Street Style: Meet Adrien Cotton, Wellness Expert
As Adrien ushers us into her wellness studio, it’s hard to miss her guns. She’s not flexing, they’re just prominent and physical proof that chinups and pullups work. So of course, we already know we’re going to ask her to demonstrate – and Renee’s going to capture it for posterity!
Originally from Orange County, California, Adrien always wanted to work in politics and that led her to D.C. and the Hill in 1989. She moved to Old Town when a friend needed a roommate and never left Alexandria. She met her husband Bill while they were both working for members of Congress in 1997, and they married in 2000. “It was Pete Sessions that introduced us, he was Bill’s best man. And Bill was bound and determined to make it work; he did, it’s almost 24 years.” They have 16-year old-twins, son William and daughter Rachel. “We had a good amount of time on our own, and we wanted to make sure we wanted to raise a family in this world…it took us a long time to get pregnant.”
She says her first career was “politics/comms/press secretary/PR and my dream job was to land a corporate communications job.” She eventually did, becoming the head of public affairs at Freddie Mac. Once rooted into the role, she found she wasn’t leading a healthy life. “Most nights I wound up at Landini’s after work drinking several glasses of wine…I couldn’t squeeze in exercise, I couldn’t fit into my suits. I was in my early 30s with a big fat paycheck, driving a nice car, living in a nice house. But it wasn’t feeding me, it wasn’t my truth.”
Photography: Renée C. Gage Photography
Styled by: The Hive
Makeup: Tatiana Gliatis
Shoot location: Adrien Cotton Wellness Studio
Her husband Bill encouraged her to start her gym. She had wanted to transition into the fitness and nutrition world for a while. Fitness on the Run was born in 2004. “It was a big jump for us. It started small from out of our house, with about 20 friends. I traveled to them, charging around $40 an hour.” After that big corporate salary, she was losing money, but shares the learnings: “I gained immense experience. I found that people need to form small, simple habits that are manageable to truly feel good in their bodies.”
Over the course of time, Adrien hit perimenopause. “I was in my early 40s, my twins were toddlers heading into preschool and I felt terrible. I had excess weight around my hips and waist–and I was working harder at fitness than ever! I chalked it up to being a busy mom of toddlers, an entrepreneur, and the life I'd chosen. Sleep was elusive at best. My calendar was filled with caring for everyone but me because that made me feel so ‘helpful’ and good. I felt like I was so young at 44, yet my brain was already starting ‘the change.’”
She landed in the office of a menopause specialist. “She told me, ‘You, my dear, are in deep perimenopause and your old approaches aren't going to work anymore.’ I started to do my own research. Not only was I experiencing this, but many of our female clients were feeling it, too. We were following the same old societal, popular trends, hit workouts, salads with no dressing and chicken on top…and we were MISERABLE. BLOATED. And not confident, carrying extra weight. I realized I wasn’t doing a service to them anymore. My body is changing, my brain is changing. It became more about wellness and health, not just fitness.”
Fitness on The Run closed the door in 2018-19. The decision landed a bit hard with many, although clients were able to continue on with any trainer they wanted. There was just no longer an integrated system with rules. Adrien is proud of what they accomplished: “In sixteen plus years, with over 60 coaches trained in our system, we helped over 2000 clients.”
She started Alexandria Wellness shortly after. “I decided I wanted to focus on a women-only approach because they are underserved, and sold too many lies by society.” She began coaching women in her concierge program in 2019, in both one-on-ones and in groups. “I was very lucky that I had quite a few folks who came on board and stayed.”
Adrien wanted her name “on the door,” and today, Adrien Cotton Wellness provides coaching with a holistic approach that includes fitness. “SLEEP is the foundation of my program. You can’t have stress resilience, if you don’t sleep. You react more. You should want to respond – not react. Look at your calendar. How are you spending your time? Is wellness your priority? Will I see that on your calendar? This is not only for you to look good and feel good, but to live a long life…I want to see that on your calendar.”
Reaching women in their late 30s before perimenopause hits is paramount to her, because “they need this message more than anything. This is when they should start to shift their thinking, who they are, what their core values are. Our bodies become different than they were in our 20s and 30s; it’s a good time to start employing simple practices. Setting a bedtime routine, finding time to take a breath every day, take your shoes off, feel the ground underneath you…”
Adrien is also a big advocate of soaking in the bath with epsom salts. “If I’m not in the bathtub, Rachel is, we gun ourselves to the bathroom – she usually wins.”
She also reinforces another truth: “strength training is not going to make you bulky. It prevents muscle loss, regulates blood sugar and hormones, boosts metabolism, boosts immunity. Muscle is the greatest thing our bodies need, and we can easily develop it.”
I’m taking Adrien’s word for it, and so should you, check out her Street Style:
ABOUT ADRIEN
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
What is your hometown? Garden Grove, CA
What would surprise people about you? I played classical piano through college.
Favorite movie: Gentleman in Moscow tied with Lessons in Chemistry
Guilty Pleasure: The Morning Show
Latest binge-watch: Masters of the Air with our son William
Bucket list travel destination: Montana
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Simple, professional, active.
The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Veronica Beard cardigan.
Favorite trend: Jeans, tees with blazer/cardigan.
Beauty products you can’t live without: Westman Atelier drops.
Boots, sneakers, or sandals? Sneakers for sure.
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress: Get on the floor and breathe tied with a walk around the block tech-free.
Most fun way to stay active: Lift heavy weight.
Wellness goal: To sit and eat lunch without a device.
Want to try: Flotation Therapy.
Proudest wellness achievement: Finding my movement and food zen after dozens of years struggling to find my place in those complicated worlds.
HOME
Favorite room in your home: My kitchen.
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Modern, California coastal.
Last item bought for your home: Sectional for our living room..
Favorite way to entertain: Super casual, free-flowing, all ages, some activity (ping pong, cornhole, Super Bowl silly bets, Blackjack, Monopoly).
Clutter-free or well-lived in? Clutter-free.
Next planned purchase: Sectional for our sun room.
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook? The Stylebook community is dedicated to serving our ALX community. We give each other support and I love seeing the fresh new faces we bring in every day.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: The waterfront. We have a boat and there’s nothing better than viewing July 4th fireworks from it, or cruising to Georgetown, Nats games or just tooling around with family and close friends.
Your go-to shop: The Hive - I feel like a member of the family and feel so incredibly cared for by all of them. I love them so. They remember my purchases, my style, my family, and know I am not alone. #loveyouladies And, yes, Elizabeth is one of my closest friends and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. ❤️
Best food spot: Landini Brothers. Consistent. Easy. Fun. Reliable.
Favorite local organization: Tie between Move to Learn and Carpenter’s Shelter who are both dedicated to serving those for whom I care so deeply.
