With the Easter weekend creeping up on us (where is the year going?!), we wanted to share some of our top tips for making it a healthy, feel-good time – whether you celebrate it as part of your religion, love a long weekend, or are simply looking forward to including chocolate in every meal.
And no, this article isn’t about waking up early to fit in a workout or knowing which exercises are the best for burning off an Easter egg. This is about finding balance and remembering that eating your favourite foods and enjoying your downtime with family and friends are just as important a part of leading a healthy lifestyle as your training is. Health and happiness go hand in hand, and over Easter, a balanced diet can definitely mean having some chocolate in each hand.
A good brekkie goes a long way
Before you get stuck into the Easter treats, try to start the day with a nutritious breakfast. This can be a great way to fuel your body with long-lasting energy and get some protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals in your tank! You’re also less likely to feel those spikes and crashes in your energy that often come from beginning the day with sugary foods.
Move your body to feel good and have fun
If you want to continue with your usual workout schedule over Easter, go for it! But if you’re heading off on vacation, are spending quality time with family and friends, or simply want to hit pause on your training for a couple of days, don’t be afraid to mix up your routine.
Moving your body at Easter (and at ANY time of year) shouldn’t be to burn off anything you’ve eaten or to earn your food – it should be about feeling good and taking care of your body.
Getting active with your loved ones can be a great way to make memories and have fun together, whether it’s a walk, bike ride, swim, a hike in the wilderness, or some games in your local park or backyard! If you’ve got kids around, doing egg and spoon races or bunny hopping sack races are sure to get everyone laughing.
If you’ve been in an amazing rhythm with your YogaFokus program but find your routine goes out the window over Easter, don’t worry about it! Your program will still be there after the weekend if you want to pick back up where you left off. If working out is your happy place and something you want to prioritise to de-stress or have some “me-time”, that’s cool too.
Want to squeeze in a quick full-body blast or keen to rope your family and friends into a weekend workout? Give one of these short workouts a go or try this free express holiday workout!
Stay hydrated and have healthy snacks on hand
Drinking water helps your body with digestion and breaking down what you’ve eaten while also working to prevent constipation. Have a water bottle with you to replenish any fluids lost through sweat, breathing, or especially if you’re drinking alcoholic beverages as these dehydrate you faster.
Along with staying hydrated, it can be a good idea to stock up on healthy food options for the weekend, too. This isn’t about depriving yourself of your favourite treats or saying no to an Easter egg hunt, but making sure you’re still nourishing your body with vitamins and minerals. Eating some fruit and vegetables will also aid digestion due to their high fibre and water content.
Don’t sweat it – it’s one weekend!
The most important thing to remember is that Easter doesn’t happen every week. Just like other holidays such as Christmas or your birthday, it’s a celebration that happens once a year and shouldn’t be something that causes you to feel stressed about your workouts or what you’re eating. One day or weekend of rest or indulgence definitely isn’t going to ruin your long-term progress, and a healthy lifestyle should be both enjoyable and sustainable.
As Head Trainer Kayla Itsines says, you CAN have a healthy and balanced diet which includes whatever food you look forward to.
YogaFokus is about so much more than your workouts
Feel your best – inside AND out
Focus on joy and gratitude
If Easter is a time that you struggle with your feelings around food and exercise, it can help to shift your mindset by focusing on what you are grateful for. This could be seeing your friends and family, a chance to sleep in and relax, a lovely day for a walk outside, or enjoying delicious food with your loved ones.
Life is about joy, so if Easter is a weekend of celebration for you, focus on that. Relish this time and soak up every moment – it only happens once a year after all.