Browsing Category

Athletic Performance

Athletic Performance/ Health Tips/ Nutrition for Sport

Hormone Balancing for your Zesty Life

Balancing-hormones-naturally-symptoms-foods-zesty-life

Helpless in the wake of hormones

One week I’m feeling amazing, crushing it on the climbs and in total flow on the descents. The next week I feel lousy, like someone filled my shoes with cement and tied a parachute to my bike.

Fatigue, mental fog, lack of motivation, depression, and decreased sexual appetite are just a few of the symptoms that might indicate your hormones are out of whack. But before you collapse into that carton of ice cream, here are some tips on gettin’ back into balance! Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Bravery/ Happiness/ Mountain Life/ Zesty Adventures

Plunging into Pain

ice-plunge-cold-water-therapy-winter-swimming-squamish-zesty-life-rachelle-hynes-cold-immersion

What’s my safe word?

As my body slipped into the ice cold water, it was as if I was stepping into another self. The bitter cold began to bite my skin as I got deeper and deeper, until I was up to my neck. Breathe, I told myself, calmly focusing my mind. My muscles contract and shivers run up my spine, as the cold switches to a pins and needles burning sensation; my nerves becoming confused. The temptation to tapout is calling my name. Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Mountain Biking/ MTB/ Zesty Adventures

Pilates: The Mountain Biker’s Secret to Strength, Balance & Recovery

pilates-for-athletes-cyclists-rehabilitation-strength-mindful

Crash with grace

Whether you pitch yourself over the bars, slip off a skinny or send yourself wayward on a wet root, if you ride a mountain bike you’re going to crash once in a while…but, I have a secret practice for landing on all fours.

I’ve had a number of crashes, close calls and tricky situations that I know Pilates has saved me from. Whether it’s addressing posture, breathing, strength, flexibility, coordination or awareness, for over 10 years Pilates has trained me to work with my body as whole to increase performance and resilience. If you think Pilates is only for women and ballerinas, you’re way wrong my friend. Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Health Tips/ Nutrition for Sport/ Wellness

OMg, You Need Magnesium Right Now!

athlete-recovery-sources-of-magnesium-health-wellness-health

OMg, like I totally need that!

While you’re bound to feel a little muscle soreness after pushing your limits, hard workouts don’t have to leave you hurting for days. The battle against sore muscles often means investing a lot time doing things like body rolling, Pilates, yoga, stretching and massage, to name a few; but have you tried adding Magnesium to that list? Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Nutrition for Sport/ Recipes

Date, Lemon & Ginger Natural Sports Electrolyte Drink

zesty-life-natural-sports-electrolyte-drink-recipes-date-syrup-plant-based-squamish

I’ve got a date with adventure

Long days in the saddle means you need electrolytes for proper cell function. If you’ve ever battled symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea, muscle spasms, or dog forbid, barfing, then you already know about what an electrolyte imbalance feels like.

Before you grab some processed sports powder like Gatorade, which contains chemicals like yellow dye #5 and many other artificial additives—yuck!— try this natural recipe in your bottle! Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Nutrition for Sport/ Plant-Based/ Vegan/ Zesty Adventures

Vegan Athletes: The plant advantage

zesty-life-vegan-athletes-plant-based-advantage-going-vegan-squamish-rachelle-hynes

Why vegan is so vogue

Vegan athletes like Brendan Brazier, Rich Roll, Venus & Serena WilliamsNovak Djokovic, Scott Jurek, Nimai Delgado, Tom Brady and Georges Laraque are changing the stereotypes, showing us that plant-based eating cannot only build strong muscles, but can keep you healthy enough to ride a bike, play tennis or hockey, run or pump iron at an elite level.

The vegan movement is growing. Many people are setting Bessie free and picking up plants. However, change is uncomfortable, and there’s enough confusing information out there to easily want to stay put. I can’t make the decision for you and I’m not a doctor or a registered nutritionist, but I can share my experience and the things I’ve learned… Continue Reading…

Athletic Performance/ Health Tips/ Zesty Adventures

Grounding: How walking barefoot improves your health

grounding-earthing-barefoot-health-benefits-zesty-life-squamish

Wild, Barefoot & Free

It’s summertime and there’s nothing like running barefoot through the grass, hopping river rocks or chillin’ on a sandy beach! Have you ever noticed a revitalizing sensation after spending time barefoot?

Walking barefoot on the earth, is actually a thing—it’s called grounding or earthing and it’s a powerful way to improve your health and wellness. Although it may sound woo-woo, you should be sayin’ woo-hoo! because researchers have found evidence that the act of physically connecting our bodies to the Earth has vital benefits! So kick your shoes off and read on…

Continue Reading…