Memphis Health+Fitness September 2023

At Regional One Health Cancer Care, the same physicians who help establish national standards for treatment and innovation also provide personalized treatment directly to patients. Our expert medical and surgical oncologists can deliver the comprehensive care Mid-South patients need to live full, healthy lives.

Dr. Muhammad Hamid, Dr. Swapna Thota and Dr. Noura Elsedawy are part of an exceptional team of hematologists. Ask your primary care provider for a referral to access elite cancer expertise right here in Memphis.

27 Years and Running Strong

Amy Goode | Publisher

Amy is passionate about growing the health and fitness community, as she’s done for the last 27 years. Along with triathlons, cycling tours, and road/trail races, she’s marked off several bucket list marathons in Chicago and New York City. When not working out, she is always looking for the best cheat meal.

Angelique Nihen | Editor

Angelique is an editor, writer, graphic designer, and advertising/marketing professional. A long-time SAG-AFTRA member, she also works and performs professionally as an actress, singer, and dancer. A Temple University graduate, she enjoys swimming, biking, painting, sewing, reading, and traveling.

Tindall Stephens | Photographer

Tindall has been shooting for over 20 years, specializing in weddings and portraiture. She is a super busy mom of three teenagers,wife of a Memphis firefighter/Paramedic, and entertainer of two boston terriers …among running a full time photography business. Tindallfarmerphotography.com

Laramie Renae | Photographer

Originally from California, Laramie grew up on the West Coast before spending a few years in the Chicago area studying ballet. She landed here in Memphis in 2011. She loves capturing people, culture, and documenting life’s special moments. When not photographing, she is hanging with her husband Dylan, volunteering with Just City in their Court Watch program, buying too many plants, and planning her next trip to her second home in Kenya.

Zoe Harrison | Contributing Writer

Zoe is a biomedical engineer with a focus in medical writing, and has authored a number of publications in scientific journals. She is a native Memphian and is a passionate runner, yogi, and weightlifter. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and playing with her golden doodle, Sully.

Lucy Modzelewski | Contributing Writer

Lucy is a branding and marketing professional and native Memphian. An avid runner, she enjoys running on the Green Line with her husband and participating in races throughout the year.

Shlomit Ovadia | Contributing Writer

Shlomit Ovadia is a Content Strategist for a Colorado-based nonprofit, where she currently lives and enjoys all the outdoors lifestyle has to offer. In addition to her freelance work in writing and editing, Shlomit’s poetry and creative pieces have been published in various literary journals including Grande Dame Literary and Sad Girls Club Literary Blog.

Amanda Tompkins | Contributing Writer

Amanda Tompkins is a freelance writer living life part time above the arctic circle. She works as a remote village optometrist in the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska. When not in AK, she lives in Midtown Memphis with her family and three pups. She enjoys kickboxing, circuit training, camping, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking.

Jeremy Crooks | Digital Designer

Jeremy is a South Carolinian turned native Memphian with almost 15 years of digital and print design experience. As a passionate endurance athlete, he loves participating in marathons, triathlons, and even a good hike with his wife and two pups, Brooklyn and Chloe.

50 Celebrating Years of Excellence

The Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis (PSG) was founded in 1973 by the late Robert Reeder, M.D. For 50 years, PSG has been a leading Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery Practice where patients receive the highest quality of medical care provided by an elite team of boardcertified Plastic Surgeons.

PSG offers a variety of surgical procedures and takes pride in treating each patient with individualized care ensuring they feel confident before, during and after their surgical procedures. PSG is proud to continue the legacy in providing exceptional medical service and delivering the high standard of care in Memphis and the Mid-South.

To find the PSG surgeon that is right for you scan the QR Code or call 901-761-9030 to book your consultation today!

Follow us on Instagram for specials and a first-hand look at procedure results!

From left to right: Dr. Ellis Tavin, Dr. Carey Campbell, Dr. Allen Hughes, Dr. Sarah Hammond, Dr. Melissa Kath, Dr. Robert Chandler

By donating blood at HemaCare Donor Center, you could help drive medical discoveries that give hope to patients with cancer and other diseases. You could also earn up to $600 per visit for your time.

Get started today at HemacareDonorCenter.com, or scan the code below!

1256 Union Ave. Suite 100 Memphis, TN 38104

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SHOUT OUT!

Congratulations to Chris Peterson, for completing the Bigfoot 200 in Washington — the first-ever 200+ mile run in the U.S.!

Shout Out to the new running group HyperFocus — a UK-inspired running club that’s all about making running fun.

Join them Monday nights at Slider Inn downtown at 7 p.m. for a 3.25-mile fun social run with food and drink deals after; Thursdays on the U of M track at 7 p.m. for an assigned track workout; or Trailheads on Saturday at 7 a.m. at Tour De Wolf.

Congratulations to Mike Morgan, who won the gold medal in the 200 yd freestyle in the 75-79 age bracket at the Tennessee Senior Olympics. He also won two gold medals in the 100 yd and 50 yd freestyle events.

Sana Yoga Studios Announces an Exciting New Chapter with a Move and a Second Location Opening

Sana Yoga Studios, a leading yoga, hot pilates, and boutique fitness studio, is thrilled to announce its exciting new chapter featuring a move to a stunningly renovated space in E. Memphis/Germantown and the grand opening of its second location in Downtown Memphis.

Founded and operated by Amy Lenkszus, Sana Yoga Studios has been a beloved yoga community in the Carrefour shopping center since 2015. In 2022, the studio underwent a rebrand and brand licensing, allowing Sana Yoga to reach an even wider audience. After years of success and growth, Sana Yoga is ready to embark on a new adventure in a brand-new location.

The newly relocated Sana Yoga Studios is now conveniently situated at 1789 Kirby Parkway, across Poplar Ave. This beautifully renovated space reflects the studio's commitment to providing all practitioners with a welcoming and inspiring environment. The move represents an exciting milestone in Sana Yoga's journey to create a vibrant and inclusive community centered around mindfulness and the powerful connection between breath and movement.

In addition to the move, Sana Yoga Studios is thrilled to announce the opening of its second location in Downtown Memphis, scheduled for Fall 2023. Located in the Edge/Memphis Medical district, this new space will be owned and operated by Anne Marie Wyatt. A long-time yoga student at Sana Yoga, Anne Marie is passionate about sharing the transformative power of yoga with her community.

Both locations will offer signature SANA classes, including SANA Yoga, a thoughtfully sequenced, engaging, and effective heated yoga practice designed for all levels, and SANA Hot HIIT Pilates, low-impact, high-intensity interval workouts with a focus on core strength through Pilates principles. These classes are carefully crafted to empower participants on their wellness journeys.

"We are beyond excited for this new chapter in the Sana Yoga story," says Amy Lenkszus, owner and operator of the original location. "Our mission has always been to foster a warm, supportive community where everyone feels at home. With the move and the second location, we can extend that sense of belonging to an even broader audience."

Sana Yoga Studios has become known for its passionate instructors, enriching events, transformative retreats, and comprehensive teacher training. The new locations will continue to uphold these values and offer unparalleled experiences to its members.

Stay tuned for more details on the grand opening of our Downtown Memphis location this fall! Learn more about Sana Yoga Studios at Sanayogastudios.com.

Beat the Heat with HOTWORX – Edge District!

If you’ve been caught in a summer haze, you might not have realized that there’s a new HOTWORX in town to serve Downtown, Crosstown, the Medical District, and Midtown, Memphis.

During the coronavirus pandemic, co-owners Jason and Carmella Rogers traded their suburban estate for a downtown riverfront view, and their real estate portfolio for a HOTWORX franchise.

These IT gurus have always lived an active lifestyle but previously worked with personal trainers in their home gym. Until one day, cabin fever motivated them to visit with friends, and another came in, saying she’d just finished riding a bike in a sauna! This piqued Carmella’s interest, and she had to learn more. The biggest draw is the innovative fitness concept and health benefits of infrared technology.

Fast-forward about two years, and HOTWORX – Edge District opened in September 2022. The couple saw an opportunity to address a need in a community with few fitness resources, providing quick workouts in a facility with 24/7 access — perfect for higher ed students and professionals.

“We chose the Medical District because it has a great mix of hospitals, residences, medical students, professionals, businesses, and restaurants,” said Carmella, also general manager for HOTWORX – Edge District.

Its current membership community comprises “HOT WARRIORS” from all walks of life, from medical students to moms, city council members to business professionals, and more. In addition to hard-hitting, quick workouts, the HOTWORX – Edge District community also enjoys special events, like Sweat & Sip, the Summer Soiree, and Sweat with Friends.

What is HOTWORX?

Imagine doing a workout, like High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), cycling, or even Pilates, but in a sauna. That’s the basic premise of HOTWORX. As the infrared heat from the sauna penetrates your body causing you to sweat, the isometric workouts further accelerate detoxification by removing toxins through muscle contraction — and your virtual instructor is there every step of the way.

Even if you prefer outside workouts, the infrared energy you experience at HOTWORX can activate the regenerative process in your body and accelerate workout recovery.

Want to try HOTWORX – Edge District? Sign up for a free, no-commitment workout at hotworx.net/studio/Memphisedgedistrict and tell them you heard about it from MH+F for a free gift!

The HOTWORX – Edge District studio will celebrate its 1st anniversary in September. Follow on social media:

Instagram: @HOTWORXEdgeDistrict

Facebook: @HOTWORXMemphisEdgeDistrict

By Sharonda Walton, ANP-BC

Enough is Enough: How Women are Finding Their Limits with Injectables

Plump, pouty lips, high cheekbones, and a suckening jawline have been the rave over the last decade. As influencers grow on various platforms, so has the ease of access to hyaluronic acid fillers. This standard of beauty has also been achievable with fat injections. The issue with some filler injections is that they can easily be overdone or done improperly. The growing trend in the medical aesthetics industry is that less is more, and in the long run, less is at least enough. One thing about a trend, all it takes is for one popular face to start it before the majority is hooked.

From Kylie Jenner to Courteney Cox, more and more celebrities are choosing to dissolve their fillers and publicly speak out about it. With the most recent being urban entertainment star Blac Chyna, who now prefers to be referred to by her government name Angela White, publicly showcasing the undoing of several of her body enhancements from head to toe, more women are following suit. Due to ease of access and affordability, Botox and filler have become extremely popular for women of all ages, not just women over 40. Now, the same women who adored the dramatic look are opting for the opposite.

The need to dissolve filler or remove fat can happen for various reasons, including:

• Filler migration occurring when filler was injected in one area and moved to another

• Too much or the wrong type of filler was injected

• Unqualified injectors due to the popularity of the procedure and lucrativeness

Only fillers made of hyaluronic acid can be dissolved. Fortunately, medical aesthetics pros and trained injectors can offer alternatives that promote the subtle, safe lift or tighten. These options include bio-stimulating products such as Sculptra or PDO threads and skintightening treatments like microneedling or Radio Frequency microneedling.

• Sculptra is a popular collagen stimulator that helps produce collagen and repair the underlying structure of the skin by adding fullness to the area.

• The PDO (Polydioxanone) thread lift is a minimally invasive treatment that lifts and tightens sagging skin tissue using threads made of Polydioxanone. The threads are introduced into the deeper layers of the skin by contracting dermal tissue, which stimulates collagen to promote cellular renewal and improve skin texture, lines, and elasticity.

• Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure using thin needles to help reduce the appearance of skin concerns such as acne scars, stretch marks, or wrinkles. Radiofrequency microneedling uses radiofrequency waves to trigger the production of capillaries, elastin, and collagen, improving skin laxity and texture.

I’ve had the pleasure of adding a little more “life” to many faces over the years, including my own. Injectables are safe and, when done in moderation, are perfect for those seeking a bit of enhancement or a clean lift in the face or neck. I enjoy educating and training about various types of injectables and their amazing benefits because I know first-hand. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to enhance your features. In my opinion, moderation, with anything, will always, ALWAYS be key.

Sharonda Walton, ANP-BC, is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner and owner of Royalty Wellness Spa, a full-service medical spa in Memphis, TN. She has been in medical aesthetics since 2017 and has completed advanced training in neurotoxins, dermal fillers, and PDO threads. Contact Royalty Wellness Spa at 901.419.8378 or Royaltywellnessspa.com.

By Drew Tucker, PT, DPT

Living with joint pain?

Physical therapy can help you stay active without surgery

After we diagnose the problem, we work to restore strength and range of motion.

During therapy sessions, we guide patients through exercises to strengthen the joint itself and the muscle and tissue around the joint.

We encourage patients to do their exercises at home, too. They can be done while standing, sitting, or even lying down, depending on whether the joint can bear weight.

I also show patients the safe, correct way to do movements related to their work, sports, chores, etc.

Finally, we identify strategies for continuing to perform activities. If your activity causes pain right away or you’re in pain long after you’ve stopped, you probably need to pull back until we can strengthen your muscles and restore joint mobility.

Joint replacements can offer a second chance at an active life. But wouldn’t it be great to achieve that goal without surgery?

A physical therapist can help.

We help patients strengthen muscles and joints, use proper body mechanics, and perform activities safely so they can continue to work, play sports, and live independently. Many patients see results within one month.

See us if you notice a joint feeling weak, painful, or not moving well. You can make an appointment for an assessment with a physical therapist without a referral.

The earlier we intervene, the more likely we can help you avoid or delay surgery. If you do need surgery, participating in therapy often leads to better results and faster recovery.

Our first step is assessing the strength and mobility of the joint and the surrounding joints. For example, if you have a sore knee, I’ll check your hips, ankles, and spine as well. In some cases, pain and instability result from compensating for a problem in another part of the body.

However, if the pain doesn’t start until you’ve been doing an activity for a while, you can keep doing it, but make sure you stop before it becomes painful. In that case, our goal for therapy is to build up to performing activities for a longer time.

We also talk about mixing heavy and light activity. If you’re doing chores, take a break from vacuuming to sit and fold laundry. If you jog, mix in walking. Rest breaks and changing positions can extend how long you can be active.

My best advice for patients is don’t push through pain but don’t let it make you give up on being active. The human body is meant to move, and being sedentary can cause health problems.

Pain doesn’t mean you can’t move –– it just means you need help to get back at it.

That’s why we’re here. Physical therapists not only restore your strength and mobility, but we also rebuild your confidence.

If we can catch your injury early and you diligently do your exercises, we have a high degree of success getting you back to the activities you want to do.

Drew Tucker, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist at Regional One Health. He sees patients at the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine at the East Campus, 6555 Quince Road. To learn more or make an appointment, call 901.515.5900.

By Audra Gehan, PT, DPT, PCES

The Athlete’s Pelvic Floor

Whether you’re an ultra-marathon runner, yogi, cyclist, weekend warrior, etc., your pelvic floor may impact you and your performance more than you think. This can mean pelvic floor issues may be holding you back from your potential, but often we find that improving the strength, coordination, and endurance of the pelvic floor enhances and improves performance and may be the missing link you’ve been looking for.

Here are the top 10 ways pelvic floor issues manifest in male and female athletes during sports or workouts.

• LEAKAGE: This is what most people think of when they hear the words pelvic floor. Any leakage of any form: urine, bowel, even gas, is a sign of a pelvic floor issue(s), and the answer is NOT always to do more Kegels. Despite popular opinion, we often find that this can worsen the problem.

• TAILBONE PAIN during or after exercise: You may experience pain at or around your tailbone with exercises including but not limited to weight lifting (squatting and deadlifts), seated cardio (rowing machines and spin bike), and with running, situps, or floor work. If you need to tuck or sit to the side to be comfortable, your tailbone and the pelvic muscles around it need some attention.

• SACROILIAC (SI JOINT) PAIN OR CLICKING during or after exercise: You may experience pain or shifting at or around your Sacroiliac joint with exercises including but not limited to running, brisk walking, cycling, tennis, golf, soccer, and baseball.

• LOW BACK PAIN during or after any type of exercise: Hands down, the pelvic floor is often involved. It could be from a “too tight/spasmodic” pelvic floor pulling on the front of the spine or a decrease in the endurance of the pelvic or lower abdomen stabilizers causing overuse of the back musculature. We also see one-sided weakness or tightness that creates torsion or rotation in the spine, causing imbalances and issues.

• SIT BONE PAIN during or after exercise: You may experience pain at or around your sit bone with exercises including but not limited to running, forward folds in yoga, weight lifting, or CrossFit movements including but not limited to deadlifts, kettlebell swings, rowing machine, cycling, or lunges.

• ABDOMINAL CRAMPING during or after exercise: You may experience abdominal cramping and pain with exercises including but not limited to running, intense HITT or CrossFit Metcons, core exercises, spin or assault bike, etc.

• SPOTTING during or after exercise not associated with cycle: You may experience this with exercises including but not limited to core exercises, intense cardio exercise, etc.

• PINCHING OR CLICKING/POPPING OF HIPS: You may experience hip pain/pinching, clicking, or popping with exercises including but not limited to squatting, core exercises like bicycle crunches or flutter kicks, with Barre style exercises, and yoga postures.

• DECREASED BALANCE: Whether it’s a yoga pose that is proving difficult or a recurrent knee or ankle injury with running, your balance is impacted significantly by imbalances, weaknesses, or restrictions of the pelvic floor muscles.

• LOWER CHAIN RECURRING ISSUES: If one side or area continues to get injured, including but not limited to: plantar fasciitis, hip impingement, knee pain or swelling, hamstring issues, or decreased strength/bulk/endurance, this can stem from imbalances in the pelvic floor impacting lower chain mechanics.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, are pregnant and want to continue exercising, or postpartum and want to get back to exercise safely, or if you’re just curious if your pelvic floor is impacting you and your performance, a pelvic floor assessment by a Pelvic Physical Therapist at MOJO Pelvic Health may be the next step.

Audra Gehan, PT, DPT, PCES, is a pelvic health physical therapist with MOJO Pelvic Health, where she is the Clinical Quality & Education Director. She specializes in treating female and male athletes reach their full potential.

To learn more about pelvic health physical therapy, visit our website, Mojoph.com, Instagram @mojopelvichealth, call 901.244.3800, or email at audra@mojoph.com.

By Tammy McCulley, M.D.

Exercise-Induced Asthma

So, what is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic condition of the airways marked by swelling, inflammation, bronchospasm (twitchy airways), and mucous production. If poorly controlled, asthma can result in further airway obstruction, long-term scarring, frequent ER visits, and even death. Exercise can be a trigger, but other triggers include allergens, respiratory viruses, strong odors and fumes, cold, dry air, hot weather, and irritants. Strategies for minimizing or controlling these triggers include:

• Early morning workouts during the summer months

Early in my career, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jerome Bettis, a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time first-team All-Pro football player, about exercise-induced asthma. Many of you may know him as “the Bus,” a talented running back for the Pittsburg Steelers, but what you may not know is that he suffered from severe asthma. He was very open about his problematic asthma and its impact on his performance. He humbly admitted to not complying with his treatments, which, on several occasions, resulted in him being carried off the field on a stretcher.

Approximately 8% of Americans experience exercise-induced asthmatic symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain/ tightness, audible wheezing, and/or coughing. Some may notice a delayed response in these symptoms (referred to as “locker room cough”), but the majority experience symptoms early in their workouts, which limits their ability to maintain peak performance. These symptoms also limit training and often leave an athlete feeling under-conditioned compared to their peers. I’ve seen this in cyclists who always seem to be in the back of the pack or struggle during a race, unable to maintain their performance due to breathlessness and fatigue.

Surprisingly, asthma is the most common chronic condition experienced by Olympic athletes. An estimated 15% of Olympians and as high as 55% of elite athletes battle with asthma. Famous athletes include David Beckham, Jackie Joyner-Kersey, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Greg Louganis. I often show pictures of these athletes to my teens struggling with symptoms in the pool, on the field, on the ice, or on the court. Seeing elite athletes who face the same condition and continue to excel is very encouraging.

• Wearing a scarf or mask when exercising in the cold air, as this will allow the air to be warmed and humidified before breathing into the lungs

• Training indoors on peak pollen days

• E xtended warm-up and cool-down periods

• Pretreatment with a rescue inhaler 15 minutes before exercise

Fortunately, we now have very effective medications to control asthma. “Quick relief” medications may be used before exercise and at the onset of symptoms. “Controller” medications include long-acting forms of inhalers, which are used daily to reduce symptoms. Inhaled corticosteroids can have mild systemic side effects; however, their impact is minuscule compared to a steroid pack or a “sinus cocktail.” Another “controller” is a long-acting bronchodilator, which can help keep airways open and relaxed for as long as 6+ hours. And the newest class of medications, “biologics,” are given by injection and target the immune system to suppress the inflammatory process in the airways, resulting in drastically improved asthma control.

The good news is, with all these options, there is no need to continually struggle with asthma, avoid the fulfillment of sports/ exercise, or worry about limited performance. Whether an elite athlete or a recreational enthusiast, seek professional help early if you experience symptoms. Making a correct diagnosis is the first step to breathing easier. I can’t say you will run like Jerome Bettis or Flo-Jo, but you will definitely feel better.

Dr. Tammy McCulley has been serving the Memphis area since 1999. She is board-certified in Allergy & Immunology, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. She was the lead author of the Asthma Chapter of the Best Practices of Medicine, along with numerous other publications. Dr. McCulley and her team treat patients in five convenient locations and can be reached at 901.623.3323 or mcculleyallergy.com.

Rice Law

For three generations, the Rices have handled divorce and family law matters in Memphis and across Tennessee. Their co-authored book, “The Complete Guide to Divorce Practice,” published by the American Bar Association, is recognized across the country as the national standard. After rigorous examination, contested case reviews, and recommendations from judges and fellow attorneys, both of the Rices are Board Certified in Family Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

The Rices bring over 75 years of experience combined with up-to-date technology, including 128 bit encryption of client information and communication. Rice Law handles your family law matter with depth of experience including a team of nationally recognized attorneys and Advanced Certified Paralegals. Rice Law’s Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed mediators provide valuable insight into resolving your matter quickly.

Whether you find yourself dealing with divorce, mediation, custody, child support, domestic violence or any other matter involving family law,

For more information on divorce, visit aboutdivorce.com or scan below. To talk

By Shlomit Ovadia

Photo by Tindall Stephens

According to Lia Lansky, Baptist Memorial Health Care’s Director of Well-being and Resident Health and Fitness Expert, investing in employee health is the positive feedback loop that keeps on giving.

Lia brings her extensive training and certifications in exercise physiology and nutrition to Baptist’s employer-based wellness program, BestHealth, which she and a team were able to develop thanks to a generous grant from the Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation in 2017.

The initiative aims to transform the health and well-being of their employee population through an array of customizable wellness programs, a small investment that promises big company payoffs by reducing sick days, insurance claims, and other long-term financial hardships.

“We want to show other organizations how they can help empower their employees to take care of themselves, leading to greater profitability for businesses while serving as a recruitment and retention tool.”

BestHealth’s Offerings:

BestHealth participants have a yearly biometrics screening and are offered well-being classes that include weight and diabetes management, emotional support, and preventative care, among other things.

In addition to emphasizing the fundamentals of healthy eating and physical activity, BestHealth offers diabetes management services to those who meet certain requirements, waiving all medication, supply co-pays, and deductibles.

Well-being specialists and nurses work directly with chronic disease populations on weight management and have collectively shed 20,000 pounds over the last five years.

Plus, their six-week tobacco cessation series boasts a 65% rate of participants quitting or cutting back. And with the hospital’s access to medical equipment such as CT scans, they have even caught early-stage lung cancer in some employees.

BestFit

BestHealth’s team of exercise physiologists and personal trainers design tailored workout programs for participants, equipping them with specific exercise instructions that include exact sets of reps, with videos and photos for additional reference.

To stay on track with their health and fitness goals, employees can opt-in to receive quarterly farmer’s market bags containing easyto-follow, chef and dieticianco-created recipes like fish tacos with mango salsa or Buffalo chicken salad.

Certified in the Fasting Method by Dr.Jason Fung, Lia is excited to add this service to BestHealth’s offerings soon. Currently, she is wrapping up an intermittent fasting study at Baptist in which those with 30+ BMIs were successfully moved out of the pre-diabetic range.

BestYou

In partnership with CONCERN EAP, this branch connects employees to emotional help through virtual, 30-minute group sessions covering topics such as Self Care Isn’t Selfish, Overcoming Trauma, and How to Say No.

Employees have reported these educational, opendiscussion-formatted offerings as less intimidating and easier to commit to.

As a hospital, “we need to be good role models for patients so that people trust and can rely upon us,” Lia explains.

BestHealth by Baptist

Now thriving in its sixth year of service, the program has enough metrics to extend this service to other employers and has been working with external businesses since January.

“Our mission here at Baptist is healing, preaching, and teaching. Now that we’ve seen how our BestHealth partner can heal our employees, it’s time to teach this to others in our community.”

“I can’t imagine anything more important or valuable in an organization’s budget than the people you employ. Optimizing employees benefits companies in the abstract and significantly reduces healthcare costs.”

For more information on BestHealth, visit Baptistonline.org/besthealth or call 901.227.4616.

"As a former collegiate athlete, I still enjoy swimming and teaching swim lessons, HIIT training, functional strength training, and barre."

FITNESS MADE SEXY

Bendy Beast Fitness in Midtown harnesses the power of self-love and radical acceptance, revolutionizing people’s attitudes toward health to help them reach new levels of physical and mental fitness.

Originally an industrial designer by trade, Bendy Beast Founder and Owner Liz Kinnmark says she never thought she would become a pole teacher, let alone have her own studio.

“I just started doing it for myself. It was where I found community while gaining strength and seeing improvement,” says Liz, commenting on her 12 years’ involvement in pole fitness competitive circuits, traveling workshops, and studio teaching opportunities after receiving her certification in New York.

“It showed me that I had much more to offer in the world.”

WHY POLE?

The entire experience of pole fitness encompasses many levels of health and wellness.

For one, getting on the pole requires an incredible amount of upper body and core strength while the legs work to climb upwards. All of that causes a physical transformation.

The accompanying mental transformation is just as valuable. “When you do something difficult, you have to accept yourself as a beginner and work from that place,” a crucial yet often neglected practice for most adults.

By Shlomit Ovadia

Photo by Joey Warner

The studio, which focuses on self-care through movement arts and community support, aims to create a safe environment for people to tap into creativity and self-expression freely.

“There is something innately sexy to pole,” Liz explains. "It's a healthy outlet to connect to our bodies and sensuality.”

Bendy Beast offers Introductory Pole on weekends and Bendy Flexibility and Aerial Yoga classes throughout the week, which serve as excellent starting points for newcomers.

For best results, Liz recommends two to three classes per week.

“What I love the most about teaching is seeing the transformation in students. If they stick with it any amount of time, people come out of their shells and find so much joy in their bodies.”

The studio offers other non-pole conditioning classes as part of its comprehensive curriculum, including Aerial Hoop, Floorwork, Weightlifting, Handstands & Conditioning, and more. These emphasize cross-training and muscle-building to complement the four skill-based pole levels.

“The most common misconception for all of these is how much strength is involved.” To execute pole aerial skills, numerous small muscle groups must be developed and activated.

PRIORITIES AND ACCEPTANCE

As to how Liz stays fit, “I teach all these classes,” she laughs, so “I mostly have to focus on recovery and not on working out.”

Liz also times eating balanced meals throughout the day for sustained energy and acknowledges that prioritizing it has made a huge difference.

“The studio is all about learning to love and accept your body where it’s at and then choosing to make healthy and lasting lifestyle changes.”

Liz's primary goal is to inspire others to live full and authentic lives by moving out of their comfort zones and experiencing growth.

“Once you focus on loving yourself, you will start seeing results.”

IG: @bendybeastfitness Bendybeast.com

Going for Gold at the Memphis Senior Olympics

Lisa Anderson is eager to share the joy she has found in setting new athletic goals in retirement. At 60, she is regularly practicing track and field, basketball, and golf to prepare for the annual Memphis Senior Olympics and is encouraging others in her age range to join her in trying new sporting ventures.

By Zoe Harrison

Photo by Tindall Stephens

From Memphis, Lisa ran track and played basketball throughout her childhood and high school. Since then, she has primarily maintained her fitness through brisk daily walks and has always recognized the importance of staying active and eating clean. Lisa worked as an administrative coordinator at the University of Tennessee Health and Science Center for 32 years but found she was looking for fun new hobbies during her retired life. In 2021, after seeing a brochure at the Frazier Raleigh Community Center, Lisa became inspired to participate in the Memphis Senior Olympics and has been passionate about the event ever since. “I have always been very athletic and competitive, and while I was a little nervous, I felt I would do well at it,” Lisa says. And she was right. She has since won medals in track and field, basketball, golf, and bowling, among others.

Lisa explains that events for the Senior Olympics take place all over Memphis in various parks, senior centers, and tracks over two weeks. Participants are encouraged to sign up for whatever interests them, despite their experience. “We can select what we want to do and get out there, give it a try, and have some fun.” Finalists from district-level games qualify for the State Finals held each summer and can even proceed to compete in Nationals held every two years.

Practice facilities are somewhat limited around town, so coordinating times to train before the Olympics can be challenging. To prepare, Lisa plays basketball with her daughter and grandson and even has a coach to help her prepare for javelin, shotput, and other field events. In addition to this training and her daily three-mile walk, Lisa enjoys water aerobics, line dancing, bowling, golfing, and riding her bike at Overton Park to stay fit.

Lisa says her favorite part of the Senior Olympics is the supportive and positive community. “Everyone in the Senior Olympics community wants to encourage and help one another succeed.” Lisa takes pride in encouraging others in the Memphis community to join in the fun and to come back and try new events each year. “There is nothing better than going back each year and seeing friends from the previous year still healthy, able, and showing up, and introducing new friends into the community.”

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Memphis Senior Olympics, which will take place from September 22 through October 13. If you want to join Lisa and the supportive Memphis Senior Olympics community, register online by September 8 at Tnseniorolympics.com/memphis-district.

Envisioning Lifelong Fitness

Rinnie Wood is all about helping people age gracefully while prioritizing health and wellness. As Fitness Director of the awardwinning retirement community, Trezevant, and an active personal trainer with over two decades of experience, Rinnie shares how to keep the momentum going steadily into retirement years.

“I’ve always had two loves: fitness and community work,” the energetic powerhouse explains of her involvement at Trezevant, located in midtown Memphis.

Under her guidance, the facility escalated their workout offerings from seven weekly classes to a whopping 37 – eight of which are led by Rinnie herself – including Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, pool classes, lightweight circuits, a strength and balance class called S.A.I.L., and more.

“As we age, we must pay more attention to our bodies.”

To stay healthy at 69 years old, Rinnie works out most days, opting for lowimpact cardio five times per week, plenty of light-weight resistance training, and solo walks along the Mississippi River to get her fix of quality outdoor time.

Photo by Tindall Stephens

Being the senior living community’s fitness director for 14 years and one of Trezevant’s seven instructors, Rinnie loves moving alongside people and encouraging them to push just a bit more.

“I get to watch people’s lives be transformed. I enjoy seeing people get physically stronger and feel mentally better.”

The health guru follows the 80/20 rule, living a mostly healthy lifestyle “while having splurges and enjoying different eating opportunities,” such as local hotspot Bari Ristorante’s pan-seared sea scallops dressed in orange zest and anise liqueur, alongside husband Keith.

Between her own health and fitness journey and work with Trezevant’s three levels of resident care, Rinnie confidently explains that “at any age, we pretty much need the same things. We need variety, we need people, and we need movement.”

Besides building strength, working out increases mental acuity, backed by a resounding 30 years of research that indicates exercise’s ability to delay or avoid possibilities for dementia.

“We’re all concerned with losing memory or diminished brain processing, and exercise makes a difference,” says Rinnie, who

always tries to accommodate people at their highest challenge point.

For those looking to jumpstart their fitness journey, she recommends finding something you enjoy and can feel successful in that’s doable for you, then building on that.

Her biggest piece of advice is variety. “Try different things. I see more injuries when people do the same thing repeatedly. Our muscles and joints need to be used differently over time.”

The same goes for her and Keith’s love of various foods, his cooking linked to his New Orleans roots and hers to ethnic cuisine. Both incorporate the full spectrum of the rainbow paired with quality proteins.

Leading Trezevant’s fitness programming, Rinnie feels lucky being surrounded by people who are “well educated, bright, and want to explore every option to live the richest life they can. Trezevant is a wonderful place to work alongside exceptional people.”

Trezevantmanor.org

IG: @trezgram

Power to the Peers

Passing on the baton of knowledge, leadership, and opportunity is how the Memphis-based nonprofit organization, Peer Power, pushes high school students to reach for more.

Join them for their largest annual fundraiser in its seventh consecutive year — Peer Power Big River Crossing (BRX) — on Saturday, November 4, at Martyr’s Park. The family-friendly race offers something for everyone, with a half marathon, 10k, and 1-mile fun run/walk options starting at 8:30 a.m.

Peer Power’s Program Director, Sylvia Barnes, recalls what initially drew her to work for the nonprofit organization.

“I thought that it aligned well with my desire to be a college professor,” citing the mentorship she received from a former professor turned advisor in her sophomore year. “It was truly pivotal and inspirational.”

As one of the organization’s program directors, a former collegiate basketball athlete, and a current graduate student studying 19th Century African American Literature at the University of Memphis, Sylvia is all about pursuing excellence for herself and those around her.

By Shlomit Ovadia

Photo by Tindall Stephens

“I love that Peer Power is centered towards the community that our schools are in. We are able to be a pivotal piece in our students’ lives.”

Peer Power hires high-performing college students, Success Coaches, to work within their 12 high schools’ partnerships, some of which are in lower-income neighborhoods.

The Success Coaches collaborate with school teachers whose classes fall under Tennessee’s end-of-course testable subjects (Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, and English 1 & 2), serving as teacherstudent liaisons. Success Coaches will meet one-on-one with students in designated school areas if additional support is needed beyond the classroom.

In addition, Peer Power offers free ACT preparation courses and FAFSA events for their communities to help increase high school graduations and college acceptances while creating a careerreading pipeline that fosters student leadership qualities.

“It is through these authentic interactions that we can inspire kids to think outside of the limits and to expose them to other opportunities.”

Sylvia also hopes to motivate students in other areas of wellness. Having played high school and collegiate basketball, her exercise regimen took a turn when she stepped away from the court.

“I have always been active, but after college, I had to adjust how I saw fitness and health.”

Sylvia now enjoys circuit training and weightlifting group exercise classes at the University of Memphis’ Recreation Center, which she pairs with low-impact cardio activities, cycling, and incline treadmill walking.

“Through my health and fitness journey, I found myself trying to compare my current version of myself to a younger version, which was not healthy. I had to learn to give myself grace and take smaller steps to help achieve my goals."

Between her university career aspirations and involvement with Peer Power, Sylvia hopes to "inspire kids by being a role model for them.”

Register for November’s Big River Crossing at: Peerpowerfoundation.org/brx

IG: @peerpower901

Sometimes answers come to us in places we least expect. For new Memphis resident Cecilia Noel, that happened to her while reading the latest Memphis Health and Fitness Magazine.

Cecilia was first diagnosed in 2006 with uterine fibroids. Over the next few years, the symptoms gradually intensified, causing heavy and inconsistent cycles, cramping, and other discomforts.

In 2016, per her OBGYN’s recommendation, Cecilia underwent a myomectomy — the surgical removal of uterine fibroids near the bikini area — with a general estimation of one-year likelihood before re-growth.

As it was, the fibroids returned within two years, with accelerated symptoms.

Working Towards a Fibroid-Free Life

“I’m a big fitness person. I work out five times a week and have always had a flat stomach, but with fibroids, I couldn’t achieve what I’d had before my surgery.”

As a former track and field collegiate athlete, who held the triple jump record for 12 years at the University of Lafayette, Cecilia couldn’t understand why her body was changing despite her consistent, healthy lifestyle habits.

So, she started wearing looser clothes to hide extreme bloating.

“I tried everything because I wasn’t ready for a hysterectomy.” Cecilia's last-resort stint included elimination diets, which included going vegan for six months and completely stripping out sugars, alcohol, and other inflammatory foods, in an effort to shrink her fibroids.

By Shlomit Ovadia

Photo by D'Angelo Connell

These changes ended up causing Cecilia to lose too much weight and muscle mass, with no luck on the fibroid's end.

So, while working out one day at Harbor Fitness gym, she picked up a copy of Memphis Health and Fitness and read the article on Rosha Williams. Williams also struggled with fibroids and underwent Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) — a minimally invasive procedure that cuts off circulation to the fibroids, so they shrink and discharge naturally — at Dr. David Cohen’s office at Vascular Interventional Physicians.

“I thought, oh my gosh, this is my story!”

After calling Dr. Cohen, Cecilia had a consultation and MRI, to which she brought a slew of questions, anxieties, and even doubts about her candidacy for the procedure.

Dr. Cohen alleviated her concerns and encouraged her to contact him if anything else arose.

“I loved Dr. Cohen. He answered all my questions and made me feel very comfortable.”

Nerves assuaged, Cecilia was in and out of surgery in no time and, within one week, had lost an inch from her waistline.

“I want readers to know there are options other than having a hysterectomy. Before I moved to Memphis, I was never given any other options.”

While it takes a few years for fibroids to shrink entirely post-op, the fit enthusiast now gushes about being able to wear more fitted clothes without the insecurities of fibroid bloating.

“I was excited about that. I’m pleased about my decision to have the procedure.”

While Cecilia remains a clean eater with weekly meal prep, she shares, “I don’t cut out anything completely like I used to, and I enjoy indulgences occasionally.”

To stay fit and lean, she incorporates Pilates into her five-day-a-week weightlifting regimen and thrice weekly, 30-minute cardio sessions.

The health educator, certified personal trainer, and successful sales rep shares a lot of gratitude for the magazine. “It was a very compelling article that got me to do research.”

For more information, visit vipphysiciansmemphis.com or call 901.747.1007.

By Dallas Meador

Memphis’ Up and Coming Climber Reaching New Heights

Taking to the climbing wall and knocking out goals one by one is eighteen-year-old John Ford. Eighteen months ago, John was bored and fed up with doing nothing at home. Having never climbed before, he bought a climbing membership and has never looked back. John enjoys climbing at High Point Climbing Gym because there's always a challenge and different routes that create many learning experiences. He immediately fell in love with the sport and its challenges, and his journey continued to take off when an anonymous person paid for him to be on a competitive team.

Photo by Tindall Stephens

However, John has faced many challenges since beginning his climbing journey. One of John's biggest challenges was a massive fall at the beginning of 2023. John fell 52 feet and hit the ground, shattering his mental game and putting a rift in the progress he had made. Despite this setback, John participated in a bouldering competition the following week.

While still recovering from the aftereffects of his fall, John also climbed El Cap in Yosemite. Despite his setbacks, John continues progressing with an 'I can and I will' mindset. He also uses the hashtag #allskillnoluck as a reminder to rely on his skill and not chance because there are situations where luck simply cannot solidify outcomes that he knows he can reach if he counts on his training. He perseveres through challenges with a positive mindset because he knows great things are in store.

John advises other climbers to know the difference between two different types of falling. The first type is falling because one fears failing and believes they will not make it up the wall before they have thoroughly tried. The second type of falling is falling with intention, where the climber makes all of their moves with concrete focus and falls because they gave their all and simply could not make it, which with practice, will change.

John encourages climbers to climb with intention and not to fall because of a fear of failing. This sets the climber up to be more mindful of their movements and helps set up a healthier mindset not to let fear overcome one’s goals, especially before trying them.

John is hopeful that one of the next steps in his climbing journey includes placing on the podium in his first competition while also working towards Nationals. Taking goals to the next level, John aims to make it to the Pro World Cup and even the Olympics. With ambitions high, John is proceeding forward with intention, drive, and patience –– not wasting time but not rushing through wherever this climbing journey leads.

Highpoint Climbing offers top rope and lead rope climbing, boulder walls, a kid's climbing area, a gym, a yoga room with classes, auto-belay climbing, and outdoor climbing walls. Memberships start at $79 for individuals and $67 for students. Day passes start at $20 for children under 10 and seniors, and $22 for adults.

For more information, visit Highpointclimbinhg.com or call 901.203.6122.

ENJOY EPIC SUMMER

By Zoe Harrison

“It’s Just Yoga”

Kim Proctor Removes Pressure from Her Practice

For Kim Proctor, yoga is one of her ministries. Between motherhood, working as a Nurse Practitioner at St. Jude, serving her church community, and teaching yoga at Hot Yoga Plus, Kim has made it her life’s work to bring peace and love to all she interacts with.

Though born in Little Rock, Kim has lived in Memphis her whole life and considers herself a Memphian. As a young adult, she was in the Army Reserve, where her love of fitness developed during training boot camps and running workouts. Since then, Kim has primarily considered herself a runner, running five days a week and

participating in regular races. However, in her 40s, Kim began experiencing knee pain, and after a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon, she knew she had to take a break from running. Then, Kim decided to do a year-long yoga challenge, which Kim said changed her life.

Photo by Tindall Stephens

During her first year of yoga, Kim found her knee felt healed and pain-free, and her mental clarity and sense of peace were stronger than ever. “I became addicted to yoga and the low-pressure environment at Hot Yoga Plus. It’s just yoga –– I don’t need to pressure myself to perform or look a certain way.” Kim found that regular yoga practice helped her feel grounded and focused on herself despite motherhood's stresses and working a highly pressured job. “Anything that goes on during your day can be worked out on the mat, and I could leave feeling so much lighter.”

After years of practicing at HYP, Kim decided she wanted to deepen her practice and experience Yoga Teacher Training, a decision she made with no real intention of ever actually teaching yoga. However, her intention changed during the teaching practicum portion of the training. “I found that there was something so empowering when I was leading the class; through my leadership, I had the opportunity to help people leave feeling better than when they arrived,” Kim reflects.

As a teacher, Kim wants her classes to feel welcoming and inviting to everyone, with no pressure to perform in any particular way. “When I started yoga, I felt surrounded only by tall, white, skinny girls. I love that as the studio and my classes have grown, I look

around and see all kinds of people, who look different from one another, practicing in ways that make them feel good,” she says.

Though Kim did have to have knee surgery in March and was unable to practice, being able to return to the studio as a teacher brought her new challenges and opportunities for growth. Kim says that relying only on verbal cues rather than giving any physical demonstration during this time made her a much stronger yoga teacher.

In addition to developing her flows and cues, Kim dedicates lots of time to cultivating a playlist that resonates with her students. “I throw in some rap, Christian, country; you name it, I want everyone to feel represented and seen, and hear at least one song that speaks to the heart and brings them joy.”

Overall, Kim continues to remind herself and her students that it’s just yoga –– a time to feel calm, have fun, and remove any pressure for perfection.

You can experience Kim’s calming and inclusive power vinyasa class at Hot Yoga Plus on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Visit Hotyogaplus.com for more information.

By Lucy Modzelewski

53 Years of Running & Romance

When Emily and Bill Smith first met more than five decades ago, they couldn’t have imagined how far their romance and running career would go.

Emily, 74, and Bill, 77, have been married for 53 years. Throughout their marriage, they have run more than 200 races, ranging from marathons to 5Ks, all over the United States – and they’ve done it all together.

Photo by Tindall Stephens

The first race that sparked Emily and Bill’s running career was the 1987 New York City Marathon. The couple had an athletic streak long before they met but decided to take it to the next level by training for a marathon.

“We couldn’t have dreamed up a better first marathon experience,” Bill explains. “The energy in New York City was indescribable, and there were so many people cheering us on every step of the way.”

The two started the race together and crossed the finish line together, hands clasped tightly and thrown up into the air as a sign of victory.

Not only did the New York City Marathon jumpstart Emily and Bill’s running career, but it also started their long-held tradition of traveling for races and turning their post-race glory into a fun vacation. The two love to hike and visit national parks, so they often look for ways to combine their passion for racing and their love of sightseeing.

Some of their favorite out-of-town races include the Key West Half Marathon, which they describe as fun and flat with stunning ocean views. They also enjoyed the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon this past July, as they included plenty of hiking in this trip. As for Memphis races, they note St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend and the M-Town Race Series as some of their favorites to participate in.

The two especially enjoy participating in races with more diverse age groups for older runners. While some races place all 70+ runners in one category, having additional groups for 70-75 and 75-89 runners keeps the playing field more even and make races more competitive for older runners.

The couple’s current workout routine includes three weekly runs on the Green Line or the Germantown Greenaway. Two runs are four miles, while the third is typically longer, especially if they’re training for a race. While they enjoy running just the two of them, they also love to run with their MRTC running group. They do strength training at ATC and bike once a week, often at Big River Crossing downtown.

Emily and Bill also love hitting the pavement with their family. With two daughters and six grandchildren, the couple often travel to California to compete and visit their grandchildren living there.

While the two both love running, traveling, and staying active, their lifestyle is made better by being able to do it together.

“From running to hiking to being outside and active, we really do enjoy the same things,” Emily remarks. “I truly believe we are a match made in heaven.”

As for Bill –– “I’m just always trying to keep up with Emily,” he laughs.

The Bridge to Health Leads to Arkansas

Sharing moments on the Mississippi River’s longest pedestrian crossing.

If you want to understand this city, go to the best place to view it, Big River Crossing. I go there several times a week and see a passing parade: the dog walkers, the families with kids in awe of the passing barges under their feet, the tourist picture-takers, the holding-hands-couples-in-love, the rented electric bikers, along with the just-got-this-out-of-storage bikers, and the early morning brisk walkers.

For most of us, it’s a round-trip journey, but for others, it’s their only way into our state — a funnel that gathers those without a car who heed the call to go West. Crossing the river, you’ll see the scraggly homeless hoping for a free meal, the hungry hitchhikers riding on their thumbs, and the backpackers and cyclists eating miles and miles for weeks. These vagabonds with a one-way ticket are my favorite travelers to meet. Their stories hold adventure and desperation. They tell me where they’re going, but to me, it often seems like they are running away from something behind them.

I watch the tourists who are there to watch us, and I sometimes stop to help them with a family photo next to the sign marking the boundary between the two states. “Welcome to Memphis,” I tell them. An hour later, at the far end of the bridge, when I’m cycling back across, I greet others with, “Welcome to Arkansas.”

I admire the super runners from my bicycle, treading lightly across the bridge, barely breathing hard. They are part of the informal club I belong to: the here-for-fitness folks. The bridge calls to us and we come, lucky to live in a city with an asset that draws such a diverse group. Soon over a thousand acres right over the bridge will be a recreation magnet, overseen by Ducks Unlimited with plans to re-make the land into a nature showcase, your reward for crossing over.

There are the newcomers to exercise who have lost the diet battle but hope to conquer the bridge. Sometimes, they turn around midway, while others need to rest at the benches on the Arkansas side before struggling back to their car. As I cycle by, I want to shout, “Good for you!” but I realize those words sound more patronizing than encouraging, so I just nod and smile. Every fitness struggle has to start somewhere, and each person has a story and a challenge.

Some people you pass have a story that begs to be told. Like this woman I passed on a recent hot and humid morning. She was on crutches and had made a slow struggle across the bridge. When I saw her, she was turning around at the end, without resting on the benches, to make her way back across. I slowed my pedaling and pulled up beside her.

If you’ve ever had an injury requiring crutches, you know that the two miles out and back on the bridge are like 10 miles of walking. Somehow, she still managed to smile at me, a stranger on a bicycle. We started talking, and I soon realized I had read about her in the local news in June. She was leaving Overton Park on her bicycle with her six-year-old son, also on a bike, when tragedy struck. In a marked pedestrian crossing, at Overton Park Avenue and McLean, cars on McLean stopped to allow them to cross the street. Suddenly, a motorcyclist without a license, insurance, or common sense, sped around the cars blocking his way and knocked her down. As she was lying on the pavement, her first thought was about her son’s safety, but she could not focus and struggled to breathe. She had a collapsed lung, four broken ribs, a broken hip, and shattered knee bones.

“I remember looking up at the sky, and then finally seeing my son’s face. He wasn’t hurt but saw me get hit,” said Tiffany Harry, 40. “Those first days in the hospital were so hard. I remember it took me an hour to figure out how to sit up. My left side was crushed and every position hurt.”

Harry was a newcomer to Memphis. Her husband, Eric, had just taken a chief operating officer position with a Memphis company, 3PL Warehousing Logistics.

“Nature has always been important to me. I enjoy teaching my son to enjoy it as much as I do. Before coming to Memphis, we were nomads for two years. We started in Texas and went to Oklahoma, New Mexico, and then up the Rockies. We were in Boston before heading to Memphis for my husband’s job, and along the way, we stopped for day hikes on the Appalachian Trail. We wanted to let our son be exposed to the hiker trail community. I had been in Memphis for three months before my accident. Making it over the bridge is part of my recovery therapy.”

A month after our meeting, I checked back in with Harry. “I’m better. I have been to Campbell’s Clinic for my knee and 901 Physical Therapy. I do some light yoga at home every morning. The midtown community has been great, cheering me on. My neighbors have seen me transition from a walker to crutches to a cane. People I don’t even know stop to comment on my progress. My husband took my bike for repair to Victory bicycle shop, and I’m excited to get back on it.

“There was a moment in the beginning when I doubted I would survive. I think this experience has brought me to a deeper connection with myself. The stillness that comes from deep listening to my body is really powerful.”

This October marks the seventh anniversary of the opening of the Big River Crossing, the longest public pedestrian/bike bridge across the Mississippi River. Over a million people have enjoyed its dramatic views of our river and city. All of them have a story to tell.

By Amanda Tompkins

What’s the DILL with Pickleball?

Combine tennis with a life-size ping pong table, add a pinch of badminton, and throw in a set of novel rules and scoring, and you have a magic potion capable of throwing the whole world into a frenzy. In 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a group of neighbors hoping to create something entertaining for their children one afternoon did just that.

Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport and has made its way into the lives of millions of people. According to pickleheads.com, approximately 36.5 million people in the US have played the sport at least, and that percentage is expected to rise significantly over the next five years.

And what's in a name? This one has been passionately contested since its origination. The founding families claim the name to be from one of two places – after one family’s dog, Pickles, or the specific type of boat one of the wives used during her collegiate rowing career. Regardless of the origin, perhaps its endearing name is one of the reasons Pickleball has become so popular!

Pickleball is a paddle and ball game, and although similar to other racket/paddle games, Pickleball features specific differences. Sharing some similarities with tennis, Pickleball uses a smaller light paddle with a “wiffle-like” ball and requires a quick reaction time, agility, and control.

Photo by Tindall Stephens

The Memphis pickleball scene is growing quickly. A couple of its patrons describe the game as more of a way of life than an occasional past-time.

It's an understatement to say that Becky Lloyd is an avid pickler. “I would like to play every day but manage to play a few times per week.” She started playing in January of 2020 (multiple games on her first day), then had to abruptly put down her paddle when COVID hit. She picked it back up in April of 2021 and has logged countless games at her primary spots, including Hope Church, First Evangelical Church, and Singleton Community Center. Becky says the game is “like an addiction” and even takes her paddles when she travels, using an app to help her find local courts. She would recommend lessons for beginners and states that some are available at Hope Church on Mondays and Wednesdays. She encourages, “Make sure you incorporate playing with people that are really good so you can continue to get better.” Her theory behind its popularity is, "It’s just so much fun! Every place I’ve ever played is all about fun!”

Olympics in Pickleball since its introduction to the games in 2013.

Like many cities, the Memphis Pickleball scene is exploding, offering many opportunities for everyone to join the fun. You can stay up to speed on the mid-south’s action by getting information about upcoming pop-up events, pickleball parties at local breweries, tournaments, court locations, and resources on the comprehensive Memphis Pickleball Facebook page.

In addition to the dozens of courts you can choose from around Memphis, there are three new places/groups that will soon be in the circuit:

• Pickleball 901 (indoor)

• Bluff City Pickleball-Bartlett (indoor)

• Pickleball Garden Germantown (indoor and outdoor)

Although very much still a competitive sport, there's an air around the court that fosters community and leisure. Its magnetic force in our culture has brought together people from many different experience levels and walks of life to enjoy time together. Despite its feel-good quality, it still comes with a warning, according to Jackson, “You don't want to start playing because it's very addicting, it's like a drug, you just can't quit!”

Michael Leavitt started playing after his retirement in 2018 as a new way to get exercise. “I was playing golf and working out three times a week at Mobilize Fitness.” Now, he plays Pickleball three times a week, mainly at JCC (Jewish Community Center) and Cameron Brown Park. Michael also finds time to play while traveling and has played in Idaho and Michigan. For Michael, it's more than just exercise. “I get to get my cardio workout in and spend time with good friends simultaneously.” For those newly interested, he urges, “Just do it! Start taking a few classes, like at JCC, before playing to get the rules and basics down.” He attributes its popularity to affordability, accessibility for all ages, and that it's a fun way to get exercise. “Between the people you meet in class, open play opportunities around Memphis, and the growing number of clubs," Michael says, “there’s always a game going on.”

Pickleball has united people of all backgrounds and experience levels with its friendly and inclusive culture. “It's not just for old people,” claims Leavitt. The nation's number one women's pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters is sixteen, the top three are younger than 30, and the average age of the top ten is younger than 40. Flip the coin, and you have Richard Jackson, 84, of Memphis. He started playing in 2008 when Pickleball had 40 local participants. Jackson now estimates that as many as 3500 locals enjoy the game. Jackson has participated in the National Senior

It’s just so much fun! Every place I’ve ever played is all about fun!”

By Zoe Harrison

Manduu: A New Wave of Muscle Stimulation

At Manduu, home of the 15-minute Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) Workout, anyone can join for a quick and effective alternative to a crowded gym environment.

Muscle is built by contracting and relaxing muscle fibers, typically through lifting weights or bodyweight workouts. EMS technology mimics this phenomenon

During a free consultation appointment at Manduu, one of their trainers provides a tour of the facility and explains the EMS technology. Next, you are given specific clothes to wear for your workout, followed by a carbon electrode suit used to connect to the EMS system. Sessions at Manduu are semi-private, meaning you can expect to conduct your EMS session either alone with a trainer or with one other trainee. The trainer oversees your entire session and tells you a series of simple movements and stretches to do throughout the 15 minutes.

Manduu offers four unique training options depending on your goal: Lean, Pump, Strength, and Endurance. Manduu’s Lean program is designed so that users will see longer and leaner muscle appearance and improved sleep, focus, and mood. The Pump program is tailored

to increase muscle size and introduce more power into the workout –– ideal for those with goals of increasing mass and having a bulkier, more muscular physique. In the Manduu Strength plan, base strength is maintained, and there is a concentration on functional fitness and an athletic physique. Finally, the Endurance program is designed to mimic the workouts of endurance athletes, and sessions are tailored to increase stamina and aerobic capacity.

Manduu facilities also include InBody scanners, which provide several body measurements, including fat and muscle percentages. The trainer will then provide their informed opinion about your measurements and offer suggestions on how they think you should proceed, both in terms of your diet and the frequency of your Manduu sessions. InBody scans are

incorporated into future sessions so that trainers can see your progress and continue to provide feedback.

Manduu is an ideal alternative for those who do not enjoy a gym environment or feel they do not have enough time or motivation to workout. Several clinical trials have shown that EMS can be considered a time-efficient option to resistance training. It has shown effectiveness in postmenopausal women, sedentary or obese adults, or others who may have problems training regularly. Members can simply suit up at Manduu, and the EMS machine does the hard work for them.

Interested in trying a session at Manduu? Claim a free introductory session at client.manduu.work/signup.

By Mary Alexander Satterfield

POWER CAPRESE BOWLS

Ingredients:

q 1 cup quinoa, measured uncooked

q 2 cups bone broth or water

q 1-2 cups sliced cherry tomatoes 1 shallot, diced

q 1/3 cup mozzarella pearls 1/4 cup sliced basil

q Olive oil Balsamic glaze

q Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

Prepare the quinoa. Add the uncooked quinoa to a pot and pour in two cups of broth or water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover to cook for 13-15 minutes.

While the quinoa cooks, prepare your other ingredients. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, shallot, and basil. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt.

Add the cooked quinoa and mozzarella to the bowl. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Stir to combine.

Season with salt and pepper, and enjoy with your favorite protein!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Makes 5 Servings

Mary Alexander Satterfield is a Memphis-based recipe developer and content creator. She runs a food blog called @the_hungry_hooker inspired by her maiden name Hooker. MA takes recipes you love and lightens them up with clean ingredients giving them a healthy twist. Learn more at Hungryhooker.com and follow on Instagram @the_hungry_hooker.

By Cara Greenstein

A Whole Roasted BBQ Cauliflower

A healthy showstopper for a weeknight side or vegetarian main, Rendezvous seasoning and sauce give these florets a smoky, crispy, and slightly sweet exterior and fork-tender center. Brush, bake, enjoy — it’s that easy!

• 1 whole cauliflower, leaves removed

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons

Rendezvous sauce

• 1 tablespoon

Rendezvous seasoning

Preheat oven to 375F. In a Dutch oven, brush bottom of pot and top of cauliflower head with olive oil. Sprinkle liberally with Rendezvous seasoning and brush to disperse on the florets. Cover and bake to steam for 30 minutes. Turn up oven to 400F, remove lid, and roast for 15 minutes. Carefully remove Dutch oven and brush cauliflower with Rendezvous sauce. Return to oven for 5-10 more minutes until golden. Serve hot.

Cara Greenstein celebrates intentional and exceptional cuisine in her award-winning food and lifestyle blog, Caramelized, which offers recipes and restaurant reviews, food-focused travel itineraries, and endless tablescape tips. Follow @cara_melized on Instagram for daily inspiration and bookmark her recipes at Caramelizedblog.com.

Keto Enchilada Quesadilla

For many looking to make healthy dietary changes, weight loss is a primary concern. Because the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 45-65% of daily calories come from carbohydrates, an eating plan like the ketogenic diet (or keto, for short), which involves consuming a low amount of carbs and replacing them with healthy fats, can be a popular choice for achieving weight loss goals.

Replacing carb intake with fat can put your body in a metabolic state called ketosis, which makes you more efficient at burning fat for energy. The keto diet can also help reduce blood sugar and insulin levels and lower risk for certain diseases.

Those following the keto eating plan typically significantly reduce or avoid consuming bread, pasta, rice and baked goods, which are all traditionally high in carbohydrates. However, Toufayan Bakeries introduced a line of keto-friendly wraps, pitas and flatbreads that are high in fiber and protein while containing no sugar and being lower in carbs than traditional bread.

Find more recipes to support a ketogenic eating plan at Toufayan.com.

Ingredients:

q Rotisserie chicken, pulled and chopped

q Enchilada Sauce

q Olive oil

q Toufayan Bakeries Keto Wraps

q Tex-Mex cheese, grated

q Jarred or fresh jalapenos, thinly sliced

q Cilantro, chopped

q Salsa, for serving

Directions:

In bowl, mix pulled chicken and enchilada sauce until fully covered. Set aside.

Spray or brush olive on both sides of keto wrap and place on nonstick pan or skillet over medium heat. Once wrap is heated on one side, flip and heavily top entire wrap with grated cheese. Allow cheese to melt then disperse chicken mixture, sliced jalapenos and chopped cilantro on half of wrap. Fold wrap over ingredients and cook until quesadilla is golden brown on both sides.

Cut into three triangles and serve with salsa.

By Emily Gause, MA, RDN, LDN

Tracking your Health: Harmful or Helpful?

Are your tracking practices harmful or helpful?

On the surface, unlimited access to our health appears to have no downsides (Knowledge is power, right?), but there's a darker side to the growing obsession with tracking health data.

Several studies demonstrate a link between tracking and guilt, lower enjoyment of activities, and even eating disorders.

Answer 'Yes' or 'No' to the following screening questions:

• Do you feel that workouts, runs, rides, etc., are “wasted” if they aren't logged?

• Do your daily routines feel controlled by your [activity/ calorie/health-related] tracker or wearable?

An estimated 1 in 5 Americans regularly used a fitness tracker or smartwatch in 2020, and the number of dedicated users continues to grow. Trackers and wearables have expanded beyond the basic pedometer, calorie tracker, or daily exercise log, offering incredible versatility and providing access to various healthrelated metrics. Tracking has become a source of accountability, motivation, and connection with others via apps that allow users to track and share data while offering space for friendly competition.

The Allure of Trackers and Wearables

The sophistication of trackers will likely continue expanding to include clothing items that monitor oxygen levels, heart rate, and muscular activity and wristbands that provide information on carbon dioxide levels, pH, blood pressure, oxygen, and even hydration status. The allure of tracking is undeniable. Natural human curiosity paired with sleek, trendy design and marketing is difficult to resist. Exploiting this natural curiosity has led to health-tracking apps becoming increasingly detailed in the health information provided.

For example, Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) were designed to support individuals toward better diabetes self-management through moment-to-moment updates on blood sugar trends; however, a new wave of CGM usage has emerged. Generally, healthy individuals with no history of diabetes are now purchasing CGMs to track their blood sugar changes. Social media health and wellness influencers have popularized CGMs in the absence of diabetes by regularly using them and updating followers on the results. They share their data to show how various foods/food combinations affect blood sugar, while typically neglecting to inform followers that rises in blood sugar following meals and snacks are normal and generally non-problematic in individuals without diabetes or insulin resistance.

• Do you find ways to incorporate extra movement if you have not yet closed your movement "rings?”

• Do you experience frequent guilt for eating foods your calorie tracker deems “unhealthy” or “high-calorie?”

• Do you experience frequent guilt for not completing your activity goals?

• Do you avoid eating foods you enjoy to avoid entering them into your calorie tracker?

• Do you find yourself increasing your activity to increase your step count/workout intensity but enjoying movement less?

• Do you veer from the un-trackable movement you enjoy to see the stats?

• Do you obsessively analyze your CGM data and notice increasing anxiety over foods that might raise blood sugar?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above, you’re not alone, and you’re likely experiencing the dark side of tracking, and there is a cost associated with this that goes beyond the dollars spent on the tracker or wearable itself. Saying "Yes" to intensive tracking often means saying "No" to being present - in your body, surroundings, and with your closest family and friends.

The Dark Side of Tracking

Beyond potential harm, monitoring internal processes such as oxygen levels, blood sugar, pH, and muscular activity is typically unnecessary and can often provide inaccurate data or information with wide margins of error. In generally healthy individuals without chronic illness, the body accurately and precisely maintains these biological processes through its highly sophisticated ability to maintain homeostasis.

Intensive tracking leaves out and may interfere with important facets of overall health and wellbeing, like relationship quality, stress levels, emotional regulation skills, the ability to set healthy boundaries, and more.

In short, tracking can be enticing, catering to our curiosity and understandable desire to be informed about our health. Though marketed to improve connection to our bodies and health, tracking more often DISCONNECTS us from our body's signals, reduces enjoyment, and even exacerbates guilt and disordered eating behaviors.

Move away from monitoring external data toward exploring internal cues.

Bodies provide excellent information about our internal states without a need for numbers. If you've found yourself experiencing the darker side-effects of tracking:

• Begin working toward reconnection to internal cues via interoceptive awareness (the ability to detect internal signals, interpret them correctly, and respond accordingly).

• Try monitoring subtle hunger and fullness cues before, during, and after eating instead of calorie intake.

• Focus on the enjoyment and pleasure aspects of workouts instead of calories burned or time invested.

• Go for a walk or run without a step or mileage tracker and focus on how your body responds to the movement. Pay attention to moments you need to rest versus pick up the pace!

• Use mindful eating strategies at meals, including slowing down, reducing distractions, and focusing on satisfaction.

• Reach out to the Registered Dietitians at Memphis Nutrition Group for guidance and support toward embracing your body with trust and acceptance, nourishing it with whole foods, staying attuned, and reconnecting your body and mind.

Monitoring internal cues rather than externalizing internal data will save your mind, and pocketbook, from unnecessary data and decrease the risk of obsessive tracking behaviors.

By Audrey Stimpson, MPS, CNFC

10 SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE GUT ISSUES

We all know about the bloating, gas, and irregular bowel movements accompanying gut issues, but did you know that there are other signs something is off with the microbiome? We have beneficial gut microbes that calm our immune system and harmful microbes that lead to immune reactions within the body. After all, 70-80 percent of our immune system is in our gut.

Many people don’t realize that the gut is connected to many of the following immune responses and symptoms:

1. SKIN ISSUES

When we have gut dysbiosis, our immune system releases inflammatory messengers known as cytokines. The cytokine storm can trigger acne, rosacea, psoriasis, hives, and more.

2. JOINT PAIN

A disruption in the gut microbiome can lead to an inflammatory immune response which can settle in the joints and cause pain.

3. BRAIN FOG

Our gut and brain are connected by a network of hormones, metabolic pathways, and the vagus nerve, the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for key bodily functions. Obviously, a disrupted microbiome could cause an inflammatory response that can compromise communication between the gut and the brain. This can lead to confusion, brain fog, and forgetfulness.

4. DEPRESSION/ANXIETY

Furthering the discussion on the gut-brain connection, a lack of good bacteria and overgrowth of bad bacteria has also been linked to depression and anxiety.

5. FATIGUE

The inflammatory cytokines that are released due to a leaky gut inflame the brain, leading to increased fatigue. Our body is working hard to produce more immune cells to combat these toxins released from bacterial overgrowth.

6. SUGAR CRAVINGS

We often have sugar cravings because of yeast overgrowth in our gut or dysregulated blood sugar issues.

7. CHRONIC YEAST INFECTIONS & UTIS

Yeast and bacteria from the colon can populate the urinary tract leading to chronic yeast and urinary tract infections.

8. ORAL THRUSH

Often, white patches in the mouth, referred to as oral thrush, mouth sores, and indentations in the tongue can be a sign of candida, yeast overgrowth in the small intestine as well as food sensitivities caused by SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

9. FREQUENT ILLNESS

A compromised gut means a compromised immune system leading to frequent sickness. Remember, 70-80 percent of the immune system is in the gut!

10. CHRONIC BAD BREATH

An excess of bacteria in the small intestine can lead to toxin build-up, causing gas, belching, and bad breath.

As a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor at Sundara Wellness, Audrey is coaching others on their journey towards freedom from stimulants and others struggling with ADHD, autism, autoimmune, hormonal imbalances, and debilitating chronic health conditions due to poor gut health. Email Audrey at audrey@sundarawellness.com or on Instagram at @audreystimpson.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, there could be yeast overgrowth like candida, H. pylori bacteria, parasites, and a lack of good gut bacteria.

Over time, our gut becomes compromised due to many things like mold toxicity, low stomach acid, food sensitivities, compromised digestion, increased stress, mineral deficiencies, toxins in our foods and environment, overuse of antibiotics, and more.

The tight gap junctions in the small intestine loosen over time due to inflammatory cytokines, allowing free particles to enter the bloodstream. This causes a lot of the above symptoms. It's important to remove the inflammation, support detoxification pathways, and focus on gut healing.

We always start with opening detoxification pathways and removing the inflammatory in tandem with GI Map stool testing at Sundara Wellness. This will help us build an individualized protocol specific to the bacteria in your gut and help aid in the repair on a cellular level.

By Kristi Edwards, MS, RDN, LDN

Nutrition for Longevity:

A Look at Anti-Inflammatory Foods and the Blue Zones

Below are foods included amongst some of the healthiest and longest-lived communities in the world. These foods are packed with nutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds that support overall health and contribute to longevity.

Beans and Legumes

A staple in Blue Zone diets, beans and legumes (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, soybeans) offer protein, fiber, and a host of essential nutrients. They promote healthy digestion and stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

Nuts and Seeds

These nutrient-dense foods are high in healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants. Incorporating them into your diet can help lower the risk of heart disease and improve brain health.

Fruits and Vegetables

A rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables provides an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that protect cells from damage and inflammation, reducing the risk of age-related diseases.

The connection between diet and longevity has been studied for decades, revealing that certain foods can play a pivotal role in promoting a healthy, extended lifespan. One intriguing phenomenon that highlights this connection is the existence of "Blue Zones," regions worldwide with an unusually high number of centenarians. Let's delve into the world of longevity-promoting foods and explore the insights gained from these Blue Zones.

Blue Zones are areas where people live significantly longer than the global average, often exceeding 100 years of age. These regions include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. Researchers have identified common lifestyle factors in these areas that contribute to exceptional longevity, such as engaging in natural movement, spending quality time with family, and consuming a plant-based or plant-forward diet.

Whole Grains

Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and oats are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. They help maintain steady energy levels, support gut health, and contribute to weight management.

Healthy Fats

Unsaturated fats from sources like olive oil, avocados, walnuts, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and fatty fish are essential for heart health. They have anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to longevity.

Kristi Edwards, co-founder and owner of 901 Nutrition LLC, is a licensed and registered dietitian in Memphis. She has several years of experience in both acute care and outpatient settings, and she is passionate about helping clients ditch dieting for good, through intuitive eating and the enjoyment of food. You can reach Kristi at 901.800.9526 or 901kristi@gmail.com. To learn more about 901 Nutrition or to subscribe to their free newsletter for monthly recipe books, visit 901nutrition.com. You can also follow 901 Nutrition on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Herbs and Spices

Many Blue Zone diets incorporate herbs and spices like turmeric, garlic, and rosemary, which have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

Tea

Green tea, common in some Blue Zones, contains antioxidants called catechins that contribute to improved heart health and longevity.

Embracing a diet inspired by the Blue Zones could offer many health benefits and contribute to a longer, more vibrant life. While these regions share common dietary characteristics, it's important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to longevity. Factors such as genetics, physical activity, and overall lifestyle also play a crucial role.

Incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into your daily meals and adopting a balanced, sustainable eating pattern can go a long way in promoting longevity. Think about some ways you might savor the flavor of a plant-forward diet. Your body and taste buds will thank you for years to come.

Alyse LeAnn Potthast, Cyclist

I f CYCLING: Cycling is good for my mental health and makes me a much better mom. I lost my parents in a motorcycle accident, and while not the same two wheels, it gives me a sense of connection to them. I also love being able to share that passion with other women. There are always stories to tell that connect you with other cyclists, regardless of their fitness level.

BUCKET LIST: I want to grow our women’s rides and have them join me at Gravel Worlds next year!

UP NEXT: I'm doing Big Dam Bridge, an MS ride in October, and preparing for Gravel Worlds.

FAVORITE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: Hitting the 50-mile marker for the first time. It takes so much planning, prep, and great nutrition to ride that long. I also enjoy leading the women’s weekly rides. I would've never guessed I could do something like that two years ago.

SPEED BUMPS: After Jack and Back last year, I lost all feeling in my left arm. It took months to pinpoint I had nerve damage in my neck. I spent four months in physical therapy and did everything I could to ensure I got feeling back in my arm and avoided surgery. I was scared of taking six months off the bike, but I returned stronger and in much better shape.

MY GROUP: I lead the weekly Thursday evening women’s ride leaving Victory Bicycle Studio at 5:30 p.m.

FAVORITE JAMS: It depends on my mood, but I love any music with a quick beat. Sometimes it’s some old-school rap or rock, but deep down, my go-to is Avenged Sevenfold.

RECENT RACES: I participated in the Big Dam Bridge ride last fall, and I rode 150 miles in the Jack and Back ride, raising money for MS.

MOST MEMORABLE FITNESS EVENT: Jack and Back. I met so many people riding with MS, and they truly inspired me.

BINGE-WATCHING: I don’t watch much tv, but when I do, it’s usually a comedy. I'm currently watching Murderville on Netflix.

BEST EATS: Hog & Hominy. I am obsessed with their wedge salad and the Thunderbird pizza.

DREAM DINNER COMPANY: Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. She paved the way for girls to join STEM careers and write children’s books. I would love to know her whole story. She’s truly inspiring.

GO-TO GEAR: My Garmin GPS, because I love knowing where I’m going, how far I went, and being able to share my details on my social media. I also like my Shokz headphones so I can go on a solo ride, listen to my music, and still hear the traffic around me.

INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: My kids. I want them to see that anything is possible, and I want to live a long and healthy life to watch them grow and succeed in life.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND: "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle

PET PEEVE: Rude cyclists!

FAV INDULGENCE: Dark chocolate

QUOTE: “Feminism [is the] notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents and not be held back by manmade barriers.”

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

39; Woman’s Brand Manager at Victory Bicycle Studio; Animal Rescue Volunteer

Photo by Tindall Stephens

Wild Beet offers salads and wraps, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and attentive preparation. We’re open for lunch and dinner, dine in or carry out. Catering available. 6641 Poplar Ave Suite #106 Germantown 901.552.5604

David Phelps, Runner & Cyclist

71; Retired

SPEED BUMPS: My most considerable hardship was learning to run at a later age. However, I've remained relatively injury free through consistent training and not trying to do too much too soon.

MY GROUP: I'm a member of the Memphis Runners Track Club, the Memphis Hightailers Cycling Club, and the Bluff City Training Team.

FAVORITE JAMS: I have a running playlist with songs at a tempo of 180 bpm. It's extremely helpful to be able to run right on the beat of the music.

RECENT RACES: My last race was the Great American River Run 10K, where I placed in the top three of my age group. This year I’ve also participated in the Memphis Runners Winter Off-Road series, the Crosstown 10K, the Big Buffalo 50K relay, and the Zoom Thru the Zoo 4-miler.

MOST MEMORABLE FITNESS EVENT: My most memorable event was the Village Creek 10K trail run with a starting temperature of 10 degrees! I’m also proud of completing the Grand Teton Half Marathon and Yellowstone Half Marathon races.

BINGE-WATCHING: I enjoy watching the Tour de France each year and Unbound Gravel videos on YouTube.

BEST EATS: Central BBQ and Memphis Pizza Cafe!

DREAM DINNER COMPANY: I’d love to have dinner with my dad. He died about 20 years ago and was a good athlete. I’d think he’d be proud that I’m as active as I am at this age.

I f MY SPORTS: I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with running and cycling. I didn’t know when I started running at 55 that I'd enjoy it so much. I’ve met a lot of wonderful, fit, and inspiring people participating in the sport.

BUCKET LIST: I just want to stay healthy and keep moving for years to come.

UP NEXT: My next race will be the Memphis Runners Track Club Summer Series.

FAVORITE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: My biggest accomplishment in cycling is the Bluff City Blues 100-mile ride and the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon.

GO-TO GEAR: Brooks Ghost running shoes and Breakaway Running tech shirts.

INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: My inspiration is the people I've had the privilege of knowing and calling friends. There’s a certain challenge that comes with wanting to improve and excel in my fitness journey.

ON MY NIGHTSTAND: My favorite sports-related book is "Flow in Sports" by Susan Jackson and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It has great information about finding that magical place where the athlete and the sport become one.

FAV INDULGENCE: Beer!

QUOTE: “Do better than your best.” – unknown

CHRISTEN SKINNER

ALWAYS IN MY GYM BAG:

A trigger point/myofascial release ball.

MY FITNESS IDOL:

The person who’s influenced me the most is Mary Sudduth. Before graduating from high school, she started to mentor me and saw more in me than I would have ever seen in myself. Because of her, I learned the value of reaching people, not just teaching people.

MY GO-TO SNACK:

Banana and almond butter, Greek yogurt and whey protein, or cottage cheese and blueberries. I choose snacks based on what I need to fill the voids in my daily macros.

ONE FOOD I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

Since the Ninja Creami was created, I’ve fallen in love with banana sorbet. It’s literally frozen bananas but whipped like ice cream and is so good!

GOALS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD:

I am always working on being the best version of myself, but I raise a teenage daughter, and I want her to see that it is possible to be strong, healthy, and confident as she learns how to eat to fuel her body and exercise in a way that she enjoys.

SETBACKS:

FAV WAY TO WORKOUT:

This is tough, but I try to balance barbells, running, and yoga. Part of why I enjoy my job is because I can help my clients find the balance, the sweet spot between feeling confident and strong yet rested and present.

BIGGEST FITNESS MYTH:

Cardio burns more calories. People shy away from strength training, but targeted weight training sessions are key to boosting the body’s metabolic activity.

BIGGEST NUTRITION MYTH:

You have to eliminate the foods you love in order to lose weight or get leaner.

IF I COULD ONLY HAVE ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT:

TRX straps. They are easy to travel with and can be attached almost anywhere.

We could all say that the coronavirus has impacted us in some way. Because of the disruption in 2020, I was forced down a different path that led me to where I am now. If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be doing the workouts I’m currently doing, wouldn’t have the clients or classes I have now, and wouldn’t know all of the people I’ve met since coming to Life Time. However, I’ve become stronger in many ways — physically, mentally, and spiritually, too.

FITNESS TIP:

Enjoy the journey. It takes time. Everything is a progression, and the most sustainable results don’t come fast.

MY BEST ADVICE:

You are human – be human. Shailene Flanagan, Olympic medalist and NYC Marathon champion, once said to prepare 100% and then show up and go with the flow. You never know what life will throw at you, with busy schedules, illness, family, etc. So, show up as much as you can and prepare, so that when things come up, it won’t completely derail your progress.

Are you a fitness trainer, workout instructor, or influencer in the industry and would love to share your knowledge with our readers? Send a brief bio and picture to: Amy@memphishealthandfitness.com.

Photo by Tindall Stephens