In Practice: Grace Abbott

On moving energy, going inward, and not having a TV in the house!

Oct 29, 2025

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.

Welcome to another edition of In Practice!

Today’s guest is Grace Abbott, who is a wealth of knowledge, a true inspiration, and someone who helped bring about a personal epiphany and a whole lot of clarity for me this past summer.

Grace is the founder of How To Go Freelance - a go-to guide/playbook for doing just that, going freelance! - that she created using her 10+ years of expertise as a freelance creative and marketing consultant. It’s a tool I’ve been working my way through as I start to dip my toes into this entirely new world of consulting, and it is such an incredible resource. If you’ve ever thought about putting your entrepreneurial spirit to work to build something of your own, but you weren’t entirely sure how to get started, I highly recommend you check it out.

Grace constantly shares brilliant, refreshing content through HTGF, her Substack, and her socials that makes you feel like you can truly go after your dreams and make shit happen. We could all use a little more Grace in our lives! I love her energy, I love her practice. Read on to learn all about her!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

:) Honored to be here. Not many people know this, but Grace is my middle name—and I’ve gone by it my whole life. I’m an Aries, the oldest daughter, and a 6/2 Manifestor in Human Design. I grew up in Massachusetts on a Christmas tree farm, and my parents started and ran a few businesses, which gave me the entrepreneurial spirit. I live in LA and have worked in brand marketing for the last 10 years—and last year I launched How to Go Freelance, my personal brand where I teach people how to find their marketable skills and make money without a traditional job.

What’s your relationship to movement these days? How do you move your body, and how does that support your mental or emotional state?

When I was 6, I started doing gymnastics and switched to dance when I was 10! I’ve danced even into adulthood in dance companies (for fun!), but in the past few years I’ve just been taking classes here and there—and not enough. I really want to make it a more consistent practice.

I did a Pilates teacher training in 2023, and since then I’ve gotten really into my Pilates practice. And it really is that—a practice! I love how I see improvements over time, get stronger, and really understand the language of the movements. And I’m snobby about Pilates classes and teachers now too, haha. I don’t care for Solidcore or Lagree classes—I really love a true Pilates class. I try to go at least 3x a week, and I walk on the other days.

For me, movement is about moving energy—and my body NEEDS it! I’ve been traveling for the last few weeks and finally got back to Pilates last week, and my body was so grateful. I tend to feel moody and start overthinking when I don’t move. Movement brings me back into the present, and firing my muscles feels so good! I always tell friends, if I seem off, tell me to do a workout, haha.1

I also love a Yin yoga class! I need to make these a weekly thing.

What are some non-negotiables in your daily or weekly routine that help you feel like yourself?

I have to admit that I am very undisciplined and don’t have a consistent routine. But here are a few things I know I’ll fit into my week that make me feel good:

A lot of silence
3 Pilates classes: I love Sapphire Pilates & Core Club with Amanda Kassar in LA
Reservoir walks with my friends and dog
8–10 hours of sleep: Sleep is my #1 non-negotiable, and I love going to bed and waking up early
Long showers: This is where my meditation happens. I love sitting on the floor and having some quiet time under the water
An at-home facial with a few types of face masks
Cleaning and listening to inspiring podcasts
The biomat! It really helps me drop into my body after a busy day

I also don’t watch any TV or news, and I don’t have a TV in my house. I try to keep my mental space really clear and watch what I take in.2

You’re feeling off, overwhelmed, or out of alignment. What do you do to find your way back?

I have a Reset Day where I cancel all plans and see nobody. Being alone helps me get back in touch with my own energy. I’ll work through any personal and work projects I’ve been putting off (this is usually my main source of anxiety), do some deep cleaning around the house, give myself a facial, take a long walk, and listen to something inspiring. Most Sundays usually look like this, even if I’m not feeling off.

Are there any particular foods, meals, or nourishing routines that help you feel most at home in your body?

Simple foods like salmon, broccoli, rice, eggs, sauerkraut, turkey sausage, berries, and sourdough bread are in my usual rotation. I don’t give food that much thought, but I eat whole, organic foods at home—and have fun when I’m going out.

In Human Design, my digestion is “low sound,” which means I digest food better when it’s quiet! So I try to think about and observe this when possible :)3

How do you rest? What does true rest look like or feel like for you?

Definitely a solo reset day once a week :) A long night’s sleep and a long shower!

What practices or boundaries help you protect your energy — especially in a busy or overstimulated season of life?

Still working on this one :) But right now it looks like a lot of retroactive “saying no.” I’ve been in a busy season growing my business and working with clients, and admittedly, I’ve taken on too much. Now I’m having to take inventory of what I actually have the bandwidth to do—and that includes being honest with some people and letting them know I overcommitted myself and will refer them to someone else.

Now that I’m clearing the deck, I need to get more intentional about how I’m designing my life and using my time this fall.

Red light glasses and the biomat have really saved my nervous system at nighttime!

What are you currently unlearning or working through in this season of your life?

That I don’t have to be obsessed or full-on with everything for it to be successful :) I can loosen my grip and trust that I’ll be moved to share and create what the world needs, versus forcing daily output.

What are you practicing toward right now? What is something you’re excited about or that’s calling you forward?

Substack! I want to make space to write two newsletters a month and grow my Substack community more. It’s such a fun platform, and I just hit the bestseller list—yay! :)

Have you read, watched, or listened to something lately that has inspired you?

To be honest, I have been less inspired to take in as much content as usual. But I always love Jenna Zoe’s work and her Align podcast :)

What are you loving right now?

One silly one - I love watching Bethenny Frankel on TikTok, haha.

Is there a place that always brings you peace?

I feel the most peace when I make time to close my eyes and go inward.

Is there a quote or mantra that is currently resonating with you?

If the only prayer you could ever say is “Thank you,” that would be enough.4

For more from Grace, subscribe to her Substack, follow her on IG + TikTok, and check out her website, How To Go Freelance! Interested in being featured on In Practice or know someone who should be? Send me a note here.

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You can find me on Instagram and TikTok, and shop my favorites here. To get in touch, email hello.kaitsantos@gmail.com. For marketing consulting, check out my menu of services here.

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