The secret to cover star Kourtney Kardashian’s glowy skin, slim body and grounded smile? (Besides stellar genes, that is!) It’s her beloved Ayurvedic yoga therapist, Leila Johnson, who practices in New York City. We caught up with Johnson about the simple health habits she teaches every client to weave into every day.
1. Cool the mind and body.
In warm weather especially, it’s easy for the body’s pitta, a fiery, go-go-go energy, to flare out of balance. The result: stress-y moments and hair-trigger frustration. “To counteract that, slow down and try doing less,” Johnson advises. Skip a few chaturangas in yoga class and momentarily put work aside to stroll in the moonlight (a cooling energy) or roam by a body of water (ditto). To chill the body from the inside, reach for bitter greens and steer clear of spicy, pungent or sour foods, which are like “logs on the fire” for pitta. “Often, just stepping back and doing less will give the pitta space to come into balance,” she says.
2. Cook only what you need.
“One of the quickest ways to create better health and a cleaner system is to stop eating leftovers,” Johnson says. “Going from hot cooking to a cold fridge to the microwave creates bacteria, which challenges the digestive system.” When you can, put a 24-hour expiration date on dishes you’ve whipped up (say, enjoying last night’s turkey meatloaf for lunch), or prepare small batches of simple, stupidly easy meals, like asparagus bisque or Indian summer salad.
3. Head to bed by 10 p.m.
Yes, every night! “I know it’s hard, but your central nervous system will thank and reward you for it,” Johnson says. Turning in early gives your body time to heal. You’ll have fewer food cravings in the daytime, “and you won’t have to reach for caffeine and sugar to keep you going,” she says.
4. Eat light at night!
“As the sun sets, so does your metabolism,” Johnson says. She avoids raw fruits and veggies in the evening, instead favoring soft, warm foods, like chicken salad with seared chard or kale. “This makes less work for your body, so it has more energy to heal and rejuvenate and restore vitality while you sleep,” she adds.
5. Bring your mood up first.
“Often, we go to yoga or call a friend or head to a certain restaurant in the hopes that the action will make us feel better,” Johnson says. “But a key element and a faster way to get where we want to go emotionally is to better our feelings first, and then take action.” If you notice your mood flagging, hit pause and dedicate a few seconds to raising your spirits, she says: Meditate, breathe deeply or even take a nap. “When you shift your vibration into a more positive state, and then take action, it’s amazing how the day unfolds with ease and grace,” she says. “When I work with Kourtney, it’s about feeling good and bettering her relationship with herself. I’m just the cheerleader!”
In warm weather especially, it’s easy for the body’s pitta, a fiery, go-go-go energy, to flare out of balance. The result: stress-y moments and hair-trigger frustration. “To counteract that, slow down and try doing less,” Johnson advises. Skip a few chaturangas in yoga class and momentarily put work aside to stroll in the moonlight (a cooling energy) or roam by a body of water (ditto). To chill the body from the inside, reach for bitter greens and steer clear of spicy, pungent or sour foods, which are like “logs on the fire” for pitta. “Often, just stepping back and doing less will give the pitta space to come into balance,” she says.
2. Cook only what you need.
“One of the quickest ways to create better health and a cleaner system is to stop eating leftovers,” Johnson says. “Going from hot cooking to a cold fridge to the microwave creates bacteria, which challenges the digestive system.” When you can, put a 24-hour expiration date on dishes you’ve whipped up (say, enjoying last night’s turkey meatloaf for lunch), or prepare small batches of simple, stupidly easy meals, like asparagus bisque or Indian summer salad.
3. Head to bed by 10 p.m.
Yes, every night! “I know it’s hard, but your central nervous system will thank and reward you for it,” Johnson says. Turning in early gives your body time to heal. You’ll have fewer food cravings in the daytime, “and you won’t have to reach for caffeine and sugar to keep you going,” she says.
4. Eat light at night!
“As the sun sets, so does your metabolism,” Johnson says. She avoids raw fruits and veggies in the evening, instead favoring soft, warm foods, like chicken salad with seared chard or kale. “This makes less work for your body, so it has more energy to heal and rejuvenate and restore vitality while you sleep,” she adds.
5. Bring your mood up first.
“Often, we go to yoga or call a friend or head to a certain restaurant in the hopes that the action will make us feel better,” Johnson says. “But a key element and a faster way to get where we want to go emotionally is to better our feelings first, and then take action.” If you notice your mood flagging, hit pause and dedicate a few seconds to raising your spirits, she says: Meditate, breathe deeply or even take a nap. “When you shift your vibration into a more positive state, and then take action, it’s amazing how the day unfolds with ease and grace,” she says. “When I work with Kourtney, it’s about feeling good and bettering her relationship with herself. I’m just the cheerleader!”
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