Kira Stokes lives up to her name. She’s been a powerhouse in the fitness industry for more than 20 years, and her clients include A-List celebs and professional athletes. When she’s not at the gym she’s busy partnering with mega fitness brands like Gatorade, Adidas, and Lululemon to share her passion for health and wellness. With her always-on-the-go schedule, you’d think she’d be exhausted. But instead, Kira’s bursting with energy and totally “stoked.”
Her Stoked MethodTM is all about keeping things fresh and exciting. “No two workouts are the same because no two bodies are the same. People evolve, so should their workouts,” she says on her website.
And while her method relies on change, she’s all about consistency when it comes to restoration, relaxation, and sleep. We caught up with her to find out why resting is just as important as running intervals.
What city do you sleep in?
Kira: Larchmont, New York
What’s your bedtime ritual?
Kira: Honestly, I do 50 pushups and situps every night before bed. It makes me feel incredible when I slip underneath the sheets. I also read every single night. I usually fall asleep within five pages…so clearly it takes me a long time to finish a book!
What’s on your bedside table right now?
Kira: A Gentleman in Moscow, my journal, and glasses.
What do you wear to sleep?
Kira: Comfy pajama bottoms and a tank.
Go-to late night snack?
Kira: SkinnyPop Popcorn.
What’s keeping you up at night right now?
Kira: Truthfully nothing keeps me up at night. When you love what you do and have found your true calling you can rest easy.
How many hours do you sleep?
Kira: It depends, but typically between six and seven hours. On weekends, I try to get eight hours.
What’s your biggest pet peeve when sleeping in bed with another person?
Kira: When the hubs hogs the covers…or snores.
If you could cuddle with anyone in the world – past or present – who would it be?
Kira: ALWAYS my husband…and maybe Tom Brady!
What’s the first thing you do when you get out of bed?
Kira: Stretch!
How does sleep impact your day?
Kira: Quality rest makes for quality workouts. It keeps me on my toes so I can curate creative, smart, results-driven programs for my clients and my classes.
What gives you energy throughout your day?
Kira: Loving what I do and finding time for my own workout. I like to sneak in the occasional inversion. Handstands and headstands are natural energy boosters!
Why is fitness important to you?
Kira: For me, fitness isn’t just my profession. It’s my passion. I’ve been obsessed with movement and how the body works for as long as I can remember. Being able to share that with others every single day is both exciting and soul soothing.
If you have an extra 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it?
Kira: Depends on what time of day I get those 15 minutes! If it’s between clients I’ll typically focus on a muscle group and knock out a quick, effective lift – or hit those inversions to boost my energy. If I’ve been inside all day with back-to-back clients I may head outside to walk a few blocks and get some fresh air.
What do you want to be when you wake up?
Kira: Well-rested and totally STOKED (a.k.a. energized).
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
The views, opinions, and positions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of Tomorrow Sleep LLC, its affiliates or their employees.