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Mom Boss of the Week - Desi Bartlett

All Around Amazing Human and Fitness Expert, She is One to Know

By Monica Rohleder July 10, 2018

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was struggling to get through the first-trimester sickness and blues. I had been doing yoga for a few years before getting pregnant, so I knew I needed to continue my practice through a pre-natal class. I found the perfect class and the perfect teacher at a local studio in Venice, CA. 

Desi Bartlett was that teacher and joining her class was one of my most favorite reasons for being pregnant. Desi and I bonded over both being from Chicago girls in LA and she has remained a friend over the last 8 years. I feel so honored to know her! And I love everything she does to motivate all of us to stay healthy and fit. 

Here is my interview with Desi - a yoga teacher, fitness expert, mom and all-around amazing woman! 

1. Please tell me about Mothers Into Living Fit, yoga and what you do as a teacher:

Mothers into Living Fit is my vision of bringing yoga, fitness, dance, meditation, and baby yoga together to empower moms with strength and flexibility while bonding with their babies. I'm currently teaching at Playa Vista Yogaworks prenatal yoga at 10:45 am as well as online on Beachbody on Demand (pre and postnatal yoga), pre and postnatal meditation on Yogaia.com, and I'm writing a book.

2. How did you know you wanted to get into fitness and yoga? 

I was introduced to meditation at the age of six years old and have always been in the yoga world. While I was in college, I had a minor injury which led me to a Doctor who told me I needed to strengthen my quads. I asked what's a quad? As fate would have it, I met Jacki Paisley that same day who was a competitor in the Miss Olympia contest and took me to the gym. I was immediately hooked - 20 years later and I have never looked back because I love the way it makes me feel. 

3. How do you balance being a mother and a fitness expert and all that goes along with it? 

My children are school-age now so I do most of my work between the hours of eight and three and if I need to do more it is usually after they go to sleep. 

4. When you have downtime, what do you love to do with your family?

We love to swim. Our boys have become little fish and we like to all jump in the pool together. Once in a while, they will even ask to "play yoga". 

 5. What exercise do you love to do at home?

We are lucky that we live near the beach. I will often go for a walk on the beach and then practice yoga at home. I am working with a company called Yogaia for Manduka that has really cool interactive technology and quick yoga practices that you can do from the comfort of your home. I enjoy the digital platform as a student, and as a teacher. Check it out online at yogaia.com/signup

 And Bonus for Macaroni Kid Moms: You can check it out free for 30 days by entering the code DESI