9LIST STORI3S | LEAH VAN DALE
RIDING THIS WAVE | CARISSA MOORE
There is something empowering about seeing those who dominate their area of expertise regardless of the vertical as well as putting good back into the world! This month's cover is 5X World Surf League Women's Champion, Olympic Team USA Surfing Gold Medalist and winner of countless accolades, Carissa Moore. This powerhouse takes to the waves with a focus and competitive spirit that we can appreciate. When we had the chance to talk with her as she was waiting for her call time for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach earlier this month. We were also struck by how she brought the Aloha spirit with her as she talked about her love for the sport, going pro, walking us through her surfing schedule, her documentary and how she strives to inspire the next generation of women through Moore Aloha.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We’re so excited as we have been a fan of yours for awhile. So to be able to chat with you as well as for you to be this month’s cover, is so exciting and our readers are going to want to know more about you and the sport as well as what you have going on!
CARISSA MOORE: Perfect! Let’s do it!
AM: So when did you fall in love with surfing?
CM: I started surfing when I was about 5 years old and it was my dad who pushed me into my first wave at Waikiki. I think you know that it was a love that deepened over time, but I really fell in love with it at the very beginning. Being in the ocean, spending time with my dad. In the very beginning, it was just something that I loved to do with him and then over time, it became something that was more my own and I just love being in the ocean and it feels like a bit of escape from reality at times. It brings me back to the present moment which I feel like that sometimes, there are so many distractions and our world is going at such a fast speed sometimes that it’s hard to stay present. I think that that is one of the greatest gifts of being in the ocean. Just being here and now. It just brings a lot of joy.
AM: Was it hard for you because you do love it and it’s your passion – to know that it’s also your profession? Do you see it differently and how do you navigate that?
CM: I just feel extremely fortunate and grateful that I get to do something that I love as a profession! You know, the sport has evolved to a place that we can make a living out of it as professional athletes. At times, it’s definitely more intense than others, but what’s the coolest part is that in a jersey or not, I still want to go to the beach everyday and see the ocean which is awesome!
AM: That’s really cool! What’s an average day like when you’re training?
CM: An average day pre season, is waking up early. The crazy part about surfing which you were a little bit shocked to learn is that you’re kind of at the whim of Mother Nature right? So every day, you’re trying to find the best time to surf and whether that’s based on the tides, the wind or the swell that’s coming in and hasn’t arrived yet. Surfing is very fluid as the schedule depends on where the waves are. So I find the best waves that I can train on. I train with an on-land trainer 3-4 times a week and we’ll meet at a park or sometimes a gym at her house for like an hour or so. My day definitely includes a time to eat, refuel and to rest. Rest is very important for me so I like to set up at least an hour a day to read or go for a walk or watch some TV with my husband. Then maybe I surf again in the afternoon or check in with my sport psych so that’s kind of what a day looks like. Sometimes it includes sponsorship stuff or interviews like this!
Actually, between surfing and the ocean, it has taught me so many lessons and that's just one of them. There is so much that’s out of our control so you have to let go and surrender and say, ok, this is what we’re doing today – so yeah!
AM: It’s very cool. So what do you do, in terms of workouts that allow you to optimize yourself in the sport? Obviously, you’re in the water and surfing, but what other kinds of things do you also do to assist with that?
CM: I mean it’s pretty cool that as a surfer, you have to be fit in all different kinds of areas. Depending on what kind of event or wave we’re surfing at, some waves are big and powerful. Like the next event we’re competing at, we’re going to be on Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu and it’s a very big playing field. So I like to say that endurance definitely factors in as well as power and strength, I don’t use a lot of weight, but we have been using a little more weight. Most of the workouts that we do are a lot of bodyweight stuff. I love HIIT workouts, stuff that’s fast paced for me is really mentally engaging, but we also work on agility, strength, cardio and core. I do go to Pilates once a week and incorporate yoga every morning for at least 30 minutes. There are a lot of different things that I do and I kind of do it all.
AM: At the Tokyo Olympics, that was such an amazing Olympics as both surfing and skateboarding were both brought in for the first time for the Summer Games. You won the first Gold medal which is amazing as it was the first time for that sport! What did it mean to you to have that Olympic experience?
CM: It was such a special experience. I didn’t really have that many expectations because surfing had never been there before. So, I was just excited to be part of it all and to be in a team atmosphere and get to go to the Village. Everything was a bigger and grander scale than I imagined. But just getting to be in that arena is the epitome of sports. I think that for the surfing community, it was a really huge moment to be elevated on that level and to get to perform on that platform. As a native Hawaiian, it means a lot to us and surfing is kind of our sport. It was really great to see and be able to get that representation of our people and our sport. That was really cool too.
AM: Are you thinking ahead to Paris?
CM: I kind of think that we all are because this season on the Championship Tour is a qualifying season. So for countries like America, Australia, Brazil, and some other countries, we qualify with our rankings at the end of the year through the 10 events through the season. So we are definitely all thinking about it. It’s really exciting, it will be quite a battle because there are so many Americans on tour and so many Australians on tour – it’s just a focus of doing our best on this season and hopefully it works out.
AM: You’re a 5X World Surfing League Women’s Tour Champion, you’ve won so many different accolades, how important is it to you to have balance and to implement self-care into your mental and physical practices?
CM: Oh, it’s huge! I think that for me, from a pretty young age, I realized how important it was to have a balance. For me, I finished school, I was getting to have a social life and being grounded at home was super important. It definitely gave me an appreciation for the time that I got in the water and it helped me learn how to use my time wisely and to train efficiently. Also, my dad has always stressed to take the time to rest because then you can come back stronger. Taking that time physically and mentally, I am definitely learning over time that in order to love others and to share more love with the world, you have to love yourself and take time to fill your cup so you can fill others' cups. I definitely think that it’s super important to slow down, take the time to appreciate the little things that you have done to improve yourself or to better yourself and it helps to give you momentum and the confidence to go forward.
AM: Absolutely! We were just talking about the surfing season. What is the surfing season in terms of when it starts and stops and what are your favorite tournaments that you like participating in?
CM: So our season just started at the end of Jan and goes all the way into Sep. We compete in 10 events and then we have 1 final event. We go all over! So we start in Hawaii, then we go to Portugal, then Australia, California, El Salvador, Brazil, South Africa and Tahiti.
AM: Wow!
CM: We get to go to some pretty cool places.
AM: Um yeah! We want to go!
CM: There are a lot of great ones that I look forward to. I really love Western Australia. There’s something about that place, the raw beauty and there isn’t much fuss. It’s about surfing and getting in the ocean. I really like Tahiti, it reminds me a lot of home and the people there are just full of Aloha and good vibes! South Africa, it’s definitely a bit of a trek but once you get there, the waves are incredible and it's just like awesome!
AM: This month, you’re competing in the Hurley Sunset Beach World Championship, what are you looking forward to in this tournament?
CM: I’m super excited that my sponsor Hurley has stepped up to sponsor a World Tournament event and to see their support of all of us on that level. It’s really cool! I guess that being able to compete on home turf in front of my family and friends on beaches that I have grown up surfing on my whole life is super cool. I think that just trying to push myself competitively and to put forth some good performances hopefully, I’m just looking forward to getting in the water, putting the jersey on and competing at home.
AM: That’s awesome! You were just talking about all of the places that you travel to, because you do so much travel, how do you make your hotel rooms feel like home, and then when you’re on the road, are there things that you like to do when you hit certain cities or do you just focus on hitting that tournament?
CM: Since I have been traveling, you know it’s the 13th year that I have been on the Championship Tour, after doing it for a little bit of time now, out with the hotel rooms in with the Airbnb’s that have kitchens and living rooms – places that can feel like home and feel more homey. Just having kitchens which is so nice because you can eat what you want to eat and know what you are putting into your meals. I think that is super important and just having the room to spread out and train. Because we do have a lot of downtime and we have a 2 week waiting period most of the time. But then it only takes a day and a half – two days to run the women’s event. So there is a lot of downtime. Like you mentioned, the beauty of getting to do this is that we get to go to some amazing places and getting to go sightseeing to really get to immerse yourself in the culture, the people and the towns – it’s such a gift! I definitely like to take those lay days and take advantage to see those places.
AM: You’re sponsored by Hurley, you have a collection coming out in March. What can you tell us about this as you shot this in your home and hometown which seems amazing!
CM: Ahh thank you so much! This is my 3rd collection with them and I couldn’t be more excited as I think that it keeps getting better and better. This one is super sweet because we actually got to partner with a local artist, her name is JT, and her art name is Aloha de Mele. So all of the prints that are incorporated in the collection are from her. So it just felt really synergistic to get to use my platform to also uplift another woman who is from Hawaii and is very talented.
Look her up, her artwork is amazing.
I got to work really closely with the team at Hurley to create designs, patterns and colors that are really important to me as well as silhouettes that are very feminine, very beautiful and flattering, but also super functional. I think that it’s really come together in this line and it’s a quality line. Like you mentioned, we got to photograph the collection at home and we actually did it in my backyard!
AM: Oh nice! We’ve had the pleasure of doing collaborations and there is nothing better than when it’s something that comes from you and your home, your backyard – that is so cool!
CM: Thank you so much! I can’t wait for you to see it. Hopefully there are a couple of pieces that you like from it that you can wear!
AM: Oh yes! I’m sure. Also as fashion stylist, it’s always fun to see items that you can style into shoots that we work on!
CM: Sweet!
AM: Yeah! Obviously at Athleisure Mag, we love things that are functional but when it’s great for transitional wear – life just moves so quickly, you want to be able to be prepared for anything. So I love anything that’s like that!
You had the Red Bull documentary, RISS. A Film About More Love with Carissa Kainani Moore, that talks about you and your life. Why did you want to do this and how does it feel to have your lifestory available so others can get to know more about you?
CM: Thanks for checking it out and bringing it up! I have always wanted to do a fun piece and it was important to me work with a director like Peter Hamblin who had kind of a different eye and an approach to things. It was super fun to work with him, we got really close in the process so it didn’t feel like it was really invasive at all. It was like just hanging out with one of my friends.
I think that those kinds of things, when I’m watching sports docs or sports movies on incredible athletes or athletes that have an inspiring story, it’s cool to see that they’re human, that they’re relatable and they’re tangible. I think that there is something so inspiring about someone being vulnerable and open. I’ve found that through other people sharing their stories. If it can help 1 person that is going through something, that’s the goal. If someone can relate to the story or take one little thing from it, that would be awesome.
AM: I just watched a sports documentary with NBA Legend Bill Russell last night. I’m always watching things like that. It’s great to get to know more about the sport but you get to see it and the person in the time that they grew up in. You then get to see how things have changed or progressive movements, it really lets you realign yourself and think about things in a different way.
CM: Totally!
AM: So when you’re not surfing, how do you take time for yourself?
CM: Number 1 is hanging out with my husband! He’s my pride and joy.
AM: You guys are so cute!
CM: He’s actually right here. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing. It doesn’t need to be much. Just hanging out with him and the dogs makes me super happy. My family lives really close to me so my sister, my mom, my dad, my grandparents so being able to check in with them and I still have some friends that are still in town. I think that surrounding myself with good people makes me really stoked and besides doing that, other things that make me stoked and fill up my cup, I started a charitable foundation, Moore Aloha in 2018. So, I spend a lot of time in investing in how to make it grow, grow programs and events that can make a positive impact on the next generation of females which is something that is near and dear to my heart.
AM: Are there projects with Moore Aloha that we should keep an eye out for?
CM: You are so sweet – thank you! I’m in the middle of competing and stuff so the bandwidth is pretty low at the moment. What has been fun is that we’re doing more online things. So we’re doing essay prompts where people are awarded scholarships every month; we just launched our first paid internship program this year; and we just did our 1st 6 week internship program with a former professional surfer Megan Abubo. So being able to connect the dots and create those meaningful mentorship programs for young girls is something that while I’m competing, I’m hoping to do at the same time! When the season is done, I have some really cool fun in person events planned on Oahu and in California. Hopefully, depending on if I make the cut, there’s a cut mid-season, so if you make the cut, you get to do the second half of the season. I would really love to be able to do an event before South Africa.
AM: Wow!
CM: Yeah! So if you want to be able to check anything out, please check out our website Moore Aloha.com.
AM: You’re a fan of scrapbooking. When did you start doing this and how do you approach putting one together creatively?
CM: I started scrapbooking in 2011/2012, but it was pretty close to when I started competing on the tour. You know, you lose more than when you win in this game. I think that for me, It was really important to be able to look back at all of the wonderful things and experiences that I had that still made the trip worthwhile. Because it’s easy to look back at an experience that you didn't win and say, "oh crap, I lost." But in reality, there is so much to be be grateful for and so much to celebrate. So it’s a little bit of time that I get to reflect and to see that we did this, you did that and even though I didn’t get the win, all of these other amazing things happened.
My process is, I don’t know – I get it all out and make a mess with stickers and colors. I get my scissors out and then I just lay out all of the photos and then I slowly just have them fit together like puzzle pieces.
AM: What do you want your legacy to be in the sport and even in life in general?
CM: Oh gosh! My legacy! I think that through my surfing, I want people to feel something. I think that the greatest athletes, at least for me in watching the greatest athletes – you can feel the joy. You can feel that they are having so much fun and love it. In return, it sparks that passion in yourself. I hope that I can leave that feeling with people. Not necessarily the wins, but how did I make them feel. I hope that if I can encourage people to just be kind, loving, patient, understanding and more empathetic with each other – that would be a huge win, you know? It’s like carrying that Aloha spirit. Aloha, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s so hard to put into words.
AM: I was just going to ask you if you could put it into words?
CM: Yeah it’s something that I grew up with and It’s engrained in me from my childhood. Just being in Hawaii, it’s how you treat people with this unconditionalness and not wanting anything in return. There’s no judgment, it’s being open and I think that if we can do that more with each other and the world around us, I think that there would be more harmony.
IG @rissmoore10
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT + BACK COVER, PG 19 + 25 - 28 Hurley | PG 16 + 31 Billabong Pro Pipeline Jan 2023 - World Surf League/Tony Heff | PG 20 + 22 Hurley Sunset Pro Beach Feb 2023 - World Surf League/Brent Bielmann | PG 32 Red Bull |
Read the FEB ISSUE #86 of Athleisure Mag and see RIDING THE WAVE | Carissa Moore in mag.
Featured
BEYOND THE RING | LEAH VAN DALE
It's always great to reconnect with our faves and see how they continue to blaze new trails as they navigate the intersectionality of their lives. We first met Leah Van Dale back in 2019 for her SEP ISSUE #45 with us at the Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel. In this month's issue, she talks about her routine to the ring in WWE as Carmella who always knows how to bring the drama and athleticism, the importance of self-care, her recent marriage to Matt Polinsky/WWE's Corey Graves and her approach to fashion as she's always rocking amazing looks unapologetically.
ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s so good to re-connect with you again and to catch up! To connect all of our readers at Athleisure Mag, what have you been up to, what are you looking forward to in terms of this year as you navigate your upcoming matches in the WWE?
LEAH VAN DALE: Yeah, I just had my first match back in about 7 months on Feb 6th! That was really exciting to be able to be back in the ring with a new look and back to my Moonwalking, trash talking, Princess of Staten Island character! It’s been a minute since I have been able to do that. I’m really enjoying that. I just really want to be able to focus on being the best version of me that I can and to have a lot of fun. That’s really my goal this year, to have a lot of fun and to not put too much pressure on myself.
AM: That’s great! In terms of the WWE, are there any events that you’re looking forward to that we should mark our calendars for?
LVD: Absolutely on the 18th, we have the Elimination Chamber, a Premium Live Event. I’m going to be in the chamber, there will be 6 of us, we’ll all be facing each other. The winner will face Bianca Belair at WrestleMania for the Raw Women’s Championship. I have never held the Raw Championship. I have been Smackdown Champion, I’ve been Tag Team Champion, but I have never held the Raw Title so I’m really hoping that I can win that match and go up against Bianca Belair for that match at WrestleMania.
AM: Obviously, we hope that you do! When you know that you will be heading into the ring, are there routines that you do before and after the matches so that you can prepare for the fight and do you have things that you do when you’re coming down after exerting all of that energy?
LVD: Oh yeah! I have a huge stretch routine. I have to stretch! I was a dancer in the first part of my life and I feel like I lost my flexibility because of the regimen that I do, being in the ring and the injuries that I have gone through. So because I feel like I lost a lot of my flexibility, stretching has been something that I have been focusing on a lot more lately. So I do a huge stretch before the match and then I really like to listen to Megan Thee Stallion. I put my headphones on and I just get in the zone and remind myself of what a bad B that I am and try to channel my inner Megan Thee Stallion and just get into character. Because Carmella is a lot different then Leah so I feel like I have to really remind myself of who I am and what I’m going out there to do.
After my match, something that I have learned through acupuncture because of my acupuncturist is that with WWE, it’s just go, go, go all the time, so it's to be more in the moment. It’s on to the next thing, hurry up and get to the airport, hurry up and land and get your rental car, hurry up and get to the hotel, hurry up and try to get some sleep, try to go to the gym. It’s always go, go, go, so I feel like I want to try to focus more on being in the moment. After that match and coming down from being on that high and adrenaline that took place out there which is running through my veins like that, I want to come down from that and just take a few minutes backstage by myself, unwind, recognize what I just did, being out there and performing in front of all of these people and then come back and just kind of take a minute and breathe! It's just about recognizing what I did, to be present and then to be able to move on to the next thing without being in such a blur.
AM: You’re clearly a fit person and especially in what you do. We have a great mild winter that has been taking place here in NY, which makes us think of the Spring and the Summer. What are 3 workouts that you do that we should consider adding into our own routines?
LVD: Ooo that’s a good question! I’m a huge advocate for [solidcore]. It’s basically Pilates I suppose, but Pilates to the 100th degree! It is insane and I’m really huge on that. So, I used to lift heavy for most of my career and most of my life, and I found that doing Pilates and doing [solidcore] has really transformed my body as it’s more resistance-based training as opposed to lifting heavy. It’s been so good on my muscles and my joints and I just feel like a new person. I feel strong and prepared when I do [solidcore]. So, I would definitely say that!
I’m huge into yoga I’m a big yogi. I really enjoy what it does for my body and my mind, both inside and out, huge fan of yoga. I think that honestly, I live in the city of Pittsburgh and I do a lot of walking. I think it’s pretty underrated. I love to go out for a nice walk, I bring my dog with me and I just walk all over the place. I walk to get coffee, I walk to go to the store. Anywhere I go, to get lunch, to get a juice – it’s so underrated, go outside, take a walk and get going! The steps add up.
AM: Oh yeah when you’re with your dog or your friends, it’s a nice thing to do. Totally agree with you.
As an entrepreneur, what do you look for when it comes to brands you’re thinking of launching or even partnering with others?
LVD: Great question! I feel that it has to be something that is super authentic to you. Anyone can go out and try to make a business out of something. But if you don’t love it and you’re not passionate about it, it’s going to feel like work, it’s gong to be work no matter what – but you’re going to notice how hard it is and how difficult it is if you don’t love it. I even look at it that way with the WWE. There’s no way that just anyone can walk off the street and do what we do. Not only because of the physical toll that it takes on you in the ring, but the travel! It’s so demanding! If you don’t love it, there’s no way that you’re going to last.
AM: I couldn’t agree with you more! I have to say that I have such a respect for you and the other WWE people. When we’ve shot with you, Nattie, Trinity and Danielle Moinet, when you guys came to set you’d share that you just drove 3 hours to get there, you had a fight the day before, a fight later on that same day after our shoot and the amount of schedules that you guys juggle and yet to see how happy you are and how you still interact with fans is insane!
LVD: It is a lot, but I think that you have to have great time management skills and like I said, if you love it, it doesn’t feel as difficult because you’re doing something that you’re enjoying. So you get an instant gratification from that.
AM: Are there ventures that you’re exploring that you’re able to share? Something that you’ve done which is really great, is that in addition to us knowing you as an athlete, you cover other areas in business because you’re truly an entrepreneur.
LVD: Well, I actually have something in the works that I can’t say just yet. When we’re able to announce it, it will be exciting! I’m really trying to focus on fashion right now and explore it. It’s something that I’m passionate about, I love it and I enjoy it. I’ve always loved clothes since I was a kid. I just think that it’s fun to be able to express yourself and to show who you are by what you’re wearing. I think that that is something that I will really try to focus on this year. I would love to have an athleisure line and to get more into that realm. I’m putting that out into the universe because it’s something that I really want to be able to do and to dive into.
AM: I could see you doing that as your IG always shows you killing a range of looks!
You recently got married to Matt! How is it juggling your busy lives with both of you part of WWE, working, traveling and your family? It’s so exciting.
LVD: It is so exciting! I think that we have really found our way into the groove. We both have such demanding and crazy schedules! Luckily, we’re both on Raw, so we’re on the same show; however, we both have separate commitments outside of just Raw. I have live events, he has currently been working with NXT talent. So we’re just kind of all over the place. FaceTime is great, we’re always communicating via text, all day every day. It just makes our time when we’re together, that much better because we get to be in the moment and present and enjoy each other. We have things that we can catch up on, but if we’re together all day every day, we already know everything happening in each other’s lives. It’s great to have a little bit of separation because then we can come together and chat about the things that we have going on with each other.
AM: It’s always fun to see you guys on IG or when you were doing your podcast show together, are there other projects that the two of you will do together that you’re able to share?
LVD: There’s actually nothing in the works right now. We love working together. It’s funny because we truly complement each other so well. We are truly opposite from each other. He’s more quiet and you know, a little mysterious, whereas I’m more kind of like obnoxious, annoying and just in your face. It’s funny the way that we compliment each other. We are thinking about bringing our podcast back. We had to take a break with getting married, then work was just insane and then life just got in the way. But our fans are really asking for it so I think that when the time is right, we will eventually go back to the podcast. There’s so much to update everyone on.
AM: It was so fun to listen to and I love a whole peanut butter and jelly aspect!
A few minutes ago, we were talking about fashion. How do you approach your closet? You wear items that are sporty to those that are chic, you play with proportions. You can truly tell that you just embrace playing and seeing what works and just enjoying that. How do you approach your closet in terms of the looks for the day and events when you’re going out?
LVD: I think that if someone were to ask me how I would describe my style, I don’t have a specific style. I like anything and everything. When I’m just at home, I’m usually in sweats. But I like for it to be something cute like a matching set or just a big baggy sweatpants and a crop top. I feel like I really try to just do the most. I don’t care if the look might offend someone. I’m always in a crop top, even if it’s in the winter, I really don’t care. I’m going to do the most, I just want to do something that makes me feel good and to just make a statement. I think it’s important that when it comes to my closet, that I don’t spend a lot of money on trendy items. I like to spend my money on a classic piece and something that I can wear forever and something that will last forever and won’t go out of style. If I’m going to go for something that’s trendy, it’s going to be a lot cheaper. I like to pair something cheap, with something expensive. If I have a nice pair of Louis boots and then I wear it with my $20 Fashion Nova jeans, who cares?
AM: How do you take time for yourself in terms of self-care so that you can reset and be present for whatever it is that is on your agenda?
LVD: As I mentioned earlier in working with my acupuncturist, that’s something that I have really been focusing on for the last few months. I think that it’s so important to take time for yourself. It’s not selfish. It’s a great way I think to be able to reset and to just be present in your everyday life. If you’re taking time for yourself, then you’re going to be a better wife, a better daughter, a better friend and a better employee. That’s because you’re not all over the place. I think it’s important to stay in the moment. I really like to schedule appointments. So if I have an appointment for my yoga, for my acupuncture, for a stretch, PT or the chiropractor then I make that commitment and I have to go. If I say, “oh I will stretch out when I’m at home,” there’s no way that I am going to do it. I’m going to get wrapped up in work or a phone call that is going to distract me. So I feel, that for me, when I make appointments, I have scheduled something and I know that I will be paying for it. I have to commit and I have to do it!
AM: For sure! There’s nothing worse than seeing a charge for a no show fee because you weren’t there. You’re just cheating yourself.
LVD: That’s the worst, legitimately the worst!
AM: What do you want your legacy to be in terms of the sport and the world? What’s that mark that others can look to and say that they know that that was what Leah Van Dale did and/or contributed to?
LVD: Oh my gosh, that’s such a huge and crazy question to hear! I think that when it comes to that, I want women, especially young women in general just to be able to realize that you don’t have to be just one thing. I think for a long time I thought that I was just a WWE SuperStar or I’m just the girl that comes out and dresses sexy on TV or I’m the girl that was the last Draft Pick in 2016. I’m so much more than that and I don’t have to fit into just one box! As women, that’s sort of what we are taught in society and it’s made us think that we are just one thing. No, I have so many more things to me and different aspects and sides of me that I want to share and I don’t have to be just the girl that dresses sexy or the girl in WWE. I’m also a step mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend and there are so many other things that define me! I’m not just one thing. I think that if I can pass anything on to women and using my social media platform and my following, that’s what I want women to know. You don’t have to be that and your thing can change by the way! Who I was in 2017 is a hell of a lot different then who I am now and that’s so different from who I am going to be a year from now! It’s ok to change, evolve and grow.
AM: And sometimes, circling back!
LVD: For sure! Absolutely!
AM: There have been things that 8 years ago you did it and whatever and then last year you think about it and realize that you want to bring it back to the front burner again. Things are fluid and we shouldn’t be beating up on ourselves.
IG @carmellawwe
PHOTOS COURTESY | PG 40 - 47 + 9LIST STORI3S PG 48, 49 + 51 Leah Van Dale
Read the FEB ISSUE #86 of Athleisure Mag and see BEYOND THE RING | Leah Van Dale in mag.
Featured
SMALL BUT MIGHTY | CHLOE KIM
The importance of sport brings people together as they accomplish amazing feats, learn the importance of being dedicated to their passion and continuing to push the sport. Chloe Kim is one of our favorite snowboarders who is the first female to have won a back-to-back Team USA Snowboarding Olympic Gold Medalist in Half Pipe, ESPY winner, 5X Gold Medalist of the Super Hald Pipe in the X Games to name a few. She's also been included in Mattel's Shero Barbie, appeared on the box of the special edition Kellogg's Corn Flakes where this version was the fastest selling cereal box in Kellogg's history, made it to the semi-finals as the Jellyfish in FOX's Masked Singer and in March 2022, she was added to Fortnite as a playable character as part of the game's icon series.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve been a fan of yours for years. When did you start snowboarding and when did you realize that you wanted to do it professionally?
CHLOE KIM: I started snowboarding when I was 4, my dad actually took me up to the mountains because he wanted my mom to go, but she didn’t want to go. So he took me and he told her she was a terrible mother if she didn’t come so that ride turned into a professional career somehow!
But I think at the age of 6, I started competing at junior events with other girls my age and I started winning these events. My parents saw that I had potential and funny enough, they knew nothing about snow sports and so that was the only measure of my skills and to see how good I was. Shortly after that, I started training and now I have 2 Olympic Gold medals.
AM: Which is amazing! You’re the first female ever in the Olympics to win your Gold medal back-to-back in the Half Pipe. It’s always fun to see you out there! What are some of your most memorable moments from your career?
CK: I think that my most memorable moments are that they're always the firsts. The first time on a snowboard or the first time I won a contest, my first time traveling for a contest! All of the firsts are so memorable to me because I never expected my life to look like that.
Everyone was always like, “oh I don’t know what to do about my future,” but I always knew what to do in my future you know? This is what I wanted to do and it’s pretty cool.
AM: We’ve been a fan of Mucinex and we’ve been using it for the last 10 or 12 years as it clears things up which is amazing. So it’s great to see that you are partnering with them. How did you come on board for this project and tell us more about the “Small But Mighty Campaign.”
CK: I was super excited to partner with Mucinex on the “Small But Mighty Campaign,” and recently, I had the flu. My Mucinex Fast Max just really helped with everything that I had going on. I had a bunch of sinus things, my nose was running like crazy, I had the worst sore throat and it was just this tiny dose that I took, it was so much better! I felt like a human again – so this works. I highly recommend the Mucinex Fast Max whenever you’re sick, because it saved my life.
In addition to that, Mucinex is partnering with me and supporting 5 YMCA chapters with donations totaling $100,000 in 2023. I think that that is kind of why I decided to partner with them as well because they are giving back to these communities in need. That’s very important to me.
AM: That messaging is awesome as well. How do you see that message “Small But Mighty” in your own career?
CK: Yeah, you know that I think that “Small But Mighty” really resonates with me as a young woman who has always been looked down on or no one really believing in me on where I am today and proving everyone wrong has been my favorite part about my career! It’s like ha ha – look at me now, you know? I think that my career has always been about breaking boundaries and stereotypes and all of these things. To see how big of an impact that I have been able to make in other people’s lives and to also be able to change people’s perspectives on women in sports as well. Seeing how big of an impact that I have been able to make is incredible.
AM: You’re always doing so many things and it’s great to see it on IG as well. What are some things that you’re working on this Spring or things that we can keep an eye out for?
CK: I am relaxing as I’m exhausted. But you know, I think that I have just been trying to figure out what I want to do post snowboarding career as well. Knowing that I can partner with brands such as Mucinex for their “Small But Mighty Campaign” makes me really excited about the future because I see how the impact of my career can help these communities. Especially with this one as I started with very humble beginnings and knowing how this kind of support from these brands and how they care about our communities is really important because we had a really hard time when I started out. Snowboarding is not cheap, you know what I’m saying? I received a lot of support through a few charities and organizations so this means a lot and also inspires me to want to do more.
IG @chloekim
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | 9LIST STORI3S PG 36 - 39 + PG 140 - 145 ROXY
Read the FEB ISSUE #86 of Athleisure Mag and see SMALL BUT MIGHTY | Chloe Kim in mag.
Featured
9DRIP | LEAH VAN DALE
9LIST STORI3S | CHLOE KIM
9LIST STORI3S | SLOANE STEPHENS
SERVING UP SELF-CARE | SLOANE STEPHENS
As we close out 2022, we're already thinking about what we're going to do in the New Year personally and professionally! In the midst of all this activity, we need to take time and to enjoy the moments along the way!
This month's cover is Grand Slam US Open 2017 Champion, Sloane Stephens. She has made impressive moments at the French Open, Australian Open, Wimbledon and a number of matches and won an ESPY for Top Female Tennis Player in 2018 and because of her philanthropic work with the Sloane Stephens Foundation, she was nominated and a finalist for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in 2019.
We have had the pleasure to connect with her in previous issues, but this month, we're talking about her upcoming tennis season, self-care and what she does while traveling! She definitely knows a thing or two about juggling a busy schedule while also taking the necessary time that she needs.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We had the pleasure of interviewing a few years back and then right before the US Open, you took time out of your schedule to share your 63MIX ROUTIN3S with us about what you do Morning, Afternoon and Night. With the season starting Jan 1st, what are the weeks like for you between now and the start of the season whether it’s training, relaxing, enjoying the holiday season, etc?
SLOANE STEPHENS: I’ve had one of the best off-seasons I’ve ever had this year! I started out by freezing my eggs at Kindbody. I’ve wanted to freeze my eggs for a while and the timing was finally right to commit to the process. From there, we went to Iceland to celebrate Jozy’s birthday and spent a few days as a family at the Retreat Hotel at the Blue Lagoon getting spa treatments and soaking in the hot springs. Iceland is only a 5 hour nonstop flight from Boston, so it was an easy trip! The day after Thanksgiving, we left for Africa. We went on the most incredible safari in South Africa at Londolozi and saw a gorilla trek at Virunga National Park. This was my first trip to Africa and I cannot wait to go back. I’m now back in Boston doing a training block with my trainer before heading for a tennis training block in Cabo through Christmas. From Cabo, I’ll fly directly to Auckland, NZ to begin the season!
AM: What tournaments are you looking forward to this year?
SS: Red clay is my favorite surface, so I always look forward to the European clay court season in the spring, which culminates at Roland Garros. As an American, any time I can play on US soil is extra special, so I’m looking forward to playing at Indian Wells, Miami, the US Open, and a new tournament in Austin.
AM: What is your routine before and after your matches?
SS: Before I play, I usually eat some pasta and a piece of lean protein like a chicken breast or piece of fish. I typically go into the locker room and put my headphones in and spend some time thinking and mentally going over the match plan I outlined with my coach the night before. About 30 minutes before my match, I’ll break a light sweat on a stationary bike and go through some fitness drills to make sure I’m starting the match with quick feet and dynamic movement.
After the match, I’ll do a quick cool down and shower before handling any mandatory media commitments. Once I’m done with that, I’ll either get a massage on-site or go back to my hotel and get some treatment from my physio. Depending on the time of day, I’ll then head out to dinner and prepare for the next day.
AM: How important is recovery to you after working out or after a match? What are the kinds of things that you do after these activities?
SS: Recovery is a critical piece of both the fitness and recovery process. Cooling down and taking the time to stretch and flush out muscles is really important for recovery and preparing for the next day and next match.
AM: Many of our readers are balancing hectic schedules – you got married at the top of the year to Jozy Altidore, an international soccer star – how do you make sure you give time to yourself, being with your husband and family?
SS: I make a lot of effort to have a very structured schedule and communicate my boundaries and commitments to my team. When it’s family time, it is family time and the phone is away. When it’s time to train, I’m training. When it’s time to work on my Foundation or on my outside businesses and investments, I’m fully there. I’ve also learned the things that bring me the most joy and fulfillment and prioritize those activities. When I’m home and able to spend time with my family, I take advantage of every single second of that time we’re together.
AM: In your sport, you spend a lot of time traveling 40+ weeks of the year! You kick off the season in Australia with the Australian Open. Also via your IG feed, you travel for fun – you’re South African trip looks amazing! How do you make your spaces feel like home when you’re traveling?
SS: I try to keep some consistent products and activities in my routine so that I can rely on those consistencies no matter where I am. A super easy way to do this is with bringing a candle from home - I find that having the same scent is really grounding and helps me feel in control of my environment.
AM: When it comes to choosing what hotel you like to stay at and to help our readers that may be planning their next trip, what are the things that you look for?
SS: For most tournaments, there is an official tournament hotel, so I just stay wherever I need to. In some cases, like in Paris and New York where there are endless options, we get to pick our own hotels. I love to stay at The Langham in New York and Hotel Vernet in Paris. I love when a hotel has a good breakfast, it’s just one less decision to make in the day. I also love great showers and friendly concierges.
AM: In terms of your suitcase, what are some of the important things that are must for you to pack so that you have your necessities as well as options for the unexpected?
SS: The most important thing in my suitcase is my passport. If I have my passport, I can pretty much figure everything else out as I go! Of course, I also need my tennis racquets to do my job! I travel with a lot of skin care products because I love the sense of calm and order that a consistent routine brings.
AM: What are some of your travel hacks that have proven to work for you that we should know?
SS: I cannot overstate the importance of hydrating during travel. The entire travel experience is really drying - the plane air is dry, hotels can be dry, the change in climates can be tough - it’s a lot. Hydrating inside and out helps your body adjust to new situations and new timezones and it is so simple to do. I think a lot of people are hit with a double-whammy when it comes to dehydration because they’re drinking a lot of caffeine to try and stay awake during travel or they might be having some alcoholic beverages while they’re away, and both of those things are also really dehydrating on the body, so it’s all the more important to hydrate.
AM: Do you have anything that you do before, during or after hopping on a flight whether it’s a beauty process, self-care, etc?
SS: I’ve started wearing WHOOP’s new Blue Light Glasses to avoid disrupting my circadian rhythms with too much screen time - it makes a huge difference when I’m trying to sleep the next night. I also try to get up and walk around on the plane to keep the blood flowing and prevent blood clots or feeling super stiff when I land.
AM: When you arrive in your designated city, whether it’s for work or fun, what are the things that you look for in terms of restaurants, activities and shopping that you want to explore?
SS: When I was first starting out on tour, I rarely ventured out. I stuck close to the hotel and always went back to the same restaurants. There are already so many variables at play when traveling for work and needing to compete, so I never wanted to risk an upset stomach or having any sort of issues. Now that I’ve been traveling to the same cities for 15+ years, I have a great mix of my tried and true staple spots but have also really enjoyed researching and trying new spots. I think being locked down during Covid made me appreciate the incredible opportunity I have to travel the world and made me look forward to getting back out and exploring.
AM: Do you have separate beauty routines for daytime versus night time?
SS: Yes! I wake up and drink a huge glass of water. I brush my teeth and then wash my face with a gentle cleanser like the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex. I sleep with various moisturizing layers, so I don’t want to take that all off and dry myself out again. I usually head right to practice or training, so I put Neutrogena sunscreen on my face and sometimes I’ll use the Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Pollution Drops under my sunscreen. I sweat pretty much every day and am always wearing sunscreen, so I like to do a body scrub in the shower at night to scrub that all away and feel like I’m going to bed super clean. For the record, I love piping hot showers, the hottest the dial will turn - boil me!! After I get out of the shower, I layer on the moisturizers - I start with a lotion and then will layer a body oil on top if I’m feeling extra ashy in certain spots. I go through the same routine every day and it helps my body and mind recognize that it is time to start unwinding and preparing for bed. None of the products I use at night have any energizing scents like eucalyptus or lemon verbena - it’s all fragrance free. If I want a relaxing scent, I’ll turn on a diffuser or light a candle. I always travel with diffusers or candles.
AM: How important is mental health and self-care to your training and state of being whether you’re working in your sport or just being out and about?
SS: There is an undeniable link between mental health and physical well-being. Both parts have to be working in harmony. Tennis as a sport inherently requires a lot of mental energy - it’s just you out there and everyone is looking at you, so I find that taking care of my mental health is just as important as how I take care of my body. It is encouraging to see this sort of discourse make its way into more mainstream conversations and I hope that more people are encouraged to find the practices, tools, and therapies that help them.
AM: Why does the wellness space mean so much to you and what can you tell us about your new brand that you are launching next year as we know you may not be able to say too much!
SS: The wellness space is so important to me as both an athlete and as a woman. I've always loved to try new products and am constantly in pursuit of the best ways to take care of my skin and body. I will be venturing into the wellness space myself next year, so stay tuned!
AM: We know how important The Sloane Stephens Foundation is to you. Are there new projects or initiatives that you are focused on that you would like to share?
SS: Thank you for asking! The Sloane Stephens Foundation is actually celebrating our 10 year anniversary in March 2023 - I cannot believe it’s been 10 years! I wanted to use tennis as the vehicle to keep kids in school, keep them healthy, and keep them physically safe. Tennis has given me so much in my life but I know that it can feel very unapproachable, especially to people from under-resourced communities who might not be able to afford the equipment or coaching, or to underrepresented communities where they might not see a lot of players that look like them. I sought out to change that. We work with over 15,000 kids each year across the Compton Unified School District and provide tennis, academic, mental health, and financial literacy programs. One of the things I’m most proud of us that almost all of our coaches are actually graduates of our programs who have decided to come on as staff members while they pursue their college degrees. It’s very much a big family and it feels very sustainable to have programs designed and implemented by the community and for the community.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT COVER + BACK COVER, PG 28 9DRIP Courtesy of Sloane Stephens | PG 16 - 19, 22 + PG 82 9PLAYLIST BNP Paribas Open | PG 21 John Cordes/Icon Sportswire | PG 25 Masha Maltsava | PG 26 Federico Pestellini/Panoramic/Icon Sportswire |
Read the DEC ISSUE #84 of Athleisure Mag and see SERVING UP SELF-CARE | Sloane Stephens in mag.
Featured
IN THE OFF SEASON | SEBASTIAN LLETGET
The holiday season has a lot going on from wrapping up the year, a number of events and this year, we all got to watch the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the biggest soccer event in the world! We got to catch up with MLS FC Dallas midfielder, Sebastian Lletget to find out about how he got into the sport, his passion for the game, his predictions as we talked with him when there were 8 teams left in the tournament, his partnership with Old Parr Whisky and how he has spending his time in the off season!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We are huge fans of soccer and are excited to talk with you! When did you fall in love with soccer and when did you realize you wanted to do it professionally?
SEBASTIAN LLETGET: Oh my God, man you’re taking me back! I think like most, my story really started with my dad and his background is full Argentinian. I don’t know if some of your readers would know, but the Argentinian fan base is just that people really live the game and it’s so different! For me, it started at a very very young age. I think that as soon as I could understand my father’s words or his actions, soccer was a starting point in our relationship! As young as 2 years old when you’re really starting to walk and play and it only got more competitive. I think that the story is interesting too because you live in a country – I mean when you think of the story of soccer in the US, it has come such a long way as there used to be such minimal opportunities! So kind of carrying that passion without it being supported by the 4 walls that I grew up in, when I would leave home it would be about baseball, basketball and all of the American sports. To see how much it has grown now here is truly beautiful thing.
AM: You played previously for LA Galaxy, NE Revolution and you’re currently with FC Dallas, what did you like about this 2022 season?
SL: Man, I loved this season! I think individually for me this season, I just learned so much because you go from being at a place for 6-7 years here in LA and then sometimes you need a breath of fresh air, new opportunities and something to spark your career again and to spark your love for it. I think that I reached that point here. As much as I loved it in LA and New England gave me that opportunity and I go there, you know things kind of work their way out the way that they are supposed to and I thought that I would be there for the rest of my standing contract and then 4 or 5 months later, an opportunity comes up and I get to go to Dallas and I take that! I always try to tell young kids that you just have to learn how to adapt and pivot. It’s probably one of the biggest lessons that any player can kind of learn because you can’t plan anything in this sport!
AM: Absolutely!
What are you looking forward to next season?
SL: Oh man, now that I signed a new deal, I’m so blessed and grateful to be part of the club for a consistent basis for the next few years – for me, it’s always going to be to win a championship. I won things with the National team last year, it was a very successful year, but I never won anything on a club level. So that’s definitely on the top of my list. I think that to do that with Dallas and the culture that is being built there, it’s a very very exciting time. So that’s my goal!
AM: We’re all glued to the World Cup! At the time of this interview, we still have a few days ahead of us! What are your predictions that we should be thinking about as we head into the last days?
SL: Oh my God! Isn’t it a crazy one? There’s been a lot of amazing stories right? It just keeps getting better! It’s crazy to think that we’re already at 8 teams. For me, tomorrow is a big day right? For my family, for the household – especially when Argentina played Mexico it was very much so divided because my fiancé, Becky G, comes from Mexico, my family is Argentinian!
AM: Yeah, separate rooms for awhile until everyone cools down haha!
SL: Haha I know right? It’s going to be tough because Argentina plays Holland. I mean, that’s the game that I am looking forward to. That’s going to be the biggest test! I do hope that Argentina does go all of the way and I think that someone like Messi deserves it. I think what he had done for the game and I just hope that that story gets written!
AM: Obviously, I’m used to the World Cup being in the summer time. So when it takes place, I’m pulling clothes for our cover shoots and then you’re popping in and out of the bars to see how everything is going! This year, it’s kind of cool that it’s during the holidays and we can have our watch parties and take it to the next level. You’ve partnered with Old Parr Whisky for their Golden Moments Campaign. Can you tell me why your brands were synergistic to get together and what’s a go-to cocktail that we can enjoy while we’re hanging out with friends and cheering on our teams?
SL: Yeah, I think that the partnership with Old Parr couldn’t have come at a better time. Like you said, just the serendipity timing between the World Cup and the holidays and then partnering up with a whisky brand like Old Parr, it just all goes together so well. What really drew me to the brand is how intertwined Old Parr is with the Latin community. Obviously, my background is that I come from Latin America so that’s what really brought me close to the brand. I’m just really happy that it all worked out and as far as a cocktail that you can enjoy, my signature cocktail is called Off the Pitch! It’s actually really good and I’m not just saying that!
That’s where we are at the moment and we have definitely enjoyed some whisky in the off season and again, because it’s my off season, I get to really have a good time! Because during the season, I have to be very on it, so this was perfect timing.
AM: With the holiday season being in full swing, how are you spending it because it is your off season as well!
SL: I don’t know if it’s me getting older, I feel like I used to go a little more crazy and being everywhere. But now, I’m just like waking up at home. You turn 30 and things start to change! It’s the little things I swear! Just being with family, my fiancé and her family! It’s been a beautiful time. Watching soccer and connecting with people that you don’t always get to connect to on a normal basis. With this career, you have to sacrifice a lot to get anywhere and it’s the same in your industry! I’ve just been using that time wisely!
AM: Outside of soccer, you’re also an entrepreneur what are some projects that you’re working on that you would like our readers to know more about?
SL: Aww man! That’s a really good question! There’s a lot of things that I’m working on kind of on the low. Now that you ask, I’m working on my first venture capitalist fund. That’s a really exciting time because I’m just a big advocate to breaking barriers. For athletes, especially in this country and in the MLS, we have always been told to stay in this box and you can only just be there and work around that space. But I’m just like, somebody’s got to go in a different direction and to break barriers and to break those generational patterns you know what I mean? So that has been my goal and I think that this is a way that I can change that. I can fund really amazing projects and of course, there’s money and stuff, but it’s also about changing people’s lives and giving opportunity to those people that are coming up under me and that’s really my goal. I’m still at the starting point, I’ll be honest. But I am learning and it’s definitely a fun and exciting time!
OFF THE PITCH
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Old Parr Aged 12 Years
.75 oz of Mango Liqueur
.75 oz of Ginger Liqueur
.5 oz Lime Juice
GARNISH
Spicy Mango (Candied Mango rolled in chili salt)
GLASSWARE
Rocks Glass
HOW TO PREPARE
In a shaker add 1.5 oz Old Parr Aged 12 Years and remaining ingredients and top with ice. Shake and strain into an ice filled glass. Garnish with a spicy mango using a cocktail pick and enjoy.
PHOTO COURTESY | PG 70-72 + PG 147-149 9LIST STORI3S FC Dallas | PG 75 Courtesy of Sebastian Lletget |
Read the DEC ISSUE #84 of Athleisure Mag and see IN THE OFF SEASON | Sebastian Lletget in mag.
Featured
63MIX ROUTIN3S | GABRIELLE REECE
9DRIP | SLOANE STEPHENS
9LIST STORI3S | SEBASTIAN LLETGET
THE WELLNESS ADVOCATE | GABBY REECE
Growing up in the 90s, when you thought of Beach Volleyball, you thought about Gabby Reece! Whether it was seeing her in a number of commercials, gracing covers of Elle, Women's Sports & Fitness, appearing in Arliss (which in many respects laid the groundwork for future HBO shows such as Entourage and Ballers), interviewing athletes, modeling and so much more. Gabby really made her presence know whether she was on the sand or off.
We enjoyed catching up with Gabby to talk about her career, how she got into playing volleyball and how she used her creativity and natural curiosity to continue to add an array of work to her portfolio is amazing. In addition, we talk about how she is an advocate for fitness, wellness and nutrition and why this is something that she is so passionate about. We also find out about other projects she has going on such as The Gabby Reece Podcast and her entrepreneurial projects with her husband, big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to play beach volleyball?
GABBY REECE: Well I moved from the Caribbean my junior year of high school to Florida and I was 15 and I was 6’3” and I had dabbled a little bit. But because athletics was so organized in the US, it was sort of like they said that I had to play. I was really a beginner and kind of like a neophyte at it and like I said, I had just kind of dabbled. Then I started getting offers my senior year which is pretty late for college which was a surprise to me for basketball and for volleyball. So it really was something that I fell into. I think that being part of something was really powerful for me. I think that my nature is that I like to work hard. I think that if you had said to me at the end of my junior year that I would be going and playing college volleyball, I would not have known that! Quite frankly, the same with professional volleyball. When I was in college, I had not participated in beach volleyball. It was only because I had moved to Miami after college and I picked up the game and someone said after about a year and a half, that I should move to California. I’d say that I did that a lot in that realm.
AM: We’ve been fans of yours watching you during your iconic career, you made your presence known from being Nike’s first female spokesperson, the first female athlete to ever have designed a shoe for Nike and their first ever female cross training spokesperson. What do you feel are your biggest achievements in the sport?
GR: You know, I have to be honest, I feel that just being able to participate in anything at a high level with other people that are doing it! I mean, I won a World Championship, but there were some other things and I think that for me personally, it was being able to play at that level and being around that caliber of athletes and coaches. Because I always say that volleyball in a different way kind of saved my life a bit. It sort of directed me in this area that I remained in for my adult life. So I think that for me, it was a very deep relationship! Plus, I feel like volleyball, like any other sport, it’s very honest and I always felt like I had respected myself after practice if you will, if that makes sense. Because you can’t bs it. If I was modeling, they could give you really good hair and makeup or you could be like whatever and tuck in this and this – wear something tight there. But I think that there was something that was really honest about it which I know that this sounds weird, but then it also makes being imperfect and vulnerable easier because you’re like, “oh yeah, I know what it’s like to fall on my face in front of a lot of people.” So it almost gives you the strength to be like – yeah I know how to suck and I know how to fail and it’s ok, you’ll be able to survive it.
AM: I like the way that you put that. You’ve navigated the sport and have also added in these other elements of yourself whether it’s being an author, modeling, acting and hosting. Why is it important to you to be able to utilize these skills in your creative pursuits?
GR: Well I think that you just said. I think that we’re all creative and we express ourselves differently. For me, my husband says this perfectly because Laird is a surfer and Laird is more dedicated to his sport because it’s part of his life and it’s very different. But he says, I’m Laird and one of the things that I do is surf. And I think for me, it was a creative outlet, but so were the other things! Interviewing other people and learning from them or writing books or writing columns, these were just other extensions of who I am and a creative outlet because in certain ways I combat being very linear. So, every once in awhile when I have these opportunities, to have these creative expressions, I feel like it just helps me. You get a level of satisfaction I think in life when you get to do that.
AM: Tell me about the Gabby Reece Show, why you wanted to start this podcast and what you have learned by doing it?
GR: Oh my gosh, what I have learned is that there are a lot of smart people out there! You know, I used to interview people when I started for TV in the early 90s and I liked it, but it was short and quick. You got 7 mins, you got 12 mins whatever. I like the idea of it also not being about me because I was interviewed often so it was like, oh this is cool this is about them. You’re doing your homework. I did a podcast with a gentleman named Neil Strauss, he’s an author and we’re very different. So we did that for a few years and to be honest, I didn’t have the confidence necessarily to think that I could do it myself and be interesting. I thought that I could be interesting for like 12 shows…
AM: Impossible – impossible!
GR: No, I’m being honest! I’m always in awe of people who say that they are so fun to watch. I’m like, wow you’re amazing! I think for me it was like, yeah it makes me uncomfortable, but I am curious and I do like to learn and so I do talk to a lot of different types of people – scientists and doctors and the hope was to get the very best in information – the sharp end of the stick of information and communicate it at the 6th grade level and also try to give it to people who really need it. I always say that people like myself or athletes or people that have the opportunity to have trainers or eat organic food – they already don’t need it. It’s people that are working their butts off and they are just trying to get there minute by minute – how do we condense this information for them and to get it to them in a way that it is understandable, but it’s the really good information. And it’s like, can you tweak this one thing or could you do this? So that’s my hook because if you’re very high performance, you’d say that this is very good intel, but if you’re like, “I’m too busy to deal with it,” then we sift through it for you and say maybe this is what you really want to focus on.
AM: As a mom, you’re someone who is involved in a lot of entrepreneurial endeavors, health and wellness is key to you and we’re always looking at things that we can add into our workout – what are 3 exercises that you do that we should consider including?
GR: You know, I’m sometimes the anti person in this way – I’m like, oh! I have a friend and we say 100% of the things a 100% of the time. So when we talk about cardio, stretching or lifting – I will say this, anytime that you can use more of your whole body and also work on proprioception and balance – like working out on one leg at a time is great. Like a sit up, you’re going to be very strong in a limited range of motion. But if you do a clean and jerk or a 1 arm dumbbell snap, you activate from your neck to the top of your knee. So I would say that squatting, overhead snapping and one legged type movements where you are doing one legged row or deadlift is best. I don’t want women to shy away from lifting weights.
Cardio is good for your heart, but lifting some time under tension I want to say that I really want to encourage women and if they say that they don’t want to get too big, it’s very hard to build muscle, you’re not going to get too big. Those muscles work in your favor long after you have lifted weights and they just do so many positive things for you. So I would say that and you know having some kind of mobility and integration in there. That’s the other thing, if you asked me where I really blew it. I got really tight as an athlete andI didn’t integrate enough mobility.
When you say to me to pick 3, I would say things that challenge your balance and those that are working on your whole body, but warm up because if you are doing 3 joint kind of moves versus single joint moves that are more complex and learn how to do things correctly. Let’s not go in the wrong direction every day, let’s try to move in the right direction so that we don’t get injured. Do some kind of diversity where ok you’re outside and walking, maybe take your shoes off, you’re on a bike and you’re doing something – not to do the same things over and over! I want people to support themselves and to participate in their recovery. So it’s not like, oh it’s my day off. It’s, ok it’s my day off and I am going to do some breathing or meditation practice. It’s my day off and I’m going to see if I can get myself into a sauna or do a cold plunge. So, making the recovery a dynamic process that you support yourself. It shouldn’t be just like oh I’m not doing anything. My hope is that everyone works out and they do it decently – hard at least a couple of times a week forever. So, we need to find ways to recover.
The other part is that you should be truthful to yourself. On the days that you don’t feel different than the days that I call it, bone tired. If you’re genuinely bone tired, it might be better to take the day off and that's why it's tricky too. Because if Wed is your day off, but what if you feel great on Wed and you feel like shit on Fri? I also want to encourage people to listen to want themselves. If you hate the gym, then the gym isn’t for you – so what is for you? It’s just getting them to do that because it’s the only way that we will be consistent.
And there’s also only so much time in the day! Laird and I joke all the time about these new exercises that I’m doing to help my hip, it’s like everybody feels that way! The other thing is that I would direct people, there’s so many people that are really good. I don’t work with any of these people, but I know them. Jill Miller has things that she can teach people about self-mobilization for those that say that they don’t know what to do. I like Jill Miller, I like Kelly Starrett and what happens is, if you see one, it will lead you to the next. So Kelly Starrett wrote a book called Becoming A Supple Leopard. These are people that give you these proactive tools. Even though we’re talking about motion, we all know that the #1 is just food right? It’s like there is no way around it. Food is everything. So no matter what, I want to encourage people that we focus on the training, this and that, but what’s so important is that it is all about our nutrition. It’s a bummer because it’s the hardest one and it’s the one that could be the most sexiest or fun that we use to medicate like I'm bored, I'm heartbroken whatever. But I want to encourage people to not give up on that because that is the most important part of this whole equation.
AM: You’re a brand ambassador for Rebalance Health. What is synergistic to you about incorporating this into your lifestyle and what made the partnership right for you?
GR: Well, typically, I don’t know why I have always been like this, but even in my early 20s when I was first starting out in this work, I would never talk about things or represent things that I wouldn’t personally take. I will say that in the case of Rebalance for example, they wanted to vet me as well. I took the product for a lot of months actually maybe 5 or 6 months because you have to feel it right? Especially with things like this which are subtle. So what attracted me to the product initially was that it felt realistic to me, it was easy to use, it had a melt in your mouth lozenge, they have 3 kinds of mint in there and it didn’t say it was going to do this overnight – it’s a system to help you manage cortisol levels. I am familiar with a lot of the ingredients – ashwagandha and maca. The womens formula is different than the mens imagine that! They have things like tongkat ali which I know about from Laird which can boost or support your system for testosterone. Just things like that – I felt that this was well created and formulated and the ingredients were high level and it was very thoughtful. There was this idea that some people thought that cortisol was bad, but no we want cortisol – it helps us get a lot done, but we do want to manage it so that we can have a restful sleep.
I love that there is the Morning, Evening and Bedtime. That made sense, the ingredients made sense, it’s easy to use and it’s achievable. If you tell someone to take this 30 mins after you eat and 4 minutes before something – no one is going to do that. I love the other side. I know that this is pretty obvious, but I love it when there is no downside!
The idea of something being really good and things like this that are focused on natural herbs, they elevate your own system so that it can do its job better. When I hear things like that, that I believe. I started taking it and for me, I had an energy and my sleep improved. For me, that has always been my Achilles in terms of my sleep. I do a lot of mind grinding like a lot of people and trying to solve all the household issues at night when I’m sleeping or when you get up at 3am and you think, I’m going to tell that kid that thing tomorrow! It really helps with that and I felt that pretty quickly. For me, it was about a week and then we collaborated and after checking me out, we agreed to work together and that's how we got here. For me, it's in my cabinet and the way that I do it, I have coffee in the morning and as I’m running out the door, no one wants coffee breath and I’ll just pop my Rebalance Morning lozenge in the morning and it’s like boom I have mints and it’s melting. I want to encourage people that try the product, please don't eat it just try to let it happen so that you can absorb it through sublingually – let it melt. It’s one of those ones where I know how hard it is to formulate it and to bring it at such a high level and to encourage people to do it this way. I feel really honored.
AM: I have been taking it for the past few days and I have noticed that my sleep is better. The Morning part, I have it after my protein shake as the shake is a bit dense so it’s good to have something to freshen up with after drinking it.
GR: Yes! Doesn’t it help – it’s like the double whammy! When I use my Night one it’s when I’m preparing dinner, because you’re just held in one spot and I just sort of pop it in and then I let it happen. What I say to people is for the Bedtime one, if you’re taking a shower before you go to bed, maybe pop one in and just let it happen.
What has your boyfriend thought about it?
AM: I know the Morning one was a bit much for him as the minty aspect was a lot for him, but I think that he liked the Bedtime one. I like that it’s something that we can do together as it sits on our vanity and it’s a system. It gives you something to add into your day, I like the stickers and the packaging!
GR: It’s beautiful! Then they do the refills which is less packaging and it’s just the bag.
AM: I think that it’s something that is working for me and it’s nice after that first protein shake – I chug it and put the lozenge in.
GR: I think that they want people to know that it’s not a sleep aid, but because you are dealing with your cortisol levels, it helps you manage and that ends up leading to a better more restful night sleep. We’ve talked about movement and food, but we all keep our sanity and the only time that we recover is when we’re sleeping. Whether you want to manage weight, deal with vitality, longevity or you just want to look younger, it’s sleep.
AM: I do have to say because I check my REM cycles and stuff, I feel that I have gotten 20 – 30 mins more of the REM sleep.
GR: Interesting.
AM: I’m not saying that that will be the case for other people.
GR: No no it’s your experience.
AM: Yeah, it’s something that I have seen and in terms of things that I do for my sleep, I feel that that tablet has something to do with that over time. So if that’s what it is for me, then bring on the tablets!
What will your partnership look like in terms of what you will do with Rebalance Health?
GR: One thing I am excited about is the ability to do giveaways and to give people the opportunity to try it out. They've been very kind that once a month that we do 1 female and 1 male giveaway so people can try. It will really be about hopefully using the idea that the credibility that I represent that people will say that they are curious to know more. There is also an educational component as well for people in terms of how they would use it in their own lives and why.
So not to make it too technical, there has to be an educational process because it would be too hard for people to try something new where people have to take it orally and not sort of give them some information. I think it’s important to empower people in any part of this whether it's exploring physical health or nutrition and what have you. They have to understand their why and providing that user friendly information especially since it’s new and they haven’t taken certain herbs or things. What’s the difference and certain things have a systemic impact on you and it’s understanding that whole organism and system. I take it, I want to give it away and if makes sense for their day to day lives, I want them to know about it and why they should take it. We’ll be doing that in the upcoming months and year. My thing is, if I find stuff that is good, because it is hard to find things out there that are, we need to put some light on it. I use this and I find it to be really good and if you were my girlfriend down the street, I’d be like, I learned about this or I saw that and I would vet it first so that you’re not coming back to me 6 months later saying, “hey Gabby, I don’t know about this.” The other part is making sure that I am being responsible. I want to feel good about things and feel proud to work with companies and that if people are trying it out, they are your friends.
It’s like when I go to a doctor, I ask them, what would you tell your sister? I treat everyone like my neighbor. If I’m not going to do it, I wouldn’t suggest it to someone else either.
IG @gabbyreece
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Gabby Reece
Read the NOV ISSUE #83 of Athleisure Mag and see THE WELLNESS ADVOCATE | Gabby Reece in mag.
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AND IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING | PAUL POGBA
This month our cover story is from World Cup Champion French footballer, Paul Pogba who plays for the Serie A club Juventus and the France National Team. Pogba has had a phenomenal career that has included consecutve Serie A titles, 2 Coppa Italia and 2 Supercoppa Italiana titles, a Golden Boy Award in 2013, he starred and was named player of the tournament for France U20 World Cup triumph over Uruguay, UEFA Europa League and was named into the PFA Team of the Year. As a member of the French team, he won the 2018 FIFA World Cup scoring in the final, where they currently hold the title.
With his dynamic presence, we wanted to find out more about his passion for the sport, his position as a midfielder, being back with Juventus and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When was the moment that you realized you fell in love with football and wanted to do this as a career?
PAUL POGBA: My love for football started from a very young age in Roissy en Brie, I was fortunate to quickly realize that football was my passion and that I wanted to pursue this as a career. I always had the ball at my feet whether that was in the park or at school from the time the sun rises till dawn, I had to be yelled at by my mum to go home. Although it wasn’t an easy path, but I always believed with hard work and determination I will be able to fulfill my dream.
AM: Tell us about playing as a midfielder.
PP: Throughout my career I have always played as a midfielder, I really like this position. I think the midfield is the heart of a team, the engine from where most actions start. Although midfielders may have different roles, but my position allows me to get creative and be in control. I do believe it’s the right position for me because I have a visionary mindset.
AM: We enjoyed The Pogmentary which gave us a lot of insight into your passion for the sport and how you approach it. What are 3 workout routines that we can for arms, legs and abs?
What are 3 workout routines that we can do for arms, legs and abs?
PP: I could easily suggest some workout routines and how to exercise them, however this might not work for everybody. My advice is to try different workout routines according to your level of physical preparation and learn what works best for you. Sport in general is good for both our mental and physical health, therefore I encourage everyone to get involved. Even for us who play professional sports we follow certain routines that are not necessarily good for others, this is the reason some of us professionals have personalized physical activities which works best for us.
AM: Do you have any game day routines?
PP: Of course, as you may know I am a religious person, so I make sure I do my prayers, but the rest I’m keeping it a secret.
AM: What does it mean to come back to Juventus and what are you looking forward to?
PP: My return to Juventus was a choice of heart, but also a coincidence of goals that Juve and I have. I do believe I fit in well in the team and also outside the field. I have fond memories from the time I lived in Turin, not to mention the extraordinary fans who give me joy with their unconditional support, this definitely keeps me going.
The coincidence of objectives is very clearly both that Juve and I both want to go back to winning trophies like the Scudetto, Champions League etc. We are very motivated and determined to achieve our common goal which is to win.
AM: Throughout your career, you have played for the national team for France which currently holds the World Cup title. What’s it like for you to play for 2 teams and is your approach the same?
PP: Football is a beautiful sport and as I mentioned before I’m very passionate about it. Normally the feelings between playing for the national team or in a club are in some ways the same. Clearly when you play for the national team you know that you represent your country, but also when you play for the club you represent its colors, its tradition, its fans. Both are important.
AM: You have won a number of trophies along with being a World Cup Champion and other accolades, what are 3 of your favorite moments in your career at this point?
PP: The best moments of my career to date are linked to both the national team and the clubs where I played. With the national team, first the Under 20 World Cup victory in 2013 and then the World Cup victory with l’Equipe de France in 2018. Important and unforgettable experiences that have marked my football career. As for the clubs, certainly the debut with United and the first championship won with Juventus are two moments that I will never forget.
AM: When you’re not on the field, how do you take time for yourself when you need to recharge your batteries?
PP: When I am not busy with football, the thing I love most is spending time with my family, my wife and my children. Take them to school, to the park, let them play, in short, lead a life as a father of a family.
IG @paulpogba
PHOTOGRAPHY | FRONT/BACK COVER
Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC Via Getty Images | PG 16 - 21 + 24 - 25 Adidas | PG 22 - 23 Prime Video/Pogmentary |
Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see AND IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING | Paul Pogba in mag.
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