HUMANITY DEFINES HIS MUSIC | MIYAVI

This month's cover marks the 20th year of MIYAVI being a force in the music industry. Known as the Samurai Guitarist, he brings a message of passion and peace to those he plays for whether they're the fans that attend his shows or the refugees that he performs for as a Global Ambassador of the UNHCR where he gives his time to the camps when they are seeking relief from the crisis around him. He also talks about his 14th studio album, MIYAVIVERSE which covers anime songs. MIYAVI is also an actor who has done voiceover work in an Emmy-nominated anime show, Arcane: League of Legends as well as appearing in movies with Angelina Jolie in Maleficent 2 as well as Unbroken that she directed. We talk about his need to stay creative, collaborating with brands and continuing to challenge himself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be a musician?

MIYAVI: When I lost my dream to be a professional soccer player when I was 14 years old. I was on a youth team of a professional soccer team in Osaka on the west side of Japan. Every single day, I was going to the soccer field and I got injured and then I lost my dream. The thing is I really really wanted to be a professional player, but at the same time, the practicing was really competitive to be on the team. I actually got tired of it because it was tough for me being a 14 year old boy to keep going to the field which was pretty far from my hometown. It was like a 90 minute train ride and that was really tough for me every single day. I was the captain of the local team for a very long time, but when I started going to the professional team, I lost my friends as well because I was not in the group anymore. I was the only one going to the professional team as well.

To me, it was really stressful and then it was really shocking to me that tmoment that I stopped going to that professional team, I was really relieved! It was really weird because soccer was my motivation and my passion every day that I was playing. But the moment that that happened, I was relieved not to play soccer because it was so stressful for me. That was the moment that I quit soccer and again, when you lose your dream, you lose yourself as well and you lose that shine so I was hanging out with my friends and I was doing bad things and then I got the guitar and I thought, “oh this might be it!” It might take me someplace else and I wanted to get out of my hometown anyway. This thing might be the one that takes me out. Now, I’m traveling the world and talking to you!

AM: Exactly and that’s quite a story.

How do you define the MIYAVI sound?

M: People call me the Samurai Guitarist and I’m honored to be called a Samurai! Samurai is such an important word for Japanese people. It’s such a big determination and it’s a really really big deal. For me, instead of katana, the Japanese sword, I play the guitar and I make people dance. I feel good that I can spread that positive message. As an artist which I am always trying to pursue the edgy style, but at the same time, I’m also a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR which is The United Nations Refugee Agency. So it’s about positivity and the moment that you feel the future, it’s really really crucial!

So yeah, it’s kind of like a guitar rock, dance kind of music. At the same time, to me, it’s about the attitude and how you enjoy my show is really really important. After people get back home, I want them to feel energized and motivated. Of course, I want you to have fun, we’ll have fun always – but I want to create something that people can feel and that it’s the future and is productive. It’s not just about being entertaining.

AM: How do you get inspired in terms of approaching creating your music?

M: You know, I like to watch movies or sometimes be in a movie. When I play a role in a film, I learn from that character and I want to be able to absorb and take it into my body. That’s also an inspirational source, to me. Again, I can learn things from my kids as well. As a parent, it’s kind of a learning process as well. Again, at the refugee camps, to witness those cruel devastating situations and the paths that those people had to go through – this is also a huge inspiration. I can’t look away from that fact and our generation is facing this crisis. So that’s not quite an inspiration it’s –

AM: It’s more of a driving force.

M: Yes, it’s more of a driving force. It’s a reason why I keep moving forward. It’s really really responsible.

AM: You’re so talented and from the music standpoint as a songwriter, producer, you play instruments – what’s your favorite part of working on a song?

M: To be honest, the most important thing is to put the message or the lyrics as a core part. The most fun part is just playing the guitar without thinking about anything. You just go free, that’s the fun part. That’s what I can do on stage once I’m done. Giving birth is the most hardest part, the most painful experience as we all know – the ladies. They give birth and it’s painful, but it’s also worth it for the real happiness. So doing what I do, it doesn’t actually hurt like that, but at the same time, when you’re making a song, it’s a really really tough process. But then again, it’s worth it. But playing the guitar, that’s the fun part!

AM: When you’re collaborating with other artists, what are you looking for when you’re deciding that you want to partner with them?

M: Just chemistry always! I know my world and I know how to maintain and to remain in my sound. I know my style and I know that it works. When I work with somebody else, I want to see new dimensions and to also feel that chemistry and to have a new me. Something that I never experienced or that I never thought to even try. That’s kind of a benefit and that’s the same with life. You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Sometimes it doesn’t go as well as you expected, but that’s life. That kind of encountering a new part of myself in that way is nice.

AM: Earlier this year, you partnered with K-Pop superstar Kang Daniel with Hush Hush which also became a theme song for the Korean drama show Rookie Cops on Disney+ and you also collaborated with him again. What did you love about working on these projects with him?

M: Again, K-Pop is a global and phenomenal movement. I’m half Japanese and half Korean and I do respect the effort and the creative force that is there. Kang Daniel is a rising star and as an Asian, I do respect him. Again, it’s a totally different style and it does seem like he is building his own style right now. So it’s really really interesting to be part of the creation that we make together and then we see the shift as well. His style is really different from mine and it’s not like it’s a middle ground – it’s more like a 3rd or new destination! You can only find that with your collaborator. That’s why I said, a new me or a new world or a new dimension. I love his dedication for the creation and he’s so humble. It’s great to feel that different wave in the younger generation.

AM: You’ve been in the industry for over 20 years and you’re currently in a 19 city, 20 show tour here in North America. What does it mean to you to reach this achievement and to look back on all of the work that you have done?

M: I’m never satisfied and that’s the reason why I keep on doing this. I’ve done pretty much all of these different things not only in musi,c but acting, the fashion thing, humanitarian work, so it’s such a pleasure to be able to explore the many worlds and to encounter new people and I’m learning every single time. It might have been easier if I just focused on a music career or an acting career or a fashion career, but again there is also that chemistry when I take on a challenge of doing something different every time. I feel that chemistry and then I learn from it. Then I can be a new me and I can be stronger and I do just appreciate everyone that I have worked with and also the fans that are supporting me the whole time even if I changed my music style – not just costumes, but the music itself – the groove. Then doing acting and the fashion thing so I really really appreciate their support.

AM: So what can you tell me about your 14th studio album that is coming out?

M: That’s a cover album and I am covering anime songs. It’s a really really interesting path and also a process because those tracks are made by somebody else and they’re really popular ones like the song for Evangelion or song for City Hunter, the song for Naruto. At the same time as an artist, I’m really confident to make any song into MIYAVI’s world which is why we named this album, MIYAVIVERSE. That’s my world and that’s the sound that MIYAVI and the team creates. Every song has a great melody and there is a chemistry, there is a totally different sound in production and form. We’re kind of making a new style. It’s a really exciting project.

AM: In addition to your music career and you have also said this as we’ve been talking, you’re the face of a number of brands such as Gucci and you’ve been with Dell and McLaren. What does that mean to you to be able to crossover like that?

M: You know, it’s a new discovery of myself and then it’s such a pleasure to work with those top top brands that are trendsetting and leading their industries. It’s great to see what happens when I dive into those different worlds. I’m not a car geek or a car lover, but the attitude that McLaren and MIYAVI have really resonates. I’m not just making music for a business and they’re not just making a car for a business, we’re making history and we’re making a different thing. It might be easier to make some kind of a good pop stuff and there might be an easier path to become famous, but for it’s not. It’s about being more integrated. We would not be able to be satisfied with the answer. With Dell as well. The creativity that technology brings – they are expanding that as well. The honor to be part of it and to just explore together is great.

AM: In terms of your acting, you have a number of credits that you’re getting out there. You were cast in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken and you worked with her again in Maleficent 2. What was it like to be in those projects?

M: It’s fun. Again, the music when it comes to the process, it’s all about me. I say it sounds like this, it should be like that, I am the producer. So I am doing the producing, the acting and the playing myself. But the movie, as an actor, there is a bigger part of it especially when the role is not that big. It’s a tiny part of it. But, it’s still you’re part of it. You’re performing and whatever you do in that work, it’s going to affect the entire creation – it’s teamwork a team achievement. To be able to work with those top top people from Disney or Pixar those people are the real deal! It’s really creative and more free. They are enjoying the flow and they are making something new in the flow. It‘s really fun!

AM: You’ve done voice overs for Arcane: League of Legends which won an Emmy recently for Outstanding Animated Series. Why did you want to be part of this show?

M: Why not?

AM: Love that!

M: Yeah! Why not? When I got the offer, I heard that Sting was on board, Imagine Dragons was on board. You know, those top artists were there and then the creation itself was really really great – a high level and a big passion. I was working with Christian Linke the Executive Producer. He’s like Steve Jobs like – he has the characters, the world, passion and even the music as well. It was simply a pleasure and honor to be part of it and then the music and also doing the voice acting for a little bit for a little role. That was such a surprise and that kind of flexibility and spontaneous kind of decision is the fun part of creation you know. You can change your creation drastically in the last minute. That’s all on you so it’s all about the passion and the clear vision. He had a clear vision and I was so happy to be part of it.

AM: Throughout this interview, you have been talking about your humanitarian work and working with the United Nations. Can you tell us more about what you are doing?

M: So my humanitarian work as an ambassador for UNHCR, is life work and it’s really volunteering. It’s not something that I get paid to do. Every single time I go to the refugee camps, I feel purified well as it is a special process to me. Anything that you can do for the future, global warming, animals, human rights – anything. But for me, I met Angelina Jolie – Angie, she’s the one that inspired me and opened the door and who met me. I was really surprised and amazed at how much she dedicates for this crisis and as an artist, I wanted to be able to do something if I could. I went to the refugee camp in Lebanon for the first time right after the Syria crisis exploded. It started around 2011ish but around 2014/2015, the refugees increased rapidly and I was really scared. I didn’t know what to do as an artist and still, I can’t play the guitar to people that just escaped from their countries because imagine the situation of it being do or die, you can’t enjoy the music at that moment. But still, after that first emergency phase, we call that Developmental or Sustainable Phase – people need to feel that dignity of a human being. We are not just living here a human being. We are not just living here, we are living here and standing on our own feet. That’s what everyone needs to feel and especially at the refugee camps, that set of circumstances is really hard to feel that way. Then art and culture like music and sports, can do many things to connect people and to make them feel alive. That’s my role as an ambassador. The thing about refugees is that you feel like a dark, serious burden – it's a serious issue. But at the same time, those people are like us! They used to be a professional musician, they used to be a writer, they used to be a politician. So my mission as an ambassador is to bring those kinds of bright sides of people and positivity. So we feel that we are the same and it could happen to us. When you think about a crisis that could happen like another war – I don’t even want to say, but you have that conflict that happens and it could happen to us if the place you are living in is so no longer safe. It’s really really important to me to keep doing this so that I can realize that I can redefine my mission of the reason why I keep moving forward. I keep creating and this is really really important now.

AM: Honestly, the way that you explained that this person who is a refugee had a life where they were a doctor or the fact that they had a life that they were part of. I think that that really puts a different type of life on it as opposed to saying this group of people had this devastating series of circumstances. It does give back the humanity and compassion to see it in that light.

M: Some of them used to be a doctor. Some of them used to be a professor.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be as an artist, as an actor, a humanitarian and as a father?

M: That’s a big question – the ultimate question. It’s interesting. It makes me rethink about the shift in me as an artist. I wanted to play the guitar when I was younger, but I'm not playing the guitar because I want to play the guitar now, I’m playing because I want to play music. That’s why I’m playing the guitar – I want to spread my message. It’s why I make music and then I play the guitar. I need to spread the message to help make this world better somehow. I want to dedicate myself somehow and that’s why I play music. That’s why I play the guitar. It used to be like – I want to be a legend playing the guitar. I do play it and it’s my thing and I will never quit playing the guitar. I’m not going to become obsessed by being a guitarist. It’s a tool to deliver my message to the audience. So, I don’t know about the answer to your question because for me, anything is fine. That’s why I am an actor and modeling as well because as long as you can just spread the message and the idea of peace, I think that that’s it!

IG @miyavi_ishihara

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 16 - 27 + 32 Courtesy MIYAVI | PG 28 Mairo Cinquetti/Pacific -Press/Alamy | PG 30 UPI/Alamy |

Read the OCT ISSUE #82 of Athleisure Mag and see HUMANITY DEFINES HIS MUSIC | MIYAVI in mag.

STAY ON TRACK WITH JILLIAN MICHAELS

We took some time to chat with fitness icon, Jillian Michaels who is always working on a number of projects, keeping people motivated to live their best lives with no excuses on getting their goals while also ensuring that we are mentally and nutritionally on the right track as well. She talks about her career and navigating a number of elements with it, suggests routines that we can do to include within our workout as well as how we can take what we do to the next level!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to work in the fitness industry?

JILLIAN MICHAELS: To be honest, I fell into it very organically. When I was 17 I was training for my black belt. And people would see me working out and assume I was a trainer. So they began asking me to train them. At that time I was making about $8 bucks an hour delivering pizza, so I thought I wonder what this training gig would pay? And I began charging $15 an hour to train people and thinking I was killing the game. Fortunately, my mom had some common sense to suggest I might need some actual credentials to work people out and she helped me pay for my first training certification. And the rest is really history.

AM: Where does this passion come from to empower others to be their best self?

JM: As a person who struggled with weight as a kid, I was very fortunate to fall into karate at 12 years old. My transformation did NOT happen overnight. It was gradual and the first thing to change was my mind. I began to notice that accomplishments I had in karate were translating to a greater sense of self worth and confidence. I noticed that as I began to feel stronger physically I began to feel stronger and more resilient in all facets of my life. Then, when I began feeling like I was playing a part in someone else’s journey towards empowerment and transformation it brought a tremendous amount of meaning into my life.

AM: You have been a trailblazer in the industry as someone who has used your platform to integrate your presence from hosting TV shows, creating your fitness app, being on covers as well as launching lines – how important was it to diversify your presence and to utilize all of these areas?

JM: As a business woman it’s critical you are omnipresent in all forms of media and synonymous with fitness in general. Even if there isn’t a fitness modality I consider myself to be the best at I work with someone who is the best to create a premium program for the consumer. Whether it’s yoga, corrective exercise, running, meditation, prenatal workouts – I will find one of the top experts in the space and have them co-create programs with me to ensure they are as good as they can be and as effective as possible.

Therefore, making sure you are a consummate pro who is always learning from the best of the best is critical to becoming a go to resource in your field. By being that go to resource you ensure you are the premium go to brand. So if Samsung is looking for a brand to auto install on all their tv’s they come to me, because I have built credibility in the space that has spanned well over a decade now.

AM: What are 3 pieces of equipment that you think are essential to have at home and if you have to make a substitution due to being unable to purchase them, what would the substitution be?

JM: Your body weight is really the ONLY tool you need. If I get three other things in this article though – I’ll take em! A mat is important. You can use it for yoga of course, but it’s nice for floor work if you don’t have a soft carpet to do floor work on. An adjustable set of dumbbells. I love powerblocks, but they are expensive. Again, bodyweight is all you need, but having dumbbells just makes things a bit easier for back exercises as rows are a lot easier for people than pullups or even assisted pull ups. Plus, while you can focus on time under tension with your leg workouts and do 100 reps of an air squat it is a bit more consuming. So if you are a more advanced athlete and you want to get a killer leg day in having the added free weight can help you save time. There really isn’t anything else that is needed, so at that point if there is something you love I would say grab it. For me I love my jump rope – even though I can simulate jumping without one. Some people love an indoor piece of cardio equipment for days they just want a brainless calorie burn – again this isn’t necessary at all to get cardio in, but it’s nice if you want to simply row, walk, bike without having to think about your training.

AM: How do you encourage those that know that they need to get back into their fitness routine or are feeling overwhelmed with doing so due to the current times of uncertainty?

JM: Ideally, we all have our reasons “why” we want to get in shape that serve as motivation. Be it getting ready for a wedding, running a 5k to raise money for breast cancer research, being a role model to your kids, wearing a certain brand of skinny jean you are obsessed with – it doesn’t matter how superficial or how profound your reasons as long as they matter to you. Beyond those things - I really can’t think of a more important time to get in shape. I see people spending so much time and energy being afraid of Covid and I understand that completely, but take that energy and channel it into the things you can control like your health and wellness. I keep telling people, we began dealing with this in March. It’s September now. Had we started in March imagine how much healthier you’d be now over 6 months later. It’s never too late. Make your health your priority! And I don’t mean to belabor the point – but I got covid and I was sick for 4 days. That’s it. While I know it affects healthy people, we also know that healthy people fare far better with it. So don’t wait. Do it for you. Do it for your family. Start NOW.

AM: As we’re navigating these times, many of our readers want to know about how they can stay in shape. Do you have 3 movements for abs, 3 movements for legs and 3 movements for arms that we can do to incorporate into our workouts?

JM: There are literally so many different ways we can workout at home – I have literally over 1000 body weight exercises alone in my app. For example here are just a few:

Lunges – forward lunges, stationary lunges, backward lunges, side lunges, weighted lunges, jumping lunges, pendulumn lunges

Squats – air squats, weighted squats, chair squats, jump squats

Core – plank, side plank, reverse plank, superman, table, crunches, reverse crunches, bicycle crunches, toe tap crunches

Cardio – Jumping jacks, jump rope (without or without a rope), mountain climbers, marching in place, side to side hops, burpees

AM: What are 3 foods that you suggest eating before and/or after a workout?

JM: This really isn’t a thing. These are the general guidelines around food and fitness:

Don’t eat a normal size meal within 60 minutes of exercise. Not only can it cause cramps while you exercise, but blood circulates to the stomach and intestines after we eat in order transport the nutrients of our meal to relevant systems in our body. This causes a heart rate increase and blood vessel constriction in order to maintain your blood pressure. Why does this matter? Because when you are working out we want the blood circulating to our muscles so we can best deliver oxygen to them while we train. And adding insult to injury an elevated heart rate and constricted blood vessels only makes it that much harder. So wait at least 60 minutes after a meal before training. A SMALL snack is ok, but not a meal.

Ideally, eat something 1-2 hours before you train. Get a little of each macronutrient in their cleanest form if you can (clean protein, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, and complex carbs) - an apple with almond butter for example. The carbs give energy. The fat and the protein help to sustain that energy and keep you from getting a blood sugar spike that might come from eating carbs alone. Plus the protein might help encourage protein synthesis (potential improved muscle recovery).

As for a post workout meal – this is also not necessary. You don’t NEED to eat after you train. Eat every 3-4 hours for 4 meals a day – breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner. Then try to create a 12 hour overnight fast for your overall health and immunity. When you do eat, again try to get some protein, fat, and carbs in for optimal energy and protein synthesis. If you want to get a little crazy you can supplement before and after as well. I take an organic pre-workout with green tea, beets, and coffee bean before I train for the caffeine and the nitric oxide as they give more energy and help to get oxygen to the muscles. After my workout I take whey protein with branched chain aminos. Personally I like the Alaya brand, but you do NOT have to do this. Eating regularly is totally fine.

AM: Can you tell us about the Oxidizer quiz? What is it’s purpose and why does it focus on the ratio between Proteins, Carbs and Fats?

JM: Ok, this is a bit of a long answer, but I will do my best to keep it quick. The two universal rules that apply to everyone when it comes to weight loss are calories in vs calories out. And, the quality of the food matters for overall health and wellbeing. HOWEVER, insulin (among other hormones) does play a part in not just our overall health, but also our BMR (basal metabolic rate). So we want to consume foods that don’t spike insulin and eat a balance of macro nutrients (protein, fat, and carbs) that give us sustained energy. Scientists have noticed that not everyone has the same insulin response to the same foods. We believe that this has to do with each individuals unique microbiome (gut mircrobes).

Why this matters is simply to help people identify which ratio of carbs, protein, and fat they might consume to give them lasting energy, keep their blood sugar and subsequently their insulin from spiking. So the oxidizer / metabolic type quiz teaches people how to identify their ideal ratio of macro nutrients. Again this isn’t necessary, but if someone wanted to really drill down on their health – maximize energy levels, metabolism, hormone balance etc. this is the way to do that. It’s essentially a series of questions that look at how certain foods make you feel and certain physical attributes that might indicate the rate in which you turn your food into energy.

AM: With people being a bit more anxious during these times, are there foods that we can eat that will help reduce this?

JM: The first thing we want are foods rich in magnesium. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer and can help you feel more relaxed. Look to incorporate avocado, nuts and seeds, legumes, whole grains, leafy greens, and bananas into your diet on a regular basis.

Fermented foods and fiber rich foods to help support microbiome (all those tiny little microbes that live in our gut). A healthy strong microbiome is directly connected to overall health from immunity to metabolism and brain chemistry is just another one on the top of the list. So choose fermented foods like yogurt, tempeh, miso, kimchi, kefir, cottage cheese to keep the good bugs flowing. And be sure to feed those little critters with plenty of fiber – so lots of fruits and vegetables!

Zinc also seems to be a big one. Studies show that people with diets low in zinc are prone to depression – plus zinc is great for boosting your immune system. Foods rich in zinc are beef, lamb, oysters, shrimp, scallops, mushrooms. Foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. So, ideally we would get some fish into the mix here… Wild salmon, pecans, flax seeds, walnuts, sardines are all good sources!

AM: Bloating is also an issue that many look to fight. What foods can we eat that will assist with this and are there specific workouts we can do to remove this?

JM: It really depends on what type of bloating. There is bloating from water retention – in which case you drink more water (the more you drink the less you hold) and consume less sodium. No more than 2000 – 2300 mg a day unless you are an advanced athlete that sweats a lot.

If it’s a tummy thing – obviously I would be super irresponsible if I didn’t recommend that you see a gastroenterologist. I can recommend you check for any food allergies or sensitivities. And try foods rich in digestive enzymes and probiotics (fermented foods like kefir, yogurt, kimchi, tempeh, miso and tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, pomegranate are loaded with fiber and digestive enzymes to help promote good gut health).

AM: Can you talk about the relationship between Intermittent Fasting and the Microboime and the benefits to this?

JM: To be honest, the connection isn’t incredibly clear, but we do believe there is one. Some think it’s associated with potential better sleep. The fact that when we don’t eat before bed we sleep better, which improves microbiome. What I can say for certain, is that intermittent fasting has been shown to help fight aging and boost immunity. This is because we know that it optimizes something called autophagy – which is a process in which our bodies cull dead and senescent tissue (VERY IMPORTANT). And, it helps to resensitize people to insulin, which we know is related to many dangerous health conditions like type 2 diabetes for example.

AM: Tell us about the Jillian Michaels Fitness App. What can subscribers look forward to on there in terms of modalities as well as are there any challenges specific to this month or time of year?

JM: Well, we are now calling it The Fitness App by Jillian Michaels because we are just now starting to add new trainers to the mix. Which is really exciting. So the purpose of the app is to customize someone’s fitness and nutrition in order to give them all the tools to achieve their personal goals. So no matter what your current fitness level, no matter what equipment you do or don’t have, whatever type of workout you like from yoga to lifting, walking to kick boxing, your program is created just for you. You can literally show up and use any of my dvd workouts which are all in the app, or you can have me create a workout on the spot for you. You can use it on any device from streaming to the TV, you tablet, phone, watch etc. And, there are hundreds of recipes of all kinds – created by chefs and registered dieticians. So whether you are vegan or paleo, gluten free or omnivore your meal plan is totally customized. I can even change the recipe in the app based on how many servings you want to make of that particular dish. The calories change based on your unique fitness goal and body type. So basically – your fitness and nutrition are completely personalized to make it work for you.

AM: You also have your podcast, The Jillian Michaels Show, what do you talk about on hear and who are some guests and topics that you’re really excited about (whether they are coming up or are in previous episodes)?

JM: We have a series coming up with Dr. William Li who specializes in eating to beat disease and will be speaking on different ways to eat to fight cancer, boost stem cell production, combat covid and more.

AM: How do you stay engaged with your community?

JM: I engage on multiple platforms – so we have the forums on my app where I can take questions from users. I have a private facebook group that provides a safe place for people to connect as well and I often go in there and check in. I also and pretty engaged on Instagram in the comment section.

AM: How have you been spending your time during this quarantine?

JM: I have kept my focus pretty streamlined. My priorities personally are my health and the health of my family. And while kids generally don’t struggle with covid, I worry about my kids mental health as they haven’t been in school or in any of their usual social and physical activities. SO I try to get them outside to bike, surf, hike. Professionally, my career focus has been as great as ever. More people are working out at home so I have been in overdrive mode adding new things to my app so people constantly have new content. We just recently added meditations to the app. And a 30 Day yoga challenge all of September with Dashama (one of my favorite yoga experts). We have an all new audio workout section coming to the app as well. And we are adding slides, kettlebells, and booty bands this fall.

AM: We know you have a new book coming out next year. Are there projects that we should keep an eye out for?

JM: For the Jillian Michaels brand - I focus all efforts in constantly evolving the app. Be it new trainers, new workouts, new ways to get healthy like mind body meditations etc. As a business woman I am constantly investing in other companies that I believe have better for you products. So whether it’s an organic nitro cold brew company like Lucky Jack, or an organic supplement company like Alaya I love supporting great companies who are doing great things.

AM: What philanthropies are you involved in?

JM: Currently I am working with the UNHCR – which is the United Nations Refugee Agency. I am also very passionate about health related charities and animal welfare causes, but my primary focus for the last several years has been to raise funds and awareness for refugees as this is literally the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.

AM: How you do you take time for yourself to ensure that you replenish your energy?

JM: Here is a strategy I employ to find the time for my self care. It’s called the 12 our rule. So - if there are 168 hours in a week and you prioritize sleep - which is critical to wellness - and take 8 hours a night for that - you’re left with 112 waking hours in your week.

If you have the most difficult scemario and you are a working single parent - and you designate 50 hours a week to run the household (take dog to vet, scoop dry cleaning, run kids back and forth to appointments etc.) and the other 50 hours you designate to work/ career that leave you with 12 remaining hours. Those are YOUR hours. Schedule them accordingly. So I usually take 2 hours a week toward fitness (four 30min workouts at home), one date night, one friend visit, one medical or hygiene appointment (dentist, hair cut, check up etc), a couple hours for a hobby, and this usually helps me over the course of the month stay fit, sane, social. It’s not perfect, but it works. And I schedule those 12 hours weekly. come hell or high water.

AM: When you look at everything that you have accomplished, how do you want your legacy to be defined?

JM: This is gonna sound so cheesy, but it really is true… I want my kids to be my legacy. As I watch my kids grow and become their own unique people I realize what a gift it is to help shape that and guide them to be the best version of themselves. And then I think – maybe this is what I’m actually here for… to be a conduit for a greater thing. A stepping stone in the evolution of something greater.

IG @JillianMichaels

PHOTOS COURTESY | Jillian Michaels

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Stay on Track with Jillian Michaels in mag.