Mental Health Awareness takes place during May; however, the need to ensure that we are providing proper self-care, checking in with ourselves etc should happen daily. We’re all juggling lots of things in our lives, but we need to be there for ourselves too. We check in with obé Fitness’ Lulu S who leads classes and is known for her breathwork as well. She talks about how we can optimize ourselves, the importance of stretching, obé Fitness x Cupcake LightHearted series - Wine + Unwind, engaging in water rituals and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: With the month of May being Mental Health Awareness, we’re always interested in things that we can do year round to ensure that we are giving ourselves the time we need to reset. Why do you think it’s essential to give time to yourself?

LULU S: Taking care of ourselves is essential for us to take care of each other. We cannot give from an empty cup. A self-care practice doesn’t have to be an endless list of face masks, bubble baths, or anything fancy. It can be as simple as taking a deep breath and saying something kind to yourself. One of my favorite metaphors is you put on your oxygen mask before you help someone else put on theirs. When I’ve taken time to prioritize my well-being, I can show up with greater capacity in all areas of my life.

AM: Many of us enjoy working out as we have our studio options of choice, but sometimes, we may forget about stretching out bodies. What are 3 moves that we should include to give our body the love it needs after or before starting a workout?

LS: Three easy ways to approach stretching is to move side to side, forward, and back. For a side body stretch (done seated or standing), interlace all ten fingers and flip your palms upwards to the sky. Tip right to left a few times to open up the side body. To open the back and front body, come to standing and interlace the hands behind the back into a fist. You can use the pull of your hands to lift the chest and take a hint of a back bend and then fold forward over your legs with bent knees. This is like a two for one because you’re opening the legs, shoulders, and low back.

AM: Can you suggest 3 items we would need to have on hand in order to have an optimized stretch session?

LS: Number one most important tool is your breath! So don’t worry if you don’t have any equipment. Connect your breath to movement and take slow and steady inhales and exhales. My favorite prop for stretching is a strap, and if you don’t have a strap you can get creative and use a belt, scarf, or even a broom pole (believe it or not!). Take the strap or whatever you’re using and bring it in front of you in line with your shoulders with hands wider than shoulder width distance. You can practice moving the strap overhead and behind you to floss out and stretch the shoulders. An all-time classic and favorite in my book. Another thing that can be handy and easily accessible is an open wall space. Puppy stretch against a wall is another great chest opener. Raise your arms over head and walk your body as close to the wall as you can get. Keep your arms and chest against the wall and slowly back up your feet until you start to feel a point of resistance or sensation in the body. Take 5-8 breaths and then walk your feet back in and release the arms.

AM: We have enjoyed obé classes and we do love a great glass of wine. Tell me about the Wine + Unwind series.

The Wine + Unwind series is a biweekly series airing every other Tuesday night at 8:50 EST through the end of June. Following my Wind Down yoga class, I guide members through an express stretch over a glass of Cupcake LightHearted wine! Cupcake LightHearted is full of flavor, but lower in calories and sugar with only 8% ALC/VOL per 5 oz. serving. It’s the perfect way to end the weeknight without feeling like you are compromising your routine. Each week we explore a new varietal of Cupcake LightHearted wine (Rosé, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir), while giving our bodies time to relax and decompress. It’s like a wine tasting with a little extra love.

AM: How did the collaboration with Cupcake LightHearted come about for this series?

LS: Cupcake LightHearted believes that happy is healthy, fitness should be fun, and balance and moderation should be defined by you. That’s exactly how we feel at obé, so this collaboration felt like the perfect fit. My mother is also a California wine maker, so the art of wine making is in my roots. I grew up on the Central Coast of California and spent my childhood running free on the vineyard. It felt like the perfect match because I get to guide people through two things I love deeply: stretching and wine. Both are an art that allows you to appreciate taking time for yourself.

AM: In terms of breath work, how important is that to include within our day and how often should one do this?

LS: When you can align your conscious awareness with your breath, your capacity and appreciation for the present moment expands. It is easy and part of being human to let the mind wander into thoughts of the past or future, but when you focus on the breath it drops you into your center and sense of experiencing the now.

AM: For those that are just starting out, what is an introductory breath work exercise that we can do?

LS: One of my favorite breath work practices is box breathing. It is an equal part breath work where you inhale, hold, exhale, hold. You can start simple and inhale for a count of 4, hold the breath at the top for 4, slowly exhale for 4, and then hold the bottom of the exhale out for 4. If holding the breath doesn’t feel grounding, you can skip it and just focus on the inhale and exhale. Counting the breath allows the mind to relax and signals your parasympathetic nervous system that you are in a state where you can rest and digest. It is the key to relaxation.

AM: Over the pandemic, we really started looking at our homes in a different way especially because it served as a multi-use space from working, working out, sleeping, relaxing and watching tv. When it comes to setting your space, what can we do to create that retreat aspect in our own homes?

LS: As your most Taurus-y Taurus, I love creating a cozy zen den. A few easy ways to transform your space to make it feel more inviting, is a plant (or 10, can never have too many), a few candles, or lamp that has a soft glow. Something that is meaningful to you, I have a small altar of things I’ve collected from my travels. I love the ocean, so I like to place a sea shell or a crystal next to a candle when practicing or meditating. Last is something that smells good, whether it’s some palo santo, a scented candle, incense, or dabbing yourself with an essential oil to help you relax.

AM: I know that you believe in engaging in a water ritual. Can you share more about how we can do this and 3 examples of each?

LS: The element of water is like the breath. It flows and washes the day away. My favorite water ritual is taking a bath. I love to set my bathtub with a few candles, seashells, crystals, and palo santo. Play my favorite tracks from the Wind Down, and relax. On days I don’t have as much time for a full set up, setting my intention while showering or washing my face feels like a true act of self-care.