We met on a wild adventure in India. The irony is we live a mile apart in LA, but destiny had our paths crossing nearly 10,000 miles away from home. As we shared our life-changing journey exploring the Taj Mahal, Varanasi, and Delhi, I discovered she was a top fashion designer. I was already well aware of the famous dresses from her line, Black Halo. One of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets, her clothes are designed to make you look five pounds thinner and two inches taller with her expert cuts and high-end material. They are the perfect “day-to-dinner” or “boardroom-to-bar” dresses because they are elegant, yet powerful and sexy.
Black Halo Designs
Needless to say, my closet is now packed full of her designs, and I receive more compliments on her clothes than any of the other designers I wear. I heard the best compliment last week when I was in NYC wearing her cobalt blue, Jackie O dress. A gentleman approached me and said, “That dress is stunning and just screams, ‘You’d better have serious game to even approach me’.” I laughed and immediately texted Laurel to tell her it should be the tagline for Black Halo’s line of evening dresses, Black Halo Eve by Laurel Berman.
Laurel Berman of Black Halo and her Healthy Lifestyle
Since traveling through India together, Laurel has become one of my best friends—so I know firsthand how committed she is to a healthy lifestyle. Her favorite workout out is yoga, which she practices four to five times a week. She also rollerblades for four hours every other Saturday. When she travels, she visits her favorite yoga spots in each city, and sometimes sends her rollerblades on ahead to her hotel so she can cruise through Central Park or Golden Gate Park and enjoy the outdoors.
Laurel Berman and her Favorite Asanas
Humble Warrior: Because she loves forward folds—and this one is more active. She drops her head to release the tension in her neck and shoulders anytime stress begins to build; when needed, she even deepens the release by adding eagle arms to the forward fold. She told me the stretch is amazing. I just tried it and she’s right!
Tumbling Tree: I love the name of this pose, which is basically moving from Warrior 3 to standing splits without falling. She loves the balancing aspect of the pose, and says that when the body is in balance, it colors every aspect of your life, creating balance throughout.
Laurel loves the transitions in her practice, the poses between the poses. She focuses on the breath to keep them smooth and purposeful without falling out of the pose during exit and entry. This represents another skill that helps her in her daily life…flowing smoothly through life’s transitions is easier once you master it on the mat. The main reason why she loves the practice of yoga is how it benefits the mind; having more control over her thoughts and emotions—not letting them run wild helps in her fast-paced professional and personal life. She moves through life with grace and style thanks to her yoga practice, healthy lifestyle…and great wardrobe!
Laurel Berman Black Halo Designer’s Favorite Veggie Recipe
Tijuana Tacos with homemade roasted salsa
- 4 corn tortillas
- 2 goat cheese slices halved or 1 cup grated cashew nut cheese
- 1 whole organic avocado quartered
- 2 cups shredded organic cabbage
- 12 organic cherry tomatoes
- Place cheese-covered tortillas flat on racks in conventional or toaster oven, set to broil.
- Remove tortillas once cheese is completely melted or bubbling, add one quarter of avocado and 1/2 cup shredded cabbage, cover with roasted salsa.
- Garnish with cherry tomatoes and cilantro.
- Perfect served with fresh cucumber and jicama spears.
Roasted salsa
- 4 large organic beefsteak tomatoes
- 6 jalapeño peppers
- 1 clove raw organic garlic
- 1 tablespoon organic pink Himalayan salt
- Place all tomatoes and jalapeños on dry skillet over high heat until evenly blackened on all sides.
- Toss all ingredients into the blender and blend until chunky smooth.
Yields 2 cups medium hot fresh delicious salsa.
Be sure and check out BlackHalo.com for her latest arrivals. I can tell you firsthand your quality of life will improve when you wear her clothes.
Lori Rischer is a music business promotion and marketing executive. In addition, she is the health & fitness spokesperson for KIIS-FM, a yoga teacher and certified yoga therapist. Rockstar Health & Fitness shares the healthy secrets of celebrities. Check out her blog at KIISFM.com keyword Rockstar or LoriRischer.com and listen to her workout playlist on icHeartRadio iheart.com/original/Rockstar-Health-Fitness.