From mindfulness apps to diet hacks, DC’s grounded gurus have a wealth of wellness knowledge to share.
Adrienne Shostak, founder of Bespoke Aesthetics Wellness
Adrienne Shostak
Founder, Bespoke Aesthetics + Wellness
adrienneshostak.com
“Being a single mother by choice while running a business is a real balancing act,” says Adrienne Shostak, who owns one of the most successful wellness salons in the area. “The foundation to it all, however, lies in meditation and spirituality. “If these aspects of my practice are intact, all else falls into place.” Shostak took a course in transcendental meditation before the birth of her son, and though she admits to not having the practice down to perfection, she considers it her secret weapon for maintaining sanity and recharging her batteries quickly. She also believes in the strength of her surroundings. “Coming from Los Angeles and London, I didn’t expect to love DC as much as I do,” she says. “I think what I love most is the high quality of life. There’s everything a bigger city has to offer but in a low-key, manageable way. And I love the people—DC is a very smart town.”
BREAKFAST: Builder’s tea and toast
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:30AM… I’m a night owl.
DIET: Vegetables and butcher
DOPPELGÄNGER: Lady Gaga
NEMESIS: Toxic masculinity
ESCAPE: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
WEAKNESS: Diet Coke
UNIFORM: Black
HOTEL: Hazlitt’s, London (hazlittshotel.com)
WORKOUT: Ashtanga
LAST MEAL: Rare steak and salad
SUPPLEMENTS: DMK EFAs (dannemking.com), a superior omegas blend
WELLNESS APP: Insight Timer
MENTOR: I had a mentor who introduced me to London, which helped me get my business off the ground there—I’m forever grateful.
WORKOUT SHOES: MBTs
WORKOUT OUTFIT: Black bootcut yoga pants and a tank top I can wear to work after yoga
WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Insight Timer, ocean waves
WORKOUT BUDDY: My son, Leo
BEST ADVICE: The best way out is through.
PHILANTHROPY: I’m half Ukrainian, so my current support is there.
MANTRA: Breathe, and trust in the universe.
STREAMING NOW:The Office
DINNER: Crab feast out on the water
SOULMATE: Prince
BEDTIME: 12:32AM, every single time
ON MY NIGHTSTAND:When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:“Alive” by Pearl Jam
GYM BAG: Yoga mat
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: My laptop, DMK Beta Gel and a cozy sweater
YESTERDAY: A lazy day with my mother and my son
ZODIAC: Leo sun, with Scorpio rising and an Aries moon
Nicole Braden, director of marketing at Versus
Nicole Braden
Director of marketing, Versus
versusequity.com
As someone who oversees the spin on some of the hottest clubs in DC, Nicole Braden says it’s critical to disconnect and unwind daily. “I journal every morning and night. I go on walks outside, and, lately, I’ve been loving BodyPump and HIIT classes,” says Braden, whose company is responsible for Heist (heistdc.com) and Ciel Social Club (cielsocialclub.com), among others. “I’m skincare-obsessed. I believe spending the first and last 10 minutes of each day focusing on yourself by healing. But truthfully, my favorite way to maintain wellness is by talking to my mom and my 98-year-old grandma, who’s the wisest woman I know.”
BREAKFAST: Cold brew
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:45AM
DIET: Quick and efficient
DOPPELGÄNGER: Chanel Iman
NEMESIS: Staying up late. I love to be in bed by 9.
ESCAPE: TikTok
WEAKNESS: The spicy margaritas at Morris American Bar
UNIFORM: All black
HOTEL: AC Hotel (ac-hotels.marriott.com)
WORKOUT: HIIT
LAST MEAL: Filet mignon with mashed potatoes
SUPPLEMENTS: Probiotics, vitamin C and vitamin E
WELLNESS APP: Shreddy
MENTOR: Vinoda Basnayake
WORKOUT SHOES: Adidas TripleWhite UltraBoosts (adidas.com)
WORKOUT OUTFIT: SET Active (setactive.co)
WORKOUT PLAYLIST: The Kanye West Workout on Spotify
WORKOUT BUDDY: Tremaine at VIDA (vidafitness.com)
BEST ADVICE: Be present.
PHILANTHROPY: Food inequality
MANTRA: Be yourself.
STREAMING NOW:Bridgerton
DINNER: Tacos
SOULMATE: My bed
BEDTIME: 10:30PM
ON MY NIGHTSTAND: Summer Fridays lip balm
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:“Way 2 Sexy”
GYM BAG: Cuyana tote bag
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: A sweatshirt, lip balm and Tajín
YESTERDAY: Is in the past
ZODIAC: Virgo
Washington Spirit midfielder Dorian Bailey photographed at Crossing (crossingdc.com)
Dorian Bailey
Pro soccer player, Washington Spirit
washingtonspirit.com
Star midfielder Dorian Bailey, who plays for the world champion Washington Spirit, says one of the crucial elements of wellness is often something never considered: recovery. “It’s crucial,” she says. “Whether that’s getting enough sleep each night, stretching on off days or eating a balanced diet—all of these habits add up to help me feel my best.” In pro sports, the pressure of the spotlight and performance also play a monumental role in mental fitness. “I find that doing little things you enjoy—like getting coffee with a friend—can help fulfill your spirit. And lastly, I maintain wellness for mind with positive self-talk, reading, using the Headspace app and listening to music. It’s easy to have a cluttered mind, so I try to clear my head by doing some of these things, enabling me to be 100% focused when I need to be.”
BREAKFAST: Almond butter and banana toast
WAKE-UP TIME: 8AM
DIET: Everything in moderation
DOPPELGÄNGER: Belle from Beauty and the Beast
NEMESIS: Cold weather
ESCAPE: The beach
WEAKNESS: Ice cream
UNIFORM: Hair scrunchies
HOTEL: JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha (marriott.com)
WORKOUT: Running outdoors
LAST MEAL: Chipotle
SUPPLEMENTS: Multivitamin and collagen
WELLNESS APP: Headspace
MENTOR: My dad
WORKOUT SHOES: Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 (nike.com)
WORKOUT OUTFIT: Running shorts and Dri-FIT shirt
WORKOUT BUDDY: My teammates
BEST ADVICE: Laugh easily and often.
MANTRA: Focus on the good.
STREAMING NOW:Inventing Anna
DINNER: Thai food
SOULMATE: Spotify
BEDTIME: 11PM
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:“Dancing Queen”
GYM BAG: Black Nike tote
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Sunscreen, music, hammock
ZODIAC: Aquarius
Matt Volz, president and co-founder of Mana Supply Co., photographed at Crossing (crossingdc.com)
Matt Volz
President and co-founder, Mana Supply Co.
manasupply.com
Bob Marley, a singer known for indulging in Mother Nature’s favorite plant, sang about not worrying about a thing—but he never ran a cannabis company. Matt Volz, who’s based in Southwest DC and has Mana Supply Co. locations in Maryland, Colorado and Missouri, with plans for more, understands the power of stress. “My business coach helped me develop a personal energy management plan that covers four categories: sleep, eat, move and space,” says Volz. “Sleep goals include getting up to eight hours of sleep per night, but also making sure water intake is reduced in the evening to minimize sleep interruption. Eat and move cover diet and exercise, while space includes daily meditation, date nights and no-work Saturdays.”
BREAKFAST: Scrambled eggs with veggies
WAKE-UP TIME: 6:30AM
DIET: Leaning toward Whole30 (whole30.com)
DOPPELGÄNGER: Sean Penn
NEMESIS: Time
ESCAPE: Anything on the water
WEAKNESS: Chocolate chip cookies
UNIFORM: Mana T-shirt
HOTEL: Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia (viceroyhotelsandresorts.com)
WORKOUT: Interval training
LAST MEAL: California Burrito from Taco Surf (tacosurf.com)
SUPPLEMENTS: NMN + Resveratrol
WELLNESS APP: Shred (shred.app)
MENTOR: Travis Carson
WORKOUT SHOES: Allbirds (allbirds.com)
WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Guns N’ Roses
WORKOUT BUDDY: Brother
BEST ADVICE: Don’t forget to have fun.
PHILANTHROPY: Last Prisoner Project (lastprisonerproject.org)
MANTRA: A function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
STREAMING NOW:WeCrashed
DINNER: Territory meal delivery (territoryfoods.com)
SOULMATE: 100% my wife
BEDTIME: 10PM
ON MY NIGHTSTAND: Lifespan by David Sinclair and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:“This Must Be the Place” by Talking Heads
GYM BAG: Lululemon (lululemon.com)
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Wife, music, cocktails
Lauren Dunne, co-founder and CEO of Varnish Lane
Lauren Dunne
Co-founder and CEO, Varnish Lane
varnishlane.com
Washington native Lauren Dunne admits she’s a stickler for her wellness routine. As the CEO of a thriving group of salons in the DMV, her secret weapon for keeping intact mentally is transcendental meditation. “While it takes some practice, dedication and requires consistency, TM has completely changed my mindset and overall wellness,” says Dunne. “I’m more rational, calm and productive throughout the day. It has also improved my quality of sleep and lowered anxiety levels.” Dunne complements her meditation with up to four nights a week of exercise and sauna sessions. “But part of wellness in my life is also being flexible and cutting myself some slack when I’m not feeling 100%. I try not to make myself feel guilty when things don’t happen exactly as planned.”
BREAKFAST: Eggs, arugula, avocado and hot sauce
WAKE-UP TIME: 5:50AM, but I don’t enjoy it
DIET: Annoyingly healthy
DOPPELGÄNGER: Reese Witherspoon
NEMESIS: Unkind people
ESCAPE: Weekends in Chestertown, Md.
WEAKNESS: Pizza
UNIFORM: Jeans, high-top Chucks (converse.com) and a white button-down
HOTEL: The Dewberry, Charleston (thedewberrycharleston.com)
WORKOUT: Pilates, Peloton (onepeloton.com) or walks more than 6 miles
LAST MEAL: Sweetgreen (sweetgreen.com)
SUPPLEMENTS: Athletic Greens (athleticgreens.com), grass-fed collagen, Ritual vitamins (ritual.com), Arrae (arrae.com) Bloat for digestion and L-theanine to keep me calm
WELLNESS APP: Transcendental meditation
MENTOR: My wannabe mentor is Sara Blakely
WORKOUT SHOES: Veja Condor 2 (veja-store.com)
WORKOUT OUTFIT: Outdoor Voices (outdoorvoices.com) skort or Beyond Yoga (beyondyoga.com) space-dye leggings
WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Lots of EDM
WORKOUT BUDDY: My dog, Remi
BEST ADVICE: The hard conversations are the most important ones—don’t avoid them.
PHILANTHROPY: Martha’s Table (marthastable.org)
MANTRA: This too shall pass.
STREAMING NOW:Life & Beth on Hulu
DINNER: Sweet potatoes, roasted veggies and grass-fed bison
SOULMATES: My three dogs… and their dad
BEDTIME: 9:30 reading; in bed by 10PM and lights out
ON MY NIGHTSTAND: Varnish Lane hand lotion, Burt’s bees chapstick (burtsbees.com), slip silk eye mask and my Yeti(yeti.com) filled with ice water
Natalie Strahorn, founder of The MVMNT Society
Natalie Strahorn
Founder and CEO, The Mvmnt Society
themvmntsociety.com
“Small, regular habits lead to big results, so I’m a big supporter of routine,” says Natalie Strahorn, who saw COVID as an opportunity to rebrand her studio, The Mvmnt Society, which includes bounce, Bosu and TRX, among other workouts. “I wanted to give my community something to be excited about during a time that had so much uncertainty.” It has been a hit for this superstar who has two kids under the age of 5 and pushes the boundaries of her own wellness education. After months of learning through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition (integrativenutrition.com), Strahorn will soon be certified as a health coach, helping her clients—both one on one and in groups—reach new levels of personal vigor.
BREAKFAST: Smoothie
WAKE-UP TIME: 5AM
DIET: 80/20
DOPPELGÄNGER: J.Lo
ESCAPE: Tulum
WEAKNESS: Bourbon Steak fries (michaelmina.net)
UNIFORM: Alo leggings (aloyoga.com), crop top, Nike Air Max 90 (nike.com), Gucci belt bag (gucci.com)
HOTEL: The St. Regis Aspen (marriott.com)
WORKOUT: MVMNT
LAST MEAL: Blackened tuna, kale salad and Sancerre
SUPPLEMENTS: Just Thrive probiotic (justthrivehealth.com), vitamin D, iron, vitamin C, fish oil and Nutrafol (nutrafol.com)
MENTOR: Ingrid De La Mare Kenny
WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Britney
WORKOUT BUDDY: Mary Love, our director of programming
BEST ADVICE: Treat others as you want to be treated.
PHILANTHROPY: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org)
MANTRA: Ask, believe, receive.
STREAMING NOW:The Dropout
SOULMATE: My husband, Bryce
BEDTIME: 10PM
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:“Started from the Bottom” by Drake
GYM BAG: Dior Book tote (dior.com)
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: My family, a great bikini and Champagne
YESTERDAY: Flying to Playa with my family for spring break
ZODIAC: Aquarius
Photography by: BY CECILE STORM PICTURES; BY JAHNS CHAVEZ; BY ELI TURNER; BY ELI TURNER; COURTESY OF VARNISH LANE; BY SARAH MARCELLA CREATIVE
