What’s My Workout: Robyn Youkilis
- Editors of FitBump
- Feb 16 2016
- 0 comments
Certified health coach Robyn Youkilis, founder of Your Healthiest You, takes a holistic approach to helping her clients find balance in their lives. And while the New York City and Los Angeles resident—whose new book Go with Your Gut: The Insider's Guide to Banishing the Bloat with 75 Digestion-Friendly Recipes debuted this month—has studied with some of the biggest names in wellness (Deepak Chopra, AnneMarie Colbin, Andrew Weil), she is learning plenty as a mom-to-be. “My pregnancy experience so far has opened up my perspective,” says Youkilis, who is due February 25. “It’s a whole new world.” We caught up with her to talk workouts, oatmeal raisin cookies and meeting her new baby.
Q: How have you felt during this pregnancy?A: With the exception of my first trimester, I’ve felt great! I think that’s been my biggest surprise. I didn’t expect to feel so great and so much like myself.
Q: What were your typical workouts before you got pregnant?A: Running—half marathons, too!—spin, yoga, working with my trainer, ballet and banding/balling Franklin Method workouts.
Q: Describe your workouts now.A: I’m still doing most of the things I loved pre-pregnancy! I haven’t been running in the last month, but was still getting out there once a week through seven months. One exercise that has felt great this whole pregnancy is spinning. I like getting my groove on on the bike.
Q: Awesome. Give us your pregnancy fitness philosophy in three words.A: Listen to your body. Okay, I know that’s four.
Q: What has surprised you the most about pregnancy fitness?A: I didn’t think that I would be working out at nine months pregnant! But now that I’m here, I still choose to show up because it feels good and feels right. At times it’s been a challenge: my body doesn’t look, feel, or do some of the things it used to and I have to slow down, rest more. But at the same time I’m in awe of the tiny human growing inside of me and excited to meet this person and watch him or her discover the world.
Q: What have you learned about yourself so far during this experience? Any revelations?A: That you really are not in charge. I was blessed to conceive in one “non-try,” as I call it. It was really meant to be.
Q: You are a health-and-wellness professional. How did that help inform how you planned to approach pregnancy, from diet to exercise to overall health?A: I did a lot of research and started to create a healthy environment for a baby to grow long before my husband and I officially started trying. I went on a full mercury detox, made sure my vitamin and mineral levels were balanced. I did infrared sauna therapy consistently, mostly at my favorite place in L.A., Shape House, and ate well and moved my body consistently.
Q: Any food cravings or go-tos at the moment?A: Giant, soft oatmeal raisin cookies—gluten-free and free of any crap ingredients of course. This baby is also absolutely obsessed with drinking gallons of fresh green juice, which has got to be the weirdest—and most expensive!—pregnancy craving ever. Luckily my husband is always down to get one, although I usually end up drinking most of his, too.
Q: What advice do you have for a mom-to-be who wants to continue to be active throughout her pregnancy?A: Listen to your body. This goes for everyone, not just moms-to-be. There’s a lot of information out there, but at the end of the day only you can tell what's best for your body and your growing baby. Don’t be afraid to really move if it feels good.
Q: Have you been prepping at all for birth or working out with that in mind specifically?A: I was gifted a private Pilates session from [holistic health and wellness coach] Rochelle Ludovisi to understand the core work I can do as the bump grows, which was incredible! I’ve also been attending HypnoBirthing classes.
Q: What are your post-baby fitness and wellness goals?A: I don’t have specific goals, but I definitely plan to get back into regular movement, whatever that may look like, as soon as possible. I know it’s something that makes me feel my best.
