Happy New Year, it’s that time again to announce our Glistener of the month, Ms. Erin Tobin!

When I first met Erin, she inspired me. She is a master yogini, happily living life vegan, a dedicated auntie to her two nieces, and always makes the effort to get to the gym after a long day of sitting at work. Her ambitius spirit helped her move across the country to California, from Chicago, 5 years ago, with not much more that what she packed into her car. She has immense courage, which has allowed her to overcome many obstacles; and above all, she is a real, strong women, inside and out. She has the discipline to make her career a priority, and can also physically do more squats than I could ever imagine (500/day squat challenge!). Erin has a degree in nutrition, but since then has excelled in the business world, currently a marketing manager for ALPHAEON, a lifestyle healthcare company, specializing in events, tradeshows, and communications.

How do you make health a priority?

When it comes to eating healthy, it’s pretty easy to make it a priority. If I eat a lot of crappy food, I feel gross and then I’m mad at myself for eating the bad food, so all and all it’s not a good experience.

When I eat healthy, I can feel it in my body. I think more clearly, so I do better at work, I have more energy, allowing me to get more done during the day and have better workouts. I feel like I glow from the inside-out.

As for getting workouts in, the way I view it is I sit on my bum at least 8 hours a day, I can fit in a one hour workout. One hour out of 24 hours is really easy to fit in. You just have to make YOU a priority.

Why is living healthily important to you?

I almost lost my father six years ago, he had a heart attack and two strokes in one week. The heart attack was caused by his diabetes and not taking care of his blood sugar levels. He is now disabled. He can no longer drive, work on cars, and just started to walk without using a walker.

Seeing my father’s whole world change due to not keeping his diabetes under control made me realize just how important it is to be healthy. You only get one body, it’s the most valuable thing you will ever own. How we treat our body today determines what quality of life we will have the older we get.

I choose to be healthy so one day I can be that 80 year old taking a hot yoga class who is inspiring people to take care of themselves, so they can be like me someday. haha 🙂

So you’re a yogini…What made you decide to get your yoga certification?

When I moved to California I knew no one. I had a lot of free time on my hands, it was very lonely. I started to go to yoga just to have something to do. A few months later after being here I found my first Yogini, the Tini Yogini. She motivated me to really learn the practice of yoga. I learned proper breathing and how to really focus on my mine and body during the class. I was hooked.

When I found my favorite Yogini Sesa, I knew I wanted to teach yoga. Sesa was born and raised in the yoga community. Seeing the role yoga played in her life inspired me. I wanted to have a life where my mind, body, and soul were all balanced. A life always coming from gratitude. Once I found out Sesa was going to be teaching a yoga training course, I knew that was the training I wanted to take and there was no better time then the present to get certified.

Yoga is a huge part of my life now. The plan is to open my own studio one day and I people will fall in yoga the way I did.

Do you have a favorite power-up snack?

Hummus, haha. I love hummus. Hummus and veggies, hummus on toast…I can have hummus on and with everything.

Splurge food?

Chips and guacamole…Once I start, I can’t stop. It is my weakness in life. I also like Vegan Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies from Trader Joes.

What is your jam when working out?

I go through phases of songs that get me pumped. Right now I’m obsessed with “Break Free” by Ariana Grande. Something about the lyrics and the beat.

Do you have a motto?

Healthy>Skinny. I spent 7 years being anorexic, starving myself to be skinny. I had no energy. Just to get through the day was a challenge.

What would you say makes you glisten?

When I take the time for myself and love myself by taking care of my mind, body, and soul.

 Thanks for being such an inspiration, Erin!