Health, Fitness & Wellness

Local experts share some advice on being your best self

By Camille DeVaul

The start of the new year and anticipation of spring has a way of making us reevaluate our health. These last few months until spring gives us an opportunity to get back to the basics — cleanse our bodies and minds so when the weather is bright and warm, we are ready to take it all in while feeling our best.

We sat down with three locals who make bodily health their business. We asked them for some advice on all things health, fitness, and wellness.

Ryan Joiner is the founder and CEO of Athlon Fitness & Performance in San Luis Obispo. Since 2003 he and his team have specialized in fitness and performance coaching to help our community look, feel, and perform at their best and create the lives they want. He holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology from Fresno State, a master's degree in Human Movement & Sport from Cal Poly, and 14 other advanced industry certifications.

What advice do you have for beginner athletes?

Two key things in the beginning of a new program, (even if you're advanced and restarting a program).

1. Start light. Focus on volume (more sets and reps, or time) before focusing on intensity (amount of weight or speed). Your body and brain will reward you with more consistent, long-term progress, and less pain and injuries. Too much intensity threatens your brain and puts it into survival mode rather than muscle-building mode.

2. Don't miss workouts. Show up consistently each week, and you'll progress. Make it so easy you can't say no to it. Seriously, show up to the gym and do one simple exercise and leave. Then repeat it often. You can add more complexity in the future. Start easy, and show up consistently. It works.

What advice do you have for more seasoned athletes looking to improve?

Come at it with a beginner's mind: start your new program light, don't miss workouts, and increase in very small ways. Nine times out of 10, advanced athletes derail themselves by violating one of these key beginner principles. They're called fundamentals for a reason. They work. Embrace the basics and start light, don't miss workouts, and increase in small ways. It will get you where you want to go much faster and more effectively than all the sexy stuff from the internet.

North County Pilates owner and instructor Melissa Barton fell in love with Pilates over 15 years ago. She attended Cal Poly, receiving her BS in Kinesiology, the study of movement within the human body. After Cal Poly, Melissa completed the prestigious BASI Pilates training with Karen

Clippinger at Cal State Long Beach.

Melissa explains, "My goal is to provide a safe space for the exploration of movement utilizing Pilates. I want my clients to feel better and get stronger to be able to do the things they love."

What are the advantages of doing low-impact exercises like Pilates?

One advantage of Pilates is we can start someone wherever they are in their fitness journey; you can come in having recently been released by your doctor from an injury or more progressed in their fitness level.

What advice do you have for someone looking to begin a fitness routine?

My advice for someone wanting to improve or begin a new fitness journey is to start slow. I know we all want quick results, but I want my clients to incorporate Pilates forever. I want it to be part of their lifestyle. And new routines take time to make permanent. So give it time.

Rachel Howell is the Manager of The Natural Alternative and holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Food Science & Human Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics from Colorado State University. Since 2017, Rachel has passionately assisted our community in health and nutrition matters, providing guidance in weight management, digestive health issues, skin conditions, and autoimmune disorders.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to improve their overall health?

Improving your overall health comes down to making practical, sustainable changes and practicing them each day. The key is to start small, ensuring these changes become lasting habits, then working toward bigger goals little by little. My advice for small changes initially would be to focus on incorporating more movement, fresh foods, and water into your daily routine.

What are three essential vitamins/minerals you suggest implementing for overall health?

The three most important supplements one can take to improve their overall health are:

• A food-based multivitamin containing a broad vitamin/mineral profile, taken a few times per week or every other day.

• A quality, multi-strain probiotic taken each day at nighttime to ensure optimal gut health and regularity.

• A digestive enzyme supplement, to aid in digestion, nutrient absorption and prevent gas and bloating. 