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?
Beauty
Gratuity Guide: How to Tip a Hair Stylist (and Show You Care)
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Tipping. While it can be a taboo topic that no one really wants to talk about publicly, the fact is, it’s a very important one that shouldn’t (and can’t) be avoided. This is all too true, especially now, when it comes to beauty services. Even before, “all of this” happened, there appeared to be some ambiguity about exactly how much to tip, when, what’s a respectable amount, and why. Now that we’ve tried our best at #homebeauty, it’s time to head back to the salons, spas, and other boutique beauty businesses (if you haven’t already). We’re here to guide you through gratuity in the new normal and why tipping a little extra to show your stylists and service providers you care during this tough time is the right thing to do.
To make sure we get you all the right answers, we asked around about it (so you don’t have to). Turns out, our Instagram followers had a lot to say about how to tip your stylists and show them some extra love right now.
Here’s what you think:
You’ve already been tipping more
79% of you said you’ve been tipping more for beauty services recently. We’re all so grateful for our stylists—with split ends, grown-out roots, out-of-control brows, and terrible home-cut bangs to prove it. And now that many of us can return to our salons and spas, we’re appreciating the ones who help us feel beautiful even more right now.
But, how much more?
We got a range of responses to this question. Some said they tip 5% more than they previously did, and many said 25%-35% total! Not only are these stylists actual artists, but they’re providing services we just can’t do ourselves. On top of that, many had to close their doors for several months, many were displaced as their salons shut down for good, and all of them are trying their best to get back to a sense of normalcy and do what they do best—help us look and feel beautiful. So, take this as a guide. Tip what you can but remember how much these wonderful people do for us.
New services are not top priority (yet)
When it comes to trying new services, 69% of you gave it a big fat NO, while 31% remain intrigued. It makes sense that many would stick to their go-tos right now, as salons are just starting to reopen in some areas or may not be open yet at all.
Depending on where you live and your overall health, you might be sticking with the bare minimum for now. But if your city has put in place safe reopening guidelines and measures, and you feel ready to head back out there, you can do so safely at a Mindbody salon. And you may be interested in trying out some new services right now as a way to show your local salons some extra support. If that’s you, browse beauty on the Mindbody app—and filter your categories to find out what’s out there.
Why retail therapy is important
Another way you can support your stylists right now? Shopping. It’s the safest way to show them some love without actually going in for a treatment. Many salons offer pre-payment on the Mindbody app and curbside pickup or a plethora of shipping methods, so you can keep contact to a minimum as much as possible. Plus, they have some pretty great stuff. If you need to invest in a good shampoo—especially because you haven’t gotten your hair done in months—so why not buy it from your stylist? According to our poll, it’s a pretty even split. 55% of you haven’t bought any products yet, while the other 45% have been shopping away. If you’re part of that 55, consider checking out your salon’s product offerings (you might see something you like).
Anything else?
Finally, we asked you all open-endedly how else you’re supporting your stylists right now. We got a lot of great answers. There was a lot of overlap, but we thought you might like to see some of the ones that stood out. So, if we didn’t cover it all so far, we’re about to—because you all are awesome and you did it for us. Here are some of the great ideas you had:
• “Paying in advance!”
• “Being more diligent about scheduling appointments versus letting my hair grow out”
• “Referring friends!”
• “Being flexible” (this is a good one—check out the 5 things your stylist wants you to know before you book)
• “Scheduling my next cut before I leave!”
• “Sharing their photos on Instagram and telling friends!”
So, if you’re a stylist reading this, thank you. We all want to continue showing you support during this time and beyond. And if you’re a regular person like me who really needs her highlights done, just schedule the damn appointment already (if you feel comfortable) or buy some purple shampoo from your favorite salon.
