Megan Rupe is no stranger to multitasking: as a mother, entrepreneur, and brand founder of celebrity fitness program The Sculpt Society, she’s on a mission to make health and wellness accessible, achievable, and above all, fun.
When Roop started out in the industry as a professional dancer, model, and fitness instructor, she quickly realized that the high-intensity workouts that were popular in New York City weren’t good for her body, and she realized she wasn’t alone (as it turned out). “I think I spent my whole 20s feeling lost,” Roop confesses. “I wanted to be a professional dancer, then I wanted to start an organization like The Sculpt Society. I knew fitness was the path, but I didn’t know how to get there.”
Currently, Loop owns and operates The Sculpt Society, a wellness app that offers fitness programs for women at every stage of life, from pre- and post-pregnancy flows to mini-workout sessions and advanced movements. A mother of two herself, Loop is passionate about guiding her community of aspiring parents through in-person events, such as her recent partnership with Athleta, and introducing new expert-led programs on the app. Her next program will focus on fertility treatments and be designed for those trying to conceive, those undergoing IVF, and those who have experienced miscarriage. These are all elements of the pregnancy experience that are under- or not discussed at all in the fitness realm. “I’m really excited to be able to support women in this new way and empower everyone to feel more confident in how they move.”
Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at how Meghan Loop does it all, from $15 lymphatic rollers and walks in the park to the mantra she always recites before a Zoom call.
About Health Ritual
It’s simple. Everyone thinks I have some secret pill or silver bullet, but I don’t. I just rely on things that give me energy back. For me, that means waking up an hour earlier than my kids in the morning and having time for myself. I drink lemon water, I take my vitamins, I take my supplements. I move my body. In my early 20s, I thought I had to exercise for hours a day to see results, but now I exercise for less than 20 minutes, even if I’m alone. It’s very powerful and soul-filling to recognize what works for you. It’s also important to go outside and take a walk. I don’t think there’s a magic combination. I think it’s just a matter of asking yourself: What moments in your day feel like self-care?
About Stress Management
Sometimes we associate wellness and stress management with very expensive items or routines, but it doesn’t have to be. I recently started using the Lymphatic Roller by Love Wellness at home, which is an affordable alternative to a lymphatic drainage massage. Going for a walk and getting outside helps me get out of my own space and feel more like myself.
About “Slow Wellness”
Doing less will allow you to participate more. This has always been my message and actually what I tell my community. So you just have to participate in short periods of exercise. Of course, you don’t have to go hard. Fitness is not something you do for the next three days, but for the rest of your life. So it has to be sustainable. It has to be something you can participate in every day, like brushing your teeth, and it may seem a lot shorter than you think. You can get a lot done in 10 minutes if it’s a well-programmed workout. That’s why I offer slower, more gentle classes for people who enjoy that kind of thing.
Still, even the advanced classes are short so you don’t have to wash your hair all day. In my early 20s, a workout meant nothing to me if I didn’t have to wash my hair after. Changing my mindset has done wonders for my mental and physical health. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been and training less than I’ve ever trained.
Post-pregnancy fitness
Unfortunately, there is a real lack of education on postpartum health. I focus on educating women that postpartum recovery is not the point, and that you can resume pelvic floor and breathing exercises to speed up your recovery and feel better when you get home from the hospital. You don’t have to suffer in the postpartum period. I created a whole postpartum program for that, and I filmed all these videos when I was shortly after giving birth. If you’re in that place physically, I think it helps to see postpartum bodies on screen. I’m one of those exhausted new moms who’s going through it with you, together.
Regaining confidence
For example, if I think about the confidence projects I work on, I hosted a huge event with Athleta in LA that felt like a wellness Coachella. The brand’s mission is “female power,” which aligns very well with what I do with The Sculpt Society. It feels great to bring hundreds of women together to build confidence through movement.
Motivation
When you want to get motivated to do a little training, [Athleta’s] Stash tights are my go-to. Moving to the rhythm of music, clearing my mind, feeling good about what I’m wearing and being grounded is a huge confidence booster for me. I also think little mantras are really helpful in shaping your inner dialogue. Self-dialogue is a really guiding force in building confidence. It’s embarrassing to say, but every time I’m heading into an interview or a big event, I sing a little song to myself. “You can do it.” It makes me feel good! I tell myself, “I am strong and I am worthy.” That was a huge turning point for me.
