This week’s Beauty Edit is more about health & wellness with a focus on fitness but as we all know how we treat our bodies affects us both on the inside and outside…

The other day Grace mentioned this article in her weekend reading and I so enjoyed it because I’ve lived in two cities where wellness is most certainly is a status symbol. The article addresses the idea that the pursuit of wellness has actually become something people want to talk about and showoff.

“For most people, spending so much on staying fit and healthy would be a preposterous indulgence, but for a growing percentage of individuals with high discretionary income, wellness has become an important part of the luxury lifestyle.”

I myself have certainly fell victim to this. I spend a lot of money on a gym membership (which I actually just cancelled last week) and supplement with SoulCycle classes and other studios that strike my fancy. In my late 20s I’ve become a proponent of really finding what works for you when it comes to fitness. For example, when I’d go to the gym I would spend 20 minutes on the elliptical and then get bored and move on to something un-cardio related. I learned I really can’t be held responsible for my pursuit of cardio when solo at the gym. So that’s why classes work better for me.

In truth, I can’t say enough about SoulCycle. To justify the spend I only go 1-2 times per week and I do so at classes where I know I love the teacher. It ensures I make it to class, have a tough but inspiring ride and don’t ever leave disappointed that it wasn’t what I was used to or expecting.

The past 3.5 years I’ve struggled a lot with my weight on the account of having thyroid disease. After having my thyroid successfully removed, rendering me on a pill that replicates the hormone control one gets from a thyroid, I have been petrified of gaining weight. It’s common that those with hypothyroidisim often gain weight and so I’ve been trying to keep myself regimented enough to negate weight gain. So far so good but it takes sacrifice. I need to get in workouts (having my favorite weekly SoulCycle classes keeps me honest on this front), eat healthy (a daily struggle – I love sweets), not drink as much as I used to (oh the hidden calories!) and sleep a lot.

Back to the article, I have also been known to spend too much money at Nike, order $9 juices at Liquiteria (why are they so delicious?!) and go on explorations of new fitness crazes (I’m currently doing SLT classes – they are so hard but so awesome.) And my inner dialogue is always a teeter-toter of emotions of “Stop doing these expensive things” and “but they are good for me” so I 100% agree with the article’s point that these pricey indulgences become more justifiable. Honestly, I feel the need to prioritize wellness and like most things in New York City…it doesn’t come cheap. If I had an inexpensive gym membership I know enough at this point in my life to know it doesn’t cut it in order to get me there and really working out.

So for now I’m going to keep indulging in wellness because frankly, I’ve deemed that better than indulging in cupcakes and pizza which is how I used to make myself better on a rough day (awful, I know. And my body showcased it…) And I’m going to continue getting semi-regular massages & facials and drinking as much water as humanly possible. And next up? I’m going to seek out ClassPass and bring some more variety to my routine. It’s the spice of life, after all.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this front! Do you go to a gym? Boutique fitness classes? Do you juice? I’m curious & would love to hear on social or in the comments below.

[Photos via Pinterest]