ATHLEISURE LIST | BODI

Over the past 19 months, we have figured out ways to get our workouts in from building up our home gyms, finding classes online, following our favorite influencers, and for some as studios have opened up, we have headed back to our favorite methods. Regardless of our choices, many of us have still stayed focused on maintaining our equipment at home while also investing in virtual classes as it's always good to have those on hand.

With a number of classes being offered BODi takes interactivity and an assortment of classes and methods offered to another level. With its initial launch this month, we have found cardio/HIIT, strength training, barre, pilates, yoga, meditation and more. Rolling out later this fall, those who have a MYX II bike will also be able to use this platform on their screen to cycle as well as to swivel your screen and do a number of workouts off bike as well.

You are able to select classes that are on demand as well as being able to join a class live - known as a BODcast where you can see others who are also participating as you are led by your preferred instructor. You can also receive live shoutouts from your trainers as well so that you feel you're in studio.

Other features that are worth noting is that in between classes, you can maintain accountability by participating in BODgroups where you can stay connected with your coaches as well as others that are also participating. You can also see what classes your friends are taking so that you can sign up as well.

BODi also offers nutrition programs so that you can continue to focus on your goals beyond the workouts themselves. The platform also allows you to take a range of programs that are within the Body by Demand universe such as P90X, Insanity, PIYO.

BODI

beachbodyondemand.com

IG @beachbody

PHOTOS COURTESY | BODi

9LIST ROUTIN3S | DON BROOKS

Read the AUG ISSUE #68 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Don Brooks in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | HARLEY PASTERNAK

Read the JUL ISSUE #67 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST ROUTIN3S | Harley Pasternak in mag.

IN THE STUDIO WITH DON BROOKS

Whether you've been enjoying your workouts or are adding items into the mix, we always like hearing about methods that people are doing. We took some time to chat with celebrity fitness trainer Don Brooks who is also known as Don-A-Matrix. We know of him from episodes on Keeping Up with the Kardashians as he has been the family's trainer for a number of years. We also know that he has sessions for his followers and fans to workout alongside him. We wanted to find out more about his journey into the fitness industry, his method, philosophy and some movements that we can include within our routine.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with fitness and know that you wanted to work in the fitness industry?

DON BROOKS: I’ve always had a passion for fitness and a drive to stay healthy and in shape. Before I became a certified trainer, I was someone who loved working out and the accomplished feeling that comes afterward. When I moved out to San Diego years ago, I knew I wanted to be a trainer but I couldn’t have imagined where it would take me – it’s been a blessing to do what I love everyday with great clients.

AM: What was your journey into the industry as I know you were previously an NFL trainer?

DB: After moving out to San Diego to meet some family who had moved out here previously, I fell in love with the West Coast and it’s incredible weather. I started training a variety of athletes in the San Diego area – eventually working with players on the NFL Chargers – and then decided to move to Los Angeles (where it’s a larger hub) and open up my own location there.

AM: What is your fitness philosophy?

DB: If you put in the effort and hard work, you will see the results you were hoping for.

AM: Tell us about the Don-A-Matrix Method as I know you focus the workout around quarters?

DB: I came up with the Don-A-Matrix method as a way to have a specialized workout resemble a sports game. Similar to a normal basketball or football game, my workout consists of four quarters – but within each quarter, you have 3 sets of two different exercises, combined with a period of rest or relief after each quarter. The method delivers results by challenging the cardio and muscular endurance system to tone and sculpt the body, while burning fat. The rest period also gives participants the chance to rehydrate, which is key for sustaining performance throughout the workout. A natural, low-cal sports drink, like BODYARMOR LYTE is my go-to between quarters because it’s packed with electrolytes, coconut water and vitamins – and doesn’t have anything artificial.

AM: Tell us about your studio.

DB: My Don-A-Matrix Studio is located right in downtown Los Angeles, CA at 7704 Melrose Ave. It’s been a great location for me and my clients – I’m able to host a variety of classes DAILY inside my studio, as well as outside in the back lot.

AM: What is Don-A-Matrix Day?

DB: I’m a native of Petersburg, VA – and grew up in the area – going to Petersburg High School and Virginia State University. I was lucky enough to be honored by the city of Petersburg a few years ago – and they named an official day for me, called “Don-A-Matrix Day.” It’s an honor for me, and I love being able to give back to the community that raised me.

AM: What does an average day or week look like when you are personally working out?

DB: I personally work out every single day – and that could be before or after my personal sessions with clients or even during the sessions, where I'll personally do the workout with them. On any given day, I could realistically end up “working out” 2-3 times a day. Free time is certainly limited!

AM: What are your go to items that you think are important for people to have on hand to have a dynamic workout?

DB: BODYARMOR is #1. It’s important to be hydrated before, during and after a workout. And I LOVE my Don-A-Matrix x Sweet Sweat Fitness Bands, as they are perfect for any workout – and allows you to work in all sorts of different modifications to your standard workout moves.

AM: How important is it for people to have accountability in their workouts and as people are on their journeys of their fitness goals, what should they be looking at to know they are achieving their desired results?

DB: The biggest misconception is that working out will change your body overnight. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. So it’s 100% about accountability and the ability to stay the course. Results don’t happen overnight and there are going to be times when you want to relax, not workout, give-up, whatever it might be – but don’t. It’s important to keep going and workout even when you’re lazy and don’t want to. We all feel that way – celebrities, athletes, etc. – it’s just a matter of getting up and getting through it because you know that you’ll feel better and accomplished afterwards once you do start to see those results.

AM: For those that are finessing their summer bodies, what would you suggest for arms, abs and glutes?

DB: Here are three examples of specific workouts that target your upper body, lower body and core. Keep in mind, the below include a Bosu Ball and would come in a set, similar to my Don-A-Matrix method.

• Lateral Squats – Start from squatting position and keep one foot on the ground and the other on the Bosu ball. Leap into the air and switch feet. Repeat 20 times.

• Jump Switch Lunge – Start from the lunge position with one foot on the Bosu ball. Jump into the air and land on your opposite foot. Repeat 20 times.

• Push Ups – Start in a plank position, dome side-down, and your hands on the flat side on the Bosu ball. Lower down into a push-up position, hovering your chest off the bosu. Repeat 20 times.

AM: You’ve trained Fergie, Josh Duhamel, Travis Barker and more. When it comes to taking on clients, what are you looking for whether they are your celeb clients or someone who sees your work on TV or online?

DB: If someone wants to work with me, they just have to reach out! I always have open availability, and I enjoy working out with new attendees all the time. You don’t have to be a celebrity, just someone who is serious about wanting to better their body.

AM: We know that in addition to people looking to achieve personal fitness goals, you work with celebs that may have to transform their bodies for roles, how do you approach those projects?

DB: Any of my clients – whether they are celebs or not – have personal goals that they want to attain and that’s why they are reaching out. It’s all about accountability and understanding that you have to put in the work in order to attain those results. So as long as you’re willing to put in the work – and deal with the struggles that come with it – I’m happy to work with anyone who wants to get their mind and body right.

AM: You’ve been a long time trainer to the Kardashians. How does the Don-A-Matrix Method work with them and how is it customizable as we're sure Kim, Kourtney and Khloe have different fitness goals.

DB: Absolutely. To your point, they all have different goals from a fitness and body perspective. The Don-A-Matrix Method is great because it’s flexible for any body type, workout level and more. If we’re trying to work on a specific muscle group or just trying to tone down (or up) the workout, we can mold the Don-A-Matrix workout to each attendee’s specifications – whether that’s tweaking the workout, modifying the number of sets or adding another fitness item to change it up.

AM: We have had the pleasure of talking with a number of trainers such as Harley Pasternak, Gunnar Peterson and Jen Widerstrom about how they had to adjust working with their clients especially since they couldn’t get in the gym with them. Did you find last year’s lockdowns a difficult transition for your clients in terms of their preparation to work out and what did you suggest to them?

DB: It was truly a strange year or time-period for everyone, so it was all about trying to adapt and manage as best as possible. For a lot of my clients, we tried live-streaming workouts and doing at-home workouts – things of that sort. As time progressed, we transitioned into more outdoors workouts, given everyone’s comfortability. But I think overall, it just shows that you have to be adaptable for whatever barrier comes your way.

AM: How did you connect with BODYARMOR and what was synergistic between your brands that you felt this would be a great partnership?

DB: My partnership with BODYARMOR goes back several years now and it’s one that has been beneficial for us both. Obviously, hydration is key for working out – and BODYARMOR makes some incredible products that are better-for-you than the other sports drinks out on the market today. They have clean ingredients, potassium-packed electrolytes and vitamins, and their low calorie/low sugar BODYARMOR LYTE is great for fueling my workouts and helping me recover faster.

AM: How important is hydration while working out and of course, throughout the day?

DB: Hydration is critical to your performance – whether you’re working out or about to start your day. It can often make the difference between you being able to complete that last set or struggling to get it started. And part of that is preparation – you want to be sure that you’re hydrating before, during and after your workout – just so you’re giving your body exactly what it needs for fuel.

IG @DonAMatrixTraining

PHOTOS COURTESY | BODYARMOR

Read the JUN ISSUE #66 of Athleisure Mag and see In the Studio with Don Brooks in mag.

HYDRATION CHECK WITH HARLEY PASTERNAK

We always enjoy catching up with Harley Pasternak, MSc, celebrity trainer, nutritionist and Propel ambassador. He is someone that is not only passionate about working out and food nutrition, but he also believes in the importance of hydration as these three things optimize your body as you go about your day. We wanted to see what he has been up to since we talked to him last summer; get some tips on working out; solo or with friends without equipment and what tools he enjoys using.

ATHLEISURE MAG: With everyone being able to enjoy summer weather, what are the best exercises that we can do outside that don’t require equipment?

HARLEY PASTERNAK: Walk! Walking is still my absolute favorite exercise because it does not require any special equipment, you can do it throughout the day, it can be a form of socialization, and you can even watch your favorite TV show or movie if you have access to a treadmill indoors. I make sure my Fitbit reads at least 12,000 steps every single day!

AM: For those that want to have their friends, family or small groups to workout together, what kinds of workouts do you suggest for this?

HP: Aside from walking as a group, fun games like pickleball or ultimate frisbee are great ways to get a bunch of people involved in a healthy competitive activity that burns lots of calories. Circuit is also a fun way to include a group of people, by having a few different stations, each of which has a different exercise that people can cycle through.

AM: For those continuing to build their home gyms and as you have designed and developed various equipment, what do you suggest should be added to people’s homes?

HP: I’m a big fan of dumbbells. Their versatility is unrivaled. Aside from having some dumbbells, I love a TRX suspension strap, sliders, a good exercise bench, and an elastic headband. If you’re looking for something a little upmarket, nothing comes close to FORME for a digital hardware solution, or you can access some awesome digital content that does not require any equipment at Alo Moves.

AM: What are some tips that we need to incorporate post workout for our recovery?

HP: Hydration is key! Most of the people that come to my gym show up already dehydrated. We actually focus on pre-hydrating, hydrating throughout the workout, and rehydrating right after.

AM: Hydration is important and even more so when we’re in the midst of summer heat, what are your suggestions for this?

HP: I’ve been a big believer in Propel Fitness Water for a few years. The fact that you can get fluids and electrolytes into your body without sugar, goes a long way. Also research shows that flavored water leads to people drinking more fluids than unflavored water. The Propel Powder Packs are super convenient because you can put them into an empty bottle – like the Propel reusable bottle – add water, and shake.

AM: How much hydration should we be consuming on average and what’s the best way to go about that each day?

HP: I tell my clients that 3 L of fluids each day is a must. If you are exercising in the heat, that number goes up relatively.

AM: We like heading to your IG to see recipes that you suggest that we eat such as your open faced shrimp sandwich. What would be a summer menu for the day that you suggest that we can enjoy for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

HP: I love starting my day with a smoothie, especially one that uses summer fruits like berries. Try my Red Berry Smoothie from the Body Reset diet. Lunch can be a nice salad using seasonal vegetables, seeds, and lean protein like grilled shrimp. And dinner usually focuses on the lean protein like salmon or chicken with a bunch of grilled seasonal vegetables, and a baked sweet potato.

AM: This summer, people will definitely be excited to go out and to do so with a number of people, so I think that people will be busy for sure. How do you maintain a balanced lifestyle that allows you to optimize your summer while setting you for success as we transition to other seasons?

HP: I think building your physical activity around walking is key, especially in the summer. Because of the high temperatures, I like to get most of my walking down early in the morning or at the end of the day while multitasking by doing phone calls or returning text and emails. Preplanning your meals is also very helpful to make sure you don’t feel overwhelmed every day of the week trying to cook.

IG @HarleyPasternak

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Jessica Nash

Read the JUN ISSUE #66 of Athleisure Mag and see Hydration Check with Harley Pasternak in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | OPUS

If the past year plus has taught us anything, we have a lot going on and we've all found ways to take time for ourselves so that we can recharge. OPUS' ethos is that they exist to help empower people to heal themselves from the inside out and to create a more emotionally fit world through emotional sovereignty (becoming the master of our own emotions and feeling empowered and purposeful in our life), embodied service (showing up as an inspiring example for others and sharing our gifts with the world) and collective coherence (coming together as families, communities and a planet to create from a place of cooperation and compassion).

They're doing this through SoundBed, an at-home immersive SoundHealing platform that acts like a home gym for your heart, emotionally speaking. The SoundBed offers self-care, made effortless - all you do is lay down, relax and experience.

There are two elements that are utilized when using this: spatial vibration and spatial sound. Spatial vibration uses vibroacoustic technology to resonate your entire body with purposeful vibration and specific frequencies. This eases you out of your stress response, attunes your energy, and delivers you into a deeply relaxed, parasympathetic state. Spatial Sound can be experienced with headphones, envelopes you in a world of sounds that quickly captivates your attention, dissolves distracting thoughts and brings your attention back to your body.

Together, these targeted experiences create immersive SoundHealing, a unique and powerful method for relazing the body, opening the heart and expanding the mind.

While impactful on it’s own, SoundBed stacks the power of sound & vibration with guided support and proven self-care practices such as a meditation, breathwork and visualization, helping amplify the existing benefits of those practices to provide potent benefits to mental and emotional healing.

Through the OPUS app, users fill out a short emotional intelligence questionnaire that helps assess and personalize the experience. Based on your intention, OPUS recommends a particular journey to help you reach that desired state.

After selecting the desired experience, users lay down on SoundBed, put headphones on followed by the eye mask and weighted blanket. Next, the users settle in while the SoundBed begins the journey. Opus “Journeys” are crafted by a community of leading experts in meditation, peak performance, breathwork, relationships, emotional intelligence, and more. The exclusive content ranges from 7-60 minutes sessions; including shorter experiences designed for daily relaxation or mood enhancement, to longer format “Journeys” intended for deeper exploration and personal growth.

OPUS

feelopus.com

IG @feelopus

PHOTOS COURTESY | Opus

Read the May Issue #65 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Opus in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | TRX TRAINING CLUB

When it comes to Functional Training, TRX is a global leader and creator in the Suspension Training category with its TRX Systems and accessories that assist in getting your desired workout wherever you happen to train.

This month, TRX launched TRX Training Club (TTC), a new digital platform that embodies TRX's "Let's Move" campaign by allowing users to utilize a variety of functions to optimize fitness needs anytime, anywhere.

TTC provides a range of ways to interact with the platform:

TRX On-Demand Classes: Users can choose from thousands of guided workouts aimed at specific body parts, total-body, cardio, yoga, recovery, etc. with a wide variety of TRX trainers leading each workout available at their fingertips, anytime, anywhere.

TRX Live Classes: Users can join a live virtual class with an unlimited number of participants scheduled at pre-determined times throughout the day/week.

Virtual Personal Training (VPT): Book a one-on-one training session with a TRX Trainer specifically matched to individual users.

With unlimited videos, users are able to find the training that they are looking for which is led by TRX Pros. Class options include strengthening, toning, stretching and everything in between and facilitates all skill levels. In addition to taking classes of your choice, you're able to track your efforts from how many hours you've been sweating, classes you have taken, videos that you’ve watched, personal training sessions you’ve taken, and more. Additional features will be added to the platform. Currently, TRX is offering 30 days free for TTC when purchasing a TRX Signature Suspension Trainer.

TRX TRAINING CLUB

club.trxtraining.com

IG @TRXTraining

PHOTOS COURTESY | TRX Training

Read the May Issue #65 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | TRX Training Club in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | FORME LIFE

FORME Life is an at-home fitness mirror that features an elegant, full-length mirror that transforms into a complete body and mind fitness studio, featuring high-tech strength training equipment that disappears when not in use. When turned on, the display features a huge variety of on-demand classes as well as one-on-one personal training sessions to suit individual needs with a user-friendly touch-screen experience. When turned off, FORME Life is a sleek mirror that blends effortlessly into the rest of the home. Classes include strength training, barre, boxing, meditation, cardio, core, pilates, dance, and more.

FORME Life offers two models - Studio and Studio Lift. Both models boast an elegant full-length mirror that displays strength training and wellness classes when in use. The Studio Lift model also features stowable resistance training arms that use AI to adjust to the correct level of resistance for strength training exercises.

The Studio includes: A yoga mat, heart rate monitor, microfiber towel, screen camera covers, and mounting hardware.

The Studio Lift includes: 2 FORME handles, 1 rope grip, 1 short bar, 2 ankle straps, yoga mat, heart rate monitor, microfiber towel, storage cabinet, and screen camera covers.

Additional accessories available for purchase by bundle include, a removable and stowable wood bar for barre classes, an adjustable leather bench, a wellness mat, free weights, ankle weights, resistance bands, grip socks, and an exercise ball.

FORME Life features original training sessions in strength training, barre, boxing, cardio, core, pilates, dance, and more. Classes will be updated weekly to provide fresh and exciting options for everyone in the house. FORME Life also features classes aimed at mental wellness such as, meditation, sound baths and recovery. FORME Life believes in helping people live healthier and happier lives.

FORME Life’s Studio and Studio Lift are aided by computer vision and AI to adjust the correct level of resistance for strength training exercises while tracking users performance and fitness goals. Both models boast 43-inch 4K UHD display and two 12-megapixel cameras. Studios are activated by voice control and feature a touch screen to complement the dynamic training content.

Studio memberships are $2,495 or $69/month for 36 months + $39/month for unlimited multi-user membership for personalized workouts. Studio Lift memberships $4,495 or $125/month for 36 months + $39/month for unlimited multi-user membership for personalized workouts.

FORME LIFE

www.formelife.com

IG @ThisIsFormeLife

PHOTOS COURTESY | FORME LIFE

Read the Apr Issue #64 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Forme Life in mag.

MOMENTUM IS KEY WITH MARK WAHLBERG

We've been a fan of Mark Wahlberg since we first saw his music video for Good Vibrations and as a model for Calvin Klein underwear. We knew then that he would transcend his popstar status as a multi-hyphenated brand that we would continue to see. As he began to make the jump to the big screen in The Basketball Diaries and Boogie Nights, we knew that we would continue to see him taking on additional cool projects.

Since those early days, we have enjoyed Mark's range of characters in our favorite films from Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Patriot Day, Ted/2, 2 Guns, Transformer franchise and All the Money in the World. With the ability to oscillate between dramatic and comedic roles, Mark has proven to be a powerhouse and received A Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in The Departed. He has been equally as dominant behind the screen as an Executive Producer of HBO's Entourage, Ballers, McMillions, Boardwalk Empire, How to Make it in America, A&E's Wahlburgers, USA's Shooter (which he was the main character in the movie version) just to name a few.

We know him to be a man who has a work ethic and commitment to all of his projects whether it's an upcoming role, as an entrepreneur, his passion for his family and his ability to get up early to get his workout in so that he is in shape for whatever life throws at him.

We're excited to have Mark as the cover for this month's issue where he shares his words of wisdom that he has learned as he navigates life and the business. He shares how he continues to optimize his efforts, how he approached his roles, his upcoming film Arthur the King, his apparel brand, MUNICIPAL, and Wahl Street on HBO Max.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When we look at your career as an actor, producer, entrepreneur and investor what has been your mantra as you navigate these areas?

MARK WAHLBERG: Just get going. So many people get stuck over thinking whatever it is. But the key is just to get going. Any momentum is better than no momentum.

AM: You are known as a man with a number of optimized habits. What’s the best way that one can approach that?

MW: Get into a routine that allows you to be the best version of yourself.

AM: What’s the first 3 things that you do in the morning when you wake up?

MW: Pray. Then eat and workout.

AM: Obviously, you’re in great shape and we know that you get up pretty early to get your work in. What is the simplest, but most effective piece of workout equipment that you own?

MW: That’s got to be my PowerPlate Pulse. I feel like I have one in every room in my house. Soreness goes away in just a few mins.

AM: You have been in a number of our favorite movies, from Boogie Nights, The Departed and Transformers franchise. What has been the most physically taxing role that you’ve played on screen?

MW: There are so many because I love the physical aspect of some roles. People pushing themselves to the limit. The Fighter, Lone Survivor were like that. And my new movie I just finished shooting, Arthur the King, does the same.

AM: Which role that you’ve played — Tommy Saunders (Patriots Day), Marcus Luttrell (Lone Survivor), Mike Williams (Deepwater Horizon) — inspired you most personally?

MW: They’re all so different but the one thing that they have in common was they are all real people committed to something bigger than themselves.

That’s as inspiring as it gets.

AM: When you began as an entrepreneur, what was the best piece of advice that you received?

MW: Things never go exactly as you planned. But if you’ve put a great team together, and are persistent, you’ll find creative solutions together.

AM: Since last Oct, we became aware of your fashion brand MUNICIPAL and included it in our cover shoot with EDM DJ/producer duo SOFI TUKKER as well as in our cover shoot with Twilight's Peter Facinelli. We love that the line takes you from day to night. What’s your go-to pieces of MUNICIPAL gear?

MW: SuperBlend tees, Sport Utility Jogger, Everyday Boxer Brief, ICON Trucker Hat – can’t pick just one!

AM: So what’s your favorite new discovery?

MW: MUNICIPAL SuperBlend tees. I live in these things.

AM: When you’re not on set, brokering your deals or thinking of your next project, what is your ideal day?

MW: Spending time with my family.

AM: We love your commitment to your health and fitness, but when it comes to a splurge are you drinking wine, beer or liquor?

MW: Wine

AM: When it comes to athletes, who influenced you the most?

MW: I grew up in the 80’s so it was Larry, Michael, and Magic.

AM: So what music are you listening to right now?

MW: Lately I’ve been watching a bunch of old school hip hop videos with my kids. The stuff holds up!

AM: We’re all streaming a number of shows on various streaming platforms. Any suggestions on what we need to be bingeing?

MW: How about HBO Max? Netflix is Spenser Confidential. And on HBO Max, check out the Wahl Street series airing April 2021.

IG @MarkWahlberg

PHOTOS COURTESY | Mark Wahlberg

Read the Apr Issue #64 of Athleisure Mag and see Momentum is Key with Mark Wahlberg in mag.

THE PICK ME UP

Read the Apr Issue #64 of Athleisure Mag and see The Pick Me Up in mag.

SS21 | ALO YOGA

We’re loving Alo Yoga’s drops that have fun colors and are perfect to wear when you’re hitting the studio. Check out some of the new pieces.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | JOHN REED FITNESS

JOHN REED is focused on creating a unique fitness experience and a space that’s more than just a gym. The combination of music, art and design is what creates the JOHN REED feeling – a vibe similar to when you’re in a nightclub. Its members go with fitness goals in mind, and also find they are meeting others who share similar interests and are ultimately becoming part of its growing community. The first JOHN REED opened in Germany in 2016 and grew to 30 locations globally. It's newest addition opened Mach 17th in Downtown LA.

Los Angeles is a hotspot for fitness, music and lifestyle and these qualities are also the DNA of the JOHN REED clubs. Downtown is a growing, metropolis section of LA where art and innovative concepts have merged.

JOHN REED offers a large and diverse range of training areas, classes, and equipment. From the massive Freestyle Area with every type and size of free weight, machine, and functional equipment to it speakeasy-style Group Cycling Studio, every space has been thoroughly thought through and outfitted with all top-of-line equipment to meet you wherever you are on your fitness journey. Members also get unlimited access to these areas as well as boutique studio style classes such as cycling, barre, yoga, and Pilates.

Before, after, or even instead of a vigorous workout, members may access amenities such as the Snooze Room and Sauna to relax, stylish locker rooms with salon quality blow dryers, hair and body care, and many small intimate coves as retreats for social interaction. Members can also enjoy a nightclub feel while with a professionally built-in sound-system and various lighting concepts.

The JOHN REED Juice Bar offers handcrafted smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and grab-and-go healthy snack options morning through night. Members have the choice to choose whey and vegan protein for their pre or post workout, they also have a variety of grab and go snack options to help fuel you.

JOHN REED offers one type of membership and it’s $100/month. There are no contracts, initiation or cancellation fees to worry about. At JOHN REED, members are empowered to take control of their fitness journey.

Cleanliness has always been a top priority at JOHN REED Fitness. That’s why they declare they have defined their cleanliness protocols and safety standards in accordance with the CDC, local, and state guidelines. Preventative safety measures taken include temperature checks, mask wearing at all times, social distancing, reduced capacity and the frequent deep cleaning and disinfection of the workout and locker room facilities.

JOHN REED FITNESS

1200 S Hill ST

Los Angeles, CA 90015

www.us.johnreed.fitness

IG @johnreedfitness_us

PHOTOS COURTESY | JOHN REED

Read the 63rd Issue of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | JOHN REED Fitness in mag.

GET FIT FOR NO KID HUNGRY

Mark your calendars as fitness lovers across the globe have the opportunity to “Get Fit for No Kid Hungry” with their favorite celebrity trainers and influencers with free livestream workout classes, including model Lily Aldridge and celebrity fitness trainer Simone De La Rue (creator of Body by Simone), as well as fitness expert and boxing trainer, Anthony Crouchelli (Liteboxer, GRIT BXING). 

 The livestream workouts will be hosted via Instagram Live and free to the public with donations encouraged to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to end childhood hunger in America. Every $1 donated can help provide up to 10 meals to kids in need. Meal equivalency varies during COVID-19 relief. Learn more here.

WHEN: Friday, March 26 at 7 a.m. PST/10 a.m. EST

  Lily Aldridge & Simone De La Rue (they will be hosting the class together)

WHEN: Saturday, March 27 at 8 a.m. PST/11 a.m. EST

Anthony Crouchelli 

WHERE: The ‘Get Fit for No Kid Hungry’ livestream classes can be accessed via Instagram through the below handles of each participating celebrity and fitness influencer during the times specified above. 

You can join Lily Aldridge and Simone De La Rue’s workout fundraiser via @lilyaldridge or @simonedelarue.official (the class will be hosted through both IG handles), and Anthony Crouchelli’s workout fundraiser via @anthonycrouchelli. 

WHY: Due to the coronavirus, 1 in 4 kids could face hunger today. No Kid Hungry has a plan to make sure kids are fed, during this crisis and every day. Through a combination of emergency grants, strategic assistance, advocacy and awareness, the anti-hunger campaign is equipping communities across the country with the resources they need to feed kids. 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

9LIST

Read the Feb Issue #62 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST in mag.

STAYING MOTIVATED WITH BOB HARPER

We had a candid talk with one of the top Celebrity Trainers, Bob Harper. You know him as one of the trainers and eventually the host of The Biggest Loser, he has been on countless shows encouraging those to take care of themselves and their health and is known for the way he engages with others. We catch up with him to talk about how he got into the fitness industry, including TV into his brand, his latest project and how he has navigated these times.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve been fans of yours since we saw you on The Biggest Loser as a trainer and then as a host – when did you know that you wanted to work in the fitness industry as your expertise has spanned over 3 decades!

BOB HARPER: Wow 3 decades! That makes me sound so old!

AM: Oh no it doesn’t! It makes you sound experienced and amazing!

BH: That’s true! I’m embracing my 50’s. I’ve been in the industry like you’ve said for over 30 years now. When I got into fitness, it was something that I fell into because I was living in Nashville, TN and there was a gym that I lived next door to and all of a sudden I just started going to the gym and I definitely got the bug of fitness. I decided that this was something that I really wanted to do so I got my certifications, started to do group fitness and then I decided that I would move to Los Angeles, CA to really make a full-time career out of health and fitness and then the rest is pretty much history! I went from being a Celebrity trainer out of Los Angeles to getting this gig on a new show called The Biggest Loser and at first, I was super skeptical because listening to the name, I didn’t know what it was about and then I found out that it was all about diet and exercise – it was something that I thought, “ok, let me try to pursue this a little bit more.”

AM: Did you ever imagine that when you first started in this industry that you would take the different avenues that you have taken and really expanding your brand as being as you said, a TV personality and being more than just a trainer and having your group sessions?

BH: It was never anything that I ever thought that would I do in terms of being on television because I was very happy with where my career was, but when I got this opportunity to work on Loser, I thought, you know what, it’s going to give me the opportunity to work on this platform to be exposed to this whole other demographic and I really found that as much as I loved all of the celebrities that I had worked with, this was just something that was just so much more rewarding in a completely different way.

AM: How would you define your approach when you’re working in a group setting or with your personal clients? Do you have a certain approach, focus or modalities that you like to focus on?

BH: Yeah, I have always described myself as a very pragmatic health and fitness trainer. I have never been one to beat somebody down as I have tried to lift them up. I want them to see themselves through my eyes when they are unable to do. That’s just something that has always been in me. That has always been me to be someone that has always looked at that glass as half full no matter how far off track someone has gotten. I realize that in health and fitness and especially when you’re working with people that are overweight, it’s something that they have to embrace for the rest of their life. There’s no endgame here when it comes to weight loss, managing weight loss and when I speak to people in that pragmatic way, it just me saying, “these are the cards that you have been dealt. This is something that you're going to have to be thinking about for the rest of your life.” I think that once you're able to swallow that pill, it makes it a lot more manageable. I feel like that there are so many avenues of health and fitness out there that kind of go, "I have all the answers, this is it and once you do what I’m telling you to do, then life is going to be great.” And I’m like, “ok, well once you have lost all of that weight or achieved the goals that you have achieved, what then?” I always try to look at the what then.

AM: Before we get into the Next Fitness Superstar, how did you decide to work with NEOU Fitness and what was the synergy there?

BH: Since the pandemic happened last year and it feels like –

AM: Like five years!

BH: Yeah, I’m going insane ha! Yeah, before the pandemic, I was never an at home fitness person. You would think when you look at my career – I mean people would say, “I’d love to see your gym at home!” I’ve always loved being in gyms, group fitness and being around other people. Then with the pandemic, I was forced to approach fitness in a completely different way. I started doing all the workouts that I like doing and I tried doing them from home. It wasn’t until I met with the people at NEOU that I really decided that I knew that I was really responding to the situation that we are in. NEOU has so many different options of working out and that’s what I wanted! I don’t know about you, but I was really getting bored with the things that I was doing and I really needed to mix it up and I also wanted to do things that was going to put a smile on my face. I don’t want to sound cheesy.

AM: Totally get it! We’ve been to NEOU for editor events, we miss our hot yoga studios and being around others in working out and having that experience with other people as well as enjoying the amenities –these past few months to keep it fresh has totally been a challenge!

BH: It’s totally been a challenge! I have to have those conversations with myself that I have had to have with my clients over the years when I’m saying to myself,“ I don’t want to work out” – those days when I’m dealing with low-level depression throughout this year and being like, “oh my God, this is never-ending, I can’t get motivated” and having to say to myself – “I know I’m going to feel better about myself when I work out.” My fiancé will say to me, “honey, you know you’re going to feel better after you do it. Just turn on the computer, get your workout going, jump in the pool and do whatever you’re going to do” and it’s true and I’m always having to remember that feeling. I remember telling that to every single person that I have ever worked with and I like NEOU in the way that it gives me so many different options and those options are what keeps me motivated.

AM: Tell us about The Next Fitness Superstar as the concept sounds fun and what’s your role in this project?

BH: I’m really excited about this creative idea. It’s something that I came to them with and I said this was the first thing that I wanted to do with them. I found it to be interesting and dynamic. Since the pandemic and looking at the different trainers, workouts, health professionals out there – people are always asking me how can they go to the next level? Going to the next level, whatever that means for you is trying to put yourself out there in a completely different way. That’s what the Next Fitness Superstar is about –show me what you’ve got! I remember being very clear, it’s not about the way a person looks. I see people with the best bodies in the world and their training ability for themselves is great – but what are you able to give that person that you're working with? So with the Next Fitness Superstar, I want to see how you are able to communicate, are you able to deliver, what your brand is, how you are able to get the workouts in to get me engaged and to keep me engaged. I think that when you deal with trainers, you have to see them from so many different points of view. It can’t just be you have great abs or you have great legs – what else do you have after that?

AM: It’s cool to see that you guys had over200 people competing, and you narrowed it down to 10. Can you share if you have any favorites or if you’re leaning towards anyone or anything that is standing out with you?

BH: Well I don’t want to talk about favorites, but I will say that it was super hard to get to the top 10! I love the top 10 that we have and I think that they’re really strong and really dynamic so it’s exciting! Let me tell you, we’re about to give it to the audience for their vote. I’m glad that they’re going to have to do it and not me!

AM: For sure! What’s going to happen over the next 4 week period with this?

BH: Well what is going to be really fun is that when we get to the top 3, we’re going to be putting them through a workout, a live workout on NEOU – I want to be able to talk with them and to hear how they are able to communicate. I think that that’s really important since I have been in this industry for a long time. Going from being a trainer to going live on the Today Show and a number of shows throughout my career, there’s an art there. There is an ability to speak and be concise. WhenI watch people and I see that people are starting to ramble, saying a lot and you're wondering if they’re really saying anything – I think at one point and I say this with any trainer that I have talked with or worked with, “don’t be afraid of the silence.” Especially if you’re in the midst of a workout. Don’t be afraid to let the room breathe. You know what I mean by that?

AM: ABSOLUTELY!

BH: I have been in a number of workouts with trainers that there is so much dialogue and it starts to make me a little insane it's like, enough with all of the talking. Let me know what you need from me, guide me in this way and allow for the magic to happen!

AM: Agreed! A lot of times when we’re working out, we just need that space so you have that moment for your body to go through what’s happening and to feel like the movements are becoming a second nature. When you’re talking too much, it becomes noise after a certain point and then it’s too distracting.

BH: Oh my God! I have actually done workouts where to the computer screen I'm saying, “stop talking!” Give me a minute!

AM: And sometimes you just hit that mute because you can’t!

BH: It really takes away from the times where they really have something important to say and people have to learn how to edit themselves! That’s the bottom line. I love that people are going to be able to vote by going to NEOU to vote for their favorite trainers. We have gotten really great responses from it.

AM: It looks like it. So when we get to the 3 people, they have the activities that they will do and people can vote. What does the winner get for winning it all?

BH: That’s what’s really exciting. Not only will they get a contract with NEOU, the publicity from doing it, being placed in a different arena for doing it which I think is the best part of the prize, there is also a $5,000 cash prize too. I thought that was pretty great!

AM: Sure. Even for the 10 people that were announced initially, there’s something to be said that you went through that process to get there. Will this be something that will continue to take place to have these kinds of competitions or are you just feeling this out to see how it goes?

BH: We’re definitely feeling it out, but I also have other ideas that I have been playing around with on what we can do. I do believe that at home fitness is here to stay for a while now and I want to be able to inspire people at home that aren’t working out with large groups of people anymore. How can I keep you going? I mean, that’s what it’s about as you know! You’ve got to be able to change it up and people are asking, what’s the best diet out there and I’m like, “you know what? It’s the one that you’re able to stick with and that you're able to continue to do!” That’s when everything changes. I have done every single diet that’s out there and it’s good for people to try different things because it keeps your head in the game.

AM: Outside of Next Fitness Superstar, are there other projects that you are working on that you can share that we should keep our eye out for?

BH: I know that one thing that has been very near and dear to my heart – literally and figuratively, is my partnership with AstraZeneca something that we call, Survivors Have Hearts. I used to travel around the country with heart attack survivors. Now with COVID-19, it’s been a virtual thing. So this year, I’m hoping that we can get out on the road maybe. The response that we have been able to receive by doing it virtually has been super successful and that’s something that as a heart attack survivor who is coming up on 4 years in 6 months, being a survivor – it drives me even more. Being able to talk to heart attack survivors, people who took care of them during that hard time has been super rewarding for me.

AM: During this pandemic, we enjoy your photography and being able to see the world through your eyes and seeing your pups, Karl and Vivienne because they’re so cute. How did you get into photography?

BH: Thank you for saying that! Photography means a lot to me and it’s always been something that’s really important for me. Ever since I was a kid and I got a little Instamatic camera – I’m really dating myself here.

AM: I had one growing up I’ll be 42 this year, so I know what you’re talking about!

BH: Well you’re a little younger than me, but you know what I’m talking about. I was very drawn to that media of art where you’re able to grab a second in life and that you can never go back to it. You have to remember that every photo that is being taken, especially the way I go about it– it’s that instant and that instant is gone and you’re able to document. I love being able to tell a story in that range finder of my camera. That’s how I look at it. I tell people all the time, everyone can take a picture as we all have iPhones, smartphones or whatever you call it. But whenever I am able to have my real camera in my hand and to not just take a picture but a photo and tell a story, it’s just something that I have loved for a very long time.

AM: I’ve loved looking at that second Instagram that has those photos. Growing up, my dad has the 35mm cameras where you go into the darkroom and we actually had one in our house. So seeing these single stories that you’re telling and how poignant that they are – I didn’t know that about you prior to the pandemic, but very cool to see the world through your eyes.

BH: I appreciate that and as far as your dad and working with film, that’s always been something, of course, I work with digital mostly, but I have my film camera and when I’m in NY, I have a darkroom that I go to in Brooklyn called Gowanus Darkroom and I develop my own film, print my own photographs and there is something very therapeutic about that for me. You’re in that darkroom and creating art and it just stimulates me.

AM: It’s been so fun talking with you. Who are 3 people that have inspired you to be where you are whether personally or professionally?

BH: Oh wow, that’s such a big question! I mean an immediate answer would be that I would talk about people like the trailblazers, Jack LaLanne – that man was in the business forever and continued to just inspire and be so inspirational. I’ll tell you another one – Richard Simmons, I mean what he did with his career – the heart on his sleeve. Everything from Sweating to the Oldies and what he did, people tried to emulate it. He had those diet cards, a deck of cards – that’s just what everything was built on!

If I’m going to stay in the old school world, I’m going with Jane Fonda! Jane Fonda and everything that she has done! I don’t even know how old she is, but LOOK AT HER! I like looking at people that are growing old gracefully because I’m of that world so when I look at Jane Fonda, I want to drink the water that she’s been drinking!

AM: To this day, as I’m the Co-Founder and Style Director here, there have been a number of shoots that I have styled and I have used her iconic fitness looks as an inspiration to the shoots that we have created. She is a style icon and a fitness icon and her look is something that has been a classic.

BH: I’ll tell you what and I’m thinking about the new and younger generation, there is someone on Instagram and TikTok if you have not seen him and I highly recommend – he has gotten me through 2020 in the darkest time and he’s called The Fittest Wizard. Have you ever heard of him?

AM: No, but just wrote it down!

BH: Oh my! He’s like a Crossfitter and he’s super fit and that’s beside the point! He does all this dancing and his physical ability and what he’s able to do and he’s having so much fun doing it. I’ve really become such a proponent of making fitness fun especially in 2020 and he has made me laugh and smile throughout this whole year!

AM: I’m looking at it now – wow!

BH: Wait ‘til you see him dancing around, he’s insane!

IG @BobHarper

IG @BobHarperGallery

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Bob Harper

Hear Celebrity Fitness Trainer Bob Harper on an upcoming episode of our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeart-Radio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, AmazonMusic, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Read the Feb Issue #62 of Athleisure Mag and see Staying Motivated with Bob Harper in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | NORDICTRACK VAULT

The NordicTrack VAULT is a full-length,60 x 22-inch mirror and 32-inch HD touchscreen display for immediate visual feedback. VAULT is made of carbon steel and has a sweeping rotating mirror. This allows you to work out wherever you desire in your home while allowing you to feel as if your trainer is right there with you. It allows you to match the form of the iFit trainer for a better workout.

Behind its mirror, there are premium accessories that includes: six pairs of NordicTrack knurled-handled, rubber coated dumbells (5 lb,10 lb, 15 lb, 20lb, 25 lb, 30 lb) and 2 kettlebells (20 lb and 30 lb). In addition, there are 3 loop resistance bands and 3 superbands. Each comes with 2 yoga blocks, and an exercise mat. All are stored in a vertical dumbbell rack within the storage cabinet. It stands vertically and is stable without the need of a wall mount while having a compact footprint.

It syncs with Bluetooth audio and has iFit workouts for weight training, HIIT, sculpt & tone, stretching and mobility, full-body and muscle-specific strength workouts, Pilates, yoga, mindfulness and more. In addition, a 1-year iFit family membership is included which is valued at $468 and can be used for up to 5 adult profiles.

Users have access to a growing library of on-demand iFIT Studio Workoutsthat are led by the world's top trainers including Gideon Akande, Hannah Eden, John Peel - to name a few. The selection includes a versatile catalog across cardio, strength training and recovery workouts. While interacting with the platform, users are provided both visual and audio cues on form and technique which is facilitated by the oversized mirror.

VAULT began shipping this month and is available with all of the equipment$2,999, or $1,999 for a standalone version excluding weights and other workout accessories.

NORDICTRACK VAULT

www.nordictrack.com

IG @nordictrack

PHOTOS COURTESY | NordicTrack

Read the Jan Issue #61 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Nordictrack VAULT in mag.

ESSENTIAL HEALING WITH NICO MARLEY

As we all embrace a number of our work-outs, we find that recovery is an essential for our bodies to be the most effective. We're fans of stretching, foam rollers, restorative yoga and including CBD within our routines. This area of recovery continues to expand with no signs of stopping. This month, we caught up with Nico Marley, grandson of Bob Marley - who recently launched his CBD line, Lion X Wellness. He believes in the importance of CBD for athletes and fitness enthusiasts and as a former Washington Football player, we wanted to know more about the company, why he created it and what we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we get into LionX Wellness, I’d like to talk about your background. Your father Rohan Marley was a linebacker at the University of Miami where he played with Dwyane Johnson, Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis. He played professionally in the Canadian Football League. He went on to co-found Marley Coffee and is involved in the House of Marley, helps run your family’s charitable organization 1Love and Tuff Gong Clothing Company. It seems like you have also walked within your father’s footsteps. Can you tell us about your athletic career and why you also wanted to embrace your entrepreneurial interests?

NICO MARLEY: My athletic career began at an early age. I started playing football in middle school and noticed I had a certain passion and love for the sport, and that became my life for the next 10 years. My passion for football grew throughout my high school years, and I ended up attending Tulane University, where I played football for four years and studied Business Management and Marketing. As a freshman, I was named Conference USA Co-Freshman of the Year and a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team. I received other accolades, such as All-AmericanAthletic Conference Honorable Mention and All-American Athletic ConferenceFirst Team. Upon graduation, I signed with Washington Football and played for the preseason.

After I was cut from playing for the Washington Football, I wanted to find my new purpose in life. I worked with my father, Rohan Marley, shortly on Marley Coffee, and I quickly realized that I wanted to create my own legend. I'm proud of everything my family has done, and I want to continue to add value to our name. SoI started to think about my passions, and what came to mind is my love for performance, the collective impact we have on one another, and my family history.

AM: What is an average day/week like for you in terms of your fitness routine?

NM: I try my best to stay in shape and stay active throughout the week. Typically I try and run a few miles, include an ab work-out a few times a week, play soccer, and incorporate push ups every day.

AM: Tell me about Lion X Wellness. What led you to creating this company, why have you focused on CBD and what is in the cur-rent product range?

NM: I started taking CBD during my junior year of college when football season was beginning. This sport takes a lot out of you, and I wanted something natural that was going to help me focus before and game and help me recover after one. When I found CBD, it was perfect! My family had always spoken about natural healing for years, and this is something that could help me manage my pain as well as boost overall wellness naturally. As I searched for my new purpose, I thought about all the things I was passionate about; natural healing, my family history, and helping others. Lion X is all of those things for me. It incorporates a modern evolution of my family's philosophies and my passions for the game, performance, and overall wellness.

Lion X Wellness’s current product line features Vegan CBD Gummies, Full Spectrum CBD Oils (ranging from 500mgs to2,000mgs), a Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm, and Full Spectrum CBD Gel Capsules. In the future, I hope to expand the brand. Lion X Wellness isn’t just a CBD line; we’re a wellness company.

I hope to introduce other wellness products in the near future, along with comfortable apparel people can wear in their homes and on the go.

AM: What are the ingredients in your Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm?

NM: Lion X’s Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm is 500mgs of CBD. It contains Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Beeswax, a blend of mint and eucalyptus, CBD Rich Hemp Ex-tract, Lemongrass, and Aloe Vera.

AM: How important is CBD to recovery products for athletes and fitness enthusiasts that want to include this within your routine?

NM: Sports take a lot out of you, and many athletes tend to get hurt while playing. I found that for me personally, I preferred to take all-natural products and not prescription painkillers while playing sports. Soothing and cooling balms are extremely helpful for athletes that are seeking something to manage their pain. Topical salves are intended to increase circulation, ease aches and pains, as well as provide the athlete with some relief.

AM: What is Lion X Wellness focusing on as we begin to navigate 2021?

NM: We’re targeting people who want to make more conscious decisions about themselves and what they put in their bodies. We’re focusing on becoming a household name in the CBD industry. We hope that in the next year, we can touch as many people as we can while growing our company organically. We're also focused on expanding through more partnerships with leaders in this community, allowing us to educate new regions on CBD, social justice issues, and Lion X.

AM: Are there brand ambassadors/spokespeople for the brand?

NM: At the moment, we don’t have any official brand ambassadors. People like my father, Rohan Marley, former professional football player Ray Lewis, and my other close friends and family have promoted the brand on social media.

AM: Are there any collaborations that Lion X Wellness will be doing this year or in 2022?

NM: On February 6th we’ll be taking part in the 5th Annual Canna Business & Wellness Expo in Miami. The 5th Annual CannaBusiness & Wellness Expo is an outdoor event where you can learn more about the cannabis industry, growing business-es, opportunities, careers, and more. LionX along with Cannabis LAB will be taking every precaution to ensure the safety of the visitors. At the event, we’ll educate visitors more on Lion X, how we’re making a difference, and how they can enter to win up to $100 worth of Lion X CBD products.

AM: Beyond being used for recovery purposes, how else does Lion X Wellness assist the body?

NM: In addition to healing the body, LionX products are great for boosting your overall well being. Our CBD tinctures, Full Spectrum or Isolate, are amazing for promoting focus and relaxation. Our Veg-an CBD gummies are also a great way to maintain energy and to keep yourself focused throughout the day. Our gummies feature whole, organic hemp extract and have a mix of four delicious flavors in the same jar: strawberry, orange, green apple, and grape.

AM: In addition to Lion X Wellness, are you involved in other ventures, philanthropic efforts and/or are you involved in any of the family businesses?

NM: At the moment, Lion X donates a portion of its sales to Garden of Eden, a non-profit organization with the mission to empower women and youth by cultivating self-esteem and self-worth through mentorship programs in arts, education, and the development of sustainable community projects in underserved areas.

AM: What impact has Bob Marley had on you?

NM: Bob Marley said years ago, "Herb is the healing of the nation," and my family has lived by that saying ever since. My father would always say if you're going to use the plant, make sure you use it for the right reasons. Not just to smoke to get high but to connect to your mind, body, and soul. Although I have never met him, his words and his music have spoken volumes to me. I listen to his music when I need words of wisdom and it has helped me many times over the years right before a game or just getting up in the morning. Because of him I have been able to connect with myself on a spiritual level.

IG @Nico2Marley

@LionXWellness

PHOTOS COURTESY | Nico Marley

Read the Jan Issue #61 of Athleisure Mag and see Essential Healing with Nico Marley in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | CHEF BROOKE WILLIAMSON

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S Chef Brooke Williamson in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | CITYROW

Founded by Helaine Knapp, CITYROW's Signature class format combines rowing intervals with strength training for a total body HIIT-style workout. This 50-minute class launched in their first studio and expanded to its studios nationwide. Their philosophy is that you can get an incredibly intense, effective workout, without putting your body at risk, so everything is low impact and purposefully designed to build a strong, resilient body.

CITYROW GO offers HIIT, Endurance, Strength and even Yoga classes, in multiple lengths and levels. There is truly something for everyone. New classes drop every week, and there is a library of hundreds of on-demand classes. Both the on-demand platform and the at-home rower launched in 2018.

CITYROW offers two different connect-ed rowing machines which are similar to the studio model but are optimized for the platform. The CITYROW GO Max Rower has a 19.5" sweat-resistant touchscreen for a fully immersive experience, and the CITYROW GO Classic Rower, which has a Bluetooth-enabled LCD monitor that you can connect to your own device. The CITYROW GO Rowers allow you to take classes, view live performance data, track your progress, set weekly goals and earn personal record.

Both rowers use water to create resistance as you row, have a beautiful sleek design and can stand to store, taking up minimal space when not in use.

The CITYROW GO App is available for both Apple and Android devices and you can do the classes using any rower. The app can even connect to certain Water Rower and Concept 2 models to stream your rowing data in real-time. In addition, there is also a lot of off rower content which includes Yoga and HIIT classes.

For those looking to gift themselves or others, CITYROW's only sale of the year is currently live as both the CITYROW GO Max and CITYROW GO ClassicRowers are $250 off for a limited time.

CITYROW

Visit CITYROW for studio locations.

www.cityrow.com

IG @cityrow

Read the Dec Issue #60 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | CITYROW in mag.

CONNECTION MATTERS WITH JEN WIDERSTROM

We've all had many stories to share about this year and looking into next year which is par for the course when it comes to this time of year. Of course with what we have gone through this year as a global community, stepping into 2021 in the most optimized way is definitely something that we're looking to do around the office of Athleisure Mag! That entails a series of efforts that combine mind, body and soul.

We caught up with one of our favorites Jen Widerstrom Celebrity Fitness Trainer, TV Personality, Best Selling Author, Entrepreneur and Fitness Expert who we have enjoyed since seeing her as Phoenix on NBC's American Gladiators, the undefeated trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser, as a bestselling author and having the ability to take classes led by her in years past. Her approach to motivating people and joining her clients journey in their transformation is no surprise to us!

We're looking forward to taking her 60 day challenge with Transformation Protein beginning Jan 5th - Mar 5th to hit our goals and prepare to be our best selves in 2021. We talk with Jen about how she got into the industry, how she navigated the landscape, the importance of mentorship and being inspired and giving back to others.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that you love being able to engage and help people. Can you tell us how you found your way into the fitness industry?

JEN WIDERSTROM: You know, it was such an accident girl! I was always involved in sports growing up and we always had a set of weights in the basement. We still do! Movement was a part of my life and my parents who are in their 70’s have their own garden plot. They grow their own vegetables. Being physical was always present early on but fitness was different. I was working out for performance in a sport or to look good for TV for American Gladiators and stuff like that. What really happened was that I came to LA after American Gladiators in 2008, I said, "I've made it. I am famous, this is great." I was 24 and I was in the greenest pasture right now. The show went off the air and I didn’t have any money to stay. I started teaching classes at this local little fitness studio called Pulse Fitness Studio that’s here in Sherman Oaks. They’re still rocking and rolling. It was great because I could have a free gym membership as I couldn’t afford one in LA and I had no money. I needed to pay my bills and I needed a gym membership.

That was it. I started out of reasons for necessity – financial. Then, I just realized that i wasn’t just about the weight loss but the pride in being able to see the changes and the person that came along with movement. I saw them just being able to open up and just starting to see what a beautiful motivator this was right? The ability to accomplish and to do. Waistlines will always change as that’s a side effect of the real work and when I saw that, I never looked back. I thought, “oh my gosh, there’s an impact here that’s far greater then I have ever given credit for.” Doing the group classes in the valley, turned into doing DVD’s for Men’s and Women’s Health to being a MSN Health person to being on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. I’ve been very lucky and honestly, that’s just where it started.

AM: We remember when you were Phoenix on American Gladiator! How was it to be on such a physical show?

JW: Headline – dream come true! You have to realize that I was born in 1982. I mean we’re talking about Zap, Jazz – these fit strong women and then you’ve got Gemini and Nitro – who’s better than Nitro – Dan Clark was great! I was just obsessed and I always wanted to be a contestant – always wanted to be on the show. I think that I have been a Gladiator 3 times for Halloween. When I actually got to do the show, I really felt that I had made it, I could literally die happy and that I got to do everything that I wanted to be able to do. It was a blast and it was special for a number of reasons. I met some incredible people. Very few times does a cast and production meld so well together. Dave Hurwitz was our producer and he had been doing MTV’s Fear Factor and he was such a class act. All of the people like former MMA fighter Gina Carano, known as Crush (Deadpool, Fast & Furious 6, The Mandalorian) and Beth Horn known as Venom, Valerie Waugaman known as Siren – all the women were just wonderful people. They were great in the industry and everybody was somebody. Hollywood Yates known as Wolf, was a professional rodeo clown. We had stunt people and then there was me. I was like, “I’m a bartender in Chicago.” I had no idea how I got this job and I was excited.

But it was good and there was a lot of pressure! These were live tapings and you didn’t get redo’s. So you’re out there and you’re in the rings with contestants. If they get by you, you look dumb! There was real pressure and there was no faking it. We really got after it so it was a lot of fun, but it was a lot of intense competition – no doubt!

AM: Obviously on the Biggest Loser, why did you like being on this show? Once again, it was great watching you on this show as the amount of care that you gave and the fact that you were an undefeated trainer is mindblogging.

JW: It’s funny because it was a scary show. There was no other biggest show in our field. What I loved about it was the people – my contestants and also those that were on the other teams as well. I realized very quickly that I wasn’t here to fill Jillian Michael’s shoes, to replicate what Bob Harper has done – I had to do me. I mean talk about a formula for life – do you and that’s scary you know. Will you like me, will I be invited to the birthday party? Am I accepted for who I am and what I have shared? I was really scared because I had not been on TV in that way and I had never been in that scenario. The one thing that I knew was that if I put my people first, if they were my focus it would be right. If you ask anyone that I have trained in the decades that I have worked, ask anyone and they would tell you the same that my contestants would – they were my focus and I just knew that the rest would take care of itself. People were able to see my care and my heart and that came across the screen so clearly. I said, do whatever you want with the cameras. I still talk to them every day. I have group threads with all of my teams and we’ll do little challenges like Team Jen versus Team Jen. Colby and Hope Wright (Biggest Loser Season 17), they were contestants on the show and they were struggling to get pregnant before their show and they just had their first child. I love being involved in their lives and when I have had hard days, I can call them and they are truly family to me. That really comes down to the favorite part – the relationships that I made were real and now they’re in their own lives and the effects continue to ripple in their own communities of wellness and being able to inspire others.

AM: How would you define your approach or methodologies that you use when it comes to training your clients whether it’s in person or virtually?

JW: I think that for me, I don’t know when this happened, but at some point health and weight loss got hard and confusing. That happens in media because it’s sales and marketing and people want you to be able to buy their stuff and my approach is, take away the mystery, take away the fear and just really show people, base line health. It’s not very hard to take care of yourself and people get very nervous about failure and I just take the judgement away. There’s no judgment, there’s nothing to be afraid of and I really teach people to be students of the experience and of themselves. I start there because the rest takes care of itself.

Think about a kid learning to do a cartwheel. How many times do they do a cartwheel before they actually get it? They may never get it, but they never stop trying. They’re not judging themselves and I thought that we had to bring that back. The ability to say, “hey, I’m not a failure, I’m learning and I’m trying.” The way that I actually equate it which really helped me is that I used to be really fluent in Spanish and of course, I forgot everything. When I started to teach myself again, I was feeling stupid because my pronunciation was off or I wasn’t conjugating correctly or I said “la” when it should have been “el” – the fear of trying and looking foolish with the language became a light bulb for me with health and weight loss. They’re afraid of looking foolish and afraid to tell their friends that they are doing to do this now – going to the gym. People aren’t looking for you to fail but we get it in our heads sometimes that we are going to look dumb and that the failure is something that we can’t take it – why? Treat it like a kid during cartwheels. Keep trying. I always tell people that the great thing about the wagon is that I always let you back on it! Always! I think my approach is really putting a curiosity, the minds of the students in front to remove the judgment and just keep showing up. We all get stuck. I’m trying to normalize some of those bumps in the road. That’s what gives people the chance to learn. It’s all mental – it’s all behavior.

AM: We’ve had the ability to train with some amazing trainers. What’s your advice when it comes to people finding the person that they want to train with whether in person, via IG or virtually? What should they be looking for in terms of them opening themselves up to someone who will be working with them and directing them?

JW: It’s funny because my opening statement is find someone who doesn’t annoy you - #1. If they’re annoying, you’ll never go back. There has to be a likeability and then the connection will follow. If it’s an in person trainer, do they pay attention to you and do they make adjustments? Do they have a plan for the day? If you say that your knee feels weird and they don’t change anything, that’s a big red flag to me. A trainer is a beautiful job and we are in the service industry. Gunnar Peterson is a good friend of mine and he always says that effort is second. We love serving our people, we love being there and being that support system. So if you don’t have that support, that adaptation to your workouts, really asking how you are feeling – cut and run! You do not want someone that can’t adapt to where your body and your mind is that day. It’s just not possible. Adaptability to you is key, but when it comes to online, you want to find the people that when you leave their page, you feel good about yourself. You should keep going to that person’s workouts. If you leave feeling worse, then maybe don’t follow that person anymore. Since we’re digitally coaching and caring right now – even the challenge, I don’t keep friends that don’t make me feel good. Do the same with the trainer. There are plenty of us out there as Instagram shows you that will make you excited to go to their page and get your motivation on. Whether it’s the music that they play or the exercises that they do – whoever keeps you going is who you stay with.

AM: This summer while we interviewed Gunnar, we were talking with him about the early days of the pandemic and how we were early enough to fill in the equipment that we needed scouring through Amazon and other sites. We talked with him about how he assisted his clients in getting them what they needed. How did you do this with your followers and your clients?

JW: I felt this urge to be available. I was actually going to close all social media this year as a birthday gift to myself.

AM: That will be a delayed birthday gift ha!

JW: Exactly and when the pandemic hit, I was like well I’m a resource I care and I need to be there for them so I made myself available. That’s what was needed. There are millions of exercises on YouTube, social media all kinds of great resources, your magazine – there are all these great things. What people needed more then content was people and community. That is what I had them focus on. I said to find someone that they could be accountable to, FaceTiming, I was doing Facebook Lives 3-4 times a week and doing those workouts. Listen, I’m a good trainer and there are a lot of people that can tell you how to do push-ups and situps, but I’m GREAT at community. I wanted people to be able to know that they had time with me. They show up for you and they move as a result. So while they’re here, they might as well do the push-ups that I was talking about.

For me, it was an accountability. They knew that I missed them when they weren’t there. They needed people, support, a voice on the other line saying that I am here and that I feel what you’re feeling. That’s really it!

AM: What are your go to workouts that you really enjoy doing whether it’s for arms, glutes, abs or legs?

JW: You know it’s funny. I’m almost 40 and gravity is doing something weird to my body. My butt didn’t use to do that and anyone that reads this will just laugh and nod. Right around 39 ha! So I realized and it really hit me this year and I think part of it was not having a gym as well. I was doing more walking outside, I was in lockdown in Florida and thankfully the weather was great and it was warm so it was good for me spiritually. Man, my butt started to sink, there was a looseness in my arms. So what I really started to think was that weight training has always been in my life. As I said, I had weights in my basement. My go to exercises were those that allowed me to simulate muscle where I didn’t want to lose shape. I’m a big glute thruster person – whether you put a barbell on your hips or a dumbbell or a kettle bell on your lap. There are a number of ways that you can target it as a single leg or a double leg. Glute Thrusters to me especially when done correctly – which I can go into. A lot of people don’t realize that their chin, sternum and pubic bone all need to be in alignment. You want to keep that straight. I will see people who will try to sag their butt down because they feel it hurts their back but you have to keep that constellation aligned. It really loads your hamstring and butt. That’s been such a savior for my backside! I’m like, there you are! I needed it!

When it comes to upper body and what happens because I didn’t have a lot of equipment and people were in this position, I always remember that tempo training has been my go to. I was tempo’ing with the glute hamstring. Even an incline push-up which takes a little weight off of your body just go s-l-o-w. I’m talking, 5 counts down, hold the beats and 5 counts up. Let me tell you that your arms will start to change. It really brought the life back to my body. Using tempo for my arms and even my legs helps. And also, as far as core is concerned, I like having a toned stomach and not like abs because I don’t want to be ripped. But pilates for me, is my go to core work. Any type of pilates, sign me up! It keeps me long and I feel very connected in my lower core, it supports me in my other movements and I just love the shape that my body takes when I am doing pilates and especially in my stomach. So those are my go to’s if I had to pick one for each.

AM: We’re fans of pilates too and couldn’t agree more!

What is Transformation Protein and why did you want to partner with them?

JW: It’s kind of funny as I joked before that I don’t know who made me an expert. I think it’s because I try a lot, I ask questions, I give the truth and I lead people to things that work. Just live everybody else, I have questions! Are these supplements any good, is this product any good, does this company have integrity – just like any civilian looking at products. It was Gunnar – a dear friend of mine. I didn’t have a place to live so I was living in his backyard at his guest house. He’s the man that opens his door and his heart and his life to you and he’s such a great mentor and friend to me and he was working with it. I was really looking for a solution with collagen because it’s an incomplete protein and it’s sold in a way that you have to actually have a supplement with it to be affective and a lot of people don’t know that. I really wanted to look into what that solution would be for someone to get the collegen which is so critical as well as high quality protein. I remember I was at his gym literally just working out and mooching off his protein and I was like, “what is this stuff?” I started asking him and he was like, “this is Transformation.” He gave me the rundown over the summer and I thought that it was great and it tasted good, its plants and when I looked at the combination and the quality of the protein, I thought this is a really incredible thing going on. What company spends the time or the money to give you what your body actually needs. Usually it’s like, let’s take the leftover protein that’s shit and put another label on it and sell it to you by saying that it’s night time protein. The way that Brian Wargula (President/Co-Founder) and Transformation have sourced the ingredients and have found that combination is really some of the best that I have ever seen.

Ask any nutrition pro and I’m a nutrition specialist so ask anybody, they will tell you that there isn’t a better formula combination out there. The fact that there is probiotics – it’s really an all in one package. They have done a great job and they have spared no expense. But when you work with people that actually care, let’s put a ring on it and get married!

AM: We have tried a number of proteins and there are those that we like and those that we can’t get behind so we can’t wait to get ours. But we knew that Gunnar was a fan of it and also you, so we’re pretty pumped to include this in our routines and we knew it was legit!

JW: Oh yeah! I mean I had a hard fall, broke my foot, a week later, I got attacked by a dog and he bit my face. I put on about 10lbs. It was weird my body was just slower, I wasn’t training, I was doing what I could, but it was about getting enough food in. I just didn’t have an appetite and I started back with Transformation Protein and it really helped lean me out. I was getting enough good food in, my body was able to let go of the extra weight and it was critical for me.

AM: We love this 60 day Total Body Challenge and the fact that you and Gunnar are a part of it. Can you give us an overview about what this is and is it true that it’s limited to a set number of people only that can participate in this and why?

JW: Yeah and here’s why. Because I’m one person –

AM: Really? We thought you were 10?

JW: I know! I always keep my promise and what I mean by that is that my word means something to me and I want it to mean something to people that follow and trust me. When I took on this challenge, no one reads my emails, no one signs Jen for me, no one takes calls for me. When there’s quotes in magazines and press releases, those are my words and there is no one writing for me. It’s really important for people to know that when they sign up to work with this coach, they’re getting Jen. These days, there’s a lot of dishonesty around signing up for x,y,z coach and it’s actually not them leading you in the challenge at all. Because it’s me, I thought, what is my capacity to give and help that’s going to be the sweet spot of being able to have as many people as possible to be there without diluting my abilities to be there for everyone. That was that 100 person mark. I wanted people to be able to have me and again, it’s all digital. I’m creating the emails every week, I’m sending the videos, I’m answering the emails, I’m hosting the live meetings, I wrote and filmed every single workout. Part of me is like, “maybe I’m just really controlling and a micro manager.” But, I swear I’m not! This is what people deserve and I take pride in telling people that this is what a real coach does and I want to set the standard for them so that they don’t accept anything less in their lives whether it’s an in person training when things begin to open up or whether they want to do another challenge.

That’s really what it was and the 60 days as a timeframe was intentional! Because we’re after big transformations. We were talking earlier that of course you want to see transformations that’s the visual carrot and of course people are going to lose weight, that’s a blast but the transformation or me is the 6” between their ears and we all know that. I need that for that moment of time. I’ve done other challenges in the past, but I found that they did a 30 day challenge with me and then they signed up for the next one. So I’m like, ah they want more time, they need more time and that’s why we went with that.

AM: When this challenge is over, will people be able to go to other ones or will there be other things that are rolling out?

JW: What’s really great is, I don’t feel that I am separate from Transformation. It’s not like I get a check and do a few Instagram posts. I’m very part of the team. We’re really starting to allow it to be user generated content. People are wanting it to be more support around recipes, nutritionist support – so we’re building it. Putting in the blog that's around it, recipe support, our registered nutritionist that’s there. We want to be in a place that people can trust and come to. There will definitely be more challenges. I feel like I heard a conversation or an email where they said, “the next one,” and I’m like, “guys, I gotta get this one under my belt first.”

What we're doing is we’re kind of taking an approach like a bar. If you think about it as a 1 in 1 out situation. So we will have a waitlist and we’ll run another one and we will have other great coaches as well. It’s something that they have never done before and that’s why they’re really trusting me to take the reigns and runs with it. Based off of what I see in this challenge, I’ll know what I want to do and run with on it. That’s why it’s user generated so I’m not assuming what people want and feel. I need to know so that I can develop from there. You can assure your readers that there will definitely be more opportunities!

AM: We assumed. When you’re preparing to do a transformation whether it’s this challenge specifically or something else, you have to have the want to do it. But how else can people best prepare themselves in terms of maintaining the goal and sticking with it when they are approaching something like this?

JW: The #1 thing is that people just assume that there won’t be any roadblocks or obstacles. You have to make it different and I think we have to think about when you’re driving home from work and you hit a pothole and you say, “oh man, I hope my wheels still on.” We’ve all done that and then when you go home the next day, you know there is a pothole coming up and you remember. What we tend to do as humans is that we don’t want to address or to think about the pothole. So you hit it again and again as opposed to saying, “no I remember this. It was on this street and this street and I’m going to navigate around it.” People have to look at where there are going to be problems as there will be hard days, set backs, days where you pack your food and leave it on the counter – that’s ok. So instead of going into a panic mode and being like it’s all ruined and over, I just expect things to go wrong and I know that it won’t all be perfect. There will be some turbulence and when you know it and expect it, it kind of shocks you less and you can navigate it better. Go in with the interest to be ready for the change and the reality of knowing there will be some bumps. You’ll be ready for whatever comes and to look for them not in a pessimistic view but as a way to learn to adapt and to navigate. It’s a beautiful thing.

AM: How have you found ways to keep yourself motivated this year and as we head into next year?

JW: Man, good question. I care about where this road goes. I sometimes try to look at the destination and try to find my way back. This has not allowed me to do that. My motivation is that I have to practice what I preach. Am I learning, am I being curious? What’s really been fun is that I’ve learned how capable I am and it’s been a fun experience. I’ve hard weeks and I’ve had times where I drank every single day just like the rest of America! I’ve allowed myself to ask questions like why am I drinking every day this week? Am I bored – am I avoiding something? I’ve really let that motivation that I have in me at almost 40 to know that I have so much more to learn and that when I learn, I get to share! That’s the beauty of it. It’s not about being a public figure, being a celebrity like me, having millions of followers - it's what we do as humans. We get to learn and we get to share. My experience is I get to do this and to share it with other people. That’s the backbone. I love people and I love helping – I love being an everyday hero and that’s my heart. I had to learn the lesson first and I really had to do that by putting myself first. It’s changed my perspective in myself and the confidence that I have in myself as well. That’s the motivation because it feels great and I’m not going to stop doing this. I will tell you though, having people in your life – I’m always better with a teammate. I have a friend that we go on a walk together and she’s in Georgia. We walk and talk and I have my headphones in and we agree that on this time/that day, we’re going. I meet people – online for workouts. I have a few people that I’m potting with, I go in their backyard. I know I need the accountability and the other thing I would tell people if they are struggling to get motivated is create that accountability for yourself. It gets you going, it gives you that support and it’s a great thing to let them be there for you and it’s powerful. That’s what I have allowed the focus to be and it has just changed my outlook on the whole year. I had a great year. I don’t have young children, I’m not going through the school stuff and I feel that that is a whole other experience that I can’t even speak to or begin to understand what parents have been going through or how they have been able to cope. But I had a great year and I have used my time to get so much done personally and professionally. 2021 is going to be an excellent year for me regardless. I think that people need to feel ok in being able to ask for help when they need that support.

AM: Who are 3 people in your life that have inspired you to be where you are today?

JW: You know, I’ll tell you what. When it comes to life, I have won the lottery. I have been inspired by incredible people who have believed in me before it was cool to watch Jen Widerstrom. I’m going to tear up a little bit when I think about it. My parents are just such incredible people – they are incredible people. They have been married for 46 years. I look at my mom, she had a 4 and a 5 year old, 40 years old, pregnant 9 months with my brother and going with a full-time job in the inner city of Chicago, one of the most violent schools that there were. At night, my dad would drive her to Northern Illinois University at night so that she could get her Masters Degree. She wanted to work in higher education. She was so pregnant that she couldn't sit behind the wheel and drive any way and it’s like at least an hour driving each way! It was like, what if she has the baby in a cornfield so my dad’s driving her each way. Her commitment to her, their relationship, their love, their family – she took her finals early so she could have my brother, When people ask me about my work ethic, mom and dad they are incredible and they worked so hard to give us so much for us. We didn’t have a lot of money and we didn’t go on planes, but every year they saved up money to drive us to Florida or to get in the van and go to New Mexico and that’s what we did. It was really special. They still work, they still grow their own vegetables. They are such salt of the Earth and intelligent special hard working people. They inspire me and whenever I think that I have had a long day, I tell myself, “well you’re not 9 months pregnant with 2 kids and a fulltime job trying to get your Masters in night school!”

I think that the people who inspired me along the way. I had incredible teachers, I could just name a list of the teachers. I think back to my 7th grade science teacher, I was an average student, never talking and by the end, I had a 96% in the class and I was in the front. He taught me how to give a good handshake, he taught me how to feel confident in myself. My orchestra teacher Mr. Foley, he encouraged me to keep playing bass. I was playing sports and orchestra wasn’t cool, but he encouraged me to find a voice in music for myself. I look at my college track coach. I was a walk on in the rowing team and I was terrible. He saw me lifting and he said I should be a hammer thrower and I thought he was crazy and yet a year later, I was placing at the Big 12 Conference, earning a scholarship, winning the nationals to compete - he believed in me first! I use them as inspiration because the people along the way - people will say, how did you get here - what was it? It’s always the people. It’s the people that believed and saw something in you when you couldn’t believe it yourself. For me, that’s the legacy that I try to pass through those people.

I had a diving coach Steve Mazzerella – dear friend of mine until he passed away. He taught me how to see things in people and to help them let it shine. That’s what I do and I always joke, the waistline will change, bit it's the heart that I am really after and I know the difference that that will make. I know I can do that same difference and that's where I take it.

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PHOTOS COURTESY | Jen Widerstrom

Hear Celebrity Fitness Trainer, TV Personality, Best Selling Author, Fitness Expert and Entrepreneur Jen Widerstrom on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multimedia companion podcast network! Subscribe to be notified when the episode drops. Listen on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

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