Who am I?
Hi, I am Tara Allan and welcome to TAM Wellbeing by Design
I have always felt an inner knowing that I am most at peace and happy when I am helping people. It brings me true fulfilment and joy. My mother told me that even as a young child, I was always drawn towards caring for others. So, when I made the decision to be an early childhood education teacher, it made total sense to me and felt right. It was a good fit, and aligned with my life purpose and heart for many years. However, about ten years ago, things changed. My 18 year marriage had ended, and I was not as fulfilled as I once was in my teaching career. I had reached many milestones, moving up quickly to leadership positions, but was no longer certain if it was the path I wanted to be on. This led me on a personal journey of introspection and reflection of myself, my life and how the wellbeing landscape within ourselves, and others could be reframed, reprioritised and transformed. This led to TAM Wellbeing by Design being born in the latter part of this journey, and so here we are!
Ayurveda and its teachings have been a part of my learning path and are woven within what is offered at TAM. I also find truth and value in many teachings and perspectives, and weave this into my life, practices and offerings. I always keep an open mind, and am always learning and evolving.
I have a special interest in helping teams and organizations create an environment that prioritises well-being, and recognises the ripple and transformative effects of creating a culture of wellness. Ayurvedic teachings in nutrition, meditation, and mindfulness are interwoven in a uniquely designed way, and are designed to meet the interests and needs for the person, group or organisation I am working with. I do this through a variety of ways – coaching and consulting, workshops, meditation and teacher trainings. I specialise in coaching individuals one on one, and with education services and businesses wanting to create a life and space of health wellbeing.
The backdrop to the story….
Whilst I had known for a few years that I had a restlessness inside me for change, my time of introspection was disrupted by a lifechanging event, which stopped me in my tracks. The death of my identical twin sister. Time stood still within my universe. I can say without reservation, that it was the hardest time of my life, and made me question my own place on this earth. Why was I here? What was I supposed to do now? It made me question everything I had believed and known. You see, I had always been a cup half full person. The one that always saw the “silver lining” and the “bright side” of things. Ask anyone that knows me. Only this time, I couldn’t see it. Not a glimmer, nor a spark. Not only was it the most difficult loss I had ever been through, it only further compounded what I felt about the need to take care of my own wellbeing and journey back to wholeness. This realisation of course, did not come to me straight away, however it did come. It came in the form of my own wellbeing deteriorating in all areas of my life.
It was few months later after my sisters death, that I saw a glimmer. An ever so small one at that, but a glimmer nonetheless. This came in the form of a weekend away to one of my favourite little picturesque towns called Greytown. Being in a different place, and fresh surroundings took some of the edge off of feeling in perpetual pain, even if was just for a moment. Walking through beautiful shops, looking at lovely and expensive objects, sitting at a bustling cafe, and just “being”. I did not know how to navigate my way through things this time, so instead I found ways to distract myself and numb the pain I was feeling. I was back at the Airbnb where we were staying, and I had been looking at Facebook as most of us do. Another way to yet distract my ‘monkey mind”. As I scrolled, a post for becoming a Chopra certified coach came up, and I don’t know what else to say but that it was a direct sign to me personally. I knew with every ounce of my being that this is what I was meant to be doing. I knew so unequivocally, that I start to cry uncontrollably. They were not tears of sadness, but of immense joy that I felt within my heart space. Bittersweet joy, at the irony of finding my true north within the stormy chaos of loss. Somehow, in some way, my sister’s departure from this life had been a catalyst, a catapult towards me fulfilling my life’s purpose with urgency. This took me on a complete and messy transformational journey that spanned over three years and continues to this day. Not the messy, but the transformational part definitely. This is how TAM Wellbeing by Design was born, and which the life and spark of my sister is so much a part of in all that is TAM.
What’s in a name?
The name TAM Wellbeing by Design was created quite organically. To provide a bit of context, my twin sister’s name is Tammy, aka “Tam” as she was affectionately known to family and friends. There is also a bit more to the story. You see, I have always sought out to understand things, and love learning. I am a researcher, analyst and philosopher, and am always searching, learning and evolving. Part of this learning has been an interest in Buddhism and its teachings. The significance this would have, came to me through learning about the Green Tara Buddha after Tam died. As I researched and learned about the Green Tara deity, I was drawn to the synchronicities with my own life. The same name as my own, my favourite colour green, and the seed mantra for the Green Tara Buddha, which is “Tam”. Also, what Green Tara represents…compassion and empathy in action, which so resonates with me. She also is looked upon for guidance and support during challenging times, which fits so well with my life purpose and becoming a wellbeing and life coach. Somehow, I knew the name was meant to be, and this is how TAM Wellbeing by Design came into being. Somehow this is fitting, and I take it as a sign and a symbolic reminder to me of my dharma or purpose in this life, to be there for others and extending a hand of compassion and care along life’s journey.
The Green Tara Buddha is shown to be “in a posture of ease and readiness for action”. This is how I like to think of myself as a coach, peaceful and calm, and ready to support you towards aligning to your true self and building resilience and transformational change in your life.
As your coach…
I create a safe, caring and compassionate space for you to bring your authentic self. I will support you along your journey, to quiet the sounds and voices of the outside world and go within, to allow your inner voice and wisdom to be heard, and to guide you on your unique, courageous and adventurous journey.