In Practice is an interview series from Align, featuring movement enthusiasts, tastemakers, and creatives as they share their current practices: how they move their bodies, care for their minds, find inspiration, and return to themselves. We are all practicing; this is theirs.
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Welcome to another edition of In Practice!
I stumbled upon Anne + Avery when I first started writing and sharing yoga classes on Substack. They are two down-to-earth humans who share a wealth of knowledge on health and wellness with backgrounds as a Registered Dietitian (Anne) and a Health Coach (Avery).
In their Noosletters, they take complex concepts and break them down to feel digestible (no pun intended) and I find their early morning movement practices inspiring, albeit a little out of reach these days with a 5-month-old. We’ll get there one day!
They’re working moms who get it and they want to help - with motivation, movement, understanding how the body works, and how nutrition can fuel all of the above. You’ve got to find what works best for you, your body, and your mind - that’s what will stick and stay with you in the long term - and that personal discovery is what Noos is all about.
Without further ado, here’s a bit about Anne and Avery’s practices!
Tell us a bit about yourselves.
Avery: I live in upstate NY with my husband and four sons (ages 10, 8, 7 & 5). I live about a mile down the road from Anne, so it makes running and working together easy and lots of fun! Anne and I started our Substack almost two years ago. The idea was born on a snowy, 20-mile run when we put our heads together as Health Coach (me!) and Registered Dietitian (Anne!), who are friends, athletes, and mothers. We write about nutrition, movement, and behavior every week in our “Noosletters” and meet with clients too. I’ve always been fascinated with human behavior (why do people do the things they do?!), so as a health coach, I get to practice and explore that with our writing and clients IRL.
Anne: I’m a mom to two kids, ages 7 and 11, and I live in upstate New York with my husband. I’m a Registered Dietitian providing nutrition counseling in private practice and through Noos, which I co-founded with my business partner, Avery. Before transitioning to nutrition, I spent nearly a decade in elementary education, teaching 2nd and 4th grades. A lot of those teaching skills still show up in how I communicate nutrition today!
What’s your relationship to movement these days? How do you move your body, and how does that support your mental or emotional state?
Avery: Movement has always been such an important part of my life. I played all kinds of sports growing up, and continued playing lacrosse and soccer competitively through college. What I appreciate most about movement is how much it positively impacts my mental and emotional state. I love challenging myself physically with my training – it helps ground me and feel a sense of accomplishment. When life feels overwhelming with mom stuff 24/7, exercise helps me gain a better perspective. I’ve had some setbacks: 3 knee surgeries, and other nagging injuries too, not to mention four pregnancies that reshaped my definition of movement. The setbacks made me feel grateful for what my body can do, no matter the phase. These days I am lifting 2-3x a week, running 6-8 miles with Anne when I can, and playing tennis with some friends.
Anne: My relationship with movement has always been pretty consistent throughout my life, starting with youth sports and continuing through Division I collegiate running. Now I run a few times a week, sprinkle in strength training, and get out on the tennis court a few times a month. Over the years I have moved through different phases, Bikram yoga, marathon training, periods of focusing more heavily on strength, but what has remained constant is staying active and finding joy in it. Movement genuinely fills my cup, especially because I usually get to run with my dad1 or my biz partner and bestie, Avery! That combination of doing something I love outdoors with people I care about checks both the physical and mental boxes for me.
What are some non-negotiables in your daily or weekly routine that help you feel like yourself?
Avery: As you might gather from above, exercise is my go-to when it comes to feeling like myself. It’s alone time (or social hour if I run with Anne or play tennis with friends!) so I can recharge my battery and feel ready for anything.
Anne: My non-negotiables center around early morning workouts—they set the tone for my entire day. Weekly baths are my reset button, usually once a week when I need to decompress. Time for myself to write. Cooking! Cooking varies depending on the week, but I like setting aside time on weekends to tackle a more time-consuming recipe when I can. Last but not least is time outside with my kids, it keeps me grounded and reminds me what really matters. That is only five things... totally reasonable, right?!
You’re feeling off, overwhelmed, or out of alignment. What do you do to find your way back?
Avery: If you could see my phone log or calculate all the miles I’ve spent yapping through an issue with Anne, you’d understand that that’s probably step one of the realignment protocol. Otherwise, it comes back to movement, but the treatment varies. For instance, I am always surprised by how effective a walk outside is. No matter what, I return feeling 50% better and have some idea of what I can do to get closer to 100%.
Anne: I usually head out for a run to clear my head - there’s something about movement that helps me process whatever’s weighing on me. Writing and reflection are huge for me too, though it’s a practice not many of us prioritize in today’s rushed world. And honestly, a good convo with my sister or Avery!
Are there any particular foods, meals, or nourishing routines that help you feel most at home in your body?
Avery: I love a good ritual. Whether it’s my nightly peppermint/decaf green tea2 with a little dark chocolate or a good bath (or even a hot shower, in a pinch), having a “go to” wind down ritual always comforts me.
Anne: I love a good Sunday (or weekend!) meal where I get to spend time preparing it - that slow, intentional cooking is so grounding. Recently, I made Emily Blunt’s Turkey Bolognese, which is warming and packed with flavor (perfect for a 30-degree April day!), followed by a homemade carrot cake. There’s something about cooking a meal from scratch that makes me feel connected to what I’m eating and who I’m sharing it with.
How do you rest? What does true rest look like or feel like for you?
Avery: Anne knows that I don’t rest well. So to be honest, I’m still working on it! I strive to feel at peace when I’m taking days off from working out, or just taking time for myself to just “be” without feeling like I need to be productive.
Anne: Ha yes! I am trying to lead by example for you, Avery. I’ve learned to really embrace rest - if I don’t, I pay for it both physically and mentally. The stage of life I’m in feels full speed, and in order to show up at my best during the week for all that’s required of me, I can only do that if I prioritize rest. These days, the weekends are where deep rest happens. On the mornings we do not have an early youth sports alarm going off (and those mornings are rare and precious), I get to wake up slowly. Getting to casually sip my coffee feels like such a luxury - one I fully embrace. A leisurely walk with our dog or preparing a slow meal for the ones I love is incredibly restorative. True rest for me isn’t just about doing nothing; it’s about slowing down enough to be present with what actually fills me up.
What practices or boundaries help you protect your energy — especially in a busy or overstimulated season of life?
Avery: Still working on this one too :-). With young children seemingly around every corner, and an endless to-do list, it’s hard to protect my energy! I’m trying to be more aware of when my energy is being drained, not charged, and that increased awareness seems to help protect it. Finding time to spend with friends, reading a few pages of my book, or enjoying a good hard laugh are the best ways to fill my cup and avoid overstimulation.
Anne: I rarely go on social media these days, which has been huge for protecting my energy. Of course, I have to pop on for Noos or check my personal account here and there, but I’m mostly not spending time there—and I can feel the difference in my energy when it’s not being consumed by scrolling. The other big boundary is no phone or email when my kids get home from school through dinner. That time is sacred and keeping my phone away helps me stay present with them.3
What are you currently unlearning or working through in this season of your life?
Avery: I’ve been reminding myself lately to stop and think for myself. It sounds simple, but it’s so easy these days to get swept up. I love reading and taking in new information, but I’ve been trying to pause and take a moment to form my own opinion, instead of just going with the flow – which can be a hard habit to unlearn!
Anne: I’m working on being present - really soaking in what’s in front of me in each moment rather than rushing ahead to the next thing. With how fast-paced this season of life feels, it’s easy to get caught up in the mental load of what’s next instead of appreciating what’s here now.
What are you practicing toward right now? What is something you’re excited about or that’s calling you forward?
Avery: I’m really excited about our next chapter of Noos. Anne and I have been writing on Substack for two years, and now we are starting to meet with clients in real life, and making a positive impact in our community.
Anne: Same!! Noos! I love watching it evolve over the past two years. Every piece we publish gets us closer to what we’re really about - helping people reflect on their relationship with health, become more aware of how their bodies respond, and experiment with what actually works for them instead of following someone else’s rules.
Have you read, watched, or listened to something lately that has inspired you?
Avery: Every time I read a Mary Oliver poem I’m pretty sure I audibly sigh. No matter the subject, I am inspired.
Anne: I am currently reading Food Intelligence! I respect Kevin Hall’s research and work and am excited to read. I really enjoy Katie Arnold’s writing and an essay she wrote, “Soft Resets,” really stuck with me: “Be willing to be surprised….If you get stuck on one story, one way of being, one identity - yours or another’s - you miss out on so many fruitful, curious possibilities and opportunities.”
What are you loving right now?
Avery: I am loving the Apple TV show, “Platonic.” Anne and I were just talking about a recent episode and how funny it was. I have had so much fun watching (alone and laughing out loud – not many shows elicit that response) and replaying scenes with friends – nothing like a good laugh!! I’m also still hooked on Olivia Dean’s latest album. So good, no matter what the occasion is!
Anne: Ha!! I blindly wrote the same thing, and kefir…flavored kefir, I know so random, but it’s true I am putting it in everything. It’s such an easy way to get probiotics in without thinking too hard about it. AND also Platonic! It’s a show Avery and I love and we absolutely cry-laugh over some of the scenes.
Is there a place that always brings you peace?
Avery: We’ve been going to Vermont the last few winters to ski with the kids. There’s something about packing up the car and leaving the weekly routine behind, and entering a weekend of wood-burning fires, fresh air, and packed lunches at the ski lodge. At the risk of sounding corny, it feels like we are traveling to another world that’s just our own, and I cherish it. Even though there is the chaos of packing and driving with little kids, the peace I feel when I get there makes the long cold winter in New York very enjoyable.
Anne: Yes, a nature preserve close by. The minute I step out of my car and smell the air a lightness comes over me. Writing this is actually a good reminder that I need to visit soon. It’s one of those places I always mean to get to more often, but somehow life gets busy and I forget how much I need it until I’m there again.
Is there a quote or mantra that is currently resonating with you?
Avery: It almost makes me cringe because it feels like a cliche, but I’ve been reminding myself to “lead with love” as much as possible. I find it easy to slip into feeling judgey about someone else’s comments or actions, but if I lead with love, and try to understand where they are coming from (or understand that I actually have no idea where they are coming from and that’s OK), I can let go of that bitter feeling and that is so freeing. Everyone is dealing with something, so when I can be open-minded, uncertain (in a good way!), and relate to people with a positive regard, I feel better and spare myself a lot of negative thinking – because what good does that do?!
Anne: Love that! And mine is similar, add kindness in there...I love reading people’s “life lists.” This one, which I’ve given as a graduation gift: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier by Kevin Kelly is full of gems. The one I keep coming back to, especially with my kids, is: “Whenever you have a choice between being right or being kind, be kind. No exceptions. Don’t confuse kindness with weakness.” With a pre-teen in the house who’s testing independence and becoming more influenced by his peers, this quote feels particularly timely. My daily mantra to them - and in turn to myself - is “always be kind.” (except when Avery doesn’t call me right back, in that case I have every right to be annoyed, wink!) (Avery: haha!! Ditto!)
For more from Anne and Avery, subscribe to their Substack, follow them on IG, or book a free 15-minute consultation! Interested in being featured on In Practice or know someone who should be? Send me a note here.
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This is so cute, I love it so much
I also love a peppermint/green tea combo, often in the afternoon
I try my best at this also. Have you seen the phone holders people are creating? A place to store the phone for periods of time at home - I want one!
LOVED reaidng and learning about Avery & Anne! Deeply cosigning hte idea that movement IS a massive influence on mental clarity! I also love reading about fellow slow-livers who enjoy cooking and a nice PM bath.
Loved this! - this is an especially good reminder - I’ve been reminding myself lately to stop and think for myself.