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 Inventive / Getty Pictures
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 every little thing from vitamin that makes them really feel sturdy to the moments that deliver them pleasure.
Like many individuals, I used to be first launched to Gabby Douglas over a decade in the past, through the 2012 Summer time Olympics in London. That summer time, the nation turned enamored with the “Fierce 5” who took dwelling the crew Gold in ladies’s gymnastics for the USA.
Douglas’ star-making performances and gravity-defying power earned herself one other Gold within the particular person all-around. And in doing so, she made historical past: Douglas is the primary African American lady 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 similar 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 stated, as she laughed once I advised her about our small, principally one-sided connection. I advised her it was in all probability simply her pure glow.
I used to be thrilled to have the ability to verify in together with her all these years later, find out about how she’s at the moment caring for herself and her physique, how she mentally prepares for giant competitions, and what recommendation she has for younger athletes with large goals.
mindbodygreen: You’re 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: Truthfully, I preserve my routines fairly easy. That’s been my routine for a very long time now — I don’t do so much. I don’t must as a result of we achieve this a lot preparation within the health club main as much as [competitions]. For instance, we do strain units, which is when everybody comes over to look at you do your set. That manner by the point you get to a contest, it feels second nature.
So on the day of a contest, I stand up, eat breakfast, take heed to music on the best way, and get within the mindset of ‘OK — let’s do that.’
mbg: What meals aid 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 can not 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 arduous. For instance, 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 an additional.
So our our bodies are drained — we actually do want the remainder.
mbg POV
Mbg: Gymnastics is notoriously arduous on the physique. How do you take care of it after?
mbg: Being an expert gymnast comes with a lot strain. How do you discover that child-like pleasure that made you fall in love with the game to start with?
Douglas: It’s so true — 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 take pleasure in it first. She’s a child.”
Typically we [professional gymnasts] want we may return and begin that journey once more, when it’s joyous and pleased. While you become old is while you begin considering, Oh that is one thing else.
However we do attempt to preserve it enjoyable within the health club with me and my teammates. We like to search 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 more durable—and gymnastics is already actually arduous. It’s vital to search 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 take pleasure in it first. She’s a child.’
Mbg: That’s a very nice perception. It’s a must to discover the enjoyment first! What about for younger ladies who wish to take their sport extra significantly—what recommendation do you could have for them, as somebody who turned an expert athlete?
Douglas: Do not surrender. Regardless of if it is gymnastics or basketball, simply don’t surrender.
And also you don’t must 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 crew mates — what qualities make a terrific teammate? How do you present up to your teammates?
Douglas: I simply attempt to meet everybody the place they’re. Some instances which means not pushing somebody too arduous — 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’m right here for you. So simply assembly people 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 pleased 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 preserve going and ensure I depart every little thing on a excessive word.
Like, even if you happen to didn’t 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 already know you set your all into one thing. For me, I wish to be sure that I put my all into one thing and by no means have regrets on the finish of the day.
