Slow Waters: with Ece Targit Günşiray

I’m Ece, a content creator, founder, and recent mum to 14-month-old twin boys (plus two dogs) based in London. I run two wellness apps, Flov Studio and Desté — a self-reflection app designed to help people reconnect with themselves through rituals, journaling, and intuitive prompts. My work lives somewhere between tech, wellness, and creativity, and a big part of what I do is creating tools and content that feel supportive in real life.

You’re a busy entrepreneur and mother to twins, so we can appreciate time might be a little short - what does self-care realistically look like for you right now?

Before kids, I was a huge self-care girlie - hour-long morning routines, long moon rituals, the whole thing. Now it’s much simpler. Every morning I have lemon water in one of those big spill-proof cups while hanging out with the boys in their room before breakfast — that’s honestly my “self care” moment. In the evenings, a bath with MIRROR WATER SOAK Bath Salts, some red light, and a few minutes to myself makes a huge difference.

Congratulations on your beautiful app, Desté! What inspired you to create a tool that encourages inner guidance? How do you personally use the cards when you’re feeling disconnected or uncertain?

Desté came from wanting something that didn’t tell me what to do but helped me hear myself more clearly.

Sometimes I pull a card. Sometimes I open the app and it asks me a question that feels surprisingly relevant. The more you use it, the better the questions get. Sometimes I answer straight away, sometimes it takes me a couple of days to come back to it and sometimes just sitting with the question already shifts something inside me.

Has becoming a mother changed your relationship with your inner voice or intuition over time? 

Completely. I didn’t know what kind of mum I’d be — I have very type-A, controlling tendencies — but motherhood made everything more intuitive. I feel much more in sync with myself and more confident in what I believe is right. It’s also given me this very primal protective energy — like suddenly you’re a lioness with cubs. I feel everything deeper now. My empathy has expanded, and my heart just opened in a way I didn’t expect.

As someone who helps others reconnect with themselves, what do you reach for when the outside world feels overwhelming?

First thing: I put my phone away. Then I come back to my body. My yoga practice is everything to me. Even 10 minutes on my mat, moving intuitively or just laying in a heart-opening pose changes my whole state. I also journal in the app when I can. Getting away from screens and into my body is usually the fastest reset.

Is there a scent, texture or object that always helps you feel calm, present or at home in your body?

I love warm, woody scents. We usually have incense burning or palo santo going in the house. Texture-wise: fresh-out-of-the-shower skin, cozy loungewear, good socks, clean hair basically an “everything shower” followed by comfy clothes instantly makes me feel calmer.

What’s a book, mantra, podcast, or piece of music that supports your rest practice or inspires you creatively?

I listen to a lot of audiobooks while walking with the boys. It feels more immersive and helps me properly switch off. Right now I’m listening to There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak and it genuinely teleports me into a completely different reality.

If you had a day entirely to yourself - no kids, no work, no commitments - what would your ideal slow day look like?

I’d start with meditation in bed, then do my yoga practice. A slow breakfast while watching a comfort movie I’ve seen a million times. A walk with the dogs. I’d only schedule one thing — maybe a coffee with a friend, maybe a massage or facial — and leave the rest open. Read in the park. Cook something nice in the evening. Mostly just not rushing anywhere.

Connect with Ece ↓

Instagram
TikTok
Desté
Flov Studio
ecetargit.com