Wellness
Tips From Fitness Instructors on How to Stay Grounded
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It seems like we are always welcoming a new month of busy. Holidays. Ski trips. Summer vacation. Can you constantly feel the change in the air? And no, I am not talking about the different seasons.
Between working, packing, shopping, scheduling, we have to wonder where does self-care fit in? How do we find time for ourselves?
Invest your time in exploring ways to support both feet on the ground. Say "no" to frantic chaos and hello to joy in the world—our inner world. I am committed to a clear balance between family and work in my calendar. With that, I know (and understand) the space to feel and check-in with myself, whether it’s out on a hike, or with a dose of self-care—a facial, massage, or meditation in my closet (the quietest spot in the house). Committing to me first actually allows me to ground down and choose my calendar from a clear and intentional space.
So how do others find balance? We spoke with some of the most grounded instructors in the wellness business to get real-life tips:
Honor your path.
“I can lose myself in one too many espresso shots and my Instagram feed, but I do know what brings me right back to my grounded way of being. For me, it's moving back into a relationship with my breath through meditation and yoga, spending time writing in my notebook (and less time in Gmail) and filling myself up with things that feel nourishing (often it's both an oat milk latte and a grounding maca smoothie.) I do believe that grounding will look different for each of us, and it's important to honor your path. The question I ask myself is—what would bring me back home to me?”
- Mary Beth LaRue | Los Angeles
International Yoga Teacher and Mentor, Co-founder of Rock Your Bliss
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Honor your path.
“I can lose myself in one too many espresso shots and my Instagram feed, but I do know what brings me right back to my grounded way of being. For me, it's moving back into a relationship with my breath through meditation and yoga, spending time writing in my notebook (and less time in Gmail) and filling myself up with things that feel nourishing (often it's both an oat milk latte and a grounding maca smoothie.) I do believe that grounding will look different for each of us, and it's important to honor your path. The question I ask myself is—what would bring me back home to me?”
- Mary Beth LaRue | Los Angeles
International Yoga Teacher and Mentor, Co-founder of Rock Your Bliss
Gather a broader perspective.
“When I'm feeling ‘ungrounded,’ or as if the train is flying off the tracks, I close my eyes, get quiet with myself, and do a scan. I scan my physical self first—am I thirsty, hungry, or tired? Followed by my emotional self—is there a current situation that might make me feel unbalanced emotionally? And lastly, my mental self—am I overthinking? What thought can I put to rest? Often times, this scan helps me step out of the spiral that is my current state, soften the intensity, and gather a broader perspective. It aids in seeing what I can own in regards to how I ended up in this state, and also leads me to choices of action that will start to move me back to a place of grounded.”
- Jillian Keaveny | Denver
Fitness Instructor, Co-founder of Compass Fitness
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Gather a broader perspective.
“When I'm feeling ‘ungrounded,’ or as if the train is flying off the tracks, I close my eyes, get quiet with myself, and do a scan. I scan my physical self first—am I thirsty, hungry, or tired? Followed by my emotional self—is there a current situation that might make me feel unbalanced emotionally? And lastly, my mental self—am I overthinking? What thought can I put to rest? Often times, this scan helps me step out of the spiral that is my current state, soften the intensity, and gather a broader perspective. It aids in seeing what I can own in regards to how I ended up in this state, and also leads me to choices of action that will start to move me back to a place of grounded.”
- Jillian Keaveny | Denver
Fitness Instructor, Co-founder of Compass Fitness
Clear the clutter.
“Two go-to grounding rituals I regularly practice: silencing the radio in my car with windows open and taking a walk with my dog. I feel grounded when the clutter has been cleared. Clutter can be my active and self-critical mind or my over-stuffed tote bag resting against a paper stack. I rely on movement, some quiet, and re-focusing on my goals to regain balance and feel grounded.”
- Kathryn Smith | Durham, NC
Yoga Teacher and Founder of Yoga Off East
Remember, finding balance is a personal experience. Can you become more grounded to help you listen in, feel the mind and body to, in turn, create choice?
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Clear the clutter.
“Two go-to grounding rituals I regularly practice: silencing the radio in my car with windows open and taking a walk with my dog. I feel grounded when the clutter has been cleared. Clutter can be my active and self-critical mind or my over-stuffed tote bag resting against a paper stack. I rely on movement, some quiet, and re-focusing on my goals to regain balance and feel grounded.”
- Kathryn Smith | Durham, NC
Yoga Teacher and Founder of Yoga Off East
Remember, finding balance is a personal experience. Can you become more grounded to help you listen in, feel the mind and body to, in turn, create choice?
Fitness
Sweat Redemption: 5 Tips for Getting Back Into Your Hot Yoga Practice
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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.
