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mbg Magnificence Director
mbg Magnificence Director
Alexandra Engler is the sweetness director at mindbodygreen and host of the sweetness podcast Clear Magnificence College. Beforehand, she’s held magnificence roles at Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports activities Illustrated, and Attract.com.
Picture by Wealthy Polk / Stringer x mbg Artistic / Getty Photographs
April 19, 2024
We love celebrating ladies on prime of their recreation. In our new sequence, Recreation On, we’re interviewing prime athletes about their well-being routines—masking every little thing from diet that makes them really feel sturdy to the moments that carry them pleasure.
Like many individuals, I used to be first launched to Gabby Douglas over a decade in the past, in the course of the 2012 Summer time Olympics in London. That summer time, the nation turned enamored with the “Fierce 5” who took residence the crew gold in ladies’s gymnastics for the USA.
Douglas’ star-making performances and gravity-defying energy earned her one other gold within the particular person all-around. And in doing so, she made historical past: Douglas is the primary African American girl to grow to be the Olympic particular person all-around champion and the primary U.S. gymnast to win gold in each the person all-around and crew competitions on the identical Olympics.
I used to be an intern at Sports activities Illustrated that summer time and was assigned to analysis all issues ladies’s gymnastics. Meticulously following Douglas’ meteoric rise to gold endeared me to her—and I’ve adopted her profession since.
“I am blushing,” she mentioned, as she laughed after I advised her about our small, principally one-sided connection. I advised her it was most likely simply her pure glow.
I used to be thrilled to have the ability to test in along with her all these years later, find out about how she’s presently caring for herself and her physique, how she mentally prepares for giant competitions, and what recommendation she has for younger athletes with large desires.
mindbodygreen: You are somebody who’s been competing on the worldwide scale for a very long time—in a famously intense sport at that. How do you mentally put together for a giant competitors?
Gabby Douglas: Actually, I maintain my routines fairly easy. That is been my routine for a very long time now—I do not do quite a bit. I need not as a result of we accomplish that a lot preparation within the gymnasium main as much as [competitions]. For instance, we do stress units, which is when everybody comes over to observe you do your set. That approach, by the point you get to a contest, it feels second nature.
So, on the day of a contest, I rise up, eat breakfast, hearken to music on the way in which, and get within the mindset of “OK—let’s do that.”
mbg: What meals make it easier to really feel strongest and nourish your physique?
Douglas: My favourite is baked salmon, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Good protein — you gotta have it!
mbg: How do you go to sleep—particularly earlier than a giant competitors? I imply I am unable to think about making an attempt to go to sleep earlier than one thing as large because the Olympics!
Douglas: To be trustworthy, on the finish of the day, my physique is simply so drained. Gymnastics may be very onerous. For instance, just lately we went like 30 days straight of follow within the morning and at evening. So I simply really feel like our our bodies are naturally drained as a result of we’re waking up early within the morning for follow, then coming again later within the day for one more.
So our our bodies are drained—we actually do want the remaining.
mbg POV
mbg: Gymnastics is notoriously onerous on the physique. How do you take care of it after?
Douglas: I do a variety of icing. I additionally do quite a bit with my toes. I actually grind and pound my toes a lot. I really like utilizing Dr. Scholl’s Callus Remover Digital Foot File, which removes all of the hardness and dryness. I really like having my toes very, very easy on the beam. The chalk will dry pores and skin out, so I really like utilizing a extremely hydrating foot cream, like Dr. Scholl’s Dry Cracked Foot Restore Extremely-Hydrating Foot Cream as a result of it supplies moisture again into the pores and skin and again into my toes. You see a lot of our toes in gymnastics, so actually foot care is so essential.
mbg: Being an expert gymnast comes with a lot stress. How do you discover that childlike pleasure that made you fall in love with the game to start with?
Douglas: It is so true—so usually mother and father will say to me, “Hey, how can I get my daughter to be at your stage?” I am like, “No—let her get pleasure from it first. She’s a child.”
Generally we [professional gymnasts] want we may return and begin that journey once more, when it’s joyous and comfortable. Once you grow old is whenever you begin considering, Oh that is one thing else.
However we do attempt to maintain it enjoyable within the gymnasium with me and my teammates. We like to seek out alternative ways to snort and be joyful and have banter right here and there. As a result of if not, the game is simply that a lot tougher—and gymnastics is already actually onerous. It is essential to seek out alternative ways to maintain it enjoyable.
So usually mother and father will say to me, “Hey, how can I get my daughter to be at your stage?” I’m like, “No — let her get pleasure from it first. She’s a child.”
mbg: That is a extremely nice perception. You must discover the enjoyment first! What about for younger ladies who wish to take their sport extra severely—what recommendation do you’ve for them, as somebody who turned an expert athlete?
Douglas: Do not quit. Irrespective of if it is gymnastics or basketball, simply don’t quit.
And you do not have to take it to the skilled stage, however I do encourage ladies to remain in some type of sport. There are such a lot of advantages of being concerned in one thing. Gymnastics has taught me time administration, self-discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.
mbg: Talking of teammates—what qualities make an ideal teammate? How do you present up in your teammates?
Douglas: I simply attempt to meet everybody the place they’re. Some circumstances meaning not pushing somebody too onerous—and as a substitute, simply actually being there for them. In the event that they want a shoulder to cry on, right here you go. In the event that they want somebody to inspire them, I am right here for you. So simply assembly of us the place they’re.
I used to be all the time taught to by no means finish on a foul day.
mbg: What qualities about your self are you most happy with and why?
Douglas: My perseverance and drive. I used to be all the time taught to by no means finish on a foul day. So I all the time attempt to maintain going and ensure I depart every little thing on a excessive observe.
Like, even if you happen to did not make it—however you gave it your all—on the finish of the day, you may be glad with the consequence as a result of you understand you set your all into one thing. For me, I wish to be sure I put my all into one thing and by no means have regrets on the finish of the day.
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