Violet Summer Zine Issue 8

Grillz & Granola By: Melissa Henderson When you sign up for a trap-aerobics class with Chavonne “Chavo” Hodges and Genail Mckinley from GrillzandGranola, there’s no doubt you’ll get a full-body workout. The music is what keeps you going when the burn in your glutes, thighs, and arms kick in like a tequila shot. Although I lost count of the number of classes I’ve taken with Chavo and Genail, their 20-minute virtual classes are by far the best experience you can give yourself in the comfort of your own home. Go inside our conversation.

VSZ: What’s the biggest change Grillz & Granola has experienced since coronavirus?

G&G: The biggest change we’ve seen is a shift in our approach to fitness. It’s been so exciting! Genny and I (Chavonne) have gone from hosting one or two in-person, weekly TrapAerobics classes to hosting a low-cost workout-from-home program consisting of 5+ workouts per week with built-in reminders to help hold people accountable. From 30-minute TrapAerobics classes to multiple 20-minute trapthemed workouts like Trap Abs, we have cultivated an amazing community of women who all are aiming to leave the COVID-19 quarantine better than how they started.

It’s been nothing but positive vibes and sweat so far.

VSZ: What’s your mission now that we are stuck in this pandemic?

G&G: Our mission has remained the same. We want to reinvent what wellness looks and feels like for women of color via community and vibes, and make it more accessible. If anything, we have been able to make the class even more accessible by going virtual.

VSZ: Has your audience changed?

G&G: We’re seeing our reach expand. We’re seeing lots of new faces and have been working out with more women outside of NYC. It’s been great!

VSZ: How are you keeping your clients engaged during the virtual workout?

G&G: As a start, we ask everyone to turn their cameras on for accountability purposes. It’s motivating to see other people workout with you. On top of that, we start each session with a question or quote of the day, then we make sure to encourage our participants by name while they’re working out. We want everyone to feel seen and comfortable.

VSZ: What goes into choosing the playlist? Do you take song requests? LOL G&G: LOL, we do take song requests/ suggestions! We choose our playlist based on our ability to come up with choreography to each song/ how the song makes us feel 41