Wellness

Published Friday Mar 27, 2020 by Christa Quattrocchi

Environmental Wellness: Creating a Mindful and Green Life at Home

Expert Advice

Renewal

If you’re one of the millions under mandated work from home you may have already noticed that means cooking every meal, taking out the trash more often and, if you’re like us, remodeling your space into a home office/gym every day. With all of this change, it could be pretty challenging to maintain your wellness routine. Here at Mindbody, we’re thinking about well-being beyond the limitations of mental and physical health, including the environmental dimension of wellness. Spending more time at home means more time to make mindful choices of what you invite into your space.

Small changes to your at-home routine can have a major impact on the health of oceans, farms, and life on earth. Sustainable choices look a little different to each of us, so we rounded up a few of our favorite ways to make a positive impact on our planet from the comfort of your own home.

Invest in an Essential Oil Diffuser.

Aromatherapy can change the entire vibe of a space but burning through candles can happen quickly and recycling them can be a process. Just a few drops of your favorite essential oils go a long way in a diffuser meaning they’ll last you a really long time and customize your scents. Plus, diffusers oftentimes dupe as a humidifier helping to heal dry skin and even prevent airborne viruses!

Take a Virtual Fitness Class with a Friend

You know that yoga teacher 3 towns over that melts every ounce of stress away, but it takes an hour in traffic and a half a tank of gas to get to? Virtual fitness is stepping in to bring your favorite instructors to your living room without having to burn the gas to get there. Community is a core part of fitness and our social wellness relies on staying connected right now. Invite your workout buddy to tune in, roll out your mat, turn on your essential oil diffuser and press play to recreate the essence of your favorite studios right in your living room.

[Find Virtual Classes in your area (and beyond) now on Mindbody]

Bring in the actual greens and make sure they can thrive in your environment.

Houseplants can purify the air in your home, improve your productivity levels by 15% and can even evoke a sense of calm into your space. Sure, the countless benefits don’t suppress the fear of failing to keep your plant baby alive (don’t worry, we’ve all had a failed attempt). To be sure to commit to caring for plants that enjoy being in your home as much as you enjoy having them there, choose wisely. If you live in a seasonal regional, maybe don’t invite that cactus under your watch and welcome in a fiddle leaf fig instead.

Start with one of these indoor-friendly ferns: philodendron, snake plant, zz plant, spider plant, rubber tree.

Remodel.

Create a dedicated “office” oasis.: Now that commuting is a thing of the past, mama earth is saying thanks for reducing pollution. Woohoo! Working from home comes with some hurdles, though. It can have us toeing the line between answering emails and binging your new Netflix obsession. But the couch just won’t cut it as a productivity throne. Dedicate a sacred space for work to keep that work-life balance in check.

Breaking up with plastic. An Exercise.

Go around the house and collect all the plastic you have in a box, this includes your hand soap, shampoo, that extra set of take-out utensils, toothpaste, zip lock bags, the list goes on. Each time one of those items runs out, replace it with an eco-friendly alternative like a shampoo bar, silicone zip bags, and bamboo travel utensils.

Pro-Tip: Hang onto glass jars from finished kitchen items, like peanut butter, jam and mayo. When you’re shopping, go for the products that come in glass so you can compile a collection without dishing out more $$$ on glass containers.

Invest in reusable containers and bags.

From mason jars to hemp produce bags, there are so many options for swapping your plastic containers for sustainable storing.

Hint: Keep your reusable bags by your door so you don’t forget them when you go to the grocery store or if you’re packing to bring items out to a gathering.

Keep plant-based kitchen staples on hand.

Many studies showcase the positive environmental impact that a plant-based diet poses. If you’re not ready to go full vegan yet, start with small swaps of the plant versions of your household staples. Here are a few of our favorite substitutes that could easily pass for the “real thing.”

Oat milk – the creamiest of all the non-dairy milk goes to oats, making it a perfect swap in your coffee and nut-allergy friendly.

Butter – Margarine has been a plant-based secret for years. We also love Miyokos butter, which truly skates by as the real thing when slathered on a slice of toast.

Mayo – Eggless mayonnaise works wonders and can bring dairy-free creaminess to spreads and salad dressings. Plus, many brands come in glass jars!

Plant Protein Powder – With plenty of options on the market, you’re sure to find a flavor that will add some power to your smoothies without empowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Eggs – When baking, you can substitute eggs for flax ‘eggs'! 1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 2.5 tbsp water = 1 egg.

Minimize your Amazon packaging waste.

Did you know that you can request your Amazon orders to be plastic-free with minimal packaging? Just follow these simple steps:

Go to the ‘Help/Customer Service’ section of your account.
Select ‘Contact Us’ and use the chat option to make a request that all future orders be plastic-free and where absolutely necessary only use bio-degradable materials like paper.
Viola!

Unplug (some of) your appliances when you’re not using them.

Collectively, devices plugged in on sleep mode can rack up $19 billion in electricity costs worldwide. Things like your toaster oven, blender, and cell phone charger can save some serious electricity if you unplug them when they’re idle. Put those pennies back in your pocket and save the planet while doing so.

Let the sunshine in.

This is a two in one. Giving your curtains a break is not only an easy way to minimize electricity usage, but it can also be great for your overall wellness. Natural light can be an awesome mood improver, productivity booster, and sleep aid.

Keep up the momentum of greener living by trying more virtual classes on Mindbody. Even swapping out one car trip to your favorite studio for a virtual class can have a lasting impact on this planet. Share more ways you're going green right now on Instagram and tag @mindbody! We'll share the love.

Written by

Christa Quattrocchi

Acquisition Program Manager

About the author

Christa is a 300hr certified yoga instructor on a soulful journey to integrate spiritual practices, such as astrology, tarot, and pranayama, in her guidance both on and off the mat. She is Mindbody’s resident witch and advertising aficionado. Beyond her credentials, you can find Christa channeling creativity through writing, cooking plant-based goodness, & surfing her home waters in sunny San Diego.

Fitness

Published Wednesday Jul 28, 2021 by Bree Lewis

Sweat Redemption: 5 Tips for Getting Back Into Your Hot Yoga Practice

Yoga

Fitness

Expert Advice

If you’ve ever taken a hot yoga class, you know it’s always going to be one thing—outrageously hot. Not the “let’s hang by the pool and get that sun-kissed glow” kind of hot either. I’m talking that “I can't believe I have this much sweat in my body” and “I may or may not pass out” kind of hot. It’s nothing to mess around with, and after a year or so of not being able to go, it’s easy to forget just how serious that heat can be.

To get the maximum enjoyment and benefits out of your heated yoga classes, you need to prepare yourself before and take care of yourself afterward. Luckily, I’ve been taking some classes (sweating enough for the both of us) and I’ve listed my five favorite must-dos to help you readjust to your heated classes and get back to the hot yoga summer that we all want.

1. Go at your own pace

Heated classes are difficult in nature. The normal difficulty of regular poses is mixed in with the added challenges of sweating and dealing with the humidity and the heat (at times, I’ve seen the thermostat climb to 108 degrees—yikes!). Depending on what type of yoga class you’re taking (sculpt, Bikram, power vinyasa), the difficulty level and temperature are going to vary. It’s also important to remember that each person in the room is going to practice in a way that’s unique to them. Hours slept, hydration levels, food intake, and different lifestyles are all contributing factors that make our practices different. What you practice on your mat is your own––trust your body and only do what feels right to you. And remember, it’s okay to take breaks!

2. Hydrate like your life depends on it (honestly, it might)

The rise in temperature mixed in with the humidity that we all know and love creates the perfect recipe for sweating—like A LOT. You go into a heated class dry and come out feeling like you just took a dip in the pool. Before heated classes, I had no idea it was physically possible to sweat that much. If you’re going to a heated class, especially after a long break, it’s easy to forget just how much you might sweat. Is it possible to lose that much water if you haven’t consumed it first? Trust me, going into your heated class super hydrated is going to make a world of difference and help you feel good throughout your practice. And don’t forget to take some sips of H2O while you’re practicing!

3. Nourish your body

Heated classes are challenging, but I can’t stop going. Nothing quite compares to overcoming the challenge— and experiencing the cleanse my body feels after I’m done. It’s the perfect blend of hard and rewarding, but I couldn’t do it if my body wasn’t properly nourished. On the days I know I have a heated class booked; I like to make sure I am eating right. I make sure to take my vitamins and fuel my body with fruits, vegetables, and my favorite superfood shake. I hold off on food about an hour before my practice, so I feel comfortable. After the class, I like to replenish with a big protein shake (boosted with collagen to aid with muscle recovery and skin elasticity). There is no one-way path for properly nourishing your body but making sure you’re fueled for the challenge of a heated class is essential for getting the most out of your practice and feeling good on and off your mat.

4. Replenish those electrolytes

Increasing and maintaining your water intake on the days you take a heated class is important, but sometimes you need something a little extra. If you’re sweating that much, you’re basically an athlete (at least in my book) and if you’re performing like a rockstar yogi, you need to hydrate like one as well. That means replenishing those lost electrolytes. Reward yourself and your body for the hard work and treat yourself to your favorite drink. I switch off between electrolyte-boosting drinks and coconut water depending on what I’m in the mood for that day. Adding these to my post-practice self-care routine has helped me feel more hydrated after and ready to take on the world again after especially sweaty classes.

5. Bring the right equipment

Usually, a yoga mat is all you need for your practice––but heated classes are a different ballgame. I’ve gone with just a mat, and I’ve slipped all over the place. Let me tell you, there’s nothing worse than having sweat drip all over the place while you’re trying to hold a pose that makes you grip your mat for dear life (never again). Make sure you bring a towel to place over your mat, this will help with support and grip. Bringing a smaller towel is also a good idea. You can use the smaller towel to dry yourself off during water breaks or whenever you’re feeling just a bit too sweaty. This is a small step that makes a world of difference during those super-hot classes.

So, there you have it. Five of my favorite tips (more like lifesavers) that have helped me readjust to those heated classes I love so much. Getting back into it is a challenge for us all, so know you’re not alone. No matter where you’re at in your practice, remember to be kind and gentle to yourself––celebrating your health and your body’s ability to do what you love. We’re all just getting back out there, together.

Ready to jump back into your hot yoga routine? Browse Mindbody to find the perfect class for you.

While you’re at it, check out some Intro Offers near you that can help you get back to your cadence of hot yoga classes.

Book Yoga

Written by

Bree Lewis

Marketing Content Associate