Health Heroes: Kishie Wyatt
As a new feature of the blog, “Health Heroes”, I’m going to interview people who promote or exemplify fitness in some way. I’ll be starting local, but plan to reach out as far as I can as time goes on. Our first episodes will focus on Radiance Yoga (the studio I have been learning from since late last summer) and its two founders, Kishie and Susie.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting Kishie Wyatt (and if you haven’t, you really should), you know she exudes positivity. It’s hard to not smile around her. Well, except when you’re on a mat and she’s coaxing you to hold a pose longer than you think you can. As much as she is a joy to spend time with, she is also an amazing yogi and in terrific shape. I asked her a few questions about her fitness life, and here’s what she had to say:
What is your weekly workout routine?
Yoga everyday
Some form of strength training (Core and weights) 3x/week
Daily walks with my canine buddy
What (if anything) do you do other than yoga to keep in shape?
My body thrives with low-impact workouts. I am very content keeping my workouts "low-key," which includes leisurely walks and muscle endurance training to keep my skeletal system supported.
How has your fitness changed from say 10 years ago?
My fitness endeavors have changed with each decade of my life!
In my 20s, I longed for sweaty workouts and power yoga (I fell in love with Ashtanga yoga).
In my 30s, I turned to hatha yoga as a way to alleviate physical tension and to make me a more "present" mama to my three children.
In my 40s, I started adding some weight training and pilates to my daily yoga routine to strengthen the places that were hyper mobile.
How did the pandemic affect your fitness?
The pandemic has had a HUGE impact on my fitness routine. I used to enjoy going to classes at Radiance Yoga (my yoga home), Body Balance Pilates and Pure Barre. As a yoga studio owner, I loved supporting and connecting with other fitness studio owners and their communities. I now do all of my yoga practices and workouts at home. I am grateful that there are a lot of online options, and I feel empowered to have the self-discipline to create a weekly schedule and stick with it!
What is something you are proud you achieved in fitness?
I am so grateful to have moved past the goal of shaping my body into a particular aesthetic. Fitness, for me, is about how I FEEL in my body, and it is truly a gift to be able to move with a sense of fluidity and without pain. I am proud that I have learned to love my body and listen to it, and I let the wisdom of my body guide my fitness routines.
What is something fitness-related you always wanted to try to do, but never did?
I want to explore some of the Eastern energetic physical modalities such as Thai Chi. I love how yoga unites mind, body and breath, and I look forward to experiencing some of the other practices that do the same.
At what age did you start doing “fitness-y” stuff and what was it?
In high school I was obsessed with music and academics, and never considered myself to be athletic. I started working out at a gym on a regular basis when I got my first real job. It was a great way to counteract the constant sitting I was doing, and I have had some sort of consistent fitness routine ever since!
