Her happiness is infectious. But then again, what’s not to smile about? She travels the world, spreads yoga to the masses and has recently joined Kayla Itsines and Kelsey Wells as a trainer on SWEAT.
While Sjana was in Sydney for the launch of the new app, we caught up with her for a dose of positivity. She spilt the beans on her new yoga program, her go-to smoothie recipe and her morning routine (that puts us all to shame).
How did the SWEAT partnership come about?
It was probably the middle of last year and Tobi came to me and said he had a “big idea”. He had me interested as soon as he said that it would help spread yoga to the world haha! SWEAT and I share the same mission—to help empower women and inspire them to live a happier, healthier and more confident life, so teaming up seemed only right! And it all kind of happened from there!
Did you know Kayla and Kelsey prior? How has your friendship evolved?
Yes and no. I knew OF them. Social media is a little strange like that; everyone seems to know of everyone and it can sometimes feel as if you do actually know them in real life, even if you have never met before! I’d never met either Kelsey or Kayla before, but I had been speaking to Kayla for a while. Social media is the new way to have pen-pals haha!
Talk us through your BAM program. How is it broken down and how does it progress? Is it linear or can one pick and choose sessions?
My yoga program BAM (Body And Mind) is designed for women, all of us! We understand that every woman has her own uniqueness; body shapes, ability, schedules and experience. All of these things can sometimes become limiting barriers to us starting a new program. ESPECIALLY if you are starting something foreign to you, such as yoga! So with that in mind, my program caters to ALL abilities and experience levels! And with three to four, 28-minute sessions per week, it is accessible and convenient!
The workouts will progressively get more difficult, so you strengthen and grow, as do your sessions! There is also two different ways you can do your yoga sessions: 1. “Go with the flow”, where you go about the sessions at a recommended speed. OR 2. “Yoga your way”, where you can stop and start the flows to go at your own speed.
It currently has 12 weeks. Will you be building on these in the future?
DEFINITELY! New workouts will be released and will be slightly more difficult and
varied to the other workouts. New poses, flows and skills will be added so you can continue to progress in your practice as well as keeping good variation!
What is your favourite song on the playlist you’ve created?
I’m a sucker for anything acoustic or soft and soothing! “Skinny Love” by Birdy would have to be a go-to—what a banger!
As the yogi of SWEAT, have the other trainers got you on to any HIIT and strength workouts or vice versa?
Not yet, everyone has been so busy since launch! We definitely will though, for sure! It’d be so fun to do each other’s workouts, especially together! That’s sure to be a good laugh, haha.
I think we should move our bodies in every way that we have the ability to. That is how we were created. Because we CAN move, we SHOULD move. It would be a shame not to. If something brings you joy and moves your body, then do it!
That is one of the best features of the SWEAT app. You can sign up to my yoga program and still do any of the other workouts in the app! It is the perfect way to incorporate all kinds of workouts into your fitness routine.
Describe what yoga means to you. What has yoga given you?
Yoga has given me LIFE, literally. Yoga found me at a time in my life when I needed it most. It helped me in recovering from severe depression and anxiety and has since become a part of me. Yoga isn’t just a workout, it encompasses body, mind, soul and even spirit. It is a way of thinking, moving, breathing, speaking and just generally BEING.
The more you learn about yoga, the more amazing it becomes and the more you realise the journey is infinite! There is always something more to inspire you, to strive for, to learn and grow towards!
How has a day in the life of Sjana Earp changed since we spoke to you over a year ago? And now, since launching BAM?
Not much has changed. I’ve still been doing my regular things, except I’ve been spending a lot more time in Australia creating content for the app! Which is nice, I do love Australia!
How much time do you spend travelling compared to back in Newcastle these days?
Lately, it’s been a little bit less. I’ve been spending a lot more time in Newcastle or around Australia in the past few months! It’s good to be home 🙂 However, I do also miss the non-stop adventures I was having a couple of years ago! When I first started social media about three years ago, the travel was pretty much one country to another, haha!
Having travelled the world, what are your top 3 holiday destinations?
Ooh! This is always such a tough question for me! I never know what to say!
I love ANYWHERE tropical. So I suppose I’d have to say Hawaii, The Bahamas and The Maldives! But in saying that, an Australian summer is almost unbeatable!
The quote I live by most is “Everything happens for a reason”. I find it humbles me, gives me patience and is a gentle reminder to find gratitude when I need it most.
Take us through your morning ritual.
My morning ritual isn’t very exciting haha, sorry for the disappointment! It changes day to day, but I always set alarms to wake up with the sun. If it’s a good sunrise I will go do yoga down at the beach or go for a quick ocean dip and then meditate for a bit on the sand. Or I might go for a walk. Or a morning yoga session at my regular/local yoga loft.
Then come home, shower and have breakfast! Then I’ll usually get stuck into emails or work before figuring out the rest of the day 🙂
Are you a smoothie girl? If so, what’s your go-to recipe? If not, what’s your go-to breakfast?
I wouldn’t say no to a smoothie, but I’m definitely more of a juice girl! Beetroot, carrot, lemon, ginger and apple OR watermelon, mint and cucumber! If I do have a smoothie, I like to eat it out of a bowl (it lasts longer that way haha!) and any flavour as long as it is covered in fresh chopped fruit and goji berries!
It seems you’re always so positive and bubbly, what’s your secret to staying upbeat? Any tricks for lifting your spirits when you’re feeling low?
My secret to being happy is understanding that nothing has to be perfect. In fact, there is something wonderful to be found in every single moment, event, experience and opportunity. There is always something to be learned, something to help us grow or an opportunity to help someone else, whether it be instantaneous or perhaps some time in the future. Regardless, it is a nice reminder to find gratitude for every moment. To be present, and thankful for the things we have, and even more thankful for the things which we do not have.
A few tips for lifting your spirits when you’re feeling low would be to smile (even if you’re not exactly feeling like it), stay productive (you’ll be amazed how much better you feel when you are achieving things and getting stuff done!), be kind (to others, but also to yourself), be thankful (it’s hard to be upset when you feel gratitude!), take some time for yourself (whether it be 30 seconds to catch your breath, a half-an-hour meditation or an hour-long massage or walk on the beach, do something that is for you and ONLY you), Treat yourself right, not because you hate your body, but because you love it! (Nourish your body, don’t punish it. Diet, exercise, your thoughts and even the way you speak to and about yourself! Do good because it FEELS GOOD. Do good because it gives you more energy, vitality and confidence. Doing good often FEELS good!).
As an influencer, do you find it hard to switch off from technology?
I used to be quite attached to my phone. Over time, I have shaped my own behaviour to have a more healthy relationship and approach to social media and technology. I think it isn’t necessarily only about the amount of time you are spending online, but also about the kinds of things you are choosing to fill your screens and mind with. Just becoming conscious and aware of those sorts of things is a step in the right direction. Then consciously and actively choosing to positively change what you are allowing yourself to be exposed to. Ask yourself, “Is this helping me? Or is it hurting me?”. Answer. Then adjust accordingly.
Wake up time: With the sun!
Most people probably don’t know this about me, but: I used to be TERRIFIED of the ocean! I wouldn’t even put my toes in the water at one point!
Guilty pleasure: ANYTHING coconut!
3 things vital to my day: Yoga, sunshine (if there is no sunshine, I’ll make my own!), kindness.
Last thing I do at night: Brush my teeth 🙂
If sugar was a superfood, my diet would consist of: Exactly what it does. I already consume a ridiculous amount of fruit, haha! And that is nature’s candy anyway!
If I were a fruit or vegetable I’d be: A mangosteen, because mangosteens rule!
The one place I’d never wear yoga pants: I don’t think there is anywhere I’d never wear yoga pants, haha! Does that place even exist? Yoga pants are the best!
