mbg Magnificence Director
mbg Magnificence Director
Alexandra Engler is the sweetness director at mindbodygreen and host of the sweetness podcast Clear Magnificence Faculty. 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 Inventive / Getty Photographs
April 19, 2024
We love celebrating ladies on prime of their sport. In our new collection, Sport On, we’re interviewing prime athletes about their well-being routines—overlaying all the pieces from diet that makes them really feel sturdy to the moments that convey them pleasure.
Like many individuals, I used to be first launched to Gabby Douglas over a decade in the past, throughout the 2012 Summer season Olympics in London. That summer time, the nation grew to become enamored with the “Fierce 5” who took dwelling the group gold in ladies’s gymnastics for the USA.
Douglas’ star-making performances and gravity-defying power 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 develop into the Olympic particular person all-around champion and the primary U.S. gymnast to win gold in each the person all-around and group 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 once I instructed her about our small, largely one-sided connection. I instructed her it was in all probability simply her pure glow.
I used to be thrilled to have the ability to examine in together with her all these years later, study how she’s at the moment caring for herself and her physique, how she mentally prepares for large competitions, and what recommendation she has for younger athletes with huge 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 an enormous 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 needn’t 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 look at you do your set. That means, 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 best way, and get within the mindset of “OK—let’s do that.”
mbg: What meals enable you 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 an enormous competitors? I imply I am unable to think about making an attempt to go to sleep earlier than one thing as huge because the Olympics!
Douglas: To be trustworthy, on the finish of the day, my physique is simply so drained. Gymnastics could be very exhausting. For instance, just lately we went like 30 days straight of observe within the morning and at night time. 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 observe, 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 exhausting on the physique. How do you take care of it after?
Douglas: I do numerous icing. I additionally do quite a bit with my ft. I actually grind and pound my ft 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 ft 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 gives moisture again into the pores and skin and again into my ft. You see a lot of our ft in gymnastics, so truthfully 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 dad and mom will say to me, “Hey, how can I get my daughter to be at your stage?” I am like, “No—let her take pleasure in 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 glad. If you become 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 snigger 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 exhausting. It is essential to seek out alternative ways to maintain it enjoyable.
So usually dad and mom will say to me, “Hey, how can I get my daughter to be at your stage?” I’m like, “No — let her take pleasure in it first. She’s a child.”
mbg: That is a extremely nice perception. You need to discover the enjoyment first! What about for younger ladies who need to take their sport extra significantly—what recommendation do you could have for them, as somebody who grew to become an expert athlete?
Douglas: Do not hand over. Irrespective of if it is gymnastics or basketball, simply don’t hand over.
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 to your teammates?
Douglas: I simply attempt to meet everybody the place they’re. Some circumstances which means not pushing somebody too exhausting—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 at all times 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 at all times taught to by no means finish on a foul day. So I at all times attempt to maintain going and ensure I go away all the pieces on a excessive be aware.
Like, even should you did not make it—however you gave it your all—on the finish of the day, you could be glad with the consequence as a result of you realize you set your all into one thing. For me, I need to ensure I put my all into one thing and by no means have regrets on the finish of the day.
