October 2016 - The Mind, Body & Spirit Issue

THE BALANCE OF

Weathering the Storm During a Big Race See Your True Colors in an Aura Photograph OCTOBER 2016

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

Transform mentally, physically, and emotionally

OFF TO A STRONG START FOR THE

40TH

APF Executive Director Colin Wallis, Cap10K Race Director Jeff Simecek and Olympian Leo Manzano

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H i p p o H y d r at e . c o m

OCT.16

THE GOOD STUFF

36

THE BALANCE OF MIND, BODY & SPIRIT

Explore the connection held among these three pillars to become your best self—inside and out.

Dirty Racing / 24

The culture, the community, the drive to thrive in obstacle course racing.

Get a Grip / 52

Rock climbing merges mental and physical fitness to reach new heights.

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OCT.16

HIGHLIGHTS

74 Editor’s Letter / 10 Contributors / 12 #KeepAustinFit / 14 Exposure / 16

Nutrition

Recipes Ready for Autumn / 18

60

Fall Drink Favorites / 20

These healthy versions of fall signature drinks will hit the spot.

Culture

BEST NEW SHOE Fall 2016

The Art of Lounging / 64 Kick back in style.

Wellness

Hurts So Good / 66

Gua sha and cupping may look painful based on the visible after-effects, but they’re actually a favorable form of recovery and therapy.

Medical FAQ: Hepatology / 70 Learn to love your liver.

A Challenge for Change / 28 Archer Hadley is finding ways to grow stronger through unconventional methods and the support of Austin’s fitness community.

ASICS Dynaflyte

Get the rundown on new shoes hitting the shelves.

Feeling Knotty? / 32

The dos and don’ts of massage/spa etiquette.

Fitness

Anytime, Anywhere / 72

Workout moves you can do practically anywhere, without weights or equipment.

Weathering the Storm / 74

Your big race goes awry. How do you find the silver lining?

Style

MINDBODY Buys Healcode / 58

The leading provider of cloud-based business management software to the wellness services industry adds locally owned Healcode to its list of services.

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Events / 78 Rides + Races / 80 Discover! / 82

top left photo by Weston Carls; top right photo by Brian Fitzsimmons

28

Three dishes that celebrate the season of root vegetables and flavorful herbs.

Fall Shoe Review / 60

MANIFEST YOUR DESTINY

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EDITOR’S LETTER

THE LIST

Keep Austin Fit, Gretchen Goswitz, Managing Editor

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The Robe I went to Petticoat Fair for the first time and stumbled upon a silk and velvet Christine robe that felt like it was crafted by angels. I would wear this thing everywhere if it was appropriate. Stay tuned for a future AFM spread that may or may not include lingerie and boudoir kimonos.

ACL It’s that time of year again! I’ll be selling food at The Mighty Cone both weekends, but I’m excited to catch an ACL Late Night show during the week. HAIM will be performing at the 5th annual Waller Creek Conservancy Benefit Concert.

Sky Island In mid-September, I road tripped out to Davis Mountains State Park and completed my first 25K (15.5 miles) trail race. It was brutal, but the views at each peak were so worth it.

photo by Brian Fitzsimmons

F

or those who aren’t longtime readers of Austin Fit Magazine, you may be unaware that this cover topic is one of our annually recurring issues. In the past, it’s simply been the “Body and Mind” issue, though. And last year, it happened to be the first issue I officially produced in my position as editor. We focused on the new age of yoga, in which we included spotlight features on acroyoga, Instagram-famous yogis, yoga with weight, and more. This year, however, as I was attempting to reinvent the motif in an interesting way, I came to the conclusion that something was missing.

It may have been the hype around Burning Man, possibly the alluring mystery of human consciousness, or it could’ve been the start of American Horror Story’s new season that got me thinking about spirituality.

This universal experience urges us to think larger than ourselves. It’s something that often realigns our perspective when life feels all out of whack, and it’s where we turn for answers when faced with inexplicable events. I will admit, that I second-guessed this addition. I wondered if readers would think it was crazy. But then I figured that delving into the meaning of yin and yang was no crazier than training for and competing in an Ironman or ultramarathon. (I kid, I kid.)

Anyway, as we began putting the pieces together to build a comprehensive cover story, something interesting happened. Nearly every person we interviewed for the mind and body sections mentioned the role spirituality had in their personal journey. It was just the validation I needed to feel confident moving forward.

Our featurette this month takes a look at bouldering and rock climbing. I realized this subculture was something that needed to be explored when I ventured to Austin Bouldering Project for the first time and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. The AFM team took a fit field trip to Crux when it opened and gained a bit of an education, but there were still so many unanswered questions about indoor and outdoor climbing, we just had to expand on it in the magazine.

Although this issue is a bit out of the ordinary, my hope is that each section speaks to you in some way, shape, or form. The ethos of the “Body, Mind and Spirit” issue is that there’s an inherent interconnectedness beyond our full comprehension.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Thank you to AFM’s contributors who make this magazine a worthy source of health and fitness information in Austin.

PUBLISHER/CEO LOUIS M. EARLE COO/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ALEX EARLE MANAGING EDITOR GRETCHEN GOSWITZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR WESTON CARLS ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS MADDIE ALVARADO, BETTY DAVIS, KRISTIN NELSON, ANDREA RAYNER OPERATIONS & CONTENT COORDINATOR DEVYN BERNAL

Lydia Jarjoura

Pete Tulumba

Lydia Jarjoura

Lydia Jarjoura is the creatress behind Lunar Nourishment: a feminine health platform. Through workshops, monthly New Moon circles, online training courses and private mentorship, Lydia has guided hundreds of women towards learning more about their bodies and their menstrual cycles. Lunar Nourishment's moon cycle & self-care guidance provides women with practical solutions to living a healthier and more mindful life. Lydia has Bachelor’s degrees in both Fine Arts and Business Management; she loves the academic world but is more called toward her passions of being a healer, self-taught herbalist, Reiki practitioner in the Usui lineage, and a yoga instructor. Lydia believes that through reclaiming their cycles, women everywhere can live a vibrantly healthy life! To learn more, visit lunarnourishment.com

Pete Tulumba Pete is a New Yorker who's new to Austin.

Working out of Dane’s Body Shop and Heat Bootcamp, he uses his creative strengths to design new challenges that will get his clients prepared for anything that is thrown in front of them. Pete is an avid Obstacle Course Racer, mostly competing in Spartan Races all over the country. He has competed in over 50 OCR's, and countless road races.

His annual Movember campaign culminates in an hour long session of nonstop burpees to raise money for the Movember foundation. Pete is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor with a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics along with other professional certifications like Spartan SGX and Crossfit Level 1, and is currently in the process of earning his CSCS certification. When he isn’t teaching group classes, he trains clients one on one and small groups where

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Shannon Smith

Sommer Brugal

he designs goal focused programs, and confidence building techniques so clients can meet physical and mental goals.

Shannon Smith Shannon Smith is a journalism student at The University of Texas at Austin. A New Jersey native, she quickly learned the importance of cowboy boots, breakfast tacos and the ever appropriate “y’all.” She is constantly on the search for new restaurants and outdoor activities in Austin, and loves taking advantage of the amazing yearround weather. Shannon’s favorite workout is a barre class, where she can work on her flexibility and tone her body with isolated movements. Shannon is an East Coast girl at heart, and in her free time you can find her as close to the beach as possible.

Sommer Brugal A Dominican Republic native, Sommer moved to Austin in search of great food, live music, and an adventure. Even though she’s been in town for just a few months, she already considers South Austin home.

With a background in Journalism, she has a passion for storytelling, and strives to embody the spirit of her subjects in every piece she writes. She is an advocate for the Oxford comma and will happily challenge anyone who thinks otherwise.

On any given day, you can find her writing at one of Austin’s local coffee shops. She drinks her coffee black, and thinks a cup of joe is the perfect backdrop for any and all conversations. She’s an active member of Project Austin, enjoys exploring the Greenbelt’s many trails, and is on a mission to try every taco truck in town.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ANNA WANZEK WRITERS CARRIE BARRETT, DEVYN BERNAL, SOMMER BRUGAL, ELIZABETH HARROUN, LYDIA JARJOURA, PHYLLIS KUNG, DARRYL PAYNE, JR., SHANNON SMITH, GOVINDA TIDBALL, PETE TULUMBA PROOFREADER RICK ANTOINE PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN FITZSIMMONS INTERNS DEVANEY DEVOE, SHANNON SMITH

GENERAL INQUIRIES INFO@AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ADS@AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM 512.407.8383 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS GRETCHEN@AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM FITFOCUS@AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM EVENT LISTINGS AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM/EVENTS SUBSCRIPTIONS AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM/SUBSCRIBE 2499 S CAPITAL OF TEXAS HW Y., B200 AUSTIN, TX 78746 P 512.407.8383 Austin Fit Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements, in that the views expressed therein may not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any magazine employee or contributor.

This publication and all of its contents are copyrighted.

Austin Fit Magazine is the assumed name of its publisher, Louis M. Earle, who has no interest in the business of Denis Calabrese who operates an exercise program under the assumed name of Austin Fit, which trains individuals to improve their jogging or running skills to participate in marathons. The views, opinions and other representations published in Austin Fit Magazine are not those of Austin Fit or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents.

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photo by Weston Carls

Whole Lotta Yoga

Missed our last Whole Lotta Yoga event in March? Go to austinfitmagazine.com to check out the video to see what it’s all about. The next donation-based WLY takes place on October 15 and is expected to be bigger and better!

photo by James Blake

Online Exclusive!

AIDS Walk

The 29th annual AIDS Walk Austin is taking place on October 16, so AFM connected with a fit, active couple living with HIV/AIDS in the community who benefit from this walk and the work of AIDS Services of Austin.

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Find more mind, body, and spirit inspiration through Stephen Moore’s story posted on our website. This powerlifter who lost his leg speaks to moving forward and recovering physically and mentally.

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EXPOSURE

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Send your hi-res, healthy lifestyle photos to FitFocus@AustinFitMagazine.com for a chance to be published. photo by Jaanus Ree – Red Bull Content Pool

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NUTRITION

By Darryl Payne, Jr.

Butternut Mac ‘n’ Cheese with Sundried Tomatoes and Basil

Roast Beet & Fig Salad

Herbed Goat Cheese

WHAT YOU NEED

WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup arugula

(Serves 4)

2 small red beets, roasted

WHAT YOU NEED

2 small chioggia or golden beets, roasted

2 small butternut squash

½ cup blackberries

3 cups medium shells, cooked

½ pound chicken breast, ground 1 cup chicken broth 2 tablespoon olive oil ¾ cup white cheddar, shredded 1 tablespoon fresh thyme ½ tablespoon fresh rosemary ½ cup sundried tomatoes, rehydrated and sliced 1 tablespoon fresh basil

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Heat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Lightly brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

3. Once the squash has become fork tender, remove the flesh from the skin, and place in a blender with the broth, cheese, thyme, and rosemary. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5 figs, halved ½ cup candied pecans

1 log soft goat cheese

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon basil, finely chopped 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped

½ cup honey

1 tablespoon dill, finely chopped

½ jalapeño, very thinly sliced

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper

Habanero cheese wedge (optional)

1 package dried fruit crisps

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Start off by mixing the sliced jalapeño in the honey and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

2. Roast the beets in a 450 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until thoroughly tender; peel and quarter.

3. Assemble the salad by placing the arugula in the center of the bowl.

Add the beets, figs, and blackberries in a circle around the outside. Cover with a garnish of candied pecans and drizzle of the jalapeño honey.

Enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. Coat a small mold with the olive oil.

2. Mix the herbs and pepper flakes in a small bowl and spread an even layer in the mold.

3. Spread the goat cheese in the mold and cover with plastic wrap to refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

4. Remove from the mold, allow to drop down to room temperature, and enjoy on the dried fruit crisps!

5. Garnish with sliced basil to complete the dish and enjoy!

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photo by Weston Carls

4. Sauté the ground chicken in the remaining olive oil. Toss with the butternut cheese sauce, pasta shells, and sundried tomatoes.

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Fall Drink Favorites As colder temperatures fall upon us, we find ourselves with a familiar craving for seasonal signature drinks. Try these three healthy versions that’ll hit the spot!

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer INGREDIENTS

1 (13 ½ ounce) can full-fat coconut milk 2 tablespoons water 2 pitted Medjool dates 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ginger powder ½ teaspoon ground cloves

photography by Weston Carls

PREPARATION

In a blender, puree until completely smooth then add to hot or cold brew.

Use two to three ounces of the creamer per cup of coffee.

K CiderPumpkinPomegranate Smoothie

Servings: 2 to 3 Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 3/4 cups chilled apple cider 3/4 cup chilled pomegranate juice 1 cup plain non­fat yogurt or vanilla yogurt 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix) 2 Safest Choice™ pasteurized egg(s) 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 medium­size apple (unpeeled, core removed), optional* Whipped cream (optional) Notes: Use Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, or other favorite apple.

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CULTURE

New to Austin

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Studios and stores for fitness-minded folks

Curcuma

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SoulCycle

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CULTURE The Warrior Dash

DIRTY T RACING

Climb a 9-foot wall, carry a bucket of rocks up a hill, crawl under a barbed wire fence, leap frog over logs.

The culture, the community, the drive to thrive in obstacle course racing.

By Pete Tulumba

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his could sound like your worst nightmare. But for many, these obstacles are just par for the course—literally. obstacle course racing, typically abbreviated as OCR, is more than just a road race; it’s a community of likeminded people using their bodies and minds to overcome obstacles on the course and in their lives. They give you the power to rethink your own strength and your own possibilities. As an avid OCR racer, I see it all the time. People are finding more than just muddy sneakers on the racecourse; they are finding a new belief in themselves and taking that into their lives and families and jobs, to live better and be better. It’s a chain reaction. “Come on down, train your body, test your limits, make friends, get muddy” they say, and then, poof, you start to notice your whole life is changing.

OCR is often called the fastest growing sport in history. With roots in 1987 England, obstacle courses officially came to the U.S. about 20 years later with the creation of the Tough Mudder, a program that boasted a “non-race” approach to

Tough Mudder

www.mylofitness.com

GROUP FITNESS CLASSES MONTHLY PASSES DAY PASSES

Pete’s Top 5 Obstacles 1. Bucket Carry (Spartan Race) Fill a bucket with gravel and hike up and down what is sometimes the steepest part of the course.

2. Spear Throw (Spartan Race) Also known as “the burpee maker” and “the race killer” because this deceptively simple obstacle has you throwing a spear into a target of hay 20 or so feet away, but if you miss you will suffer the 30 burpee penalty.

3. Wall Climbs (All Races) Ranging from 5 to 9 feet tall, and built at different angles, wall climbs are a staple in OCR. 4. Monkey Bars/ Platinum Rig/Multirig (All Races) This is the ultimate in monkey bar technology.

Challenging grip with bars, rings, ropes, baseballs, inclines, and declines.

5. Barbed Wire Crawl (Spartan Race) Ranging in length, the barbed wire crawl has racers squirming through mud, tree stumps, rocks, and water trying to get to the finish line.

Bonus Most Spartan Races are on a ski mountain, so the terrain is obstacle enough!

obstacle course running. Soon after, although with years of organizing unofficial obstacle courses under his belt, Joe De Sena founded the Spartan Race. With the addition of the Spartan Race, it seemed there was no stopping the OCR trend. The Warrior Dash was soon to follow with its less strenuous and more friendly type of race. Known as The Big Three, these powerhouse OCR programs have inspired smaller races to pop up all over the country.

There really is a race for everyone and every level of fitness. However, a little research is necessary to decide which race is right for you.

While a quick Google search will give you tons of OCR options, not all are created equal. Looking to push your mental and physical limitations and experience a real adrenaline rush? You must get yourself to a Spartan Race!

It’s accessible to all levels of athletes with its mileage options, but every race will test you in some unexpected way.

Since most Spartan races take place on mountains at actual ski resorts, the terrain itself is a test. On the other hand, Tough Mudder offers the ability to take on challenges in a more fun, team-spirited way with unique obstacles that will test your endurance and mental fortitude. It also offers its 10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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own level of crazy with a 24-hour race called “The World’s Toughest Mudder.”

But the crazy doesn’t stop there—if Spartan founder Joe De Sena has his way, OCR has the potential to be an Olympic event in 2020. Certain races already have elite athletes making significant money and appearing as special guests, giving the sport an element of fame. But you don’t have to have Olympic aspirations or dreams of fame to join the World of OCR. Racing offers a sense of reinvigoration and a way to break up the monotony of everyday life. Being in an office isn’t so bad when you’re still running off adrenaline from finally nailing that rope climb. The sense of competition, strength, grit, determination, endurance, and satisfaction in completing an OCR is indescribable. Life can become average and boring, but we live for the feeling of getting outside the mundane and achieving things we didn’t think possible.

Luckily, the Spartan offers seven levels of courses, so you can ease into testing your limits.

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Level 1: The Stadium Sprint is about 3 easy miles with 20-25 obstacles Level 2: The Standard Sprint is 3 to 4.5 not-so-easy miles and 20+ obstacles Level 3: The Super is 8 to 10 miles with 25+ obstacles Level 4: The Beast is 13 to 15 miles with 30+ obstacles Level 5: The Ultra Beast is TWO laps of the Beast course—you do the math Level 6: The Hurricane Heat, a 12-hour race event Level 7: The Agoge, Spartan’s newest race, featuring a 60-hour course Regardless of the choice you make, each level will push you mentally and physically, and I promise you’ll be coming back for more. afm

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CULTURE

A Challenge for Change Archer Hadley is finding a way to grow stronger with unconventional methods and the support of the Austin fitness community.

By Sommer Brugal

T

he relationship between a trainer and trainee can be many things.

For some, it’s a love-hate relationship. For others, a dreaded encounter. But for Archer Hadley and his trainer, Kevin Edwards, it’s a friendship that inspires.

Archer Hadley is a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin, and just like his peers, he’s adjusting to life away from home, making friends, and juggling the workload of a hectic class schedule. For Hadley, though, there’s an added challenge; he maneuvers his way around campus in a wheelchair, the result of a childhood diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Despite his limited range of motion and movement, Hadley tackles life’s challenges head first.

During his senior year at Austin High School, Hadley had trouble open-

“I don’t believe when people say, ‘I can’t do that [workout]’ because they can.”

KEVIN EDWARDS

“We had visited countless gyms, but no one felt they could train him.”

photography by Weston Carls

BARBARA HADLEY

ing manual doors, and was often stuck outside. To make a change, Archer set out on a mission to raise money for three handicap-accessible doors at his school.

Surpassing all expectations, Hadley and his classmates raised $87,000—enough money for five door installations.

For a small donation, school members challenged others to spend the day in a wheelchair and experience the challenges Hadley faced. The challenge not only raised awareness but also “put people in

awkward situations, and took them out of their comfort zone,” a feeling Hadley says is essential for making a change.

Hadley’s determination led to the challenge’s success, and almost one year later, he brings that drive to Titan Evolution Fitness.

A Challenge Accepted Hadley’s mother, Barbara, began training at Titan Evolution Fitness at the start of summer, sometimes bringing Archer along. At first, he cheered on other workout-goers.

Now, he is the recipient of their cheers.

“Archer was so excited [when Kevin invited him to workout],” Barbara said.

“We had visited countless gyms, but no one felt they could train him.” Kevin Edwards didn’t see it that way.

As the owner of Titan Evolution, Edwards urges gym-goers to try something new every day. He reminds them, “everyone is equal when starting a new workout,” and that everyone starts from somewhere—including Hadley.

“I don’t believe when people say, ‘I can’t do that [workout]’ because they can,” Kevin said. “They just have to figure out to what degree they can—that’s how I approach things with Archer.”

Edwards’s method trains Hadley for everyday life, making adjustments to meet him at his physical abilities.

The rowing machine—an exercise Hadley enjoys—is a prime example of Edwards’s creativity. By lifting the front of the machine and setting it on an elevated surface, Edwards eliminates the challenge the moving seat creates. The new angle allows Hadley to remain in his wheelchair while working his upper body strength.

A weighted pull exercise is another reliable workout. With one end of the rope in Hadley’s hand, the other end tied to a weighted plate, Edwards sets the plate a few feet away. Pulling a weight towards your body may seem simple, but it’s also helped Hadley build strength and improve his posture.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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CULTURE

photo by Weston Carls

ARCHER'S COLLEGE ROOMMATE When Ryan Buehler and Archer aren’t working out together, Ryan helps Archer with daily needs at UT’s San Jacinto residence halls Sundays through Fridays.

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“I feel very encouraged [by Kevin],” Hadley said. “He’s someone that pushes me to do better and be physically stronger. He inspires me to work harder.”

that will benefit the Rosedale School, enabling a new addition of accessible doors and a wheelchair-accessible playground.

Event Season

Through his workouts, Hadley’s agility, mobility, and overall well-being have improved. It’s also boosted his confidence.

“I’m all about inspiring people and prompting them to do better in the community,” Hadley said. And according to the people who know him, he is doing just that.

Whether he’s raising awareness about Archer’s Challenge or crushing previous times on the rowing machine, Hadley’s enthusiasm for life continues to motivate everyone around him—especially his trainer.

For this duo, though, it’s clear the inspiration flows both ways. afm

The Titan Wheelchair Challenge was born from the pair’s successes in the gym. The duo is organizing a special workout to show participants that anyone can do anything. Last year’s inaugural event put people in an awkward position. This event hopes to task participants in a similar way, as they will have to complete a series of workouts in a wheelchair, just as Hadley does on a daily basis.

Now that Hadley has graduated from high school, his namesake event is also making a transition of its own. Oct. 10 through the 15 will kick off a city-wide Archer’s Challenge to raise proceeds

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AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

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CULTURE

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hen it comes to stress, there are countless solutions to relieve the tension, such as meditation, a long run, or even a glass of pinot noir. Yet nothing combats the worries and knots in your shoulders quite like a deep tissue massage. Mason Hickman, the Lead Massage Therapist and Spa Experience Manager of Hiatus Spa and Retreat Austin, is a strong believer that even the lightest Swedish massage can turn around a difficult week. However, in a room where the scents are minty fresh, the sheets are soft and clean, and the therapist is welcoming, our insecurities tend to ruin any relief a massage could bring. Did I put on deodorant? Should I tell him that hurts? What’s the standard amount to tip?

To stop yourself from being your own pain in the neck, here is the scoop from Mason on the “dos and don’ts” of massage etiquette. Your muscles can thank us later.

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CULTURE and ways to get around that, so feet are not an issue.

Ailment prevents appointment

To shave or not to shave It really doesn’t matter, and we stopped caring and overlooked whether you have hairy legs or not. It’s not something we pay attention to, so if you’re uncomfortable about it, you’re the only one in the room who feels that way. However, if you’re getting a body treatment where a scrub is involved, it’s actually best not to shave your legs because the salt can irritate them. During the intake, we ask if it has been 24 hours since you’ve shaven, and if not, we’ll switch to a sugar scrub.

That’s the only time it matters.

If you feel like you need to shower, you probably should If you showered that morning and

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AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

If you’re not feeling well, please, please reschedule. You’re coming into a shared space where illnesses can be contagious.

Your therapist doesn’t deserve that! As for ailments such as being hungover, if you come in for a massage after a night of drinking, the therapist can actually bring out the alcohol in your system that hasn’t been processed and make you drunk again. Although it’s not recommended, sometimes a postdrunk massage can feel good if you’re suffering from a headache or pains (as long as you have a ride home). But if you’re puking or feeling really bad, it’s best to reschedule. you’re coming in for a massage that afternoon, you’re probably fine, but a lot of our guests like to shower when they get here.

We have those facilities available, and it’s a relaxing way to start your treatment. Some spas include a sauna to start off the massage as well.

Sweet feet The dreaded “flip flop foot...”

Most establishments are set up to take care of some not so favorable feet, and at our spa, we do a foot soak. We actually wash your feet with soap and water while we do your consult and intake, and it’s a nice way to take care of that at the front end.

But overall, we have hot towels

If they work it, then it’s worth it Twenty percent of standard pricing is a good suggested tip. Even if there is a deal, keep in mind the original pricing and base your tip off of that.

Therapists keep their own tips, so keep that in mind as they’re doing a good job to take care of you.

When to speak up It’s very important to communicate any problems. As intuitive as massage therapists are, they’re still human, and they don’t know everything. Please communicate pressure, temperature, comfort, anything, because it’s very important that we know.

Also, be honest on the intake form so we know the best way to treat you, as there are certain

medications that cause blood to thin and could be dangerous for massages.

When to quiet down Although most therapists are not opposed to chitchat, a massage session can be more soothing if you simmer down and let the silence take over. It’s a nice quiet time, but your hour can be what you make it. Even couples eventually run out of things to talk about in their massages, and realize being silent enforces a calmer atmosphere.

All’s fair in underwear This is completely client preference. If you’re going to be most comfortable with your underwear on, please leave it, because you’re not going to have a good time without it. If you develop a relationship with your therapist and feel better about undressing completely, then do that. The client never has anything to worry about, and it goes back to being the only one who is affected by their choice. Therapists understand it’s a vulnerable position to be naked in a room with a stranger, so they want to protect your modesty as well as they can.

We always know how to work around anything that makes our clients more comfortable.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Massages are meant to be relaxing, but sometimes people deal with stress in a hostile way.

They can lash out toward the therapist, and that’s not setting anyone up for success. If you’re speaking in an aggressive manner or being overly demanding and think that’s acceptable, it’s not. Be respectful and remember that a spa is a place to relax, and therapists will return the favor.

As for arousal, if it happens to you (and it rarely does), the therapists will ignore any signs, as long you don’t act upon it— which is never okay. afm

Balancing the

Mind, Body & Spirit

Living a healthy life involves more than just the physical body. When emotions weigh you down or your thoughts are negative, your entire health is compromised. Find balance by nourishing your entire being—your mind, body and spirit.

MIND

Brrr… It’s Cold in Hof! How a simple practice using breath and water can change your life. By Shannon Smith

Wim Hof Method 1. Get comfortable. Many people sit in a meditation position, others will stretch while breathing.

photo courtesy of wimhofmethod.com

H

e climbed Mount Everest in nothing more than shorts, ran a full marathon in an African desert without water, and set the world record for the longest ice bath—clocking in at nearly two hours ( just one of his 20 world records). While some claim he’s simply supernatural, Wim Hof credits his feats to his namesake method, in which breathing techniques and cold immersion are combined to control the mind. Following the suicide of his wife, Hof began looking for an outlet for his grief.

What he created is now a 10-week course that people all over the world are employing to create balance, reduce stress, and strengthen the immune system.

The Wim Hof Method focuses on a cycle of deep breathing and cold water immersion. Through rounds of breathing, the body is able to produce noradrenaline and norepinephrine, hormones that have healing agents and can reduce bodily inflammation. The secretion of these hormones in turn affects internal pH levels, and can lead to an alkaline state, in which your body eliminates excess acid and enters a healthier capacity. More, the shock of the cold-water jumpstarts the metabolism, increasing metabolic rate and can lead to fat loss. Yet most shocking, is the method’s ability to allow your mind to actually influence your immune system. Tested by skeptical scientists in 2011, Hof was injected with bacteria, commonly known for causing fever, chills, and headaches. By pumping out adrenaline, Hof was able to suppress his immune system and control his autonomic nervous system, ridding his body of the bacteria. Still unsure, a group of method practitioners were also injected with the bacteria. All yielded the same results.

More than physical health benefits, those who practice the Wim Hof Method experience boosts in their mental health. The deep breathing allows the mind to escape the stressed “fight or flight” mentality and enter a place of resting in the parasympathetic mind.

2. Thirty power breaths.

These are deep breaths and should be audible in short, but powerful, bursts.

3. After 30 breaths, hold your air in on your final inhale. When you need to breathe, release the air slowly and hold again until your gasp reflex forces you to breathe.

4. For your recovery breaths, inhale to full capacity and feel your chest expanding. When you are at full capacity, hold the breath for around 10 seconds and this will be round one. Repeat the full cycle of breathing exercises for three more rounds one after another.

5. When you’ve finished the breathing cycles, take a few minutes to relax before you make the transition to cold water. If you’re just starting out, get your body adjusted with cold showers, beginning with your feet and making your way up to legs, stomach, shoulders, neck, and back.

Start with moderately cold water, and each day you practice, make the temperature colder and colder. Hyperventilation is normal, but be sure you have a friend or family member in the vicinity in case you react negatively (passing out).

For those wanting to do cold water treatments in a tub, fill with ice and submerge up to your shoulders and sit for one minute.

The intensity of the cold water clears a person’s head and permits a break from the chaos of everyday life.

The science of cold therapy has even made its way into the treatment of depression. Because of depression’s connection to hormones, cold immersion and deep breathing provide the quickest way, other than drugs, to alter those hormones. Similarly, Hof promises mood improvement and increased energy levels as additional benefits.

Jeremy Thiel, owner of CrossFit Central, is a walking testimonial of Hof’s method and has worked to bring it to the Austin area. Before starting, Thiel struggled with paranoia, anxiety, and fear; he never felt present, and his mind was constantly racing.

Through the use of the Wim Hof Method, he was able to slow down and take time to better engage with those around him. Never successful with meditation, the breathing cycles allow him that peace, silencing his mind and giving him the ability to be present in the moment. He also claims it has led him into a state of heightened awareness and spirituality.

“I have a much higher connection to what I would consider my god, and that leads into better intuition and better understanding,” he said. He practices one to three times a week. Seeing success in his own efforts, he now offers the Wim Hof Method to others.

Members of his boot camp do it twice a week after class, and he has a handful of clients who come in on their own.

According to Thiel, 68 degrees is the perfect temperature to get the right response. And while he typically uses ice baths and cold showers, Barton Springs is a perfect, natural bath for people who want to test the waters—literally.

“If you spend 15 to 20 minutes in Barton Springs, you will see positive adaptation in your hormonal response that will cause decrease of inflammation,” he said. This practice is especially effective for post-workout recovery, as the cold water causes your body to buffer the built-up acid in your muscles and oxygenate them faster.

Physical, mental and aesthetic—the benefits of the Wim Hof Method are endless. Plus, with the Texas heat and Barton Springs so close, you have no excuse not to give it a try.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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MIND

Keep in Mind

Turn off auto-pilot and tune into your thoughts. By Gretchen Goswitz

Quantity over quality isn’t a phrase you hear often, but in the meditation realm, it’s just one of the many mantras.

Meditation is an accessible practice for nearly everyone; when all you need is a quiet space and your breath, you can’t help but wonder why everyone isn’t devoting time during their day to doing it. Even better, meditation pairs well with so many components, its versatility lends itself to bring benefit in one or more areas of your life. Lauren Foreman, co-founder of Meditation Bar, expands on how you can change the relationship with your thoughts.

Meditation plus...

Mindfulness They sound interchangeable, and although they relate to each other, there is absolutely a difference. Meditation is the practice that creates a more mindful lifestyle. In mindfulness, you pay more attention. Think of mindful eating—you’re slowing down and paying attention to the process of eating. When walking mindfully, your experience will become more euphoric as you notice the beauty in your surroundings. With frequent meditation, you will find yourself feeling more centered as you build body and breath awareness.

MoPac Wishing there was a solution to “MoPacalypse”? Meditation gives you the tools to become a more mindful driver—especially when you’re at a standstill.

“Tune into what’s around you, notice what’s in front of you.

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AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

Turning off the radio, thinking about the chemical process of the car, looking at the colors around you—this is where you can change your mind,” Foreman says. Rather than stressing out, use it as an opportunity to practice compassion and connect with positive thoughts.

Austin, Texas Our city consistently ranks highly in fitness, entertainment, and innovation categories. And earlier this year, Mayor Steve Adler made a mayoral proclamation that gave us another standout superlative. Austin has more meditation, yoga, and wellness resources per capita than any city in America, earning the title of “Most Mindful City in America.”

In 2017, Austin will host the National Symposium on Meditation, bringing together other cities that desire to make mindful living part of their culture.

Kids Countless studies and years of research support the advan-

tages of meditation for kids. Not only does it teach them how to slow down and reconsider

O P E N I N G FA L L 2 01 6

at Meditation Bar give “the brain something to chew on.” Aroma classes incorporate essential oils, guiding practitioners on a journey through their most nostalgic sense. Specialty classes with a focus on sound employ crystal singing bowls that produce a mesmerizing, fullbody experience.

impulsive decisions, but it also leads to calmer and more focused test-taking abilities. In fact, kids tend to be much more receptive to meditation. “They are very connected and very open.

Adults have so many memories attached to emotions, and for them there’s not as much of that. They love this stuff,” Foreman says.

Kids have a tougher time sitting still in general, so classes are customized with sensory components to give the students something to focus on.

Workplace Everyone experiences stress (especially at work), but the goal is to become more responsive than reactive to that feeling. As more employers are beginning to incorporate practical well-

ness programs to take care of employees, meditation is finding its way into the workplace to help them unwind and reconnect to find a more centered place.

Meditation Bar has an established partnership with the Austin Independent School District, offering free training for over 100 teachers. AISD even hired a mindfulness specialist to further support the staff. “So often we tell kids to pay attention, but we never show them how,” says Foreman.

By embracing the symbiotic relationship between teachers and students, the school system can be improved in a whole new way.

Sensory Experiences Children aren’t the only ones who get too fidgety to zen out. Many classes offered

Health Naysayers may remain unconvinced meditation won’t work for them because their “monkey mind” is constantly active. But being able to control your thoughts isn’t the point; it’s actually about changing the relationship you have with your thoughts. If you change your mind you can change your life. Meditation addresses a spectrum of health diagnoses, and using mindfulness to calm anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations has proven to be an effective approach. Trauma victims and cancer patients also reap the benefits through specialized exercises and building a connection with grounding thoughts. Of the myriad classes offered by Meditation Bar, a mindful eating class is one of the most popular. The kind of food you eat contributes to weight loss/gain, but the way you eat plays an integral role as well.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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MIND

A Proper pH

O

ur bodies are genetically wired to live, to sustain life and to work toward balance.

We are the ones who make the decision to work with or against our own bodies through our lifestyle and choices. Consider the pH balance in your body, with pH measured on a scale of 1–14 where acidic (1–7), neutral (7.0), or alkaline (7–14) is applied. SciBonus Pro Tip: Since most of ence tells us that a slightly alkaline system you won’t be giving up your is the body’s preferred state, just above coffee anytime soon, just add a pinch of baking soda to neutral in a range of 7.365–7.45. That said, your morning brew; it helps most people in America actually have to neutralize the acid so your acidic bodies and systems, the byproduct body doesn’t have to do it. of the Standard American Diet (SAD), lifestyle, and a general state of mind.

Oxygenate Your Body Some dietary contributors to raised acidity in a person’s Because of extended sitting and general posture, many of us body include: carbonated drinks, artificial sweeteners, coffee, breathe from our upper respiratory system, which constitutes many dairy products, processed sugars, and factory-farmed survival breathing. Most people need to learn how to breathe meat. A lack of oxygen in your body often caused by bad deeply and how to oxygenate their bodies. Creating an oxygenposture and shallow breathing further depletes your systems rich environment in your body helps to bring balance back into ability to alkalize and balance itself. Additionally, a high-stress your system and a neutral/alkaline state. This is one of the most lifestyle with a lot of mental clutter, worry, or grudge-holding neglected forms of readily accessible positive consumption to can have your mind raising internal acidity. benefit your health and wellbeing right away. It is worth taking a An acidic body often leads to a host of diseases and unneccourse in breathing, I suggest looking into the Wim Hof breathessary physical disorders. A sustained acidic body becomes ing method (page 37). the welcoming soil for growing many of our modern-day Pro Tip: Jump-start your mornings with some breath work and diseases. Issues often linked to an acidic system can include oxygenate your system for the day. problems with the immune system, nervous system, reproductive health, muscles, bones, respiratory system, circulatory Modify Your Mindset system, the digestive tract, and the excretory system. Acidity Finding ways to de-stress your life and quiet your mind is a good can affect so many areas in the body because every part has start. Learning to be present, not stuck on the past or obsessing to deal with the internal environment. about the future, is helpful. Your mind is powerful in its ability to As a proactive measure, evaluate your overall lifestyle and create the internal and external reality you experience in this life. choices, and move toward optimal living.

If you learn steps towards mindfulness and mastery, it will only A few things that you can do to help move from acidity to serve you well in your journey. alkalinity in your system include: Pro Tip: Learn to forgive people. When you carry resentment in your mind and heart, whatever that hurt is, it takes up residence Modify Your Nutrition in your body. That in turn causes acidity to increase, and that in Replace acidic foods in your diet for ones that alkalize your turn can contribute to a number of health issues over the long body. Alkaline foods include many leafy green vegetables term. In letting go you open up balance in your body again and like spinach, kale, and collard greens as well as blueberyour body’s natural ability to deal with disease. You are no longer ries, papayas, avocados, grapes, melons, figs, and blocking pathways and receptors that can’t get through in an sweet potatoes. acidic environment.

Pro Tip: Lemon/lime water in the morning; try Some simple steps can make a significant difference in your drinking 16–24 ounces of warm water with a lemon overall health and well-being. I wish you every success and squeezed into it first thing in the morning. Do it for a optimal health in your journey of life. couple of weeks and see how you feel.

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AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

photo by Weston Carls

By Govinda Tidball

BODY

Gains and Losses A small shift can lead to complete transformation— physically and mentally.

By Lauryn Lax

Transformations are a dime a dozen in the health and fitness industry. When we think about these dramatic changes, images of “before and after” beach body pictures and The Biggest Loser episodes typically come to mind.

Although these transformations are something to celebrate, there is often more behind them than pictures and stories tell; transformations that involve the mind and the soul. And where the mind and heart is, the body will follow.

Such is the case with these three individuals who each have taken a complete 180-degree turn in their lives—using a challenge or struggle to fuel their fire for thriving (and inspiring others to do the same).

These are their transformations, from the inside out.

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Haley Bahm, 20: Breaking Orthorexia HEALTH + LIFESTYLE COACHING

AFM: Where were you before where you are today? Give us your back story.

Haley: My transformation story began during my senior year of high school, when I was diagnosed as a Celiac.

Before that, I had no concept of selfawareness, health, or nutrition. I grew up dancing and performing, but quit my sophomore year of high school and completely abandoned all forms of physical activity. I never ate breakfast, ate fast food daily, and my favorite meals were peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches and mac ’n’ cheese. When I became ill, everything changed.

Suddenly there was a long list of foods I couldn't eat as I tried to mend my digestive system and regain my health, forcing me to take up cooking. I got a job (and therefore a membership) at my local Lifetime Fitness, where I took up weightlifting and yoga. I found passion and an outlet for creativity in cooking healthy, whole foods. I became more aware of where I was sourcing everything that I ate from and using minimal ingredients. I went paleo for a bit, then I went vegan, (and my obsession with healthy eating took a life of its own). What began as an intention to further my knowledge in the world of health and wellness however, unfortunately turned into an obsession: an eating disorder.

Haley: I went refined sugar-free on top of being gluten-free and vegan. I became afraid of all food that wasn't prepared by me, certain the dishes were filled with toxins or other things that would disrupt my health. I unintentionally went into a downward spiral physically (I lost 20 pounds during the first few months of college due to restrictive eating). I was averaging about 800 to 1,000 calories a day on top of the same exercise regimen I had been using since truly getting into fitness. photo by Weston Carls

photography by Jessica Frey

AFM: So you were trying to be healthy but took it to an extreme?

What did that look like for you?

AFM: When did you realize something needed to change?

Haley: Not long into it, I discovered a small yoga studio in walking distance from my house. They were donation-

based, and I began going several times a week. My yoga instructors inflicted lots of food for thought on me, and during this time, I experienced a lot more self-reflection and awareness, and I think it was around this time that the concept of balance was ever first introduced to me. I finally read an article about Orthorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder that is an extreme obsession with eating “clean, good” foods. That's when I threw in the towel.

My whole mission in life was to live a "healthy" lifestyle and become the happiest, strongest, most productive and positive version of myself that I could be, and I realized the place I had been living in mentally for the past year was far from that.

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AFM: What did you do about it?

Haley: When summer began, I took off to Spain to study abroad—knowing that I would have no access to a kitchen and would be relying on food that others cooked for me to survive. I would also have no access to a gym—it was time to find myself and change my outlook on life. My time in Spain saved me, and shaped me into the person I am today. I no longer restricted myself from anything but gluten and dairy, which actually made me sick—everything else was fair game, even though vegetables are still my primary focus. I had finally learned that being "healthy" actually meant being balanced. I bought a web domain and began a new Instagram account (Soul + Spoon) to showcase my recipes, travel, and to try to inspire others to get involved in their communities and their kitchens. I also began working for Thunderbird and Lululemon, both of which challenged me to grow as a person, set goals and a vision for myself, and make truly valuable connections in the Austin fitness and food community.

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AFM: What advice would you give others going through what you did?

Haley: Don't take things too seriously!

Life's a journey, have fun with it. Learn to love yourself the way you are now, and in doing that, you will learn what's best for your lifestyle, your body, and your overall happiness. The health and physical changes will follow.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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BODY

Paul Badchkam, 38: From Desk Jockey to Fit-for-Life AFM: Tell us a little bit about your story—where you were before where you are today: your struggles and what experiences you had that have shaped you?

Paul: My story is about becoming both physically and mentally stronger. My real transformation journey started as I found myself in the computer industry. I went from having an active lifestyle to sitting daily at a desk in front of a screen. Sometimes we stop paying attention to what's going on in the body and before long I was a heavier version of me.

AFM: What was your breaking point—realizing something needed to change for your health and life?

Paul: A few things happened that raised my awareness. I can think of a story when I was at work and left my windows down in my car.

My coworker, Frank, told me it started to pour. Both he and I had left our windows down, so we had to sprint to the parking lot to roll them back up. We sprinted back to the office door, and then I real-

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ized I couldn't hold a conversation with him. I was out of breath, and it took a long while to recover. Another thing that brought awareness that something needed to change was simply a picture I had with some friends that got posted on social media. It wasn't until I saw the picture that I could see how the added weight was present. These couple of instances really enlightened me, and I knew I had to take action to make positive changes.

AFM: What kind of changes did that look like?

Paul: My transformation was very systematic. I started with a cell phone that had a built in pedometer. I began to count my steps in the day. Watching my step count led to me wanting to increase my count. I started taking the stairs instead of the elevator to get the number of steps up. I have never been a fan of running so I took my next step to the elliptical. I was hesitant to move to treadmill but eventually did so to increase my steps.

Over time I started jogging and eventually got bored of

the scenery, so I started getting outside and trying outside runs, though they were short. I signed up for an obstacle course race, Warrior Dash, and then found the Couch to 5K program. I started that program and then began to do workouts with weights. I kept to myself for all of this. A buddy of mine, Chris Sweet, saw me going through the changes and invited me to come work out with him at 24 Hour Fitness. I declined for a few weeks before I realized I was maxing out on machines at my apartment. I decided it was time to take him up on his offer and overcome my fear of working with others. He has a background in kinesiology so I learned so much through him.

AFM: What was most impactful in helping you “overcome”?

Paul: Getting over my fears. Fear of new food. Fear of what others think. Taking a leap of faith and seeing where I would end up. I would say most of all is having a "why." Why do I pursue the things that I do? It helps to always have that as a solid foundation to keep you going.

AFM: What advice would you give others going through what you did?

Paul: Be patient. We're too focused on instant gratification in society. Everyone wants a shortcut. My personal belief is many things in life are worth working for, and once you put in the effort, they'll mean that much more to you. Don't get discouraged if you don't see changes instantly on the outside. Typically changes occur on the inside before you ever notice what's going on externally. I measure things such as behavioral changes (i.e. feeling better), energy levels throughout the day, or even just having a sense of accomplishment. Also, don't be afraid to learn from others that know more than you.

Many people helped me to get to where I am, and I am still learning daily. Lastly, take care of your body—including rest. I would have put more focus on understanding recovery earlier. I probably could have skipped a couple of injuries if I took time to recover better.

Hadley Hill, 34: Unexplained Weight Gain AFM: Where you were before where you are today? Give us your back story.

Hadley: I had the good fortune of being naturally thin and fit most of my life and was happy in my own skin. I was never a terrible eater by any means, but watching my diet was just sort of a non-issue. I ate what I wanted when I felt like it, stopped when I was full, didn't count calories or fad diet or create rigid rules for myself, and was pretty active.

However, things changed. During a period from about 2012 to 2015, I began gaining weight. It was slow, so I chalked it up to turning 30 and having a metabolism shift. In hindsight I've pieced together that a very large culprit for a lot of that change in my body was likely a medication I'd been on during that period (but I didn't put that together during the time). I wasn't doing anything different than I'd always done before, but suddenly my body was reacting very differently to what I was putting in it, and I was steadily putting on weight. It's not like I went from eating salad every day to suddenly eating fast food all the time—I was eating just as I always had. At one point I remember thinking "Well, I guess this is the way it's going to be from now on.

This is me now."

AFM: So what did you do when the weight gain was happening?

Hadley: I reached a turning point in late 2014 after having been working out almost every morning at 5:30 a.m., doing my best to eat clean, and yet somehow feeling worse about my body than ever.

I was sick of having to buy bigger clothes, sick of dreading to put on a swimsuit, sick of envying other people's bodies, and sick of not feeling like my best self, in every sense.

A friend of mine from my old boot camp had found a trainer several months before, Kim Eagle, and I had watched her fitness transformation through social media and never failed to be awed by the before and after pictures. Another good friend of mine and I were both inspired, and we decided to take the plunge into Kim's Earn That Body program.

photo by Weston Carls

AFM: What was the program like for you?

Describe your transformation.

Hadley: Those first few weeks on the Earn That Body program were an emotionally turbulent time—and eating very cleanly and intentionally was revealing to me exactly how much of an emotional connection I had developed to food. In addition to just the challenge of the program, I was also simultaneously tapering off an antidepressant (the very same medication I now believe to have played a big hand in my weight gain), and it didn't take me

BODY

long to notice that when I started feeling low or frustrated or irritable, my first thought was how soothing some chocolate or some mac ’n’ cheese would be. I had never considered myself an "emotional eater" before, but I realized in going through this process that food had been such a mindless soothing mechanism.

Then, I remember the incredible high of my very first weekly weigh-in, when I had lost four pounds just from one week of cleaning up my eating. By no means did I want to live by the number on a scale, but the feeling of seeing my hard work reflected in such a concrete way was incredible, and it's what kept me hanging on through the ups and downs.

AFM: What was your tipping point for changing your mindset and learning to be at peace with your body again?

Hadley: In early Dec. 2015, I made the decision to attempt my biggest challenge yet—sign up for a half marathon. Somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, my mindset had

shifted from not wanting to do it, to "Yeah, I'll sign up and see how far I get in training" to "Duh, of course I'm finishing this." Not only my body, but my mind, was evolving right before my eyes, and it allowed me to finish that race.

A few days after the race, once I had returned home, I happened to be cleaning out my desk, and I came upon something that almost knocked the wind out of me. It was an appointment card from a liposuction procedure I had scheduled two years before, when I was feeling lowest about my body. I ended up canceling it a few days before, but ironically, the appointment time was exactly two years ago—right down to the date and the minute— from the moment I crossed the finish line of my half marathon.

There was something eerily poetic about that, and it solidified that taking charge of my body and life in the way I did was the absolute best decision I've ever made. I started this journey with the hope of simply "getting my old body back." At this point in my process I have not only gained an even stronger body

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AFM: What advice would you give others through the process of getting healthier—like you did—even if it’s slow?

Hadley: You have to celebrate every little achievement because this is an ongoing journey! Also, journaling is an incredible tool for not only helping you get through hard times, but it has also been absolutely fascinating for me to go back and re-read some of my journal from when I first began all this. It's a great reminder of how far you've come. Lastly, be gentle on yourself. You will have tough days, you'll slip up and eat bad foods, and you'll skip workouts.

Life happens. So, you move on and don't get bogged down in guilt and regret and all the negative self-talk.

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SPIRIT

Coloring Outside the Lines Austin welcomes its first aura photographer. By Shannon Smith

C

arrie Moss inserts film into her camera and stabilizes it on a tripod, ready for another day of shooting Polaroid portraits. Yet working out of a yurt and producing images of vibrant colors that reflect our inner state, Moss is anything but your ordinary photographer. As one of just two traveling aura photographers currently in the country, Moss is opening Austin’s eyes to a new creative force, combining art with spirituality and self-reflection.

According to traditional belief, an aura is a radiance from the energy field exuded by all living things. This aura, sometimes called “air glow,” is visualized by colors, each with a different meaning. Although auras are typically considered a paranormal modality, there is proof that humans give off radiations, such as slight electromagnetic forces, chemical emissions and sonic waves.

Believers often associate these emissions with the evidence of auras.

Moss has taken this idea and her own personal spirituality beliefs to create MOODxMOSS, an Austin-based pop-up, where customers receive their own aura portrait followed by a reading at each session. She first came across aura photography when she stumbled upon an image on Instagram, which then prompted her to research the camera capable of capturing a person’s aura.

“The beauty of the image drew me in, and I’ve always believed in auras and energy—it fit into my spiritual path,” Moss said. Once inspired, she faced the daunting task of fully committing to her new project, both financially and physically. Moss worked as a photographer for many years, specializing in portraits, until she took a break to try something new in a sales associate job. When she faced the crossroads with the opportunity to commit to a career doing aura photography, Moss flew out to California to purchase the expensive, although necessary, state-of-the-art camera.

Using technology developed by Guy Coggins in 1970, the camera has the ability to capture the electromagnetic fields that surround a body. Hand-shaped sensor plates detect energy and then send it to a mini-computer within the camera. The algorithm within the computer then takes that data and interprets it as currents, eventually visualized as colors of one’s aura. The entire system uses biofeedback technology.

Yet, for Moss, this was a worthwhile investment, and her leap of faith has paid off. Hosting her first pop-up in April, she has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Austin community. She sees a few different

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types of clients: some want an interesting and uniquely beautiful portrait; some come with a piqued curiosity about the process; but she also sees clients who are looking to dig deeper to focus on their energy and how it is projected through their daily actions.

When interpreting auras, Moss looks at three different areas on the portrait. The left side of the aura photo indicates one’s feminine, receptive, or feeling side. This is the part of the personality that is imaginative, or representative of that person’s own introspection. The center, around the person’s head indicates what is being experienced in the present, ideas at the forefront of the mind.

An arc can indicate a person’s hopes, goals, aspirations, or value they hold dear. The right side indicates one’s expressive, active, or masculine side; this represents the personality outwardly projected and how others view us.

With so many aura portraits under her belt in just six months, Moss has already begun to see patterns. It is common for roommates and coworkers to emit similar energies, because they often are working on the same tasks or responsibilities together. Children often show red, because of their expressive nature and certain aspects of growth that they are going through. Further, she has even begun to notice patterns in auras when clients are stressed or tired.

“The aura will be thinner, not as thick and fluffy and full; it might be missing color,” she said. Since sessions are so short, she never aims to diagnose anything, but she will tell clients to make sure they are taking care of themselves. Mind, body, and spirit are all intertwined, and it’s important to be healthy in each aspect.

When asked about MOODxMOSS’s future, Moss was unsure, yet her trust in the forces of the natural world is evident.

“I don’t know, but whatever’s supposed to happen will happen. I just want to show my clients that we are more than just our physical bodies, and MOODxMOSS is an accessible way for people to actually see that in a photograph,” she said.

Reading Your Aura Red: engaged in life, driven to express ideas, willpower, leadership, socially charismatic and charming, passion, action-oriented, repels and attracts Violet: creatively and spiritually minded, often inspires others, unconventional, playful while enjoying harmony and peace

GRETCHEN GOSWITZ

Blue: intuition, calm and collected, loves rest, loyalty, community; clear communication is important to you Orange: enthusiasm, joy, creativity, funloving and lives in the now, original and independent, good with people

ALEX EARLE

Gold: luck, abundance, joy; your positivity triggers a chain reaction of love, acceptance and friendship Green: growth, willpower and determination, goal-oriented and deliberate, gentle strength and altruistic ideas Magenta: powerful because it is a combination of red and violet, creative willpower, natural leader, charismatic, sense of humor

DEVYN BERNAL

WESTON CARLS (& TEDDY BEAR)

SPIRIT

Natural Rhythms Embrace your internal clock. By Lydia Jarjoura

D

o you ever have those days where it feels like you’re productive and in the flow, and other days where it’s all you can do to make it through the day without falling asleep? There is a reason for this, and it has to do with way more than how many cups of coffee you drink. No matter the age, everyone is equipped with a system in the body that controls when one feels tired and when one has energy: the circadian rhythm. These ebbs and flows have been recorded in mammals since the 4th century BCE. Although this is old news, our modern lifestyle is structured in a way that doesn’t exactly make it easy for us to embrace our natural rhythms.

The circadian rhythm is what allows you to differentiate between being awake and being asleep. Without darkness, we would not know light. This is the same for our bodies; to survive, we must have moments of rest and moments of activity.

When imagining the circadian rhythm, think of the moon and the sun. The moon is dark, calming, and cool, while the sun is bright, energized, and heated. Many people refer to these moon and sun energies as yin and yang. The idea of yin and yang stems from a Chinese philosophy in which opposites attract and complement each other, and both exist within the other.

Yin and yang can be manifested in many ways, such as feminine and masculine, or seasonally by winter and summer.

Feminine (Yin) and Masculine (Yang) Feminine: intuition, compassion, emotion, creativity, empathy, collaboration, spirituality, holistic thought, and right-brain thinking.

Masculine: analytic and rational thinking, competition, determination, linear thinking, logical thought, action, and left-brain thinking.

Winter (Yin) and Summer (Yang) Winter: reclusive, cool, dark, slow.

Summer: hot, bright, external, fast.

Personal balance of yin and yang changes from day to day, year to year, and season to season. The circadian rhythms throughout the day mirror the sun and moon energies.

Upon waking up, the body signals to us (through our hypothalamus) that it is time to rise.

Body temperature rises, and the stress hormone cortisol begins pushing through the body. The peak of yang energy is 12 p.m. This is when something called the “digestive fire” is at its height. That being said, it’s no surprise many professionals often recommend lunch be the biggest meal of the day. Af12 P.M. (Utmost Yang) ter 12 p.m., yang energy starts to decrease, and at Yang Yang within within 6 p.m., yin energy takes Yang Yin over. At midnight, yin is at its peak, so people typically experience 6 A.M. 6 P.M. Yin Yang Sunrise Sunset their deepest sleep at this time. By 6 a.m., the cycle has started itself Yin Yin over again. To truly live a within within Yang Yin vibrant life, it’s important to align your body with 12 A.M. (Utmost Yin) these natural cycles.

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AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

Embrace Your Natural Rhythms Exercise in the A.M.

Cortisol levels are highest from 6 to 8 a.m. and decline throughout the day, reaching their lowest point in the evening. Push the cortisol through your system, giving you energy during the day, by practicing a more intense workout in the morning. At this time, set your intention for the day.

Relax in the P.M.

Because you want your parasympathetic nervous system to kick into gear at night, preparing your body for sleep, practice doing relaxing activities after 6 p.m. This could be a restorative yoga class, meditation, or a warm bath. As you settle into bed, wind down with a reflection of three positive things that happened that day.

Sleep Smarter

Your pineal gland (also called your “third eye”) produces melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleeping and waking cycles.

A major disruptor of the pineal gland is blue light, so unplug any electronics in your bedroom (or cover with gaffers tape) before sleeping. If you can’t get blackout curtains, cover windows with a blanket and sleep with a sleeping mask. Adding in a few minutes of silent meditation before bed greatly increases melatonin production!

Know Your Astrological Sign

For those who subscribe to astrology, half of the zodiac is feminine energy, and half is masculine. By learning which energy you have more of, you can seek to balance it with the opposite. The signs listed below are in order of how much yin and yang energy they hold.

Yin signs: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo.

Yang signs: Leo, Sagittarius, Aries, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.

Your body is like a guidebook, and by following its natural signals, you can live a truly balanced life—inside and out. Just like the ancient principles, yin and yang are all about that balance: the ebb and flow. So go easy on yourself and know that making changes throughout your daily schedule might be difficult at first, but it’s a huge step toward living a healthy and vibrant life.

Interview with a Psychic Medium

By Gretchen Goswitz

Alyssa Malehorn is a spiritual teacher, soul guide, psychic medium (claircognizance, clairaudience, clairvoyance) and divine transmitter of healing energies for the purpose of illuminating and demystifying the path to enlightenment. Her mission is to empower, educate and enlighten all truth-seekers, in all aspects of life. Alyssa is a catalyst for transformational healing, wisdom, and joy for individuals and groups worldwide. She sees the spiritual meaning hidden within all events, from the everyday to global, and is a leader in the empowerment of those seeking freedom from overwhelm and fear.

What is the most common question you get from clients? I’d say one of the most common issues people have is feeling stuck or stagnant. Also, people dealing with issues of not feeling good enough—thin enough, attractive enough, rich enough—just not enough on some level. And then of course, I connect clients with those who have passed on so they can have closure, if needed. I also see many clients who want to know the spiritual reason why things are happening or certain “mistakes” are being repeated. I connect with our guides and helpers in spirit to get clear information on any topic, any area of life, and I teach others how to do that as well.

How do you deal with skeptics? The way I am with someone isn’t going to be adjusted based on whether they believe or not. I honor what everyone believes, and I certainly do not feel like I need to persuade anyone to think the way I do. Any information that comes through, does so for that person’s highest good and to help them on their path. I’ve never had a skeptic leave still a skeptic. I can’t take credit for that—I’m the catalyst, receiving and delivering the information they need, so they can see there is an unseen world outside of themselves and also deep within themselves.

Balanced life: One of the keys, I believe, to achieving balance is to focus on your spiritual life. When you’re in a state of perfectionism, over-exercising, or feelings of unworthiness, if you start to focus on your spiritual life, the other aspects of life begin to balance out every time. When I say spiritual life, I mean taking time for yourself. Meditation for example—it doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or able to quiet your mind, just do something that is in the realm of seeking peace. Journaling or walking in nature with a spirit of appreciation are also great spiritual tools.

Your new book How Old is Your Soul? The Essential Guide to the Lessons, Gifts and Archetypes of Every Soul Age is being released this month—what’s the difference between a young and old soul? The way I have them categorized is: infant, child, adolescent, mature, and old. Those are generalizations, but it helps us to understand each other better. One of the phrases I use in the book is, “It’s like an all ages, one-room schoolhouse.” Usually we understand those who are near our soul age much more easily, however, we’re always learning from folks at every soul age.

How do you know which one you fit in with? There are certain hallmark qualities to each one. The infant souls are more earthcentered and typically found in developing countries or in a tribal culture of some sort.

Child souls would be the ones who must have conformity to feel safe. Adolescent souls are the majority on the planet right now. They’re the “look-at-me” types, and you can see this in the prevalence of selfies, Photoshop, social media. They also can serve in huge ways, like starting major nonprofits—they’re the movers and shakers. Mature souls are developing the heart, and are working through a fear of being vulnerable. Austin has a huge population of mature and old souls. Similar ages tend to gravitate to certain areas. New York and L.A. have mostly adolescents, while Austin, Portland, Europe have more older souls. Old souls are learning how to express themselves— they’re also caretakers and the ones opening up to spirituality and are leaders of peace. No age is better or worse than the other, because they each have their amazing gifts.

You often hear people speaking about good vibes (or as The Beach Boys would say, “Good Vibrations”), but what does that truly mean? Good vibes, or any vibra-

tions for that matter, are a reference to resonance or frequency. We all know the feeling of connecting with someone who feels draining to us. Though there can be several specific reasons for this, in general—it’s a disparity between your frequency and theirs. If someone has a low vibration (from complaining, nonbeneficial habits, controlling energy, etc) and they come in contact with someone holding a higher vibration (from positive thinking, meditation, self-care, serving others, etc)—usually whoever has the strongest energy will influence the other. So if you’re drained from being with a low vibe person or watching low vibe media, it’s time to strengthen your energy field with high frequency support, like energy work, Reiki, yoga, meditation, fresh clean foods.

You’re a Reiki master teacher—what is that? Reiki healing and any sort of higher energy healing work is channeling light through a physical person into someone else’s system.

Literally light, as in, higher frequencies of energy. When you work with a Reiki master teacher, they attune you to higher frequencies, so your baseline frequency is upgraded and you can naturally start channeling through higher energies for yourself and any other living thing. As you embody more light, the physical, mental, and emotional issues will clear up. Anything that is showing up for you symptomatically, is showing you an absence of light, or density, or stagnation. We flood the area with light so the stagnation dissipates and the symptoms can heal. afm About Alyssa Information about individual and couples consultations, speaking engagements, group workshops, monthly meditation events, Reiki and healing classes (in Austin as well as Sedona, AZ, Southern Calif. and other areas) is available at alyssamalehorn.com. Consultations and classes in Austin are held at her office in Westlake Hills.

The new book How Old Is Your Soul? The Essential Guide to the Lessons, Gifts and Archetypes of Every Soul Age is available at BookPeople in Austin, on Amazon, and at alyssamalehorn.com.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

51

Get a Grip MERGING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS

Crux Climbing Center

Seismic Wall

BY ELIZABETH HARROUN

W

hen I scrambled up my first

rock face on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, I was instantly hooked (literally and figuratively). Coming from a meager athletic background, I always felt awkward trying out new sports. However, the mental attention required in rock climbing distracted me from my insecurities, and I found myself at the top of the route with no awareness of the lanky guys waiting below. Over a year later, I am still hooked. In fact, my passion for climbing has grown as I have immersed myself in the welcoming Austin climbing community. I’ve also grown a lot on a personal level through lessons on the wall; my ability to deal with stress and my overall body awareness have particularly improved through climbing regularly. The breath and mental attention required while pushing your limits culminate in a pristine moving meditation, especially when surrounded by nature (and with good company down below).

Here in Austin, we are fortunate to have convenient access to high quality indoor and outdoor climbing facilities. Below are the gyms I recommend trying out, as well as some of the most popular outdoor climbing spots in the greenbelt.

Indoors

Even though it’s possible to learn how to climb outdoors, most beginners will find gyms more accessible and practical for learning the basics. Austin has a great selection of indoor gyms–both provide supportive and casual atmospheres ideal for work, play, and community-building.

Crux Climbing Center’s Thunder Dome

Crux Climbing photos by Weston Carls; Seismic photo by Travis Perkins; ABP photo by Brian Fitzsimmons

Crux Climbing Center

Austin Bouldering Project

Situated in the heart of East Austin, Austin Bouldering Project offers walls exclusively crafted for bouldering, or climbing without ropes or harnesses. The routes tend to be shorter than sport routes, and the entire floor is padded with foam to ensure a soft fall.

Meticulously placed holds make up “problems,” or climbing routes ranging from 13 to 17 feet high. ABP also offers a gym stocked

Located in South Austin, this impressive 22,000-squarefoot facility includes both rope climbing and bouldering.

Crux also features strength training areas as well as fitness and yoga classes. Crux really values the communitybuilding aspect of the sport, with a nice lounge space to catch up with friends and regular social events ranging from mellow social gatherings to packed competitions.

It boasts the largest indoor bouldering cave in Central Texas, and opting for the More Awesome Membership grants you access to the Thunder Dome 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Plug in your own music if you need a little inspiration to get in the zone while you’re climbing.

Equipment: Climbing shoes and harness recommended.

All equipment available for purchase or rental. Free gear on first visit!

Note: General orientation is required for first-time visitors (anywhere between five to 30 minutes, depending on group size and skill level). Additionally, rope climbing and belaying require additional staff certification, so plan accordingly. (Classes are offered if you are new to climbing).

For anyone eager to strap into the ropes and crawl up a wall, the auto-belay section of Crux requires no special training/certification or staff assistance.

(continued on next page) 10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

53

Outdoors

Lucky for outdoor enthusiasts, Austin has plenty of limestone crags for sport climbing. Sport climbing relies on preplaced bolts and permanent anchors fixed to the rock. Compared to traditional rock climbing, routes are typically shorter and more intense, emphasizing the physical aspect of the sport. This allows climbers to focus on moves and to lead climbs without worrying about placing nuts or cramming devices. A bolted climb requires a rope, harness, and quickdraws. Climbing shoes, a helmet, chalk, and a chalk bag are highly recommended. The three most popular and accessible rock walls on the Barton Creek Greenbelt are:

Austin Bouldering Project

with exercise equipment along with fitness, climbing, and yoga classes, all at no extra charge. ABP has a large mezzanine with plenty of comfortable spots for getting some work done or just hanging out. Finally, they have cold-brew coffee on tap and a delicious food stand with offerings made

by Bento + Picnic for when your mind and body need some fuel.

Equipment: Climbing shoes and chalk bag are recommended, but only athletic shoes are required to boulder. Free rental shoes for first visit!

Rock Climbing Ratings 5.0–5.7: Easy for experienced climbers where most novices begin.

5.8–5.9: Where most weekend climbers become comfortable; employs the specific skills of rock climbing.

5.10: A dedicated weekend climber might attain this level.

5.11–5.15: The realm of true experts; demands much training, often working of a route, and much natural ability.

If it is slightly harder than 5.8, but not quite 5.9, it’s rated 5.8+. If it’s slightly easier than 5.8 but harder than 5.7, it might be rated 5.8Travis Perkins crouched below the anchors of a challenging sport route at New Wall, moments away from finishing the route on lead.

54 AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM / 10.16

ABP photo by Brian Fitzsimmons; New Wall photo by Liz Harroun

Difficulty ranges from 5.0 to 5.15

1.

Seismic

(Loop 360, 3755-B, Capital of Texas Hwy) This is one of the most popular walls in Austin with around 30 sport routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.12. Easy parking off-road or in the business park (if outside of business hours). Hike along the trail and you will see the wall across the creek. The wall faces east, and many routes are shaded by trees.

Since these walls are so popular, many of the holds are polished (feeling slick due to overuse).

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Seismic photo by Travis Perkins; Gus Fruh photo by Patrick Lewis, flickr.com

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2. Gus Fruh

(Gus Fruh Trail entrance, 2642 Barton Hills Drive) This well-shaded area is a good (and surprisingly uncontested) option for getting outside during those brutal Texas summers. It features walls and routes rating from 5.8 to 5.11. Also has some difficult bouldering; just don’t forget crash pads!

3. New Wall

(Spyglass entrance, 1500 Spyglass Dr) This area is better for more advanced climbers as most routes are between 5.10 and 5.12.

It is shaded in the afternoons but still tends to be very hot in the summer.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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How to get started outside

If you have been practicing in the gym for a while but don't feel comfortable making the transition to outside, try some of these options: Rock-About Climbing Adventures: Offers basic climbing skills classes for those just getting started, camps for scout troops and kids, corporate outings, and courses for advanced climbers. rock-about.com Texas Climbing Adventures: Offers group and private courses around Austin and surrounding areas. texasclimbingadventures.com Texas Rock Climbing Meetup: Group of avid climbers of all levels who meet regularly at crags around Austin.

Russell Mayes is shown climbing Cutting Cards, a 5.12b route on the Seismic Wall he developed by adding a hard route amongst many easy and moderate ones. This is John Hogge's annotated version forming a topographic map of the sport routes, more of which you can find in his guidebook.

Gear Tips

For beginners, the most important gear items to purchase are a harness, belay device, and shoes. With these, you can participate in bouldering, gym rope climbing, and greenbelt sport climbing, given that you go with people who have rope and quickdraws. Chalk bags are a relatively minimal investment and come in handy—especially in the Texas heat where hands get sweaty fast.

Shoes: Since sport climbs tend to be short and difficult, climbers often opt for moderate to aggressive shoes with a downturned shape. However, for beginners, it might be best to choose a more neutral shoe that is comfortable to wear as you work on your technique. Shoes should feel very snug.

Quickdraws: These pre-attached carabiner and sling sets are necessary as you begin to lead sport climbs. For greenbelt climbing, six quickdraws will cover nearly all the routes, most which do not surpass 50 feet.

Belay device: The two popular options for a belay device (needed to do any sport climbing) are the ATC and Gri Gri. A more affordable and lightweight option, the ATC is durable and easy to use. While it requires a bit more attention from the belayer, many prefer it to the Gri Gri because it allows more responsiveness to the climber. Gri Gris are assisted braking devices, making them a bit more dummy-proof. The Gri Gri weighs twice as much as the ATC but can facilitate the give and take of slack. Gri Gris are often a better option for lighter climbers who might struggle when belaying heavier partners.

Austin Climbing Book: This guidebook is a useful way to get to know all of the sport routes and deep water soloing spots in Austin and surrounding areas.

Along with stunning color photos, the keepsake also includes some humorous writings from climbers as well as local history about the route developers.

A new updated version will be released this fall and will be available at REI, Whole Earth Provision Company, Backwoods (off Bee Cave Road) and local climbing gyms. Check out austinclimbingbook.com for more info.

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Physical Tips

Don’t forget about the feet. Over-gripping can pull the body off balance by making you lean into the rock. Sometimes it is better to loosen your grip and shift body weight to the feet in order to regain balance and conserve strength.

Tighten that core. This, along with awareness of overall body position, will help especially when dealing with polished limestone in the greenbelt.

Keep breathing! Breathe continuously throughout route, and take deep breaths before big moves to transition to your upcoming effort.

Belaying tips

Being a skilled belayer is just as important as developing your climbing technique, since you will (quite literally) have someone else's life in your hands. To get started, I recommend learning to belay in a gym. Crux Climbing Center offers a top rope belay class as well as a lead climbing class that includes dynamic and adaptive belay techniques for lead belay.

The balance between competitiveness and community is a great aspect of rock climbing in Austin.

You can choose to compete with other climbers, with yourself, or not at all. But at the end of the day, you are a part of a community of individuals who enjoy getting outdoors, pushing themselves physically and mentally, and having fun. The biggest lesson I have learned so far from rock climbing is the importance of the process versus the end results.

Staying present with each move, each route, and each day maintains motivation and counters destructive frustration from not meeting result-oriented expectations. Some days, I struggle on a route that I have completed before with no problem. I get worried that I might be regressing despite my hard work—but then I take a deep breath and remind myself that results come slowly and with patience.

When I begin to appreciate the process and invite humility into my efforts, I find more fulfillment both on and off the wall. afm

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STYLE

MINDBODY ACQUIRES HEALCODE

I

f you’ve signed up for a yoga, Pilates, spin, or barre class via world wide web, it’s likely the reservation was made through MINDBODY. When Rick Stollmeyer and his longtime friend and business partner Blake Beltram founded MINDBODY on Jan. 1 2001, the mission was to simplify scheduling—particularly for fitness studios. Since then, the software company has seen tremendous growth and continues to expand, noting locally-based Healcode as its most recent acquisition.

While Stollmeyer and Beltram were building the success of MINDBODY, Austinite Steve Goldstein and two other programmers banded together to build a supplementary product. In 2006, Goldstein’s wife Shoshana became the owner of JoyMoves Pilates and shortly thereafter, the couple saw a need for improved functionality on MINDBODY. Goldstein had an idea to create widgets to integrate in the software, so he picked up the phone to run it by Stollmeyer.

“I explained my background and Rick said something like, ‘We consider integrating into websites with an application program interface (API) an extremely high priority but as high as it is, we have higher priorities, so we were thinking about having a partner do that for us. Why don’t you start a company to do that?” Goldstein remembers.

And hence, Healcode was born. Adding an element of

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convenience became its forte, with real-time customer engagement and marketing tools, as well as other customizable widgets to make a seamless online experience for customers. It helped bridge the gap between wellness businesses and online scheduling, shopping, and messaging.

Healcode serves over 8,000 MINDBODY business, so the merge seemed natural. After eight years of working alongside each other, Stollmeyer was faced with a choice.

“In these technology partner relationships, there always comes a fork in the road. We were faced with a few choices.

First, we could create a co-dependent relationship with exclusivity. Second, we could build our own. Third option was to buy,” said Stollmeyer.

With all the experience Healcode has—plus already knowing the MINDBODY team and product—the decision is about as easy as it gets. Business acquisitions are likened to any relationship; it takes time and the stars need to align.

Importantly, the entrepreneur who built the company being sold has to be at peace with selling the product and business he’s worked so hard on.

“We really did believe in their vision 100 percent from day one. Mentally, I always considered myself to be shepherding this business for MINDBODY,” said Goldstein. afm

photo courtesy of getapp.com

The leading provider of cloud-based business management software to the wellness services industry adds locally-owned Healcode to its list of services.

Listen.

Each week Jeremy Thiel, a local Austin entrepreneur, talks with innovators, thought leaders, and Austin-based entrepreneurs to share their story of success and adversity. Jeremy discovers how they do what they do, and how they amplify life.

TheAmplifyPodcast.com

7301 BURNET RD

512-323-6181

STYLE

2016 FALL SHOE REVIEW

By Cregg Weinmann, Running Shoe Reviewer for the Running Network, LLC

C

hange is inevitable, as the adage goes.

Sometimes it’s incremental, and at other times, it’s a torrent. This season it’s somewhere between the two, though significant in its scope.

Familiarity with automation and customization has caused consumers to believe that everything should be 3D printed and delivered in the proverbial blink of an eye. We have not yet arrived at that point, though computer-generated design and manufacturing are headed in that direction. The actual changes have come with the adoption of new formulations of thermoplastic elastomers, which have been making their way into the upper end of many running shoe brands. This has resulted in better performance, more reliable lightweight components, and much lighter weight in both the midsole and the support of the upper.

For nearly five years, design choices based on geometry have been key, and this season they’re responsible for a crop of shoes that obscure the stark divisions among shoes considered lightweight, stable, or well-cushioned.

This means that each shoe works for a broader swath of runners. While that’s important, these new shoes feature innovations in the upper’s fit and the midsole’s function, raising the bar even higher. The most obvious improvement? Much of the excess material at the shoes’ top, midsole, and bottom has been carved away or replaced with lighter components and foams. The result is that shoes designed to stabilize are noticeably lighter than ever before. So pervasive is this trend that 60 percent of the shoes in this review fall into the Performance category, while offering varying degrees of motion stabilizing or cushioning that a light weight used to preclude. This is a trend we’ve never before seen.

Since its inception, this review has been dedicated to pointing you in the right direction with a variety of shoe choices. Your staunchest ally in vetting your personal shoe selection is the local running specialty store, which carries the best selection of viable options for you and can assist in identifying the best fit for you.

ASICS Dynaflyte

BEST NEW SHOE Fall 2016

BEST RENNOVATION Fall 2016

Nike LunarGlide 8

Under Armour Charged Bandit 2

BEST VALUE Brooks Ghost 9

Fall 2016

TIE

BEST SHOE (NEUTRAL) Fall 2016

BEST SHOE

(PERFORMANCE) Fall 2016

adidas Vengeful Boost

BEST SHOE (MOTION STABILIZING) Fall 2016

New Balance Vazee Pace 2

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Saucony Zealot ISO 2

OU T OF T HE LA OUT L B AANNDD RRE A D Y T O R U N. N.

TTHE TH HEE RIDEE 9 B re ak through gh C ushioning

WITH CONTINUOUS CU SHIONING

Bre a k through Conss truction

See the film at saucon ny.com/ride *Results reflect EVERUN material comparred to traditional EVA. For comp parative, testing g an nd p product information o p please visit saucony.com/EVERUN

83 % En nergy Re t urn**

STYLE To read the complete 2016 Fall Shoe Review, visit runningproductreviews.com

To read our complete 2016 Fall Shoe Review, ASICS GEL-Quantum 360 CM

Neutral

$170

361Ëš Strata

Motion Stabilizing

$150

$120

Mizuno Wave Sayonara 4

Performance

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$120

Motion Stabilizing

$110

Altra Torin 2.5

Performance

$110

Performance

Performance

$150

Motion Stabilizing

$125

Performance

$130

Performance

$140

Performance

Motion Stabilizing

$125

Performance

$130

Nike LunarGlide 8

$160

Skechers GOMeb Strada 2

$130

$150

HOKA ONE ONE Clifton 3

Nike Lunar Epic FLYKNIT Low

$110

Neutral

New Balance 860 v7

ASICS Dynaflyte

Saucony Zealot ISO 2

$120

Neutral

Mizuno Enigma 6

Karhu Fluid 5 MRE

New Balance Vazee Pace 2

Puma Speed 500 Ignite

Performance

Neutral

adidas Vengeful Boost

adidas adiZero Boston 6 Boost

Performance

Brooks Glycerin 14

Brooks Ghost 9

Performance

$120

Under Armour Charged Bandit 2

$125

Performance

$100

O X Y MO R O N Hello S P E E D C U S H I O N. Introducing The Clayton. Maximal cushion. Minimal weight. So you can fly.

h o ka o n e o n e. co m Runner’s World is a registered trademark of Rodale, Inc. All rights reserved.

STYLE

THE ART OF Kick back in style. By Shannon Smith

Poler Napsack $136 Polerstuff.com

Creating a seamless transition, the Napsack has shoulder zippers and a cinch at the bottom, inviting you to free your arms and legs and wear it as a coat. But when you’re ready for bed, zip up and uncinch and you’ve got yourself an instant sleeping bag. With a phone pocket and a headphone port, there’s no reason to ever take the Napsack off.

Jammock $125 Jammock.com

Turn your Jeep Wrangler into the ultimate hangout.

This hammock buckles onto the roof of your Jeep, providing a quick, water-resistant, and comfortable way to relax or catch some rays.

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LOUNGING

SPEED CUSHION FLY THE CLAYTON AT THESE RETAILERS ROGUE RUNNING ROGUERUNNING.COM LUKE’S LOCKER LUKESLOCKER.COM TEXAS RUNNING COMPANY RUN.COM CAPITAL CITY RUNNING CO. CAPITALCITYRUNNING.COM AUSTIN TRI CYCLIST AUSTINTRICYCLIST.COM

Roo Hammock $99

Kammok.com

photography by Weston Carls

Time to give your feet a break. Kammok was originally founded to provide emergency shelters for disaster relief and to help fight malaria, but has quickly become a staple for people who just want to hang out. The Roo’s easy installation means you’ll be relaxed as quickly as the set-up.

Lightweight, tear-resistant, breathable, and with room for two, this hammock is a fantastic investment.

Hikenture Outdoor Inflatable Lounger $39 Amazon.com

Blowing up a mattress has never been easier—simply wave the bag to trap air and inflate this outdoor lounger. With deflation in seconds and a compact carrying case, it’s perfect for the beach, hiking, camping, concerts, and even floating in the pool. You’ll never sit on the ground again.

10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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h o ka o n e o n e.com Runner’s World is a registered trademark of Rodale, Inc. All rights reserved.

WELLNESS

Hurts So Good

Chinese healing methods may look painful based on the visible after-effects, but they’re actually a favorable form of recovery and therapy. By Phyllis Kung L.Ac. From kinesio-taping to more recently cupping, Olympians test the waters of new therapy designed to give them that competitive edge.

So, when our most decorated swimmer, Michael Phelps, sports the hickey-mark calling card of cupping, the rest of us pay attention.

As an acupuncturist, I received a flood of calls and texts about the polka-dotted swimmer. My clients, already aware of the benefits of cupping, felt relieved at having less explaining to do about why their backs and shoulders would occasionally look like they’ve been attacked by an octopus after an acupuncture visit.

Gua Sha While it does excite me to see the growing interest first in acupuncture and now in cupping—thanks to athletes, celebrities, and of course, the fact that these techniques work—there is so much more that traditional Chinese medicine can offer. One therapy in particular is Gua sha.

Gua sha is Chinese for literally “raising a rash.” It’s commonly and more scarily known in English as scraping. It uses the theory of counteraction to reduce muscle pain and improve mobility with immediate effects. Counteraction works by distracting the body from its initial source of pain, allowing that area to reduce in inflammation and start to heal.

Gua sha involves using a tool with a curved smooth surface to repeatedly

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scrape an area till a dark red or purple rash pops up. While it can be intense, most people find it relaxing. The great thing about Gua sha is that it can be done almost anywhere on the body, in places that are difficult or painful for cupping to reach, like the neck area, joints, or the forearms. It takes minutes to do and the unsightly marks tend to fade within two to four days, cupping takes one to two weeks. Most commonly, I use Gua sha for shoulder issues, tennis elbow and the modern phenom: tech neck.

It is a great complement to cupping and acupuncture, and I often combine all three into treatment sessions. And like cupping, while it’s usually more relaxing and efficient to have it done professionally, it is a form of homegrown medicine, so it is possible to do it yourself for onthe-go care.

In Asia, it’s not uncommon to see people of all ages at the beach or waterpark with Gua sha and cupping marks. I’ve seen them here, running around Lady Bird Lake, so it looks like the good word is spreading. Who knows—maybe we’ll even see them decorating the backs of our Olympians in Tokyo.

Cupping So what is cupping? It’s basically using suction and cups to relieve muscle pain. The cups can be made of plastic, glass, bamboo, or silicon, and suction is created through pressure, pump or heat. I’m a personal fan of fire cupping, which involves using a flame to create suction and also looks really cool. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, muscle pain and soreness are caused by poor circulation, mostly due to overuse and injury.

This lack of circulation doesn’t allow “new” and nutrient-rich blood to flow properly through muscle tissue. Cupping is thought to pull that “old”, stagnant blood out of the muscle layer and into the more superficial skin layers so it can be circulated out and “new”, fresh blood can be circulated in. “New” blood means more tissue repair, reduced pain, and faster healing. For really old or severe muscle pain, multiple sessions may be needed, but most people notice that as their body heals, the cupping marks produce less intense marks and heal much faster—evidence that the

body’s circulation is back to optimal levels.

While the idea of “old” versus “new” blood can sound archaic, the idea of moving blood and tissue around to improve circulation is easy to grasp. One recent biomedical theory suggests that cupping also helps by releasing the body’s fascia. Fascia is a webbing that connects all our organs and muscles and bones. It can get stuck and knotted, so cupping can help pull apart adhesions in the many layers of fascia that we have. When our fascia is unstuck, we move more freely. Cupping can feel a little pinchy and intense, but for those of you who love a deep tissue massage, it will be a cakewalk. I think my favorite description of the cupping sensation came from a patient who said it felt like a “cold chip clip” on her back. While cupping can leave some temporary soreness and unsightly marks, its pain relief and improved mobility are pretty instantaneous, which is why it makes such a useful tool for the athlete and desk warrior alike. afm

HEALTHY HELPINGS EXPOSURE

I

In one National Institutes of Health-funded study, individuals who prayed daily were shown to be 40 percent less likely to have high blood pressure than those who did so infrequently. The research also examined other areas that may be affected by prayer and discovered that people who pray have lower depression and suicide rates. Additionally, they found that elderly women recovering from hip-fracture surgery who had strong religious beliefs and practices were able to achieve faster and more dramatic rehabilitation results than those who were not as religious. http://bit.ly/2cfU8Ow

W

We know exercise and nutrition are important components of healthy living, but research reveals spirituality is just as important. In a collaborative study between professors at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, researchers have found that there is a direct correlation between the level of importance a person places on spirituality in their lives and the thickness of certain regions of their brains. The study found that people who expressed that spirituality or religion was important to them had significantly thicker cerebral cortices—a part of the brain associated with sensory perception, language and emotion processing—than those who did not. The study used MRI brain scans to measure the cortical thickness of 103 adults between the ages of 18 and 54, who were then asked to rate the importance of spirituality and/or religion in their lives. Participants who placed an emphasis on these qualities had measurably thicker cerebral cortices compared to those who did not. The latter group was found to be more prone to depression, hereditary or acquired.

http://bit.ly/2bNImeY

I

to 23 years of research reviewed in Journal of the American Heart Association, people are more likely to adopt heart healthy behaviors when guided and encouraged via the internet, their cell phones, or other devices. Researchers looked at 224 studies conducted on generally healthy adults, published between 1990 and 2013. The studies evaluated the effect of using internet, mobile phones, personal sensors, or stand-alone computer software tools to inspire behavioral changes, such as improving diet, increasing physical activity, losing weight, and stopping/reducing tobacco or alcohol use. Results showed that implementing mobile devices and internet programs for goal-setting and selfmonitoring purposes proved to be effective in creating positive change. http://bit.ly/2bQU6gq

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Brain Scan photo by Ken GlaserCorbis

Instead of allowing your cell phone to distract you, let it help you! According

AUSTIN HEART & STROKE WALK

AUSTIN HEART & STROKE WALK

REGISTER ONLINE!

FAQ EXPOSURE

By Devyn Bernal

While we’re out having fun, our liver is working overtime to make sure our body recovers once we’re done acting a fool. As sweet as that is of our largest organ, what are you doing to care for your liver in return? Dr. Imtiaz Alum of Austin Hepatitis Center gave us the inside scoop on how to treat your liver the way you’d want to be treated, and increase your chances of a healthy body.

The liver is considered one of the master organs of the body, and yet it is most often assaulted by toxic choices. What is the most harmful substance that can damage our liver, and how soon does the liver take to cleanse after being exposed to it? The liver functions as a unique organ with many crucial roles to sustaining life. The liver's principal role is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body.

The liver also purifies chemicals and toxins and breaks down drugs or medications. Therefore, it is at great risk of contamination from environmental toxins (such as alcohol) and those contained in over-processed foods. Our liver can metabolize, or in this case detoxify, about a third of an ounce of alcohol (about eight to ten grams) per hour in a healthy adult, with generally speaking less so in females. This is less than one drink per hour to fully be cleaned out of our system, as there is typically half of an ounce of alcohol in a standard drink regardless of what it is.

The liver is the chief regulator of protein metabolism and hormones.

How vital is diet when it comes to the liver and pancreas? If you eat a healthy diet, your liver “informs” you that you’re doing a great job. You will get the message because your liver is able to function properly and, provided your overall health is good, you feel in great physical shape. If, on the other hand, you aren’t careful

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with your diet, your liver is vulnerable. When you consume fatty or fried foods, and add too much salt, your liver is literally under assault. If you don’t avoid foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, the end result are liver diseases (such as a fatty liver) and, possibly, disorders that could affect other organs. Be careful with over the counter natural herbs and dietary supplements. Some can damage your liver, such as cascara, chaparral, comfrey, ephedra, and kava.

The best foods for a healthy liver and pancreas include: garlic, grapefruit, beets, spinach, lettuces, cabbage, kale, avocados, broccoli, lemons, walnuts, red grapes, red reishi mushrooms, sweet potatoes, berries, green tea, and turmeric. Additionally, recent research shows drinking two to three cups of coffee per day can lower your risk of liver damage.

As a hepatologist/gastroenterologist, what is the biggest piece of advice you’d like to emphasize for our active readers? Best answered with words of wisdom from Suzanne Somers: “Your liver is your vital detoxification organ, and if it becomes overloaded with toxins from the food, drink, or medications you're consuming, you'll have more toxins circulating throughout your body, damaging your organs and glands.

Detoxing your liver will help it work more efficiently—and help you slim your waistline.” Every morning you wake up is another chance to get it right to love your liver! afm

Join Austin Fit Magazine, Onnit, and seven of our local yoga studio friends on the plaza of Whole Foods downtown for the third Whole Lotta Yoga Festival, a one day unique yoga experience benefiting the Flatwater Foundation.

Whole Lotta Yoga will offer six unique, thirty-minute classes, and acro yoga for beginners and experienced yogis alike. Stay for one, all, or as many classes as you like. There will be time to explore vendor booths, grab food & drink, and mingle with friends. Just bring yourself, a yoga mat, and a smile.

Get more details at: WholeLottaYoga.com

FITNESS

By Taylor Freetage

ANYTIME, ANYWHERE

Do each exercise one at a time until each has been completed four times.

1

Single Leg Tricep Dip

1

2

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photography by Weston Carls; performed by Taylor Freetage

[1] Sit at the end of any stable surface.

[2] Grab the edge and suspend both arms behind you. [3] Extend both legs straight out in front of you. [4] Elevate one leg to a 45-degree angle. [5] The leg on the ground should still be straight. [6] Bend your arms and slower your body to the ground until your elbows are at 90 degrees. [7] Push down with your arms back up to the starting position. [8] Complete 10 dips, then switch legs.

Tip: Resist straightening your arms at the top and make sure they are only slightly bent.

Plank Toe Touch

Uphill Lunge with Glute Kickback [1] Start with a split lunge. [2] Back leg should almost touch the floor. [3] Push up with your front leg. [4] Shift your weight forward and kick up with your back leg squeezing your glutes. [5] Perform 10–12 per leg.

Tip: Focus on pushing through the front heel and squeezing the glute at the top.

[1] Start in Plank position. Reach your right hand back to touch your left foot, while lifting the hips. [2] Return to plank position. [3] Repeat on opposite side. [4] Perform 10 oblique crunches on each side.

Tip: Hold the crunch for two seconds to fully engage the obliques.

1

2

2

Burpee with Jump Squat [1] Drop down into a squat position with hands on the floor in front of you. [2] Kick your feet back and lower yourself to a push-up position.

[3] Jump your feet back to the squat position while pushing up with your arms. [4] Stop half way to the top in a squat position. [5] Jump to the top and land back in the squat position.

Tip: When returning to the squat position from the jump, shift your weight to your heels.

1

2

3

4

5 10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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FITNESS

WEATHERING THE STORM

Your big race goes awry. How do you find the silver lining? By Carrie Barrett

I

recently watched the documentary Touch the Wall that chronicled the meteoric rise of Missy Franklin to the 2012 London Olympics. At those games, she dove her way into America's hearts with five gold medals, a true “Cinderella story” for someone who was still in braces and active on her high school swim team.

Fast-forward four years. Franklin just had a painfully disappointing 2016 Rio Olympics, failing to even qualify for the finals in some of her home run events.

She was as shocked as the rest of us. “I wish I had an excuse, but I don't,” she told USA Today after her Olympics ended.

At the ripe young age of 21, Franklin is weathering the storm.

For Olympians, there's so much riding on races that come down to hundredths of seconds. It isn't simple self-pride that's on the line.

We're talking national pride and millions of potential endorsement dollars here. For the average everyday athlete, the stakes may not be as high, but when you are weathering your own personal storm, the lessons learned are no different.

These local athletes share their own personal accounts and the character building morals they learned through their experiences.

Local ultra runner Muzaffer Musal was one of only 31 starters at this year's Ouray 100 in Colorado. This 100-mile endurance run has an elevation gain of almost 42,000 feet and over 83,000 feet of elevation changes with a 52-hour cutoff. Needless to say, there's a reason why this year's race saw a completion rate of only 16 percent.

All athletes are given a space

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photo by Brian Fitzsimmons

MUZAFFER MUSAL

blanket, lighter, and small piece of tinder just in case.

There are aid stations throughout the course, but sometimes getting to them involves hours of running and hiking at punishing elevations.

The first 20 miles ticked by, and Musal was feeling strong despite the terrain. Hours passed, and the weather kept changing. Drizzle and high winds made each mile more difficult, and Musal started to feel the effects. He made it through to an aid station and met with his crew.

However, instead of focusing only on himself and his race plan, he kept seeing other racers move faster and make it through the aid stations just a little quicker.

“I knew I shouldn't get competitive,” he recalls.

“This is not a marathon.

This is not even a regular long race. This is a race with 17 percent completion rate. Instead of changing my clothes and getting a thicker sweater, I decided to eat all I could as quickly as possible, pick up my Camelbak from the aid station, and move.”

That is a moment that will haunt him. As night began to fall, he got off course. Then, he realized his Camelbak was leaking. And then, he started shivering.

He opened his space blanket, but his hands and fingers were so immobile that he couldn't even ignite his lighter to use the tinder for heat.

Aside from finding a structure and crawling into it, there wasn't much he could do besides fire off his tracker to send a signal to the race director that he was done. He really has no idea of

how long he waited, but was eventually found, given a warm jacket, and returned to safety.

Muzaffer weathered his own storm. Literally.

No one ever wants to quit a race that you have physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared for, but he does take away valuable thoughts: Take Care of Yourself First You have to focus on your race and not any other athlete. One of his big mental errors was letting the other athletes get into his head instead of controlling his own destiny.

Know When to Say When He admits that firing off the tracker to end his race was not an easy decision, but it got to a point when continuing to suffer through the unknowns was not anything to be proud of.

Live to See Another Race While that moment feels devastating, it's not necessary the end. He is planning on being at the start line in 2017.

Remain Humble Musal quoted writer Ed Viesturs when he summed up his experience: “Just because you love the mountains doesn't mean the mountains love you.”

photo by Weston Carls

JENNY BURDEN If you ever want to fill up a year of your life with physical, mental, and emotional overload, then register for an Ironman race. Not only do you spend copious amounts of money to register a year in advance, but you also spend a full six months training so that you are (you hope) adequately prepared for the 2.4mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run.

Local triathlete Jenny Burden was ready to own Ironman Boulder on Aug. 6. The proverbial “hay was in the barn,” and it showed in her impressive swim time and swift bike splits for the first 100 miles of the race.

And then, like a violent unpredictable tornado, something changed. High expectations turned into an abnormally high heart rate, and she had to stop for a moment to rest under a tree. Jenny Burden was weathering her own storm.

“I got up after about five minutes of rest and approached my bike, determined to finish the last 11 miles and get on with the run,” she shared in her blog recap.

“But, as soon as I stood over the handlebars, my heart rate shot up, and I had to put my head down.” Police officers and medics came to her aid while she assessed her own dizzying symptoms and emotions. Like most storms, they often come on unexpectedly and, as we've seen in many recent natural disasters,

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photo by Weston Carls

FITNESS

by wearing this shirt.

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not even the most arduous preparations can prepare you for the worst-case scenarios. In Burden's case, she was caught in one of those moments and eventually made the decision to remove her chip and end her race with less than 12 miles to go on the bike.

To some, she says, a situation like this may be considered just a bummer or a learning opportunity. “However, the experience is more,” she writes. “It is real grief.”

In the moments and days after the race, she felt anger, shame, frustration, and, of course, profound sadness.

In lieu of a medal and bragging rights, what lessons can be learned from

such an experience? What can she take away from this race? “I still struggle with thoughts of what if, but none of those provide the magic fix.” Instead, however, she devotes herself to many of the positive takeaways.

Unconditional Support of Loved Ones Her husband, teammates, and friends have been a rock of support. Never underestimate the power of your tribe!

The Accomplishments of the Day Shouldn't Be Overlooked She had her best swim ever and went into the race in some of the best shape of

her life. She was ready and prepared.

She Didn't Injure Herself The emotional scars may take time to heal, but she walked away with no real physical repercussions. Had she decided to continue, who knows what may have happened?

Bouncing Back with Style Burden was recently named the South Central Regional Champion for Women ages 25 to 29, and she’ll be representing the United States at the XTERRA World Championship race in Maui on Oct. 23, 2016. Talk about a comeback!

Perhaps Missy Franklin sums up these rough moments most poignantly in her interview when she said, “ You’re so much more than just the number of medals, you’re so much more than the time you are in a pool. Your value goes beyond all of that. I don’t think I would have ever come to that realization without something like this.”

Adversity enhances your value.

I don't know about you, but knowing that I have value keeps me grounded through every storm. afm

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PURE AUSTIN

p/b AUSTIN FIT MAGAZINE

THURSDAYS, MARCH 17 – OCTOBER 20

EVERY Thursday from 5PM till dark!

March 17 - October 20, 2016

MICHAEL JOHNSON PHOTO

8400 Delwau Ln. Austin, TX 78725 www.DrivewaySeries.com

photo by Weston Carls

EVENTS

FEATURED WHOLE LOTTA YOGA // OCTOBER 15

SPORTS AND OUTDOORS OCTOBER 8

Lake Travis Relay

THE COOLEST WAY TO GET FIT IN AUSTIN!

Austin This 13th annual relay is approximately 12 miles of open swimming in Lake Travis. It’s open to 6-member relay teams and a limited number of 12-mile solo entrants. The race ends at a lakeside restaurant where participants and fans are welcome, so make it a family event and sign up now. laketravisrelay.com OCTOBER 15

Whole Lotta Yoga!

THAN

FOR K YOU AUSTIN

20 GREAT YE

ARS

Anyone can learn to play!

Hockey Leagues for Youth and Adult, Beginner–Advanced Instructional Hockey Classes for Youth and Adult.

NORTHCROSS MALL 2525 West Anderson Lane | 512.252.8500 WWW.CHAPARRALICE.COM

Austin Join us on the Whole Foods Plaza for the third round of WLY! This donation-based yoga event is bigger and better with more vendors offering everything from yoga pants to haiku to henna, plus drinks and snacks to taste, while trying different styles of yoga from studios around the city. wholelottayoga.com OCTOBER 22

Spooktober 5K and Fall Fest Austin The Friends of Austin State Supported Living Center

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invites you to attend the 5th annual Spooktober 5K and Fall Fest. This family-friendly event includes a timed 5K run/ walk through West Austin, a mobile arcade, giant hamster ball, a petting zoo, food trucks, and more. austinspooktober.com OCTOBER 23

Gears for the Years Charity Bike Ride

Dell Diamond Family Eldercare, a local Austin nonprofit that provides vital services to seniors and adults with disabilities, is excited to announce its inaugural Gears for the Years Charity bike ride. The ride features a 25-, 40-, and 60mile route fully supported by aid stations, as well as a postride party that will include awesome raffle prizes, food, drinks, and vendor booths. familyeldercare.org/events/ item/198-gears-for-the-years. html OCTOBER 28

Crux Crank'nStein

Austin Crux is calling all ghosts, ghouls, and goblins to their Crank'nStein Competition. It's a climbing competition that'll be black-light dancing and

climbing and music all night.

They’ve got the witches’ brew, now all they need is you. cruxclimbingcenter.com/ cranknstein OCTOBER 30

Ironman 70.3 Austin

Various Locations Race in Texas’ capital of cool with one of the only indoor finishes on the Ironman circuit.

The swim will begin in Walter E. Long Lake, the bike ride will loop through rolling Texas farmlands, and the final run will end inside Luedecke Arena. ironman.com

FOOD AND DRINKS OCTOBER 13-16

Banger's Oktoberfest

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden This is one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations in town, spanning four days (and nights). Eat, drink, dance, and play to your heart's desire at this all-out party on Rainey Street. bangersaustin.com OCTOBER 14

Moved to Taste

Austin In the spirit of their mission to get kids moving, this unique tasting experience for

Stop Traffic...or Yoga Class One of a Kind Leggings & Capris

10.16

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adults incorporates a twist: local chefs pair Boneshakerinspired foods with surprise activities to encourage guests to ‘shake their bones.’ You won’t want to miss this exclusive beverage and cuisine tasting fundraiser. boneshaker.org/moved-taste2016-save-date/ OCTOBER 15

BeerFeast

Austin Austin Flying Saucer’s 9th annual BeerFeast will take place again at Triangle Park.

The festivities begin at 2 p.m. and feature over 70 breweries and 100 craft beers all carefully selected by resident beer gurus. Food trucks with delectable pairings will be on the scene as well, so get a ticket before it’s too late! saucerbeerfeast.com OCTOBER 29

Tequila Fest Austin Casa Chapalas’ Austin Tequila Society cordially invites you to participate in the seventh annual Austin Tequila Fest 2016.

This is a cultural experience where agave lovers, enthusiasts, novices, and connoisseurs gather to learn, taste, and enjoy many 100% de Agave spirits, plus celebrate the Day of the Dead, delicious food pairing, live music, and dancing. casachapala.com OCTOBER 30

Texas Monthly BBQ Festival City Terrace at The Long Center Now in its fourth year, this tasty festival has only four rules: muster as many of Texas' best BBQ joints as possible; have them serve up their specialties, side-by-side; let smoke and sauce fly for five intoxicating hours; and finally, let the people decide who made the best goods. tmbbq.com

ARTS

LIFESTYLE

Austin City Limits Music Festival

FORMULA 1 United States Grand Prix

OCTOBER 7-9

Zilker Park One of the country's largest celebrations of music, this sixday festival brings the magic of the famed public TV series Austin City Limits outside the studio and into Austin's most beloved park with more than 130 musical acts on eight stages over two weekends. aclfestival.com

OCTOBER 21-23

Circuit of The Americas International drivers will be in Austin this October to compete in the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas track. This event promises three days of racing, camping, live music events, and more—including a headlining performance by Taylor Swift for ticketholders. circuitoftheamericas.com

20% OFF

your order Offer expires 8/31/16

OCTOBER 13-20

Austin Film Festival Paramount Theatre & Various Locations Recognized as one of the top film festivals in the country, this cinematic event shines the spotlight on both topbilled films and indies alike. austinfilmfestival.com OCTOBER 15

Dia de los Muertos Music Festival

Fiesta Gardens The festival will feature renowned recording artists in the Latin and Texas music industries. The festival will offer food and beverages, cultural performances, altar contest as well as Kids Zone activities for youngsters. austindiadelosmuertos.com OCTOBER 23

Austin Symphony Orchestra Presents: Halloween Children's Concert The Long Center for the Performing Arts - Dell Hall This concert is a wonderful chance for you to introduce your children to the wonders of live orchestral music, and also a great opportunity to wear costumes and have tons of fun. The concert hall will be decorated top to bottom to enhance your little one's concert experience. austinsymphony.org

OCTOBER 22

AustOberfest Scholz Garten This year, the Austin Saengerrunde will celebrate the fourth annual AustOberfest in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Scholz Garten, the oldest continuously operating tavern in the state. This festival celebrates German heritage in Texas with beer, sausage, live music, and bowling. austoberfest.com

(512) 743-8906 | www.chachaleggings.com

OCTOBER 22

Shoal Creek Conservancy Birthday Austin The conservancy turns 3 this month, and would love you to join in the celebrations by hitting the trails and parks for a cleanup. The party begins at Seider Springs for an educational walk, mulching, seed ball making, and there will be music from Rattletree Marimba to keep you moving and grooving. shoalcreekconservancy.org/ events OCTOBER 31

Texas Fireworks Dia de los Muertos Celebration Kreig Baseball Field Light up your Halloween night with pyrotechnics at Kreig Softball Fields, presented by Planet K. planetktexasfireworks.com

• Rent and sell water purification machines • Steam distillation purification process • Replace 5 gallon bottled water cooler 602 West 13th Street | Austin, TX 78701 512.472.9393

GreaterTexasWater.com 10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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RACE CALENDAR OCTOBER OCTOBER 1

PetFest 5K San Marcos

Manor Fest 5K Manor

OCTOBER 16

BNI Business Voices 5K Austin

Fight Like a Girl 5K Round Rock OCTOBER 21

Rambler 120 Team Challenge Comal

Ultra 520K Texas Marble Falls

Sara’s 5K San Marcos

OCTOBER 22

Storehouse Harvest 5K Pflugerville

Frankenthon Monster Marathon Cedar Park Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race Austin

OCTOBER 2

FEATURED IRONMAN 70.3 AUSTIN // OCTOBER 30

Run Free Texas 80’s 8K Cedar Park

Spooktober 5K Austin

Meet Your Maker Off-Road Challenge Marble Falls

Color Vibe 5K Austin

OCTOBER 8

Hootenanny on the Hill Kyle

Pink Heals Hays County 5K San Marcos Speedster Cross Country Classic Round Rock

Corner Store Country Run Round Rock

RUN 10 FEED 10 Austin

Run/Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer Austin

OCTOBER 29

OCTOBER 14

Capital to Coast: The Great Texas Relay Austin OCTOBER 15

Cartwheels and Capes 5K Buda BigFoot Trail Race Johnson City Grey’s 5K – For Little Texas New Braunfels FEATURED HILL COUNTRY HALLOWEEN HALF MARATHON // OCTOBER 29

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Corre Latino 5K Cedar Park

Buda Elementary Races Buda Fable Fest 5K and Kids K Cedar Park Hill Country Halloween Half Marathon Cedar Park Catalyst 5K Leander EGA Boo Run Georgetown Run for the Americas San Marcos

IRONMAN photo courtesy of ironman.com; bottom photo courtesy of pentelievents.com

OCTOBER 9

10.16 – 12.16

Submit your event online at austinfitmagazine.com

The Great Pumpkin Dash Run/Walk San Marcos Shoebox Shuffle 5K New Braunfels

Aga Khan Foundation Run Austin

Gruene Turkey Trot New Braunfels

Dirty Du Smithville

Pfeathered Pfun Run Pflugerville

NOVEMBER 12

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot Austin

Trek or Treat Zombie Fun Run 5K Round Rock

ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/ Walk Austin

OCTOBER 30

Pflugerville Pets Alive Dog Jog 5K Pflugerville

Ironman 70.3 Austin Austin

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 5

Blanco Vista Wildcat 5K San Marcos Dirt Trails and Pony Tails Austin BattleFrog Austin Austin Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes 5K Austin BR3T 4M Family Fun Run/ Walk Wimberley Bull Du Seguin Jameson 5K at Southwestern Georgetown Wonderland Muleshoe Bend Trail Race Austin Wurst 5 Mile Run New Braunfels

NOVEMBER 13

Run by the Creek 10K and 5K Dripping Springs Hill Country Trivium Marble Falls Proud To Be An American Run New Braunfels Run with the Heroes 5K Austin NOVEMBER 19

Black Light Run Austin Chosen Half Marathon New Braunfels Thankful Turkey 5K San Marcos

DECEMBER DECEMBER 3

Austin Fit Crawl: Trail of Lights Edition Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run Austin Old Town Rudolph Run Leander Sights & Sounds of San Marcos 5K San Marcos Spectrum Series – McKinney Roughs Trail Run/Relay Austin Mission to Mission Charity Bike Tour San Antonio Pico de Gallo Weslaco DECEMBER 10

Dash for Disabled Vets 5K Seguin

Girls on the Run 5K Austin

Feed Your Hunger 5K/10K New Braunfels

St. Judes Jingle Bell 5K New Braunfels

Fit Fox 5K Dripping Springs

Real Ale Brewery 5K Beer Run Blanco

NOVEMBER 24 NOVEMBER 6

Run For the Water Austin

Cedar Park Turkey Day 5K Cedar Park

DECEMBER 11

ARC Decker Challenge Austin

Georgetown Turkey Trot Georgetown 10.16 / AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM

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DISCOVER!

Q&A

Sara Hensley Get to know the woman who keeps Austin’s festival season so green and vibrant. By Devyn Bernal

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the job Hensley and her department have is just balls, bats, and a lot of fun, they’re balancing what’s best for the land, the air, the water, and the people. Every decision Hensley and her team makes is with regards to the community. “When I say community, I mean the Big C,” Hensley says. “Not just the people, but the environment as well.”

The efforts being made by Hensley and her department are clearly visible when you’re outside enjoying the trails and weather. Just last spring, Zilker Park was ranked among the Best 10 Parks Nationwide according to USA Today. One of Hensley’s favorite accomplishments the department

has made is raising the park land dedication fees. This means that any time a development wants to build residentially, they have to pay a dedication fee to Austin’s Park and Recreation Department, or provide land in lieu of money. This ruling has always been in place, but never worth actual repairs or land. Hensley considers herself a preservationist, but she knows you can’t get done the things you need to without working alongside the community. “The quality of life is high up on the list of what matters to the people of Austin,” Hensley says. “We’re doing everything we can, along with your help, to preserve that.” afm

photo by Weston Carls

O

ftentimes, we enjoy certain pleasures without any consideration for the people who made it possible. The workers who clear Lady Bird Lake of any branches broken off in a storm. The volunteers who pick up trash left on Zilker Park after Blues on the Green. Or even the builders who construct new playgrounds and parks in your neighborhood. Leading the charge on these projects is Director of Parks and Recreation Department Sara Hensley, who has enough passion, tenacity, and care to cover Austin’s square footage and the residents who live here.

After earning a master’s degree in education and recreation administration from the University of Arkansas, Hensley gained experience from working in Champaign, Ill., Virginia Beach, Va., San Jose, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz. Through this change of scenery and climate, Hensley’s knowledge of landscape and park care grew. By 2008, she had “fire in the belly,” as she calls it, to move to Austin and continue her work here. “It was time for a little more green.”

Since then, Hensley has partnered alongside C3 and the Trail of Lights Foundation to ensure safe festivities for the beloved Zilker park, protected the public from reckless pet owners and overbearing intramural leagues, and taken care of Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker and the boardwalk, Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park, and several others. “These are special places no other city has that creates this big beautiful area for people to take hikes, bike, and run,” she says. “We’re really fortunate here in Austin.”

Hensley experiences satisfaction by knowing the land she is in charge of is being enjoyed. “You have to want to make a difference in somebody’s life. That’s the most rewarding thing,” she says. “As long as I know I’m doing that, I’ll continue to do it.”

Hensley prides herself in always telling the truth, even when it’s not what people want to hear. While some people may think

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