Meet our friend Lottie, a pilates teacher and lifestyle blogger who is all about balance, positivity and keeping it simple. Basically, our kind of girl! She is also currently representing our Rose Quartz Healing Stone necklace which couldn’t be more of a match made in heaven really.
daisy muses
A Guide To Finding Balance With Lottie Murphy
Hi Lottie, we’re all about finding the balance at Daisy, after a season of festivities and indulgence, how do you get back on track and find that life balance?
My festivities and over-indulging always creeps a little into January as my birthday is on the 16th but I try to stay balanced all year round so it’s never too difficult to get back on track. I ate a lot of cake and chocolate over my birthday so I’ll just naturally be cutting back on that now and feel motivated to move a lot more as we head towards Spring as I have some fun trips and challenges to look forward to. I don’t struggle finding life balance as I’m lucky to be able to incorporate workouts and attending classes into my lifestyle and I find prepping homemade food in the kitchen and eating healthy really enjoyable. My tip for anyone struggling though would be to simply make one small change, maybe that’s to take a packed lunch every day or drink 2Ls of water, don’t bombard yourself with a list of rules.
How do you stay motivated?
Motivation is the biggest thing. We usually know exactly what we should be doing but just can’t find the motivation to do it and it’s something I think everyone struggles with but it gets easier when you are more consistent. Consistency creates habits and a new lifestyle that means you don’t need to find that motivation because it’s ingrained in you. Sometimes when I’m lacking it though I like to have something to look forward to, maybe it’s a birthday celebration, a best friend’s wedding, a summer holiday or brunch with the girls at the weekend. Even this small thought will cheer me up and usually makes me want to look after myself by eating healthy and moving my body because I want to feel fabulous inside and out for that event.
What does a typical day look like for you?
As a Pilates instructor and lifestyle blogger, there’s definitely no 9-5 or even Monday to Friday work week. I might be teaching, organising events and retreats, writing, shooting, reviewing restaurants, attending a press launch, meeting brands and photographers, researching, travelling and within that I love working out, cooking, seeing my friends etc, so a day in the life of me doesn’t really exist but it’s very exciting and fun that way.
How do you keep your energy levels up and nourish your body when you’re rushing around all day and having to teach classes too?
Getting 8 hours sleep and drinking enough water is number 1. I know people say it all the time but it really is that simple and makes such a huge difference. I also try to start my day with movement myself so I’ll go and do a workout or a run or spend some time on my mat.
As an advocate for pilates and having practiced it for a while now, what are the benefits and do you have any tips/recommendations for someone whose interested in getting started?
I’m so passionate about it and believe that Pilates is amazing for everyone. I started doing Pilates every day whilst at ballet school and always felt so balanced in my body and mind after a session. Pilates made me a better dancer and I was hooked from then. The benefits are endless but the main thing is that your conditioning your body, keeping it supple, strong and mobile for life. Try and find a small class in a specialised yoga or pilates centre, not at a gym ideally. And start with the basics, even if you think you’re quite fit and body-aware, it’s a very different discipline. Like anything new, you need to take the time to properly learn it.
Do you have any New Year resolutions?
I wrote a blog post about my New Year resolutions recently although I didn’t think I’d actually make any, I’ve actually made the decision to stop drinking alcohol which has been on my mind for a long time. It was like a light finally switched this new year. It really hasn’t been difficult so far and I’m excited to continue living a alcohol free life. I also want to listen to my gut more and let go of my idea of perfection. I’ve gone into a little more detail here on my own blog here.