Meet Courtney Bohlman | Alchemist, Elementary School Teacher, Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Spiritual Retreat Leader

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

Hi Courtney, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Wholesome Alchemy (WA) started for 2 keys reasons and one big push from my partner. I had been making organic products for family and friends for close to 7 years by the time I started my company. It all began because of a personal healing journey that I went on in my early 20’s. I had been struggling with facial rashes and sensitivity to body care products, which lead me down many paths towards healing. Ultimately landing me at the eastern practice of Ayurveda. Once I implemented the teachings, the changes within my body were incredible. This lead me to study, learn, and practice Ayurveda for myself. I moved to India and took a 3 month long immersive program, which lead to an internship at a local hospital in South India. Once I came back to the states I used my knowledge to begin crafting my own products. Over the years I have perfected my recipes and expanded my knowledge into different types of products. The most important piece behind the creation of WA is that, at the time, I saw it as a stepping stone to a dream I had been growing for years. I do a lot of work in developing countries, mostly West Africa, developing and opening schools in refugee camps and small villages. I have been a teacher for 10 years now and know the value of education. I traveled a lot in my lifetime and can recognize the great privileges we have by simply being born in the United States. I wanted to give back, I needed to. Being of service is a driving force within my life. So, Wholesome Alchemy was ultimately created as a way to fund these projects. With the dream that I can and will grow my company to be large enough to fund and open schools and orphanages all over the world. I imagine it being a beautiful cycle, where we plant and grow the crops that are needed to produce our products right at these schools. This way the individual beings that are being served are also offering back into the experience, while learning and growing in many ways. Giving them a feeling of purpose and helping them see that they are part of a much larger picture. All of this happening while keeping the environment at the front of our minds and our hearts by being a plastic free company that focuses on sustainability. Ultimately Wholesome Alchemy was created for the world. To offer a sustainable and organic option for products that we use daily and using these profits to make our world a better place, for everyone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Wholesome Alchemy started as a vision to give back and to spread health and wellness, by turning an everyday essential into a wholesome, organic, luxury experience with the highest standard of quality, care, and love. Wholesome Alchemy is a 100% organic, vegan, and handmade body care product line. Just like the food we eat, we only use fresh, natural, and wholesome ingredients that will positively contribute to your health. Our philosophy is in alignment with the creation of our products. Less is more and simple is better. We aim to holistically heal, nourish and maintain a healthy body, mind, heart, and spirit while using 100% natural, wholesome and organic Ingredients. We want Wholesome Alchemy to help make our world a better place. Keeping this at the front of our minds drives us to use renewable and sustainable ingredients. Our packaging is made from recycled materials and we just made the transition to being completely plastic free. We have made these choices for our organization because we know that this world belongs to all of us. At Wholesome Alchemy not only do we want to “leave no trace” but we want to make the world a better place! We are continually developing relationships in developing countries where we can source our oils directly from small farmers. With our ultimate goal being to source all of our materials this way. Our other oils are sourced through fair trade company, as this is extremely important to us as well. A portion of our profits, 15%-20%, go towards funding and developing schools and education in West Africa, with the knowing that we will expand into other countries as time continues and our company grows. Allowing our profits to go back into our global community. Wholesome Alchemy isn’t just our name. It is a commitment to crafting magically wholesome, healthy products, and educating the world on why living a wholesome and healthy life is important. We strive to live with compassion, kindness and empathy; to be environmentally sustainable and to improve the lives of all beings, while also being charitable and giving back to our global community. To me, Wholesome Alchemy is so much more than a business, it is a cause, it is a dream, it is an example of how we can all be in our world. We each have the ability to make a beautiful and positive impact in the world and my company is doing its part to offer options and solutions for each of us to do better and be better. Maybe that is something as simple as switching from a plastic bottle to a bar? Sounds simple because it is simple. We also offer opportunities to engage, which may mean going to West Africa with us, or attending an Ayurveda/Yoga/Meditation retreat (We have one this upcoming July). We always want to be offering ways to help individuals up-level themselves and their impact within the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the mountains and all of the availability in Colorado to go back country camping. Nature is healing and we can all use a little more of that. I would plan a trip to hike out into one of our National Forests, most likely Arapahoe, and set up by heart lake or 3 crater lakes. We would bring everything we need to stay for a few days. Set up our tents and hammocks near the lake and plan to just be for a little while. Our doggies would be with us and we would swim, explore, and hike. Spend the days under the sun reading a good book and our evenings under the stars watching and pondering the beauty of it all. On the drive home we would have to stop at a good brewery (my favorite is Denver Beer Co) and grab a delicious pizza from Justine’s.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest person that deserves a shoutout for helping start my company and really being an inspiring and motivating being in my life is my best friend and life partner, Ali Abouzalam. Before meeting him my company was a hobby but he helped me see how expanding would serve so many more people. He helped me to see the bigger picture and really recognize how my products are helping every individual that uses them, along with the environment. I know for a fact that Wholesome Alchemy would not be here today if I did not have him by my side, believing in me every step of the way. Not only believing in me but guiding me, as he is a successful small business owner himself. I would also like to give a shout out to my parents, who have been supportive of me from the beginning. It has been an interesting journey and they never doubted me once 🙂

Website: www.wholesomealchemy.com

Instagram: @wholesome_alchemy

Facebook: @WholesomeAlchemy