The Yoga Pants Podcast

48 - Workout Hacks from a Pro Athlete that Everyone Can Do

Ready to get your at-home fitness game on?! Today Nicole shares some awesome workout hacks that anyone can do. This episode was inspired by Sarah who simply wanted to know how Nicole operates her fitness regime with the added bonus of identifying some exercises that will help others. And once Nicole got rolling, she couldn't stop. In addition to some bigger picture concepts like how you are motivated & encouraging women to "try on new exercises and variations to see what fits," we literally break down the following moves that have kept Nicole healthy and strong as she comes back from spinal fusion surgery.
Bridges
Dead bugs
Pilates V-ups
Back extensions
Squats in all their glory
Lunges
Just for you - our awesome listeners - use code POD20 for 20% off now!
Tune in weekly-ish to hear us riff on the topic of the moment. Now grab those yoga pants, get out there and get busy living your best life. See you next time!
 

47 - Best Skirts & Skorts for Tennis & Pickleball

Hot on the tails of our "Best Leggings in the World" episode, we bring you some fun banter about our favorite court sports. Tennis has always been a Skirt Sport, but pickleball, while first created in the 60s is suddenly on fire and you must get the best gear to help you slam that tennis/badminton/ping-pong ball like a pro. 
In this episode, we talk about the power of wearing products that were actually made for the game you play, and highlight the features we love about the court-specific styles Skirt Sports offers. Namely the POCKETS. The dual (both thighs), convertible (upper and lower pockets on the same pocket!), deftly hidden pockets that do exactly what you need to play with confidence. 
Yes, this episode is pretty product-centric, but don't be fooled, we always sprinkle in some personal stories of triumph and tragedy as we go!
Styles we recommend for tennis and pickleball:
Triumph Skort "Everything about this skort is a triumph," says Sarah 😎
Jaguar Skirt "Is it the Jag-WHAR or the Jag-YOU-are skirt," asks Nicole 😂
Lotta Breeze Capri Skirt "Yes you have a pocket for your balls while playing in capris!"
Eclipse Tank "Very forgiving around the midsection" agrees everyone everywhere
All In Long Bra "Most Comfortable Bra on the Planet" (future episode - not kidding)
Time to get yourself some new skirts and skorts! Use code POD20 for 20% off now!
Tune in weekly-ish to hear us riff on the topic of the moment. Now grab those yoga pants, get out there and get busy living your best life. See you next time!
 

46 - The Best Leggings in the World

Sometimes you stumble across something so special you can't imagine life without it. That is what happens when you step into any of our Skirt Sports leggings for the first time.
Today we deconstruct:
The feminine ideal: Yes these leggings make us dig deep!
The fabric
The high waist
The pockets
Why flattery is not a bad thing!
Time to get yourself the best leggings in the world! Use code POD20 for 20% off now!
Tune in weekly-ish to hear us riff on the topic of the moment. Now grab those yoga pants, get out there and get busy living your best life. See you next time!

45 - 5 Things We Love About Amelia Island

"It's a rejuvenation of your soul."
The ZOOMA Amelia Island Run Series is so much more than crossing the finish line (though that's a huge part of it). Amelia Island is a magical place that you must experience in your lifetime! Here are 5 reasons we love it so much. 
The view. The ocean offers peace & happiness. 
All the fun stuff! Welcome party. Fashion show. Yoga & more.
The history. It's one of the oldest cities in Florida - sometimes called 8 flag island because 8 countries have ruled it over time.
The medals. More distances = more medals.
The courses. We engineered the most interesting, beautiful race courses that will not let you down.
Register now! 
We'd love to hear from you. Please share more reasons why you love Amelia Island too!
Tune in weekly-ish to hear us riff on the topic of the moment. Now grab those yoga pants, get out there and get busy living your best life. See you next time!

44 - Introducing the Yoga Pants Podcast

We're back! With a new name and an even more candid format. 
The truth is - we were asked to change our name by another organization with the same name. We took it as a sign that we needed to mix things up. So we took the summer off and came back swinging.
Welcome to The Yoga Pants Podcast!
Today we talk all things NAME, because when you change something as big as your name, it's not a small ask. 
We share why we chose The Yoga Pants Podcast, the beauty of change, and the brilliance behind the power of SEO 💪 
Tune in weekly-ish to hear us riff on the topic of the moment. Now grab those yoga pants, get out there and get busy living your best life. See you next time!
 

43 - She RUNS This Town: How Movement Creates Connection

She did it again! Sarah Ratzlaff officially acquired She RUNS This Town (originally named Moms RUN This Town), a national organization of over 500 women’s running clubs with a goal is to motivate, inspire, celebrate, and encourage ALL women in ALL stages of life. Originally founded by Pam Burrus, She RUNS This Town has been helping women connect for over 10 years.
Today we talk WHY? 
Why Sarah felt SRTT would make the perfect addition to her lineup of Be Inspired Brands
Why SRTT has been so successful in connecting and motivating women
Why the organization changed names from Moms RUN This Town to She RUNS This Town
Why connection, especially during tough times like a global pandemic, is more important than ever
And where Sarah sees SRTT going
For more info on SRTT, check out the soon-to-be-revamped site here!

42 - How it Started vs How it’s Going: The Story of the Skirt Sports Baton Pass

Two years ago, Nicole received an email from Sarah Ratzlaff, a follow up from six months prior when Nicole was looking to do a cross-promotion for her business Skirt Sports. 
Nicole's response: "No I'm not looking for a cross-promotion right now, but if you want to buy my business, I'd love to talk."
Thus began one of the most important relationships in both of their lives, and the framework for the baton hand-off of Skirt Sports was sparked.
How it started: May 6, 2020
Nicole was sprinting down the finish chute, slapping hands, and dealing with all the emotions that arise when the end of a huge race is near.
Sarah was sitting in the grassy field in the middle of the track watching the events unfold around her, thinking about which one she wanted to do next.
How it's going: May 6, 2022
Nicole is chilling out on the high jump mat, recovering after her long race, cheering on her teammates as they zip around the track
Sarah is sprinting lap after lap after lap. Working hard, pushing her limits & taking in all the support she can along the way. 
When is the last time you took a snapshot of an important moment in time and analyzed what has changed since? It's easy to think that you're not really getting a lot done, but when you really start checking the boxes, you realize you've been more successful, busy and productive than you ever imagined. 
Today: Take a moment to list out what you have done in the past two years. Personal. Career. Fun. You name it. Make your list. Take it in. And remember how amazing you are. 
 

41 - Operation Smoothie: Refresh Your Palate

Join the 7-Day Smoothie Refresh Challenge. It's free. It's delicious. It's just what you need right now. Did we mention it's FREE?!
Before we dive into all things smoothie, Sarah and Nicole talk about what's really behind the smoothie - it's about prioritizing ourselves, making our health a priority, and doing it with the camaraderie of other active women who want to share tips, tricks and smoothie secrets. 
Go to skirtsports.com or click right here to join. The Smoothie Challenge starts May 9th!
Sarah & Nicole's Smoothies Tips:
Freeze your fruit: Then you don't need to add ice & water it down
Sneak in frozen cauliflower for picky kids
Greens - esp neutral greens like spinach and kale - can go in pretty much every recipe
Lots of protein ideas: nut butters, protein powders, yogurt (esp greek yogurt), silken tofu, guava
Add herbs like mint or cilantro - you can freeze herbs in ice cubes and pop into your smoothies
To add some "oomph" that gives the smoothie structure and helps you feel full, try fresh avocado or cooked oatmeal
Nicole mentions the best blender: She has this Ninja. It's held up for years and gets used every single day!
Recipes:
Sarah's fave: Cucumber-Pineapple-Celery - Listen to the episode for all ingredients
Nicole's kitchen sink concoction - Sarah calls it the Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie: Greens, frozen fruit (mango is a good choice), yogurt, cooked oatmeal, almond extract, honey, cinnamon, unsweetened vanilla oatmilk
As always use code POD20 on your next Skirt Sports or Momentum Jewelry order!
 

40 - 10 Tips to Get Through Tough Times

How do you cope when you're going through a tough time? Sarah and Nicole riff on their personal strategies to help turn things around when they're struggling. Listen now to their top-10 strategies. 
Cheat sheet here:
1) Change your mental channel. Use a mantra or power word to help.
2) Talk to a therapist
3) Talk to a friend
4) Call a help line.
5) Delete negative self-talk.
6) Write down a compliment someone pays you and put it in a box (or online "box")
7) Limit your exposure to social media
8) Get some physical movement. Go outside. Get some sunshine.
9) Be sure your vitamins & minerals are balanced. Double check Vitamin D and K3.
10) Make future plans. Create "something to look forward to." 

39 - The Art of Change

Episode deal: Use code POD20 for 20% off skirtsports.com
There will be times when we add something new to our lives. Whether we choose to add it, it is forced upon us, or someone else dictates the new-ness, we must adapt to the change or face a life of misery and suffering!
Nicole recently got a puppy. Her last puppy was 20 years ago when she and Tim were 30, with boundless energy and no child! When their child was born 10 years ago, Wilder literally joined this world a dog-whisperer. It was obvious she NEEDED a dog. Last year, they decided on a french bulldog due to Instagram reels of love and cuteness (not really, but kind of!). On Christmas, they committed. Pickle DeBoom joined the family in April. 
And all hell broke loose! 
Nicole asked Sarah to help guide her through this stage of newness, of change, of adding something to a perfectly happy life that has the power to create angst, imbalance, and fear of constant accidents on the carpet! 
As they talked, it became obvious that Nicole's puppy counseling far transcends that experience. The lessons and advice apply to anyone who is facing change in their lives. 
Notables:
The plan is great in concept but a flexible mindset is the key to success since plans rarely (or never!) go accourding to plan!
It's important to eliminate an attachment to outcome.
The beginning: It feels like chaos. You don't have the skills, routine or bandwidth to deal at first. Meltdowns are to be expected.
How do we persevere? How do we not "return to sender" when times are tough? STICK-TO-IT-IVE-NESS! Persistence is key. Literally - hang in there - it will get better!
The truth is you have 3 options:
Send it back
Incorporate it into your life
Use it as an opportunity to carve a new path, a new Identity, a new exciting future.
It's up to you.