The Healthy Bride: Calm Nuptial Nerves with At-Home Yoga

Spotlight

Lauren Gleisberg is a recently engaged health and fitness enthusiast, with several years experience in the industry. She's well-known for her motivating and achievable tips and programs, which can be found on her website. Here she shares the yoga poses that are helping her de-stress in the weeks leading up to her wedding, plus a nourishing veggie recipe to help you feel energized inside and out.

As the big day gets closer, stress and nerves seem to creep up. I’m 3 months away from my big day, so I’m certainly feeling the timeline pressure! When your wedding calendar fills up with appointments and celebrations, you may be tempted to nix health and wellness time off your to-do list. However, this is when it becomes increasingly important. When you want to look and feel your best, use workouts and nutrition as a means of helping you get there!

Yoga is wonderful option for strengthening the body, improving flexibility, soothing sore muscles and regaining focus and inner peace. For a bride-to-be or anyone with a full calendar, like myself, adding in an hour yoga class may seem even more nerve-wracking. Instead, I opt for yoga poses right at home. Below is a simple yoga sequence suitable for any fitness level or age. I suggest holding each pose for 5 to 8 deep breaths and completing as many rounds as it takes you to feel more calm and centered.

Plank

plank

Chaturanga

caturanga

Upward Facing Dog

upward-facing-dog

Downward Facing Dog

downward-dog

Runner’s Lunge

runners-lunge

Warrior II

warriorii

Reverse Warrior

reverse-warrior

Tree Pose

tree-pose

Additionally, nourishing your body with healthy food items will leave you feeling energized from the inside out. It’s important that your body is receiving micronutrients, such as those found in fruits and vegetables. As an added bonus, you’ll also enjoy a “bridal glow” from all the skin-healthy vitamins and minerals found in these food items. If you’re not a big fruit and veggie fan, no worries. I’ve got a recipe you’ll enjoy, and you won’t even believe you’re eating…CAULIFLOWER!

mashed-cauliflower

Ingredients:

1, large head of cauliflower

1 garlic bulb

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup unsweetened almond or skim milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Prep:

(1) But the top of the garlic bulb off to expose the inner cloves

(2) Drizzle the 1 tbsp of olive oil on top then wrap in foil & roast garlic at 400 degrees for 25-30 min

(3) Wash cauliflower, then cut into medium-sized chunks

(4) Place cut cauliflower in a saucepan & fill with enough water to cover all pieces

(5) Bring water to a boil, cooking for 8 minutes with the cover on

(6) Drain cauliflower & pat it dry

(7) In a food processor, combine cauliflower, garlic, milk, salt and pepper

(8) Process until the mixture forms a mashed potato like consistency

I hope these tips leave you feeling healthy and happy!

XO,

Lauren

For frequent healthy living tips and inspiration visit Lauren's website or follow her on Instagram: @laurengleisberg 

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