rpadmin, Author at MOVATI Athletic

Mother’s Day Q&A with Leslie and Jayde!

LIFESTYLE

Leslie, start off by telling us how many kids you have, and how many of them are part of our MOVATI family?

Leslie: I have 3 kids and they all work in management positions at MOVATI.

What was Jayde like growing up? Did you think she would get into group fitness as well?

Leslie: Jayde always loved music, skating and dancing. Starting at the ripe old age of 3 she did her first skating competition and skated to the Pink Panther theme song. Jayde was also always very caring. In her first month of JK she helped her teacher solve a problem where no one would hold one of the student’s hand so she suggested they just all stand in the circle without holding hands (she was 4!). So, in answer to your questions, I am not surprised she is in this industry, helping people and moving to music.

What was your experience like having a mother who was so invested in fitness?

Jayde: I grew up in the gym, which was super cool! I had birthday parties in the gym, attended the odd kids’ fitness classes taught by my mom, and as a figure skater had her to help me with off ice training at times. Some days I loved it, some days not so much lol. As soon as I was old enough to teach classes, she convinced me to get certified. If it wasn’t for my mom, I would not be the instructor that I am today!

What, in your opinion, is Jayde’s greatest strength or what makes her so successful?

Leslie: Jayde’s greatest strength is her caring and loving nature she walks the walk and talks the talk in the most humble and professional way.

What do you think are your mom’s greatest strengths are as an instructor and then also as a mother?

Jayde: As an instructor- She is super versatile! She can teach a killer Cardio Box or Tabata and motivate the heck out of you, or slow things down with a super calming Anti-Gravity Restorative or take you through a fun step class or Rhythm & Beats, the list goes on… It doesn’t matter what class you take with her; you will leave with a smile on your face.

As a mother- She’s my cheerleader, always there for me, no matter what, I know I can come to her for advice or feedback and I will get her real honest opinion.

Mothers often talk about feeling guilty for taking time to go to the gym or do a class. What advice would you give to them?

Leslie: You should never feel guilty for being a good role model when it comes to looking after your health and wellbeing.

As a mother of two young kids yourself, how do you continue to prioritize fitness and has anything had to change compared to before you had the added responsibility of kids?

Jayde: It really is a choice you must make. At first it was tough, you have less time and less energy, I didn’t have the luxury of being able to choose when I wanted to work out, I worked out around my kids nap schedule. Some days I would put them down for a nap, start my workout and 10 minutes in they’d wake up needing me. That was the hardest part, not only building up the motivation to do the work out but being able to stop a quarter of the way in and get back to it with that same motivation. My advice to new moms wanting to continue their fitness journey is be kind to yourself, some days the work out will happen and other days it will not and that’s okay. Things changed for me after having the added responsibility of kids but I knew I had to keep trying, like I said some days it happens, other days it doesn’t but most importantly do not quit, as they are getting a bit older and more independent it’s become a lot easier to be able to schedule my workouts in.

Because you are so active in the fitness community are you seeing yet the influence you are having on them? How do they like to stay active?

Jayde: My kids love to run! They love to race and see who is the fastest. I love practicing handstands and tricks which my daughter has picked up and is now flipping or doing handstands any chance she gets.

What quality do you hope to pass on to your kids?

Jayde: Nothing in life comes easy, so I hope to pass on consistency and hard work.

What is one quality you hope to have passed on to Jayde, or any of your children?

Leslie: Be genuine and treat people the same way you would like to be treated.

What is your favourite part of being a mother?

Jayde: My favorite thing is watching my kids grow and learn new things. There is never a dull moment, they are always making me laugh!

Leslie: Raising my children with good values and seeing them become incredible adults.

MOVATI LIVE Classes – FAQ

IN CLUB

Do I have to be a MOVATI member to access?

No, these classes are available to everyone on our public platforms.

How do I find the schedule for the LIVE classes?

Schedules will be posted in advance on the respective social media platforms. On Facebook you may find it pinned to the top of the page at Facebook.com/MovatiAthletic

on Instagram please refer to the story highlight on our @movati.athletic page called “LIVE Schedule.”

How do I access the Instagram LIVE from my computer?

Go to Instagram.com and log in or create an account.
Search for movati.athletic and hit the follow button
Go to the @movati.athletic page at the scheduled time and click the flashing profile icon. It will say “LIVE” at the bottom.
If you follow us our flashing icon will show up on the right-hand side of your screen under “stories.” Just click to watch.

How do I access Instagram LIVE from my phone?

Open the Instagram App
Search for @movati.athletic
If you ‘Follow’ our account, you will receive a notification every time we go LIVE!
Click on the main profile photo at the scheduled time.
You may need to refresh the page if you arrive on the page before the instructor has gone LIVE.

How do I access Facebook LIVE from my computer?

Go to Facebook.com/MovatiAthletic
Click the ‘Like’ button found under the Cover photo to Like/Follow the page.
If you Like/Follow the page, you will receive a notification once we go LIVE at the scheduled time. The LIVE video will also pop up on our Movati Athletic homepage once the instructor has gone LIVE, so you will know when the class has begun.

How do I access Facebook LIVE from my phone?

Open the Facebook mobile app and search for Movati Athletic in the search bar found at the top of the app.
Click the LIKE button found under the Cover photo to Like/Follow the page.
If you Like/Follow the page, you will receive a notification once we go LIVE at the scheduled time. The LIVE video will also pop up on the “story” panel of your homepage once the instructor has gone LIVE, so you will know when the class has begun.

Can I access the video after the LIVE session is over?

Yes, on Facebook you will find the video stored under “videos” on our Movati Athletic page at Facebook.com/MovatiAthletic/Videos.

On Instagram, you may access the LIVE video for 24 hours after the session has started by clicking on the @movati.athletic “story.”

NOTE: due to certain restriction not all videos will be saved for later viewing.

5 tips for Managing Stress While Social Distancing

WELLNESS

Feelings of uncertainty, stress and anxiety are affecting so many of us as we work together to “flatten the curve.” In the interest of your wellbeing, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you manage whatever emotions you may be feeling during this difficult time.

Sleep is one of the most important components to a healthy mindset and lowering stress levels.

- - We may be in isolation but try and sit by your window to get some sunlight. The Vitamin-D increases serotonin levels (decreasing anxiety) and helps regulate your circadian rhythm (sleep cycle).
  - Decrease exposure to blue light (TV’s/Phones) 2 hours before bed to aid deep sleep (REM).

Exercise directly combats stress/anxiety and viruses by increasing natural dopamine and endorphins.

- - MOVATI is actively posting at home workouts and LIVE streaming from Facebook and Instagram to help you get some activity in your day with no equipment.
  - 3 x 45-minute per week is great!

Create a routine while in isolation. It is easy to fall into bad habits and lose a consistent productive routine.

- - Make your bed, get ready for the day, create a to do list and workout.
  - Set a bedtime. Staying up late leads to sleeping in late and can ruin your circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle).

Stretching/meditation helps regulate our parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which in turn reduces stress and anxiety.

- - MOVATI will have at home meditation and stretching routines posted on our social channels.
  - Start the day with this practice to kick off productivity or end it to decrease cortisol (stress) levels.

Communication. Although we are isolated, we are fortunate to have the technology to stay in contact with loved ones.

- - Take advantage and set yourself a standard of video calling one loved one a day to support each other. Socializing increases dopamine and endorphins, which will decrease stress and anxiety.

Thank you, MOVATI Athletic members – we cannot wait to open the doors back up and see you all again soon.

Why MOVATI believes in providing a women’s only area

IN CLUB

The women’s only area at MOVATI continues to set us apart in 2020 and has been the “heart” of our clubs since the early days.

What’s usually a forgotten corner in most gyms includes a fitness floor with free weights, squat racks, machines and cardio equipment, a group fitness studio and a pool at MOVATI.

Twenty years later, the decision to focus on making women feel welcome, comfortable and healthy has helped transform the lives of women in communities across Ontario.

Feel welcome

To make someone feel welcome you must knock down or address any barriers to entry. For decades, and unfortunately still in 2020, a significant part of that barrier for women comes down to “gym-timidation.”

Even as more women warm up to the idea of building muscle and strength, the disparity on the gym floor continues to exist. The avoidance of areas in a fitness facility someone may perceive as unwelcoming comes at the expense of their health and wellbeing, and we don’t think that’s right.

The women’s only space, therefore, serves to encourage members who otherwise would never sign up and take the first step toward becoming active.

Feel comfortable

Camaraderie is an overlooked aspect in making fitness a lifelong habit. When it comes to committing to a behaviour, having supportive people around can make all the difference.

We don’t just want our women feeling welcome to enter, but we want them to feel comfortable enough to stay and continue being committed.

We also support this through the environment created in our change rooms, where cleanliness and comfort create a spa-like oasis.

Our women’s only area provides a boutique-style space to empower and foster a community of women with similar goals and who may also be facing similar challenges in life.

Feel healthy

We ultimately hope to help women, in the communities we serve, become the healthiest and strongest versions of themselves. For many, that means having the option of a women’s only space.

Here at MOVATI, our commitment to women has translated into a 59% female membership base with over 50% of our monthly check-ins also being women.

So, whether you use it indefinitely, or it serves to help you transition into the co-ed areas, know that we are committed to helping you feel welcome, comfortable and healthy for life.

Happy International Women’s Day.