Namita Nayyar:
You are the world-leading internationally published author, exercise product creator, on-camera fitness and yoga expert, social media personality, model, and brand ambassador. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Desi Bartlett:
I feel extremely grateful to have found my calling early in life and wake up every morning excited to share the message of health & wellness. I begin each day with meditation and allow myself to receive inspiration and guidance as to how I can be of service. I stay open to receiving and ask to be shown how I can be of service each day. By allowing myself to be a messenger of health and healing, I stay open to the message and theme that reveals itself in meditation.Some days the message is about nutrition, other days it is about meditation, and still other days it comes through as healthy motherhood. We live in a world where the message can be shared in many different ways, through many different platforms. I see digital offerings and images as different outlets for sharing this message in creative ways.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share
Desi Bartlett:
I live what I teach, and I think that it is incredibly important to address all five elements of fitness including: cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and nutrition. Generally speaking, I lift weights 2-3 days a week (heavy weights!), practice yoga 4 days a week, walk 6 days a week, and Sunday is my active recovery day (light stretching or floating in the ocean). I want to emphasize that I do not think that it is necessary to always exercise for long periods of time. Some days I exercise for an hour, other days it is only 20 minutes. I prioritize consistency over the duration of a single workout.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Desi Bartlett:
Abs are cooked in the kitchen! When I want my abs to show for a photo or video shoot
, I adjust my nutrition accordingly. For me, as soon as I cut out starchy carbs (bread, crackers, potatoes), I see an immediate difference. Cheese is another food that can make me look and feel bloated, and I am careful to avoid it most of the time. I also use my fitness pal app to track my macronutrients. To stay lean, I eat a lot of protein, which fills me up and gives me lots of energy.In terms of exercise, I enjoy Nicole Stuart’s Pilates workouts and Andrea Orbeck’s core workouts in our new book together entitled, “Total Body Beautiful.” Hundreds are an exercise from Pilates that allows me to connect to my deep core muscles, and plank is a standard strength exercise that works for my body. I also like to apply my strength in daily life. My younger son is 9 years old and 80 lbs., and I can still give him a piggy back ride. Tapping into the joy of movement, like giggling with my son, makes core training fun and functional.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Desi Bartlett:
I enjoyusing the 80-20 rule. 80% of the time I have a very clean diet that includes a lot of protein, green vegetables, and healthy fats like avocados. Sunday is my cheat meal and I enjoy whatever I would like to, like pizza!
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Desi Bartlett:
I am originally from Chicago, and grew up eating a lot of delicious, hearty Italian dishes. Deep dish pizza, baked lasagna, fettuccini alfredo, are all foods that I love to enjoy when I travel to my hometown. I live in Hawaii now and the restaurants and local foods are much different. It is easy not to splurge on deep dish pizza when the best one is over 4,000 miles away. These days I eat mostly vegetables, tofu, and rice.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
Desi Bartlett:
Thanks so much!Our skin is the largest organ that we have and it reflects what we take in, whether that is food, skincare products, or even stress. I live near the ocean and use a daily sunscreen on my face and neck. I also love Deep Living skincare and they have a nourishing oil that smells like a lemon tree. The oil is sourced in Greece and the product is clean, safe, and keeps my skin glowing.
For hair, I rely heavily on my hairdresser Alex Tohara. Alex is an expert and lets me know what products to use depending on what my hair needs. I love the ocean and she keeps my hair healthy and protected from too much salt and sun.
Namita Nayyar:
Five skincare Tips.
Desi Bartlett:
- Let your skin breathe, try at least one day a week makeup free
- Choose products that are great for YOUR skin, just because it works for your mom or best friend, does not mean it is right for you
- Stress shows up in and on your skin, mindfulness practices create a positive impact in all systems in the body
- A little bit of sunshine is great! While protecting our skin from the sun and UV damage is important, it is also important to allow a little bit of Vitamin D, natural warmth and radiance into and on the skin. The first morning light is more gentle and a perfect opportunity to connect to your body and sunshine for a few minutes each day
- For women like me with a darker complexion, use a natural oil to avoid ashy skin, especially elbows and knees. I love deep living body oil (also great to help prevent stretchmarks for pregnant goddesses)
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.