Nancy Richer is the creator of Richer Movement, a workout method based on the warm-ups and cross training she did during her career as a professional ballerina. She’s danced with The Royal Danish Ballet, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, The Los Angeles Ballet, and Twyla Tharp Dance. She believes her body positive approach to ballet training can transform the workouts and lives of all her clients.
The Importance of Breathing
I make sure to start all of my workouts with breathing techniques to ensure that I’m not contributing to unconscious tension patterns. How to breathe: Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit where you can remain undisturbed - Sit up straight and place one hand on your belly, just below your ribs; place the other hand on your chest - Relax your body (do not clench your pelvic floor) - Take slow, deep breaths, breathing in through the nose and out through the nose Breathe slowly, belly filling with air; pause for two seconds and repeat.
VARLEY STRAPPY SPORTS BRAStart the Day Energized
My morning ritual is based on hydrating, energizing, and detoxifying my body. My first drink of the day is a big bottle of water with pink Himalayan salt and lemon for my own version of an electrolyte beverage. It keeps me hydrated, gives me energy, and fills my body with minerals.
Recipe
Stir together:
12 ounces pure water
Juice from ½ lemon
¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
The Ultimate Indulgence – Bath Time
Sundays are sacred for my bath ritual. After a long week of teaching ballet and working with clients, my muscles are sore and my body is stressed. Before I get in the tub, I fill up my bath with warm water and add Vertly Bath Salts. This clean skincare product has natural healing salts and minerals that calm my body and my mind. Thanks to their signature CBD, my aches and soreness quickly subside, and my body feels ready to start the week all over again.
Vertley Bath SaltsKeep Your Glow Going
My post-exercise ritual is that I quickly wash my face (dried sweat can cause breakouts!) and keep my glow going with a spritz of I-Pekar Hungarian Thermal Water Toner. It refreshes and brightens my skin with the magic of thermal water, and keeps me glowing for the rest of the day!
"There are so many benefits to drinking fortified water
first thing in the morning – it helps keep your digestive system on track
and is great for your immune system."
Q + A
Why add salt and lemon to your morning water?
Pink Himalayan salt replenishes my body’s sodium, which is important for muscle and nerve functions. Lemon adds vitamin C which helps detoxify the liver.
How has ballet influenced your approach to self-care?
I have danced as a ballerina for over a decade, and it’s taught me how important it is to take care of myself. Ballet is an incredible artistic dance form, but it can also be very strenuous on the body. Taking a warm bath is one of my favorite ways to unwind!
Her Daily Dose
What she's been loving most at home
