Your Villa Magazine - Desert Cities - December-February - 2023

On a related note, this is why setting a schedule for important things, planning for failure and oͿering grace to yourself is such an important component in keeping the momentum going to achieve big gains. Gaylynn Leonard, Studio Manager & Instructor at Coachella Yoga, Therapy & Wellness, says she knows her wellness is top priority to her success, therefore, she schedules in her exercise time as if it were as important as her weeNly staͿ meeting« because it is. She says, “we need to keep ourselves on the calendar.” If she is feeing tired or unmotivated, she reminds herself that she deserves to take time for herself. She strongly believes that keeping her word to herself causes her to be a better manager. There is massive power in small improvements and slow gains. Mastering your habits over time is more important than achieving a certain outcome. What 1% improvements will you commit to in 2023? H E A L T H + B E A U T Y Stay Committed This Year to Your Resolutions: Improve by 1% to Realize Big Gains by Elizabeth Scarcella As we usher in another year, many will tell themselves (skeptically) that this is the year to finally lose those stubborn pounds, improYe their golf game, exercise regularly or write a book. Whatever your resolution may be, we unknowingly put tons of pressure on ourselves to make monumental change that we hope everyone will notice and acknowledge. This internal pressure then ultimately causes us to abandon our goals, which is how we grow even more skeptical each year. Adding to this frustration, we tend to overestimate the importance of that one defining moment on -anuary when we maNing that goal, rather than focusing on the value of making small improvements on a daily basis. The power of making tiny gains each day isn’t particularly notable—sometimes not even noticeable, but this methodology can be far more meaningful, especially in the long run. James Clear, in his bestselling book, Atomic Habits, states that if we can get Must better each day for a year, this will amount to becoming better by the ne[t 1ew <ear &onYersely, if we get worse each day for a year, we’ll decline down to zero, losing any gains we had previously made. $t first glance, it may sound daunting to taNe on improving yourself each and every day, however, these tiny changes are easier than you think. For instance, let’s say you want to lose weight, yet, the thought of calorie depravation and eliminating all your fave food and drinks feels really punitive... I’d ask you instead to approach this from the perspectiYe of what change can you maNe that will ultimately culminate in achieving your end goal? 0aybe you chose to haYe ö glasses of wine instead of the usual two«forgoing those e[tra sips will prove to be easier than you think. Afterall, you still get to enjoy your wine. Then the next day, you can pour less than the day before 6oon you will discover that you are down to only a ½ glass of wine each day without feeling like you are depriving yourself. Looking at another example, perhaps you want to become an aYid e[erciser that worNs out times a week for an hour each day. However, currently you’re lucky to get in a 20 minute walk once a week. Using the same concept of applying tiny gains, you might add more minutes to your weeNly walN until you’ walk your way’ up to 60 minutes. Charissa Farley, owner of Coachella Yoga, Therapy :ellness, is no stranger to the power of gains She had a goal of replacing animal protein with plants WITHOUT having to abstain from regularly dining out or giving up her favorite comfort meals. She achieved this lifestyle by making the following tiny changes: Researching plant based substitutes for recipes she had commonly made Going weekly to a farmer’s market instead of a traditional grocer so she was compelled to purchase more plants and less meat/dairy. Replaced her egg and toast breakfast for homemade Yegetable soup stocNed with fiber /earned to order ´oͿ-menuµ at restaurants so she could enjoy a satisfying and nutritious meal that aligned with her new lifestyle. Rhonda Ramirez, yoga instructor at Coachella <oga, 7herapy :ellness, abides by the same philosophy $s she nears her th birthday, 5honda beams that she is in the best shape of her life. This is not to say she was ever out of shape, but instead, that because she perpetually encourages herself to keep making new gains, she is able to sail into the Golden Years stronger than she was in her 30’s. When asked what’s her trick to stay so consistent after all these years, she advises to make your goal fun, be playful and remember that it’s ok to give yourself a short break. Rhonda Ramirez, yoga instructor at Coachella Yoga, Therapy & Wellness 42 | YourVilla Magazine