Julie Mintz, Image: TJ Manou
Behind all the glitz and glamour of fame is a significant commitment to health and fitness. Having a dedicated exercise routine is the key to raising stamina, performing at your maximum capacity, and having the energy to keep soaring in your career - just ask Julie Mintz.
The soulful singer took us inside her regimented wellness schedule that keeps her in shape, feeling her best, and allows her to give her fans all that they deserve. Although Julie typically relies on ballet classes, tennis lessons, pilates, and spinning classes, she’s found a new normal during the lockdown. She’s mixing up her workouts with fitness DVDs, low impact exercises and long walks, trying hard to listen to her body and embrace the fact that some days will be harder than others.
“Accountability during quarantine has probably been my biggest hurdle. When I don’t have a class that I’ve paid for, I find it can be harder to show up for myself,” Julie, ever-so relatable, explains. “By the same token, I’m giving myself a break when I have lazy days; we are in extraordinary circumstances, and I figure this might be the only time it’s acceptable to have a day where I never get out of my jammies.”
That said, the talented songstress - who just released her new single cover of the ‘John Denver Classic’ Take Me Home, Country Roads, with a VR360 film clip directed by Oden Roberts - is tapping into her unique artistry and using this time to be productive and inspire others: “I’m creating art to heal my own soul, and because I hope it can touch others.”
Julie’s work has also been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but she still feels compelled to use her platform to do whatever she can do spread love and light. Although she had to shelf a previous project she was planning to release, the Los Angeles-based singer thought about a specific special something that she “could release that could somehow be a source of comfort during this time.” She shot the mesmerizing video “long before COVID-19 became a global pandemic and isolation was in place,” but decided to release it now because it depicts “soothing views” where “you are really immersed in the wide expanse of nature.”
The Los Angeles-based musician values all aspects of wellness, and the songs she releases reflect that. Read on for Julie’s exclusive interview with GLAMOUR, where she digs deep into the benefits of intermittent fasting, how to not feel pressured by the opinions of others, why it’s important to love yourself in order to be stronger physically, and the joys of working out in nature and enjoying the fresh air, especially during these times.
GLAMOUR: What sparked your passion for fitness and living a healthy lifestyle? Was this always important to you, or did a certain instance in your life inspire it?
Julie Mintz:
Fitness and both mental and physical health have always been a part of my life. I’m lucky that I was enrolled in ballet and tennis lessons from a very young age, and my family was also big into skiing and SCUBA diving. As an adult, I’ve had to find what works for me through trial and error as far as forms of fitness that I enjoy and can stick to.
GLAMOUR: What is your current fitness regimen, and your nutrition plan you use to stay in
shape?
JM:
I’ve definitely vacillated in terms of my interest in many different fitness regimens. In the past, I’ve been really into yoga, Soul Cycle, and weight training. My current favourites are P.Volve which I love because it lengthens and tones while being low impact and is available online. During quarantine, I really miss Lagree Fitness classes on the Megaformer.
That’s one of the first things I’m looking forward to when the stay-at-home order is lifted. Until then, I’m walking a lot and feeling gratitude for the clean air and sunshine. As for nutrition, I’ve never counted calories or worried too much over what I eat. I genuinely prefer healthy food and fresh fruits and vegetables, so I stick with that most of the time and allow myself indulgences like pasta and french fries about once a week.
GLAMOUR: What's the best way for someone to motivate herself to get fit?
JM:
I wish I knew! I have historically panicked about getting fit before I have a beach vacation, and I’ll workout hard for a few weeks. But then I inevitably lose focus. My main motivation is liking how I feel in my body. Liking what I see in the mirror is nice too, but I’m mainly motivated to feel like the best version of myself physically and mentally.
Julie Mintz, Image: TJ Manou
GLAMOUR: What one thing do you never skip in your workout?
JM:
I always do abs. I had an “Abs Of Steel” VHS Tape back in the 90’s that I would do every night before bed! I still like to throw in those moves. Plus, I try to do standing abs for 2 minutes twice a day when I brush my teeth.
GLAMOUR: How are you adapting your fitness routines at home?
JM:
With all this free time, I’ve been walking more than anything. I live on a very long street that is up in the hills, so there isn’t much foot traffic. I’m able to get in nice long walks while social distancing, and it’s a really good time to brainstorm song lyrics and melodies. Other than that, I’ve been doing online workouts via P.Volve that are 30 min or less. I find I don’t have the patience for a full hour when I’m not in a physical class.
GLAMOUR: What are your tips for staying healthy at home,i.e. health and nutrition wise?
JM:
I’ve never been big into snacking, and I think that has helped me during quarantine. I’ve naturally (and accidentally!) practiced intermittent fasting for years because I tend to sleep a lot when I can. I feel best on 10 hours of sleep, so I typically only eat 2 meals per day by the time I wake up. Sleep and tons of water are very key for me.
GLAMOUR: How would you describe your philosophy on health and fitness?
JM:
On a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being a completely relaxed mindset and 10 being obsessed with health and fitness, I’m a 1 for sure. There are so many things in life to stress out about than worrying about how fit or virtuous I’m being with, my eating is not a priority. I try to have an awareness of healthy eating and moving my body, more for my mental well being than anything else.
GLAMOUR: Who or what gives you the most inspiration and motivation to achieve your fitness goals? Any certain celebs you look up to?
JM:
I find that comparing myself to models and celebrities to achieve body goals is really counterproductive. For me, compare leads to despair, plus it’s impossible to know if what you are looking up to has been digitally or surgically altered. My motivation has to come from within, and that’s just about knowing what makes me feel my best.
GLAMOUR: One of the key elements for staying consistent with working out is accountability. Who keeps you accountable for working out consistently?
JM:
Accountability during quarantine has probably been my biggest hurdle. When I don’t have a class that I’ve paid for, I find it can be harder to show up for myself. By the same toke, I’m giving myself a break when I have lazy days; we are in extraordinary circumstances, and I figure this might be the only time it’s acceptable to have a day where I never get out of my jammies.
GLAMOUR: What specific fitness goal are you currently focused on?
JM:
My main goals are to feel toned and energized. And above all else, to feel happy, hopeful, and at peace.
Julie Mintz, Image: TJ Manou
GLAMOUR: How would you define wellness, and how do you practice wellness in your daily life?
JM:
Wellness is primarily a mental pursuit for me. I am very attuned to my mental wellness because I believe everything falls into place when we are mentally fit. One of the things I do consistently is breathwork to work through stuck emotions and trauma. It really helps open up my creativity for songwriting. Writing songs and playing music is also a huge part of my mental health wellness. I talk to a therapist weekly. And I’m always trying to learn something new in terms of self-improvement. During quarantine, I’ve been taking an online course offered via Yale called “The Science of Well-Being.”
GLAMOUR: What tips would you give to someone wanting to live a healthier lifestyle?
JM:
There are so many ways to go about it, and everyone has different needs. If someone is really stuck, I’d say find a therapist who can help you understand your blocks to a healthy lifestyle and encourage you with concrete tools. I feel like learning to love myself more has translated into taking care of myself physically.
GLAMOUR: As a singer, does working out help improve your stamina on stage? What are the other benefits you've found?
JM:
Working out definitely improves my lung capacity and helps with singing. But, even more importantly, I have been open about suffering from pretty debilitating stage fright, and I think treating my body well with plenty of sleep, healthy food, and a bit of movement helps balance onstage panic attacks.
GLAMOUR: Do you feel pressure to always stay in shape because of your public persona? How do you work through that?
JM:
I definitely have a lot of anxiety about my appearance, especially when I’m being photographed. Growing up, I had buck teeth from sucking my thumb (!), a total freckle face, and I was unbelievably skinny. I still revert back to that insecure little girl when I’m being photographed or about to go on stage to perform. Thankfully, I’ve done a lot of emotional work on myself and I understand that someone’s opinion of me really has very little to do with me, and everything to do with how they feel about themselves. I’m creating art to heal my own soul and because I hope it can touch others. Whether people think I’m photogenic or fit enough or pretty enough is none of my business.
GLAMOUR: What do you eat on cheat days? Are cheat days okay every once in a while, and how often?
JM:
I am an absolute french fry fiend. I would eat french fries to the exclusion of all other foods. Cheat days are obviously ok. You gotta live a little. I don’t put any limits on food, and so there’s not a lot of obsession around it. I have cheat foods when I feel like it, and it’s neither too excessive nor too restrictive.
GLAMOUR: What are the three beauty items you swear by
JM:
Odacite Açaí and Rose face oil (I mix 3-5 drops at night w my night cream and 1-2 drops during the day with my sunscreen)
Aquaphor for lips
Spin pins to twist my hair up
Got a fitness question? Email Sebastien at [email protected] for his expert opinion!
