acts of devotion

my current wellness, exercise and diet practices

incredibly inspired by saintsissi on x (also on substack)

the esoteric pilates princess: a uniform of blacks, maroons, and greys, suspiria as a source of inspiration, classical pilates, self-education, video essays, exercise as a form of pleasure, movement as expression, flexibility and contortion, ceremonial matcha, floorwork, pelvic mobility, cycle syncing, fresh organic produce, homecooked meals….

i think once i started viewing exercise and diet (and just overall taking care of oneself) as a form of self-devotion it became less of a chore. i love the routine of it.

my goals mostly revolve around weight loss, muscle toning/building, mobility, flexibility, overall wellness and energy management.

— daily movement

despite being very lazy and low energy, i always find a way to incorporate daily movement into my routine. usually it is 30+ minutes on the walking pad, or a walk around my neighbourhood, paired with stretching twice daily. i like walking because it’s very low effort yet very effective. recently i have started running, but i still need to build up to it. i have always really loved having physical hobbies, i did gymnastics and ballet all through my childhood, i did pole (i actually want to go back!!) in my late teens, and right now i’m doing pilates and yoga. when it gets colder i want to start figure skating, and i definitely want to try some new types of pilates classes, like hot pilates, barre pilates etc. but it’s just about finding classes near me. when i get a new job i’ll probably find classes nearby so i can go before/after work.

— at-home workouts

when i’m not doing a reformer pilates class (i’m actually still trying to find my favourite one in melbourne) or yoga class, i do most of my workouts at home.

these are my current favourites:

• 12min abs & booty by pamela reif

• 20min classical pilates by lottie murphy

• total pilates by lottie murphy

• 15min booty shelf by pamela reif

• pilates arms with weights by lottie murphy

• pilates obliques & waist by lottie murphy

— yoga, flexibility and contortion

i already have a background in ballet and gymnastics, so i have a good amount of flexibility. my goal is to get back into contortion, especially backbends and oversplits. i do yoga every day but also incorporate stretches that are specifically for flexibility and contortion.

here are some favourites:

• 10min morning yoga by sofia mk

• 5min hip/leg mobility by pamela reif

• morning vinyasa yoga by isabel paige

• full body yoga flow by sofia mk

• 30min advance yoga flow

• yoga for digestion

but generally, i just make up my own routine!!

— mindful diet (you are what you eat)

my approach to ‘dieting’ is very intuitive and simple. i’m not extremely strict, though i am already just very picky. i often do intermittent fasting, and i also do a calorie deficit. my diet consists of a lot of fruit, nuts, organic produce, I love a good yoghurt bowl, i love bone broth, salads, teas, red meat, quinoa….it’s very simple really, i’m not too adventurous. i find fast food to be spiritually bankrupt so that’s not really something i ‘worry’ about, i avoid dairy and high sugar/fat, and i feed my sweet tooth with dark chocolate (salted), pistachio gelato, frozen fruit. i love baking and home cooking, i love to cook for my loved ones. i drink green tea 3x a day (when i first wake up, in the afternoon, and right before bed) and i honestly think it helps with bloating. generally, i also adjust my diet to my cycle phase. i don’t believe restriction is 100% necessary, and when it comes to diet experiences are going to differ! so make sure you are doing your own research and listening to what your body needs. i think above all, the focus should be on nourishing your body and being mindful (but not necessarily restrictive or obsessive) of what you are putting into it. for food/recipe inspo i love: fruitpilled, earlygirl, ally wong & cathhli <3

— lymphatic drainage/facial massage/dry brushing

i started incorporating these into my routine in the last year, and the results were noticeable instantly. so simple & so so effective. i’m still getting the hang of dry brushing, mainly because so many people say different things when it comes to the method and i have no clue whats ‘correct’. some say do small circular motions from feet to neck, and some say single strokes upwards towards the heart or lymph nodes. i do the latter, and i do it before every shower. as for my gua sha and facial massage routine, i do this every morning after my skincare.

i follow this routine usually, and i also like to incorporate my stainless steel gua sha.

— knowledge as power

constantly seeking education and knowledge is what keeps me sane. i am always hungry for more. i love to read, and when i’m not physically reading, i’m watching video essays and interviews. i think this is a good way to consume media that is digestible. i see alot of people online asking ‘how do i get smarter’ ‘how do i become more intelligent’ and it literally just comes down to learning, and actively seeking to learn.

some of my recent watches on youtube

this isn’t really intended to be a guide or how-to, im a firm believer of doing what works for you and not just following what someone else is doing, especially when it comes to wellness. that being said, i hope this post is somewhat helpful and maybe even insightful if i dare say??? idk.

lot’s of love,

kayley <3

i’m not going to lie, now that i’ve reached over 200 subscribers (which is crazy) i’m a little bit scared of my very lame writing being perceived…..but here we are…