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You can\u2019t spend decades performing one of the best physical comedy characters of all time and not expect to feel it at some point. Well, that\u2019s what Molly Shannon has to say, anyway. Known best as Mary Katherine Gallagher<\/a>, the over-the-top Catholic school girl character portrayed on SNL (you know, \u201cSuperstar!\u201d), Shannon crafted a career where people know her the second she walks on stage\/into a room\/on your screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n These days, Shannon is \u201cmore careful now,\u201d she says. \u201cI wouldn’t do such wild stuff now because I’m a mother, and some of it feels too dangerous.\u201d But she\u2019s proving that wellness doesn\u2019t have to be wild (or difficult) to be good for you, like partnering with Proactive Support from Tylenol<\/a>, a turmeric- and tamarind-based supplement perfect for joints that have spent years hitting walls, chairs, and floors.\u00a0<\/p>\n She recently sat down with W+G to chat through her top wellness tips, comedy (duh), and what she does in her downtime that makes her feel good.\u00a0<\/p>\n First, you gotta stretch<\/p>\n Look, this is also a good reminder for me, too. Even without the physical comedy chops of entering a stage \u201ctripping and dragging a chair,\u201d just a couple of minutes of daily stretching<\/a> can set your day up and prime your body<\/a> for whatever physical endeavors you take on.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I did physical comedy for years\u2014kind of hardcore\u2014I was very active, did a lot of falling back into chairs, and when I did Mary Katherine Gallagher on SNL for years, I would enter the stage falling onto my knees,\u201d Shannon says. \u201cSo now that it’s 30 years later, I really have a very proactive approach for my daily routine.\u201d<\/p>\n This really set in for Shannon a few years ago, when she was on set and hit her knee. And, things didn\u2019t rebound the way they normally did for her (we\u2019ve all been there). She went to a physical therapist, who suggested a few minutes of stretching a day. After a bit of following the routine, the tightness went away. \u201cIt\u2019s really improved,\u201d she says. \u201cBut yeah, I probably wouldn’t have been as hard on my knees.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Related Content<\/p>\n But also, take a hike<\/p>\n No, literally. It\u2019s one of Shannon\u2019s favorite ways to start her day.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coupled with a podcast (she\u2019s currently really into the NPR podcast Fresh Air<\/a>) and a berry smoothie, it sets her day off on a really good note. \u201cIt’s kind of like a meditation because you’re walking back and forth, and I think it relaxes the brain, because it’s like, right, left, right, left,\u201d she says. \u201cIt makes me feel happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Having this morning routine (which also includes Proactive Support, which Shannon says aids her joint mobility) helps create momentum, while also allowing her to work through anything she\u2019s feeling stressed about. \u201cIf you have emails to return or a problem to solve, you can come up with solutions on walks,\u201d she says. \u201cI consider [hiking] like an exercise\/meditation<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ultimately, do what feels good for *your* body and mind<\/p>\n When you\u2019re a comedy veteran like Shannon, there\u2019s a *lot* you try over the years (or, throw at the wall, if you will). And, she says, this extends to her personal wellness regimen. She was even gluten-free<\/a> for a while. \u201cI’m not gluten intolerant, I just did it to be healthier,\u201d she says. \u201cBut after all, I was like, “Oh, this is feeling so tightly wound, and it felt good to just go back to eating and just stopping when I\u2019m full<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Content<\/p>\n For Shannon, being less strict in her wellness practices is what allowed her to find her groove. \u201cWhen I’m too busy and if I feel too rigid about it, I’m like, \u2018it’s okay if you just swim for 30 minutes if you don’t have much time,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cOr at minimum, 20 minutes, go running for 20 minutes\u2014it’s something.\u201d After all, studies show that doing even just a little bit of exercise is worth it<\/a> and can help you build a routine over time, too.<\/p>\n This flexibility also extends to the way she thinks about eating and drinking, too. \u201cThere was a study about alcohol and how it’s toxic, but then there was a really good article and [the writer] goes, \u2018oh, it’s so interesting because so much of wine is so joyous to me,\u2019\u201d Shannon says. \u201cIt’s people drinking wine, over conversations, having dinner, and it’s joyful\u2014a lot of people aren’t mentioning the joy that you can have with sharing a meal, and a beautiful glass of wine with people that makes you so happy.\u201d<\/p>\n But wellness isn\u2019t just about mindful eating, exercise, and stretching. It\u2019s about taking care of your mind, too. This includes a vacation with her kids and lots of family dinners where she takes time to unplug, relax, and recharge. \u201cThere’s nothing that gets me more excited than just being with my family and family dinners,\u201d Shannon says. \u201cIt doesn’t even have to be in any exotic place or destination or restaurant\u2014just being at home with my kids and my husband, that’s my favorite thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest in wellness, trends, food, fitness, beauty, and more delivered right to your inbox.<\/p>\n Got it, you’ve been added to our email list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our editors independently select these products. 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