09/04/2020 16:00
“Stay positive and practice gratitude’ – Lauren Gibbemeyer
News from the clubs
Istanbul, Turkey, April 9, 2020. Middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer is a globetrotter who, after graduating from the University of Minnesota, has travelled the world to play in countries as diverse as Japan, Azerbaijan, Italy and Turkey. A winner of the CEV Volleyball Champions League back in 2016 with Pomi CASALMAGGIORE, Gibbemeyer has been spending her second straight season with Turkish giant Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL. Like many of us, she is trying to cope the best she can with the lockdown measures imposed to fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“My usual day at home starts with waking up around 9. I like to start my day with a 10-minute meditation before I take my dog outside. Then I make my coffee and have breakfast. I usually check the news for any new updates and then I journal about how I am feeling. In the afternoons, I do a yoga session or an at-home workout. After I make lunch, we take my dog for a little walk to get some fresh air. Later, I clean the apartment, play cards with my boyfriend, call my mom, and watch Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix. Finally, I cook dinner and head off to bed,” says Gibbemeyer, disclosing her current routine from her Istanbul home.
“I am following our team’s full workout sent to us to either do at home or at the club. We are lifting 3 times a week while I do yoga on my own at home every other day. I am also keeping up with my prevention exercises for my shoulder and doing some cardio such as running and jumping,” continues Gibbemeyer, who this season recorded 12 blocks in the four matches she contested in the pool stage of the CEV Champions League.
“This lockdown has been a big adjustment for everyone. People all over the world have had to make significant changes to their lives during this crisis. I am doing my best to stay physically fit by eating healthy and cooking all of my meals,” she adds. “Mentally, it has been much more difficult to be away from your team and have the season stop abruptly. However, I am working on my mentality by meditating and journaling, which keeps me calm and accepting of the situation in which we are all in.”
Gibbemeyer, a two-time NORCECA champion and winner of the 2018 Volleyball Nations League with Team USA adds that the lockdown is an opportunity to re-discover things that you may have neglected for a while. “I have started to do more self-care in general. While we are playing, I tend to forget about taking care of my skin or hair, but with this time at home, I am getting back into a routine. I have also started to research the housing market as I am planning to buy a house soon. As always, I play with my dog who also does a good job of relaxing me in stressful times. My suggestion to our followers: Respect the rules and stay inside. Try to see the positive things during this difficult situation and practice gratitude!”
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