Kirsten Haglund is a Lagree and Barre coach in Zurich who grew up training in classical ballet, voice, piano and drama, and whose career has spanned the arts, fitness, television news and journalism, communications, marketing and mental-health advocacy. In this interview, published in November 2021, she talks about coaching online with We Are W and at BoosterTransform, her recovery from an eating disorder as a young dancer, what wellbeing with a good impact means to her, living with less, and how she chooses her supplements.
Key takeaways from the interview
- Self-care comes first: Kirsten sees looking after yourself as the basis for being a positive influence on others.
- Her everyday basics are simple: recovery days, listening to her body, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and letting go of perfectionism.
- Movement, for her, is about self-care, expression and mindfulness, not about punishing the body.
- She would like all of us to consume and waste less, even if that costs some convenience.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to supplements: she reviews hers against bloodwork results, energy levels, her schedule and what her diet provides.
- In the colder months she adds self-massage with oil, room-temperature or warm water, naps and as much time outdoors in daylight as possible.
Who is Kirsten Haglund?
Every single day, we have an impact on the world around us, and how we want to make a difference is up to us. With this in mind, we were honoured to welcome Kirsten Haglund, a powerful voice in our community of health and wellbeing, passionate about doing good things for people and the planet. Her answers below are printed in her own words.
Q: You are an amazing Lagree and Barre coach and a true warrior on a mission to pursue the good and beautiful. Our readers want to learn more about you and your story.
I grew up training in the performing arts - classical ballet, voice, piano and drama, so music and physical expression is a part of my soul and who I am. My professional career over the years has spanned from the arts, to fitness, to television news and journalism, to communications and marketing and mental health advocacy, from Los Angeles to New York City and now here in Zurich. My own recovery from an eating disorder as a young ballet dancer was what motivated me to create a different framework of how I looked at movement and my relationship with my body and beauty, and something that I now take into everything that I do. My guiding focus in whatever environment I am in is to cultivate a sense of peace and acceptance of myself and of others, to foster connection, and encourage an attitude of grace.
We Are W: online coaching that fits a busy life
Q: I want to start by congratulating you on the launch of the We Are W platform and online studio, Kirsten. Can you share the story and inspiration behind it?
I joined the team at We Are W this fall - it was started as a “COVID baby” by two of my former indoor cycling coach colleagues. We had worked together before and so the friendship, trust and mutual respect for the quality of each other’s work was already there. Now we all coach together online rather than in a studio, wanting to meet people where they’re at, give them an uplifting, wonderful sweat session from the comfort of their own home in a way that fits in with their busy lives. We have a Ride, a Rave (which is like Pilates to the beat of the music), and Rest (which includes classes like Yoga and Nutrition Coaching). It’s a wonderful team I’m proud to be a part of. The philosophy of We Are W is that it is a place to come and just be - a daily practice that is about self-care, expression and mindfulness, not about punishing our bodies or just “working out.” It’s totally holistic.
Coaching at BoosterTransform
Q: We had the pleasure of getting to know you through our dear friend Damien and BoosterTransform, an excellent destination for those who want to sweat for improved energy, strength, mood, and more. How do you feel about working with the team? Do you have a favorite BoosterTransform moment?
The team at Booster is incredible! Kind, supportive, authentic, and committed to excellence. I feel lucky to be a part. My favorite Booster moments are when I’m able to help a client find a way of moving that relieves pain or feel their muscles work in a different way, or discover an alignment correction that totally changes the game in their development of muscular endurance. When they find that aha! Moment and it gives them so much joy and changes the way they feel and inhabit their bodies…it really makes me feel so lucky to be able to do what I do.
What does wellbeing with a good impact mean?
Q: What does wellbeing with a good impact mean to you, and how does it manifest itself in your everyday life?
When we invest in our own well-being, we’re automatically in turn investing in others’, because we can’t be a positive influence on anyone else unless we’re able to take care of ourselves first. For me, it means simple things like getting recovery days, listening to my body and honoring my needs, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep, and also letting go of perfectionism - and that is a daily practice!
Simple basics like these work best when they become routines rather than resolutions. If you want to make them stick, our guide on how to build healthy habits that last explains why small, repeated actions beat big plans, and our article on natural ways to increase your energy covers sleep, movement, daylight and food.
Living with less: her values for the planet
Q: To make the planet feel good, what are the values you would like to see spread?
I would love it if we could consume and waste less. We can all do our part. We don’t need as much as we think. Things will never make us happy. Let’s live smaller and smarter and with less stimulation. Excess is exhausting, for us, and for nature. But consuming and wasting less sometimes involves sacrificing some convenience or comfort in our lives. Are we willing to do that? Why do we make comfort our God? It’s worth it to give some of that up for the preservation of our own selves and the planet.
Kirsten Haglund’s approach to supplements
Q: As an expert, I understand that people are curious about your supplement recommendations. What is your approach to supplementation, both gender-wise and based on what time of day to take them? The question is always an open one!
There is no one size fits all approach to health - every body is different and needs something different, and also those needs change with age, with time, with how active we are, with hormonal fluctuations, etc. My approach to supplements has been a journey, and I am always evaluating my supplements based on bloodwork results, my energy levels and current schedule, and what I’m able to get or not get sufficiently from my diet.
Her approach mirrors what nutrition authorities recommend: food first, and supplements targeted at what your diet and life stage do not cover. Our guide which dietary supplements are most useful, and for whom walks through the groups that benefit most, such as vegans, people over 60 and women planning a pregnancy.
Her experience with Daily Essential Women
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your experience with Sanbera Essential Day to Day Women? Having tried other good supplements in the past, how does Essential Women differ from them for you?
There are honestly a lot of poor quality supplements on the market that make a lot of health promises, but corners are cut in ingredient quality and sourcing, with little to no direction on how or when to take them for the best absorption, that all you end up with is a lot of wasted cash and all those lovely vitamins peed out into the toilet. I’m not joking! What I really respect about Sanbera is the no frills approach - a commitment to the highest quality ingredients, high bioavailability, a different formula for men and women respecting that way our bodies, metabolisms and hormones differ, and from the philosophy of the founders, a mission to truly help people to improve their daily health rather than just get them to buy products. I’ve noticed a marked difference in including Essential Women as a part of my supplement regimen, including better skin, better sleep, and more sustained energy levels throughout the day.
Q: As the end of the year approaches, would you recommend Essential Women as a gift of wellbeing and doing good?
Absolutely! It is a wonderful gift idea - we don’t usually need more “things,” but gifting Sanbera is like a little gift of self-care, it’s something that keeps on giving! It is something that sustains good health and nutrition, and you can also feel good knowing that from a production standpoint as well, it’s ethically and sustainably packaged and produced.
For context: Daily Essential Women is taken as three tablets in the morning and provides 12 vitamins and 6 minerals, including vitamin D 3.22 µg (64 % NRV), iron 7 mg (50 % NRV), vitamin B12 1.88 µg (75 % NRV) and folic acid 150 µg (75 % NRV). Iron, vitamin B12 and folate contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system. The separate Daily Essential Men formula has different amounts, for example 4 mg zinc and 3.5 mg iron. Individual experiences differ, and a supplement does not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Self-care rituals for the colder months
Q: How have your wellbeing and beauty routine changed with the new season? Is there a self-care ritual you recommend to our readers?
I definitely incorporate more self-massage with oil, since everything gets so dry so quickly as winter approaches. I almost never drink cold water, only room temperature or warm. And I listen to my body and incorporate naps to keep the engine going. I also get outside as much as possible when it is light since the days are shorter; the fresh air and being out in nature is so healthy for body and mind!
What’s next for Kirsten Haglund?
Q: What's next on the horizon for you?
I look to the horizon but I focus on the day to day. I like to stay present. Right now I’m focusing on helping to build We Are W, to become the very best coach I can be, to grow in creativity and compassion, and I’m also looking forward to starting a Master’s program in February. Rather than focus too much on the future, covid had taught me to hold the future lightly, with open hands, because there’s so little we can predict or control. All I can do is enjoy and blossom a little bit more into each day I’m given.
Read more stories from our community: an artist describes her day-and-night routine with Sanbera, and the science behind Sanbera explains how the formulas are put together.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Kirsten Haglund?
At the time of this interview (November 2021), Kirsten Haglund was a Lagree and Barre coach living in Zurich, coaching online with We Are W and at BoosterTransform. She grew up training in ballet, voice, piano and drama, and her career has spanned the arts, fitness, television news and journalism, communications, marketing and mental-health advocacy, from Los Angeles and New York City to Zurich.
What is We Are W?
We Are W is an online studio started during the COVID period by two indoor cycling coaches Kirsten had worked with before. It offers three formats: Ride, Rave (which she describes as Pilates to the beat of the music) and Rest, with classes such as yoga and nutrition coaching. Its philosophy, in her words, is a daily practice about self-care, expression and mindfulness rather than punishing the body.
What does wellbeing with a good impact mean to Kirsten Haglund?
For Kirsten, investing in your own wellbeing is also an investment in others, because you can only be a positive influence once you take care of yourself. In practice that means recovery days, listening to your body, drinking enough water, getting enough sleep and letting go of perfectionism. She also wants people to consume and waste less, for their own sake and for the planet.
How does Kirsten Haglund choose her supplements?
She says there is no one-size-fits-all approach, because needs change with age, activity and hormonal fluctuations. She regularly reviews her supplements against her bloodwork results, energy levels, current schedule and what she can or cannot get from her diet. If you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition, ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement.
What self-care rituals does she recommend for winter?
As winter approaches, Kirsten does more self-massage with oil because her skin dries out quickly, drinks water at room temperature or warm rather than cold, listens to her body and takes naps when she needs them. Because the days are shorter, she also spends as much time outside in daylight as she can, enjoying fresh air and nature.
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.