9LIST STORI3S | Mike Piazza

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S in mag.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS WITH KAL PENN

As we get closer to the election (national, state and local), we've all been thinking about the issues, what we want our next 4 years to be and who will get us to where we want to go. This month's cover is Kal Penn who we have enjoyed in House MD, Designated Survivor and of course the Harold and Kumar movies. Kal has always had an interest in civics and even took time from acting to serve during the Obama Administration as the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.

We were excited to hear about Kal Penn's new show that launches on Sept 22nd, National Voter Registration Day on one of our favorite networks - FreeForm. In Kal Penn Approves This Message, he talks about the issues in this non partisan show to get voters prepared and empowered to vote. We find out more about this show that he hosts and executive produces, how it ties into FreeForm's larger PSA focus and what he was surprised to learn.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that you’re the Co-Executive Producer and the host of Kal Penn Approves This Message. Before getting into the show itself, why did you want to create this 6 episode series?

KAL PENN: That’s a great question. Over the last few years, I’ve had different producers and folks reach out and say that they had this political show and they were looking for a host and what I thought of it. Those shows were fine, but they were a little more vitriolic and polarizing than I would have liked. It’s not really my thing and so when we had this window of time during this pandemic, my writing partner Robin and I were brainstorming and we thought about shows that we liked. I liked the Daily Show and I love CBS Sunday Morning – so what if we combine the two and had a show that was funny first and comedy morning. The monologue instead of talking about the 24 hour news cycle, what if we made the monologue about a particular issue? It’s funny, but it’s nonpartisan and it’s issue based. That way your field piece which is very funny, would be an extension of that which is around the issue and then your guest instead of someone who comes on to sell a book - and there is nothing wrong with that as I hope to be able to do that one day soon BUT for now, what if your guest was someone who was an expert in their field as opposed to someone who needed to sell the book or the movie which is the traditional guest bookings. In that case, your interview should end with some sort of call to action that people could take regardless of their political views if they care about a particular issue. Leading up to the election, it seemed like the best way to couch that for the miniseries leading up to the Nov election. If we’re lucky enough to get extended beyond that, then it would be on civics things broadly. So that’s kind of how it all came together.

AM: That’s very cool!

KP: Yeah, thank you.

AM: How important is it to tackle the issues of the day to empower Millennials and Gen-Z voters when they’re hitting the polls?

KP: Very important! I think that you look at of course the Presidential Election takes up a lot of the airwave space. There are so many local and state elections like school boards that people are voting on and a lot of those things have an impact on our communities much more than who sits in the White House on a day to day basis. They all go hand in hand though.

Some of these elections are being decided on by just a handful of votes. That’s the difference between whether you and your 8 friends showed up to vote or not. It can be pretty critical. Even in terms of the Presidential Election, of course if you live in a battleground state, your vote is weighted so much more than if you're a NYer or in Oklahoma. But even in NY or in Oklahoma, we get this question a lot – “I’m a Conservative in NY or I’m a Progressive and live in Oklahoma, my vote doesn’t really matter right?” It’s like, no it does because if enough people with your point of view even move the needle to where you see, "wow we have a 2 or 3% uptick of Progressive voters in this district in Oklahoma or vice versa with Conservative voters in NY”, the people in positions of power have to take that into account. They have to decide, “am I going to represent these people or will they get replaced one day because I’m not,” with this district moving into a particular direction. It’s all those reasons. So man, it’s so important for those couple of reasons that make a difference.

AM: Was there a specific issue that you guys will focus on in these 6 episodes where you learned something surprising in that episode or something that you hadn’t thought about previously?

KP: There’s a lot yeah! Even in our first episode, it’s about the youth vote in general and how the voting age got to be 18. So we were like, “ok how did the voting age get to be 18?” I remember it’s the 26th Amendment and it was passed in the 70s right?

AM: Right!

KP: Ok, there was that, but then it’s like, how did that happen? And the point of origin for that is after WWII all of these service members were coming home and they were 18/19/20 years old and they had just fought the Nazis and they come home and they’re not allowed to vote because they’re not 21. So they start this movement to get the right to vote at 18 – the age that you could go off to war to die for your country. It took decade just for that to become the 26th Amendment and that’s insane that it took that long. The reason why we talk about it is that it is an opportunity to recognize why we all have the right to vote at 18 to begin with. Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or a Third Party person - it's all still relevant. The point is, you should vote when you turn 18 because you have that right and a lot of people worked very hard for a very long period of time to get us that right to vote.

AM: How excited are you as we know this show launches on National Voter Registration Day to be apart of this movement and this ongoing campaign that FreeForm as a network is doing in terms of PSAs to get this awareness out there?

KP: I love it because the FreeForm PSAs and stuff have been very uplifting, jokey and it’s not taking things too seriously, but it also is underscoring the real opportunity here for young people to participate. And that’s what I like about our show here too. Our set is essentially a celebration and we have a pinball machine and some fun jokey stuff, but there’s also a lot of books on the shelf from icons of American History. Everyone from Angela Davis to Ronald Reagan. Now you don’t think of Angela Davis and Ronald Reagan in the same sentence often, but the point of both of them is that these are people in American History who as things get more and more polarizing, one person may be more familiar with one of those humans than the other and they both played such a pivotal role in who we are today and why. The other pieces of the set are things that we celebrate. There is a whole bunch of imagery around women and science, astronomy and all of those things are because people decided to vote for candidates who used our tax dollars to fund these things. So those things belong to us. We should celebrate them. That space station is ours! I mean we share it with other countries so maybe that’s a bad example, but you know that stuff is stuff that we created together as Americans and we should be celebrating. To me, I think that that tone works really well with the tone with FreeForm and obviously Hulu which we air on the following day. It’s celebratory and that’s what we want. We want to be able to make people laugh, come together and to understand the issues a little bit better.

IG @KalPenn

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | FRONT + BACK COVER, PG 16-25 Freeform/Robbie Fimmano | FRONT + BACK COVER, PG 16-19 + 25 Editorial Design by Athleisure Mag |

Hear Kal Penn Approves This Message Executive Producer and host, Kal Penn on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Your Vote Counts with Kal Penn in mag.

TURNING NEGATIVES INTO POSITIVES WITH SUZANNE SOMERS

This month, we caught up with one of TV's favorite sitcom actresses who also made an impact in the fitness world as an icon. We talked with Suzanne Somers about how a series of events took place that got her into the industry, how she nabbed one of her most known roles as Chrissy Snow of Three's Company, how leaving this role created an opportunity for Thighmaster as well as her focus on women living their best lives as the navigate the process of aging. She shared her insights as well as the negative moments that she forged into positives and her ultimate success.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to be in entertainment and to be an actor?

SUZANNE SOMERS: There was no moment. You’d think that there was a moment and you’d think that there was a dream. But I am a recovering Catholic and I got pregnant the first time that I had ever had sex. I was 17 or 18 – I was very young. The other day, my granddaughter said, “you got pregnant and lost your virginity on the same day?” I said, “yep”. So at that time, it didn’t matter whether you liked the boy or not, you were going to get married. I found myself walking down that aisle that I didn’t want to walk down in an outfit that I hated. My mother and I went to buy it and I remember her saying, “it shouldn’t be too white.”

What came out of that was this baby. I mean at 18, who wants to have a baby – I didn’t I’ve been very honest with my son about that and said, “who wants a baby at 18? I didn’t know you.” When I delivered him, I looked at these little eyes that were all bunchy and out of my mouth came this statement, “I promise that I am going to make a good life for you.” I did. I figured it out. I got pregnant at 18, I gave birth one month after my 19th birthday and I got divorced from the father and it was just me and my son against the world. I was never going to stay with the father, I knew that. I was the first person in my family to ever get a divorce and the first person in my hometown who ever got that divorce and I kept that promise.I didn’t know how to be a mother. My son never got into drugs, he never got into alcohol. I believe that we’re hard wired and when I had my baby, I knew I was going to make it right and I had the wisdom to know that part. I am so proud of him. He’s a good father, I wish that I had had a good father like him. He has 2 little girls that are now in their 20’s. They’re not screwed up although they are entitled – because that generation is. I did my part!

AM: Growing up, many of us remember seeing reruns of Three’s Company and then as we got older, seeing you on Step by Step. What was it about taking those roles and being on those shows that you enjoyed being part of them?

SS: By the time that I got to Step by Step, I was pretty ensconced in that world of sitcoms. But honestly, when you’re talking about the lead up to all of that, then it goes back to when I got the lead of Guys and Dolls in high school. I played Adelaide and I didn’t know that I had any talent. I tried out because the rest of the classes were too hard for me. But I did love Fine Arts. I loved music, singing, acting. I got a scholarship to college and there was no one in my family that had ever gone to college and no one in my hometown that I knew had gone to college.

I got a music scholarship and do you know what I chose? I was so dumb. I chose a Catholic girls college – that was the worst place that I could choose to go to college. Then 2 months into college, I got pregnant. Here I was, the first person in my family to go to college and the first one in my family to have that opportunity and I got pregnant. I thought that all my dreams were out the window. The last night of the show, that guy came and at the time, I didn’t know who he was. He was really well known in radio and his name was Walter Winchell – he had a trademark look of a beige raincoat and a pork pie hat. He walked up on stage that last night and he went right to me. He walked up to me in his NY accent which I had never heard before in my small hometown of California and he said, “you’re going some place sister.” That was fortuitous. Then when I got pregnant, I felt that my college dream was over and I had to go to work and I felt that I didn’t have any talent or skills that I knew of. I’m trying to make a living so I got a job as an extra, the lowest rung on the whole showbiz totem pole – you couldn’t go any lower. I made $32 a day and that was how I was able to survive.

My childhood was actually terrible. I look at people who have had negative things that happened in their life and I tell them, use it – make this be your asset. My father became my asset. The fact that he told me growing up that I was a piece of crap all the time, that I was a nothing, that I was a zero, he would make his hands shape into a big “o” – he would tell me all this stuff. So you believe how you are programmed and that was my programming. So when you ask me, “what was your dream and how did you end up in this business?" I'm an accident and I had talent that I didn’t know that I had. I now encourage people that come from a negative to use that as your opportunity – because you want it more then the average person. Every time my dad would say these things, I would think to myself, “I’ll show you.” One night, I was on stage and I was headlining a concert in Vegas at the biggest room in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, he was in the audience and it wasn’t revenge or anything. I called him up on stage and if ever there was a moment where I had the “I’ll show you,” it was that night. He was so proud of me. I sang him a song – “you made me love you, I didn’t want to do it – I didn’t want to do it.”

AM: Wow

SS: Kind of poignant right? The negatives are the positives. So I had another thing that happened. After I divorced my husband who I never wanted to marry in the first place, I fell in love with Alan Hamel (Anniversary Game, Wedding Party, Lou Grant). I had taken an extra job and you know I walked into Studio C in ABC San Francisco and I was hired to be the prize model. It was like Vanna White but not as glamorous and all. I would open the refrigerator and pull the drawers out and show that it just wasn’t any kind of refrigerator but it was a refrigerator freezer.

When I walked into that studio, I met Alan Hamel and my knees felt weak. I had never felt like that. It was almost like we had known each other in another lifetime. So we started dating and I would meet him at his hotel. Everything that my mother would tell me not to do, I didn’t care. I felt like, I’ll show you. I’m in love with this guy and there is nobody like him in my hometown. I owned my power although at the time I didn’t see that. I did anything that I could to have a date with Alan Hamel.

I’m reading the trades one day and they say, there’s an interview for a guest starring part on a sitcom called Lotsa Luck with Dom DeLuise (Blazing Saddles, The Muppet Movie, Smokey and the Bandit II). The description was, small town girl doesn’t know who she is and doesn’t know who she wants. I thought, that’s me. I tell Alan and he says that’s great, I’ll pick you up at the airport. So I gather together 50 bucks – probably sold a jacket or something that I owned. I flew to Los Angeles and he picked me up. The whole reason I wanted to fly is because of that kiss he would give me in the car. It was this romantic kiss that I just couldn’t believe that you could feel like that. He drives me to Burbank for the interview. I didn’t know that you needed an agent, I didn’t know that you need them to set up an appointment. I just thought that you just go over there and had to be there at the time. I walk in and they ask me why I’m there and I say that I have an interview for the Dom DeLuise talshow. I had never had a professional part before as I was just an extra. I didn’t know that the one extra part that I had had when I was in the Thunderbird would catapult me and I was a writer at the time.

I see the girls walking in, signing in and receiving their scripts under my lashes. I read my part for a guy that I would end up doing sitcoms with, he said, “very nice.” I said, “I know that I’m exactly who you’re looking for because I’m a small town girl, I don’t know who I am and I don’t know what I look like.” He said he would give me a call back. I thought great and I went to reception and told them that I had a call back and she said that was great and I asked her what it was. Johnny Carson walks in. I look up and I’m like that’s Johnny Carson. He’s looking at me and walks over to me and says, “hey little lady, what are you doing here?” I proudly said that I had a call back because I now know the lingo. He asked for what show and I told him and he said that Dom DeLuise was a great friend of his and he wished me a lot of luck. I gave him my little book of poetry and didn’t realize that on the back the only credit that I had listed was that I was the mysterious blonde in the Thunderbird of the movie which I hadn’t seen because I couldn’t afford to go to the movie. I knew that it was a dumb credit and I didn’t know who George Lucas was. I eventually did do a one woman show on Broadway 10 years ago called, The Blonde in the Thunderbird – I didn’t know anything.

I guess when he went back to the office on Wed, he read the back of the cover and saw the credit. I was booked on the Tonight Show for that Fri – can you believe it? I didn't have a dress to go to the show. But I guess, I wrote a bag check or whatever you do when you're desperate – desperate people did desperate things. I always had the mentality of “I’ll figure out tomorrow what I did today.” I bought a one shoulder long gown to the floor - I should have worn a short one as I didn't realize that my legs were my asset. Fri night, Alan drives me over there as I couldn’t afford a taxi. I’m standing behind that famous curtain in that aqua dress – I’m the mysterious girl in the Thunderbird and I don’t know that that’s anything and I hear Johnny Carson say, “we’ve all wanted to know who the mysterious blonde in American Graffiti was. Well we found who the mysterious blond was and it’s Suzanne Somers.” I was so nervous and thinking, “you were?” The curtain opened and I walk out to an audience who was cheering and I didn’t know what that was for. I go out there and he liked that he had never met someone so naïve about Hollywood – he liked me. He was from Iowa – he liked simplicity. He was so nice to me and so good to me. I sit down after the applause stopped and he let me know that they didn’t get that kind of reaction from guests very often. I wasn’t acting like anything. He started having me on once a month to read from my book of poems and my little book of poetry became the best selling book of poetry in America from all the Tonight Show appearances. He was so great, they would place an isolated camera on him so that as I read my poems, he would have over the top reactions to go along with it.

One night, after so many appearances, a guy by the name of Fred Silverman who was the president of ABC Television had already casted Chrissy Snow and neither of them had tested very well. They knew that they had a hit with the show, but this one part was not testing very well. Fred later told me, “I got the girl. I’ve seen her on the Tonight Show all the time. So I get called in for an interview for a sitcom that I have never heard of and no one had because it hadn't been heard of called "Three's Company." The rest is history and you know. I got it and I was the most surprised person in the world to find myself on the #1 sitcom. That’s how I became who I became and I guess because I had natural talent, I was able to play the ping pong game with John Ritter (Hearts Afire, Bad Santa, Child’s Play). I didn’t realize then that he was the most talented physical and comedic actor. He was so good and I recognized that when I would watch him and I could see how talented he was. I learned by watching him. Within a year I understood comedy. Even though I didn’t study comedy, I understood the music of it and comedy is musical it’s set up – set up – beat. The writers got that and when they started writing John and I, it created a tension on the set with Joyce DeWitt because she had studied under scholarship, she was under contract. I had never had an acting class, had never studied and it made her so angry with me.

AM: We see you in that part and to see all of the happy accidents that took place to make that happen!

SS: I think for your readers, it’s a story to know that no matter where you come from and it’s about using the negative things in your life as positivity and that’s what I do. I’m looking outside right now on the 93 acre land that I live on watching sheep chase each other and I grew up living in a closet hiding from my father’s temper. We had a lock on the inside of the door so that no matter how hard he kicked at it – he couldn’t get us.

AM: How did you partner with ThighMaster? That’s a fitness icon right there!

SS: Right! I get these huge opportunities that come into my life. I get on Three’s Company which shoots to #1 at a time when it really mattered. Our show had the highest demographic across all television. I had the highest demographic of all women at that time and I had never heard of demographics. When I signed onto Three’s Company at the time, I was like where should I sign and just signed! I didn’t have a lawyer, I didn't care about how much the pay was, but by year 6 when my contract was up, I recognized that monetarily, I was worth something. It pisses people off when they realize that you know their worth. At the time, the men were making 10-15 times more than the women. I now recognize my worth and I wanted to be paid what they were being paid. Laverne and Shirley had just renegotiated with ABC and they gave them a colonic as I like to say so they were ready for my husband when he came in. They had already decided that the next big female star that would try to get paid what they were worth, would be made an example of. When my husband walked into the meeting with all the men, all the lawyers and all of that they decided as my husband says, “that you were fired before the moment that I walked in.” He said that I wanted to be paid X as that is what the men were being paid. I was waiting at home because he had left that morning – there were no cellphones there.

I can tell by the fact that he’s not running up the stairs and there’s not that long of a way to walk. He meets me where I am, looks me in the eyes and says, “you’re out.” I asked what he meant. He said you were fired before I walked in. I wasn’t getting a raise and I wasn’t going to be on the show he said, “you’re O-U-T out.” I died inside. The greatest job that I had ever had, I made a jewel and I figured out Chrissy Snow myself. I created this character where most people don’t like dumb blonds and I took this person from a small town, who didn’t know what she was or what she looked like and created someone that is beloved to this day. Wherever I go even in Jerusalem and Warsaw, Poland – people point out Chrissy Snow. Not only was I out, but it became this thing where not one woman backed me up and they all felt like, “who does she think she is?” Everyone was afraid to talk and I don’t hold it against them, but it was to their detriment because in not supporting me, I could have made life a lot sweeter for all of them.

Now, I had to find a job because we were living a life of means because we thought we could afford the house that we had just bought. My husband was very well known in Canada and ironically could become the Johnny Carson of Canada because that’s who he was up there. He had the late night talk shows – at one point he had 11 series on at the same time. So Alan made a deal for me at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I knew that I could sing and that I could dance a little because of Guys & Dolls. People said, what's your credit and I said, “well I had the lead in Guys & Dolls in high school.”

Some people came to me and pitched us ThighMaster. It was originally called The V-Bar. My husband and I always debate on which one of us named it as he thinks he did and I think I did, so I just say we both did.

AM: You mutually named it.

SS: Yes we mutually named it. We both said, you put it between your knees and squeeze and that became the byline. Oh God, Johnny Carson loved it, Jay Leno loved it, David Letterman loved it and comedians loved the name and the byline! That’s what we started doing. After we sold 10 million – again no plan. Life is a journey and it’s about following the flow and life will take you on the right road. ThighMaster started us on the road and we became and we’re seen as brilliant marketers. So I lost one job and got another job and then I got another job with Step by Step. I was just talking to Patrick Duffy (Dallas, The Bold & The Beautiful, Welcome to Sweden) this morning – the other great husband that I have had in my life. He is the most kindest, funniest and we got along great. He is very humble, doesn’t care what he looks like, where he comes from and he simply loves to work. His wife passed away and that was the saddest thing as he so adored her. He and I got along so great – that’s what led me to what I now do. In this pandemic, I have thrived during this time. Do you want to know why?

AM: Yes.

SS: I fractured my hip. I’m on a crutch and I’m having a hard time moving. Alan and I have been doing the Facebook Live Show that people love! When the pandemic started, I invited everyone to bring their own tequila, salt and hors d’oeuvres where I tell people about my products and I just finished my 27th book called A New Way to Age and I don’t know how or why but when you write 27 books, you learn something. I have interviewed so many doctors and they trust me. I’m able to speak for them in a language that my followers understand. By the time I interview a doctor, I verify everything and get approval on their interview so that they can learn about hormones, how to replace what you do when you’re aging. I love the way I look and how many people when aging feel this way? I have a great sex drive and aging is about worn out parts. You have to understand that your hormones wear out at a certain level and they have to be replaced and to understand how to replace them through lab and blood work and to have your doctors analyze where this is and how to put back what you have lost in this process. It includes what you need. Aging is great – just know what you need to do to put those items back. The women who love me, have learned so much from me and that’s what we do every Tues and Fri night. 25 million of my books have sold globally and they have the opportunity to learn a lot, have fun with me and to see my husband and I who have been married for 50 years. That’s what happens when you replace worn out parts. It’s my proudest achievement. I loved Chrissy Snow and treated her demise like a death in the family and then I made that negative work for me and I made falling in love with Alan Hamel work for me and my baby who I had at a young age I turned that for me. I live a happy and blessed life that I can be proud of.

IG @ SuzanneSomers

PHOTOS COURTESY | Suzanne Somers

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Turning Negatives Into Positives with Suzanne Somers 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.

9LIST

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST in mag.

5 REASONS WHY BIKING IS THE LIFESTYLE CHOICE YOU NEED TO MAKE TODAY

During the pandemic, lots of gyms stay closed. Even if your local gym opened up again recently, you may not want to go back. You might wear a mask, but you know that’s not always one hundred percent effective.

If you’re young and healthy, you might decide to risk it. If you have an immunocompromised condition, though, you’ll probably want to stay away. Besides, gyms cost money, and you may not have much of it right now.

You want to stay fit, and biking might make the most sense for you. If you learned how when you were younger and own a bike already, this could be an ideal solution for dropping some pounds.

Let’s look at five compelling reasons why you should take up biking in 2020 if you haven’t done so already.

You Can Keep Things Casual, or Enter a Bike Race

If you’re a competitive individual, you probably know that there are all kinds of bike races every year. You may decide that you want to enter one. When you do so:

• You can dominate the competition

• You’ll have a goal on which to focus

Of course, you don’t have to be a competitive biker if you’d prefer not to be. There are millions of regular cyclists on the road who don’t want to do anything more ambitious than explore their neighborhoods. That’s perfectly fine as well.

You’ll Work Several Muscle Groups

Another reason why people like biking so much is that it works many of your major muscle groups at once. When you go biking, you’re working:

• Your core

• Your arms

• Your legs

You engage the most muscles while biking if you tackle a more ambitious route. If you have several hills to traverse, that’s when you get your blood pumping and start to burn off some calories.

Biking through hilly terrain for an hour or more is every bit as challenging as any class you’d take in your local gym. As you map out and attempt longer and more strenuous rides, you’ll feel proud of yourself when you complete them.

Other Than the Bike, It’s Free

Many people have lost jobs this year, and others have depleted their savings accounts. The economy will probably recover slowly.

If you buy a bike, along with a helmet, those are one-time purchases. You can get a bike rather cheaply if you don’t get a top-of-the-line one.

A bike and helmet cost a fraction of what you’d pay for a Peloton or a Mirror. You also don't have to shell out a monthly gym membership fee if you get a bike.

With money tight this year for so many people, that’s good news. You can often get years of use out of your bike if you treat it well. The only money you might spend is on occasional minor repairs.

You Can Go Biking as a Group

You can see if you can get some family members or friends involved in your rides. Fitness is always easier if you can do it with others. You can show solidarity and motivate each other.

You can usually convince at least a few people to do it with you. If it’s not friends or family, maybe some neighbors will express an interest.

 You can go biking as a group while still wearing masks and socially distancing. That’s much safer than working out as a group indoors where you’re all breathing in recirculated air.

You Can Get Out in Nature

One more reason to think about biking as your new exercise form is that you can explore some public parks. In most towns and cities, there’s a space nearby that should have some bike trails.

It’s autumn, and in many regions, you can enjoy the leaves changing colors. You might spot some flora or fauna, like deer, chipmunks, wild turkeys, etc.

This can calm you down if you ever feel anxious or stressed. It can be like therapy for you. You can pass some moments of meditative silence.

When you get back home, your problems won’t seem anywhere near as bad. You will feel calm and serene, ready to tackle the routine again.

Biking is great for fitness, camaraderie, and to save you some money in this challenging year. If you don’t know how to bike, or you’ve forgotten since you were a kid, find someone to give you a refresher course. You can always find videos about it on YouTube as well.  

PHOTO CREDIT | Photo by Mabel Amber from Pexels/Photo by Mabel Amber from Pexels

9PLAYLIST | POST MALONE

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST | Post Malone in mag.

KAYAKING AROUND THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS: A GUIDE

Kayaking is a lot of fun and a great way to explore an area when you are on a vacation. The San Juan Islands are famous for their excellent kayaking opportunities, and after you read this quick guide to some of the best spots, we think you are going to make San Juan your next vacation destination. Why not try kayaking in the San Juan Islands in Washington State?

Friday Harbor

This small, natural harbor is the perfect gateway to begin your exploration of the San Juan Islands by kayak. The Washington Ferry drops its passengers at the main terminal here, and you will find plenty of places to rent a boat or a kayak in the harbor (you can also bring your own kayak with you)

Begin your voyage by heading southeast from the harbor to avoid the heavy boat traffic. This route puts you between the San Juan and Lopez Islands, and you can often catch a glimpse of orcas swimming in the area if you are lucky.

Roche Harbor

As you head around the San Juan archipelago, you will reach the historic Roche Harbor which is a great place to stop for some lunch and to explore.

This area was a bustling town many decades ago, and lime was manufactured and traded here. There are plenty of old buildings to enjoy in the town, as well as some excellent cafes and restaurants. You will also find a sculpture park, old cabins, and historic mausoleums just a short walk away from the harbor that gives you a look into the past at how people used to live in these parts.

Yacht Haven

Just a short paddle away from Roche Harbor is Yacht Haven. This area has the excellent San Juan County Park which is a great place to camp and spot wildlife.

It is known for its frequent whale sightings just off the coast, often so close you can hear them breathe through their blowholes when they surface. There are also plenty of seals in these waters and along its coast that many campers make friends with while they stay. Be aware of the foxes and deer in the park too, however. Though they generally avoid the humans they come across, they have become adept at stealing food and supplies if you are not around!

Jones Island

If you want a more remote experience, then paddle onwards to Jones Island. This is the home of Marine State Park, which has over 180 acres of protected and untouched land for you to find a camping spot. There are miles and miles of coastline for you to choose a camping spot in, and you can really enjoy the remote island experience here if that is what you are looking for.

Kayaking is a great sport, and an amazing way to stay healthy. Kayaking trips are the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, and kayaking around the San Juan Islands offers some great camping spots, lots of interesting places to explore, and some fantastic wildlife to spot.

HOW TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY WHEN DOING WORKOUTS IN THE GYM

Going to the gym and doing regular workouts helps improve your overall health – however, you still need to be aware of the risks that come with working out. Injuries can still happen when you are not aware of your surroundings. Aside from that, doing high-intensity exercises like CrossFit training can cause injuries when done with the wrong equipment or without proper execution. 

Here are simple ways you can execute workouts safely inside the gym:

1.     Proper Workout Form

Every exercise routine should be executed with proper form. Ensuring that you are doing the exercise the right way gives you the maximum benefits of the workout while mitigating the risk of injury. 

When it comes to using gym equipment, you also need to observe proper form and position to avoid accidents and injuries. For example, when doing deadlifts or doing squats with weights, you need to make sure that your back is properly aligned and to carry the weight on your knees. When you follow the right forms, you can prevent injuries on your back and joints. 

2.     Do Warm-Up Exercises

The warm-up exercise is one of the most important exercises that you can do to keep your body in shape and improve your general fitness level. The warm-ups are also very important if you want to avoid injury. 

Some of the warm-ups you can do include the leg curl and leg extension. If you do your warm-up exercises correctly and consistently, then you should be able to see some great improvements in your body in a relatively short time.

3.     Follow Safety Guidelines  

Remember that you must always follow the safety guidelines and use safe equipment to keep your workout safe and effective. This will ensure that equipment will not harm you during your workout. Aside from that, make sure that you are wearing proper clothing.

When doing heavy weights, most gyms would have a spotter to observe you when doing your sets. A spotter is required to support you during a particular exercise so you can do the routine safely.

Sometimes accidents are bound to happen, especially if people do not follow safety guidelines imposed by the gym. In times like this, the gym should be prepared in case an incident happens.

A good gym will have fitness safety equipment like an automated external defibrillator. This equipment is needed in case someone experiences cardiac arrest while in the gym. The gym should also have a first aid kit in case someone gets wounded while doing workouts. 

4.     Stay Hydrated During Workouts

Always, always drink plenty of water before, during, and after any intense activity. Water helps to keep your body hydrated, allowing you to function at its peak. When you do intense training, you tend to sweat more.

If you fail to rehydrate, you will lose electrolytes in your body. Losing electrolytes have adverse effects on your system. You may suddenly feel weak and tired, and the worst scenario is you faint during your routine. If this happens while you're using moving equipment like a treadmill, you will further injure yourself. 

5.     Follow Gym Etiquette

Gym etiquette is an essential part of a fitness routine. It is part of a healthy routine because it teaches respect for one another and safety in working out. For instance, when you're lifting, make sure you're holding the bar correctly. Also, when you're working out, say "no" if you see someone breaking the rules. 

This is particularly important if you are going to be lifting weights on machines that have moving parts. Be aware of the dangers involved and be polite enough to keep them out of the way while working out. When you finish with a particular equipment like weights, also make sure you put it back to its proper place to avoid tripping people in the gym.

6.     Follow Gym Rules

First of all, a gym should provide proper signage to let potential customers know what safety precautions are involved. For example, gym doors should be equipped with safety bars to keep people from jumping over them to get to a workout area. If possible, ask that a gym provides signage telling clients about the proper safety measures. This information will also make customers more comfortable with joining a gym.

Summary

The gym is filled with moving equipment, weights, and people doing workouts. If rules and guidelines are not followed, accidents are bound to happen, and someone might get hurt or injured.

When it comes to keeping the gym safe from injuries, you need to do your part like executing workouts properly, doing warm-up exercises, and keeping yourself hydrated at all times. Lastly, always be mindful of your surroundings and make sure you read all important safety protocols to prevent injuries happening to yourself and other people.

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY

Like you, we know how crucial washing your hands are to maintain healthy hand hygiene and we love the message that Dial is sending today! Although Dial has been known to focus on the initiative with their partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America which has always focused on littles getting in on the action, we now know during these times that this is something that we ALL need to do!

Today the brand debuted on TikTok and launched its #DIalItForward challenge which is live from today 10/15 through 10/17. TV Host and mom Tia Mowry showed us how it’s done. She kicked off the challenge and was joined by a number of influencers like Nick + SIenna and Gabby Douglas to show how fun washing your hands can be. TikTokers can interact with one another by using the app’s “duet” function. Join in on the fun by adding #DialItForward on TikTok and tagging them on Instagram with @Dial #GlobalHandwashingDay #DialItForward.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

CATCHING WAVES WITH COCO HO

We've always enjoyed watching surfing as athletes catch each of the waves and make maneuvers that push space and time. We had the chance to catch up with Coco Ho a few weeks after her recent performance at World Surf League in California. As a member of the Hawaiian surfing dynasty family, her lineage includes her late uncle Derek Ho, who was the first Native Hawaiian to win the world championship at the age of 29. Her father, Michael Ho also grew the sport by winning the Hawaiian Triple Crown, The Duke Classic, The World Cup and the 1982 Pipe Masters. Her brother, Mason Ho is also a pro surfer.

We caught up with Coco from Oahu's North Shore to talk about her effortless style at 5'2", her focus on growing her empire within and outside of the sport as well as her passion for the ocean.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’re excited to have you in this month’s issue. We actually saw you at the World Surf League’s a few weeks back in California. You come from this amazing Hawaiian surfing dynasty with your dad being Michael Ho, your uncle Derek Ho and your brother, Mason Ho. What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to join surfing as well and then to compete professionally?

COCO HO: I probably didn’t recognize it until I was about 8 or 9 and I was already surfing because that’s what you do when you’re growing up in Hawaii. I was surfing with my brother after school and then all of a sudden, I recognized their power and then got super consumed into the sport and their accomplishments. I kind of already drew parallels and said, “I want to go to Australia with them” and I definitely used them as my mirror of what I wanted to be.

AM: That’s insane to be so young and to know at that moment. Do you remember the first time that you were on a surf board? Was it strange for you or because you were seeing all of these people surf, that you just felt like, “yeah this is what we do?”

CH: My dad played it so cool with us when we were kids. He was so consumed in his career so it wasn’t a focused effort on us. It became a natural thing. Thankfully, I had a big brother where I was able to follow his lead and that’s kind of how I learned how to surf – just with Mason. And then, once my dad kind of paused and looked, he was like, “wait, my kids really like it.” He started giving us his time and his tips. It was never from him like, I’m surfing and I need to make sure that my kids are surfing too.” It was very natural and I think that that’s why it was so successful.

AM: Wow, that’s really cool and because of the accolades that you have received and the way that you have been able to dominate in the sport, what is the legacy that you want to leave behind in terms of surfing?

CH: I think that the most important thing is that our family just oozes the love of the sport. It’s a true passion with my dad and with Derek who were over 50 and still surfing – the best that they have ever surfed in their lives. So I think it’s definitely about a pure love for surfing and obviously, Mason and I are coming in as more of a lineage to show and draw inspiration from family, friends and cousins. It’s just a really tight bond and strong love for the sport and for each other.

AM: How would you define your surfing style?

CH: I would describe it as definitely effortless. I don’t mean for it to look effortless, but sometimes I wish it wasn’t ha. As a competitor, you need to show that grit and grunt. So a little effortless, but hopefully very strong and graceful.

AM: You do make it look so effortless and as someone who is surfing competitively, how does one go about winning this sport? Many of our readers know this sport and have seen it, but how do you accrue points and how do you know when you have won versus someone else?

CH: Yeah, I think it’s pretty broad. Speed, power and flow are a big part of that and wave maneuvers are another part as well. Wow factor is huge too. It’s pretty vague and can be anything. In my career, I have noticed that being a little smaller and sometimes making it look too easy or that I’m not trying, but I’m technically doing harder things – it’s kind of been my downfall as it’s not being recognized in terms of what I’m doing. So I’ve been learning that and just to make everything look bigger because I am only 5’2”. So that’s why on certain beaches with bigger waves, from girls that are larger then me, it may look like their maneuvers are more powerful as they are bigger then me. But I am exerting the same power and technical ability.

AM: We don’t know if we’re using the right terminology, but when we’re watching you surf through what looks like a water tunnel, how does it feel? Is it like time stops – what is going on for you when you’re in that moment?

CH: Oh yeah that’s the barrel and it’s TOTALLY a water tunnel! It’s like a silent/loud moment where time definitely does stop and it’s just the best feeling in surfing hands down. It feels like slow motion.

AM: What is the surf season like typically? Is it a year round sport because you can go to other locations and then obviously as we’re all dealing with this COVID-19 situation, are there upcoming events that you are training for that we can keep an eye out for?

CH: Surfing is 100% a year around sport. I have never actually experienced a break ever in my life until I started dating a snowboarder and I was so confused how he could take the summer off and I was like, “you can’t snowboard for a month or two?” That was like foreign to me! We have so many elements with our sport like paddling and those are things that you kind of lose if you take a month off, but in the same sense, I found that there are a lot of positives to taking even a week off. You come back so fresh and excited. It’s year around and in Hawaii, you don’t even have to leave the island and you’re going to get waves – year around. I know that some places it’s hard for them to be year around, but everyone can travel and that’s what makes it so beautiful. During COVID-19. I never stopped, I never stopped training because I wanted to be at my best, I can still film and I can always still work. Through COVID-19. I never felt any less motivation because we’re always filming. My brother is a very big YouTuber so I hopped into a lot of his projects which is very nice because I’m kind of more the competitor and he’s the free surfer guy. It’s cool to be able to experience his world.

AM: Do you have certain workouts that you do that benefit you in the sport of surfing?

CH: Definitely. Nothing beats practice in the water. I definitely learned that after my knee injury that it is also important to maintain everything that supports the knees. I train with my boyfriend’s Olympic coach and we have been doing that on Zoom since April 1st about 2-3 times a week so it has been very beneficial for me. He changes it up and does things for my core, my legs. I think that I’m strong in my shoulders and then we will do something and I’m like woah – what is that? It’s good to do everything for surfing because we paddle and we hit it all – core, back.

AM: You also have your own fragrance line, Pirette Beach. Tell us more about this and why did you want to launch this?

CH: This is such a fun project. The flagship scent already existed before I became a part of the brand and it’s interesting because I already had it and loved it. It was in my purse and I had already gotten it as a gift. Years later, the brand was doing so well without marketing and a large team as ours is skeletal. I became a co-owner and it's awesome. It came at such a good time and I was already looking at other options in surfing besides the jersey and fashion was obviously one of them. But beauty and taking care of our skin was top notch. It fell into my lap and now it’s my baby!

AM: Last year, you became the Global Footwear Ambassador for REEF. So what is it about the brand that you felt was synergistic with you and what does this partnership look like?

CH: My thing about REEF is obviously the legacy that we have had with my late uncle Derek who was on REEF as a World Champ. So obviously, that was special to me. My brother is also a part of the team. Moving forward, it’s still such a lifestyle beach brand that represents surfing and this lifestyle so well and actually represents it the best! I want to make sure that everything that I represent is the best and having REEF and Pirette Beach doing that is important to me.

AM: You have been directing people to shop from your REEF picks. What is it about the assortment of shoes that you’re highlighting and want people to get that you embrace?

CH: My 3 choices involved my goal of traveling. You can’t really bring everything and look cute at night or be at the beach. My whole goal was to make it easy and to look cute for every time of day that you’re booked. I did a casual white slide that can go from the morning heading out to the beach to at night with a cute top and a cute skirt. I tried to make everything look day to night. My favorite was a wedge platform and it kind of spiced every outfit up. Sometimes, you feel weird to dress up and I love that this shoe did that so casually and cute.

AM: How do you give back to the surfing community?

CH: I have done a lot of things in the past with the Boys & Girls Community in Hawaii. That was a lot of fun. You can surf, chat and I think giving time is the most important thing. As a little girl, I liked to be able to go and to look at my heroes, touch them and I was fortunate to be able to do that. I was under the reign of a lot of the older pro surfers. So that was my goal with the Boy & Girls Club to sit in their classrooms and to interact with them. Let them ask questions, teach me games they want to play and let their goals and dreams spiral and blossom as they hang out with me.

Lately, with all of the ways of the world and where it’s going, I have been involved with Surfrider Foundation and trying to use my platform to help the environment, awareness and it’s such a crazy time. I thought we were doing so well and now we need to circle it all back.

AM: That’s awesome. We love Surfrider Foundation’s Long Beach chapter with their initiatives to clean up the beach and to get people involved.

CH: They are so consistent!

AM: For our changemakers, we know that you inspire a number of people within and outside of your sport. We always like knowing who are 3 people that have gotten you to where you are in life?

CH: I have my family as I have explained! I think the pro surfer women that I have gotten to know and love and admire since I was 10 years old is Rochelle Ballard and Megan Abubo. They gave me that model to hang out with the generation below me and to be there and present with them. That’s how I am now here in the North Shore. I hang out with every little girl. They have done a huge number on who I am today.

Thinking huge, Beyoncé. She’s been such an inspiration in terms of how to structure your career, be vulnerable, be honest and that’s what gets people to be able to believe in you and to know who your are.

I've been obsessed with her since I was 16. I have mimicked and copied how she has gone about dropping her collections or a cool interview. I model a lot of my big career goals and interviews off of her.

Lastly, I would say, Maria Sharapova and I would say that when I was 17, I realized that she showed how you could be so strong and yet feminine. That you could also do a number of things in terms of collaboration, fashion etc. That you don’t have to be ashamed to wear heels and that you can be a bad ass athlete and still into fashion.

IG @xococoho

Hear Pro Surfer, Coco Ho on our show, #TRIBEGOALS - which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read Athleisure Mag’s Sept Issue #57 and see Catching Waves with Coco Ho in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | MOCHIDOKI

The Athleisure Mag team has been fans of Mochidoki since the very beginning. We love this Japanese artisanal treat and also enjoy the array of flavors that are found with this mochi rice cake that has a thin layer on the outside that includes ice cream. The result is a flavorful pillowy sweet treat that upon arrival, comes frozen and can be popped directly into your freezer. When you're ready to eat, make sure that you leave it out on your countertop for a small period of time in order to make it easier to eat.

In addition to having traditional flavors such as Vanilla, Chocolate and Mandarin - you will also find seasonal flavors that rotate throughout the year. Right now, you can order Pumpkin and Cookies so that you can get a bit of your Pumpkin Spiced fix.

Exotic flavors transport you to the destination of your choice such as Ube, Lychee, Matcha, Thai Tea, Red Bean and Black Sesame. In an age where many brands are recognizing dietary inclusivity, there are a number of vegan options that can be enjoyed as well - Vegan Chocolate, Vegan Passion Fruit and Vegan Lychee. In addition, almost all of Mochidoki's offerings are gluten-free as well as kosher certified.

You can purchase your desired flavor which has 4 pieces, get an array of flavors to samples or purchase a Signature Collection which has 24 pieces that represent their 12 best selling flavors.

MOCHIDOKI

176 Spring St.

New York, NY 10012

In addition to national delivery directly from Mochidoki, those in NYC can receive via Caviar, UberEats, GrubHub, Seamless, DoorDash and Postmates

www.mochidoki.com

IG @mochidoki

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Mochidoki in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | IMPERFECT FOODS

When it comes to grocery shopping, we all have a number of methods of brining the foods we enjoy into our homes whether it's socially distanced trips to the grocery store, pickups, deliveries or subscription boxes. Ther are a number of options that allow you to truly enjoy an array of cuisines. But sometimes, you want to go to basics and that's how we came upon Imperfect Foods. In an era of sustainability and being conscious about our food choices, the notion of working towards eliminating food waste is an important issue.

When purchasing foods through this subscription platform, they are focused on sustainable sourcing of fruits, vegetables, packaged goods that will increase your panty, milk, dairy and protein (seafood and meats).

An imperfect food is defined by the following elements: cosmetic (blemished/ scarred), items that are off-spec, surplus/ excess inventory, undervalued, packaging changes and short-coded.

To become a weekly member, you can sign up by choosing the best grocery plan whether it's organic or conventional products. From there, you can add your desired products that you will receive that week. Once the shopping period opens, you can select items that you want whether they're your staples or snacks. Items can also be removed so you know exactly what you're getting.

After purchase, your items will show up at your door. In an effort to be sustainable, Imperfect Foods arrive door and come with an insulated liner and/or gel pack. When your next delivery arrives, make sure to leave your package outside along with the liner and the gel pack and your delivery man will pick this up for you. During COVID-19, this portion of taking the packaging is being suspended in an effort of caution. Make sure to go to the website to see when this service resumes and when Imperfect Foods will go back to reusing, recycling or donating to a local nonprofit.

PHOTO CREDITS | IMPERFECT FOODS

IMPERFECT FOODS

1616 Donner Ave San Francisco, CA 94124

www.imperfectfoods.com

IG @imperfectfoods

Read the Athleisure Mag Sept Issue #57 and see Athleisure List | Imperfect Foods in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

OLD WORLD ITALIAN: RECIPES & SECRETS FROM OUR TRAVELS IN ITALY - A COOKBOOK

Clarkson Potter

Mimi Thorisson

Mimi Thorisson illustrates her and her family's love for cuisines within her cookbooks. In Old World Italian, she shares culinary gems that she has uncovered in an array of diverse regions in Italy from Tuscany, Umbria, Naples and beyond. She shares food experts who provides their techniques and stories that are incorporated into 100 authentic dishes. You'll also learn about classic dishes that you can enjoy with your family as well mysteries of the cuisine that will be unraveled throughout this book.

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BEAUTIFUL BOOZE: STYLISH COCKTAILS TO MAKE AT HOME

Countryman Press

Natalie Migliarini + James Stevenson

We've been following @BeautifulBooze for awhile as her approach and passion for cocktails is one that we have always enjoyed, especially in these current times. Natalie is a cocktail stylist, home bartender, photographer and recipe developer. Her approach is one of a home bartender, so you know that you'll feel comfortable in executing these cocktails.

In Beautiful Booze, you'll learn about making classic cocktails, new beverages, learning how to make a stunning Instagram worthy presentation and more. We know that this will be a book that will oscillate between being on your coffee table and in your bar area when looking for new concoctions to make.

We highly suggest this book as one that have always wanted to embark into craft beverages to pick up as they enhance their skills and also create a new skill during this quarantine.

QUICK AND DELICIOUS: 100 RECIPES TO COOK IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS

Grand Central Publishing

Gordon Ramsay

We've all known Gordon Ramsay and his successful career that has included a number of engaging cooking centric shows as well as those that have travel infused within it. We also know that he is known for his technique and great eye. So having a cookbook that focuses on making 100 meals that are in 30 minutes or less, this is definitely of interest. Even though we're currently navigating strange times, we still have the need to know how to execute meals that do cut our cooking times down so we can spend more time with friends and family and create new go to meals to add into our meal plans to change things up.

Read the Sept Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Books in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

BLOOD ON THE TRACKS

iHeartRadio

Spotify

We've been a fan of Jake Brennan since we heard his first podcast episode of DISGRACELAND which looks at some of music's biggest stars and the unfortunate choices that they made during their music career. In Blood on The Tracks, Jake looks at musical genius Phil Spector who was also a murderer. The story is told by Jake as well as the point of views of fictionalized voices of Debbie Harry, Lenny Bruce, Ike Turner just to name a few. Thus party true crime x historical fiction x spoken word lo-fi beat noir that illustrates the story by that that have shared what they knew about him.

Each episode shares a number of his musical accolades with notable acts while takyou through his life moments from his personal relationship to the unraveling that began his downfall.

AWAY

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We meet Emma Green (Hilary Swank), who is a Commander who will be manning the first Mission to Mars. We also meet her husband Matt Logan (Josh Charles) who is a former astronaut turned NASA engineer who will be at Mission Control for this inaugural mission. He is left to stay on Earth in this job while taking care of their child. Of course, things become complicated when something goes wrong in the process.

This mishap that takes place allows the viewer to see the intersectionality that exists between people especially those that are on the mission versus those that exist on work. Away looks at how these issues are dealt with as opposed to the mission themselves.

Away looks at the impact of what happens when missteps are made and how we go about repairing them. With the launch of this first season this month, we're all looking forward to Netflix's take on exploration to new frontiers as well as re-examinging known and unknown terrains within our friend and family structures. How do we build this infrastructure, how fragile are they and what do we to ensure that we can maintain them.

THE BARON OF BOTOX

Imperative Entertainment

Apple Podcast

This podcast brings additional insight into the 2 decade career of Dr. Fredric Brandt who was known as a trusted and elite dermatologist that administered botox treatments that were ahead of its time to magazine editors, Manhattan elites, Miami socialites and even being Madonna's personal skincare consultant.

His clients loved him and every magazine profiled him. But behind the facade of making his clients look their best selves and an impressive empire, he became addicted to his work. Many believed that he saw Martin Short's character in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and felt that is was loosely based on him and could have led him to taking his own life.

Host Justine Harman delves into the man and examines a number of issues that existed below the surface regardless of the industry and clients that embraced him.

Read the Sept Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

SEEKING SOULMATES WITH MALIN ÅKERMAN

We caught up with Malin Åkerman who we enjoyed watching in SHOWTIME's Billions as Axe's wife. She's back in AMC's Anthology series Soulmates. Each episode has a different story and cast that talks about the meaning of this concept and what it means. We wanted to find out about the show, her process on shooting it and her upcoming projects which will launch later this year.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We love this concept of AMC’s new Anthology show, Soulmates which launches in Oct. Can you tell us about the show and the character?

MALIN ÅKERMAN: Yeah sure. We’re looking into the future a little bit where they have developed a test where you can find out who your soulmate is which is a crazy concept. It’s really crazy. It’s such an interesting show to create and everything that comes with it with all the complications, the victories and everything that is involved with creating a test like this. It’s an interesting concept. For our episode, my character’s name is Martha. We find her in not such a great place. She just has no luck in relationships and seems like she is always picking the wrong guy. She has no faith in herself and she does take this test because she feels like she does need to find her soulmate or she is going to mess up her life. But, it might not have been the best answer for her.

AM: What drew you to wanting to be part of this show?

MÅ: I love Brett and Will which are such fantastic writers. I loved the name of it – Soulmates and it got me to say, “ok. What’s this all about?” There’s always a big conversation about soulmates. Whether or not we have them, whether we have more than one is it even a pure concept. So I was fascinated and curious with what they were going to write about. I love this episode and I thought that it was really smart because it begs the question of soulmates, begs the question of whether or not we should be looking on the outside for things like that instead of going inward and working on ourselves and finding self love before going out into the world. We always search for a magic pill with someone else, but we can’t do that we have to find it in ourselves first. I think it was an interesting concept.

AM: As an actor, was it different for you to approach being in this show that’s only one episode versus something like Billions where you were in multiple ones? Is that different when you’re thinking about character development?

MÅ: It’s like a mini movie really. We pick up in a place where it’s shorter, but it still feels like the same concept, where you’re going, “ok this is the character’s arc for this amount of time.” It’s kind of nice because you get some kind of closure in the end of the episode. Most of the time episodes in other kinds of shows are left to be a bit open ended. It was great and it felt more like doing a film.

AM: You have some pretty cool films coming up. You have Chick Fight with Alec Baldwin. Can you tell us about this movie that you’re staring and producing?

MÅ: I’m really excited about that. It is coming out Nov 13th. I produced that film and I’m starring in it. Alec is you know, he’s a legend. He was amazing and I’m so happy and we were so lucky to have him. It’s a really great female forward, wonderfully cast movie that just focuses around women. My character basically is down on her luck, everything is falling apart and her mother has just passed on 2 years prior. This is where we find her. Her friend brings her to this Fight Club and it is essentially created by a therapist that realizes that women never have an outlet. We're taught that our femininity has to be portrayed differently than masculinity. We’re not allowed to be rageful or too tough because then we’re a bitch and all of that kind of stuff. This is a free place for women to be able to get their rage out, but consentually and in a ring. Therefore, it creates this really great opportunity to get some really great stunts in and a lot of comedic moments.

AM: And then there’s also Friendsgiving and that cast looks amazing to have so many people coming together for this. How did that come about?

MÅ: That’s a good friend of mine who wrote that. And that’s loosely based on that we were both going through a breakup and she started writing about how different people go through a breakup differently. She put it all into one day and made it on Thanksgiving because the holidays are so crazy. We had had some Friendsgivings together and she thought, what a great way to put a film together. These two women are going through a breakup in their own right and bringing all of their kooky friends together. It’s a really great holiday film with some great comedic actors.

IG @malinakerman

PHOTOS COURTESY | AMC Soulmates

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Seeking Soulmates with Malin Åkerman in mag.

THE HISTORY BEHIND HEMP

Contrary to what many people may know, man has had a rich history with hemp. It is not that surprising that hemp has such a deep and rich history with us humans, and this is mainly because the plant has so many uses. Hemp is arguably one of the most useful plants on the planet. Hemp is a subspecies of the cannabis plant, and many people associate it with marijuana. Though they look and smell the same, they differ when it comes to THC content. For a cannabis plant to be classified as hemp, it needs to have the least amount of THC in it. THC is what makes marijuana users have that high feeling once they have smoked or consumed the plant.

The first recorded medicinal use of hemp was found in Asia. As time progressed, the growth and use of hemp spread to other parts of the world around 2000 BC. Many cultures have a rich history of using hemp and the cannabis plant.

In most cultures, hemp was used for spiritual, health, and textile reasons. People started using hemp in Europe at around 800 BC, though there is some evidence that suggests it was already being used many years before that time. It was later brought to the Americas.

The first use of hemp in America was recorded in the early 1600s. As early as 1619, the first Virginia legislature passed a law requiring all farmers to plant hemp. Hemp was worth a lot some time back, and its industry grew rapidly. By the early 20th century, industrialization further improved hemp technology and more efficient means of processing the hemp plants were created. However, there were a lot of controversies and misinformed propaganda later that led to the fall of the hemp industry and hemp being made illegal.

So, What Is Next for the Industry?

Many people already know the benefits of hemp, and this has increased the demand for hemp flowers and other products. Many hemp-related companies have come up and are reaping big as the industry grows.

Online retailers like BerkshireCBD have been selling quality product for some time now and have built a large following for the quality hemp flowers they sell. Those who love the BerkshireCBD brand should know that it has rebranded to a new name. BerkshireCBD is now Cannaflower. They have changed their brand name but still provide the same high-quality hemp-based products.

Many big companies have entered into the hemp business because there is much growth potential. Because of the increasing demand for CBD-rich hemp, most farmers are cultivating hemp rich in CBD to meet this demand. There is a developing trend of several countries legalizing hemp for medical and recreational use. The industry has lots of potential to grow to what it used to be some years back.

Conclusion

Hemp has a lot of industrial and health benefits, and it is good to see that the hemp industry is returning to its glory days.

S1. E14. | ATHLEISURE KITCHEN WITH STEVE SCHWARTZ

On today's episode of Athleisure Kitchen, we sit down with Art of Tea's Founder and CEO, Steve Schwartz. Around the office, we have always enjoyed tea as it's a beverage that can be enjoyed hot, iced, alone, with an array of sweeteners and even mixed with the spirit of our choice. We wanted to delve more into tea culture to find out the origin of tea, how it should be consumed, stored and what the benefits are when drinking it. We talked with Steve about his company which is known for their 100s of options that they have available on their site, their hospitality partnerships with Wolfgang Puck, Aria, Caesars Palace and more. He talks with us about his background in Ayurveda, how he got into the industry, how he grew his company and the importance of our individual tea rituals wherever we are in the world.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

STYLE FILES | SS21

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and read Style Files | SS21 in mag.

BEST VACATION PLACES TO SURF ON EARTH: THE COMPLETE LIST

Surf destinations are in some of the most beautiful vacation spots in the world. When you choose your next surfing location, expect to be wowed by epic waves and breathtaking beachfronts.

But not all places to surf give you the option to remain in the United States. Some of the best places to surf require an international plane ticket.

Take a look at this list of some of the best-surfing destinations on earth.

Canggu, Bali

From April to September expect an unforgettable surfing experience in Canggu, Bali. The name is pronounced Changgu and it's a popular tourist destination for surfers and non-surfers alike.

Expect the local vibe to be very 'small town' and relaxed. Though it can get busy, you won't have to worry about too many commercial touristy spots.

The village has a hipster atmosphere that allows you to get to know the culture of Bali during your non-surfing hours. The plane ride is a hike from anywhere in the U.S. so make sure you're got a great travel pillow.

Located in Southeast Asia, Bali might require multiple transfers and at least a day's travel to get to Canggu.

Maui, Hawaii

A favorite tourist destination of Americans, Hawaii attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. There are peak seasons when rain overtakes one end of Maui.

Still, there are sides to the island that remain in sunshine throughout. Make sure you're an expert when surfing in Maui though.

The large waves can quickly become upwards of 20 feet which isn't a great option for beginner surfers. But if you're looking for adventure, Maui might be the waves for you.

It's a short plane right from the California coast making it a weekend option for some. Traveling off-peak season if the best way you'll get good deals on hotels and a good spot on the beach.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a little known gem for surfing. Santa Teresa, a 20-minute plane ride from the capital city, is a great destination for beginners and expert surfers.

You can go any time of the year, but you'll experience the fiercest waves from April to October. Beginners beware during these months.

As a newer surfing destination, the local population isn't necessarily equipped to handle emergencies like bigger travel destinations. The waters are crystal clear opening the door to other water activities besides surfing.

There's also hiking nearby along with the tropical rainforests not too far from the coastline.

Finding the Right Places to Surf

Places to surf keep multiplying over time. As airlines open up new flight paths, tourists get to sample new destinations ready and willing to accommodate adventurous surfers.

The key is making sure you're aware of local rules and regulations. You won't want to be the first in a local area to experience a surfing emergency.

For more information and tips, visit our blog for updates.