Meet LA-based actor and model, Natasha. She is the epitome of what Pointe Studio means when we say "sanity not vanity" when it comes to working out. And because we find her to be so inspirational, we've also been lucky enough to have her model in some campaigns. Curious to know more about this strong, stunning lady? Read on and learn why Natasha embodies our core philosophy in her day-to-day life. Tell us a little bit about yourself!  I live in sunny southern California by way of Portland and the San Francisco Bay. I think that life should be an adventure every day, so I love to explore: new coffee shops, new cities, a new route to walk through the neighborhood. I'm a professional model and actress who has an obsession with fitness, food, and my dog, Riley.  How does fitness play a role in your day to day life? Fitness is like brushing your teeth: You'd never go a day without it (I hope). It's not something I have to do but something I get to do and want to do. I do it more for my mind than anything else; It keeps me grounded and reminds me not only to push past barriers in life but also to know when to release and pull back.  What is your favorite workout? Because I'm in a constant state of wanderlust, I rarely do the same thing everyday. My philosophy is to constantly change it up and keep it interesting, so it really depends on whatever mood I'm in that day. But if I had to choose, I'd say the 45 minute 'Leaner' class at Prevail Boxing in Hollywood. It's the perfect combination of full body HIIT and boxing; And always pushes me to my limits but leaves me feeling like a total superhero.  What does a normal day look like for you, from start to finish? I rarely know what any given day can look like from one week to the next, but generally my morning routine is one I have cultivated over the years to set me up for success mentally and spiritually — so I complete it religiously without fail. My alarm goes off just before sunrise, labeled with affirming words and a song that inspires me. Coffee, candles, journal, prayer, the morning bird songs, and sunrise. It's making time for that sacred self care that makes or breaks my day. If I miss it, i'm literally not the same person. After that it's off to the races! I feed and walk the dog and make my way to set where I'll grab breakfast (if I'm shooting that day). Because most of my work is active, I generally don't workout on days that I'm shooting. After work I'll rush home, walk the pup for an hour with no phone or music, just taking in the day, letting my mind rest. I'll head home to make dinner while listening to a podcast or YouTube sermon, read a bit, then lights out around 10pm. On days I'm not shooting I often have two or three castings, so I'll prioritize my workout in the morning because that's when I'm my most energized and inspired to workout. It also saves me from that nagging 'you have to workout later' guilt trip that we let play in our heads. Once I work out, I head home for my everyday breakfast of two poached eggs or egg whites, a cup of wilted spinach, and 1/2 mashed sweet potato with vegan butter. From there it's castings and errands until I get back to the casa to walk with Riley and do the dinner podcast thing again Which sock from the photoshoot was your favorite? The black ankle socks - black is my Happy Color  Do you have any advice for readers who are struggling to stay motivated while working out? Find something you love, but always — before you workout do the 'mood work' — check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you're feeling and what you need emotionally. I find that my physical workout needs change depending on my emotional workout needs. For example, If I'm feeling kinda sad and need to clear my head, I'll usually opt for a long run or yoga. That way, the process of working out is actually therapeutic. So it's not something I'm suffering through, it's something I'm embracing because it's soothing and makes me feel better. Likewise, if I'm feeling angry or frustrated, I'll opt for boxing or lifting weights because I need to let out some aggression. I've found that when I couple my workout with what I want or need emotionally, rather than just doing something because I have to check it off the list, I give 100% effort and get 100% back. 

The word mindfulness has become a buzzword, especially in the fitness and mental health space. We’re bombarded with messages about being mindful and intentional, but are then left to figure out what that looks like within our own lives. What does it mean to be mindful? How exactly do we become more intentional or find balance? We’ve thought a lot about balance, and about making the aspirational attainable. Unfortunately there is no blueprint (though if you have one, feel free to share), and everyone’s experience is a bit different. That said, there are a few things we’re trying — despite the fact that they’re not always easy to put into practice. Find our mindfulness goals ahead — and if you’re game, join us.  Say No For some of us, saying no can be pretty damn hard. However, it’s an important step in maintaining balance. Say no when someone asks you to hang but you’re not feeling it. Say no even when you scheduled that extra pilates class but your body needs a break. Tune into yourself and establish your own boundaries — you might just find a whole lot more peace. Slow Down Give yourself permission to slow down. Breathe and create space (yes, we did take that line from our favorite yoga instructor). Life moves so fast, we forget to take deep breaths and really connect with our minds and bodies. Avoid getting stuck in a spot in life where you move through the motions just because it’s routine. Gain awareness by shaking things up and then slowing them down. Reflect Slowing down can free up space to reflect. On what exactly? Ultimately, that’s up to you. Once you take a pause, this might become a whole lot more clear. Make the most of this moment by meditating for a few minutes or writing in a journal. Do whatever helps brings some clarity to your thoughts. This can be done in the comfort of your own home, a local park, a nearby beach, or backyard woods. No passport or fancy meditation schedule required. And if you’re struggling to reflect, try saying a few affirmators out loud — and say them until you believe them. Here are a few of our faves. I am getting stronger every day. I am in awe of what my body is capable of. No one can make me feel inferior. I was not made to give up. I will not worry about things I cannot control. I am worthy of love and respect. I am surrounded by positivity. I have the courage to say “no”.

As the general manager of boutique, juice bar, and fitness studio Current State, Chelsea Boucher strives to create a hub for health, wellness, empowerment, and just generally good vibes in the Providence, Rhode Island community. That said, we were thrilled to work with her as one of our newest Pointe Studio stockists, as we share all the aforementioned values. Current State currently offers barre, HIIT, yoga, and mediation classes and we think we fit nicely into all of those — plus being stocked alongside some seriously cute and inspired clothing, accessories, beauty products, and other self care items we’re feeling right at home. Considering the fact that we’ve been fangirling about working with Current State for the past few months, we thought we’d shine a spotlight on Chelsea. Read on to learn a bit more about what keeps her motivated, what she’s made her 2019 resolution, and — obviously — what PS grip sock she can’t stop obsessing over. Tell us what gets you back in the studio every day. We’ve felt sore, we’ve felt tired, we’ve felt overwhelmed, but even then we’ve never regretted a workout. Being in the studio just makes us feel good. Connecting with other people and guiding them through a class gives us life. Resolutions are great but without an intention, it’s almost impossible to attain them. What’s the intention for you or your studio in 2019? Our intention every day is to provide a space that feels open, welcoming, loving and supportive for our clients. We want to be the place that you go to when you need a break from the daily grind. From the second you walk through the door you vibrate higher. You connect with the energy of the space and the people you share it with. It’s disconnecting and connecting all at once. We put so much love and energy into Current State and our favorite part of each day is sharing that love and energy with our clients. What’s the most rewarding part of barre and yoga? Is there a part that isn’t rewarding? It has to be the constant flow of energy; mind, body & soul; connecting here and now with intentional movement and breath. The meeting of the body and mind on the mat. It is being present through purposeful practice. It is showing up for you each and every day, channeling the chaos. The reward is in the practice. What inspired you to open Current State? We opened Current State because we wanted to provide a space that was all inclusive in the wellness world. We strive to make the mystical & holistic accessible. Our vision is to continue to grow and expand in the world of wellness, our fitness studio being just a footprint in the journey. Last but not least, favorite Pointe Studio sock! This might be the hardest question… our favorite socks would have to be the full foot grip socks. Simple and effective. Not to mention they come in adorable colors and patterns! And the new happy socks will be in our next order, for sure! If you'd like to be one of our stockists, send over an email to sales@pointestudio.com!

Despite the fact that it's becoming more and more common to have jobs — or side hustles — that extend outside (or above and beyond) the traditional 9-5, Monday through Friday work week, many of us still try to somewhat savor our Saturdays and Sunday. For some of us, making the most of our weekend looks like Bloody Mary's and brunch with friends and for others it's taking full advantage of some quality, quiet alone time. Regardless of what you typically get into on your time off, working in some time for wellness is never a bad idea. Wellness isn't just about sipping green juice practicing meditation (but if that's your preferred method, then more power to you!), it can be so many forms of self-care. And to get an idea of ways you can tune into yourself and recharge on the weekend — regardless of whether you also want to squeeze in a boozy brunch — we turned to our friend Jacqulyn Whang, a public school teacher, yogi, and poet, to find out some tips for making the most of your time off with some mindful practices. Read on to see how she spends her off days (mostly) unplugging from work, and plugging into herself.  Morning Stretch "The first morning stretch I do is in bed. I stretch my arms out to the top of the bed and my feet to the bottom of my bed. I do a little twists, bending my legs and dropping them to both sides of my body. I'll do a quick down ward facing down and forward fold before I head out to work." Working (in moderation) "Though I often have to work during the weekend, I'm constantly taking breaks. This makes work enjoyable and part of my lifestyle. Some people would rather compartmentalize their work and personal life, but for me they both motivate and inspire one another. To stop myself from overworking, I make sure to intentionally shut off my mind and take a break. I force myself to go on walks, frequent dinner meet ups, solo restaurant dates, and bike rides." Getting Outside "I need to be outside everyday. I love walking my dog, doing yoga at the park, and riding my bike. I'm currently trying to get my bunny hop!" Freestyle Flow "My practice is an extension of me. I practice yoga during my prep period during the school day and before I go to bed. Days I don't work, I sneak in a morning session. The flow fits my energy level. I rarely move myself to sweat, rather I focus on restoring, heat building, and flexibility. Sometimes I play music (90's rap and R&B, instrumental, jazz, or worship) and other times the sound of my breath is more than enough. The practice looks different everyday, but always ends in re-centering and self compassion." Photos by Celina Kenyon

When it comes to fitness and wellness, we all need a little extra motivation some days. And we don't know about you, but often times our inspiration is found in others who we admire, whether it be for their super positive outlook, their hustle and grind, or the way they always seem to take every day by the horns.  A recent example of one such lady is Lilly Thomas, a data scientist based in Encinitas, CA who's inspiring, outdoor activity-filled Instagram feed captured our attention. When she's not grabbing statistical info from drone and satellite imagery (which is already pretty rad, if you ask us), she's finding ways to make both her body and mind feel good with regular surf sessions, swimming, practicing yoga, or any other number of healthy habits. That said, we knew she'd be the perfect candidate to help us find daily ways to psych ourselves up and head out the door with a purpose. Below find her top five tips to staying motivated from the inside out. 1. Shift Your Focus "Start the day envisioning not what you can gain from of your actions, but what you can contribute through your actions. For me, this mentality has always aligned my decisions with long term happiness. By channeling my thoughts and energy towards the betterment of myself and those around me, I am able to stay on track and remain dedicated towards what really matters." 2. Stay Positive "Remind yourself of how special it is to be alive and well. Our existence in and of itself is miraculous! In appreciating how hard others worked to help bring me into this world and nurture my growth, I see my sense of motivation and work ethic truly as homage towards those supporters."  3. Say Less, Do More "I truly believe that there is an incredible amount of power in accomplishing something or conveying a message through actions rather than words. By backing what you do choose to say with identifiable action, you increase the weight behind your message." 4. Get Outside "Nature is my ultimate form of medicine. The ocean is my single most powerful creative medium. I highly recommend reading Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nicholls." 5. Move with Purpose "Take time during your day to stretch, invert, open up your joints, maybe roll your muscles, and most importantly - practice intentional breathing. I have found that I am able to refresh my sense of motivation through simple acts like lengthening and/or applying therapeutic pressure to my muscles, opening up my heart space, twisting out my core and kindling some intent in my inhales and exhales." Photos by Celina Kenyon