She’s an exercise psychologist, personal trainer and health coach. Sarah focuses on mental health as well as self love and wellbeing.
WHAT DOES YOUR MORNING RITUAL LOOK LIKE?
My morning routine is sacred and always has been! The first thing I do is drink lots of water and then make myself a cup of tea (a special blend of crushed herbs for liver support). If I don’t have clients that morning I’ll go for a coastal walk or to yoga, otherwise I’ll dive into making breakfast. I usually have eggs, greens and gluten free toast, or quinoa porridge using Ulu Hye Nut Milk, add a spoonful of pea protein and top it off with chopped walnuts and dried fig.
In the evenings I try to switch off from technology by 9pm and focus on self-care. I dry body brush to exfoliate my skin, then jump in the shower or have a bath. I find having an Epsom salt bath with lavender essential oil incredibly relaxing and helps me sleep like a baby. Then I’ll crawl into bed and listen to a podcast or read a book before lights out.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH PHILOSOPHIES YOU SWEAR BY?
I have a few that I live by! But I think the most fundamental one is to make healthy interesting and fitness fun. The biggest mistake I see people make with nutrition is focusing on what to cut out, but I think it’s healthier and far more motivating to think about what to ADD instead. Strategies like making your plate more colourful, drinking plenty of water, and learning to cook a new healthy dish is what I focus on for myself and when coaching clients. We need to stop giving food a moral compass in our lives and appreciate that all food is good; sometimes it’s that which nourishes our cells and sometimes it’s that which nourishes our soul. In terms of exercise I think it’s important to get a plan that’s tailored to you and your goals instead of following a PDF workout you bought on the internet. I’ve personally been working on increasing my strength and learning how to run again. I was injured in a car crash 2 years ago which left me with nerve damage so I know that a slow and steady approach is essential.
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR MIND SET WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH?
My main motivation for eating well and exercising is better mental health. You just notice how much better you feel after moving your body and eating balanced meals with lots of colourful veggies, slow digesting carbs and simple proteins.
WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MAY SURPRISE THEM?
I’m a dual citizen! I was born in America and lived there until I was 14 then moved to Australia with my family. I loved that I got to experience two different cultures, but I consider Sydney home more than California now.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE OR IMPROVEMENT YOU FOUND CONSUMING PLANT BASED OR WHOLE FOODS?
I think better energy and digestion has been the most noticeable change! I still eat meat, but I notice I don’t need as much, and that my taste buds actually crave vegetables.
BEING A PROMINENT INFLUENCER THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, MANY YOUNG WOMAN WOULD LOOK UP TO YOU. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?
Don’t compare yourself to others – healthy and happy looks different on everyone. When I first started in the fitness industry I thought I needed to have the perfect physique (super lean, ripped abs etc) in order to be successful. It drove me down a path that landed me with an eating disorder, which I’m happy to say I recovered from, but it took me 10 years to get my period back! I wish someone would have warned me about the physical ramifications of being too lean. That’s why I’m so incredibly passionate about educating women to move mindfully for better mental health, eat intuitively without counting calories and implementing strategies to manage stress, improve gut function, and balance their hormones so they are truly healthy and happy from the inside out.
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