While you may associate it with leggings, yoga mats and perfectly balanced poses, Yoga is more than a stretch.
The practice has a much deeper story. Yoga offers a simple way to reconnect with your body and mind.
Rooted in ancient India, yoga encompasses movement, breath, meditation, mindfulness and a philosophy centered on creating greater awareness of the connection between the body and mind. Today, yoga has become a global wellness practice, but understanding the culture behind it can make stepping onto the mat a little more meaningful.
During Yoga Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to roll out your mat and discover what this centuries-old practice can bring to your wellness routine.
Here’s the why:
A Workout for Your Whole Body
Yoga may look gentle, but don’t underestimate its ability to challenge your muscles. Holding poses can help build strength and stability, while flowing through different movements can improve flexibility, balance and body awareness. And because there are so many styles of yoga, you can choose a practice that matches your energy level—from slow, restorative sessions to more dynamic flows.
Stress Less, Breathe More
One of yoga’s biggest benefits may be what happens beyond the physical poses. Breathing exercises and mindful movement encourage you to slow down and focus on the present moment. Regular practice can be a valuable tool for managing everyday stress and creating a greater sense of calm.
Support Better Balance Inside and Out
Yoga encourages you to pay attention to how your body feels and moves. Over time, that awareness can help you become more mindful of posture, balance and movement throughout your day. Yoga can also provide a welcome opportunity to step away from screens, distractions and busy schedules and simply be present.
Make It Your Own
You don’t have to be flexible, athletic or experienced to start. Yoga can be modified for different abilities, fitness levels and preferences, and even a short session can become a meaningful part of your day.
This Yoga Awareness Month, consider giving yourself permission to slow down, stretch, breathe and reconnect. Your practice doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be yours.
I thought of a few cliché answers I could give. Something polished. Something safe. Something that sounded good in an interview.
But instead, I decided to be honest.
Stress management.
Stress is inevitable. We all experience it in different ways and at different points in our lives. But being honest with yourself when stress becomes a challenge—and being willing to explore healthy ways to manage it—is an important part of self care for women.
That interview was a meaningful moment for me. More than I realized at the time, it changed the way I thought about stress management.
Since then, I’ve taken a closer look at the little things that can support my overall well-being: teas, vitamins, wellness drinks, movement, and the advice my mentors gave me years ago.
Two things in particular kept coming back to me:
Yoga and meditation.
Maybe they were onto something.
What I’ve Learned About Stress
Stress isn’t simply about having a busy day or feeling overwhelmed once in a while. When stress becomes chronic, it can affect multiple areas of our health, including sleep, mood, digestion, and cardiovascular health.
That realization changed my perspective.
Managing stress isn’t about eliminating every stressful moment. That’s probably impossible.
Instead, it’s about creating routines and self care habits that help us respond to stress in healthier ways.
And sometimes, those habits can be surprisingly simple.
Move Your Body
One of the most accessible ways to support your mood and overall wellness is physical activity.
Exercise can stimulate the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters involved in positive feelings and pleasure. Endorphins are also part of the body’s natural pain-management system and may help reduce the perception of pain.
That post-workout feeling? You may have experienced it yourself—the sense that your mind feels a little clearer and your mood is a little lighter.
Movement doesn’t have to mean an intense workout, either.
Walking, dancing, yoga, stretching, or simply doing something you enjoy can all be part of an active wellness routine.
A few potential benefits of endorphin activity include:
Mood support: Endorphins are associated with positive feelings and pleasure.
Exercise response: Physical activity can stimulate endorphin release.
Natural pain management: Endorphins play a role in the body’s response to pain.
Stress relief: Exercise and other enjoyable activities may help you feel more relaxed.
That post-exercise feeling: The positive feeling after physical activity is associated with several changes in the brain and body, including endorphin activity.
Overall well-being: Exercise, laughter, dancing, and social connection can all contribute to healthy routines.
Maybe There’s Something to Yoga and Meditation
For years, I heard people talk about yoga and meditation.
I’ll admit that I didn’t always understand the hype.
But as I’ve become more intentional about managing stress, I’ve started to see these practices differently.
Yoga can combine movement, breathing, and mindfulness. Meditation can create a dedicated moment to slow down, reset, and pay attention to what’s happening in your mind and body.
Neither needs to be complicated.
Sometimes self care is simply giving yourself permission to pause.
What About Teas, Vitamins, and Adaptogens?
This is another area I’ve become more curious about.
There are countless wellness products on the market, from herbal teas and vitamins to drinks containing adaptogenic ingredients.
Adaptogen drinks are crafted with plant-based ingredients traditionally used to support the body’s response to everyday stress, helping make your daily wellness ritual feel a little more intentional.
But it’s important to remember that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean “proven,” and research on individual adaptogens varies.
For example, certain preparations of ashwagandha have some evidence suggesting they may support sleep and insomnia, although results can depend on the preparation and dose.
Other adaptogens, such as rhodiola, have been studied for fatigue, cognitive performance, and physical performance. The evidence is promising in some areas, but it remains limited and varies considerably between studies.
For me, that’s the key takeaway: wellness isn’t about finding one magical ingredient or one perfect routine.
It’s about being curious, paying attention to your body, and making informed choices.
A Different Definition of Wellness
This month is National Wellness Month, and it’s a good reminder that wellness doesn’t have to look perfect.
It can be a yoga class.
A ten-minute meditation.
A walk outside.
A cup of tea at the end of a long day.
A workout that makes you feel good.
A conversation with someone who makes you laugh.
Or simply recognizing that you’re stressed and deciding to do something about it.
My biggest lesson started with an interview question.
“What are your weaknesses?”
At the time, I answered honestly.
Today, I realize that acknowledging stress wasn’t really a weakness.
It was the beginning of becoming more intentional about my wellness.
So, this National Wellness Month, maybe the goal isn’t to become less stressed about being stressed.
Maybe it’s to understand what your body and mind need and giving yourself permission to make wellness part of your everyday life.
As the busiest season of the year approaches, there’s no shortage of things to do. Between Halloween costumes, candy, and makeup, Thanksgiving grocery runs and dinner prep, and Christmas gifts, cards, and decorations, it’s easy for even the best planner to feel overwhelmed.
That’s exactly why checklists are such powerful tools — and why Checklist Day (yes, it’s a real thing!) is officially celebrated every year on October 30th.
Sounds a bit surreal, doesn’t it? But the history is pretty fascinating — the concept of a checklist actually originated as a safety measure in aviation, designed to help pilots avoid overlooking critical steps before takeoff. Today, we may not be flying planes, but the same principle applies: checklists keep us grounded, focused, and on track — especially during the holiday rush.
Beyond practicality, checklists are also a form of self-care. Staying organized and efficient helps reduce stress, save time, and bring a little order to the chaos that often comes with the end of the year.
So, why not celebrate Checklist Day by creating a few of your own? Whether it’s for holiday shopping, meal prep, or simply managing your weekend chores, a good checklist can turn overwhelm into accomplishment.
Here are a few tips to make the end of the year a breeze and set the stage for a productive, peaceful season ahead:
Thinking of a Master Plan
Take some time to consider the task at hand. Start by clarifying what you need to accomplish. Is it decluttering your space, planning a holiday menu, or organizing your gift list? A clear focus makes your checklist more purposeful.
Seek and Find Results
Observe Yourself. What tasks do you usually miss or skip? Do you find yourself running back to the store for forgotten items or realizing you overlooked a spot while cleaning? Pay attention to these habits — they’ll show you where your checklists can help most.
In No Logical Order
Write a Random List — Then Sort and Categorize. Do a quick brain dump of everything on your mind, then group related tasks together (home, work, holiday, errands). This turns chaos into clarity.
Duly Noted
Create Notecards or Sticky Notes. If you’re visual, write tasks on sticky notes so you can rearrange and prioritize them easily. Plus, it’s oddly satisfying to crumple or peel one off when you’re done.
Digitize the Day
Use Digital Devices. Apps like Google Keep, Notion, or Trello make it easy to track tasks and sync them across your phone or laptop. Perfect for busy days when you’re bouncing between errands.
Congrats to You
Reward Yourself for Completing Tasks. Celebrate your progress — big or small. Whether it’s enjoying a quiet coffee, watching your favorite show, or buying that seasonal candle, small rewards keep you motivated.
Final Thought:
Checklists aren’t just about marking off boxes — they’re about creating space for what really matters. This Checklist Day, take a few minutes to organize your thoughts, simplify your to-dos, and set yourself up for a calmer, more joyful end of the year. That’s what self care is all about.
This summer has been filled with lots of new and exciting health, wellness, and beauty related adventures. I’ve tried new makeup, added a few more weights to my fitness routine, and tried out a few new fitness classes to spice up my life. Over the past year I’ve worked out at a gym and taken a few dance and weight training classes to stay motivated. I started to feel a little stagnant and wanted to give myself a little boost in enthusiasm.
Then along came the Class
Pass. This site has to be the most incredible thing a fitness person could ask
for. You subscribe to a monthly package with points that allows you to try out
different gyms and fitness classes. You can try as many new trendy classes as
you want. There are tons of options. You can never get bored! From hot yoga and
spinning to boot camp and boxing, you have a plethora of health and wellness
fixings within a mileage radius at the touch of a button. You can learn more
about that here.
The first-class thing that I tried was the Lagree Fitness Method.
Quinlan of POPSUGAR
says, “Lagree Fitness studios have infiltrated New York and Los Angeles
and are now making their way to the rest of the country.” The Megaformer
was created by Sebastien Lagree. It is a
machine that allows you to tone your muscles and strengthen your body. I did myself the honor of not googling or researching
anything and just jumping right in. I had no idea what to expect and I was alright
with that.
I went to an hour-long class at PACE in Atlanta and was pleasantly
surprised. The Megaformer reminded of
the table from the chiropractor’s office and quite honestly, I felt realigned
after I left. During the class, the instructor guides you through various slow
movements that sculpt you from head to toe. It is not easy, but it does let you
work muscle
groups that may be harder to get to with other methods.
This is definitely something that I’d like to add to my
regiment. I was so excited to find a workout that helped me to build up my
core! I’m not the most flexible person in the world but felt a bit nimbler. I’ve
even heard that megastars like Meghan Markle are really into this workout.
So Healthy & Well 