I Tried Amaya Papaya’s Wellness Routine

Sensitive gangsters are rebelling. Amaya “Papaya” Espinal originally joined the seventh season.Love Island USA» looking for love with another islander. But in the end, it was the love she had for herself that truly won us over. explicit statements (she never said she was perfect) Despite her many viral amaya-isms, she exudes pure joy and authenticity, here's why she was named Popsugar's “Good Person of the Year.” We could all learn a lot from her when it comes to living an uncompromising life, and we decided to take notes.

I've been having a hard time maintaining a consistent daily routine over the last few months. Chronic illnesses make this especially difficult. sometimes it's easy for me feel anxious or overloaded. In an attempt to get out of this rut ​​and find a better headspace, I decided to try Espinal's wellness program for a full week. Read on to find out what I did, what I liked, and how I felt at the end of seven days (including why I may never go back).

Routine

Espinal's health regimen is pretty simple, but to keep it simple, I've broken it down into two main sections: fitness and self-care. The details are as follows:

Amaya Espinal's fitness regime

Amaya Espinal's self-care regime

My experience

I started the week with a lot of anxiety. I felt stressed about work, vacation plans, and life in general. But by waking up early to try Espinal's program, I had more time to relax and gradually release stress. The routine began with me repeating affirmations in front of the bathroom mirror: “I do my best and that is enough,” “I radiate positive energy,” and “I am a magnet for positive experiences.” It was a little awkward at first, but as I tried to verbalize and internalize each message, I began to truly believe them.

Then I walked out onto the patio, enjoying the sunshine, sipping coffee, and reflecting on the last few days in a gratitude journal that had been gathering dust for weeks. I used the “Three Good Things” journal from Good Memories, which encouraged me to document three good things each day and the reasons why they happened. Personally, I love a structured journal like this because it helps me focus and get into a more positive frame of mind (and when I'm done, I can look back on all the “good things I've done”). But if you'd rather open a blank page, that's fine too. After doing both of these mindfulness practices, I felt calmer, more confident, and more focused—without the rush or anxiety to start my day.

After work, I moved on to the fitness portion of Espinal's program. I traded her jogging for my favorite is cardio (elliptical), but honestly, the hardest part of her workout was just beginning. While going to the gym five days a week isn't necessarily a huge shift for me, it does require careful planning and decent time management. And although I like cardio, I would actually like more than one strength training within a week.

However, I loved that Espinal inspired me to get back into yoga. I took one class at home and one with an instructor, and both times I was grateful for the emotional release. As I went through the home flow, I actually burst into tears—not out of sadness, but out of gratitude. It's been a long time since I took the time to ground myself and really let go. I guess I'm a bit of a sensitive gangster myself. . .

My conclusions

I started the week with a pit in my stomach, but ended it feeling stronger. more energeticand overall more joyful. Looking back, I think Espinal's daily routine gave me the opportunity to express more gratitude, spend time with myself, and practice self-love (because, after all, it's a practice). Yes, her daily routine is a wellness regimen, but it's also a way to get out of your funk, embrace your inner sensitive gangster, and become your own best friend. Whether you're dealing with a chaotic villa or the daily stressors of life, Espinal's daily routine reminded me that the most important relationship you'll ever have is the one with yourself.

Chandler Plant (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the health and fitness department at Popsugar. She has over five years of experience in the industry, having previously worked as an assistant editor at People magazine, social media manager at Millie magazine and a contributor at Bustle Digital Group. She earned a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and lives in Los Angeles.