Secrets from the Queen of Balance: Gabrielle Van Der Elst
I don’t know about you, but it seems to be harder and harder to strike a balance. We strive to balance work and play, being healthy but also treating ourselves, spending time with family, friends, your partner while also fitting in some ‘me’ time. It’s an eternal juggling act and one that only a few people get right. Gabrielle Van Der Elst is one of those people. She is an extremely well-rounded individual, managing to fit more in one day than most of us can do in a week! I sat down with Gabby in a quest to find out her secret ingredient that makes her the queen of balance? Gabs, what do you see as the importance of having a balanced lifestyle? Why is it something we should aim for? Finding balance is an endless struggle but I think the key is to always be kind to yourself and take some pressure away - we have enough pressure from work, family and friends. We are so quick to judge our efforts if we haven’t made it to a class or have been a little naughty by eating too many sweet treats. Find balance day by day as each week is so different. Listen to your body and give it exactly what it needs for that particular day. If you aren’t feeling up to a sweaty class, opt for something that’s more gentle. If you have energy to burn, go for a high intensity workout and NEVER feel bad about not making it to a class. Rather, do a 10-15 minute glute and abdominal workout at
home or simply stretch on your yoga mat as I guarantee you’ll feel so much better for it.