New England Patriots cheerleader Olivia Kerins spent summer in style on vacation at the Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Kerins shared highlights of her fun-filled trip, including a beautiful snap of herself posing on the beach in a dark bikini, against a background of palm trees and ocean waters. “On Island Time🤎,” she captioned the post. “You are PERFECT,” commented fellow Pats cheerleader Eliza Lynne Kanner. Here’s how Kerins has the energy to cheer as well as be a nurse.
1. She’s a Registered Oncology Nurse
Kerins has a nursing degree, something she says runs in the family. "I am one of over 20 nurses in my family," she says. "You're very safe in our house, we like to say. There's a lot of us." Kerins grew up doing plenty of volunteering and charity work, and believes her spot as a New England Patriots cheerleader was meant to be. "I don't want to say it's coincidental, but growing up, my dad always said that the Kraft family was the gold standard for volunteerism. It just feels right at this point, to be part of the Patriots organization, because that's always been a motto in our house."
2. Making a Difference
Kerins is passionate about cancer prevention, and never skips sunblock when she’s cheering outside. "I think any setting, like when you're around like-minded people who support you and have their own goals and passions that you can support as well, it's just built for success," she says. "I hope to be a really strong voice for skin cancer prevention, and really, all forms of cancer prevention. Just using my background and knowledge as a nurse to elevate the organization, I want to show ways people can support and be active in the community for those things, whether they're a nurse or not."
3. Snacking on Fruit
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Kerins loves bananas and strawberries as a nutritious, delicious snack on the go. “Naturally nutrient-rich strawberries are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals — a natural plant compound,” says Allyn Wergin, RDN. “The majority of health-promoting phytochemicals in strawberries are anthocyanins, which give strawberries their bright-red color.”
4. Yoga Sessions
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Kerins practices yoga as part of her health and wellness regimen. “All exercise can boost your mood by lowering levels of stress hormones, increasing the production of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins, and bringing more oxygenated blood to your brain,” according to Harvard Health. “But yoga may have additional benefits. It can affect mood by elevating levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with better mood and decreased anxiety.”
5. Weight Training
Kerins does weight training workouts using kettlebells with her fellow cheerleaders. “Unlike dumbbells, which you grip at the center of the mass, you grip kettlebells outside of their center of mass,” according to Harvard Health. “This requires you to exert more muscle force to control the weight, providing a more challenging workout.”
