Yoga Guru Tara Stiles Talks Food, Fitness + Fashion
Last week was a rough one for me. On top of non-stop studying for my final exams, I came down with the flu.
This would have been bad enough by itself, since it made cramming particularly torturous, but it also happened to coincide with something I’d been looking forward to for weeks: the launch of the new Reebok FitHub in Studio City.
I was so pumped for the event, especially because it would feature a yoga class led by famed instructor Tara Stiles, who just launched her latest healthy living and recipe book, Make Your Own Rules Diet.
Determined to not let a little bug get me down, that day I tossed on my new Reebok gear and headed over the hill.
Reebok Women’s Skyscape Runarounds // Whatevers Good Plus Pant (on sale) // Studio Burnout Crew Tee
I was nearing the end of my illness but the plan was still to lay low, scope the scene and probably sit the class out.
When I got there though, the energy in the room was infectious. I immediately felt a little better.
Prior to the class, I got to talking with Tara about her new book.
“The whole concept is about being good to yourself,” Tara told me. “It’s spreading the message that just having a juice a day and being so restrictive is a terrible thing for your body and mind. I’m trying to help take that pressure off young girls, and people of all ages really, and show that it doesn’t have to be so stressful to be healthy and feel good about yourself.”
Her personal rule:
“My rule is following how I feel, which leaves me open for whatever is happening today. Especially since I’m traveling so much. If I need to eat more, I eat more. If I need to sleep in, I sleep in. I go with how my body feels.”
Tara is such a sweet, humble gal and her vibe was totally uplifting. I thought about what she’d said and checked in with my body.
How did I feel?
Capable of a light practice.
So I went for it.
It was not only the first time I’d worked out in several days, but the first time I’d done a full yoga class in months.
It felt amazing.
I’m not going to go all Dr. Oz on you and say that “yoga is the new flu remedy,” but I will say that for several hours, I felt better than I all week.
It still took me a couple of days to completely recover, but those few hours were a nice break from studying and nursing a headache.
It reminded me how much I missed yoga.
A good practice can help wash away worries and provide a few moments of peace in our hectic schedules — so important this time of year. Tara’s class specifically was so refreshing and unintimidating. It made returning to the mat easy.
That, and the incredibly comfy Reebok outfit I was sporting.
These pants are so soft, you could sleep in them (and I do). It’s one of the reasons Tara loves the line too.
“When people feel good, and feel good about themselves, they actually want to go to yoga and they don’t feel like they have to suck everything in,” said Tara. “It’s been fun to take that concept and bring it to life — to watch people roll out of bed in their sweatpants and still look so cute.”
Tara actually designed many of the pieces, including this adorable “Rainbow Brite-inspired” jacket.
“My grandmother actually helped created this one. She made these leg warmers for me when I was four in these Rainbow Brite colors, and we drew from that.”
You can catch a peek of the original warmers in a photo in Tara’s book.
I’m looking forward to digging in to it while I’m traveling through New Zealand over the next two weeks. There are a ton of Tara’s favorite recipes — like Cashew Mac N’ Cheese — and advice on achieving an easy, healthy outlook on life.
“It’s terrible that we often look at exercise as a punishment and food as a reward, it shouldn’t be like that,” Tara told me. “It should be fun.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Getting back into a regular yoga practice is on the top of my fun list for 2015.
Don’t be surprised if my Instagram feed over the next two weeks is full of Dancers Poses on top of glaciers!
This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Reebok, but all opinions are my own.
Ellen says:
Leggings and a tank would be my yoga outfit of choice. And may I say for someone who was sick you looked fantastic in those pics!
Whitney English says:
Haha thanks Ellen! I’m a good faker :)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says:
That’s so cool you met Tara. I was able to take a STRALA yoga class at Sports Club LA in SF a few months ago and loved it, so different and freeing. I would definitely enjoy her book. Hope you feel all better soon!
Whitney English says:
Thanks Ashley! Yes, Tara is amazing. Her technique was so calming and refreshing.
Kim says:
I love both your and Tara’s outfits!!
Since I don’t do a lot of yoga and when I do it is at home I just wear my normal workout stuff.
Hope you are back to 100% now!!!
Whitney English says:
Yes, most of my clothes double as something – running and yoga, or in this case, relaxing around the house and yoga. xo
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says:
Hope you are on the mend! Yoga helps so many things. It’s not out there to consider that relaxing and movement could help make a girl feel better. Even with the flu. :-)