How to stay motivated year-round, according to Tracy Anderson.
“You are how you move, how you eat, and how you sleep.”
At the beginning of a new year or as the warm-weather season approaches, there is always a renewed sense of optimism and an increased desire to set fitness goals. In fact, according to data from Google Trends, since 2015, the search term “fitness” has consistently spiked in January and the springtime year over year. But as the winter trudges on, it can be easy for that motivation to fizzle and revert to old routines. How can you hold onto the momentum and form long-lasting healthy habits that last all year?
We figured there’d be no better expert to ask other than Olivia’s trusted wellness guru, Tracy Anderson. For over the past two decades, Anderson has been a leader in her field beginning when she revolutionized the fitness space by creating a research-based workout that led hundreds of men and women to see real results. Her routines aim to tone the body, mixing a combination of cardio and weights in each session. The namesake Tracy Anderson Method brand has expanded exponentially since its start, and now offers digital classes, nutrition plans, retreats, health/beauty content, and even a mindfulness-focused program to educate its members further.
To set yourself up for success, one must be in the right headspace, and Anderson proves that the ability to stay focused can simply be a case of mind over matter. Read on as she shares her advice, and recommends one of her signature fitness moves.
For many, fitness goals are at the top of mind right now. How can we keep that level of motivation consistent all year long?
It’s a refreshing and hopeful time to reflect. Acknowledge the hard work that you’ve done already and take note of the things that were challenging, or perhaps you didn’t face yet but want to. Use this time to look forward and really make a commitment to yourself. Prioritize movement and your health as no dream cleanse or pill will ever be a long-term solution. It isn’t selfish to put wellness-related time first—commit to yourself and know that it’s important to honor your body.
What is your 2020 vision? Are there any goals that you hope to accomplish personally?
I do. To me, when the intentions you put forward are clear, you can lead your healthiest life. It’s never about accomplishing as many things as you possibly can, though. It’s more about being selective and focusing on what is best for you. This year, I really care a lot about nurturing existing relationships and connecting more with my friends and family. With my career, too, I’ve become even more passionate about finding new ways to make wellness expertise and advice accessible. This year will be filled with more focus, more creating, and more collaboration with meaningful people for meaningful people.
Beyond your in-studio classes, you’ve recently launched a new digital program that focuses on strengthening the mind and spirit as well as the body. Why were those important areas to address?
When I did my studies many years ago, I realized that true fitness is not only about the moves. It’s all about the ability to self-process and self-connect, and for many years it wasn’t very easy to get people inspired. Motivators then were around specific areas like “getting better abs,” and people kept using celebrities as their drivers. But now, we’re in such a great place. I’ve worked so hard to say things like, “You can’t get Gwyneth’s legs in just three moves and just because you come to me, it doesn’t mean that you will look exactly like her and you shouldn’t want to.” Focusing on the mind and spirit helps unpeel all of those misidentifications and helps us not to be so critical of ourselves. In my annual Per4mance program, we provide a curriculum where people are learning from doctors and experts in many different fields. We’re bringing knowledge to the forefront, allowing everyone to be a student of themselves while managing their health.
Read Tracy’s full interview below.
