KEEPING IT WELL&TIGHT: A CHAT WITH NAT
This year I decided to make my physical and mental health a priority. I decided to focus on being mindful, self aware, balanced and positive – I am on a journey to be the best me that I can possibly be.
A big part of this journey is well&tight, a fitness based community of women lead by the inspiring and empowering, Nathania Harrison. Together with her passionate and dedicated team, she continually reminds women that our own mental and physical well being is integral to our success in every avenue of life. Personally, being part of this unique community has changed my life so I had to sit down with Nat to discuss just why she started well&tight, her own vices, the contagious well&tight mindset and where the program is headed next. Keeping It Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
WHAT IS WELL&TIGHT?
At our core, well&tight is on a mission to help women become their best potential self. All of our programs are grounded in 5 pillars which we believe achieve optimal vitality: Nutrition, Movement, Resilience (mindfulness), Connection and Sleep. We are a dedicated in person and online community focused on helping each other achieve long term wellness, fitness and vitality goals.
WHY DID YOU START WELL&TIGHT?
After having my second child, I decided to stay home and spend more time with my family. As I have always been very passionate about learning new way to move my body, in my spare time, I started pursuing certifications in nutrition, yoga, spinning, barre, Pilates etc. I have always struggled with my weight so I also created nutrition and training programs to help me stay healthy and reach optimal body composition goals (yes, fitting into skinny jeans is important to me).
The concept of well&tight itself began so organically. My friends and family would follow my programs, reach their goals and then their friends and family wanted to know how they did it. Our little community quickly grew and well&tight was formed.
The incredible group of women in this community is the secret sauce to our success and growth. Being surrounded and supported by likeminded people helps everyone reach their goals and stay accountable. Keeping it Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
A LOT OF YOUR COMMUNITY IS NEW MOMS IN THEIR LATE 20s-30s, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, WORKING MOMS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. WHY IS THIS AN IMPORTANT DEMOGRAPHIC FOR WELL&TIGHT?
There is an energy in our community that’s contagious. With young family demands, growing careers and changing family dynamics, our stage of life is both rewarding and challenging. Our classes are rooted in mindfulness and everyone is encouraged to show up in new ways each week. The connection that is established early with each other and the trainers is powerful and helps create lasting relationships, inside and outside the studio walls. Keeping It Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
When I finish a well&tight class, I feel connected to something bigger than myself. A shift happens outside of a great sweat. We joke that our time together is very soul satisfying as well as physically satisfying. Keeping It Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
WELL&TIGHT IS A VERY WELL ROUNDED PROGRAM WITH NUTRITION, FITNESS AND MOST OF ALL, ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH ONLINE SUPPORT.
YOU REMEMBER PEOPLE’S NAMES, THEIR GOALS AND CONNECT WITH EVERYONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOUR PROGRAM?
Our teacher training is rooted in connection exercises to ensure everyone understands the impact healthy and strong relationships can have in our lives. I first launched well&tight with boot camps in my backyard and immediately I started to build beautiful connections with the people that lived only a couple houses away. I realized that I was missing out on some many personal relationships because I was so closed off in my ‘busy’ life. Keeping it Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
A recent 75 year study from Harvard proved that human longevity is determined by the health of your relationships. Not only with your kids and partner but with your neighbours, friends, extended family etc. Connection trumps how well you eat, how often you exercise, how much money you have etc. and I feel that. I’m happiest when I am surrounded by incredible people with whom I have a healthy connection.
WHAT DID YOU DO PRE WELL&TIGHT?
I was a corporate marketer for almost 15 years. I worked in brand management and helped grow brands like Gatorade, Pepsi and Nike. A few of my favourite projects were launching G2 and rebranding Gatorade to G. Keeping it Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
I also thoroughly enjoyed leading the Nike women’s category in Canada. We built a temporary studio on a barge on Lake Ontario and provided a venue for over 3,000 women to train together during the Nike Women’s 15 k in Toronto.I would watch our Nike Master Trainers lead women in a Nike Training Club class and be envious of their ability to motivate women to move their body more. That project was a huge inspiration for me to start learning more about leading movement based classes.
DO YOU HAVE A MORNING MANTRA?
I try not to think in the morning. For whatever reason, I get very overwhelmed first thing in the morning so I focus on staying in the moment: How cozy my bed feels, the taste of my lemon elixir, going over our schedule with my husband, getting our kids ready for the day, and journaling when I can find the time.
Mindfulness is a daily practice that I carry through my entire day. I tried a daily meditation practice first thing in the morning but it didn’t feel authentic to me. Instead I find little moments in my day where I can be more fully present.
WHAT IS YOUR VICE? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH SETBACKS?
Chocolate and wine. Wine over chocolate. I have regular setbacks. I use the well&tight reset guidelines to help me find balance. I may over indulge for a weekend or couple of weeks and then once I feel my jeans getting a little tighter, I know it’s time to get back to week 1 or 2 guidelines until I’m back on track.
The most important thing I realized when it comes to managing my weight is that my nutrition is the only things that needs to change. I use exercise as a celebration for what my body can do (and therapy for my anxiety) and NEVER as punishment for what I ate. You’ll never hear me say, ‘I can eat this cake because I ran today.’ I run because it feels great and I eat the cake because I want to.
DO YOU EAT HEALTHY EVERY DAY? HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO RESET?
I normally eat 90% well&tight Monday – Friday and then 75% well&tight on the weekends. When we RESET together as a group I always follow the first 3 weeks closely so I would say I reset 3 times a year.
My weakness during the week is wine. I love a glass of red wine most nights. It’s something I haven’t been able to let go of yet.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A RESET IS DONE? HOW DOES ONE MAINTAIN MIND & BODY?
Between each Six week reset (Winter/Spring/Fall) we run 8-10 week training only programs. Our group continues to train together and we incorporate weekly challenges that are optional around the 5 pillars of vitality. Most of our members reach their goal by the end of the RESET and we use the training only time to get stronger, try new movement classes and work on other lifestyle shifts.
I am a big believer that you need to move your body in many different ways for optimal wellness. This means balancing high intensity training and running with more mindful movement and functional training like BARRE, Pilates and yoga.
HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY TIE STAY WELL & TIGHT? HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM INVOLVED IN THIS LIFESTYLE?
Well&tight is definitely a family affair. Long ago I acknowledged that I can’t live a well&tight lifestyle alone. If junk is in the house, I eat junk: I have zero willpower.
I also believe that if I don’t think I should consume the junk, my children are not an exception. From the time our kids could eat solids we gave them the same foods we ate. Yes there are dinners where my kids don’t want our well&tight meals and we simply give them the option to not eat dinner. It sounds cruel but our doctor gave us great advice once: Our kids will never starve themselves. And she was right. They might whine and complain when they see a healthy dinner they don’t ‘like’ but they eventually eat it (and normally enjoy it) when nothing else is offered. We talk to them about ‘some of the time’ and ‘all of the time’ foods which helps us establish healthy indulgence routines.
SO JUST HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A MOM AND AN ENTREPRENEUR WHILE SUPPORTING A HUGE COMMUNITY OF WOMEN?
I surround myself with incredible women and have a very supportive husband. I truly believe that behind every great women is a tribe of great men and women. My husband makes well&tight as much of a priority as his own demanding business which I am eternally grateful for. I’ve also come to rely on friends, our well&tight trainers and the community to help us grow.
I believe patience and persistence is critical. I can count many tears, fears and days I’ve wanted to throw in the towel. Every time I launch a new program, I’m still terrified no one will register. But then I teach a class, and the room fills up with beautiful smiling faces who light me up and fuel me to keep going. Keeping It Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
WHAT’S NEXT FOR WELL&TIGHT?
We have just doubled our class offering to be able to serve more women. Weekend, post drop off, evenings; we have classes available every day and time of the week now. We want to create more workshops that help educate women on gut health, hormone balance and self-inquiry for personal growth and development. Eventually we will expand into new communities so we can reach even more women. Keeping it Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
WHAT IS NEXT FOR NAT? WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS?
I am always switching back and forth from student to teacher mode. I am a firm believer that you need to first be in the work of transformation and vulnerability and see change within yourself before you can inspire others to do the same. I want to empower more women to create new well&tight communities and I’ll be offering well&tight retreats for a more immersive well&tight transformation in 2019.
Long term, when my family life isn’t as demanding, I’d love to offer a space that embodies the well&tight philosophy and provides a space for women to learn and grow and help them become their best potential self. Keeping it Well&Tight: A Chat with Nat
To find out more information about the well&tight program and how to join this fantastic community, visit: www.wellandtight.com or well&tight on Facebook. Follow Nat on IG: @well&tight