The Wellness Files: Alyssa Exposito ● PhD Student and Badass Fitness Instructor

The Wellness Files //  a wellness-focused interview series featuring the badass ladies that inspire me.

As a Miami native (yes, Cuban), Alyssa Exposito is packed with sweet and sass.

Her competitive spirit fueled her passion for being physically active. With energy to burn, Alyssa always felt the need to compensate for her small stature and frame. In doing so, she traded in the violin to run competitively in high school and continued to compete at the University of Miami. After a traumatic injury, Alyssa put down her running shoes (for a bit) and harnessed her energy and passion of physical fitness to injury prevention and treatment.

Completing her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic training at the University of Miami, she gained a new appreciation for the body’s ability to recover/heal and its capability for movement. A seeker of knowledge, Alyssa moved to New York to continue her graduate education in the field of exercise physiology at Teachers College Columbia University. Here is where her love of fitness regained its fire and became a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor at both Uplift Studios and NYSC.

Fusing her athletic training background and love of strength and conditioning, her training style allows clients to become aware of their bodies, gain control of their movements, while increasing strength and mobility. Viewing herself as an educator above all things she she returned to Teachers College Columbia University for a Doctorate of Education in Health Education, last fall.

 

▶︎ Where does your motivation to lead a healthy life come from?

My motivation stems from gratitude and love.

I am both very grateful for the body that I have that is both able and capable to adapt to the most unfavorable conditions. After my accident, being immobile for 3 months really opened my eyes to never take any moment for granted. With my health and training, I aim to show up and be the best possible self because what I do is out of love for my body and life. When you learn to love yourself so much, you begin to treat yourself with the utmost of care.

 

▶︎ What advice do you have for someone looking to launch their career in health and fitness?

Be as true to yourself as you can be. Health and fitness is always evolving but make sure what you set out to do align with your intentions. Never make about where you ought to be and what you should be doing. Focus on the work and people at hand and watch how doors will begin to open up for you.

▶︎ You’re currently getting your PhD on top of working and working out. Damn girl. How do you balance all of the above?

Balance: Ahh, one of those things that require active and relentless fine-tuning. I am not sure if I have achieved it, but I find, my calendar and mindfulness practice keep me in-line.

I am a visual learner so scheduling things on my phone, typically doesn’t cut it. I have to physically write and see just how busy a day will be. When I do this, I can spot the gaps and prioritize work that needs to be done from importance.

I aim to be as proactive and efficient as possible so I try to make the most out of my time day-to-day. I typically always have schoolwork with me, so I find the time to study, read, or write a paper in between classes, gaps, and/or commuting. There are 3 things I learned very quickly wearing so many different hats:

1️⃣ I must always make time for myself- in whatever magnitude I am feeling at that moment. Whether it’s to take walk, read a book, write, or simply to just lay down. This has helped me to become better self aware of what I need.

2️⃣ Sleep is important. Anyone who knows me well knows I have no shame going to bed no later than 10:30pm. Call it what you want, I work much better with proper rest and I spare people from a possible bad mood the next day.

3️⃣ Stay present. Undeniably, one of the hardest of the 3. I find taking myself out of what is happening at the current moment and thinking of things that are to come, to feel better prepared, doesn’t do any service to the task at hand, or the one that precedes it. It turns into wasted energy and ironically, a loss of time.

Balance: relentless and active editing.

▶︎ Having taken your Uplift – Strength class tons of time, I know first hand how you command and inspire a room. How do you find that energy to inspire others even if you’re having a meh day? 

I for one, try to be as candid with my clients as I can. However, I am a big advocate for giving out what you need and receiving what you project so in many ways, it becomes this cyclical effect. I give out the words of encouragement I would need to feel and be inspired, and inturn, become more inspired by everyone who really has shown up to challenge themselves on perhaps, days they are feeling the same.

Does that make me selfish? Nah. It really comes down to perspective (another thing requiring relentless editing) and learning to be ok with feeling those “meh” days. I find the energy in not shadow boxing my own bullshit. It all goes back with being more mindful with your thoughts, yes its ok to feel meh, but I actively try not deepening my negative feelings by defending them with thoughts that are not moving me forward. Instead, I actively seek the things that I am grateful for in that moment. Gratitude will always take you a long way.

 

▶︎ What’s your go-to spot for a healthy meal or snack in NYC?

Terri, I am not vegan, but if you are, it’s a great place with nutrient dense salads and smoothies.

 

▶︎ What’s your proudest fitness moment?

Ah, well I have to say running a full marathon a year and a half after my accident.

▶︎ What work out, if any, are you currently obsessed with?

I am currently obsessed with my own, solely because working with my coach, Kelvin Gary at Body Space Fitness, provides me with an extra challenge I probably wouldn’t bring myself to take. We work with a variety of modalities, like kettle bells, vipers, and my new favorite, sandbags. I am currently training for a 50k trail run in Bear Mountain so it has been great to see progress in strength and conditioning.

 

▶︎ When you’re tight on time but want a healthy, homemade dinner, what do you make?

Avocado toast with an egg, has never steered me wrong. Good sources and mix of fat, carb, and protein.

 

▶︎ What’s the last great book you read?

Small Victories by Anne Lammott

 

▶︎ What beauty products do you swear by?

For general face care, I stick to brands like Origins or Dr. Perricone (expensive but a good investment)

For make-up, I prefer the lighter base things so I love Bare minerals and or Guerrlain.  But for mascara, I wear the OG Maybelline- you know, the one with the green top, and pink base.

For hair, I stick to Organix. I prefer hair products to be sulfate-free as to not dry out my hair, or strip it from any natural oils. I also love, Organix Argan oil as leave-in conditioner. Smells uh-may-zing!

 

▶︎ What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

My mother always told me growing up- “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” When I find myself drowning in sea of doubt I repeat this as a measure to see how badly I want something and to access what it’ll take to get there.

 

▶︎ What’s one piece of advice you would give someone new to fitness + wellness?

You are not made to compete with the person next to you. You are not their business. You simply show up and strive to be better than you were before. And for that, you always will be.

LIGHTNING ROUND!

Barre or Yoga? Yoga, though I’m dying to try barre so this is bias.

Spin class or run? RUN.

AM or PM workout? PM in the sense of early afternoon. I am fortunate to have that privilege. If I didn’t, I would be an AM kinda girl.

Smoothie or juice? Smoothie

Group fitness or solo workout? Solo. I am highly competitive and I try to not exercise my ego.

 

▶︎ Where I can find you on social media and teaching fitness?

There are several places you can come sweat, jam, and laugh with me at Uplift Studios, Body Space Fitness, and free outdoor workout with The North Face Mountain Athletics Crew.

You can follow my daily life via IG @expossentials where you’ll find a little bit of me in everything I post. Always keepin’ it candid, by yours truly.