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Meet The Trainer: Sophie Spoor
Sophie is the founder of So Yoga. After working in sports marketing for ten years where she organized mass participation sports events, she started practicing yoga to release stress from her job, as well as to release the muscle tightness from running. Over time, she developed a love for yoga and decided to change her career path to become a yoga instructor!
Chrys: Hi Sophie. Tell us more about your personal journey to fitness and eventually finding yoga.
Sophie: I’ve always practiced sports since I was young: tennis, dance, gym and pilates. However, it was only after my first pregnancy that my real addiction to fitness started! Like many new mums, I found it hard to shake off the extra weight, and wanted to get back in shape. I started running, and established a weekly “running lab” with some girlfriends on Monday evenings. Later on I started rolling out my yoga mat more often.
Chrys: As a business owner and a mom, how do you find time to stay fit and healthy?
Sophie: During my classes, I demonstrate most of the poses as I teach. I consider this time as “minimum self-maintenance” time! More importantly, my rule is to self-practice yoga at least three times a week. If I skip yoga for that week, I don’t feel good anyway, and even my kids recognize it and will tell me to go practice yoga!
Chrys: What is the first thing you do every morning?
Sophie: My days usually start very early.. yoga is beautiful to practice at sunrise! My family is usually still asleep when I’m up. The first thing I do is to drink a large glass of warm water with lemon juice, then leave home to teach my first class. I especially love teaching outdoor yoga classes at East Coast Park. I love seeing that magical second, in my clients’ eyes, when they look up and see the sun rising.
Chrys: Eating healthy is an important part of living healthy. Do you have any specific diet guidelines you stick to?
Sophie: I tend to regulate myself naturally. Whenever I find myself eating unhealthy food for a few days, I immediately go back to consuming more soups, veggies and fruits. I also love including a variety of healthy food in my diet – that’s probably the best way to get as many nutrients and vitamins as possible from different food sources.
Chrys: So what types of food are always in your fridge?
Sophie: There’s always either kale or baby spinach, avocados, kiwis, frozen blueberries and almond milk. I love combining all these ingredients into juice, topped with Chia seeds!
Chrys: We all love our juices too! But if you had to pick, what would be your favourite healthy food?
Sophie: An avocado & coconut smoothie. It’s not as light as other juices, but it is still healthy and super yummy!
Chrys: What are some workout tips that you have for people looking to get into shape?
Sophie: Find an exercise that you like, and soon you will love it as you get better at it! Do something that makes you feel good, and whenever you have accomplished a great workout, acknowledge it, be proud of it, breathe.. and smile!
Chrys: What are some mistakes people make when working out or dieting?
Sophie: I often see many people being excessive with their workouts and dieting. To me, the key is consistency. It is better to practice yoga or do any other sports twice a week over the years, rather than seven days a week for six months and then quit after feeling burn out. It is the same thing for your diet – instead of going on a crash fad diet, it is better to slowly introduce healthy food into your diet. Soon, you will start integrating healthy eating naturally in your daily life without realizing it.
Chrys: As a yoga instructor, what would be your favourite yoga routine to practice?
Sophie: I have my own little yoga practice routine. I start with some breathing exercises, continue with stretching, followed by a few rounds of sun salutations. I then work on my shoulders and hips – the muscles in both areas get tight easily when you ignore them. And of course I end my practice with Savasana, a relaxation time!
Looking to practice yoga with Sophie? Book your morning Hatha yoga classes at East Coast Park with So Yoga today!
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