Published Feb 22, 2018

Why waking up with the sun is Blair Flynn’s go-to wellness practice

Blair Flynn of BalancewithB fame prioritizes making small healthy choices that make her feel her best—like swapping processed sugar for Pyure Organic stevia.

Published Feb 22, 2018

In Partnership With

Pyure Organic

Written by

Well+Good Editors

Welcome to My Morning Routine, where Blair Flynn (yoga instructor and wellness blogger at Balancewithb) and other good-life gurus share their personal (frequently surprising, often healthy) morning rituals—to help you make your a.m.’s more awesome. A key part of her morning? Making small healthy choices that all add up to kickstart an amazing day, like using Pyure Organic stevia in her breakfast instead of processed sugar.

I’m one of those people who never has to use an alarm to wake up—my body naturally wakes up between 5:30 to 6:45 a.m. The sun shines bright in my room, so that plays a big factor in me waking up with the sun most mornings.

I love a good almond milk or turmeric latte with an extra shot of espresso. To sweeten them up I always recommend plant-based options like Pyure Organic stevia. Then, I may have a chocolate smoothie with lots of greens, or a yogurt bowl with nut butter, flaxseeds, bananas, cacao nibs, collagen, cinnamon, turmeric, and anything else I’m in the mood for.

I also love to munch on my energy bites with my coffee, but since I watch my sugar intake greatly because of my digestive health history, I’ve found that stevia is a great alternative sweetener for me. I’ll add it to my energy bites, smoothies, or yogurt bowls. I’ve found that stevia doesn’t cause digestive distress to my body, it doesn’t cause my blood sugar to rise (or cause me to crash later in the day like other sugars), and I only need a little bit to sweeten things up!

“Since I watch my sugar intake greatly because of my digestive health history, I’ve found that stevia is a great alternative sweetener for me.”

I suffer from many digestive health issues (gastroparesis, food allergies, IBS) so every morning I take a Silver Fern probiotic, which has reduced bloating and allowed my digestive system to feel normal again.

I also take a HUM Nutrition digestive enzyme before every meal (or at least my two largest meals), and G.I. Fortify and L-Glutamine Powder from Pure Encapsulations for gut health. I mainly look for vitamins that support gut health, healthy skin, and naturally boosts mood or energy.

After I make my bed (which prevents me from getting right back into it), I wash my face with cold water, then use Cocokind Raspberry Toner, Raspberry Jasmine Oil Serum, and the Matcha stick to hydrate my lips.

My makeup routine is basic to none (if I’m working from home or working out I won’t wear any). I usually just wear mascara, eyeliner, a little highlighter, and lip balm. Switching to non-toxic, organic makeup has reduced redness and inflammation, and made my skin feel softer and less prone to breakouts. If I don’t wash my hair, I use Franklin and Whitman dry shampoo and I’m good to go!

I’m a morning person, but ironicallyI thrive off working out later in the evenings. I prefer tackling my to do lists earlier in the day, and working out later in the evening when I can rest my mind and actually enjoy the workout or yoga class without thinking about what needs to be accomplished that day.

I leave room for flexibility in the later portion of my days, but my morning routines are sacred to me. By establishing small routines that reduce stress in my body, I’ve been able to tremendously alleviate my symptoms from my digestive issues, which left me with intense migraines and anxiety attacks.

“How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.”

How you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Personally, my body needs time to adjust with a slow start before jumping into anything head first and fast or stressed out.

My favorite part of the morning is actually waking up at sunrise and enjoying just a few moments of peace and quiet. It sounds pretty cliche but my days can often be hectic, so I really try to savor those moments in the morning.