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The Top 6 Wellness Gurus in DC

By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | June 16, 2022 | People

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 PHOTO BY CECILE STORM PICTURESAdrienne 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 PHOTO BY JAHNS CHAVEZ
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) PHOTO BY ELI TURNER
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) PHOTO BY ELI TURNER
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 PHOTO COURTESY OF VARNISH LANE
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 PHOTO BY SARAH MARCELLA CREATIVE
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



Tags: people health and wellness Apple News

Photography by: BY CECILE STORM PICTURES; BY JAHNS CHAVEZ; BY ELI TURNER; BY ELI TURNER; COURTESY OF VARNISH LANE; BY SARAH MARCELLA CREATIVE