MEMPHIS FIT
Skating
By Lucy Harrison Photo by Tindall Stephens
A Challenging New Workout for a Challenging Year
Ali Manning, 31, has no shortage of passion. She’s a dedicated scientist who founded Umami Food Consulting as well as Food Science 4 Kids, a virtual learning series for grade school students. She also runs her own all-natural line of self-care product for men, King Status Grooming. Still, this boss lady enjoys a challenge. This year she took on skating. “I remembered how much I enjoyed ice skating as a child, so I begged my husband for rollerblades on my birthday in October of last year,” she says. The Alabama native has always been active. “Life for me is about exploration and trying new things to figure out what I like; I enjoy HIIT workouts, running, yoga, visiting nature trails, and swimming.”
“There’s peace in finding my groove to a song and just rolling along with the breeze.” Her first set of wheels were a pair of inline skates. “I began on the Greenline but wasn’t able to do many tricks and spins. So in April I ordered roller skates and have been obsessed with the trend ever since.” While gyms and fitness centers have been closed or operating at limited capacity, staying active has been important to Ali. “During the pandemic, it has not only 14
