My Morning Routine: Eleonora Zampatti
Hungry cats and hot coffee are the only morning constants for Alo Moves yoga and flexibility instructor Eleonora Zampatti — but her seasonal rituals include cycling and true crime podcasts. Learn more about Eleonora’s morning routine and how she eases into each new day.
When do you wake up?
I normally wake up around 5:30 a.m. when the sun comes out. I have three cats and they are very specific on when they want to have breakfast. If I do not do what they want, they will attack my feet, my crystals, and my plants…so I have no choice but to wake up when they do (sunrise).
Do you have any morning rituals?
My morning routine changes according to my working schedule. I love to take a long morning shower to start to work feeling clean and ready for the day, and I like to finish my day with a long hot bath to recover from cycling.
And my favorite morning beverage: COFFEEEEEEE. Café au lait with half and half to be precise. Always hot, never iced coffee.
What’s a normal morning like when you’re on the go?
I normally start teaching around 8 a.m. and try to be done by 1 or 2 p.m. I teach in studios three times a week, so this morning I fed the cats, watered the plants, and got out of the apartment. I jumped in my car, went to get my favorite coffee, and listened to true crime podcasts on my way to teach. During the winter, I drive from place to place (New Jersey is cold!), but as soon as we get to 60 degrees, I’m on my bike and I either road bike to commute or I ride my fixed gear. I also walk around a lot.
What about a normal work-from-home morning?
The mornings that I work from home, I wake up, feed the cats (and the plants), and then sit on the sofa reading Italian newspapers (and American, too) waiting till my favorite coffee shop is open. During the summer, I love to walk there (four miles) to start my day. In the winter or when the weather is cold, I let my dear husband go get coffee and I wait for him on the sofa surrounded by cats (which usually want to snuggle right after breakfast).
I will normally take a shower, get ready, and start teaching nonstop till about 1 p.m. When I’m done with teaching, I like to spend the rest of the day either doing emails, work, or planning classes, playlists, etc.
I never have breakfast. I will have two coffees while working, but eating in the morning is not for me. I love to have lunch and dinner. I keep lunch pretty simple and love to have nice dinners.
What does your morning yoga or fitness routine look like?
I do not work out or meditate in the morning. I start to work out after I’m done working. I spin in the winter and I do both spin and ride on the road in the summer. I jump on my bike and I ride as much as I can. I practice yoga for myself usually when I'm done with my ride.
Want to practice yoga with Eleonora Zampatti? Check out her Mind, Body, & Soul Flows on Alo Moves free with a 14-day trial.