Wellness is in; influencers are the preachers, and Instagram is the pulpit. But how can you tell who’s the real deal and who is hocking product for some likes?
ULTRA spoke with Kirsy Lovett a wellness guru and co-founder of the group fitness program, Guest Past.
The following is an edited transcript.
What does wellness mean to you and how does it compare to traditional health/fitness values?
I think wellness is just a lifestyle at this point, it’s not just working out everyday. It’s what makes you feel good. To me working out feels good, but I don’t need it everyday to get the endorphin rush. I think it’s about balance, so I got out with friends and I don’t beat myself up if I don’t work out. Its a matter of just making it a comfortable lifestyle without being too hard on yourself.
How can we practice wellness aside from just the food we eat and working out – do you have any daily rituals or habits? How do you stay motivated?
I’m a creature of routine, so I wake up in the morning and make myself a tea, I go through a 10-step skin care routine. It’s about me time. It’s nice to just have control of your day before you start going through emails and doing your work.
What’s something that made you happy this past week?
I figured out how to make coffee on my French Press!
Do you believe in diets, juice cleanses and intermittent fasting?
Absolutely not. I believe diets and things of that nature are not long term and they’re hard to maintain for the rest of your life. It’s really about balancing what you eat. If I have a crappy meal, I just make sure to work out later in the day. If I’ve been eating well all day, I maybe won’t make it as necessary to work out that day. You have to know what feels good for you, I’m actually trying to cut out dairy right now.
Considering health and fitness culture is heavily intertwined with disordered eating, do you feel a responsibility to be mindful of that on your platform and in your practice?
I think I do a good job at being realistic with what I post, I might post chicken and waffles one day. I don’t think anyone is following me for health/eating tips, it’s more about the workout aspect. I just try to not promote any bad habits because I’m aware of how my posts can affect people.
/
Can you tell us about Guest Pass – does it differ from traditional workout communities/brands?
What we wanted to build first with Guest Pass was the community/family and not just a standard space for working out. I see it as more of a pop-up event, where we bring different instructors and bring people to spaces we think are good. The whole idea of Guest Pass is to work out with a friend. We do our ticket sales where one ticket is $15, but if you bring a partner – it’s $10.
It encourages people to bring someone, because to me fitness is not just about getting ripped and then leaving. It’s about enjoying a workout with someone else, the moments post-workout where everyone is in conversation, the community aspect of it. Fitness is expensive which is why we aim to make guest pass together.
/
What is your best advice for other start-up founders?
You should definitely have a full time job or other ways of making money because you’re probably not going to be making anything your first year. Having a partner is really important as well. It’s easier to do everything with someone else so it’s nice to have help.
Be realistic but also stay consistent.
Have you had any negative interactions on social media? If so, can you tell us how you navigate that?
I think people are really entitled to you and your time. Just because you put something up doesn’t mean they have the right to question it. I had a situation where someone was questioning my fitness habits because I wasn’t posting about it. I’m still a human and I live my life off of Instagram sometimes. I don’t post everything I do, so I think people need to be more mindful that I’m still a regular person and not to be so judgmental.
—
Photography by Aren Johnson, collages by Frank Henriquez.
For more information on Kirsy, you can follow her on Instagram here.
Share
