Namita Nayyar:
How do you like to kick start your day? 5 things to make your day better?
Melina Weber:
An absolute game changer to happily get up in the morning is my alarm that plays bird song and the light is mimicking the sunrise.
I hardly ever skip breakfast, as it is my favorite meal of the day. Eating a nutritious breakfast gives me the feeling that I have already accomplished something positive.
My stay in China has made me a tea lover. The first time I went to China, I bought two kilograms of tea and tried to hide my overweight luggage at the airport. Before I switch on my PC, I make myself a big cup of tea. For you, it may be coffee. As long as you feel comfortable, it does not really matter if it is a cup of tea, coffee, or, for example, lemon water.
Most importantly, the best motivation to be energetic in the morning is to already have something planned for the evening. If I know that I will be going mountain biking or meeting friends for dinner in the evening, then I will work very diligently and focus to get everything done on time.
Namita Nayyar:
Share input on the diet you follow? Foods you love to eat and foods you keep to a minimum?
Melina Weber:
I eat very healthily 90% of the time, and when I am at social gatherings or if I have a sweet craving, I just enjoy myself and eat a burger or a chocolate bar. I recommend everybody to not let their diet control their lives.
Not only that, but I think one of my biggest secrets is to cook as much as possible at home. It enables me to use high-quality ingredients and is a money saver. My breakfast is most often a giant fruit salad with nuts and seeds or with cheese curd/yogurt. When I have a warm meal, at least 40% of the meal is vegetables. They are a great source of nutrients and fiber that fill up your stomach and prevent you from overeating.
I also make sure that each meal includes a protein source such as legumes, eggs, and occasionally meat or fish, as I like to use whole grains or unpolished rice.
When I know that I am going to spend the whole day outside the house, I toss a package of nuts and dried fruits into my purse, or I prepare little pouches with carrot slices, cucumber, and bell peppers.
If I am not hungry anymore, I stop eating and save it for the next meal. Listening to your body when it is actually hungry is something that you can train.
Namita Nayyar:
How would you define the role of yoga in your life? Asanas every woman should incorporate?
Melina Weber:
I started to do yoga more than 10 years ago as a teenager when it wasn’t that fashionable yet. It was just this kind of exotic exercise method, and the average age of the students was twice as old as I was. It wasn’t that special to me at the beginning, but after a few months, I already knew that one day I would like to do my yoga teaching license.
I generally like sports very much, but yoga was one of the few things that I came back to again and again throughout all these years. For example, during university, when I felt completely overworked and demotivated, I came across this one-month all-inclusive yoga ticket. Thus, I went there almost every evening, and it helped me immensely to relax my mind and to get rid of my stiff neck and back pain from too much desk work.
There is a reason why the downward-facing dog became THE asana. I love yoga classes that a lot of down dogs do because it lets you flow from one asana into the next pose. To keep it interesting, I invent my own variations of it. Another one that I like is Marichyasana C (seated twist pose). This pose stretches the back, shoulders, and hamstrings. It is a great stretch for runners or after a long day of standing.
The Happy Baby is another very beneficial yet simple asana that you can do if you have lower back pain or if you need a break in between abdominal workouts.
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.
