Andrea Rogers Self-Care Tips

Andrea Rogers, the creator of Xtend Barre, XB Pilates, and XB Sweat + Sculpt, knows how to make sure she’s in prime condition to work hard on the daily.

But that’s not the full story of how she takes care of herself outside the studio. She also has a well-oiled self-care routine that goes beyond prepping for her next intense barre session.

To make sure you also nail her “results equation” of hard work plus consistency, consider taking a page out of her self-care book.

Learn how to rest, recover, and come back stronger, with self-care tips directly from Andrea.

1. Refill Your Cup First

Self-care gives you the energy and focus you need to come back again tomorrow, for your workouts, your healthy habits, and your family.

The saying “you can’t fill from an empty cup,” definitely applies to self-care.

“You know, we all know that,” says Andrea. “We all know that as the truth — that we have to take care of ourselves before we can take care of anyone else. And yet, we find an excuse to make it not happen.”

“‘Oh, I don’t have time, I have to do this with my kids.’ That is your excuse. And the second you’re able to look in the mirror and give yourself an honest answer to why you’re actually not getting up and pressing play and doing your workout, then you’ll start to get to the point where you can make changes happen,” she adds.

Reminder: Self-care isn’t selfish!

2. Weekly Facial Masks

Andrea has been “masking up” since a trip to one of the international XB studios two years ago.

The instructors, who she says all had poreless skin that looked like porcelain, urged her to up her bimonthly face masks to a weekly ritual, and she listened.

Now she does sheet masks three nights a week.

“I have seen a big difference in my skin’s texture and clarity, and now make sure I don’t skip out on this self-care time,” Rogers says.

3. Stretching and Deep Breathing

Challenge yourself to think of stretching as more than just a chore at the beginning or end of your workout.

“Stretching is a form of meditation for my mind and relaxation for my body,” Andrea says of her practice.

She stretches first thing when she wakes up and again before bed.

Although Andrea loves that even small, consistent stretching practices of just 5-15 minutes show results, it’s not all about flexibility. In fact, she uses stretching as a way to reconnect with her mind and body in the middle of a long day.

“I always squeeze in a little midday movement to help shift my energy, correct my posture, and just to give me some much-needed centering,” she says.

4. Dry Brushing and Self-Massage

Dry brushing is an Ayurvedic practice that uses a dry, stiff-bristled brush to exfoliate and massage the skin.

Usually, you start on your feet, and use short strokes as you move upward, to shed dry flaky skin before you shower or bathe.

Andrea includes dry brushing in her self-care routine three times a week. She gives herself a toes-to-head brushing before taking a warm bath with oils to hydrate and nourish her skin. She wraps it up with a self-massage.

5. Happy Hour

No, you won’t find Andrea at the bar after a day of leading barre workouts. Instead, she has a happy hour tradition from the comfort of her own home that involves a delicious drink and mindful relaxation.

“My go-to routine to pack in some protein and goodies into my diet while at the same time curbing my cravings is my twice-daily smoothie creations,” she says.

But those smoothies change day to day. They might include a container full of greens, or chocolate, banana, and peanut butter if her sweet tooth is calling.

But she also mindfully enjoys her smoothie and takes some time for herself at this happy hour.

Andrea likes to “create a tiny escape from the hustle.” That means no distractions.

“I sit quietly, no phone, no computer, no TV, and allow my body to digest the goodness while my mind enjoys a little R&R,” she explains.

But it’s not just her mind that benefits — mindful eating turns off that fight-or-flight response, which leads to better digestion.