Melissa Wood on: | Showing Up for Yourself

If you're not following Melissa Wood-Tepperberg on Instagram, we highly recommend you start. From gorgeous plant-based eats to killer workouts to daily life with her adorable children, she covers it all–and does so with remarkable grace, honesty and openness. Read on to find out what the certified health and wellness coach, yoga and pilates teacher and mom of two has to say about living a healthy lifestyle and more.

Q: What is the first thing people should do when they decide to start living a healthier lifestyle?

A: Commit to that intuitive sense to show up for yourself every day in a healthier way.

Q: What is the most common obstacle to making these lifestyle improvements that your clients experience? What steps can people take to start overcoming those obstacles?

A: The most common obstacle is the mental shift that has to take place in order for anything to follow. For example, you can wake up and eat the healthiest food and have the best workout but your mental state could be a disaster. Creating daily space for stillness (any meditation practice that works for you) is where I believe lasting change takes place.

Q: What do you tell clients who can’t stand working out?

A: You have to find a system or method that works and agrees with you. I personally dislike high-intensity workouts, once I discovered that and moved into low-impact workouts, I learned to love movement because it worked for me. It becomes less of a chore, and more of a gift to yourself when you enjoy what you’re doing.

Q: What are the most cherished parts of your daily routine?

A: My mornings alone with Benjamin, my morning meditation and my 20-30 minutes of movement a day.

Q: What advice would you give your younger self?

A: Be who you are, that’s the beauty that makes us all unique. And don’t compare yourself or your journey with anybody else.

Q: As an expecting mom, how have your wellness priorities shifted? What’s the number one piece of advice you’d give to other expecting moms?

A: As a mom expecting my second child, my best advice is although you feel like you’re the last person that should be taken care of because you have so many other priorities, you have to take care of yourself, your health and your wellbeing first or you’ll end up burning out and being miserable in return. So, although it may appear selfish at first, you have to prioritize yourself so you can show up for your family and everything else.

Q: What does wellness mean to you?

A: Wellness means making your well-being your number one priority no matter what.