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With so many changes in the news announced daily, you may be having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. However, the best way to handle things that are beyond our control is to adapt. Although we may not be able to congregate and socialize in person, with our digital connection, we are able to still communicate and work together.
PHYSICAL:
Virtual training sessions: When the pandemic first started, many of us rushed to order weights, machines, and Pelotons so we could keep up with our previous workout routine. Trainers and fitness studios learned from their clients that they wanted to work out from home as often and as hard as they worked out in the gym! Because of that, many instructors created Zoom classes for their students to workout with them virtually multiple times a week.
Three virtual ways I like to train are:
Colombian Mafia Fit: Maria Leguizamon is a HOT mama of three and an inspirational, powerful woman! I met her at a Pilates studio in West Hollywood, and her class was so hard. Even though she was teaching the hardest class ever, I fell in love with her classes and her vibrant energy and humor. I take her classes on Zoom Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Monday is lower body, Wednesday is full body, and Friday is upper body! Check her out: http://www.ColombianMafiaFit.com
Nicole Steen: Nicole Steen is one of Hollywood’s foremost leading fitness experts and celebrity trainers. I met her seven years ago at Equinox, and she’s always had the best booty classes! They are hard, but they are so fun. She has a variety of daily classes like booty toning, abs, Zumba, barre, tone n twerk, and kickboxing! Check her classes here: https://www.nicolesteenfitness.com/
Aree’s Army/ARTHA, A Wellness Sanctuary: Aree Khodai is the one yoga teacher who got me to fall in love with the practice. Not only did I learn how to correctly do the poses, but she taught me how to have a mind, body and soul connection during your entire time on the mat. Aree is also exclusively at ARTHA: a new West Hollywood members-only Yoga studio and Wellness Center. They just opened their doors July 1st, but due to the new stay-at-home order, they had to temporarily close. Despite having to close shortly after opening, they’re not letting members miss out, as they’ll be doing Live Classes on the ARTHA Instagram!
Get Outside: Once quarantine hit, I was so used to training indoors that I basically forgot how great working out in the fresh air can be. You don’t have to start training for a half marathon or go on 3 hikes a day, but I’ve found that even walking a few miles a day did wonders for my physical and mental health. Getting outside helped me get out of my own head, escape some of the stress from being inside all day, and soak up some much-needed vitamin D. (Added plus, vitamin D is known to help improve your mood, too!) So lately, I’ve been going on outdoor walks and hikes quite a bit!
Don’t Discount the Small Stuff: I went through several phases during quarantine. From being super motivated to work out to being a couch potato, I still tried to move my body in some way each day. Remember that even low intensity physical activity helps boost your endorphins: the happy hormones in your brain. Even on the days that I found myself totally unmotivated to workout, I gave myself 15 minutes to stretch, do some yoga, and just move my body. Remember, our mental stress affects us physically, too, which manifests through sore and tight muscles as well as overall fatigue.
SOCIAL: Quarantine gave birthday parties and girl’s nights a whole new spin. Though many social activities are cancelled, Zoom, FaceTime, and Houseparty made socializing virtually the new normal. Although it may feel a little weird at first, after a few meet ups on zoom, it actually was pretty cool! An added plus: at least you don’t have to worry about what outfit you are wearing out or wearing heels! Going on first dates virtually might be a bit difficult, but apps like Bumble + Hinge added video call options so you can actually go on a first date! If you have a virtual first date success story, we’d love to hear it in the comments!
Family Time. At first, with the fear of getting my family sick made me not see my family for a month. However, after my entire family got tested for COVID including my five year old nephew we have been seeing each other but keeping everything within the family and making sure each one of us has been following the CDC guidelines. With less social events that I am obligated to go to, I have been able to spend more time with my family and see my nephew quite a bit. I even got to see him teach himself how to ride a bicycle without training wheels! This has been one of my favorite parts of quarantine because I’ve been able to slow down and build more memories with my family than before. Also, for my birthday, I usually throw a huge party in Hollywood with my friends, but this time, I had a surprise birthday party from my family that I had no idea it was happening. I was in tears because it was the nicest thing ever. I spoke about this experience in my latest Life Update video on YouTube!
MENTAL:
Be gentle with yourself. As the world starts to slow down, it’s important to remind ourselves to be mindful of our minds and bodies and remind ourselves that it is okay to cope and adjust in whatever way works best for us. Just because we are asked to stay home, doesn’t mean we have to do 55 workouts and start every entrepreneurial idea that we ever wrote down.
Mindfulness and Meditation. It’s important to be mindful and stay in touch with our mind, body, and soul. If you’ve never meditated, there are many videos on YouTube and guided meditation apps like Headspace and the Calm App.
Breathwork. Besides the physical aspects of yoga that I’ve learned, breathwork is also part of the practice that helps relieve tension and anxiety. You can listen to a guided one on YouTube or have a private breathwork session with a coach!
Journaling. I find that journaling really helps! I keep a journal and jot down my thoughts and feelings everyday while I wind down for the night. It helps me keep tabs on how I’m feeling and help me process the stress that has accompanied quarantine. Now is also a good time to pick up a book you’ve always wanted to read!
These are some of the tools I have used to help adapt and heal my mind, body and soul during such unprecedented times. I hope these suggestions and ideas gave you some value. There are so many ways you can learn to adapt and help yourself! It’s important to take a situation that is out of your control and see it in a positive perspective. If you have any tips and tricks up your sleeve, please let us know in the comments!
xoxo Arika
