in trying out this exotic marriage of beauty and wellness can contact Baksh-Subnaik on Facebook and click through to her Energetix page or call her on 299-5565.  She’ll deliver in person, or ship to an overseas or local mailbox.