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Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers

If there is something truck drivers know about themselves, it’s their unhealthy lifestyle. It is hard to stay healthy when you’re on duty, filled with a lack of exercise, a shifting sleep schedule, long work hours without breaks, and unhealthy diets. Lower your healthcare costs and sick days, and enjoy a healthy life with our guide to top healthy trucker food!

5 Best Healthy Diet for Truckers

1. Fiber-Rich Food

Tummy troubles can make traveling distances a nightmare. To avoid them, ensure your body gets enough fiber to process food without causing problems. Some foods with high fiber content are wheat products, granola bars, fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and rice.

Fiber-rich foods are readily available and make for great healthy trucker food options!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Fiber Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

2. Lean Meat

Meat is an integral part of meals as they provide nutritional protein and fats to our bodies. With truck driving being physical labor that requires top strength and agility, meat is essential in the trucker diet. Hence you must eat the healthy form of meat, which is lean meat. 

Lean meat is boiled or steamed poultry or fish packed with the proper nutrients. Fish are rich in omega-fatty acids that are great for the eyes and heart. In contrast, organic poultry meat is essential to fulfilling your protein needs! 

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Lean Meats Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

3. Healthy Snacks

If eating in small portions is something you tend to do, we have you covered! Snacks don’t need to be unhealthy, and they also don’t need to be complex to make or find. The list of healthy snacks is almost endless and can suit every time of taste bud there is. 

Popcorn or corn cakes (watch salt content) and salsa chips are great for crunch lovers. If you have a sweet tooth, we have to suggest flavored yogurt, fresh berries filled with antioxidants, and apples with peanut butter or almond butter. And now brands have peanut butter with no added sugar! I call that a win!. Dry nuts, trail mix, and hard-boiled eggs are healthy snacks you can easily prepare and find wherever you go!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Healthy Snacks Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

4. Water

We couldn’t complete this list without mentioning the basic essential: water. Drinking water yields many health benefits and keeps you away from health conditions. Water keeps your cognitive functions working, helping you lose weight and aids in digestion. Not only that but drinking plenty of water keeps your organs healthy and protects you from overeating by making you feel full. 

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Water Image Mother Trucker Yoga BLog

5. Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are a tasteful bundle of essential nutrients your body needs to stay healthy and fit! Fruits and berries are filled with proteins, antioxidants, and glucose. Vitamin C is also found in all citrus fruits, protecting you from skin diseases such as skin cancer which many truck drivers risk.

So ensure to take your regular fresh fruits and berries whenever possible because they are just as crucial to your diet!

Top Healthy Diets Tips for Truck Drivers Fruits Image Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Conclusion

In this blog, we have listed the 5 top healthy trucker food that significantly affects health. With the transport industry making you its backbone, you must take care of your body and mind by eating right and living right. 

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Sportswear Is The Ideal Summer OOTD Every Day

The summertime brings hot and uncomfortable weather. Some of the materials you have in the winter are too heavy and designed to keep the heat in. While flowing dresses and lightweight linens are a great choice, the right sportswear can make you comfortable, cool, and sweat-free all summer. 

 

Activewear is typically stretchy and has a range of other perks designed for those who are going to be active and sweat. By choosing the right activewear (outside of regular cotton legging and a t-shirt), you might find this summer much easier to deal with – along with some healthier food options and plenty of water. 

 

Is cotton the best summertime wear?

Cotton has a range of skin-friendly benefits; it might not be the best option for you throughout the summer. 

 

Let’s say you have to run errands all day, it’s already hot at 6 am, and you have a day filled with school drop-off and pick-up, groceries, picking up the gifts for a party at the weekend – and that’s just the start of it. 

 

Those cotton clothes, even if they are leggings and a tank top, will go through a lot. One of the downsides of using cotton clothing for sweltering days is that it isn’t moisture-wicking. Cotton holds onto the sweat and keeps it close to the skin. 

 

Suppose the cotton clothing is damp but isn’t well fitted. In that case, it can cause heat rash, rub the skin, and be uncomfortable. Shop active clothing made with some of the suggested materials below to avoid this. 

 

So how do you choose the right sportswear? 

Fit

Depending on your confidence levels, you might often choose clothing that isn’t well-fitting, which will mean you might be uncomfortable throughout the day. As you sweat, you are more likely to have an issue with chaffing and becoming uncomfortable in the heat. 

 

Sportswear is designed from fabrics that offer some stretch but are mostly tightly fitted to the body. This means you can move comfortably and are less likely to have chaffing. 

 

Versatility 

No matter what you are doing, there are colors and fabrics to complement your day. The softer materials designed for busy days but just as easy are ideal for yoga, can be quickly layered and are versatile enough to last your whole day. 

 

To make your wardrobe even more versatile, try to choose colors that work well together, so when you need to leave at speed, you can put on what you need and head out for your day. 

 

For the base layer, try to choose a moisture-wicking layer to remove any sweat from the skin. A looser cotton jumper is excellent for areas where the evenings get a little chilly. 

 

Comfort 

If you struggle to feel comfortable in the heat, the last thing you need is material that isn’t soft and comfortable. Fabrics that are made up of plastics or have any rubber aren’t breathable, which means that you will sweat a little bit more than usual, and it will not be able to escape the body. 

 

These materials also increase your body temperature, causing you to sweat more and become more quickly dehydrated. Choose lightweight fabrics that mention they are breathable in the description. 

 

Wicking

You might’ve seen the words moisture-wicking on some clothing descriptions. That means that the moisture you produce will be removed from the body when you sweat. Nothing is worse than having to wear sweat-soaked clothing all day when you are busy and have things to do. 

 

Moisture-wicking fabrics work in two ways. First, they quickly move moisture away from the body, which is the wicking part. The second part of the process is that the fabric’s outer surface dries quickly, so the wearer never gets wet and the material doesn’t become saturated. 

 

Anti-odor

If you are prone to sweating a lot but know you won’t be able to head home to change your clothing until the evening, it is best to choose an anti-odor fabric. While sweat itself doesn’t smell, it doesn’t take long for multiple layers of sweat to happen. Our sweat feeds our skin bacteria, which rubs back onto our clothing, which causes the smell. 

 

Gym clothing also has other benefits, like antibacterial, ultra-breathable, and support areas. Performance activewear often has a combination of the above great features. 

 

And those are just a few reasons sportswear makes the ideal summertime clothing! Of course, once you have your activewear on, you might as well fit in a workout too! 

Mother Trucker Yoga T-Shirts

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Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022

The Mid-America Trucking Show is right around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited!

It’s been two years since we have seen each other in person, and I can’t think of a better place to do that than at MATS 50th anniversary!

MATS isn’t just a place to check out the newest gadgets, get a ton of free stuff or browse some out-of-this-world trucks. It’s also where you can catch Mother Trucker Yoga leading the way in driver health and fitness during this 3-day event.

DRIVING INTO FITNESS AT MID-AMERICA TRUCKING SHOW 2022

Driver Fitness and health is of the utmost importance in the trucking world today, and Hope is dedicated to helping 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness through small, simple changes by 2031.

With the release of her new book, Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul, Hope is making waves in the industry with her practical fitness and wellness toolbox, showing drivers all the little things they can do in their everyday life to see the significant results they have been waiting for.

Hear what she has to say throughout MATS, March 24th – 26th, 2022, and learn how you can start driving into fitness at the Mid-America Trucking Show this March!

Driver fitness mid america trucking show 2022

DETAILS ABOUT THE TRUCK SHOW:

Mid-America Trucking Show 

March 24 – 26th, 2022

https://truckingshow.com/

 

Mother Trucker Yoga & STIFF Mother Trucker 

Booth #69097

West Wing 

Stop by the booth and pick up:

One of our Trucker Camo Shirts, Trucker Tanks and Tees, STIFF Mother Trucker pain relief cream, driver fitness tools, a signed copy of Hope’s newest book- Trucking Yoga, and enter to win some really awesome stuff compliments of MTY!

 

 

Hear Hope Speak On Driving into Fitness & Health at MATS

Throughout the three-day event, there will be several times you can come and meet Hope, grab a copy of her newest book, Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul, and discover practical and straightforward ways you can implement fitness and health into your day trucking style.

 

Thursday, March 24th, 10 am 

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Trucker Tax Tools Mother Trucker Yoga IMage 4

Thursday, March 24th, 11 am 

Shifting Lanes with Driver Health

ProTalks Stage Show Floor Main Lobby

https://truckingshow.com/education 

The health and longevity of a trucking company depend on the health and longevity of its drivers. This session is about how trucking companies can quickly shift from drivers being a liability to an asset. Hope shares fundamental strategies and solutions companies can get behind that don’t cost a lot, and drivers can immediately implement them into their lives for success they can feel. Plus, get a little taste first-hand of how simple this type of programming can be. Let’s all shift lanes towards real profitable solutions.

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Image 1

Thursday, March 24th, 4-5:30 pm

Driving into Fitness & Book Signing with Hope Zvara

ECHO Logistics Booth #63217 West Wing

Come stop by ECHO’s booth the afternoon of the first day to meet Hope and get a signed copy of her book! And don’t forget to ask how you can join the ECHO and Mother Trucker Yoga movement today!

ECHO Logistics Booth Mother Trucker Yoga

Friday, March 25th, 10 am 

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long.

 

Friday, March 25th, 2 pm

Trucking Yoga Book Singing & Yoga Pose Challenge 

RoadPro Family of Brands 

Booth #22035

Come stop by the RoadPro booth and say Hi to Hope and get a signed copy of her new book Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul and see how good your balance, strength, or flexibility is with a fun strike pose challenge. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 RoadPro Mother Trucker Yoga Image 5

Saturday, March 26th, 9 am

Trucking Yoga & Easy Every Day Stretches 

Trucker Tax Tools 

Booth #40452 in Main Lobby 

 

Come join in on the fun, start your day off right with some simple yoga stretches for your bodily aches and pains. Easy moves you can do in just a few minutes will give you relief all day long. 

 

Saturday, March 26th, 12:30 pm 

4 Movements Every Driver Should Be Doing Daily

ProTalks Stage Show Floor Main Lobby

https://truckingshow.com/education 

Living behind the wheel will take a toll on the body, and finding time to exercise is not always an option or realistic, depending on where your run takes you. Feel good again with four simple moves every driver can do from the driver’s seat in 5 minutes or less. 

Driving into Fitness with Hope Zvara at Mid-America Trucking Show 2022 Mother Trucker yoga Blog image 2

No matter what, there is something at MATS for everyone. And if you are looking to take back your health and learn how to insert fitness into your day instead of trying to figure out how to exercise in a truck, stop by Mother Trucker Yoga’s booth at the Mid America Trucking Show 50th Anniversary! You can hop on over to the Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP and start moving today! And don’t forget you don’t have to wait until MATS to join the movement over at MTY.

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Mother Trucker Yoga Driver Spotlight Dean Key

We are continuing our Truck Driver Appreciation Spotlight. And we are so excited to feature another fantastic driver!

Each of the drivers we feature has been interviewed about their lives to help others see how unique and hard trucking is. And today is another significant share!

It’s our truck drivers who keep our great country running strong. Many of these men and women go unnoticed, not because they aren’t important, but because what they do doesn’t live in a fancy building or doesn’t require a cap and gown.

Our driver being spotlighted today started as in our Your Wellness Pitstop Program over a  year ago because he wanted to improve his life, and now he has become a personal friend and is one hell of a driver!

 

Meet Dean Key!

On Facebook & Insta, you can find him as Dean.key.67

And on Snapchat, Dean is known as lazerdino67

Dean Key

QUESTION 1: How long have you been driving?

Answer: Dean has been driving for 37 years! That’s a lot! WOW!

 

QUESTION 2: What do you love most about being a truck driver?

Answer: Driving those trucks and seeing the country!

 

DID YOU KNOW?

ATA Names 36 Professional Drivers as Finalists for 2022-23 America’s Road Team

American Trucking Associations released the list of 36 professional truck drivers named as finalists for the 2022-2023 term of America’s Road Team.

“These men and women were selected as finalists for America’s Road Team because they have outstanding safe driving records, share a passion for the trucking industry, and are role models among their peers,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We owe these professional drivers our gratitude. Without them the American economy would come to a halt.”

America’s Road Team, a group of professional truck drivers with superior safety records, was created in 1986 to represent the trucking industry and is sponsored by Volvo Trucks. With support from their companies, captains dedicate a few days each month to attend industry events, speak at schools, or meet policymakers on behalf of the trucking industry.

AND DEAN KEY IS ONE OF THOSE FINALISTS!

For a list of all the finalists, you can visit ATA’s website for more information on America’s Road Team.

 

But Dean is a family man. He loves his wife Lori and spending time with his grandkids! We love that about you, Dean!

Dean Key Mother Trucker Yoga Driver Spotlight

 

QUESTION 3: Trucking is hard. Why do you keep on trucking?

Answer: Love them trucks! And, it’s pretty hard to replace the money.

QUESTION 4: What do you want to say to new upcoming drivers in the industry?

Always be a professional. Make good decisions and keep yourself and everyone around you safe. Sometimes you need to step away from a situation and let it go.
And knowing Dean personally, that is one thing I love about him, always professional, always nicely dressed, and ready for anything!

QUESTION: What is your favorite truck stop?

Answer: Dean is a fan of the Kwik Trip/Kwik Stars. They are nice and clean, and they carry a nice variety of grocery store items.

Dean, as a gal from Wisconsin, I couldn’t agree more! #kwiktripforlife

 

Find a Kwik Trip HERE

QUESTION 7: What would make trucking easier for you and other drivers?

ANSWER: If ALL drivers would respect and be kind to each other.

Kindness is such an excellent tool for overall happiness in our lives! Dean, great advice!

Dean Key and Hope Zvara Mother Trucker Yoga

That is excellent advice, and did you know Mother Trucker Yoga is teaming up with various players in the trucking industry to help streamline health and wellness for drivers! Make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter to get up-to-date information. 

 

QUESTION 8: What do you do, if anything, to try to stay healthy on the road?

ANSWER: I park in the back of the truck stop, and right now, I’m trying to cook in my truck, walk more and stretch more. I’m also trying to quit drinking soda and eating processed foods that are my biggest weakness.

 

Driver Tip:

Bringing food with you can seem daunting. But start small. What snacks and non-perishable foods can you travel with? Unsalted, raw nuts, seeds mixed with a small handful of dried fruits is a delicious way to stay complete with limited space on your truck. Are you worried about overeating? Prepackaged those nuts and seeds in snack-size bags or containers, so you don’t overeat out of boredom or stress.

Dean had a final thought he wanted everyone to know.

There is tons of negativity in our world today and in the trucking industry. You have to shake it off, make up your mind, and roll with it. Trucking has been good to me and many others. As with anything, it is what you make of it!

Please share with us!

What do you like most about the trucking industry?

Have a comment to share with Idella or our readers?

Please share it in the comments below!

 

Mother Trucker Yoga® wants to help 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness by 2031.

To get involved with Mother Trucker Yoga’s mission and help drivers just like you incorporate driver fitness into their lives. Contact us!

Read our other Driver Spotlights:

VW Lady Trucker https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/09/14/mother-trucker-driver-spotlight-vw-lady-trucker/

Flatbed Foodie https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/10/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-flatbed-foodie/

Marc Iverson https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/06/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-mark-iverson/ 

Idella Hansen  https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/10/17/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotlight-idella-hansen/

Jame “Sweet Pea” https://www.mothertruckeryoga.com/2021/11/17/mother-trucker-yoga-driver-spotli-sweet-peaght/

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5 Ways to Feel More Confident When Doing Yoga

5 Ways to Feel More Confident When Doing Yoga MTY Blog Image 1

Many people, particularly men, would love to try yoga to calm the mind while strengthening the body. Still, they are too afraid to do so because they worry that they will feel uncomfortable in a room full of what they imagine to be svelte twentysomethings who can bend into the most mind-boggling shapes.

This is such a shame because yoga is for everybody, and it is possible to feel completely confident when doing it.

With that in mind, if you want to try yoga but you’re worried about not feeling comfortable, here are a few things you can do to feel completely confident while you’re doing it:

Try an app

These days, there are many excellent yoga apps (check out Mother Trucker Yoga’s app being released soon) that will teach the basics at home. You won’t get the same hands-on instruction you get at the local studio, but you will learn the basic asanas (poses) and some great routines that you can practice until you gain confidence. And as a driver, trucking yoga isn’t scary, it’s easy and can be done from your truck.

Dress comfortably

One thing that can make people feel uncomfortable about yoga is the perceived requirement to dress in figure-hugging lycra. This is something you do not need to worry about because you can wear whatever you’re most comfortable into your yoga class, whether that be yoga shorts for men or a pair of sweat pants and a comfy -shirt. No one will judge you, and you can wear what makes you feel most comfortable and confident for your workout. And when it comes to trucking yoga every movement counts.

Star slow

The great thing about yoga is that it poses to suit all levels and abilities. If you lack confidence, you can start slow with a few o the more accessible asanas and work your way up as and when you feel able to do so, gaining masses of confidence along the way.

Practice mindfulness

One of the great things about yoga is that although it can be a purely physical exercise to build lean muscle and flexibility, it can also be a mental practice. L If you concentrate on your breathing and the movement you are flowing through, mindfulness meditation.

If you lack confidence, focusing on the breath and flow intensely will help to keep you focused on what you are doing in the present moment so you will be less likely to worry about whether others are watching you or if you’re doing it wrong, which means you will naturally be more confident.

Remember, it takes time.

Yoga is a lifelong practice. You should not expect to be immediately good at all aspects of your practice; If you bear this in mind and start with a beginner’s mind and a willingness to learn, you will not feel like a failure if you can’t quite get into that challenging poses. Still, you will embrace the chance to learn and try again, and that is where true confidence lies.

Yoga is an excellent workout for the mind and body, so don’t let a lack of confidence put you off giving it a go!

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5 Reasons You Should Take Regular Driving Breaks & Move More!

If you drive for a living, you’ll spend multiple hours a day behind the steering wheel. Needless to say, this isn’t great for your health and wellbeing. One of the essential things to do when it comes to truck driver fitness is to take regular driving breaks whenever you can. There are many benefits to doing this, and here are five reasons you need to avoid driving for long hours:

5 Reasons You Should Take Regular Driving Breaks & Move More! mother trucker yoga blog

Image Link (CC0 License)

You ruin your posture

It’s well documented how much damage you do to your posture by sitting down and driving for hours on end. It messes up your hips, spine, shoulders, and neck, leading to a life of chronic pain. The problem is that your body becomes fixed in the seated position, meaning lots of muscles become overly tight, shutting off the muscles that need to be active. 

 

So, taking breaks will help you unglue yourself from this poor posture. Yoga is such an effective way of preventing postural problems and avoiding chronic pain and you know at Mother Trucker Yoga we love trucking yoga. A five-minute stretching break every hour or so will work wonders for your body and stop you from ruining your posture. 

Being inactive lowers your testosterone

That’s right, sitting around every single day could actually lower your testosterone levels. This hormone is so important for men as it’s responsible for a lot of crucial processes throughout the body. If you want to have children, you need decent T levels to get someone pregnant. If you want to build muscle and be strong, you need testosterone in your body. Unfortunately, studies show that being inactive can mean you have lower T levels than active people. Truck driver fitness is not about being the biggest and baddest driver, but it is about taking care of your body and you need to move to do that.

 

For someone that spends hours a day driving around, this is bad news. Thankfully, your testosterone levels don’t stay fixed – you can control if they go up or down. If you think your levels have already decreased due to constant inactivity, visiting a TRT clinic could help you boost your T levels back up. For those of you that want to avoid treatment, preventing your T levels from dropping is the best approach. So, take as many breaks as you can throughout the day, getting up and walking around or doing some yoga to stay active. 

 

Sitting down makes you gain weight

The longer you drive, the less active you will be every day. Even the simple act of walking around a service station will contribute to your daily activity levels. A lack of activity will mean that you burn very few calories all day. Your body is basically at rest while you drive, so it requires very little energy. This means that, at the end of every day, you’ve barely burnt any calories. It doesn’t take much to consume more than you burned, meaning you gain weight. Everyday life movements get you burning more calories and yes, you can do that from the driver’s seat, it’s called truck driver fitness and you are “fitting in” movement.

 

Taking breaks prevents this by racking up your steps, burning calories, and helping you maintain a healthy weight. Even if you stop and walk around for 10-15 minutes during your breaks, you’ll rack up a few thousand steps each time!

 

Driving for long periods makes you tired

Despite the fact that you’re inactive, driving actually tires you out quite considerably. Sure, there’s no physical effort required, but it’s mentally very draining. You need to keep your eyes open and alert at all times, meaning you can quickly start yawning and feel the urge to sleep. 

 

Obviously, tiredness on the roads is a massive problem. A lot of accidents are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. If you’re behind the wheel of a truck or van, the risks associated with auto accidents increase. Thus, stopping for regular breaks helps you give your eyes a rest and recharges your batteries. 

 

You can avoid the worst traffic

Yes, believe it or not, but you could actually reach your destination in less time by taking breaks. If you drive all day, you can easily get caught in the terrible traffic on the highway. But, by taking a well-timed break, you can be parked up while all the traffic trundles along. 

 

When your break is over, you’ll have clearer roads with less traffic, meaning you can drive to your destination with minimal disruptions. As a bonus, you use up less fuel, making your trip less expensive for both you and the environment. 

 

If possible, try to park up and have a little break every hour or so. Yes, you might be working to a schedule, but you should still meet your daily targets with these breaks. Even if you stop for five minutes, it can make a world of difference to your health. 

 

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We Are Your Trucking Fitness Company

Welcome to Mother Trucker Yoga, your trucking fitness company. Here at Mother Trucker Yoga®, we focus on small, simple changes that lead to the big results™. We are not interested in giving you another gym-based fitness program or fitness app for you to watch exercises and then do them for maybe a day, week, or month and then never do them again.

We focus on “fitting health and movement into your everyday life”. We are the first and only trucking fitness company that uses the lifestyle practices like mindfulness, breathing, and stress relief taught through yoga to help drivers in their health and wellness journey.

Our Mission at Mother Trucker Yoga

Mother Trucker Yoga® believes that you can feel better wherever you are with small, simple changes that will lead to big results. No matter your situation, no matter your environment.

Mother Trucker Yoga® wants to help 1 million drivers change lanes in their health and fitness by 2031. Whether you are a truck driver, an Uber driver, a bus driver, an Amazon driver, someone who finds themselves behind the wheel for hours a day- we want to help you.

As your trucking fitness company, we want you to know that we understand. And just like you want a lifelong expert mechanic working on your truck, you definitely want the same when it comes to working on your body, mind, and health. For many, jumping on the health and fitness bandwagon is an afterthought. Meaning everyone else is talking about it, so we should too. But not at Mother Trucker Yoga.

For nearly 20 years, I have been deeply rooted in health, fitness, mindfulness, and movement.

Hope Zvara, CEO & Founder of Mother Trucker Yoga

why we are differnt MTY page

Our Method at Mother Trucker Yoga

Most people focus on the WHAT when trying to help others solve a problem. And when it comes to fitness and health, this is where people stop. And in turn, you never get the results you are looking for.

Here at Mother Trucker Yoga®, we help drivers just like you implement small, simple changes that will lead to big results by adding more movement into your day, every day. So rather than removing yourself from your day-to-go “workout” and only focusing on the what, we focus on the HOW, WHY, WHAT and WHEN. And it’s these small, simple changes, when implemented correctly, where drivers see the biggest changes.

We want to help you feel good again and show you the path to improving your health by moving more, and making small yet powerful changes. And when implemented correctly, you are looking at lasting results that you, your family, and your company can enjoy.

Find out about our Trucking Fitness Corporate Programs HERE

STIFF Mother Trucker Marc Springer

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6 Things That Are So Important for Your Wellbeing

6 Things That are So Important for Your Wellbeing Blog Mother Trucker Yoga

We all want to be well, and we all do our best to be well, but the fact is, many of us are not well in one way or another.

 

Obviously, some factors affect our wellness that we cannot change, things like illnesses and disease, some aspects of our job, but on the flip side, there are lots of positive actions we can take to boost our well-being.

 

6  Key Things That Are So Important For Your Wellbeing:

 

  1. Getting enough sleep

 

If you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t get enough time to repair itself, which means you will wake up feeling tired, headachy, lacking in energy, and possibly even depressed. A lack of sleep has also been shown to increase your likelihood of gaining weight, having a heart attack, and suffering from mental health issues, so if you aren’t already, make sleep a priority in your life. Sleep is just one of the 12 topics Your Wellness Pitstop Program with Mother Trucker Yoga covers. 

 

  1. Self-compassion

 

When it comes to mental wellbeing, one of the most important things you can do is show yourself compassion. Doing so will help to stop feelings of guilt, anger, and sadness in their tracks. If you don’t know how to offer yourself compassion, this article on empathy vs. compassion may be helpful, as may reading Radical Compassion by Yogi and therapist Tara Brach. Read up and start practicing so you can stop ruminating and start living a happier, healthier life. 

 

  1. Eating clean and healthy.

 

This is pretty much a no-brainer, but the healthier and more natural your food, the more nutrients you will receive and the healthier you will be as a result.

 

6 Things That are So Important for Your Wellbeing Mother Trucker Yoga Blog Eating Clean

 

  1. Moving your body

 

Whether practicing yoga (particularly practicing yoga because it is good for the mind and the body), hitting the gym, or going for a run, moving your body every day is so important for your wellbeing. Not only will it help you to stay in good shape, but it can also help you eliminate stress and get those positive endorphins flowing to boost your mood too. Join the movement and join other drivers just like you inside Mother Trucker Yoga’s membership site full of videos, audios, and strategies to help you feel good again. 

6 Things that are so important to your wellbeing mother trucker yoga blog truckers subscription blog

  1. Spending some time in the sun

 

Spending time in the sun helps your body produce vitamin D, which is great for boosting mood and helping you to maintain healthy bones, amongst other things. Natural light has also been shown to be a great stress relief booster, and if you spend time out in nature, well, you could lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of depression and have an easier time getting to sleep at night, too – it’s a great wellbeing all-rounder.

 

  1. Spend time with people you love

 

Humans need connection, which is why spending as much time as you can with people who love you and who bring joy to your life is one of the simplest and most effective wellbeing practices there is. It’s just so good for you.

 

There’s certainly more to good wellbeing than the six things alone, but there is no denying that adding the above to your routine will make you feel better, happier, and healthier all around.

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4 Quick and Simple Exercises with the Good-N-Tight Ratchet Strap Tightening Handle 

4 Quick and Simple Exercises with the Good-N-Tight Ratchet Strap Tightening Handle 

When you are a truck driver, time is of the essence. And either you have a lot of time, or you have none. But there are moments throughout your day where you can sneak in a few quick moves to help you feel better, wherever you are with your Good-N-Tight Ratched Strap Tightening Handle handy. The Good-N-Tight is amazing when you don’t want to throw out your shoulder or back tieing down a load and gives you three times the leverage. And as my husband always says, “work smarter not harder”. This is one tool you definitely want to get and have handy anytime you need to use a ratchet strap.

But this blog isn’t about how to use this tool for securing your load. It’s about how to double down and use this tool to help you feel better, whenever you are with small simple moves you can do it anytime, anywhere. These four simple moves are perfect for those in-between moments when to help reduce stiffness, bring a little energy back into your body, stretch, and strengthen so you don’t throw your back out getting in and out of the truck (it happens).

Here are 4 Quick and Simple Moves You Can Do With The Good-N-Tight:

  • Good-N-Tight Oblique Side Bend 

This is a great move to help tone your waist and both stretch and strengthen your lower back, hips, and obliques. 

  • Step your feet wider than hips-width apart. 
  • Point your toes forward and square your hips.
  • With your Good-N-Tight in hand reach your arms up overhead. 
  • Relax your shoulders down and soften your front rib cage down as well. 
  • Take a deep breath in and gently slide your hips to the right as you lean your upper body and arms to the left. 
  • Press your arms straight and reach through the Good-N-Tight, like you were to stamp it on the wall next to you. 

VERSION 1:

  • Hold this for 5 breaths, and on the exhale come back to center and repeat the opposite side. 

VERSION 2:

  • Inhale press your hips to the right and tip your upper body and arms to the left. 
  • Exhale return to center, pulling your hips back first and your upper body to sit on top. 
  • Repeat the opposite side: Inhale to lean, exhale to return. 
  • 5-10 times on each side. 

Oblique Stretch Tightening Handle

  • Good-N-Tight Triceps Stretch 

This is a wonderful stretch to combat all that drive time opening your chest, toning your upper back, and releasing your shoulders. 

  • Standing tall grab the Good-N-Tight with your right hand and extend your arm up overhead. 
  • Bend your top elbow and tuck your hand behind your head, laying the Good-N-Tight down your spine. 
  • Roll the top tricep inward towards your head, turning your triceps to face forward (this may be difficult, especially if your shoulders are tight or bulky).
  • Tuck your left hand behind you to grab the bottom of the Good-N-Tight and work to roll your left shoulder open, feeling the shoulder blade press inward towards the spine. 
  • Stand even taller and breathe calmly for 5 to 10 breaths. 
  • Repeat the opposite side. 

Good-N-Tight 1 Minute Moves Tricep Stretch - Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

  • Good-N-Tight Chest Expander

Slouching, leaning, hunching, driving, and carrying often leave our body hunched forward and frozen in place. This quick move gives your body a break and counterposes all that rounding forward. Breathe easy and feel your chest, pecs, and shoulders open as your core gets a little wake-up call. 

Standing tall with your feet at a comfortable distance grab your Good-N-Tight.

Tuck your hands behind you and grab hold of either side of your new exercise equipment. 

Roll your shoulders in towards your spine as you drop them down away from your neck. 

Inhale drive your hips and pelvis forward as you pull your arms down and back. 

Gently look up and stretch! 

Hold this for 5 breaths, and repeat 3 to 5 times. 

Chest Expander Good-N-Tight Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

  • Good-N-Tight Calf Stretch 

Your calf is the hydraulic pump for your lower body to get blood flow back up the heart. Restricted calves inhibit the calf to do its job, making the heart have to work harder. Tight calves also cause knee and back pain. Let’s give the body some relief with a quick stretch! 

  • Place the Good-N-Tight on the ground.
  • Standing tall, place the ball of one foot up on the lip of your new exercise equipment, keeping your heel on the ground. 
  • Square your hips and slowly inch your free foot forward until you feel a stretch in your calf. 
  • Stand even taller and press down into your stretching heel as you hold the stretch for 5 to 10 breaths.
    Repeat the opposite side and do this stretch 1-3 times each day. 

Calf Stretch Good-N-Tight Mother Trucker Yoga BLog

Pushing yourself in a quick workout is important, but you should never allow yourself to just sit there because you think you need fancy equipment. Make sure you’re choosing quality over quantity. And look around your truck, what do you have laying around. What could be multi-purpose? And remember instead of thinking you need all sorts of crazy fitness in your life, think movement, where can I get more movement in? Along with your new Good-N-Tight moves get out and walk for an added boost to your body, mind, and spirit. Happy moving!

This blog post is in partnership with Bud and Tony’s Truck Parts! Bud and Tony are on a mission to give back to the trucking community and by teaming up with Mother Trucker Yoga, they are doing it, one move at a time. Check out more about Bud and Tony over on their site: www.BudAndTonysTruckParts.com

bud and tony's truck parts logo

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