Practitioner Spotlight: Rebecca Litwin, down etc

Since I began down etc with the first showroom in San Francisco in 2001, it has grown from decorative pillow inserts in every shape and size into a leading manufacturer of luxury top-of-the-bed and bath soft goods to the hospitality industry with worldwide factories and distribution facilities. In response to requests from hotel guests who had experienced a great night's sleep on our pillows, in 2012, my Team and I worked to create a retail website, www.downetc.com. I firmly believe a great night’s sleep is foundational to health and well-being and that comfortable and hygienic bedding is essential to a great night’s sleep. Whether working with hospitality clients or retail customers, the Team at down etc is purpose-driven to provide the right pillows and bedding for a great night’s sleep.

As a child, I loved origami. I was amazed by the way in which a flat sheet of paper could be folded into something three dimensional. After college, I had the unique opportunity to work as a casting director with a Japanese fashion designer who incorporated origami in his work. I was inspired by his application of theories of architecture and engineering to fabrics in his designs. My own passion for fabrics, design, and three-dimensional shapes came together in the creation of pillow inserts in every shape and size. I envisioned a space filled with pillows of every kind. That vision was realized when I created down etc.

The down etc logo includes a triangle, square, and circle. It reflects not only my fascination with shapes but also my belief in the circle striving toward the infinity symbol. If you spin a triangle or square, you will see the outline of a circle. Although a circle may seem complete on its own, it is reaching for its partner, which is the infinity symbol.

The chakra with which I most identify is the sixth chakra, the Third Eye chakra, located in the center of the forehead, just above the space above the eyebrows. In the representation of this chakra, I see the triangle, square, and circle, as well as the infinity symbol. When I trace around my eyes and across my third eye, I feel the infinity symbol. I believe it is the root of my imagination, creativity, and the vision I have followed to bring down etc into the world.

Like my mother, I have always been drawn to purple, particularly periwinkle, which is the color I chose to represent down etc. The color of the Third Eye chakra is indigo, a color between blue and purple and the color of down etc’s sixth chakra room at the Auratherapy Pop-Up.

When I began to study chakras, I learned that an imbalance in the Third Eye chakra can result in sleep issues and that meditation is one of the ways to balance the Third Eye chakra. At down etc, we believe sufficient quality sleep is critical to overall health and well being. We follow experts in recommending a bedtime routine in the 60-90 minutes before lying down to sleep to improve the quantity and quality of sleep. Meditation and relaxation, are part of that bedtime routine. The goal is always to calm the mind and body so that it is prepared for sleep. We refer to the Power of Positive Sleep, or POPS, for short.

If I had to identify a superpower, I would say that it is being able to envision a goal and having the confidence and tenacity to pursue it through all the failures along the way. That confidence is supported by meditation and breathing, which is something I practice every day.

I believe that my energy is fed by nearness to water. I live where I can see the ocean, and I drive over water each day. I try to stop at the beach for a few minutes to breathe the ocean air or to drive with my windows open to let the calmness of the water surround me and energize me for the day ahead.

Something I have in common with Laura McCann, the founder of Auratherapy, is our belief in having a vision and working to bring that vision to life through every sense. When she proposed down etc for the sixth chakra room, we immediately understood the room as a sanctuary for meditation. Encouraging a calm mind and a relaxed body with gentle aromas like lavender to quiet the mind, soft lighting, soothing music, and cozy slippers is precisely how we wish to guide those preparing for the nourishing sleep they need.