Sara Lavan, today’s Fit Mama Friday, was nominated by a friend for the series. Not only is Sara a total fit mama, she even opened her own fitness center in Alexandria, VA – Local Motion Studio – catered towards nurturing fit families. Mama to two boys, Jasper, aged 9, and Dakota, aged 6, Sara has a dance background, is a Pilates instructor at her studio, and is completely comfortable in her own skin. 

Meet Sara.

Sara, tell me about your fitness background and how active you were during your pregnancies.

Before having kids I was a dancer, and practiced yoga and Pilates. With my first pregnancy I did mostly walking and prenatal yoga. With my second I taught Pilates (a mistake, it worsened my diastasis), and yoga (occasionally). I walked and tried to go to the gym sometimes.

What about now – what’s your workout of choice? And what is your schedule like? I imagine with the studio, you have easy access to being able to exercise when you have the time.

I like spinning, sculpt classes, Pilates and Barre. My workout schedule truly varies. Lately, since we have added more sculpt classes to my studio – which I love because I feel stronger  – I have been taking more classes. I usually try to take a Pilates sculpt, a spin class, a Pilates and a barre class once a week. I also love to bike and kayak and walk all the time.

But it is a challenge, having kids and running a business. Exercising is not always a priority if I am feeling great. If I wake up and feel good – I love to work on things for the studio. Or I have appointments. An hour sometimes just seems impossible when I only have about six to get all my work (both home and business) done.

What’s most important for you about being fit and active? 

I work out because it helps me mentally – the sweating, great music, higher energy workouts. I also have another focus, which is developing movement quality. As a dancer, I have been fascinated by the energy of movement, and as a Pilates instructor, been interested in movement patterns. So my exercise, much like my diet, has more of a focus of aging well – not how I look. At the end my life I want to be able to get up and down—and not be in pain. I want to be able to move well for a long time.

 

You mention your diet – what are your eating habits like? Do you follow a particular set of guidelines?

My diet has been evolving, but always what I consider healthy. I was always interested in getting chemicals out and how food relates to wellness, both physical and mental. Even on my own in NYC in my 20’s I cooked from scratch and used organic foods. After my first pregnancy, I went to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. I experimented with dairy free, vegetarian, blood type diet, you name it! I found that eating traditionally was what suited me best. Pastured animals and raw dairy (minimal), varied grains (and use only sprouted or culture it by soaking yogurt), limiting wheat, lots of greens and I try to be sure to get cultured foods in. I make yogurt and kombucha (and my kids drink this too, I have completely noticed a difference in their immunity) and we also get kefir and sauerkraut from our farm. I am still learning about this. This may be the place that excites me most now.

I really eat and cook to stay well. I think about it as a way to age well. I would rather be a little “overweight” (that term is so annoying to me right now, as many woman cannot live up to the magazine ideal of the perfect body without being malnourished) and know that I don’t need medication, that my brain works well, and I feel great.

How do you think your kids benefit from you having such a healthy approach to eating and movement?

I feel that through creating a fit way of eating and a healthy love of movement I have remained energetic and youthful. I am passing this on to my kids and teaching them so much about food/mood and food/health connection. It is amazing to watch them pick food choices with this in mind.

Growing up, did your family have a healthy lifestyle?

My family is pretty healthy. My mom always cooked at home, so that was not foreign to me. My sister is a runner among other things. She loves to physical exercise and staying in shape more than me, so it inspires me.

When we first got in touch, you mentioned that you’d been thinking of the different definitions of “fit” and how you have come so far in loving your body – even if it not the same one it was before kids. Can you tell me a little more about that?

My goal is to stay as happy as I am now. It has been a long journey. I suffered mood swings much of my life, and have steadily been getting chemicals out and experimenting with what diet and exercise works best for me. Getting to know this has been incredible. I truly have not been more comfortable with myself.

I have always been the type that finds beauty in all shapes and thinks a confident, soulful woman who does not try too hard is the most beautiful – and sexy is also the same. However, this belief is even stronger now as I am heavier than I have been, but still feel strong and beautiful. I only mention the weight because I think a lot of woman tie their weight to their self-worth.

I have not felt bad at all about gaining weight – just surprised! I felt great and did not know it had happened. This happens to a lot of woman in their 40’s especially if they have kids. We are all bio-chemically unique and our bodies do things, and respond to things differently. I am interested in this – and not alarmed by it. It happened rather fast, and a lot was going on in my life over the past few years, so I am still investigating some things, but I still like what I see in the mirror!! This has a lot to do with surrounding myself with authentic, inspiring woman.

I couldn’t agree more! Tell me more about your business – did you open it as a family friendly fitness center, or did it morph into that?

The concept and business plan for Local Motion Studio began in 2010, but we officially opened in January, 2012. The plan for the studio was always to have on site childcare. I suffered a bit when I had kids and could not exercise. I am a mover!! It was so hard to navigate the early years and  get on any routine. I wanted other moms to have a safe, nurturing and supportive environment to come to and get the time, and exercise they needed.

What kind of feedback have you had from the community on your business being so family friendly? Is your whole membership base made up of families, or do you have members without kids as well?

The feedback has been incredible. I think one of the reasons is that it is such a supportive space and we put a huge emphasis on feeling great. We don’t focus at all on working out to look a certain way. This may happen, but everyone responds differently to exercise. We just want folks to have fun and move well and discover exercise that inspires them to continue!

Our programming is varied, and our instructors are top of the line, from the adult classes to the children’s dance program. I would say we could use more members from the “child-free” demographic. We do have some, but mainly families. I did open for this group, so it is wonderful, but we need to branch out and fill some of our evening classes. I joke that the demographic that I build my studio for is one that puts themselves last!! Financially, families often struggle with setting money aside for fitness, and if a child or family need arises, working out for many moms comes last.

Sara, it’s been such a pleasure learning about your amazing business and the way you provide such a supportive environment for making families fit and active. Thank you so much for sharing your story on Fit Mama Friday today!

 

Fit Mama Friday – Fit Dad Friday

Every Friday on Fine Fit Day I feature a Fit Mama or a Fit Dad story of how and why a fit and healthy mama or dad ensures fitness is a priority in her or his life. You’ll read about all kinds of parents and their fitness stories. Some are stay-at-home parents, some are single parents, some juggle more than one job on top of parenthood, but they are all committed to a fit and healthy lifestyle. As you’re getting ready for your weekend, I hope you’re inspired to be active after reading about these kick-ass mamas and dads on Fit Mama Friday – Fit Dad Friday!

 

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