Tell us about your background?
I was born in Auckland, New Zealand where I lived until my mid 20’s before moving to New York. I studied Finance and Marketing and soon after graduating got into fitness and transitioned my career path to work both in front of and behind the camera in the fitness industry. I really wanted to change the way that fitness is experienced, spoken about, and portrayed and that’s still my mission 12 years on :) I am the founder of Made Of - a premium NZ grass-fed whey protein isolate and consult for many of the leading sports companies such as Nike. I love my job but more important than any job title, campaign, etc is my undying obsession with using movement to change your life.
How would you describe your fitness philosophy and workout style?
For me personally, I love the actual workout, not just the feeling after. So I try and bring that energy and feeling to my clients in their workouts also. We do a mix of mobility, athletic pilates, cardio, and strength. I love looking at what the body needs and what the person mentally and emotionally needs because a great workout can and should take both into account. I truly believe working out is what helps transcend your energy, mood, and confidence. It’s undeniable.
What are a few of your favorite workout moves that other people often overlook?
I use a lot of coordination and stability drills in my training. I like to teach confidence and resilience - they’re not easy and you have to practice them and express patience. But they’re also incredibly important for your body to strengthen a lot of the smaller muscle groups that often get overlooked and best believe you will feel things very nicely!!Then I really love mat pilates for everyone. You see a lot of buzz about reformer pilates but mat is amazing and my preferred style. It pairs nicely with other workout styles - for example, I’ll use it as a starting and ending point with strength and cardio workouts.
Any tips for raising energy levels when you are feeling sluggish?
Get outside and go for a walk! I know that’s not always possible but it’s an instant mood switch! Changing your environment can quickly change your energy.
What does your recovery routine look like after a tough training session?
I always try and do active recovery post-workout like walking for 10-20 minutes to let my heart rate drop down and to flush some of the lactate. Then at night I often use my Normatec compression boots to do a secondary lactate clearance - pro tip to put the Dote relieve cream on after a shower and before you put the boots on!
What three songs most often appear on your workout playlists?
“International Players Anthem” by UGK; “I Spy” by Skepta; then definitely some 21 Savage, Rick Ross, and Kendrick Lamar to fight it out for third.