Belles:
What can you tell our readers about Happily Ever Active and what inspired you to start it?
Jillian: My inspiration for Happily Ever Active began with the birth of my first son and my motto that family comes first! During my pregnancy I found it easy to stay in shape and I did yoga everyday – really! Of course Max was in my belly at the time – so once he was out, I was surprised (especially as a first time mom!) at how difficult it was to find time to get anything accomplished, let alone time to workout and also childcare for Max so that I good go to the yoga studio. This is when I decided to take action. Being that I am a physical therapist, certified yoga and Pilates instructor and a bodyworker, I was easily able to blend all of this expertise and my passion for family into a new business. I started Happily Ever Active to help families, especially those with babies and toddlers, prioritize their health and wellness with fitness routines they could perform together. Through research and experience, I have found family fitness emphasizing yoga and Pilates is not only physically and mentally beneficial for all ages (preventing childhood obesity, improving heart health, decreasing acid reflux and colic, reducing ADHD, improving self esteem, and on and on) but is also an extremely rewarding bonding activity. My business mission, therefore, is to not only improve the health of all family members, but more importantly to strengthen their loving relationships.
Belles: Sticking to an exercise program is extremely difficult when members of a household aren’t “on the same page”, we love how Happily Ever Active caters to fitness for the whole family. What recommendations do you have for those struggling to get their family on a wellness plan?
Jillian: First of all, I love this question because I understand that sometimes the idea of getting your whole family healthy and fit can be very overwhelming. In fact, I have actually put a lot of effort into making Happily Ever Active’s products easy to use and also in a sense, very casual, just for this reason. My answer is simply to sprinkle in bits of health, fitness, and nutrition throughout your entire day rather than feeling like you need to block off a large chunk of time to dedicate to fitness or change your family’s entire diet. Eat carrots instead of chips, stand on one leg as you brush your teeth, as you go up the stairs with your toddler do some stair push-ups, teach your toddler froggy squat jumps and ribbit around the yard, do bicep curls with your baby while you wait in a line, etc. Research from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN actually proves that by being active off and on throughout an entire day not only creates a lifetime of healthier habits but is actually more beneficial than working out out super hard and fast for a block of 30-60 minutes. My new book, LIVE . . . Happily Ever Active , is a perfect tool for families with young kids to be inspired on learning new yoga and Pilates poses as they read and learn together.
Belles: You are an extremely busy woman, balancing a career and a family. How do you do it and what advice do you have for others struggling to fit it all in?
Jillian: I am laughing as the answer I have as that I am just like everyone else struggling to find balance, especially considering in the past 9 months alone, I have moved twice, launched a new book, had my third baby boy, and recently began the project of building a new home. The good news is, I understand and recognize that balance is needed. The one thing that I do to find balance is I make sure I have at least one day out of the week just to focus purely on my work and one day a week to focus 100% on my kiddos and having fun, fun fun! The other days are more of a juggling act with doing it all, but those 2 days a week bring back my sanity. I also have monthly (or sometimes weekly) totally shutdown days: I turn off my cell phone, iPad and laptop and completely disconnect from this world and tune into watching the sun glisten on the lake, listening to my kids giggles, feeling my lungs move with breath, tasting the sweetness of fresh raspberries, and all the simple pleasures that we too often speed by.
Belles: What advice can you offer our readers who are just getting back into the “fitness game” after having children?
Jillian: As I mentioned above, just take it slowly and find exercises to perform here and there throughout your day as you play with your little ones or as you clean the house, what have you. Our Happily Ever Active DVDs (if you ever actually watch my introductions – hee, hee!) actually mention that the workouts are not meant to be done as 45-60 minute “workouts” but that you learn all the different moves and find ways to experience and perform them throughout your day. Maybe your post-baby mushy belly is getting you down . . .Grab that little nugget of yours and sit him/her on your lap while you perform the Pilates Hundred. Your abs will burn and your baby will think you are blowing on their face for pure entertainment. Also, make sure to get outside and soak in the fresh air and the sun while you find some quite time to listen to your breath as you go on walks or bike rides with your kiddos.
Belles: What is the best piece of health or fitness advice you can offer us?
Jillian: Don’t think of it as a working out, but find times for healthy experiences or healthy playtime that you enjoy. Get inspired by watching your own children, with their boundless energy and see how they constantly experiment in moving their bodies head to toe (they are truly natural born yogis!) Also, it is crucial, that you, as parents, are exercising with your children and not always apart from them. In this sense, you are showing your kids that you value your health and also that getting fit is fun! If not for your own health benefits, your role modeling is extremely valuable in raising your kiddos to grow up full of healthy habits that will last a lifetime!
Thank you so much Jillian! Please visit: Jillian’s Happily Ever Active website for more information
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