The Tipping Scale: Finding Balance with Elyse (ELK) Kim
We have all heard that Mother Earth must keep a fine balance in order to keep functioning and to thrive. Just as Mama Earth has to pertain to this balance - so do we. We all are accustomed to our own little World’s; and have many “to do’s”, checklists, and things to accomplish during every season of our lives. Some seasons may have a lot more to be done than others - but, nevertheless we all try to upkeep this harmony of balance.
Someone that I particularly look up to is Elk! She has always been known as the girl “who does it all” - and she does it all with grace and intuition. Following her on her “day in the life,” we delve deeper into the true meaning of balance. As well as honing into the gratitude of all of our “to do’s” with the advice and wisdom that Elk teaches us.
What is your favorite and intentional way of starting off your day on the right foot?
So when I hear this question, the first thing I feel that i need to do is emphasize the importance of routine for me.
Something that has always been a struggle for me is “decision-making-paralysis” and just waking up feeling like I have a million things that need to get done right now and feeling immediately swarmed and overwhelmed. I worked through that a lot in high school, especially, and then obviously, still now, I’m still learning as I go.
I definitely have not always been a routine person. I remember specifically I would get so frustrated because my mom - who I'm so lucky, she has always been so supportive, would tell me that “routines are so important for your brain.” [Back then], I was so insistent that routines were boring and took all the fun and spontaneity out of life, like it made my day so mundane and predictable.
But, as I’ve gotten older and started having a lot more on my plate to manage, it started to click that I really couldn't have been more wrong. What I found is that having [a] routine, that structure, having these habits that are committed to your muscle memory, [actually] end up freeing up so much mental space that is then open for creative freedom to do other things. You only have so much energy, right? So, automating your everyday tasks and turning them into passive activities is what gives you room to do the “fun” stuff.
So to somewhat answer your question, my favorite way to start the day is just to go through my everyday morning routine, and that consists of a few different things.
The most important or my favorite, being that part where I'm sitting in Starbucks. I always bring my notebook, pen and paper, because it's just nice to have a second away from the screens. I like to sit down and just block out that specific time just to make my list. So I'll write down things I have to do so that I don't have to keep everything up in my head.
I love list making, just to get all the stuff out of my head.
It’s sweet too, when I’m feeling really overwhelmed sometimes or just anxious and disorganized - I’ll call my mom and she always says: “Maybe it would help to make a roadmap” that’s what she calls it.
So that's probably my favorite part of my morning routine, roadmapping my day.
And just planning out my schedule, breaking down the blocks of time I’ll need for each class, or appointment, meeting, to-do etc.
During your yoga practice in your DIML - your intention was balance. What did your write and tell to your peers that night?
My intention for this class was balance, and more specifically, the idea of give and take:
Balance is a recurring theme in yoga. Physically, every flow, movement, and pose requires a dynamic give-and-take. Whether it’s muscle engagement, breathwork, or shifting weight, your physical practice relies on this balance.
Think of it like this: imagine trying to flex every muscle in your body at once and then attempting to move—or even jump to touch the ceiling. You wouldn’t be able to. Anatomically, movement requires a harmony between engagement and relaxation in opposing muscles. For movement to happen, one muscle needs to contract (engage) while the opposing muscle lengthens (stretches). When both muscles are fully engaged, energy has nowhere to go, creating static tension, stillness. Movement and flow requires balance: one muscle must give, while the other takes.
This concept of balance is equally relevant in life. When we try to do everything at once, we end up drained—physically, mentally, and energetically.
Recognize that there’s a time to give and a time to receive, and that there’s no need to feel guilty about this. Overworking doesn’t necessarily mean we’re doing more—in fact, from a physics perspective, we’re often doing less. True balance requires both control and surrender.
I encourage you to think about some areas where you can implement this intention and consider ways to bring this balance into both your practice and daily life.
When you experience burnout, what is your favorite way of resetting and recharging?
When I notice myself feeling burnt out or overwhelmed, the first thing I always do is call my mom. I tell my friends that I swear my inner monologue was shaped by my mom’s words; when I feel stuck at the base of a mountain, my Mom is always there to remind me of the tools in my toolbelt.
After that, I turn to self-care. It’s very important for me, I’ve found, to carve out dedicated time for these personal tasks, such as yoga or meditation, which help me recharge and stay focused.
During a yoga class, especially when I’m in a “stuck” headspace, it helps alot to remind myself to leave my “should be” mentalities outside in my locker for the hour. “There is nowhere else you SHOULD be right now. No one else needs you, nothing else needs you. There is nothing you SHOULD be doing other than this, at this moment, in this space”.
Advice for those who want to achieve their goals; but may feel like they cannot “do it all?”
When I say ‘life’s short, do it all,’ I don’t mean stretching yourself thin by trying to master everything at once. It’s not about juggling a hundred things and ending up drained. For me, 'doing it all' is about going after whatever you truly want without letting fear or doubt stand in your way. It’s a reminder to give myself permission to try new things—even if I’m not great at them right away—and to pursue whatever excites me. I actually have a card above my desk that says, 'I can do it all in my lifetime,' which I see every morning when I wake up.
I achieve and make time for my personal goals by understanding my priorities and being intentional with my energy. If you’ve never heard of “Eisenhower’s matrix” I definitely recommend looking into it. Compartmentalizing the different areas of my life is another important strategy I’ve picked up.
For example, my amazing marketing intern Maddy T. also happens to be one of my best friends, which is why it is so important to me to keep our friendship and our business relationship separated. We schedule out specific meeting appointments and try to keep business out of conversation beyond those meeting times. Those types of boundaries are so important to me–knowing when to be a friend, when to be a boss, when to be a student, when to be an instructor, etc.
My advice to anyone trying to achieve their dreams is this: don’t let self-doubt keep you from starting. Break things down into bite-sized chunks, be INTENTIONAL with your energy, and don’t be afraid to be bad at something new. Focus on progress; surround yourself with people who are excited to celebrate all your little wins with you. Go after what makes you feel alive.
What is your favorite and and intentional way of ending your day? And why?
My favorite way to end the day is turning on my essential oil diffuser and tidying up my room. There’s that saying: “You win the mornings, you win the day” and it’s true! Waking up in a clean room feels like a fresh slate, so as often as I can I tidy my room before bed. The more I’ve gotten to know myself, what works, what doesn’t, the more of these little things I’ve added to my routines; tiny habits to set myself up for success.
Lastly, What is the meaning of a balance lifestyle to you?
For me, a balanced lifestyle means aligning my time and energy with what truly matters, both personally and professionally. It’s about giving space to different parts of my life—work, wellness, relationships, and creativity—without letting one area overshadow the rest.
A balanced life, to me, definitely doesn’t mean doing everything equally every day. Instead, it’s about tuning into what I need at any given moment and being okay with shifting my focus.
For example, when I’m in the middle of a big project for Elkini, I will often schedule a yoga class later in the day to give myself designated time to myself. Or after I finish taking a big exam, I’ll spend some time painting to decompress and reward myself for working hard. These activities keep me centered and remind me that taking time for myself is essential, not just a reward.
Finding the right balance between the drive to achieve with the need to rest keeps me motivated and able to pursue what I love.
A balanced lifestyle, to me, is sustainable. It’s about making choices that fill my cup, and setting boundaries to prevent burnout.
Something that is really important to me as a business owner, is finding the balance between the intrinsic rewards of creating something meaningful and the extrinsic goals of growing a business. The intrinsic side—my passion for creating, my vision for Elkini, and the community that surrounds it—keeps me motivated. Meanwhile, the external goals, like reaching new customers and expanding the brand, help me stay disciplined and strategic. It’s a balance of knowing what fuels me personally while also keeping an eye on my goals.
Inter-connectedly, the idea of balance (as Elk reminds over and over again in her own words) - doesn’t lie in the answer of always having to juggle every possible thing and or “to do” on our agenda. It really does boil down to the approach of intention; and choosing to be intentional with how you spend your time and energy. Not only towards the big things like your job, school, romantic relationships, family and or friends. But, also in the so called “mundane” stuff such as planning, researching, compartmentalizing, self-care, a good workout, or even a clean room.
Overall, what brings you to be grounded again? What excites you? What can you bring you more into your power of true intention? Because - those questions can truly get you to the basis of balance.
All my love,
Brejette Nepa
More of Elyse!
Elkini.co: https://www.elkini.co
Elkini (instagram): https://www.instagram.com/elkinicoswim/
Elk’s main (instagram) account: https://www.instagram.com/elysekmm/
Elk’s Mat work (instagram): https://www.instagram.com/matw0rk/