Lightening Round with Sarah Scarborough

 

Getting Personal with Sarah Scarborough of Firepot Nomadic Teas + Tea Huntress (Nashville, TN)
Photo by Christen Clemins

 

My name is: 

Sarah Scarborough.

I’m a: 

A mother, an adventurer, and a lover of plants, raw nature and wild beauty.

My non-negotiable wellness habits are:

Tea, yoga, clean water and simple, organic food.

I wake up each day at: 

5:30 if I can. Otherwise, 7.

First thing I do each morning:

I try to empty my mind.

My morning routine goes something like this:

Clear my mind: Meditation and prayer.

Clean my face: Splash of cold water.

Clean my body: Warm glass of lemon water.

Then, I put the kettle on for tea, and finally I head to yoga or for a hike or run.

My morning beverage of choice is: 

Tea.

I prepare it: 

Usually, I just put leaves in a bowl and add hot water. I have at least 3 bowls. Sometimes, I make a chai instead.

Go-to Breakfast: 

Recently, it has been a smoothie with yogurt, flax oil and fruit. I often forage from my kids leftovers… usually some bread crusts with butter, part of a croissant or a bite of a hard boiled egg.

Lunch is normally: 

Today it was hummus, cabbage salad and pita which is pretty normal.

Snacks, take them or leave them: 

Leave them-- I’m not that organized. If I am at home, I snack on chocolate or I make a tonic with Sun Potion Yin Powder, honey and almond milk.

Dinner is often: 

Fish (grilled or baked), veggies (steamed, raw or roasted) and rice, quinoa or pasta. I like to go out for sushi too.

My favorite way to get my sweat on is: 

A long run in the woods.

My go to beauty/skin care products are:

Venus and Vetiver, Tata Harper and Revel Nashville are my favorite skin care companies. They are all natural, organic and functional.

My regular skin routine includes:

Exfoliate, wash and oil-- at least a few times a week.

For me, self care means: 

Connecting with myself, nature and divinity through meditation, quiet time alone in nature or a long walk or tea with a good friend.

On a Friday night, you can find me: 

Cooking dinner and drinking wine on our porch with friends and family. The kids run around and play and we get to relax.

Before bed:

I take a salt bath, drink some hemp leaf or chamomile tisane and try to empty my mind again.

Words to live by/life philosophy: 

Know thyself -Socrates.

What does success look like for you, personally and professionally

Success to me is making a difference through my work, having fun with my family and friends, keeping my body and mind healthy and always having an exciting adventure on the horizon!

If I had known then what I know now, I would tell my younger self:  

Be true to yourself.

Thank you SARAH for giving us a sneak peak into your wellness routine. Want to know more about SARAH? Check her out on social @FIREPOTNOMADICTEAS and @tea_huntress


Sarah Scarborough

Want to read more?

Check out TEA TIME with Sarah

Susan Blum

Next Lightening Round:

We will be introducing Susan Blum to the blog

Lightening Round With Martha Kaplan

 
Martha Kaplan

Getting Personal with Martha Kaplan, SoulCycle Instructor + Community Marketing Manager of Athleta

 

My name is: 

Martha Kaplan

I’m a: 

Community Marketing Manager for Athleta and an indoor cycling instructor at SoulCycle

My non-negotiable wellness habits are:

Movement everyday. I have to do some type of exercise! Also taking good care of my skin and fueling my body.

I wake up each day at: 

6:30 a.m.

My morning routine goes something like this:

I wake up, make coffee, feed the cat, get washed, talk to my partner, check my calendar/work schedule for the day, do a few quick stretches and 10 pushups. I do 10 pushups every morning:)

My morning beverage of choice is: 

Coffee.

I take my coffee: 

With unsweetened Califia Farms Almond Milk

Go-to Breakfast: 

My go to breakfast is usually a slice of whole wheat toast with fresh ground peanut butter and jam and an antioxidant shake. (The shake is: blueberries, mango, pomegranates or blackberries, arugula with 1 TBSP of Flaxseed and 1 TSP of Amla Powder (Indian Gooseberry).

Lunch is normally: 

A salad or veggie wrap or veggie burrito.

Snacks: 

My go-to snacks are avocado toast, hummus and crackers/pita, veggies, fruit, and a cup of herbal tea in the afternoon.

Dinner is often: 

A big salad, whole wheat pasta and homemade sauce of marinara or puttanesca, sweet potato or brussel sprouts on the side

My favorite way to get my sweat on is: 

SoulCycle (but I love yoga too)

Favorite way to fuel between classes: 

I usually just drink lots of water and I bring a banana.

My go to beauty products on and off the bike are:

Skin care is really important to me.  If I teach 2 back to back, I will use Yuni Shower Sheets in between to freshen up. 

My regular skin routine includes:

cleansing with Clarins Foaming Face Wash and spraying my face with Mario Badescu Facial Spray (w/aloe and rosewater). I then moisturize with Yuni Active Calm Moisturizer and use Blue Mercury M-61 Hydraboost Eye Cream around my eyes. It contains Vitamin B-5. I use Vaseline on my lips!

My go-to athletic/athleisure brands are: 

Of course, I LOVE Athleta.

Off the bike, you’ll find me wearing: 

Either black leggings or jeans with a black tank top and my funky high tops. I’ll layer with a fun sweatshirt over or if I have meetings that day, and a black blazer.

For me, self care means: 

Making sure I get a good night’s sleep and carving out time for myself during the day where I can do something for me.  I love to use the steam room at my gym and relax and stretch in there. I also make sure to enjoy a manicure 1x a week with a back massage! 

On a Friday night, you can find me: 

Finishing my playlist for my weekend classes and lying on the couch with a glass of wine watching Netflix with my honey.

Words to live by/life philosophy: 

Choose an active lifestyle, make healthy choices when it comes to what you eat, surround yourself with positive, like minded people and live each day with a growth mindset. Don’t put limitations on yourself.

If I had known then what I know now, I would tell my younger self:  

“Perfection is overrated.” When I think about myself in my 20’s, I was searching for the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the perfect life….At 62, I don’t worry about feeling exactly, perfectly settled in every part of my life. If I did, then I’d miss out on all the wonderful opportunities life gives us to grow and learn! It’s about the journey! 

Thank you martha for giving us a sneak peak into your wellness routine. Want to know more about Martha? Check her out on social @Martha_Kaplan


Want more on Martha?

Check out the in-depth interview

Mica Diamond

Our previous lightning round with…

Renown life coach, Mica Diamond

PERSONAL journey with Martha Kaplan

Martha Kaplan is the Community Marketing Manager at Athleta, and a seasoned SoulCycle instructor. With over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry, Martha is the OG Wellness Warrior, meaning she was all about wellness before wellness was a thing. Oh, and did I mention, Martha is a cool 62 years young.

I had the chance to sit down with Martha recently and talk to her about her personal journey, as well as her thoughts on health, fitness and the wellness craze.

 
Grounded + OP + Martha Kaplan
 

Martha takes the questions...


Q) A full-time job with Athleta, and a side hustle as an instructor at cult fav SoulCycle since 2009! Tell us how you got here, and what inspired you to become involved in the fitness industry in the first place? 

I was always an athlete, and while my early years were spent in the ad industry, I always felt like my calling was fitness. When my ad agency merged with another big agency, I saw it as the perfect time to dive into my fitness career.  I became a certified instructor and personal trainer, and began teaching part time and taking on personal clients. I loved every minute of it, and never looked back. 

Q) What was the industry like when you started out?

We were all pioneers at that time - creating and inventing all types of workouts! It was a very exciting time to be in the fitness industry.

Q)You’ve been an instructor at SoulCycle since 2009. What drew you there, and has being part of the SC family changed the way you think about or approach exercise and fitness?

I was one of the first instructors in NY certified to teach indoor cycling. At the time is was called “spinning” and we were all trained on Schwinn bikes. I had been teaching at Equinox and several other studios for a number of years, when I heard about SoulCycle and decided to check it out.
There was something about the experience, the atmosphere, the ride and the instructors that drew me in right away. It was special and aligned with what I wanted my ride to be. SoulCycle is more than a great workout. It’s about connecting with others and developing relationships.

Q) As a dedicated rider myself, one of the things I love most about SoulCycle is the community of riders and instructors, and the special feeling of connection and shared experience that happens in that space. It can be pretty powerful. Can you talk a little about that?

SoulCycle tapped into a “social wellness” community. SoulCycle found a way to bring people together into a dark room with candles, and surround them with great music and motivating, inspirational instructors. SoulCycle gives you the feeling of belonging and connecting to something bigger. 

Q)There are no clocks, no doors opening and closing during the class, no distractions. People are connected through music, mantras and their shared emotion. Who doesn’t want to be a part of a community where you can meet people that share positive vibes and make you feel good about yourself? And, by the way, it’s a fantastic workout!

Much in the same way SoulCycle is more than a spin class, Athleta is so much more than an athleisure brand. Can you expand on this for us?

I feel deeply connected to Athleta’s mission “to ignite a community of active, healthy, confident women and girls who empower each other to reach their limitless potential” It’s a brand that stands for more than just yoga leggings and high performance apparel. Athleta stands for inclusivity and supports women and girls of all ethnicities, body types and sizes. It’s inspiring to be a part of a brand and movement that is redefining perceptions of wellness and strength 

Athleta is also a certified B-Corp with a focus on sustainability efforts and Fair Trade, putting the planet and people before profits. Knowing the work I do can positively impact every woman, and have a lasting effect on the world is personally fulfilling. That’s #powerofshe

Q) Wellness is everywhere you turn these days, and with it a slew of content and rapidly changing, often conflicting, information about what it means to be healthy. Throw in social media, and it’s no wonder people feel confused, stressed, and unsure about their own wellness habits. How do you cut through the noise, and find a more grounded approach to a healthy lifestyle? 

I ignore a lot of what I see on social media. I read and get as much education as I can from a variety of credible sources. Ultimately, I take a personal approach to wellness and ground myself in all the pillars of wellness in my life - - - physical, emotional, spiritual, nutritional, social, intellectual, financial and environmental.

I think people confuse wellness with just physical exercise and nutrition. When they see photos and quotes on social media there’s such a focus on the physical. Physical wellness is not just about how you look or how you exercise, it’s also your sleep habits, hygiene, mindfulness. This all encompassing view of wellness is my approach to a healthy lifestyle.

Q) You just celebrated your birthday! I love that you’re open and honest about your age; and treat it as something to be celebrated, not swept under the rug….

To quote Betty Friedan, “Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
Life is about learning, growing and discovering new opportunities every day.

I learn something every time I take a class from a new instructor or have a conversation with a co-worker at Athleta. I think we have to approach every day with a growth mindset and embrace a willingness to learn and try new things. If you stop learning you kind of stay stuck in the same place. 

I try not to think about aging as getting older. Turning 62 for me felt like  just another birthday.  I don’t feel any differently now than I did last year or the year before.  I have more energy and drive then I’ve ever had and that’s definitely something to celebrate!

Q) Lastly do you have a life philosophy. Something that helps you stay on track, see the big picture, and not get mired in negative thinking? 

A) My philosophy is to continue to do the things in life that bring me joy and make me happy. To stay grounded in my everyday wellness journey. To surround myself with positive, like minded people. To be kind and supportive to others, loving to family and friends. To cultivate gratitude daily...and to keep pedaling! 

Q) Favorite Quote?
A) I start everyday with a quote from Tao-Porchon-Lynch who just turned 100 years old: “This is going to be the best day of my life.

Thank you Martha for taking the time to talk with us, and share your inspiring thoughts on health, wellness, and a growth mindset. Want more Martha? Check her out on Social @Martha_Kaplan


 
 
Grounded + Organic Pharmer

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