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

We believe in sanity not vanity, in that mental vacay you get when you sweat it out. We're after the stress relief, the re-energize, re-center, kick-some-ass vibes you gather when you get that ass to class. Prove it. Get yourself that glow that only comes from, 'damn, I can't believe I did that'. But you're only human. So do everything in moderation, even moderation. Keep it fun. What do morning spin, two dollar tacos, afternoon pilates and margaritas have in common? You. Don't take it too seriously and it will fall into place.  But remember, you're doing it for you. Less I-don't-wanna and more because-I-gotta. And when it gets tough, just get there. Showing up is half the battle. Hanging in there is the other half. So, do it for you. Tell the world to wait, let your inbox to take five, tell your job to chill the f out. Because you're about to take some time to get it done - for you. It doesn't have to be perfect. Make it happen. Even if you're five minutes late, last row, sweating out last night's tequila. You're still there, and that's what counts.   Because for us, it's a mental thing. It's not about ten more reps or a six pack. It's about showing up so you don't lose your mind on a daily basis. So make the time. Take that sweat break. It will help you deal with that thing called life. Do it for the sanity, not vanity.

Indoor cycling/spin has evolved so much. What was sheer torture to horrible trance & generic workout tunes has turned into a full out sweaty dance party on a bike. If you haven’t given it a shot yet, you should. Here are our top 5 do’s and don’ts when going to a indoor cycling class: Do’s: Do a little research. Where is the studio? Who is the instructor? What type of music do they play? If you are a music lover then finding the studio that plays the kind of music you appreciate will help you ride hard! Do arrive early to get properly fitted on your bike. After the door shuts, winding your way through the cycle stadium looking for your correct bike, and then setting it up in the dark is not the best way to begin class. Do buy your own cycling shoes. If you plan on going again (which you will), make the investment. Who knows what kind of stinky toe jam is all up in those rental shoes. Do be prepared to sweat like never before. Don’t bother wearing makeup or a cute little updo for class.. The hair will be a rats nest and your full face of makeup that took a half hour to do will melt off in minutes. Do bring your own water bottle. It’s insane the amount of H2o you guzzle during class. You need it. Stay healthy, Stay hydrated! Don’ts: Don’t bring your cell phone, favorite magazine, or the New York Times (true story) into the studio. Allow yourself an hour to connect mind, body, and spirit. You deserve that. Schedule this time to disconnect from the outside world. Don’t forget your socks! Especially during sandal season, keep an extra pair of Pointe Studio socks in your gym bag! I see people put on the rental shoes with no socks because they “forgot.” My stomach turns just thinking about it. Don’t bee-line to the back row! I know it’s tempting, but find a place in the second row. You will be able to see the instructor better and I am willing to bet you will work harder. Don’t lean on the handlebars. Every once in a while look down at your knuckles… Are they white? Release the death grip. Keep your weight in your legs and your hips back over the saddle. They will get stronger I promise. Don’t got it alone. Everybody has that one friend that you can make eye contact with and know exactly what they are thinking. Bring them.

Sometimes plank doesn’t feel right, a stretch makes you feel worse than better, and which variation you need to take is unclear. Here are some clarifications of the most common weird pains and questions so you can feel more confident in getting the most out of your workout. Q: It seems like there are a trillion different ways to do down dog. Which is the correct one? A: Yes there are a trillion ways and all of them are amazing and should feel brilliant. Some tips for when you're in down dog: Distribute your weight inwards between thumb and index fingers. Head should feel heavy and relaxed with no stress in your neck. If your heels do not reach the floor take a small bend in the knees - tail tucked and ribs in. Try to create a sensation of a flat back while pulling in your core. Q: My feet hurt during spin class. Is this normal? A: Your shoes probably need an adjustment. Try tweaking them so that your feet turn slightly in and see if that helps. Remember to push and pull through your thighs and not solely through your feet or ankles. Q: Is it normal to get weird lower back pain when doing plank? Is that a good burn or a bad burn? A: Bad, bad, bad burn! No way should your back ever feel stress or take any pain during plank. Listen to your back, work your core and find the right balance between the two. Some steps to keep in mind for a successful plank: start on your knees. Tuck that tail. Pull in your ribs. Roll your shoulders back. Lift your head gazing forward for a neutral neck. Q: Do I have to follow the breathing instructions the instructor suggests? If I'm not exhaling while bending down and am instead inhaling am I screwing up my flow? A: Blood flow is an important part of exercise so why make it harder for your body do collect fresh oxygen. When you work within the movements; inhaling when your body is opening and exhaling when you are folding, you are only helping your body get the maximum results from  your workout!