Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
She is the brightest star in her constellation. When an Alpha Female stays true to their authentic selves and their missions they shine. An Alpha Female puts herself first so that she can fill up her cup and then have more energy for her friends, family, and coworkers. She strives for synergy with the world around her. She knows that work/life harmony is found by staying true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with all the people in her life.
Meet Andrea Claassen!
Andrea Claassen is a certified personal trainer, 200 hour registered yoga instructor and mindset shifter. Her goal is to help you make yourself a priority again by creating your fitness lifestyle that sets your soul on fire. She doest this by helping you find your core desired feelings and helps you implement them into your fitness lifestyle. Andrea believes training is so much more than working out it truly is about helping you reclaim your fitness story.
What do you think of the definition and how are you an Alpha Female?
I love your definition of an alpha female. Especially since so many times when we hear the world alpha, we think negative. Finding your balance in your life and putting yourself first. Something since becoming a mom I still do. Which sometimes comes off as selfish in other women’s eyes but I know if I don’t get my workouts in, if I can’t get to a yoga class at least 1x a week I’m not a fun person to be around. My husband knows this and is very encouraging of me to make sure I do take care of myself. The taking care of yourself is something I treasure about being an alpha female so you don’t lose your identity and self-worth with everyday life.
I work with a lot of female clients who are also alpha females and one thing that they always say is they know when I compliment them or praise them it’s because I truly mean it. I feel that is one of the ways I’m an alpha female is I can’t fake it. I can’t pretend to people that something is awesome or I’m loving this if I’m not. I wear my heart on my sleeve for better or worse. Which can relate to people getting intimidated by you at first. Plus I’m 5’10” so that is already an intimidating factor when people meet me right from the start.
What are you most passionate about?
Right now living an Ayurveda based lifestyle. Ayurveda is an ancient wisdom meaning science of life. I’ve been studying it for a few years now and am taking a course called Body Thrive. It helps you break down the Ayurveda philosophy into habits that you can have in your everyday life. For instance earlier, lighter dinners meaning you eat soup or salad before 6 pm ideally. Another example early to bed early to rise. Head to bed before 10 pm and get up at sunrise. Another habit I’m working on committing to this year is to start the day with 20 minutes of movement on top of your current workout routine. I track each of these using old charts I had from being a teacher to help me stick to my goals.
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
This has changed drastically since becoming a mom. Before I would blend work life together as that was my reality. I love what I do and could do that easily and not feel drained. Now since getting married & then getting pregnant on the honeymoon I’ve had quite a few life adjustments in 2016. Everything kind of happened at once. I pretty much spent all of the last year adjusting to being a wife & mom. I felt I didn’t do a great job of finding my balance so that is a goal I’m working on this year. As my son is getting older I do want to be present when I have time to play with him. Which might mean I need an extra day of childcare so I can work uninterrupted for a few hours. I’ve found I can be way more productive now than before. As I know he will nap for about an hour I can tackle what I need to then I get to spend time with him. Am I perfect heck no. That is my work in progress this year to truly be present with him in the afternoons when I’m in charge of him.
Share with us a time when work/life balance was out of wack? What was your aha moment that taught you it was ok to take care of yourself first.
One of my aha moments last year was when I would get mad at my son for interrupting me while I was trying to work on the living room floor. It was his playtime with me but I didn’t get what I “had” to finish done. So that was my something needs to change moment. I knew I had to find a better balance of when I work & when I’m not at “work”. We have a nanny that helps us out 1 day week now which I can tackle my must do tasks on that day & leave the rest of my tasks for nap times or after bedtime. My nanny has also become my assistant for my business so that has helped relieve a few tasks that need to get done but I don’t necessarily have to do them.
How do you nourish yourself?
Since studying Ayurveda I’ve completing changed my eating habits. I eat seasonal veggies, not a ton of meat, I don’t eat a ton of fruit. Though have nothing against fruit. Dairy is another thing I’ve really had to almost eliminate as I’ve found after pregnancy doesn’t agree with my stomach anymore. Soups for dinner in the fall and winter & more salads for dinner in the spring/summer. They also encourage no snacking but I haven’t quite tackled that habit yet. I find after a tough workout day I do need an extra something to make it through my day. Our microwave also quit working on us this past month and haven’t felt the need to replace it as I try not to do a ton of leftovers but if we do I can easily reheat over the stove or in the oven I’ve found.
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
M-W-F- I follow a treadlift style workout routine from Jill Coleman which is 30 minutes high-intensity workouts. You spend 10-20 minutes on the treadmill then 10-20 minutes lifting weights after. Tu/Th- I do yoga at home one of those days & an ab workout the other. Saturday and or Sunday I go to a yoga class or practice yoga at home. I also do 20 minutes of movement to start my day when I wake up which is typically yoga now and when It’s nicer out I will take the dog for a quick walk to start my day.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
This has been an area of focus for me this past month. I would love to not work past a certain hour but to be present with my son I have to. My give & take there is I want the time with my son more then I need to be done working by 6 pm because that’s what people do. I usually eat dinner with my son around 5/5:30 pm, then get my son ready for bed then he goes to sleep around 6:30 pm. I train online clients a few nights a week or am doing work until usually 8 pm. 8-9pm is my wind down time I will take a bath some nights, do a dry brush routine, and essential oils after. Then I read, journal and try to go to bed by 9:30 pm most nights.
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for?
I think one of the pain points I’ve had is saying I want to work on my business I want to spend time growing it, traveling to conferences, meeting other women entrepreneurs for coffee. I have given up on the fact that I can do it all and be 100% that person for my son. I can’t. I have to have help. Whether that be my husband who is at home while I’m training every morning, a nanny, amazing help from both grandmas, & sister in laws. It does take a village and being okay with that is something I’ve had to embrace. My son means the world to me but I do think me asking for help from others will be beneficial for my son to see as he gets older and has meaningful relationships with other adults outside my husband & I.
What is your definition of happiness?
Being who you are meant to be. Not being afraid to hide behind masks or perceived images of ourselves but truly letting who you want to be out into the world.