Have You Tried Meditation?
I’m the kind of person who loves a good challenge. My competitive side comes out in full force as I love the satisfaction that comes with completion and am usually up for trying new things, so when Athleta reached out to push me outside of my workout comfort zone to celebrate the launch of their new Up For Anything tight, I was game.
As you’d guess from the name, their newest tights are ultra versatile and perfect for whatever workout plans you’ve got in the works. They’re definitely the most flattering leggings I’ve ever worn, thanks to a high waist and their sculptek technology that holds you in in just the right places without feeling too constricting. They also come in a bunch of amazing, bold colors (think rich jewel tones!) and even have a magical little pocket on the side of the leg that’s perfect for tucking your phone into. Basically, I’m smitten and felt ready to conquer the world at first wear.
When it comes to workout routine, my comfort zone is basically three things: cardio (running or spin, plz), horseback riding (my go to these days) and the occasional yoga class (I always say I need to start doing yoga more often and never follow through). But what I realized when thinking about what to try for my #UpForAnything challenge is that while I usually think working out when I think wellness, I never really hit pause and give myself a mental break. Balancing blogging with my full time career means most days are packed with to do’s as I try to squeeze every possible minute out of each day in order to get everything done.
Enter meditation. My ultimate challenge: turning my mind OFF and taking time to prioritize stillness and being present.
I knew I’d need some help in this department so I grabbed my good friend Aimee, who is always up for trying new things, and booked a class at WITHIN Meditation in San Francisco’s FiDi neighborhood. The studio offers quick 30 minute guided mediation classes focused on mindfulness and setting intentions for what’s ahead. Going into the class I didn’t really know what to expect but loved our teacher Hannah’s relaxing voice and really enjoyed having time to myself to just be still and not worry about what’s next.
Throughout the class Hannah guided us through tips for focusing only on what was happening in the room, within ourselves, and how to release any distractions or stress that popped into our minds while meditating. I found it really helpful to focus on my breathing and the specific areas of my body Hannah had us focus on to stay fully present and loved heading into the office with a clear mind, fully ready to tackle the day ahead.
After chatting with Hannah a bit about the best time of day to meditate, I’ve been practicing on my own at home with the help of the Headspace app and love using it as a way to unwind and set myself up to get a night of really restful sleep. While I haven’t even come close to fully mastering meditation, I’m excited to finally introduce a new healthy habit into my wellness routine and focus on learning how to relax, something I’ve been notoriously bad at in the past.
Have you tried meditation? Has anyone else tried a new workout class or added something new to their own personal wellness routine?
This post was sponsored by Athleta and as always, all opinions are 100% honest and my own – authenticity is a top priority and I only partner with brands I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that partner with Pretty & Fun!
