mbg Beauty Director
mbg Beauty Director
Alexandra Engler is the wonder director at mindbodygreen and host of the wonder podcast Clean Beauty School. Previously, she’s held magnificence roles at Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, SELF, and Cosmopolitan; her byline has appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and Allure.com.
Image by mbg Creative / JSquared Photography
June 17, 2024
We love celebrating ladies on prime of their sport. In our new collection Game On, we’re interviewing prime athletes about their well-being routines—protecting every thing from diet that makes them really feel sturdy to the moments that carry them pleasure.
As an Olympic silver medalist and longtime member of the U.S. Women’s National Gymnastics Team, you could assume that confidence is one thing that comes straightforward to 22-year-old athlete Jordan Chiles.
Just scroll via her Instagram, and you will see a fun-loving, vibrant, sturdy lady. But as she informed me throughout a digital assembly lately, that actually wasn’t at all times the case. “Growing up, I did not have confidence in any way—not in my sport, my magnificence, nothing,” she informed me.
So what modified? Well, I chatted with Chiles about what it means to be a powerful lady, how she was in a position to construct up her confidence, and the ways in which she takes care of her hardworking physique.
mindbodgyreen: What does being a “sturdy lady” imply to you?
Jordan Chiles: Being a powerful lady is being genuine in who you might be. It’s about discovering the wonder and keenness in the way you wish to stay your life.
What makes somebody sturdy is discovering the arrogance to exit and be your greatest self—whether or not it is onto a contest ground and even simply into the actual world.
mbg: Speaking of, what makes you are feeling assured?
Chiles: I believe the most important factor that makes me really feel assured is my magnificence, whether or not it’s from my smile to the best way I’m styling my hair.
I’m at all times within the forefront and taking images, so simply having that smile on my face is essential. My smile was one thing I did not actually recognize. After utilizing Invisalign, which I used to be in a position to incorporate into my life simply, it modified the best way I felt about my smile. I positively get pleasure from smiling extra usually. It makes me really feel assured.
mbg: What meals make you are feeling strongest?
Chiles: I’m not a eating regimen sort of lady. I had lots of trauma previously round that.
I needed to change my perspective round meals and incorporate little issues right here and there that make me really feel good. Obviously, I do make certain I put the suitable meals—the suitable fruits, the suitable greens, good protein—into my physique as a result of I lose lots of energy as an athlete.
So whereas these are the principle issues I concentrate on, I can say I do have “cheat” meals right here and there, whether or not it is ice cream or cookies.
I additionally love these Too Good & Co. smoothies that I take with me on the go. I like that I can simply seize them earlier than I’m going to apply as a result of I’m at all times doing different issues, like interviews and all that.
mbg: How do you keep mentally resilient?
Chiles: I believe the most important factor is realizing how a lot power I’ve via my help system, like my household and buddies. Obviously, life is not a straight highway, and there are bumps in it, so simply having these encouraging phrases from individuals helps.
Knowing that irrespective of the place I’m going, irrespective of the place I’m at, I might be simply who I’m. That has a huge impact for me.
At the tip of the day, the factor I actually attempt to concentrate on is that it doesn’t matter what occurs and what individuals see, I’m pleased with myself. I can look again realizing I did every thing I might. I can management my life and what I wish to do with it.
mbg: Not solely is your sport mentally powerful, but it surely’s clearly very bodily demanding. How do you get better—do you could have a restoration routine?
Chiles: Other than taking naps, the factor I concentrate on essentially the most is what I can do to launch toxins from my physique. For that, I like taking Epsom salt baths.
I additionally assume it is essential to chill out and launch negativity too. I wish to get all of it out of my system so I can go into the following day or my subsequent apply with a extra constructive thoughts.
For instance, you know the way some individuals like to jot down out their ideas? Well, typically I like to attract my ideas. It helps with releasing issues that I perhaps could not discuss to individuals about, however I might at the least draw it out.
mbg: Gymnastics requires a lot coaching, however do you do any bodily actions that are not essentially associated to coaching that you just nonetheless get pleasure from doing?
Chiles: I’ll go stroll round at a park. I like the outside. If I could possibly be within the wilderness for some time each single day, I might do it.
Other than that, my sport is my sport. And it is at all times been my sport. It’s an all-day factor, so I do not actually have that a lot further time.
mbg: What was essentially the most intense factor you’ve got carried out within the try to optimize your efficiency?
Chiles: When I used to be youthful, I did some loopy issues. For instance, I might get up at 5:30 a.m. each morning for a cardio exercise earlier than going to apply. Or one time, I attempted an all-fruit eating regimen. Don’t ask me why I did that.
Now that I perceive a bit extra about my physique, I do know what’s good and what’s not good for me. So that is the place I’m at as I become old.
mbg: What recommendation would you give your youthful self?
Chiles: I might say that as you become old, there’s going to be individuals who come out and in of your life, however at all times do not forget that it doesn’t matter what you do, simply keep true to your self. Continue your dream and your lifelong targets, since you’ll at all times know that you just gave every thing you had.
Image by mbg Creative / courtesy of supply
mbg: What qualities are you most pleased with your self and why?
Chiles: I’m actually pleased with the truth that I’ve discovered this new assured aspect of me. When I used to be youthful, I wasn’t allowed to make use of my voice so much in my sports activities. Or I used to be at all times ashamed of what I appeared like. So having the ability to embrace who I’m makes me proud.
Now I like displaying off my persona and displaying individuals I’m not simply this shy lady who cannot use her voice. I’m really this sturdy, impartial lady who appears like she will encourage others.
mbg: Finding your voice is such a strong second in a single’s life. How had been you capable of finding yours?
Chiles: My mother and my coach.
My coach was in a position to give me lots of confidence in myself. Growing up, I did not have confidence in any way—not in my sport, my magnificence, nothing. So having someone like her, helped me immensely.
And then my mom, she at all times taught me to embrace who you might be. “There’s just one Jordan. So simply be the most effective Jordan you possibly can.” At the tip of the day, it is all you are able to do.