Corey Spiegel is the founder of Light House, a community born from her thinking that everyone needs their own board of directors to listen and provide perspective without judgment. After spending years working in advertising, sales, and as an executive in the entertainment space, Spiegel was ready for a change. She launched Light House with the desire to create a space for like-minded women to share, advise, inspire, and help each other navigate life in a judgment-free zone. Today, Light House offers a host of classes and events on a range of topics, such as women’s health, caring for aging parents, being a better communicator, and more. Here, she shares the role wellness plays in her own life.
What does wellness mean to you?
For me, wellness isn’t just the absence of illness; it’s the presence of positive health outcomes. Prioritizing wellness means actively working towards optimal health in all areas of my life—physical, mental, and emotional, both personally and professionally. When I prioritize my health and wellness, I tend to experience more vitality, energy, and resilience. This means I can engage more fully in the activities I enjoy, maintain the fulfilling relationships I love, and handle life’s challenges with greater ease.
Is there a specific fitness activity that you love and why?
Yoga and cold plunging. Yoga combines stretching, strength building, and balance exercises, which have helped me with flexibility, muscle tone, and joint mobility. I practice a variety of yoga classes like Iyengar, sculpt, flow, and yin. It makes all the difference in the world in my posture and how I carry myself. Cold plunging requires me to overcome discomfort and challenge my mental resilience. When I do this regularly, the exposure to cold water helps me build mental toughness, improves my mood and alertness, and almost always guarantees me a good night’s rest. While each practice offers unique advantages, together they create a comprehensive approach to nurturing my mind, body, and spirit.
What is your favorite healthy beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and do you have any insider tips for preparing it?
I drink an ungodly amount of water every day. I quit drinking soda almost 10 years ago and have learned to love ice-cold water, particularly out of a Mason jar. It’s always refreshing, looks inviting, and goes down effortlessly.
What is your greatest wellness achievement?
Easily, this was during a retreat I hosted with Wim Hof’s team titled “Chill Out: Harnessing The Power of Cold Immersion” in Wisconsin. Using Wim Hof’s methodology, deep breathing and mindset together enhance the ability to withstand extremely cold temperatures. It forces you to get present quickly and focus entirely on what you’re doing, which is really hard. I was always intrigued by this practice but never anticipated the mental component being so incredibly tough. It works wonders for me to this day when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed. This photo of me was taken right before I submerged myself in Lake Leopold in Nekoosa, WI, during the dead of winter. While I look confident, I was terrified!
What person in wellness do you most admire and why?
Wellness is a multidimensional concept that encompasses various aspects of a person’s overall health and wellbeing. While the precise definition may vary depending on context and individual perspectives, wellness to me includes feeling healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The people I admire the most are the ones who are willing to practice this daily in some capacity. Wellness is about striving for cohesiveness across various aspects of life to achieve wellbeing. It is a dynamic process that requires ongoing attention, self-awareness, and conscious effort.
What is the best piece of wellness advice you have ever received and from whom?
One of the best pieces of wellness advice I learned from Deepak Chopra is not to just prioritize self-care but to make it a consistent part of your routine. This involves taking deliberate and intentional actions to nurture yourself holistically. Move your body, manage your stress, cultivate social connections that are meaningful, get the proper rest you need, and set clear boundaries to ensure you stay on this path.
What do you think is the most overused word or words in wellness?
I think an overused word in the realm of wellness is balance. While achieving balance in life is important for overall wellbeing, the term has become somewhat cliché and is often used in a vague or generic manner. Many wellness professionals and influencers advocate for finding balance between work and personal life, balancing physical activity with rest, balancing healthy eating with occasional indulgences, and balancing mental and emotional wellbeing. However, the concept of balance can mean different things to different people, and its overuse can sometimes dilute its power. Striving for perfect balance (in every aspect of life) can create unnecessary pressure and unrealistic expectations. It’s essential to recognize that achieving balance is often a dynamic and ongoing process, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.
What is your favorite self-care routine?
Anyone that knows me knows that I am seriously into skincare. My nighttime routine takes about an hour, but it’s an hour that I so look forward to. I light a candle, listen to my favorite podcast, turn the lights down, and literally take the day off my face and body. It’s a nurturing shut-down process that helps me deeply unwind and prepare for rest.
What aspect of your wellbeing do you struggle with the most, or would most like to
improve?
My mental health. I’m a born worrier, protective mama bear, and can easily find myself running anxious. Modern life is often fast-paced and demanding and making time to put myself first is always difficult for me. Investing in yourself and your health is never a bad idea. I always remind myself of this.
