WELL SAID WITH TAYNE YOON: A wellness dialogue

Welcome to Well Said, a conversation series with people we admire: thinkers, creators, and everyday visionaries who are reshaping what it means to live well.

In this edition, we sit down with Tayne Yoon, a creative force whose grounded presence, sharp perspective, and intuitive style have quietly built her a cult following as a mat pilates, sculpt, HIIT, and Lagree instructor. Whether she’s curating a wellness mindset, making space for slow mornings, or speaking on what it means to be intentional in a hyper-accelerated world, Tayne reminds us that wellness doesn’t always have to be loud to be powerful.

Here, we talk rituals, resistance, creative clarity, and what wellness really looks like when no one’s watching.

What does “wellness” & being “healthy” mean to you?

Health and wellness mean a positive mindset, it means discipline, it means balance, it means doing what brings me joy. I talk more about all of this in my answers below :). 

Has your definition of wellness shifted over time? If so, what sparked that change?

Yes, definitely. Wellness used to be about how often I worked out, what I ate, and thus what I looked like, but it became too exhausting to be consumed by these unrealistic expectations I put on myself, and I realized that my “goals” weren’t goals at all. They were just comparisons of myself to others, and constantly thinking about what I’m not. Now, my wellness is a mindset. I do what makes me happy, and only when I started doing that did I start seeing my best results.  

How do you find balance between discipline and rest in your wellness routine?

A lot of people tend to use the word ‘discipline’ as a weapon against themselves - it’s grown to be a bit of a scary word, but more recently, I’ve learned to use discipline as a tool for self-love. Rest and discipline do not need to fight against each other. To rest is part of my discipline. Discipline is asking myself, “What do I need to do now, in order for my future self to feel better?”

What are a few daily practices or rituals that keep you feeling grounded and energized?

I don’t know how to answer this! Every day is different for me, to be honest. I wish I could say I was the type to wake up early, chug lemon water in the morning, journal, etc, but I’m not there yet. I’m not one to pick up rituals because I don’t like the feeling of guilt when I feel like skipping a day for whatever reason. I currently feel very in tune with the messages my body sends me, so I try to just listen to that! Sometimes I read before bed and wake up and journal. Sometimes I rot my brain on TikTok before bed and sleep in. It’s balance, baby. 

What is 1 thing you do for your health every day, no matter what?

Walk! People underestimate the power of walking. And if it’s still light out, I love to leave my phone at home and go for a walk. A way to unplug AND get steps in. It’s not harmful for my knees like running (sorry, I HATE running!) and it’s not stressful on my body, but it IS still cardio!

How do you support your mental and emotional well-being?

SLEEP. After interacting with so many people and bodies a day, I need to recharge. Whether it’s a midday nap or at the end of a long day, the only way for me to keep going is by making sure I get enough sleep.

How do you approach burnout prevention as a wellness practitioner?

This is a tough one because wellness practitioners are not properly set up in a way that helps us prevent burnout at all. We are paid by the number of classes we teach, and when we’re not teaching, we’re not getting paid! So it’s really hard to prevent the inevitable burnout. Our bodies, however, whether we like it or not, will always tell us when we need to slow down, and that’s what I try to focus on. 

How do you approach nutrition, recovery, or self-care in a way that’s sustainable, not performative?

When it comes to nutrition, I try not to get caught up in what I “should” and “should not” eat. I am a fitness instructor, not a nutritionist, and a lot of people, fitness instructors included, get that mixed up. I don’t let the delicious pastry take over my day with guilt. I don’t tell myself, “I can have this ice cream because I’ll burn off the calories in class later.” No one should eat to work out and work out to eat. Food should be enjoyed. Rest should be enjoyed. Working out should be enjoyed. All I can say is, life is about balance. Everything in moderation. 

When life gets chaotic, what part of your wellness practice is non-negotiable?

SLEEP. 

What is your #1 wellness tip you would give to others?

Always wash your face before going to bed, get enough sleep, drink water, and stop watching “What I Eat in a Day” videos.