Get Well

Wellness Experts Drop Knowledge on How to Practice Self-Love

by Caela Collins

This article was originally posted on Taste The Style.

City life can be a double-edged sword at times: one moment you’re living for the curated chaos giving you a rush of excitement, and the next moment, you’re seriously bogged down by the fast pace, sea of people, and simply worn out from the constant go. Sometimes your “on-the-go” can feel like you’re constantly ready-to-go, and it’s easy to forget the most important thing that continuously hits the back burner on your to-do list – YOU. Health and wellness are very important and though we often think of spa days and vacation getaways as the only means of escape, we want to let you in on a secret: you can gain wellness at any time and in any place. To help, we connected with wellness influencers and they gave us some of their best tips and tricks to incorporate wellness into your daily routine!

Ally Love

Ally Love is the host of the Brooklyn Nets, a Peloton Cycle Instructor, the founder of the Love Squad, and model. We partnered up with this babe to gain wellness tips from a health and fitness perspective:

“As a part of the slash generation, my days vary from hosting Nets’ games, teaching classes at Peloton, to literally running around for photoshoots whether that’s on set for Adidas Women or other clients, and of course, running my business, the Love Squad. Something that I’m keen not to overlook, is the importance of sleep. It sets me up to produce quality work while looking my very best since I interact with many people.”

“With that being said because my interactions are dense and I am heavily involved in everything that I do, I prioritize ‘me’ time. Meditation has recently become part of my routine. I try to meditate a couple times a week, clearing my mind, my heart, and connecting with my breath to get in tune with myself. I found that using an app called Stop Breathe and Think, make mediation conducive to my active lifestyle.”

“I believe that my body is only as strong as [my] mind, so in order to create success, I need to clear my head and get my mind right. Self-wellness is essential to living a happy, healthy, and productive life. No matter what I have going on, I prioritize myself in some way — not to be confused with being selfish. Here is where I find selflessness.”

“I enjoy the fast-pace of my career and the city of New York but balance is where I find stability, being grounded — it’s where I find my creativity to make magic.”

Felicia LaTour

View this post on Instagram

If you’re anything like me, when going through something, you push everyone away and fight in silence. Feeling the need to not “ burden “ the people you love with your “ problems “. That inner head voice will control our whole entire outside world , only if WE allow It to. It’s usually the strongest people who do this, subconsciously feeling the need to stay strong. It’s bullshit. The WARRIORS need their own community to lean on the most. Sometimes the strongest people need that open ear, that place to lay down their heavy load. There is POWER in connecting with our fellow human beings. Today, connect with someone you’ve been saying you’re going to connect with for a while ! Make that lunch or coffee date with that person you’ve been meaning to hit up! We never know how we can help someone so CONNECT while you still can. With no hidden agenda , with no expectations , just CONNECT and BE. This week I connected with @ariellev @topshelfjunior & @viviannunez68 ✨? – Make plans, and stick to them – Time is limited on earth , make it count ?? ( Fun Fact – My anxiety always made me reschedule plans but I’ve been pushing past It and I couldn’t be happier with this new practice ) #mindfulfee

A post shared by Felicia La Tour (@felicialatour) on

Celebrity makeup artist, motivational speaker, and mother, Felicia LaTour, has been a creative force who not only gives external beauty advice but also the inspiration to let your inner beauty shine!

“A quick way to incorporate wellness into your day is to stay grateful as much as possible. Being grateful will not only make you feel good, but it will also give you more to be grateful for as well as heighten your awareness. Start the day by saying THANK YOU to the universe. I also love to take my vitamins with some pure alkaline water, while lightening an incense to get the vibes circulating before stepping out into the world!”

Chinae Alexander

View this post on Instagram

I spent the morning at the @unitednations celebrating International Women’s Day and one of the speakers relayed this quote by Mary Wollstonecraft that precisely defines my thoughts on a day like today, and frankly everyday. – “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” – I always wonder if I might see equality for women/POC/LGBTQIA people in my lifetime…but even if I never see the outcome I dream of, I’ll leave this earth fighting. ✊?✊?✊? – Happy International Women’s Day, may we continue to own the power that we already contain. ?? – Who’s one woman that you think is positively influencing the world? ? #iwd2019 #internationalwomensday – {And…special thanks for @elizabetharden for taking me to the UN this AM!}

A post shared by CHINAE ALEXANDER (@chinaealexander) on

Lifestyle expert and ADIDAS ambassador, Chinae Alexander, oozes body positivity and simply brings brightness to your day with her positive vibes:

“One way I inject a sense of well-being into my busy days is to show up early for meetings or appointments, which sometimes means taking an Uber for a few more bucks or getting a little less sleep. Showing up early allows me a few minutes to settle in, breathe deep, sort my thoughts and mentally calm myself before diving into a conversation or interaction. Being early is my busy gal’s way to inject a meditative practice into an otherwise crazy schedule and to set myself up for success rather than running on the fumes of rushing!”

Ellie Burrows

View this post on Instagram

Join me for a FREE Introduction to Vedic Meditation TOMORROW Mon, Jan 28th at 7pm @mndflmeditation Greenwich Village! We'll talk all about my favorite style of meditation which is practiced eyes closed and sitting comfortably, using dedicated “mantra,” or sound, in order to de-excite the body and bring it into a profound resting state. There will not be a meditation during this talk but there will be lots of Q+A! Link in profile to book a cushion and more info below. . Tomorrow's talk is a prerequisite for a four day course running January 31st-February 3rd at the end of which you become a self-sufficient meditator. At the start of the course, you will meet with me for a private session in which you will receive a personal mantra and learn the effortless technique. The subsequent three days, we will gather as a group to check in and refine the technique as well as explore the affect it has on the mind, body and that dirty little word that begins with an “s”: stress. You will also take away tips and tricks for incorporating this relaxing practice into your chaotic city life. A commitment to all course dates is required. Course fee is $800. *Special rates and payment plans available for POC, students, teens and kids. For private courses for individuals and corporations please email info@mndflmeditation.com.* . Schedule below: DAY 1 One-On-One Sessions w/Ellie Thursday, January 31st By Appointment Only DAY 2 – GROUP MEETING Friday, February 1st 6:00PM–8:00PM DAY 3 – GROUP MEETING Saturday, February 2nd 1:00PM–3:00PM DAY 4 – GROUP MEETING Sunday, February 3rd 1:00PM–3:00PM .

A post shared by ellie burrows gluck (@ellieburrows) on

CEO of MNDFL, New York’s premier meditation studio, storyteller, seeker, and guide Ellie Burrows knows how to tap into mindfulness and enable people to feel good with these wellness tricks:

“My self-care routine has four pillars: meditation (twice a day for 30m), sleep (I need eight hours to be 100% friendly), exercise (the more regular the better) and nourishing foods (it’s important to put quality fuel in the gas tank). Of course, there are lots of other things in there like probiotics, organic products, travel hacks, etc. But sometimes my favorite wellness tips have more to do with the emotional body, rather than the physical one.”

“One of my favorite teachers once told me that ‘True control comes from doing nothing,’ I repeat this like a mantra when my emotions are heightened in my personal or professional life. From an evolutionary perspective, our body doesn’t know the difference between a bear that’s attacking us and an angry email from a boss or client. When our bodies fill with adrenaline, we want to act out in various ways by fighting or flying. We do whatever we can to try and get a handle on our emotions and gain control of the situation. But in states like that, we end up making decisions with a total lack of clarity. Sometimes if we just sit with ourselves in the discomfort and let it move through us instead of acting out or responding right away, we start to feel empowered instead of powerless. So yeah, sometimes just sitting and doing nothing is the best thing we can do for ourselves.”

“Sometimes if we just sit with ourselves in the discomfort and let it move through us instead of acting out or responding right away, we start to feel empowered instead of powerless. So yeah, sometimes just sitting and doing nothing is the best thing we can do for ourselves.” 

Sara Auster

View this post on Instagram

NYC, Come join us to talk about music and mental health on Wednesday, May 29th. _____________________________ What She Said: A Musical Mentality, will bring together four inspiring women in the world of music. In celebration of Mental Health Awareness month, the panel will focus on the different ways that music is connected to humanity, healing, and our daily wellbeing. Focusing on the empowering and impactful properties of sound, the stage will be set for a lively conversation between: Moderator: – Abbey Stone – Managing Editor of Well + Good Panelists: – Ms. White – Singer, Songwriter, and Performer – Sara Auster – Sound Therapist, & Meditation Teacher – Mahin Salman – NYU Sounds of NYC Researcher It’s FREE, just RSVP through the link in my Instagram story. _____________________________ W Hotels launched What She Said in 2016, to celebrate the fabulous women who stay with us every day and those who live in our communities. We wanted to create a safe space for women to share their experiences and be heard, learn from each other and connect. Today, this platform is more necessary and relevant than ever. Through What She Said, we bring you conversations celebrating individuality, inclusivity and honesty, tackling the issues of today –some you are already talking about/some you never think enough about. Above all, What She Said conversations offer a place to navigate the challenges and triumphs of work, love, play and everything in between. Today we’re turning up the volume on these conversations and know you’ll leave here feeling empowered to be your best self, share what you’ve heard, and inspire action. _____________________________ #WHATSHESAID @WNYUNIONSQUARE @WHOTELS _____________________________ (when in a W suite, feel free to get up on the dining table with your singing bowls… ?: @anishaspice )

A post shared by Sara Auster (@saraauster) on

Sara Auster is a Sound Therapy Practitioner whose focus is infusing sound therapy with contemporary culture, check out how she taps into her daily wellness: 

“Commit to not turning on technology during your first waking hour. After all, the world ran just fine without you for the previous seven to eight hours, one more won’t hurt. Blocking out that one hour to focus on meditation or your upcoming day will help you wisely shape the other 23.”

“Try to power-down for at least one hour each day. It may be the first hour of the day, the last hour before you go to bed or something in between; whatever works better for you. The specific time of the day is not as important as the discipline of learning when and how to power-down.”

“If that feels like too much too soon, try turning off your email/social media notification sounds for an hour.  ;).”

Feature image via Missbish / Chinae Alexander 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Let us slide into your inbox with things that'll make you feel good.