Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Erin Purdy, and I am a fun-loving and open-minded surfer, nomad, transformation coach, and co-founder of The Human Design Lab. I am originally from Chicago but currently live full-time in Indonesia. There's nothing I love more than spending time in the ocean, sharing waves with close friends, and being so deeply immersed in the present that the rest of the world just melts away.

What made you leave your old life and choose a life in Bali?

I have always been an athlete, and health and wellness was my first passion. I was a competitive springboard diver in the US, and I trained and studied business at the University of North Carolina. After I graduated and retired from the sport, I entered the "working world" as a Business Strategy Consultant at one of the top global consulting firms. On paper - I did everything right. I had a sexy, high-paying corporate job that flew me all over the US for work. I thought that everything was going to work out perfectly until I very quickly hit burn-out. the 60-80 hour work weeks, constant stress, and high stakes were wreaking havoc on my nervous system, and my body was taking the hit. I felt like I was losing control of myself. My health was diminishing, I was losing confidence, and I had no direction or sense of purpose anymore. I knew that I wasn't happy, but I had no idea where to go or WHO I really was anymore. This sent me on a deep, holistic journey to find myself. I wanted to feel excited by life again, and I wanted to help PEOPLE rather than continue to help large corporations just make even more money. Around this time of self-discovery, I discovered Human Design (keep reading for more on this), which gave me the tools to finally start listening to and trusting myself. I decided to take a leap, quitting my job as a Consultant after 3 years at the firm, and booking a 1-way flight to Lombok, Indonesia - where I would travel, continue to work on myself, and learn how to surf...

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How did you start surfing?

I knew when I booked my flights to Indonesia that the first thing I wanted to do was learn how to surf. And I also knew deep down that my life would never be the same. I am a water baby. The ocean called to me ever since I was a child. Unfortunately, I didn't live by the sea, but every vacation was spent completely immersed in the sand and waves. After I retired from diving, and no longer spent my days in the swimming pool - there was a part of me that was missing. I needed that connection back to the water, and the athlete in me was craving that challenge of learning something new, improving, and pushing my limits. I joined a surf camp in Lombok called Drop-In (the absolute best camp in Indo for people who are really looking to learn the technical skills required for surfing and rapidly improve their surfing) where I got absolutely tossed around for 7 days straight, but fell head-over-heels in love with the sport. And life has never been the same.



What do you do for work?

I am the co-founder of The Human Design Lab - which is an online learning platform, community space, and mentorship program built to teach you everything you need to know about your Human Design and live life the way you were genetically and energetically created to.


For context, if you're wondering what in the world is Human Design, it's a blueprint for how to understand, use and optimize your own unique energy. Consider it an operating manual showing you how you were designed to move around in the world. Energy is the building block of all life. Your energy creates your genetics and is completely unique to you. So why are we all taught to live life in the same way?! When you learn how to work WITH your energy, everything else falls into place effortlessly. Human Design is a system that breaks

down the mechanics of this. Your chart will show the characteristics of your energy, what you're here to do, & HOW you're designed to do it. Put simply: follow your Human design, and live a life filled with opportunity.


I created this platform because Human Design was the tool that truly helped me change my life - to transition from feeling stuck and unhappy in the corporate world, to living the life of my dreams. It taught me how to stop trying to follow someone else's vision of what life should look like and instead listen to and trust my own body and individuality. My mission is to make this information accessible and digestible to as many people as possible because I believe that the more we can start to live life on our own terms, the more we can change the world. I also work 1:1 with clients looking to make radical transformations in their lives, using Human Design and a host of other tools to break down limiting beliefs, subconscious patterning, and trauma and create a life of alignment, authenticity, and ease.


If this sparks your interest, learn more on Instagram at @thehumandesignlab.co and connect with me at @erinxpurdy, or get started with us for as little as $22 at www.thehumandesignlab.co

It goes without saying that we have a deep affection for Portugal, and with all its remarkable offerings, who could blame us? From the vast stretches of beaches and cliffs, to the crisp taste of Vinho Verde, the delectable pastries, and the blue tiles, it’s easy to fall in love.And fall in love we did - since moving production to Portugal one of our founders grew such a deep adoration they decided to relocate there too. As a result, we find ourselves taking more frequent work trips, indulging in even more pastries along the way. In April, we spent several days collaborating, rejuvenating, and drawing inspiration for new ventures.

If you have not been yet, you most visit Ericeira. A beautiful blue and white town located on the western coastline about an hour from Lisbon. Considered the surfing capital of Europe for being the only European spot among the World Surfing Reserves.

Most people speak english, but here is a few useful phrases that might come in handy:

Lindeza
Means beauty

Não faz mal
No harm done

onde é a praia?
Where is the beach?

Tudo bem
All good

Tas fixe
Cool

And last.. Foods to try!

Pastel de nata (classic custard dessert)
Precebes (goose barnacle)
Anona da Madeira (fruit)
Maracuja (passion fruit)
coração de boi tomate (similar to heirloom tomatoes)

Why Portugal?

A few years ago, we made the decision to relocate our swimwear production to Portugal for several reasons. Manufacturing in underdeveloped nations lacks transparency in terms of supply chain and working conditions for employees. We have a deep appreciation for Sri Lanka and will continue to support it where we can. We are not suggesting that brands should avoid producing there, as countries like Sri Lanka depend on external work. However, since we were not residing there and couldn't oversee daily operations, we recognized the lack of transparency. By moving production to Portugal, we can ensure that our products are made by women working in fair conditions and receiving the appropriate pay they deserve. Health and safety measures are strictly adhered to, and the factory can receive fabrics from Italy via land transport instead of air freight. This decision aligns with our goal of becoming a sustainable brand that aims to close the loop. We appreciate your support on this journey.