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Just when you thought Miami couldn’t get any hotter, Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live announced their North American Tour will debut in the Magic City this fall. The limited-run live experience is premiering in Miami on October 13, 2022, at the Miami Marine Stadium site.

Conceived and co-directed by Channing Tatum, Magic Mike Live is based on the movies “Magic Mike” and “Magic Mike XXL” as well as the HBOMax series “Finding Magic Mike”. The 90-minute performance features some of the world’s sexiest, most talented men performing heart-racing dance routines in front of, above and all around you. Equal parts empowering and exhilarating, the show is punctuated by unexpected, temperature-raising acts from a thrilling range of acrobatic stunts, dance performances under falling water and extravagant musical talent, sure to keep you hooked and ready for more.

We talked to three dancers for Magic Mike Live to find out more about their fitness routines and lifestyle. Is anyone surprised they love the gym?!

‍What type of cross-training are you doing to prepare for the show? What kind of training do you do regularly? 

Nicholas Phillips: My preferred form of fitness or strength training is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) because not only is there a vital cardio element that keeps my stamina in check, it helps maintain my flexibility and mobility. I am also a coach at F45, a HIIT gym, so I am always there training and coaching.

Nate Bryan: For Magic Mike Live, I stay in shape by constantly stretching and keeping my body as warm as possible every moment of the day. I have a regular gym routine going to the gym 4-5 days a week, alternating heavy lifting with high volume days. My goal is to hit 2 different muscle groups per day.

Brian Siregar: I train at the gym 5-6 times a week with the good old Push/Pull/Legs split. I love the gym!

What does an average day look like for you? 

NP: Always start my day with a coffee from my Nespresso machine! If possible, I prefer working out in the morning. Most things after that, such as rehearsal schedules, are frequently changing depending on what job I am working on. If I’m not on a job I tend to fill my time taking dance classes and coaching at F45, sometimes working out twice a day.

NB: An average day is waking up around 10-11 a.m., and heading to the gym for about 1-1.5 hrs. I love producing music on the side, so I typically work on music for the rest of the day while my breaks are spent on stretching and eating since we are burning over 1500 calories while doing two shows a night. 

BS: We love a morning gym sesh. After that, I get to meal prepping for the day and soon enough in Miami I’ll be dancing every night!

How long have you been dancing for? What styles of dance are you trained in? 

NP: My brother and I started breakdancing when he was 14 and I was 11. Throughout my teen years I took it more seriously and started taking hip hop classes as well. After high school I did two years of full-time training in all styles; adding jazz and ballet technique to my repertoire followed by 1 year of full time musical theatre.

NB: I started my dance journey last summer on an unscripted reality show by HBO Max called “Finding Magic Mike.” I have always enjoyed dancing but this is the most serious I have taken it. While I am new to dance, I feel I have a natural ability to pick up things very quickly.

BS: I’ve been breakdancing since I was 13 but started training in more technical styles when I went to college where I studied dance.

What is your favorite type of workout? 

NP: I’m very much into HIIT workouts. 

NB: My favorite type of workout is either lifting heavy or just playing a sport to keep my athletic ability up to par.

BS: My favorite type of workout is just dumbbell work. Especially on push day, the pump goes crazy!

What is your favorite post-show or cheat day treat? 

NP: I’m a sucker for anything salted caramel, particularly ice cream!

NB: I HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH SWEETS! I find myself waking up in the middle of the night to grab some twinkies. Also a big cheesecake fan!

BS: McDonald’s, hands down. Large meal. Lemme at ‘em!

Anything else you’d like to add about your fitness routine or lifestyle? 

NP: Other physical hobbies of mine include tennis and snowboarding, both of which I’ve done from a very young age.

NB: A very big component of mine has always been to listen to my body and to get the right food in my system to help with the overall function of your body! Before working with Magic Mike Live I played professional baseball so I understand what it takes to work hard on and off the stage.

BS: I’d love to do more yoga to be honest. I definitely want to work so much more on my mobility.

Tickets to Magic Mike Live are on sale now at mmltour.com and start at $49 plus taxes and fees. Epic VIP experiences are also available for those looking to up the ante and experience a night to remember.

Become a modern day meditation teacher with Modern ŌM x Amanda Gilbert Meditation (AGM). This is Miami’s only in-person meditation teacher training (MTT) certification.

Modern ŌM is the most recognizable meditation community in Miami. Since their first meditation in April 2016, they have have created safe space for over 10,000 people and led sessions across Miami and through their digital platform. This will be their second MTT.

Amanda Gilbert is one of today’s leading experts in the field and is on Modern ŌM's faculty. Studying with her you’ll learn to teach meditation for public audiences (in person and online), friends and family, in the workplace, and high-profile speaking events.

This program is the first and only ‘modern day forward’ training in mindfulness meditation facilitation and meditation career development in Miami.

The details:

• Training dates run from August - December 2022 and start August 6.
• Training will be in Miami at the Modern ŌM Bungalow at 5020 Northeast 2nd Avenue.
• Registration is by application. Tuition is $2,495 (Non-Members) and $1,925 (Members and payment plans are available. Code STAYFIT will save you $100 off the cost.

Training includes:

• A professional certification by AGM
• 100 hours of lecture, training, and practice
• 5 Miami trainings, one Sunday per month from 1-4pm
• 5 online trainings, one Saturday per month from 1-3pm
• 3 one-on-one mentorship sessions with Amanda
• 2 group mentorship sessions/month with Amanda
• Lifetime access to AGM digital membership
• A community of meditation leaders
• Teaching opportunities with Modern ŌM

For more information click here. You can also apply here or set up a 20-minute info call here.

If you are looking for a graceful approach to your workouts, try Ballet Flow. The new workout is popping up at locations across Miami Beach this summer, with plans to launch at app soon as well.

‍The experience:

Ballet Flow consists of simple, full body conditioning workouts done to a fusion of house music and classic music. The ballet-inspired classes are a balance between low impact exercises, technical ballet movements, and fast-paced combinations. These workouts target and tone lean muscles in legs, glutes, core, and the upper body with grace.

Ballet Flow is a unique approach to fitness and wellness thanks to their artistic approach. Classes require a mat and light 1-4 pound hand weights or bangle weights.

What makes Ballet Flow unique:

"Ballet Flow workout program/class is developed by what a dancer does on the center of the floor or mat to train, strengthen, and condition their bodies," says Natalia Cordero, Creative Director of Ballet Flow. " It incorporates more muscles and uses the full body to perform the movements. Dancers are looked as regal, graceful and most importantly strong. I want to bring out the dancer in you. Simple movements with beautiful results."

You should also know:

This ballet-inspired workout is popping up at two hotels in Miami Beach. Find it at Hotel Greystone on Monday, June 16 and The Sagamore Hotel South Beach on Monday, June 23. The pop up classes will have a Live DJ and sponsors that include Body Armor and The Mentis Company. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Lotus House Women's shelter.

These classes are the start of Ballet Flows partnership with both hotels, offering classes every Thursday. Look for Ballet Flow's new app for on-demand workouts and live streaming by the end of the summer.

How to join in:

The drop in rate for classes is $20 for your first time, and $30 for each time after. There is also a special 8-class pack for $128 or a monthly membership for $79.99. For those who attend the June launch events, there will also be a special monthly membership promotion.

Location: 

The pop up classes will be held at Hotel Greystone, located at 1920 Collins Ave in Miami Beach, and The Sagamore Hotel, located at 1671 Collins Ave in Miami Beach.

Where to find Ballet Flow online:

Instagram: @balletflow

Website: balletflow.fitness/balletflowlaunch

Meet Mika Shevit, a Sunny Isles Beach resident and running powerhouse.

Mika Shevit: “Every single day since April 1st, 2021, I’ve run a complete half marathon: 13.1 miles, seven days a week.”

You heard that right. Mika has completed a half marathon every day for more than a year. Mika has logged more than 5,000 miles. That distance is the equivalent of running from Miami to Los Angeles and nearly back across the country again.

Mika Shevit: “Which is mind-boggling, but you can’t think about it like that. You have to just do one run at a time, and then you have to recover.”

But when you’re lacing up every day, recovery time is limited. The 47-year-old runs in the evening or early in the morning. It takes him about two hours to complete the 13.1 miles. But for Mika, it’s about endurance, not speed.

Mika Shevit: “The main reason I could run every single day is because I don’t overthink the run. It’s like brushing your teeth.”

But his first two attempts at running every day both ended with injuries on Day 75. The third time was the charm. Three weeks ago, Mika hit the magic number: 365.

Mika Shevit: “It was amazing. It was one of the greatest days of my life.”

The moment, plus selfies from his daily runs, are posted on Instagram, and all of his run times and routes are recorded on an app.

Mika Shevit: “It’s all completely documented.”

Earlier this month, with his family by his side, Mika’s accomplishment was recognized by the city commission. Sunny Isles Beach Vice Mayor Jeniffer Viscarra: “Now, instead of saying ‘Be like Mike,’ in Sunny Isles Beach we say ‘Be like Mika.'”

Mika Shevit: “Why? Well, first of all, I wanted to get in shape for myself, and I wanted to do something just way out there to prove to my kids that hard work really can take you so far.”

Mika Shevit’s hard work is set to take him to half marathon Day 400 on May 5. For more on his runs and routes through South Florida cities, click here or go to his Instagram page.

To read more or see the interview on WSVN by Karen Hensel, click here.

A group of Miami seniors were featured in The New York Times for their handball traditions in South Beach. In case you don't know, handball is a sport where players pass a ball using their hands, aiming to throw it into the goal of the other team. Read below for an excerpt of the article.

Nestled in the heart of South Beach, Flamingo Park has been a haven for handballers in South Florida since the 1970s. A half-mile from Miami Beach’s party scene, the quiet handball courts here have seen their share of world champions and are home to a consistent crew of players, most of them between the ages of 60 and 80. Fifty years of play have battered the once-vibrant pastel walls of the courts, which are now primed with a fresh coat of white paint. But you’re still likely to find the same motley crews and trash talkers of years past.

Aside from typical banter and arguments about the score, conversations often revolve around health — both physical and the health of the game. Hand surgeries, knee issues, bypass surgeries and car accidents are all fair game for the trash talking (and excuse-making). There’s an endearing camaraderie within the group that keeps people coming back.

The game has helped the current crew defy their ages, but some of them fear a lack of younger faces will eventually catch up to the sport. Concerns about the health of four-wall handball have seemingly been around for as long as the old courts of Flamingo Park, but the question remains: Can the sport survive with only occasional late bloomers joining the fray, or will younger players be needed to keep the game alive? For now, a group of older ambassadors will carry the torch.

To read the entire piece, click here.

‍This was originally published in The New York Times by Alexander Aguiar.

Photo from miamiandbeaches.com.

In honor of Women's History Month, we are celebrating some of the amazing women right here in Miami. Let us introduce you to Loni Paige and Mixology Mixer!

Many used quarantine cocktail-ing as a coping mechanism to save them during the pandemic and that was the inspiration behind Mixology Mixer.  Founder Loni Paige created a company to enable everyone to become their own at-home mixologist thanks to curated kits featuring a spirit and the necessary mixers, garnishes, and bar tools, to create unique liquid libations with the help of expert mixologists through a virtual cocktail making class.

Paige had almost two decades of experience working with celebrity events and spirit industries in South Florida when the pandemic started and quickly pivoted with Mixology Mixer. She capitalized on her experience in social and corporate events, marketing, and spirit promotions gained through her consulting business and embarked on a mission to help save the industry.

Mixology Mixer features themed virtual cocktail classes such as “Fireside,” where people learned to make three winter cocktails including Spiked Hot Cocoa, Café Calido, and a Coquito.  The “Talk Derby to Me” kit features Kentucky Derby themed cocktails including Mint Julep, Brown Derby, and Kentucky Sweet Tea.  Companies are able to choose their experience and schedule a date and time online. Once booked, Mixology Mixer sends the organizer a customized invite that can be shared with colleagues, staff members and guests.

The program includes a virtual link to meet the host mixologist who discusses the featured spirit, ingredients, and tips for making expertly crafted cocktails at home. There is also a step-by-step tutorial on how to create the cocktail followed by a question and answer session with the bartender.   Due to overwhelming success, Paige soon incorporated culinary experiences into Mixology Mixer, such as vegan sweet potato donuts, pizza making, and intro to risotto, where people could learn to cook.   She also launched activations that paired activities with alcohol such as paint and sip, partnered with Dr. Smood on a pour over coffee class, and even created a virtual bachelorette party package.

Paige has now taken Mixology Mixer direct to consumers with the launch of Club Mix.  This subscription-based club enables people to mix like a pro from the comfort of their own home. Every month they receive a new cocktail kit with a different theme.  Customers can also reorder the alcohol, mixers and gourmet syrups, which Paige creates in-house, through Mixology Mixer’s partnership with Primo liquors.  

One of the newest options is Skinny Mix, which are healthier cocktails made with low calorie, healthy mixers, in partnership with Jackie Figueiredo, certified nutrition and wellness coach. Figueiredo will guide you on how to live a healthy lifestyle while having fun too.

With the success of Mixology Mixer, Paige has been able to positively impact the hospitality community by creating jobs and an additional revenue stream for bartenders, chefs and caterers. In addition, as people start to gather for events again, Mixology Mixer are hitting the scene with their "liquid catering" pop-up bars.

To learn more about Mixology Mixer, head to mixologymixer.com or find them on Instagram at @mixologymixer.

In honor of Women's History Month, we are celebrating some of the amazing women right here in Miami. Let us introduce you to Kate Durand!

Durand is the founder and owner of YO BK, a new-to-Miami yoga studio with two additional locations in New York. Located at Oasis in Wynwood, the new studio offers Inferno Hot Pilates (HIIT), Traditional Hot Yoga (Bikram), Power Yoga, and Yin Yoga classes.

During college, Durand discovered her love of hot yoga, biking 5 miles every day to the studio. That was when she realized her dream to teach yoga and have her own studio.

"I was inspired by my amazing mentor, Lisa Ingle, who owns three studios in San Antonio, Texas. I started practicing with her during my first semester of college and knew right away I wanted to teach and one day own a studio," said Durand.

Even once she graduated and moved to Beijing and then Bangkok to be a kindergarten teacher, she always made sure there was a yoga studio nearby. When she moved back to the States in 2011, she became a yoga teacher and opened her first studio in 2015 in Brooklyn.

Durand said, "Upon becoming a yoga teacher, Lisa guided me towards studio ownership and helped me narrow my real estate search down to Brooklyn and Miami, where our studios now live! Her guidance as a multi-tasking mother and business owner showed and continue to show me the way."

By 2018, she was able to open her second Brooklyn location. With a schedule of sold out classes, things were going great... until the pandemic.

"A big part of my success came from the ability to pivot - our NYC studios moved to online classes the DAY after the city shut down," said Durand. "We quickly moved to outdoor classes and finally back in-studio. As much of our competition closed, we continued looking for what was possible and are even stronger now because of it."

It was shortly after the pandemic that Durand had the opportunity to open her third location right here in Miami. She says there is never the "right time" to open a business.

"The only answer is to work hard, ask for help and put one foot in front of the other. Part of standing in our power as female entrepreneurs is asking for what's needed. Sometimes my tendency to want people to like me gets in the way, and I'm working to balance empathy with forging forward each day!"

"I love wearing many hats as a business owner. I'm a mom and a wife, so my time at the studios is even more special, knowing that it supports my family and I am showing my 10 year old son that women can be loving, focused and brave," said Durand. "At the studios, I teach, market, support our team and sometimes plunge toilets. I love that each day is different and brings in a wide variety of people."

For the full YO BK class schedule, head to yo-bk.com/miami. Their opening special of 2 weeks for $27 has been extended until March 15th.

Miami is truly blessed with some incredible fitness professionals. From industry veterans to newcomers, the Miami fitness scene is full of talent that is ready to lead us through every set and rep. We are excited to announce our “25 Miami Fitness Trainers You Need to Follow in 2022” list. Scroll down to see if your favorite trainer made the list below, and check out our lists from the past.

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*25 Miami Fitness Trainers You Need to Follow in 2021*

‍*25 Miami Fitness Trainers You Need to Follow in 2020*

*25 Miami Fitness Trainers You Need to Follow in 2019*

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Jessica Fisher

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Shannen Higgins

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Miki Huguet

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Elena Moffa

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Fanny Rivas

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Marc-yndy Pierre

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Legend Tarver

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Starr Hawkins

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Matteo Attalla

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Lauren Blake Cobb

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Bruna M. Ho

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Michael Zubi

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Annie Moves

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Rachel Dugan

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Pierre Russell

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Talia DeLuca

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Anais Cejas

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Joe Sigona

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Adi Levy Borenshtein

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Emily Lezcano

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Andres Aleman

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Charlene Martinez

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Cleveland Hughes

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Taylor Alexandria

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Sean Casey

We got a chance to chat with Ella Titus, a professional ballerina with Miami City Ballet, about her fitness routine. A Florida native, she moved to Miami to attend MCB School full-time as a scholarship student at age 14, and was offered an apprenticeship at age 16. In 2015, Titus graduated from Miami Beach High School and joined Miami City Ballet’s corps de ballet.

We asked her about her favorite workouts and her favorite post-show treat. See all her answers below!

1) What does an average day look like for you?

"We have two types of work days - rehearsal days and performance days. Rehearsal days start with ballet class in the morning for an hour and a half followed by 6 hours of rehearsal. Performance days we have ballet class onstage, a matinee performance, a 3 hour break, then a night performance. Throughout the day I usually have physical therapy at some point or will spend some time running on the elliptical. When I get home after dancing all day it's very rare that I go out because I'm so exhausted from the day."

2) What types of cross-training do you do to prepare for the season?

"To prepare for the ballet season I have a few different types of cross training I enjoy. During quarantine I learned that cross training was very helpful for me as a dancer, so I have continued it since then. I love to do Pilates, Barry's workout, and Gyrotonic. I love any good cardio workout because I feel like it gets my stamina prepared for the performance season."

3) How long have you been dancing for?

"I've been dancing since I was 3, but I'm currently in my 7th year dancing for Miami City Ballet professionally."

4) What is your go-to pre-show meal?

"My go-to pre-show meal is steak and pasta! I need a good carb load before I perform so I have lots of energy. I also tend to be low in iron, so a good steak will make me feel ready to go for a show. I also like to have dark chocolate during intermission for a little sugar burst."

5) What is your favorite post-show treat?

"My favorite post-show treat is ice cream. I'm addicted to ice cream, and there's nothing more satisfying for me than to come home from the theater and eat a giant bowl of ice cream."

6) What is your favorite type of workout besides dance?

"My favorite type of workout besides ballet is going to Barry's bootcamp. I love running on the treadmill and how tired you get during the class. Sometimes I visualize dancing hard ballets while I'm on the treadmill running and think, "If I'm this tired now, then dancing flowers in Nutcracker will be easy!" There is also such a great community at Barry's and I have many friends who come to take classes too which is encouraging when you're absolutely dying in class!"

Pickleball has become one of America's fastest-growing sports and has been trending up in popularity for the last five years. For the younger audience, Delray Beach residents and business professionals Carly Bellis and Courtney Campbell came up with Swinton Pickleball.

The founders created the brand in an effort to update pickleball gear and fashion for young and young-at-heart players who want to feel good and have fun while playing. Swinton Pickleball is designed to appeal directly to the pickleball player looking to have fun while playing the game, and not taking himself or herself too seriously in the process.

The two entrepreneurs were first introduced to the game of pickleball in 2020, mid-pandemic, and quickly saw the appeal of the activity and how much fun it could be.

"With all the tennis courts taken one afternoon, we decided to borrow some paddles and give pickleball a try," Bellis said. "We had a great time, and our Thursday evenings became synonymous with pickleball with friends, followed by cocktails, beers, wine and cheese, and tons of fun."

Bellis and Campbell quickly realized that the pickleball gear available for purchase didn't match their trendy, laidback and fun vibe. Instead, the products seemed unchanged since the sport's birth in 1965, and truly in need of an update.

"It became one of those situations where you want something, you look for it, and when you can't find it, you make it," Campbell said. "That's pretty much how it happened for us. Carly and I wanted to create a brand that was as fun as the game itself – and that's how Swinton Pickleball came to be."

"We are looking to disrupt the industry," Campbell added. "Swinton Pickleball is for those, just like us, who love getting out there on the court, playing with friends or strangers, and then celebrating after with a beer or glass of wine."

Swinton Pickleball has a range of products on its website SwintonPickleball.com, including paddles, gear bags, and apparel.

Article Photo via Campbell Creative

Today, let’s introduce you to Andres Aleman. Andres is a mainstay at CrossFit Soul, and is now taking his years of training experience to teach youth everything they need to know about Olympic Lifting.

Let’s dive into this spotlight interview featuring Miami fitness trainer Andres Aleman.

Tell us about yourself - where are you from and how did you find your way to South Florida?

I was born in Ecuador and raised in Miami. At an early age, through wrestling, I realized I wanted to be a coach due to the impact my coaches had in my life.

How did you get your start in fitness and as an instructor? 

Through my wrestling and MMA career I became very knowledgeable of different strength and conditioning methods and started coaching CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting. Now, I use all the experience I have acquired to pass it on to kids.

Where do you teach?

CrossFit Soul Miami and my client’s homes.

What is your favorite part of being a fitness instructor?

The impact that you can make in someone’s life.

How do you stay full of energy throughout the day?

I feed off the energy my clients give me and I get inspired to see them get closer to their goals.

Tell us a little bit more about your specialty as an instructor?

My specialty is definitely coaching kids and being able to capture their attention to teach them different modalities. Because of my experience with kids, I’ve developed great patience and it’s carried on to my adult clients which they appreciate.

Other than where you teach, where is your favorite place in South Florida to train?

Tropical Park.

What is a goal you have that you want to accomplish in 2021? 

I’m working on a community project to raise funds for a foster home.

What is a long-term goal you are working towards or would love to achieve?

Become a global Lululemon ambassador and impact a bigger group of individuals through fitness.

What is the one thing you do every day to stay fit?

I currently compete in Olympic Weightlifting and I’m training for nationals.

It’s National Yoga Month and whether you’ve taken one yoga class or one hundred you likely have a yoga pose, or asana, that you love practicing (and some probably that make you want to drop down to child’s pose). While your admiration for a certain posture may change over time, it’s often that favorite pose that helps you best find stillness of the mind, grounds you down, and sometimes humbles you. 

We caught up with five of Miami’s top yoga instructors to find out what their favorite yoga pose is and why. Here’s what we learned. 

1. Dan Phalen

"For me yoga has always been a safe space for me to sit with myself. We develop so many patterns over the years and yoga has helped me be aware of the patterns that no longer benefit me. Being aware of them has gifted me the option to change those patterns and elevate myself out of the mud in the same way the lotus flower grows! In today’s society we are encouraged to accumulate and hoard but yoga has taught me that the more I carry the more I own the more I’m chained to that as my identity. For me I had to flip it and start over! That’s where my love for handstands was born. My physical expression of mentally rebelling against my learned habits and identity.”

Follow Dan on Instagram at @handstanddan and find him teaching at Modo Yoga Miami Beach and outdoors by the bay in Edgewater.

2. Jessica Rose Fisher

"I have a couple of favorite yoga poses, but I love adding Patita Tarasana or Shooting Star to my sequencing. It’s a posture that incorporates stretch, strength and balance! As you enter the pose, grounding your palm and lengthening through the crown of your head, peeling your heart open. A beautiful dance. Shooting Star adds a creative element to my flows, with that little boost of energy to endure one of my Power classes!!"

You can flow with Jessica at Anatomy or SOL Yoga. Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicarosefish.

3. Lizzy Chiappy

"Handstands without a doubt are my favorite pose in yoga to practice. I’ve learned so much through my journey with handstands. Even though I’ve had a handstand for quite some time, there are still many days where it’s a struggle for me to find balance on my hands. I still have to work at them quite a bit and I still have to focus fully. Therefore, even though it’s my favorite pose it still keeps me very humble and reminds me that the work doesn’t stop just because I know how to do a certain pose. On the other hand, when I do find that perfect balance and I’m able to be still, upside down on my hands, it’s when I’m the most connected to my breath and the present moment."

Lizzy is the Co-Founder of Co-founder Casa Vinyasa Yoga Studio and Founder MYP Athletes. Follow Lizzy on Instagram at @lizzycfitness. 

4. Mimi Ghandour

"Warrior 2 or Vīrabhadrāsana is my favorite asana, but it hasn’t always been. When I first started practicing, it used to be unbearable for me to hold this pose. However, once I finally understood that nothing is permanent, I became comfortable in the uncomfortable on my mat and in my life. Now when I hold Warrior 2, I have more space between myself and my urges to get out of the discomfort. I’ve learned to recognize my discomfort, my feelings, feel them, watch them and stay in it until it passes." 

Mimi is the founder of mimiyoga.com where you take live online classes with her and you can also find her teaching at SOL Yoga. Follow Mimi on Instagram at @mimiyoga_official.

5. Megan Elizabeth

"For me I’ve hit the point in my life that the reason I get on my mat again and again every day is not to try to perfect the poses or because I love doing asanas. I do it because of how amazing I feel the rest of my day. So many people hear the word yoga and their mind takes them to an image of some posture, like down dog or a backbend. But the poses are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to practicing yoga. The postures are just one (of many) tools to help you connect with your higher self. We do them to help burn away the stress that comes with life and remember that we’re supposed to feel happy, calm and at peace. All that being said, my favorite pose is definitely Savasana, or corpse pose. It’s traditionally the final posture we take and it prepares us to slide into a state of meditation. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment when you just finished a long deep hot intense sweaty practice and you're lying there in stillness, thoughtless, body vibrating as if each cell of my being is smiling. It’s like everything I did up until that point was to arrive there. Everything is perfect. Everything is as it should be. I always tell my students that Savasana is the most advanced pose and it’s true. To lie still, not move your body and most importantly not move your mind. It will heal you and rejuvenate you in more profound ways than any other posture."

Megan is the Co-Founder of Wynwood Yoga where you can find her teaching. Follow Megan on Instagram at @meganelizabethyoga.

54D will begin its US expansion plans this October with the opening of its new Miami Design District studio. Located on 3946 North Miami Avenue, the brand new 6,500-square-foot studio marks the brand’s second U.S. location.

The Miami-based fitness brand will continue its expansion within the U.S. market over the next year with new locations slated to open in 2022 in Broward County, New York City and Los Angeles.

The new Miami Design District studio will be equipped with state-of-the-art fitness and recovery equipment. 54D is a 9-week program that combines high-intensity training, custom nutrition, recovery and community. 54D has a no-excuses approach to fitness, which the 54D team considers crucial in order to deliver measurable results.

“We have built an amazing community in South Florida with our Coral Gables studio and are looking forward to continuing to grow our local 54D family with our new Miami Design District location,” said Rodrigo Garduño, Founder and Creator of 54D. “We already have a waitlist for the new facility and are excited to welcome our new members.

Garduño is a former professional soccer player who first founded 54D in 2012 in Mexico City. He brought his innovative approach to fitness to the U.S when he opened the brand’s Coral Gables location in 2019. Last year, the program became a global sensation as Garduño began offering free online workouts via his Instagram account. To better serve 54D’s followers from all over the world, 54D launched an online program in July 2020, 54D ON, a 9-week online program that takes the brand’s signature system to a global audience.

“Our online program has allowed us to reach thousands of people around the world, but we still believe in the brick-and-mortar model,” said Omar Yunes, CEO of 54D. “We want to bring the in-person experience to new markets as the brand continues to grow. Our U.S. expansion is currently underway with the new Miami Design District studio opening soon and the Hallandale, New York and LA locations already in the works.”

54D has become a favorite among celebrities and athletes alike, with athletes such as Alex Rodriquez and Jorge Posada, models like Adriana Lima, and singers and performers such as Juanes, Fonseca and more joining in.

For more information, please visit www.54d.com and www.54d-on.com.

Eat healthy without the planning, prepping, and portioning that comes with meal prepping. Let Chef Nicole Miami deliver flavorful, well-balanced meals right to your door!

For Nicole Retchin, providing Miami with a healthy meal delivery service is her passion. About 6 years ago, Nicole started small and part-time out of her own kitchen before beginning to rent kitchens, and as the business really took off, she purchased her own.

The meal plans are portion-controlled into two sizes - Lean Machine with meals between 400-500 calories and recommended for someone who is looking to maintain or lose weight and learn proper portion control, and Ultimate Warrior, with meals between 700-800 calories and recommended for people who live an active lifestyle.

Chef Nicole's meals are healthy but not restrictive. They are made with whole foods and real ingredients, without eliminating any food groups. All meals are comprised of lean protein, complex carbs, and vegetables.

Some of her recent meals have included: 

• Turkey vaca frita with brown rice and black beans, grilled plantains, and asparagus.
• Dijon salmon over farro with orange-grated brussel sprouts and goat cheese
• Slow-cooked brisket with cauliflower mac and cheese and green beans
• Sauteed shrimp linguine with saffron garlic cream over spinach

Nicole loves trying new foods and that inspires her weekly menus, which are anything but boring. There will always be lots of cultures represented with new meal options every week. The menus feature as many seasonal options and locally sourced produce as possible. Nicole also has breakfast and snack options available, as well as kid’s meals.

We love that Nicole acknowledges that food is fuel for your body and you don't have to eat less, you just have to eat right!

"I have been an athlete my entire life running high school cross country and track & field, to training and completing half marathons and triathlons," said Nicole. "I am very passionate about the role proper nutrition plays in overall health and well-being, and athletic performance. Food is fuel for the body and mind."

To order, head to chefnicolemiami.com and check out the menu. Orders are due by midnight on Thursdays for delivery the following week. Deliveries take place on Mondays and Wednesdays across the greater Miami area.  First-time users can get 10% off their first meal plan order with promo code STAYFIT10.

Lastly, be sure to follow @chefnicolemiami on Instagram for all the mouthwatering food pictures and the latest menus.

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Zumba co-founder and CEO Alberto Perlman spoke with The Miami Herald about the evolution of the dance-fitness craze 20 years later, how it survived the pandemic, and what the next 20 years might look like. Check out an excerpt below and find the full interview here.

‍How has Zumba changed over the past two decades?

The original Zumba class hasn’t changed that much, but what changes is the type of music we use. When we came on the scene, reggaeton did not exist, and as soon as we started hearing these sounds coming out of Puerto Rico, we said, ‘These are perfect for Zumba.’ We were the first ones to bring reggaeton into the mainstream. As music evolves, Zumba evolves — you’re dancing to popular music, and that always keeps you coming back.

How does Zumba compete with new exercise trends on the scene?

Most fitness programs usually live in the space of, ‘We’re better from a calorie-burn perspective, or from a fitness perspective.’ But if you only live in that physical space, someone is going to come along and will build a better mousetrap. Think about the Thighmaster in the ‘90s, or 8 Minute Abs — someone is going to come up with seven-minute abs.

Zumba is similar to yoga in that there is emotion — in yoga you think of zen or flow state. In Zumba we call it F.E.J.: freeing electrifying joy. You get lost in the music, you’re having so much fun that all other thoughts are gone, you’re just there, present in the moment.

And the other piece is the community. In yoga it’s similar as well — there’s a pilgrimage to India, or some sort of yoga shrine. In Zumba, there’s a convention every year, and it’s a magical place. Physical plus emotional plus community is why Zumba is a forever brand.

What is the significance of Miami to the Zumba story?

It’s where we live. It could have only been born here because of the cultural aspect of Miami, the openness to Latin music, Latin influence — Miami is capital of Latin America. Beto’s dream growing up in Cali was to go to Miami. Zumba started when my cousins, my mom, everyone I knew was taking Beto’s class here in Aventura — it wasn’t even called Zumba then, he called it “rhumba-cise.” At that moment something sparked the idea: What if we take this to the world, put it on a VHS tape — this was 2001 — and teach Zumba at home via VHS. What we realized is that the community and class was the true Zumba experience, so we started training instructors, who would come from all over the country and go to Miami and train in Zumba. But Miami is still the root and culture of Zumba. Zumba is Miami.

What will the next 20 years of Zumba look like?

We’re constantly enhancing our technologies to make our instructors more successful. We believe people don’t need another screen in their life. We want them to get together in person, and we don’t want humanity to lose that. Mental health has also come up as a big topic in how Zumba helps — we want to create more moments to help people through any mental health issues.

We’ve also created a new brand, STRONG Nation. It’s a high-intensity training program — but we created a program where the music is scored to the workout. So we create these routines, then create music that completely matches the routines. We want to have an epic feeling, really feeling like a bad-ass. So you’re going to see more STRONG Nation in the years to come.

We also created the Zumba music lab. It’s a production house where we create our own music. We’re working with some of the best writers and producers in the world, and now record labels are coming and saying they want to launch our songs.

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This article was originally published in The Miami Herald by Rob Wile and can be found here.

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It’s been quite a year to say the least and for many of us, we learned the importance and value of relationships, good health, and community.  The Babicka family has been a driving force in South Florida, committed to supporting and maintaining these three pillars, especially during the past year.  

Jonathan Babicka, Executive Director of The Little Lighthouse Foundation, has dedicated his life to helping underserved children and families through various programs and several partnerships with local organizations and facilities. As a longtime fitness enthusiast, he has incorporated a holistic approach to many of the programs offered through the Foundation. This includes Mindful Hour, a meditation and yoga class, the soccer program Just for Kicks, Fit Club, a youth-inspired fitness program, and Move and Groove dance classes. For the past 11 years, The Little Lighthouse Foundation has been nominated as one of the top volunteer organizations in South Florida.

Babicka took his passion for fitness outdoors where he filmed beach workouts and posted them under the name Babeachka on social media. His wife Missy and their two children often joined in as well as other special guests. These videos served as an inspiration and message for families, friends, and followers on the importance of health and wellness while spending quality time in nature with the ones you love. 

At the onset of mandatory shutdowns due to the pandemic last year, Babicka and the staff at Little Lighthouse seamlessly transitioned most of their current programs as well as created new ones virtually in order to continue serving its children and families. They began bringing people together from the community and beyond through their Do Good Feel Good Instagram live programming which takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.  Since the end of March 2020, Jonathan and the Foundation have aired over 200 virtual programs for their 32 partner facilities and the South Florida community all from his home.  

The Babickas' all-encompassing family approach to living a healthy lifestyle through fitness, mindfulness, and service is driven by Jonathan’s belief that anything is possible through the support and power of community.  To learn more about Jonathan and The Little Lighthouse Foundation, please visit www.thelittlelighthouse.org.

Since the Wings for Life World Run began in 2014, it’s called South Florida home to one of its flagship races. Held in Sunrise, FL for six straight years, runners, walkers, and wheelchair participants have gathered to compete against thousands of others from across the globe at exactly the same time, all while raising millions of dollars for spinal cord injury research.

This year the race will take place via the event App, which means participants can choose their own run location. We connected with Miami Marathon Founder and recently appointed Chief Wellness Officer of Miami, Frankie Ruiz to share advice and some of his favorite spots to run in Miami. 

City Running‍

Tips

• Find a route that has public restrooms with water fountains, possibly a public park along your route. If not keep the route close to your house where you can pop in for a pitstop or to rehydrate.
• Start off real easy, the city can hype us quickly and our pace will pay the price later in the race.
• Don't pick a route that has lots of turns that can slow you down and confuse you.
• I prefer to run on asphalt instead of concrete because it just feels a little better on my body but whether or not you choose the sidewalk or the road make sure you are paying attention to your surroundings.
• Consider designing your route to have some places more open-air from time to time just because city streets with lots of buildings can get extra warm and humid mid-mornings.
• Wear bright clothes
  

Frankie’s City Pick:

• The Underline — This trail starts in the Brickell area and continues under the metrorail.
  

Ruiz says this is where he plans to run. 

“I am going to be pushing Michael Sayih in his Special Compass racing wheelchair. I am thinking of just staying on the Underline southbound for as long as I can and taking the metrorail back to my starting point. This gives me the most real-life experience possible. Brings back the memories of the in-person race and gets me excited that for 2022 we'll be back doing the same!” 

Beach Running‍

Tips

• When I think of running on the beach I think of wide-open spaces and lots of room to spread out so choose the beach if that is what you are looking for.
• Pick a shoreline or a high side leveled section that has the most compact sand.
• Be mindful of the sand granules getting into your socks so you may want to lather up using body glide or other chafing prevention product prior to your run.
• The sun will probably be your biggest nemesis so plan for it with extra sunscreen, white clothes, and head gear.
• Keep the strides short while focusing on bringing the knees up a bit more than if you were on the road.
• Practice running the beach for at least 3-4 sessions prior to the race.
• Consider a hybrid option of running sand first then jumping onto a more stable surface with better sun coverage.‍

‍Frankie’s Beach Pick

• South Beach - Hard Packed Sand Beach - 23rd Street south all the way past 1st Street to Government Cut. These hard-packed sands provide the best viewing stage for all that is Miami and its beaches. 
  

Frankie’s Other Running Picks

• Lummus Park - This is one of Miami Beach’s largest concentrations of Coconut Palms set as a tropical curtain of sorts for the Art Deco buildings along world-famous Ocean Drive
• Venetian Causeway - 360-degree views from the bridges connecting the man-made islands that make the mileage just fly by. The sites of the multi-million-dollar homes and the yachts floating by can certainly help the mind wander.
• Rickenbacker Causeway - The “big bridge” or more formally known as the William Powell Bridge, will give you the highest elevation in South Florida available to runners
  

There is still time to sign up for Sunday’s Wings for Life World Run on the App or at wingsforlifeworldrun.com where 100% of registration fees go toward finding a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Reach your nutrition and fitness goals with Naked Nutrition. A full line of proteins and supplements, Naked Nutrition aims to give you the best ingredients without any of the junk and is transparent about what it puts in its products. The company, which is based out of Miami Beach does not use any additives artificial sweeteners, or artificial colors.

Stephen Zieminski is the founder and entrepreneur behind the brand. The idea for Naked Nutrition was born while Zieminski was working in finance in New York City in 2014. 

The goal was to bring simple, pure, and high-quality products to a market that was crowded with over-engineered products. Zieminski found that the over-engineering of other products was done mainly to benefit supplement companies instead of the end consumer.

As a former cross country and track athlete from the University of Florida, he was aware of how everything we eat and drink affects our overall health and performance.

“By the time Naked Nutrition was launching consumers were starting to pay attention to ingredients and where food comes from,” said Zieminski. “I thought if people wanted to know where their fruits and vegetables were coming from they’d want the same from their supplements.”

Naked Nutrition launched with five, single-ingredient protein powders which included two of its best-selling products - Naked Whey and Naked Pea. The company was very fast-growing and by January 2015, they were seeing six-figure sales in a month. Zieminski moved back to Florida and chose Miami Beach as the headquarters for Naked Nutrition.

Today, the site has over 30 products ranging from powdered peanut butter and brown rice protein powder, to green superfood powder and collagen peptides. There are products specifically for weight gaining, and products that can be used as meal replacements.

Since the pandemic began Zieminski worked hard to maintain the same rigorous quality standards while still keeping pace with increasing orders. It is during that time that he also led the launch of international shipping for Naked Nutrition and this year will be launching 4 new products.

“Naked's goal is to have a product for everyone, at every time of the day. We are launching a supplement line including multi-vitamins, a hydration product, and a protein powder product that more broadly appeals to consumers. We aim to be a leader in setting trends with new products often, many of which are informed by feedback from customers,” said Zieminski. 

In Miami, Naked Nutrition supplements can be found in the smoothies and shakes of a few local restaurants, including Pura Vida and Pure Green. As a direct-to-consumer brand, the best way to purchase Naked Nutrition products is through their website or Amazon.

Check them out at nakednutrition.com for more information, products, and partnerships. You can also find them on Instagram at @nakednutrition.