Wellness, naturopath and nutritionist expert, Jess Blair.
Lowing our stress levels and fitness go hand in hand.
However, being in lockdown it can be hard to find the motivation we need to get up and do our home workout or go out for that run we’ve been promising ourselves we’d do.
There’s no doubt our stress levels have risen since the Delta variant made its way across the border.
This is why it’s important for us to get up and move around not only for our physical health, but mental as well.
We talked to wellness expert, naturopath and nutritionist Jess Blair about how to manage our fitness and stress levels.
“Everyone’s stressors are different and sometimes they are unavoidable, so it’s about recognising the stress, maybe walking away, getting some fresh air, getting a good amount of sleep and also moving your body! Also, have a plan in place or a person you can call when you do feel overwhelmed,” says Blair.
As Aucklanders are still in Level 4 lockdown (with Level 3 hopefully on the way!) and gyms around the country only having a limited amount of space, it’s easy to feel demotivated.
Blair’s biggest tip in motivating yourself to workout at home is to find something you enjoy, “put on a podcast or music and get moving! There are plenty of online workouts if it’s something you enjoy, and invest in a Fitbit!”
Fitbit has recently released its new Fitbit Luxe, the first Fitbit with built-in stress management tools and features.
The new Fitbit Luxe helps track our sleep and gives you a score on how well you slept through the night, it can also give you a score on how your body is feeling by calculating your heart rate and tracking your daily steps.
Creating an at home workout routine can seem like a daunting task (unfortunately the Fitbit Luxe can’t do that for us!), but Blair has some favourite apps she recommends using when working out at home.
Playground Fitness, SALA and Core Collective are all apps Blair uses to keep her body active during the day.
“I think the most important thing for me is my community, so I am trying to support them and also support myself by feeling part of my fitness community – which is a huge part of my life,” she says. “There are plenty of free workouts on social media you can also try, and Les Mills on demand has something for everyone!”
Any exercise you choose to do is great for stress relief, including a good pilates or yoga session which can also be great for your nervous system.
The Fitbit Luxe is available now online and in selected stores nationwide.
