What Does Your Wellness Ritual Look Like in 2021?
A conversation with Julia Stewart, Founder & CEO of Alurx
If we learned anything from 2020, it’s that we all need to achieve balance and well-being right where we live. More than ever, home is everything – the office, the restaurant, the gym, a movie theatre, and even a sanctuary. For Julia Stewart, Founder & CEO of Alurx, prioritizing wellness is part of her everyday life. Affirmations such as “eat healthy,” “listen to my body,” and “sleep well” have become her constant mantra, the essential topic of daily conversations, and the basis for her life-long wellness habits. We asked Julia to share her 2021 wellness priorities and daily rituals with our community.
Why is prioritizing your wellness goals year-round more effective than making new year’s resolutions?
“Wellness is an ongoing journey. There’s no better time than the new year, or any moment of personal challenge or transition, to start (or continue) your wellness journey,” says Julia. “I launched Alurx to support everyone in their quest and offer them natural, vetted wellness solutions.” Wellness is multi-dimensional: physical, emotional, societal, and environmental. For Julia, that journey starts with simple, daily rituals focused on good nutrition, exercise, sleep, self-reflection, and community service. Today, she leads her company working from home and adjusted her schedule to include wellness breaks and daily exercise. Based on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, we need at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic exercise. No commute? Then take the time to get your heart rate up by walking around the block or engage in basic calisthenics. Julia exercises daily, including high-intensity interval training on her elliptical machine, three times a week, weights and core six times a week, and yoga once a week. After her work-outs, she prepares a cup of Alurx Lemon Ginger and Yerba Mate Tea that helps her stay energized and focused during her busiest days.
How do you make wellness a priority for your entire family?
“Because home cooking has become the new dining out, eating healthy couldn’t be easier.” Julia shares with us. We have more control over our diets through the ingredients we buy and the recipes we use. Eating together is a particular time for families and an excellent opportunity for children to acquire healthy eating habits. By choosing less processed, more organic foods and incorporating more staples like fruits and vegetables into our daily meals, we can elevate our moods and how we feel in our bodies. Julia also emphasizes drinking plenty of water as soon as you start your day. Every morning, she dissolves a Super 11 Effervescent Tablet for Immunity Support in a glass of water to prepare a delicious vitamin-packed drink. The Harvard Medical School, Special Health Report, suggests drinking water keeps our bodies hydrated and aids in digestion, protecting our organs, normalizing blood pressure, and cushioning our joints. Wellness is also a participation sport. There are plenty of activities for the entire family to promote good health and togetherness, such as dog walks, hula hoop contests, boogying down to your favorite radio station, car washes, board games, indoor treasure hunts, group stretches, and much more. Since Julia works out daily, the Alurx Cooling Gel with peppermint oil, menthol, and hemp-derived CBD has become her all-time favorite product to relax tense and aching muscles.
What is your skincare ritual, and how do you keep your skin glowing year-round?
“Skin health is paramount to our overall well-being. In addition, feeling your best is also about letting your energy shine thru and looking your most radiant.” Julia shares that her skincare routine has been an enduring focus of hers. It evolved during her illustrious career, from ambitious food server to successful CEO and Chairman. She is dedicated to her morning and evening regimens, combining her long-time favorite products such as Christine Valmy Deep Cleanser and Dermatologica Solar Defense SPF Boosters with her Alurx Multivitamin Rejuvenating Serum, Hydrating Wrinkle Smoothing Cream, and Effervescent Collagen Support Tablets. Collagen is a vital building block for skin, as well as bones and connective tissues; hence she ensured that the Alurx Skin Health Collection included ingestible solutions that support our body’s natural collagen production. Keeping your skin glowing all-year round has never been so easy.
Finally, how do you fuel your resilience and perseverance while building a business during a global crisis?
“My passion for making a difference never wanes. This terrible pandemic has only intensified my passion and strengthened my commitment to make Alurx a world leader in wellness.”Julia reaffirms. Alurx’ mission to bring wellness to everyone through curated, natural, and vetted wellness solutions is exceptionally timely. As she continues to deploy her vision, she brings together experts in the health and wellness industries to collaborate on Alurx’ all-in-one hub.