Austin Fit Magazine November 2020: The Giving Issue

NOV 2020

Giving THE THE

ISSUE ISSUE

Why you should buy produce from local farmers.

The new dating app that connects volunteerism with meeting new people Pg. 28 How Austin Shift Meal is keeping Austin fed Pg. 40 How Austinites are giving back to our connected community Pg. 46 Why one club is keeping Austin trails clean Pg. 72

Carey Kepler with Ronda & Brook Owner & Coach at CrossFit Central Burnet Rd.

the heart of Discover Austin’s Own Nulo Pet Food

pet food.

Find a Local Store at Nulo.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Exposure

PHOTOGRAPHER COLLIN FINDLAY Austin, TX

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

From the Director outpouring of love and compassion people were sending to one another. Organizations began donating money and help to hospitals; people were lifting each other up virtually; companies shifted their regular production of materials to making masks and hand sanitizer — it was beautiful to see the Austin community come together for one another.

In this issue, we wanted to recognize a few organizations and humans going above and beyond, during COVID-19 and even before the pandemic. Austin Shift Meal came to the rescue when many restaurant workers lost their jobs, the Clean Trail Club has been working to keep Austin’s trails clean, two highschool students created a cookie delivery business when we needed comfort food most, a few local organizations and nonprofits give back through fitness, and more.

In one of our articles this month, Keeping Austin Trails Clean, I spoke with Jordan Whittle, co-founder of the Clean Trail Club, who describes her motivation behind beginning the organization. Her words to me were “it’s just such an easy way to give back and take care of the trail that has taken care of us” and she’s right.

Our city gives us so much: beautiful trails to hike, lakes to swim in, awesome local businesses and restaurants, exciting nightlife, the best people...so it only makes sense to give back as much as it gives us.

As we begin wrapping up this eventful year (hello, Holiday Season!), I encourage you to continue to practice compassion and seek ways to give back within our community, just as the Austinites in this issue have. There are so many ways to give back, from racing to benefit a nonprofit to picking up litter in your neighborhood. #KeepAustinFit goes beyond keeping our bodies healthy and fit — we must make it a priority to keep our community healthy and fit as well.

WHEW. 2020 HAS BEEN QUITE THE EVENTFUL YEAR.

I

’m sure we will all be able to recall this pandemic for the rest of our lives; the fear of going to the market and encountering another person (remember the toilet paper problem?), all of the news that flooded broadcast stations and social media, the loneliness we felt from having to keep away from loved ones for an extended period of time — it was rough.

However, one thing that came out of those first few months (in addition to an addiction to TikTok) was the

Keep Austin Fit,

Emily Effren

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT

NOVEMBER 2020

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November 2020

THE GOOD STUFF

46

GIVING BACK THROUGH FITNESS

24 DOUGH RE MI NOVEMBER 2020

68 TEEING OFF IN COOLER TEMPERATURES 8

Contents

HIGHLIGHTS

Director of Content’s Letter 6 | Digital Content 10 | Rides and Races 80 | Events 82

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FROM THE TABLE TO TIKTOK

36

SKIP SWIPING, TRY VOLUNTEERING

76

WORKOUT OF THE MONTH: CASTLE HILL FITNESS

NUTRITION

Recipe of the Month 12 Give Back to Your Gut 14 Why You Should Buy from Local Farmers 16

LIFESTYLE

WELLNESS

Dough Re Mi 24 Your Shopping Local Gift Guide 28 Keeping Austin Fed 40

FITNESS

The Mindful Side of Teeing off in Cooler Integrative Health 54 Temperatures 68 Wellness FAQ 58 Helping Others Reach Their Finding Gratitude Through Loss 60 Goals 70 Grounding Techniques for Keeping Austin Trails Clean 72 Anxiety 62

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM We’re more than just a monthly publication. Join us online and on our social networks to see the additional awesomeness we’re up to. austinfitmagazine.com

5 WAYS TO WIN THE DAY

NUTRITION

In-Season Foods on Your Radar

NOVEMBER 2020

WELLNESS

Self Care Tips for the Holiday Season

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FITNESS

How to Avoid Holiday Weight Gain

CEO | LOU EARLE PUBLISHER | LYNNE EARLE CTO | DREW TERRY

#KEEPAUSTINFIT Follow us on Instagram: @ AU S T I N F I T Tag us or use the hashtag #keepAustinfit for your post to be featured.

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT | EMILY EFFREN ART DIRECTOR | BEN CHOMIAK PHOTOGRAPHER | BRIAN FITZSIMMONS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT | MONICA HAND STAFF WRITER | CAROLINE BETIK PROOFREADER | HAYLEE REED CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mia Barnes, Jason Boydston, Rachel Cook, Shannon Dolan, AOMA Faculty Members, Alora Jones, Erik Stanley INTERN Emily Metzger

GENERAL INQUIRIES info@austinfitmagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES lynne@austinfitmagazine.com 512.608.8554 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS austinfitmagazine.com/article-submission fitfocus@austinfitmagazine.com EVENT LISTINGS austinfitmagazine.com/events SUBSCRIPTIONS austinfitmagazine.com/subscribe 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.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

NUTRITION SPONSOR

Ann Shippy, M.D.

NOVEMBER 2020

RECIPE OF THE MONTH n Skip indulging in your Thanksgiving dessert cravings

and prepare this healthy recipe — trust us, it’s yummy.

GINGE R MO LASSES C OOKIE S INGREDIENTS: ½ cup melted coconut oil ½ cup coconut sugar 2 tbsp. molasses 2 eggs 2 cups almond flour ½ cup coconut flour 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon ½ tsp salt More coconut sugar, for rolling (if desired)

PREPARATION: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. 2. Combine coconut oil, coconut sugar, molasses, and egg in a bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, combine almond flour, coconut flour, ground ginger, cinnamon and salt.

NOVEMBER 2020

4. Mix the dry ingredients in with the wet, and mix until dough comes together.

5. U sing a cookie scoop, scoop out balls and roll into coconut sugar. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and press down lightly.

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes and allow to cool on a wire rack.

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NUTRITION AUTHOR

Shannon Dolan

GIVE BACK TO YOUR GUT n 70% of your immune system is housed in the gut — here’s how to properly take care of it.

B

rain fog, eczema, acne, irregular cycles, depression, anxiety and fatigue are all related to poor gut health.

The gut consists of your internal digestive system and the bacteria that live inside it. There are roughly 100 trillion bacteria species that set up camp. That is more bacteria inside your gut than there are stars in a galaxy. Good bacteria aids your digestion and optimizes proper function, but the problem arises when there is an overgrowth of harmful bacteria. These bacteria can cause inflammation in the body, decrease immune function, ignite sugar cravings and alter your brain chemistry.

The gut interacts with every system of the body.

Without it functioning properly, you cannot digest your food, thereby hindering the ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients — meaning, even if you eat the cleanest of diets, you could be missing out on the

NOVEMBER 2020

benefits of those foods. Conversely, if you are eating foods that your body is sensitive to, it can cause leaky gut.

Leaky gut describes the excess inflammation on the intestinal walls. It occurs when a person is consistently consuming foods they have sensitivities toward. Think of a healthy intestinal environment as a scene from Finding Nemo. The sea plants are flowing back and forth with vibrancy and life, just like the microvilli in an intestinal wall. Microvilli are fingerlike projections that come off of the intestinal wall to grab and absorb nutrients. Now, imagine an oil spill in that underwater scene. This is essentially what an unhealthy gut will look like. The microvilli cannot function due to inflammation. Over time, this causes the intestinal barriers to weaken.

Undigested molecules then slip out of the intestinal walls and into the body. This can manifest as joint

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happens because the body is perceiving something as a stress and, in turn, shuts down systems that require a relaxed, calm state to operate. Consequently, if you are stressed, the body focuses on safety over digesting your food. This is why people often report losing their appetite during high-stress times at work or running to the bathroom before a large presentation.

With consistent work in nutrition, you can cultivate a thriving environment for healthy gut bacteria and optimize overall gut function.

Where to start:

Look at AFM’s Once you decipher which foods are September issue causing issues, eliminate them as you start where I break down the journey of healing and repairing your how to detect food gut. Ditch all refined, processed foods, sensitivities! added sugars and alcohol, and limit caffeine consumption to just 1/2-1 cup per day.

Replace these items with nutrient-dense foods like grass-fed meats, veggies, herbal teas and plenty of water.

Supplements to assist healing:

Not all probiotics are created equal. Most of them are a giant waste of money, because the bacteria do not survive digestion. I recommend spore-based probiotics, because the spores survive digestion and can flourish when they get to the intestine.

Consult Zinc is not only a huge player in immune with your support, but it also plays a critical role in health practitioner digestion.

First, opt for food sources of zinc before starting any such as wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats and supplemental pumpkin seeds.

Supplementing with roughly protocol.

30-40mg of zinc can be beneficial during the healing process. pain, brain fog, skin disorders, fatigue and, if not Magnesium is another critical player, not only in appropriately treated, chronic conditions like digestion but in all aspects of the body. Magnesium autoimmune disease. Inflammation in the gut also supplementation can decrease inflammation, muscle disrupts immune function. soreness and lower menstrual pain. Supplementation of According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, about 100g of magnesium glycinate or citrate (the most 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, so if bioavailable forms) can be beneficial, as most Americans the gut is not nurtured, your risk for catching colds are deficient in this nutrient. and viruses dramatically increases.

There are other supplements that may be valuable The gut is also referred to as the “second brain,” during the process, however, you cannot out-supplement because there is direct communication between the a poor diet. Focus on the food first! Choose a variety of gut and the brain. Nearly 90% of your serotonin and real, whole foods, with emphasis on nutrient density to 50% of your dopamine are produced in the gut. These create a thriving environment for your gut, which leads neurotransmitters play a critical role in feelings and to improved immune and cognitive function. afm mood.

Stress can significantly hinder the gut’s Shannon Dolan is a nutritional therapy practitioner, performance. If a person is overly stressed and personal trainer and owner of Health With Shannon. chronically in fight-or-flight mode, their risk for adverse gut health symptoms rise. Biologically, this

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

NUTRITION AUTHOR

Rachel Cook

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY FROM LOCAL FARMERS n Do you know where everything came from on your plate? This is your sign: Start buying from local farmers.

W

hile buying from the farmers’ market is a pleasant experience in itself, there is so much more to gain than just the ambiance of shopping outdoors. Here in ATX, The Texas Farmers’ Market hosts two events every weekend. TFM is at Lakeline on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Mueller on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events are a wholesome way to spend the weekend, moseying about the stands of vibrant fruits and vegetables during cool autumn mornings, listening to live music and conversing with local, small, family farmers.

The meat and produce at the market may have less in common with the offerings at your local grocery store than you would think. Texas farms like Bouldin Food Forest, B5 Farm, Fruitful Hill Farm and Flintrock Hill Farm implement farming practices

NOVEMBER 2020

in line with permaculture, a sustainable design in which farms work as an ecosystem, mimicking nature rather than fighting against it. The use of crop rotation, cover crops and grazing animals results in better water retention, less erosion, carbon-rich soil and an abundance of nutrient-dense, organic food that is more resilient than traditional soil-tilled, monocultures.

Monocultures like corn, wheat and soy require herbicides, fungicides and pesticides which can be so harmful that corn is actually genetically-modified to withstand it. According to regenerative farmer, Gabe Brown, the lack of crop rotation depletes the soil and crops of nutrients, resulting in the desertification of the land. When one of these monocrops fails, whether that be due to drought or bugs, taxpayers’ money is allocated toward federal crop insurance, subsidies and disaster relief. Between 1995 and 2020, this totaled

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Texas Hill Country Olive Co.

$425 billion, according to the Environmental Working Group’s database. Supporting local farmers is a smart investment — financially, environmentally, medically and socially. It is giving back to the people who take care of our land and who feed us food that makes us healthier.

With Thanksgiving coming up, the timing could not be more appropriate to support our local farms. In Texas, Belle Vie Farm & Kitchen, a family-owned farm with French roots, and Smith & Smith Farms, a venture born from Colby Smith’s job loss, both raise pastured, broad-breasted turkeys available for purchase online, with pickup at the Lakeline and Mueller Farmers’ Markets. Other local farms offer grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, pasture-raised chicken and pasture-raised eggs, where the animals are free to graze on grass and forage for insects as they please. Some farms even offer delivery straight to your door.

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

n NUTRITION

JBG Organic

1915 Farm

otherwise go to waste. In addition, for every box ordered they donate a box to a family facing food insecurity.

Possibly the most well-known farm in Austin, Johnson’s Backyard Garden started in 2004 — literally in a backyard in East Austin. In 2010, the Backyard Garden expanded into a 168-acre plot in Garfield, Texas, and now offers a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to its customers which includes weekly or bi-weekly produce deliveries, invitations to garden or cooking classes, tours of the farm and potlucks. For those who want to be as involved in the process as possible, JBG offers a volunteer program in exchange for a share of produce.

The program is currently suspended due to COVID-19, but you can check their website for updates.

The number of local farms to choose from can be overwhelming. But whether you choose hydroponic tomatoes from Flintrock Hill Farm or the organic ones at your neighborhood grocery store, your dollar makes a difference in giving back to farmers who are doing the more unconventional thing by practicing sustainably.

Looking to get started? AFM has created a guide for buying local foods, so you know who is farming the food you eat, where they’re located, what they’re making and how to buy it, even if it’s just for Thanksgiving this year. afm

1915 Farm is a project started by Catherine and Tanner Klemcke just outside of Victoria, Texas.

Catherine worked in pharmaceutical sales, and Tanner worked in oil until they both quit their jobs to pursue raising meat that prevented people from needing expensive pharmaceuticals. According to their website, the duo offers a subscription box called the “1915 Grassroots Club” with the option of delivery every 2-8 weeks and free shipping in Texas. It comes with various cuts of pastured heritage pork, pastured chicken and your choice of Wagyu or grass-finished beef.

Farmhouse Delivery

Farmhouse Delivery is a one-stop-shop for organic produce, pasture-raised meat, dairy, wild seafood, eggs and pantry items, all sourced from local farms and businesses. In addition to groceries, they offer subscription boxes of meat, produce and meal kits, delivered straight to any Austinites’ door.

JBG Organic

The brainchild of UT Medical student, Zack Timmons, and Austin-native, Gabe Breternitz, Good Apple Foods is another produce-delivery service with the goal of reducing food waste in Austin. They deliver 10-13 pounds of produce from local farms that would

NOVEMBER 2020

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Austin Fit’s Go-To Guide for Buying Local Farmers Market Produce

Farmers Market Meat

Bouldin Food Forest Vegetables, greens, herbs and fruit grown using permaculture methodology on 150 acres in Rogers, Texas

Shirttail Creek Farm Grass-fed beef, pasture-raised eggs and chickens from Brenham, Texas,

by Carolynn and Sam Moffett

B5 Farm Heirloom vegetables and herbs grown in Lockhart, Texas Bernhardt’s Farm Chemical-free fruits and vegetables grown in Elgin, Texas Engel Farms Famous for their Fredericksburg peaches F-Stop Farm Fresh vegetables, lots of peppers and the best pickles in town grown on Ryan Farnau’s urban farm in East Austin Flintrock Hill Farm Hydroponic and sustainable greens, peppers, seasonal produce and pastured eggs in Kingsbury, Texas Fruitful Hill Farm Organic produce, pasture-raised eggs and goats grown in Smithville, Texas, by the Ringgers and their six children Johnson’s Backyard Garden Over 200 certified organic fruits, vegetables and herbs in Garfield, Texas Texan Hill Country Olive Co. Father, John, and daughter, Cara Gambini, offer a variety of awardwinning, certified-organic, extra virgin olive oils you can experience at their tasting room and orchard located in Dripping Springs, Texas

Belle Vie Farm & Kitchen Pasture-raised duck, goose, turkey, chicken, pork and a kitchen offering charcuterie, sausages and catering

by French Chef Perrine in Thrall, Texas Grass-Fed Beef of Texas Grass-fed and finished beef, pastured chickens, free-range eggs by Logan and Johnna Davis in Llano, Texas Humble Rooster Farm Pastured chicken and eggs in Bertram, Texas Munkebo Farm Grass-fed beef, pasture-raised hogs, fruits and vegetables grown using permaculture methodology on a Swedish farm in Manor, Texas Smith & Smith Farms Dorper lambs, laying hens, Cornish Rock meat chickens, Red Wattle hogs, broad-breasted white turkeys and eggs grown by the Smiths in Burlington, Texas Taylor’s Farm Grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, eggs and organic produce grown

by Jill and Ward Taylor in Lexington, Texas Winters Family Beef Pastured Wagyu and Angus beef with free-choice feed by the Winters in Brady, Texas

Delivery Services 1915 Farm Grass-fed beef, Wagyu beef, pastured heritage pork, pastured chicken by Catherine and Tanner Klemcke in Meyersville, Texas Bar 3 Ranch Grass-fed beef and wild pork in Georgetown, Texas Buck Creek Meat Grass-fed beef, grass-fed lamb, pastured pork, pastured chicken and pastured eggs by Richard and Mona in Paducah, Texas Farm to Table Previously only delivering to local restaurants. Now offering home delivery boxes of beef, chicken, eggs, goat cheese and produce from various Texas farms, KTonic kombucha, and Rambler sparkling water Farmhouse Delivery Meal kits, meat and produce subscription boxes, or groceries from local farms, bakeries and businesses Good Apple Foods Subscription of local, organic, leafy green, fruits, vegetables and herbs that reduces food waste and fights food insecurity Green Gate Farms Not for delivery, but an East Austin CSA program for organic produce and flowers with pickup locations all over Austin Johnson’s Backyard Garden CSA delivery with over 200 certified organic fruits, vegetables and herbs in Garfield, Texas Svantes Ranch Direct A Swedish ranch started in 1882 offering grass-fed and finished beef from Stamford, Texas Vinder A community farmers’ market for home gardeners, community gardens and urban farms to buy, sell and trade with their neighbors through an app

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

NUTRITION AUTHOR

Emily Metzger

FROM THE TABLE TO TIKTOK n AFM speaks with foodstagrammer and TikTok star Mimi Le about the food scene in ATX.

R

ecently, we’ve been hearing the phrase, “Oh my gosh, we have to try this restaurant. I saw it on TikTok!” more and more. As social media continues to evolve, people are looking to more platforms, such as TikTok, to check out hip and trendy restaurants before their visit. Because of this, a new wave of “foodstagramers” and TikTok food reviews is gaining popularity from their presentation of photogenic, mouth-watering dishes.

Mimi, or better known as @feedmi_, is an Austinbased food TikTok star and Instagrammer who shares her favorite up-and-coming restaurants. AFM had the opportunity to speak with Mimi to discuss how her platform began and what she hopes to accomplish by showcasing her exciting eating adventures.

AFM: Do you have a preferred platform (IG, TikTok, new website) and why?

MIMI: Since I started on Instagram, that’s the platform I’ll

always prefer. However, I do think that TikTok is really giving Instagram a run for its money! TikTok is really changing the game in the food scene. It has the ability to reach far more people than other social media platforms.

I’ve had multiple restaurant owners contact me and tell me that people have visited because of my TikToks. A few hours of editing can be a lot, but it’s messages like this that make me want to continue. Austin wouldn’t be a great city to live in without all our amazing restaurants, and I would hate to see my favorites shut down.

AFM: What inspired you to start a food blog?

MIMI: I’ve actually always taken pictures of my food since

AFM: Your TikTok account has gained a massive following. Was there a specific TikTok that blew up? Or did you gradually gain a large following?

I was in high school. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago when my mom questioned what I was doing with all my photos of food that my platform began to take shape.

After I finished grad school, my life was moving slower and I had more free time, so I was like, why not start an Instagram and see how it goes?

NOVEMBER 2020

MIMI: My first TikTok to break a million views was a

video of when I traveled to Vietnam and showed chefs making a crunchy rice dish. This is another reason I

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AFM: A big part of your TikToks is featuring a restaurant and its ambiance, etc. Has this become difficult due to COVID-19?

MIMI: A lot of clips I use are older — pre-COVID. I started

to be active on TikTok during quarantine out of boredom.

Restaurants were struggling, and we couldn’t go out and about much, so I pulled videos in my archives from the past 2-3 years of food blogging and started making TikToks about local restaurants. I try to only create TikToks now for restaurants I know that have a takeout or delivery option. If I am picking up something, I’ll try to take a quick video at the exterior or entryway of a restaurant. Sometimes if they are not busy, I’ll ask if I can get behind the scenes videos of them making the food. I always make sure to wear a mask while I’m there. Then I will take the food home to eat and a lot of times will take close-up videos of the dishes at home.

AFM: Have you worked with any restaurants or organizations that are making or made meals for healthcare workers during COVID? MIMI: I did a campaign for Snarf ’s Sandwiches called

“See a Sandwich, Send a Sandwich.” The idea was to post a pic of your Snarf ’s order, tag @snarfssandwichesatx and tag a deserving, local Austin organization, and Snarf ’s will send them free sandwiches (could be healthcare, nonprofit, service workers, etc.)! I tagged @ caritasofaustin (nonprofit) which helps the homeless community in Austin. They provide free lunches to those in need, no questions asked, from their community kitchen Monday-Fridays. This is just one of their many services they provide.

love TikTok, because it’s unpretentious. Instagram sometimes can be just a big popularity contest and almost too perfect. On TikTok you don’t have to have a lot of followers for your video to blow up. Anyone can go viral. It’s more about your content than your follower count. I remember I had 19 followers when I posted this video.

AFM: From your posts, I’ve seen you’ve done partnerships with products. Have you gotten to work with any Austin brands you’re passionate about?

MIMI: Recently, I worked with Tandem, @drinktandem.

They’re a flavored water enhancer, who are female-led. A portion of their profits are even donated to Central Texas Food Bank.

I’ve worked with Afia, @afiafoods, who sell frozen falafel & kibbeh. They are female majority-owned as well as minority-owned.

I also worked with Cuvée Coffee, @cuveecoffee. This was a TikTok partnership. They are a local coffee shop, and sell coffee products nationwide.

AFM: What is the process of making your TikToks?

MIMI: Making a TikTok takes at least a couple hours, due

to editing and syncing the clips to music. In TikToks where I feature one restaurant, it will take around an hour to create. However, my list of five can take one to two hours. Usually, I’ll begin by digging through my laptop and finding clips, then deciding what category I can come up with that fits all five restaurants.

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n NUTRITION

AFM: What is your take on the Austin food scene?

MIMI: I think Austin is really good at

cultivating creative, fusion and modern foods. They are lacking in the true, authentic, ethnic food scene, but I love the creativity that Austin offers.

Restaurants are always coming up with fun, new ideas!

AFM: What has been your favorite recipe discovery while spending more time at home?

MIMI: Recently, I went and bought this

Jamacia jerk seasoning from Fiesta and have been obsessed with it. I’ve been making jerk chicken almost every day. It’s super easy to make, and I usually try and stick with easy recipes because my days can be pretty busy.

AFM: How would you describe your platform? Is there a message you want to encourage?

MIMI: I want to approachably empower people to try new foods (food from a different culture, new restaurant, etc.), try cooking new dishes (sometimes I think, “This is too hard,” but when I actually attempt it, it’s not at all) or try new experiences (traveling). Basically, I want to encourage people to go out of their comfort zone and that trying something new isn’t always as intimidating as it sometimes seems. afm

AFM: Is there an ATX restaurant that stands out among the rest? If so, why?

MIMI: I really like Haru. It’s a moderately priced sushi

restaurant. They have a great happy hour, their fish is super fresh and even their non-sushi items are really good. It was one of the first restaurants I ever visited when I first moved to Austin.

Where to Find Mimi:

TikTok @feedmi • IG @feedmi_ • Website feedmi.org

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When we invest in health, the whole community feels it.

It's Time Texas is a statewide nonprofit empowering Texans to lead healthier lives and build healthier communities.

At a time when our youth are projected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, we’re determined to build a path to health for every family.

It’s a future that all of us have a part in creating.

Come make a difference at itstimetexas.org

LIFESTYLE AUTHOR

Alora Jones

PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtesy of Dough Re Mi

GIVING BACK, ONE COOKIE AT A TIME n The two high school students behind Dough Re Mi, an ATX cookie delivery business, share how they make (and raise) dough for Austin.

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ince the beginning of quarantine, the smell of warm, gooey Dough Re Mi cookies has encompassed the kitchens of two highschool students as they package each fresh cookie with care for the Austin community.

“During quarantine, everyone was obviously getting to know their kitchen,” says Alice Huang, baker and co-founder of Dough Re Mi. “We made a lot of things at home like crab cheese omelets, cinnamon rolls, whipped coffee and cookies, obviously. They stood out to us because they were quick, delicious, fairly easy to transfer and full of possibilities for creative flavors. So we decided on those, and everyone loves cookies, right?”

High school students Alice Huang and Sarah Zeng launched their business journey of Dough Re Mi on May 20 as a way to use their time to help the city of Austin. As of the end of September, the girls have raised $3,471 for the All Together ATX COVID-19 relief fund

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and donated 80% of their proceeds.

Starting in October, 80% of their proceeds are going to United Way for Greater Austin to fight poverty.

“We found out about All Together ATX; it was an umbrella fund that distributed funds to a lot of different nonprofits to aid them in COVID-19 relief,” says Zeng, a student at Westwood High School. “We thought it would be a good charity to donate to because it kind of covered everything.”

Huang and Zeng met in sixth grade, instantly clicked and continued their friendship throughout the years, even through obstacles, such as Huang moving to a different school in seventh grade and not being able to attend the same high school together. After spending time baking and cooking for fun during the beginning of COVID-19, the pair realized a lot of

Alice Huang Sarah Zeng summer activities such as camps and vacations in the summer were likely to be canceled — so Huang and Zeng came up with the idea to start a cookie business.

“We’ve always had our eyes on a career in the medical field, like healthcare, which is one of the reasons why we thought that

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donating to this COVID-19 relief fund would be relevant,” says Huang, a student at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. “But Dough Re Mi as a business has shown us that maybe there are other things in our future that we can enjoy as well.”

The co-founders do their own baking, cleaning, packaging and planning for the company. They take orders on their website until Thursday night, bake the cookies on Friday afternoon and then deliver on Saturday.

“Both of us can’t drive yet, so our parents have to drive us around every Saturday all over the city to deliver,” Huang says.

To make the deliveries easier, Huang takes the South Austin deliveries while Zeng does the north. Huang delivered as far as Bastrop once, while Zeng has gone all the way to Georgetown.

“We have a delivery zone, because obviously we can’t drive everywhere,” Huang says. “If people live outside of our delivery zone, we offer a pickup option.”

Huang and Zeng find most of their recipes online and alter them to their preferred taste. They offer classic cookies at $8 a dozen, which are available as gluten-free and vegan. In addition, the girls also do themed rotations of specialty

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

n LIFESTYLE

THE COOKIES STOOD OUT TO US BECAUSE THEY WERE QUICK, DELICIOUS, FAIRLY EASY TO TRANSFER AND FULL OF POSSIBILITIES FOR CREATIVE FLAVORS, AND EVERYONE LOVES COOKIES, RIGHT?”

cookies for $10 a dozen. Once, the pair had an ice cream themed rotation, which included mint chocolate chip and butter pecan.

Their fall rotation has included a caramel apple oatmeal cookie topped with salted caramel drizzle (Apple-y Ever After), a cakey pumpkin spice cookie with spiced vanilla drizzle (Pump It Up) and a brown sugar maple cookie with pecans and maple icing (Call Me Maple). They will also try to fulfill any ingredient substitutions upon request.

“We definitely have a vision for what we want our cookies, especially

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our specialty cookies, to be for the month,” Huang says. “I know Sarah and I are both very hyped up about fall, so we’ve had many ideas about fall-themed cookies.”

Huang and Zeng also sell two types of all-natural dog treats, Sweet Puptatos and Peanut Puppers, which only cost $12 for 24 treats.

In addition, all of their items come with a gift option for an extra $2, which comes with a customizable card the girls type and print along with a bow. The gifts can then be delivered to whoever desired.

Sanitation is a priority for Huang and Zeng. The girls make sure to

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wear gloves all the time, keeping supplies clean and avoiding cross contamination. For deliveries, they wear masks and also offer contactless delivery upon request.

“We did a little bit of research and found out about the Texas Cottage Food Laws, which authorizes home businesses to make food products as long as they’re certain products, as long as you don’t make over $50,000 a year and a couple of other rules,” Zeng says. “But one of the main certifications we had to get was our Texas Food Handlers Card, so we took a course on that, and we took a test. So, both of us have that.”

Along with attending high school and extracurriculars, the girls have to balance their time managing all the ins and outs of their business to keep it flourishing, such as maintaining the website and updating social media.

“I think the most time-consuming thing is coming out with new flavors,” says Zeng, who is also a Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) member, “since we have specialty flavor rotations that rotate out every month. So every

month, we have to test our new recipes and then come out with our new flavors.”

The Dough Re Mi co-founders want to continue their business and hope in the future to have their cookies ordered as refreshments for parties, corporate meetings or local businesses.

“We’ve become a lot more proactive, you could say, or outspoken,” says Huang, who found a shared love for baking and cooking with her mom at a young age. “I feel like it’s definitely given me a lot more confidence, because growing up, I wasn’t always the most extroverted at school. Now, I feel like Dough Re Mi and its success has given me a feeling that I can do things, so I feel really empowered.” afm

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LIFESTYLE AUTHOR

AFM Team

YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE n Trying to support local brands? AFM has you covered this holiday season with these gift ideas from Austin-based stores.

CO F F E E B L E ND S F R O M G R E AT E R G O O D S C O FFEE C O .

GR EAT ER GO O D S C O F F E E C O .

Greater Goods Coffee Co. is not only a beloved Austin coffee shop, but they also sell their own unique coffee blends from all around the world. The coffee brand takes pride in creating diverse flavors while keeping their production social and environmentally responsible. The company believes in giving back to the community as well, which is why a portion of their coffee sales goes toward various Texas nonprofits such as the Central Texas Food Bank, Autism Society and Austin Pets Alive!.

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DOCK I N G S TATI O N | M J WO O D C O .

This local pop-up is a new company and only about a year old.

When Melia Janae began wood working, she didn’t know exactly all that wood working entailed but has since grown to create beautiful pieces of decor for a home or office. This minimalist docking station crafted from red oak wood allows the user to make it their own to store their most used daily items. Each product is handcrafted and shipped within 7 to 10 business days.

While the shop does not have a brick-and-mortar location, you can watch out on Instagram to see when she will pop up as a vendor at various festivals throughout the year, or simply order online.

O LIV E O ILS | C ON ’ OLIO OILS AN D VIN EGARS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CON’ OLIO

If you’re a foodie or looking to find a gift for a foodie, try Con’ Olio, located in the Arboretum. This family-owned oil boutique offers an online shop in addition to in-person shopping and also has plenty of sets (and sample sets — yum!) perfect for the holidays.

If you’re looking for more of an experience, pop in and try a tasting or register for one of their virtual, Olive Oil/ Balsamic 101 classes.

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n LIFESTYLE G IFT SE T S | MILK + HON E Y milk + honey was founded by Alissa Bayer in 2006, a pioneer in Austin’s clean beauty space. Originally, the business began as a single spa focused on exceptional customer experience and commitment to clean, non-toxic ingredients. Even during construction, Bayer maintained that the spa use “green” construction materials. Now, milk + honey has grown to six spa locations and has since launched a product line so customers may experience milk + honey in their own homes. For the holidays, they have curated four milk + honey gift sets that anyone would love, including Art of the Bath, Self Care Minis, Skincare Heroes and Travel Essentials. Pair a gift set with a milk + honey spa package for the most luxurious holiday experience.

RE N E W + R E PA IR FAC E O IL | O L I VE + M Olive + M is an olive oil-based, non-toxic skincare company that uses natural, plant-based ingredients. Each product is thoughtfully formulated with ingredients to fight acne and bacteria, brighten your skin complexion, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and protect your natural beauty from pollution. Their Renew + Repair Face Oil is composed of nutrient-rich botanicals immersed in olive oil that will nourish and hydrate all skin types. Olive + M believes that skincare can be good for you and the environment, which is why they plant one tree for every purchase.

To find out more, visit www.oliveandm.com or their Instagram, @oliveandm.

Get 20%

ode: off with c T AUSTINFI

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SU CCY L OVE G I FT B OX  |   SU C C U L E N T N ATIVE Succulent Native started with just a push cart that travelled around Austin selling mini cacti and arrangements. Now, the founder Shannon Donaldson continues that succulent dream with a brick-and-mortar storefront located on North Lamar. The Succy Love Gift Box comes with a mini cacti arrangement, a candle, a sugar scrub and a succulent chocolate locally made by chocolatier SRSLY Chocolates. This gift box, along with the other themed boxes they offer, can be shipped locally in Austin or picked up right in the store.

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LIFESTYLE AUTHOR

Monica Hand

THE COVID-19 PIVOT n How businesses across the area pivoted their focus to help bring protective personal equipment to Austinites.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOZART’S COFFEE ROASTERS

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tarting in March, Austin seemed to turn upside down. Protective face masks and hand sanitizer became necessary for everyday life and essential workers charged forward, carrying the city on their backs. It didn’t take long before a shortage of those sanitation products and masks added to the city’s collective anxiety. Austinites rose to the challenge, and small businesses and distilleries across the area stepped up to offer what they could.

Many businesses and organizations around Austin began making and carrying masks as soon as they realized the need — places like Ace Tailors, Austin School of Fashion and Design, and Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, just to name a few.

On March 17, just two days after the initial lockdown, one of Austin’s favorite, lake-side cafes, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, received a call from a local fashion designer.

She wanted to start making masks and selling them through Mozart’s.

“At first, we were reluctant to the request to carry the line. The pandemic was new. We were, like everyone, figuring out how to survive and operate in what would become a new ‘normal,’” Co-owner of Mozart’s Ken Leonard says.

“Fast forward to a matter of days — and this inquiry actually became a catalyst for our decision to make many pivots.”

Leonard says the demand for the masks increased instantaneously, lining customers out the door

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and creating requests for more.

In response to the ever-growing demand, Leonard called up some family and friends and set up another line of masks, sewed by nurses.

“Business exceeded anyone’s expectations by a factor of 10,” Leonard says. “We ultimately carry in e-commerce and direct retail mode five different lines of masks.”

The nurse-made masks have since sold over the 10,000 mark and a second line, also created by Leonard and his company, has sold over 35,000 masks. When asked about the future of the mask lines, Leonard says the course of the pandemic is unpredictable and there is just no way to know what the post-COVID-19 world will look like.

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

“We do maintain each of the lines, the inventory, and availability and will continue to offer a personal protective equipment source for our community — both locally and nationally online,” he says.

In turn, in regard to hand sanitizer, distilleries like Tito’s, Hye Rum and Treaty Oak Distilling were quick in their response to the pandemic’s demands as well. For Treaty Oak, the conversation began on March 20, and within two weeks they were producing hand sanitizer and filling orders.

“In very short order, we saw the need to produce sanitizer in order to serve the community in time of crisis as well as create a lifeline to keep our employees and company afloat,” Director of Science and Sustainability at Treaty Oak Distilling Jamie Biel says.

Navigating the constantly changing legalities and all of the minute details were a lot to take on, Biel says, but nonetheless they were able to get everything together in a matter of weeks — all

COURTESY OF TREATY OAK DISTILLING

n LIFESTYLE

IN VERY SHORT ORDER, WE SAW THE NEED TO PRODUCE SANITIZER IN ORDER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN TIME OF CRISIS AS WELL AS CREATE A LIFELINE TO KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMPANY AFLOAT.”

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AT FIRST, WE WERE RELUCTANT TO THE REQUEST TO CARRY THE LINE. THE PANDEMIC WAS NEW. WE WERE, LIKE EVERYONE, FIGURING OUT HOW TO SURVIVE AND OPERATE IN WHAT WOULD BECOME A NEW ‘NORMAL.’”

COURTESY OF MOZART’S COFFEE ROASTERS

the while continuing to offer to-go orders and delivery from their restaurant and finding ways to provide food to families in need.

Among the chaos, the team was able to provide gallons of hand sanitizer to the likes of the City of Austin, the Department of Justice, and even NASA. The team had to put in long hours devoted to new jobs of hand sanitizer production and bottle filling. Biel says that as soon as they had a product to sell, it was sold out.

“The urgency behind the deals was palpable. It takes time to batch and fill bottles, arrange shipping, process invoices. But for lots of these people, this meant life and death,” Biel says. “As such, we worked our butts off all day every day to make this happen.”

Once HEB and Whole Foods began carrying the hand sanitizer, Biel says they switched the production to glass bottles on the bottling line to ramp up production time.

“Looking back, it was a symphony of moving parts — we all did our jobs as well as we could and without any one person involved, we could not have done it,” Biel says. “I really feel proud of my team.”

Now that demand has dropped, Treaty Oak Distilling is using that brewery equipment to brew beer, and they’re back to crafting their whiskey and gin.

“Needless to say, the thousands of gallons of sanitizer we produced and sold during the last eight months was a good thing; we are so glad to be back to mashing in everyday, but we could not have done it without sanitizer.”

With so much uncertainty about the future, it’s nice to know that when things get tough, Austinites are always ready to step up and help out. afm

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LIFESTYLE AUTHOR

Caroline Betik

PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtesy of Swoovy

SKIP SWIPING, TRY VOLUNTEERING! n New dating app, created in Austin, connects volunteerism with meeting new people.

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s we move into the winter and holiday season, it is common for many people to experience lower levels of mental health.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse.” That, combined with dealing with seasonal depression, can make the holiday season incredibly difficult for some.

Two things that have been found to boost mental health are healthy relationships and volunteerism — and an app has been created that combines the two.

Swoovy is an Austin-based, online dating and connections platform which introduces its users to volunteer opportunities in order to increase volunteerism while fostering relationships. As social distancing guidelines persist, this app has allowed people to form new relationships and boost mental

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health while giving back to the community in a safe and helpful way.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve really found that community outreach is one of my big passions,” Summer McAfee, Swoovy user says. “Just being able to help, whether it be mentoring kids or volunteering at the food bank or doing care packages for the soldiers that are deployed, I just feel like it’s one of those things that you just feel good about doing some good.”

Many studies have shown the mental health benefits for volunteering. According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), volunteering is significantly predictive of better mental and physical health, life satisfaction, self-esteem, happiness, lower depressive symptoms, psychological distress, mortality and functional inability.

“As someone who has been single since quarantine

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started, I’ve stayed home a lot, and the social interaction of being able to do something fun and catch up with somebody — all of that aspect is gone,” McAfee says. “For me, Swoovy has been great, because volunteering virtually has helped fill my cup. Even though I’m pouring out and doing good, as someone who’s been solo in quarantine, it’s also helped keep me energized and feel good.”

Swoovy launched just over a year and a half ago as a dating app. Since then, the app has grown to serve couples, corporate and educational groups. Currently, Swoovy is working to launch a kickstarter to begin connecting like-minded people who are seeking to make friends in the area.

Partnering with over 100 nonprofits in Austin, Brooke Waupsh, CEO of Swoovy, says she wanted to make opportunities to fit multiple interests.

“We have everything from partnerships with the

Austin Parks Foundation, where you can go out and do a beautification project, [and] with the Austin Animal Center, where you can go play with dogs and cats, help bathe them, walk them. We also have a lot of different opportunities with the food bank and Caritas, who helps people experiencing homelessness,” Waupsh says. “Across the board, we cover everything from supporting kids, seniors, hunger, the arts, animals — you name it.”

Because of COVID-19, Waupsh says Swoovy worked with nonprofits to continue to offer virtual volunteer opportunities.

Recently, Colin’s Hope, a homegrown organization focused on educating people on water safety and drowning prevention, partnered with Swoovy to provide an at-home, corporate group project.

One of the primary ways Colin’s Hope educates families and caregivers is through water safety cards,

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n LIFESTYLE says Alissa Magrum, executive director of Colin’s Hope. Each year, they rely on volunteers to put together 75,000 of these cards.

“We were actually worried at the beginning of coronavirus, because March and April are when we typically have volunteers assembling them, and our corporate volunteers were not at work, and people were not in a place where we thought we were going to be able to get that handled,” Magrum says. “So, we actually turned it into a volunteer, at-home project and had all 75,000 of them assembled by volunteers.”

Waupsh says by partnering with Colin’s Hope, Swoovy was able to connect the nonprofit with corporate volunteers and host a Swoovy happy hour using their corporate group feature.

“This corporate group did an event where kits were delivered to employees with contactless delivery,” Waupsh says. “They were able to listen to music, socialize, play games using different polling features, and the nonprofit came on and spoke about what they do and their organization, and then everybody was able to complete the service needed for the nonprofit.”

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Magrum says volunteering is not only beneficial for volunteers but for nonprofits, too.

“The volunteers are sort of the lifeblood of this organization alongside our small staff and volunteer board of directors,” Magrum says.

“We want volunteers to feel like they’re doing something and know that they’re making an impact. One unique thing about our volunteer opportunities is we are able to educate any of our volunteers about water safety. So that, for us, is a great way for us also to do our mission and our work.”

While McAfee did not participate in the virtual event with Colin’s Hope, she says it’s through Swoovy that she has had the opportunity to participate in virtual volunteering events where she is able to experience more natural conversations and see how volunteering can foster healthy relationships.

“I think volunteering really helps you build good communication together when you start off, because here’s an opportunity to work on something together and to talk about something new,” McAfee says. “It doesn’t feel as much pressure as a typical date; it feels more relaxed.”

According to a survey from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, results indicate volunteering is actually good for the health of relationships.

In addition, more than 80% of those who have volunteered in the past year would be more willing to date a person they met volunteering than through an online dating site, according to the survey.

Waupsh says when the idea for Swoovy started, volunteering and online dating seemed an unlikely but cohesive fit.

“The idea of Swoovy actually started when I was in conversation with friends about their dating experience with apps and people they met,” Waupsh says. “We saw an opportunity to launch this new kind of dating app that would bring people together that were likeminded, community-oriented and deliver service to nonprofits through volunteerism.” afm

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

Keeping Austin How one organization stepped up to make sure restaurant workers stayed fed during the pandemic.

AUTHOR MONICA HAND PHOTOGRAPHY BRIAN FITZSIMMONS

APRIL NOVEMBER 2020

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Austin is a city packed with an eclectic cuisine scene. With everything from vegetarian farmto-table to world-class smoked ribs, Austin has it all. It’s rare to have such diversity of high-quality food, and it’s something that drives and thrives off tourism. However, when the pandemic hit, tourism plummeted and mandates forced restaurants to shut their doors, there was a collective worry about what was next for Austin’s food scene.

As always, Austin takes care of its own. Although it started with relief funds, quiet donations and prayers, Austin’s community quickly stepped up to create nonprofits and organizations devoted to taking care of restaurants, bars and other hospitality staff within tourismdriven industries.

One major concern was keeping people fed. In most restaurants, staff members get a meal provided by the restaurant each shift they work. Since a shift meal can be a key part of many service industry workers’ food budgets, the shutdown

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forced them to question where a replacement for that free, provided meal might come from.

“A lot of restaurants tried to continue to offer their employees these free meals, even when the restaurant was closed,” Mandi Nelson, founder of Austin Shift Meal, says. “That’s where we come in — to try to take that burden off of the restaurants so they can focus on staying afloat.”

Austin Shift Meal is a local organization that partnered with Austin Food & Wine Alliance to provide meals and pantry items to service industry workers who lost their jobs or can’t work as many shifts as they used to pre-pandemic.

Six months ago, Nelson lost her own job in the food and wine industry due to complications from the pandemic. After seeing firsthand the effect the pandemic was having on the hospitality and service industry, Nelson wanted to do something to help. She decided to follow her friend’s model for Houston Shift Meal and create a local version of the program.

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Austin Shift Meal now provides four to five meals each week to about 75 people. Each bag has a card attached that lists the sponsors, the meals’ ingredients and any reheating instructions. Recently, they’ve also started providing dry goods alongside the meals, allowing each receiver to take about five pantry items along with their meal bags.

“Mandi really is just so great at making connections and bringing people together,” Clare De León, volunteer and meal recipient, says.

“She’s been able to get everything together and makes it a point to remember everyone’s name and ask about their lives and families.”

Clare De León first got involved with Austin Shift Meal in July. She lost her job in the tourism industry and had been researching places where she would be able to alleviate the financial stress the pandemic created in her life.

“The first week, I only participated in receiving a meal. But after that, I wanted to be a part of it,” De León says. “I missed having a

schedule, being a part of a team and having something to look forward to.”

After receiving her first meal bag from Austin Shift Meal, she decided to start volunteering her time to the organization every week. De León says that volunteering with the organization has helped her to add those things back into her schedule while still helping those around her.

“People in the service and tourism industry really care about each other,” De León says. “You can see that in the number of local restaurants and chefs that help provide the meals and funds each week.”

Some restaurants and sponsors of Austin Shift Meal include Torchy’s Tacos, Wheatsville Co-Op, Franklin’s BBQ, Slab BBQ, Quality Seafood and many more. Even though restaurants and chefs are struggling themselves, Austin Shift Meal has been able to find partners willing to donate and help in any way they can.

“Sometimes there will be donations of beer or wine, too, and we’ll be able to offer a bottle of wine to the first 20 people that arrive,” De León says. “It’s little things like that that make it so special each week.”

It’s not just those in the service or tourism industry themselves who are quick to help out. Donations come from all over, and many of the volunteers are just Austinites who want to help.

Sharon Reed was laid off from her substitute teaching position in March, and after seeing an article about Austin Shift Meal, she signed up immediately to be on the team.

Volunteering has since helped ease the loss of not being able to work with kids and co-workers, she says.

“The team is a blast. Everyone is so upbeat and fun to hang out with,” Reed explains. “There have been a few times that recipients have come with their little kids, and I help them get everything to their vehicles while I chat with the kiddos.”

Reed and De León both say that volunteering with Austin Shift Meal

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has made all the difference in their own experience with the pandemic.

Being able to make others’ days brighter is a highlight to their weeks.

“Receiving meals from Austin Shift Meal is my favorite part of my week,” De León says. “In that moment, the excitement distracts and lifts you out of that daily gloom

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE AND TOURISM INDUSTRY REALLY CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE NUMBER OF LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CHEFS THAT HELP PROVIDE THE MEALS AND FUNDS EACH WEEK.”

that the pandemic has created.”

When asked why she thought the Austin community had been so quick and eager to help out with Austin Shift Meal’s mission, Nelson points to the hole the pandemic has created in many people’s lives — both inside and outside the service industry.

“Those in the service industry are natural caregivers; when you go to a restaurant, you’re taken care of,” Nelson says. “I think that’s something people miss, and now people want to pay it back and help take care of them instead.”

Nelson says that she hopes to keep Austin Shift Meal going for as long as there is a need, even after starting her new job. Finding sponsors and raising funds can be difficult, but she says it’s more than worth it. The good that Austin Shift Meal does goes beyond just providing food, De León explains.

“I think when our clients get one of the goodie bags, they are not only getting delicious food,” Reed says. “It represents that someone is thinking of them, cares about them and has their back.” afm

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Giving Back

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Through

Fitness How these organizations are giving back to the Austin community through the power of fitness.

A U T H O R E M I LY E F F R E N

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Many athletes will race with the goal to break their personal records and compete to get the gold. However, there is a significant number of athletes who compete and/or engage in fitness, not just for their own benefit, but also to raise money or help organizations that give back to the community.

During this season of giving, AFM wanted to highlight a few Austin events and organizations that have gone the extra mile to give back to the community

H-E-B Austin Sunshine Run

through fitness.

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Put on by the Young Men’s Business League, the H-E-B Austin Sunshine Run is held annually to benefit Austin Sunshine Camps, which is an overnight, summer camp experience for underinvested youth in Central Texas.

“The genesis behind the Austin Sunshine Run was trying to come up with another way to bring attention to and financially support the Austin Sunshine Camps,” says co-director of the H-E-B Austin Sunshine Run, Jase Burner.

Austin Sunshine Camps hosts children ages 8 to 15 and, because of the proceeds from the Sunshine Run, is free for those who live in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell or Bastrop county and meet the qualifications

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COURTESY OF THE H-E-B SUNSHINE RUN

listed on their website.

“During non-COVID years, we have these great, week-long summer camp programs where they try all these new things in a safe environment where we kind of push kids to try things and make new friends, foster new learning experiences and things like that — really kind of help them come out of their shells and get those summer camp experiences that are so very important for kids,” Burner says.

In 1928, Austin Sunshine Camps was originally created because people thought, back then, that sunshine and exercise were a great way to counteract tuberculosis, Burner says.

“I think that’s something that just kind of incidentally carried through, but Austin’s a very fit city.

Most of our members are very involved and active in

the community,” Burner says. “We’ve just continued to grow it ever since.”

Each year the H-E-B Austin Sunshine Run gets bigger, with 2019 being the most successful race yet, raising around $70,000 for Austin Sunshine Camps, Burner says.

For their 2021 event, the Austin Sunshine Run is planned for May 16, with both in-person and virtual options.

“As we’ve been gearing up for 2021, we’ve decided we want to take what we’ve learned in 2020 and build on that. So we’re still going to have a virtual piece, but we’re very hopeful that we will actually get to all gather on May 16 at Auditorium Shores and run in-person,” Burner says.

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COURTESY OF BACK ON MY FEET

Back on My Feet

Offered in 13 cities across the U.S., Back on My Feet is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating homelessness through running, community support, essential employment and housing resources, according to their website.

“We use running and community as the catalysts to really help our members move their lives forward,” National Marketing Director Kari Lindemann says.

“Stable employment and stable housing is really the end goal of everything that we do, and running is that thing that really sparks the community in the mornings three days a week.”

Around 5:30 a.m., three days a week in Austin, volunteers or alumni lead a Back on My Feet running group. During these morning runs, members are connected to volunteers to build meaningful relationships.

“You start running with someone, and these conversations are just organic,” Lindemann says.

In their Austin chapter, Development Director Rebecca Little says she has seen members go from

NOVEMBER 2020

trying to run to the end of a block to running a half marathon.

“Running provides them with not only a community of support but also a sense of accountability — a goal to work towards,” Little says. By including running in the program, Little says this goal-setting practice eventually translates into their careers and life goals.

After regular attendance during their morning runs, members then have the opportunity to enter Back on My Feet’s Next Steps program, which is an opportunity for members to sit one-on-one with program staff and identify the barriers that stand between them and getting back into the workforce.

In Austin, Back on My Feet offers opportunities to work on interview skills, work on resumes, learn financial literacy skills and more, Lindemann says.

“It really is an individualized approach based on what that member’s goals are, what do they want to be when they grow up, or what do they want to be now or what do they need right now to get to that piece,” Lindemann says.

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Originally founded in 2014 as a youth organization and after-school program, It’s Time Texas has since evolved into a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Texans to lead healthier lives.

Over the last six years, the Austin-based organization has expanded their footprint to more than 125 counties across the state of Texas, Senior Director of Marketing and Communication Tracy Walker says.

The organization works to connect Texans to healthpromoting resources, such as their new, bilingual, health-coaching program that is available over the phone and even via text.

In addition, the health coaching service is available to any Texan for free, Walker says.

“We’re fortunate to have such a vibrant health community there in the Austin area, but not all Austinites have access,” Walker says.

In 2019, It’s Time Texas reached more than 5,900 Central Texas youth and adults who participated in their free fitness and nutrition programming called Stronger Austin, Walker says.

“Our one goal is really to bring health to everybody, and through that, we need your support. Whether that comes from becoming a volunteer instructor or hosting a fundraiser or becoming a coach — if you have a passion for health and fitness and nutrition, we need you and we need your support,” Walker says.

COURTESY OF IT’S TIME TEXAS

It’s Time Texas

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

PHOTO BY DAVID WELLS

Flatwater Foundation

After Mark Garza found out how hard it was to navigate getting help during his own experience with a cancer diagnosis in his family, Garza wanted to create a medium that would provide access to mental health services for those affected by cancer.

“We created the organization when I saw how hard it was to remove barriers to access by creating a network of therapists in the Austin area that could provide care,” Garza says.

The goal of the foundation is to raise as much money as possible for it to cover the entire cost of therapy, so families can focus on taking care of their mental health, Garza says.

“With the Flatwater Foundation, [it’s] the notion of bringing these families back to flat water and that

NOVEMBER 2020

THIS AND LEAD PHOTO BY CALEB KERR

calm, tranquil space,” Garza says. “We also realized that a big part of taking care of your mind is staying active.”

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WITH THE FLATWATER FOUNDATION, [IT’S] THE NOTION OF BRINGING THESE FAMILIES BACK TO FLAT WATER AND THAT CALM, TRANQUIL SPACE.” After finding his own accidental meditation on the water through paddleboarding, Garza decided to use that as a tool to raise awareness around mental health and the organization. In 2010, Garza created a PR stunt he named Dam That Cancer, where he paddled 21 miles from the Mansfield Dam to the Tom Miller Dam on Lake Austin.

Ten years later, now called TYLER’S Dam That Cancer, the fundraising fitness event is still held annually, and Flatwater Foundation has covered over five million dollars worth of therapy for families in need throughout Central Texas, according to their website.

For this year’s event, Flatwater Foundation raised over $830,000, surpassing their $750,000 goal.

“There are so many ways in Austin to be active, and we just really believe in empowering people to use whatever it is, whatever their passion, to get outside, whatever sport it may be, for the greater good,” Garza says.

“And we appreciate all the support that Austin gives. It’s the perfect place to marry health, wellness and fitness with philanthropy.” afm

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512 -494-4 8 00 AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

WELLNESS AUTHOR

Charline Liu, AOMA student

THE MINDFUL SIDE OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH n An introduction to qigong, medical qigong and tai chi (an interview with Dr. Chelsea Xu, MD - China, LAc).

This special series of articles are written by faculty members from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine.

What led you personally to qigong and tai chi, and how long have you been practicing?

includes many different kinds of qi. Some are defensive qi, others are nutritive qi, and there are many other types, too. The goal is to spend time practicing qigong to get physically strong and stay mentally calm and in good shape. Qigong moves the electricity inside to power you. Qigong is important to Traditional Chinese Medicine because TCM is based on the Daoist principle of yin and yang in the body as a whole. Yin and yang are like batteries, (with positive and negative energy). Only having one will not work, so qigong balances both. Thus, qigong, like acupuncture and herbal medicine, also balances yin and yang.

I started tai chi while studying at the University of Liaoning Traditional Chinese Medicine in 1978 (42 years ago) and started practicing qigong 20 years ago. I worked in a TCM hospital for three years, then came to the U.S. and worked with MDs practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine. I came to AOMA in 2003, and then 10 years ago I started teaching tai chi and qigong here.

Please share with our readers who may not know what qigong is, and why it is an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What are the differences between moving and non-moving qigong?

Qigong has two parts: moving and non-moving.

Moving qigong moves your qi and blood (making the

Qigong literally translates to “qi work,” so it is work that we do with our qi. Qi is our body’s energy and

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What are some of the main benefits of doing qigong and tai chi?

body stronger) and helps with qi and blood stagnation.

Non-moving qigong through breathing moves the qi inside without moving your muscles. It quiets the mind and balances the body’s yin and yang.

• Balances the yin and yang • Quiets the mind (which is good for mental health) • Improves balance • Strengthens the physical body (muscles, tendons, joints, etc.)

• Invigorates qi & blood • Improves digestion (especially qigong movements that target the abdomen) • Helps the respiratory system by strengthening our lungs, skin and pores. It can especially help against getting sick during the winter by closing the pores when exposed to cold air.

• Helps the cardiovascular system by promoting blood circulation throughout the body • Helps the nervous system go into the

Why is breathing important in qigong?

Slow breathing is for longevity. When one breathes slowly, they can begin to hold in more oxygen and nutrients from the universe and outside air. This pushdown of the breath goes all the way to our feet. Shallow breaths may only go to your knees and won’t open the tiny veins and arteries to help the oxygen exchange.

The oxygen exchange in our body brings in the good nutrients and gets rid of the bad nutrients. For example, animals like turtles breathe very slowly and are able to live for decades. When we learn to breathe slowly, we can improve our longevity.

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

n WELLNESS

MEDICAL QIGONG CAN BE USED IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE WITH DIABETES CAN BE TAUGHT HOW TO BREATHE AND HOW TO HAVE MORE ENERGY BY STRENGTHENING THEIR SPLEEN AND STOMACH, WHICH WILL HELP THEM REDUCE THEIR FOOD INTAKE AND REDUCE OVERALL SYMPTOMS FROM DIABETES.”

parasympathetic nervous system instead of the sympathetic nervous system which helps with anxiety and stress. Specific breathing exercises that slow down the breath are great for people who struggle with anxiety and stress. There are other breathing exercises that increase energy, which can help those who feel depressed and lethargic.

• Helps the reproductive system. One qigong move that shakes the abdomen can help with women’s health issues like PMS, pain, etc. By shaking the abdomen, qi and blood will freeflow better internally.

treat patients or help practitioners themselves. Medical qigong is similar to physical therapy, as it also guides others through the movement. Regular qigong can be added to a healthy lifestyle but sometimes does not have a treatment purpose for others. It is just like an exercise to keep yourself healthy.

When we think of integrative care models, how can we blend medical qigong into a Western medicine practice?

Medical qigong can be used in many different situations. For example, people with diabetes can be taught how to breathe and how to have more energy by strengthening their spleen and stomach, which will help them reduce their food intake and reduce overall symptoms from diabetes. Our part is to ask patients to move by doing qigong, strengthening the digestive system to help their diet in order to help their diabetes.

Another example is doing 13 qigong exercises to help insomnia patients go to sleep, mostly through the use of non-moving qigong. This is quite similar to meditation but different.

Can you explain the differences between regular qigong and medical qigong?

Medical qigong is primarily for students who study medicine (such as at AOMA). This qigong is used to help people reduce certain symptoms, heal faster and balance their yin and yang. This qi moves from the practitioner’s hands to our patients to guide out the problems through the meridians and help heal. It all depends on the situation, but medical qigong is used to

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What are the main differences between qigong and tai chi, in your opinion?

Tai chi is a set movement form that balances yin and yang through the hands. Qigong has many different forms and is more still and focused on breathing. Tai chi requires more movement and is generally more physical. Tai chi also originated from martial arts, so it requires extensive balance footwork and muscle strength. Additionally, every movement of tai chi requires holding a ball of yin and yang. Tai chi can make one feel very peaceful by feeling the qi go to the tips of the hands. In tai chi, the movement and meditation occur at the same time.

Moving qigong focuses more on movement, and non-moving focuses more on meditation and breathing.

Tai chi combines both beautifully: a quiet mind while the body is also focused on moving.

When you aren’t leading classes in qigong, when do you find time in the day to practice?

I practice daily in the evening doing qigong and tai chi after dinner at around 8 p.m. I like to do the traditional, long tai chi form and horse stance. In the evening before bed, I do non-moving qigong.

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What is the form of tai chi and qigong that you practice most often?

(Wildgoose, Return to Spring, etc.)

For tai chi, I do the traditional, long tai chi form. At AOMA, we teach the yang-style tai chi short form. For qigong, I usually do the Nine Turns Meditation, Horse Dance (not necessarily daily) and Return to Spring. I like to cycle through a few of the different qigong practices. afm

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

WELLNESS AUTHOR

AFM Team

WELLNESS

FAQ

WITH US CRYOTHERAPY n AFM speaks with Chase McKinzie of US

Cryotherapy to answer your most-asked questions about whole body cryotherapy.

AFM: What is whole body cryotherapy?

AFM: How long are treatment times?

US CRYO: Whole body cryotherapy is a brief, cold shock

US CRYO: Treatment times generally are between 2:00-

treatment using sub-zero temperatures to stimulate the nervous system producing powerful pain relief, antiinflammatory, and endorphin boosting benefits!

3:30 minutes. Determining the appropriate treatment time is a precise science-based calculation on how each person regulates thermal temperature. According to clinical studies, the most accurate way to determine treatment time is to measure skin temperature before and after treatment in order to achieve a skin temp drop (difference) between 30-45 degrees. If the skin does not drop past 30 degrees, then the nervous system has not been fully stimulated. If the skin drops significantly (more than 45 degrees), it runs the risk of skin irritation, so it’s not always best to go in as long as possible.

AFM: What are the benefits of whole body cryotherapy?

US CRYO: First and foremost, clinical studies have

shown that whole body cryotherapy is a powerful, natural anti-inflammatory which not only helps those suffering from autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, but also helps people recover faster from strenuous workouts, physically demanding jobs, or injury and surgical recovery. Studies have also shown that whole body cryotherapy helps with pain relief, reduces stress and anxiety, boosts mood and energy, enhances athletic performance, provides immune system support, and improves sleep quality.

NOVEMBER 2020

AFM: How cold is cryotherapy?

US CRYO: Whole body cryotherapy treatments range

from -120F to -240F, although most clinical studies are conducted at -166F. The temperature of the chamber is taken into consideration for treatment times as well. If

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the temperature is “warmer” (relative to cryo-regulars), then in order to achieve full stimulation of the nervous system, treatment times must be longer by 15 to 30 sec.

If the temperature is on the “colder” end of the spectrum, then treatment times are faster because it does not take as long to decrease the surface skin temperature of the body. In order to get the safest and most effective cryotherapy treatment, do not focus on how “long you cryo” or how “cold you cryo” — it’s all about how your skin temperature drops!

world class athletes like Lebron James, Christiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt integrate it into their daily regimen to ensure peak performance. The reality is cryotherapy can be beneficial to everyone because of its powerful anti-inflammatory and endorphin release effects. More research needs to be conducted on the cryotherapy benefits helping those with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, but recent case studies have been promising!

AFM: Do you really burn calories?

AFM: What are the differences between nitrogencooled cryotherapy & electrically-cooled cryotherapy?

US CRYO: Some claim whole body cryotherapy can burn

up to 500-800 calories per session, but unfortunately, there is no substantial evidence to support the claim that cryotherapy burns calories at all. Other forms of cryotherapy, such as cold water immersion, have been shown to burn additional calories largely because they can decrease core body temperature which results in a thermogenic effect (the body uses calories to heat up the core). However, this thermogenic effect has not been proven with whole body cryotherapy yet largely because the benefits come from decreasing surface skin temperature, not core body temperature which remains relatively unchanged with whole body cryotherapy.

US CRYO: Nitrogen-cooled cryotherapy technology

was the first type of cryotherapy to hit the U.S. market in the mid-2000s, which uses liquid nitrogen vapor to cool the body in a cylindrical cryo cabin. This kind of technology is called partial body cryotherapy because it does not fully expose the head, neck, and shoulders to the sub-zero cold. Newer models of nitrogen-cooled technology now involve full exposure, head-to-toe, with the implementation of a small window and use oxygenrich gas to allow the user to breathe safely.

Electrically-cooled cryotherapy is the gold standard of the cryotherapy industry, particularly in Europe where cryotherapy is well-studied. Electricallycooled cryotherapy allows the user to step into a fullyimmersed, sub-zero environment with even cooling from head-to-toe which grants more accurate temperatures and treatment times, not to mention the technology has been proven to be more effective.

AFM: What are the differences between ice baths and cryotherapy?

US CRYO: Speaking of cold water immersion, ice baths,

cold water immersion, or “CWI” is the tried and true method of cold therapy. Ice baths typically involve shoulder-down immersion of the body in water temps of 45-55 degrees for varying times between 5-10 minutes, which results in pain relief, accelerated muscle recovery, lower inflammation, and some endorphin benefits. Whole body cryotherapy is like an ice bath on steroids! Seriously, renowned researchers, such as Dr. Rhonda Patrick, have shown that the anti-inflammatory benefits are 200%-400% greater with whole body cryotherapy compared to ice baths. This is largely due to cryotherapy’s ability to stimulate the central nervous system rather than slowly decrease core body temperature. Cryotherapy can create a more powerful stimulus, which results in a more powerful response from the body to adapt and positively benefit your health! All the while, cryotherapy avoids the pitfalls of ice baths: getting wet, too much time, and “thawing” out after. You actually warm up quite quickly with whole body cryotherapy, especially when you follow it up with vibration plates, red light therapy, or infrared sauna to engage in contrast therapy! afm

Clinical studies have shown that both technologies effectively stimulate the nervous system (and get the health benefits), however, due to the fact that the head, neck, shoulders, face, and chest are exposed in electrically-cooled cryotherapy technology, it creates a more powerful stimulation of the nervous system resulting in 20% more anti-inflammatory release compared to the nitrogen-cooled technology.

AFM: Who uses cryotherapy?

US CRYO: All different types of people use cryotherapy!

Users can be as young as 11 years old and I’ve even witnessed a 90 year old do a cryotherapy treatment.

Countless people suffering from autoimmune or inflammatory conditions use cryotherapy to lower their inflammation levels. Celebrities such as Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Hart, Meghan Trainer and Lady Gaga use cryotherapy regularly to enhance their weekly routine and recover from workouts. Not to mention,

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

WELLNESS AUTHOR

Cindy Present

FINDING GRATITUDE THROUGH LOSS n Cindy Present shares how she found gratitude through the loss of a friend.

M

y personal gratitude journey began sitting on my boat dock in the early morning light, peering around the side of our boat in hopes of a gorgeous sunrise. Granted, I thought I’d practiced gratitude for years. I have had numerous “Gratitude Journals” pondering, gazing and then jotting, what I’m most grateful for, day in and day out. Names, places, experiences — even some of my favorite foods would find their way to my pages. For me, it was the discipline of journaling that for which I was most grateful.

It was more of a meditative opportunity; a time to be still, mindful and contemplative — all a very important part of dedicated wellness habits.

NOVEMBER 2020

Now, years later, I know this journey has been much different.

It was fueled by a gut wrenching pain from the loss of one of my best friends — someone I spent most of every day with: working out, training, wakesurfing, paddleboarding, creating Get Out Girl events; basically doing life together. My kids looked up to her with respect and reverence; my husband in appreciation of her as a confidant and “playmate” of mine; and even my parents as an additional caretaker of theirs.

Then, in a blink, life changed.

Kristin, a beloved flight nurse, lost her life serving the Travis County Community. As someone who was always the “giver” this would be her final time to provide on this earth. She’d spent decades giving and serving her friends, family

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and numerous communities. That is what fulfilled her, gave her purpose, and passion.

As so many know, the walk with grief is one step at a time. My steps in the first many weeks were a blur full of undeniable pain, sorrow and disbelief. I remember distinctly that morning on the dock, waiting for the sun to rise up and shine again. I could tell that today was going to be different; I waited with anticipation to see the rays of hope come over the hill. Today I was embracing a glimmer of hope, a fork in the road of this journey that would bear me the opportunity to budge from the hallows of pain to a hint of promise.

I began reflecting on the times I had spent on this very same lake with Kristin: the giggles, the fun, the goofy moments. I wouldn’t have

COURTESY OF CINDY PRESENT

missed them for the world — not one of them. I was grateful for each and every moment.

As the sun broke over the hill and slowly shed it’s light on a new day, I realized that no matter how horrible the pain of loss was, the humility and appreciation of gratitude was much greater.

I wouldn’t have traded one of those memories and am a believer that we are given the ability to remember for a reason.

As I looked out upon the water, I remembered how passionately Kristin loved the lake. She came to it after very tough shifts where unfathomable rescues, recoveries, and losses were witnessed. As a friend always trying to bring light to her world, I never wanted her to have to reflect on those awful shifts that would many times lead

to sleepless nights and flashback dreams. Kristin would ask to get out on the water many a morning with me; to wakesurf, ski or paddle.

It wasn’t until after we lost her that I realized that this time was hers to reset, to let the water put her mind and emotions back into a state of buoyancy so she could go back to her next shift as whole as possible — time and time again.

Just like so many first responders and front line workers, they witness and experience incidents that many of us never do in an entire lifetime. And they do it over and over again for weeks, years, and decades.

Before Kristin’s death, I’d never really thought about that part of her job. How someone could witness the unfathomable, go home, tend to family, friends and life, and then go back and do it again. I was too busy trying to wash it away than let it surface. But now, I realize that nothing compares to observing the loss of life, and when she came home, sometimes all I was concerned about was what we were all going to have for dinner.

Absolutely no comparison.

Out of this loss, my gratitude journey became one of appreciation, recognition and thankfulness. It became a heightened compassion, consciousness, awareness and presence for life around me, what others were experiencing, sensing and feeling, different than myself.

This new position of gratitude gave me a heightened awareness of the role that front line workers and responders have in our community.

I became cognizant that they give so much on the outside, but many bury what’s on the inside.

As someone that has been in the wellness industry for decades, first responder mental wellness historically had not been a topic.

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I learned that, just like my friend Kristin, our first responders and front line workers were silently suffering. I began studying the increasing and alarming facts of the emergency service personnel.

The Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS) reported in July 2020 that the mental and emotional wellness of first responders has been neglected and they are therefore now showing the consequences of such neglect.

This data has been surfacing exponentially in the past few years. First responders and front line workers are at an increased risk of PTS, more likely to suffer from psychological distress due to job stress, repeated exposure to trauma, lack of sleep, the physical demands of the job, lack of resources and working long hours or multiple jobs.

One of the greatest forms of gratitude is to serve the health and wellbeing of others, and many of us witnessed how Kristin used being on the lake for her own mental and emotional wellness. Thus, in honor of Kristin McLain and Travis County Deputy Jessica Hollis, Operation Get Out was formed, a 501c3 that provides Blue Mind experiences, outings and events for first responders, front line workers, veterans, individuals, and agencies to intentionally utilize the scientifically-validated therapeutic benefits of being in, near, and on the water for positive mental, emotional and physical wellness impact where #waterismedicine.

That morning on the boat dock was a new dawn of acceptance, a pilgrimage that I would begin with a delicate fusion of grief and gratitude. There was so much I loved about Kristin; so much that I could choose to lament or, instead, find gratitude and carry forward to touch the lives of others. afm

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

WELLNESS AUTHOR

Mia Barnes

12 GROUNDING TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE ANXIETY n This year has been a roller coaster. Here are some key techniques to ease 2020-induced anxiety.

T

he year 2020 might go down in history as synonymous with anxiety. The uncertainty never seems to end, and even folks formerly known for their calming presence are starting to grow agitated.

What can you do to center yourself when feeling overwhelmed? These 12 grounding techniques can help ease that panic-mode feeling and leave you feeling confident and ready to conquer the day.

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happening right now. The next time your heart races and palms sweat, place one hand in the center of your chest and the other on your belly. Feel your chest and stomach rise as you inhale, and mentally repeat, “Right here, right now, I am safe.” As you exhale, silently say, “Relax.”

2

When you panic, your breathing grows shallow and rapid. By controlling it, you can activate the mechanisms in your body that induce calm.

Learn how to practice 2-to-1 breathing to activate your parasympathetic nervous system — the half that relaxes you after escaping an angry bear. All you have to do is inhale deeply, pause, then exhale for twice as long as you drew breath. Repeat until your stress is somewhat eased.

Lay Hands on Your Heart and Belly

Anxiety seldom results from current circumstances but rather from fear of an unknown future, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It’s natural to doubt your ability to cope when a potential job loss or severe illness looms.

If your stress comes from thinking about “what ifs,” try to remind yourself that what you fear most isn’t

NOVEMBER 2020

2-to-1 Breathing

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3

Stroke Your Fingers

in mountain pose, then raise your hands overhead as you stretch. Bend forward to touch your toes (or come close), and then step or hop back into plank. Follow an upward-facing dog with a downward-facing dog and return to standing.

Your hands have many acupuncture and acupressure points. Activating these may help you to relax. Plus, the sensation of touch reminds you to stay in the present moment.

Take the fingers of your left hand and slowly stroke each finger on the right. Then, switch sides. You can do this action discreetly under the table if a work conference grows heated.

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5

Do a Body Scan

You can do a body scan anywhere. If your chronic pain gets worse when anxiety hits, this technique can ease the ache.

Close your eyes and focus your awareness on your breath. Then, starting at your toes, focus on each part of your body as you work your way up to the top of your head. Pause to breathe and focus energy into any tight areas.

Perform a Sun Salutation

Anyone can harness the power of yoga to relax. You don’t have to go on a weekend retreat — although if you can swing the cost of the trip, why not?

Find a place where you can marry breath and movement — yogis call this a vinyasa. Start by standing

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n WELLNESS

9 10

Color a Picture

Coloring centers you in the moment and lets you create a thing of beauty. You don’t need a lick of artistic ability to stay within the lines.

Pick up one of the many adult coloring books flooding the market today. Keep one in your backpack, along with some markers or crayons to ease anxiety.

Practice Origami

Keeping your hands busy can prevent your mind from racing. Why not learn origami? You don’t need any special tools outside of paper to create hearts, boats and cranes. As you get more adept at your craft, you can invest in specialty-colored pads that make intriguing designs.

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11

Does your boss allow you to take your pet to work? Maybe you telecommute, and Fido lies at your feet while you balance budget reports.

Playing with your pet can take your mind away from future fears and return you to the present. Plus, your kitty or pup offers unconditional love, which improves anyone’s mood.

Go for a Stroll

You can use your 15-minute break to take a mindfulness walk instead of scrolling through social media. Doing so can ease anxiety attacks.

As you walk, pay attention to the way your body feels as your feet hit the pavement. Observe the world around you. What do you see, taste and smell?

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12

The ultimate grounding exercise might be, well, grounding! Practitioners believe that electrical charges from the earth can restore physical and mental health.

Find a grassy area and take off your socks and shoes.

Dig your toes into the earth, and pause while you listen to the sound of birdsong as you recharge your batteries.

Snack Mindfully

Use These 12 Grounding Techniques When Anxiety Attacks Strike

You don’t have to take 20 minutes to eat a raisin, but mindful eating can calm anxiety — and help you shed unwanted pounds. If you graze while working or watching TV, you could consume tons of calories without realizing it.

Instead, take a small piece of chocolate. Nibble and sniff it before popping it in your mouth and savoring it as it dissolves on your tongue.

NOVEMBER 2020

Smile

You might not feel like smiling when the world threatens to crash down on you. However, research indicates that doing so can trick your brain into a better mood.

According to Dr. Isha Gupta, a neurologist with IGEA Brain and Spine, showing your pearlies in a grin increases the flow of dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters make you feel better and reduce the panic response.

Kick Off Your Shoes

8

Play With Your Pet

2020 might be the year of high anxiety. However, you can use the 12 grounding techniques above to stay calm amid the chaos. afm

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And You Need An Adventure!

more than just trail running...

New safety plans, permits, and full on support from all needed entities and host parks are good to go!

20 Trail Runs A Year.

Here are the Next Three Near You:

Wild Hare

November 20-22 at Bluff Creek Ranch

Tinajas

December 4-6 at Colorado Bend State Park

Mosaic

December 11-13 at Indian Mound Ranch Register & See the Covid-19 Safety Plans @

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American Heart Association

SAVING LIVES WHILE STAYING IN – ONE STEP AT A TIME

n Meet the Top Fitness Team award winner of the 2020 Austin Heart & Stroke Walk: the National Charity League — Lake Travis!

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ith the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic keeping more Americans at home, the American Heart Association (AHA), the leading voluntary health organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is embracing the new normal and moved its iconic Austin Heart & Stroke Walk online.

This year’s reimagined Heart Walk kicked off in late September with the four-week Austin Heart Challenge.

Participants and their teams had the opportunity to choose how they “laced up” or participated in the steps-based challenge and worked to achieve at least 10,000 steps.

The National Charity League – Lake Travis team achieved 23,708,960 steps and took the AHA’s Top Fitness Team Award.

The National Charity League – Lake Travis’ mission is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.

disease starts with conversations between mothers and daughters. The national organization formed a strategic alliance with the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women and local chapters support AHA through various activities throughout the year. Two years ago, one of our board members discovered that she had a previously undiagnosed heart condition after attending a NCL meeting with a cardiologist who spoke about the importance of getting your heart checked. She was inspired to get screened after that event. The Lake Travis Chapter has participated in the Heart Walk for many years, so we were thrilled that the virtual format allowed us to continue despite the pandemic restrictions.

What are some of the fun and creative ways members participated in the challenge?

Team Captain, Stacey Lehman, has participated in the AHA Heart Walk for a decade. Her dedication to promoting cardiovascular health made her the perfect person to coordinate both the Steps Challenge and the Heart Walk for our chapter. She encouraged members to get at least 30,000 steps and turned it into a competition for our moms and daughters to see who could get the most steps. The result has been unprecedented engagement from our members! We’re recognizing the mom and daughter with the most steps at our November meeting.

Why did the National Charity League – Lake Travis decide to participate in the virtual Heart Walk this year?

Recognizing that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death, the National Charity League believes that educating women about heart

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How did the Austin Heart & Stroke Walk bring your members together during this time of social distancing?

The Top Individual award recipient, Jessica Dykes, representing Abbott Laboratories achieved 686,557 steps in four weeks. Abbott has been a long-time supporter of the Austin American Heart Association and this is Jessica’s fifth year participating in the walk.

We held several small neighborhood walks with groups of less than 10 members and we asked members who have been in the organization for several years to pair up with new members to go on a walk together.

This fostered connection between members who haven’t been able to gather in person for more than six months.

“Knowing how important cardiovascular health is, we were thrilled to find that we could still participate virtually this year,” says Lara Anton, President of the Lake Travis Chapter of National Charity League. “Our members were challenged to log at least 30,000 steps in the month leading up to the Heart Walk and they surpassed our expectations with their commitment to AHA.”

Abbott that not only encourages community involvement but provides the resources and connections to do so in ways that may not be possible otherwise.

About the 2020 Austin Heart Walk Digital Experience

“Now, more than ever, we’re all looking for ways to connect with others, stay active and stay encouraged,” says Drew Thomas, Regional Senior Heart Walk Director. “The virtual format allows everyone to continue to support our lifesaving mission, while adapting to our current environment. We are grateful for the support from the National Charity League – Lake Travis, Jessica and Abbott.”

The 2020 Austin Heart & Stroke Walk Digital Experience is presented by Healthy for Good Sponsors, Ascension Seton and Texas Mutual Insurance Company. The funds raised from the Austin Heart Walk go towards research, advocacy, CPR training and resources to promote better health. Learn more at www. austinheartwalk.org. afm

Why did you decide to participate in the Austin Heart Challenge?

Not participating, virtual or not, was not an option.

The Heart Walk is something that my family and I love to do!

How did you achieve your step goal?

I would turn my phone on, put it in my arm phone case and go EVERYDAY! I have two girls under four who have inherited my “always have to do something” ways so we are always on the go. We walk to school some days or ride our bikes, we jump on the trampoline several times a day, take our dogs for daily walks around the neighborhood, play hopscotch (more than I would like) and most importantly, we have dance parties in the morning before school and always before bed.

I also make a point to workout at least once a day just for me. I spin on my home bike and bust out my old school workout DVDs when my husband takes over kid duty.

Why is it important to continue to give back to our community during this time?

So many people’s lives have been changed this year due to COVID-19, we have to try to do everything we can to make a difference where we can. I am blessed to be able to give back and work for a company like

NCL Team Captian Stacey and daughter Kenzie.

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

FITNESS AUTHOR

Jason Boydston

TEEING OFF IN COOLER TEMPS n A few tips to ensure you make the most of the fall and winter golf seasons.

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s the extreme heat starts to fade here in Central Texas and we find sweet relief in the more mild weather, it’s become an ideal time to grab your clubs and hit the golf course.

Luckily for us, golf provides a multitude of benefits we can take advantage of year-round here in Texas. Even during the time of COVID-19, the game continues to be an ideal outdoor activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps to forge both personal and business relationships with fellow golfers.

Here, I’ve compiled a few tips for enjoying the perfect round of

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golf during the season change and how to use those changes to your advantage.

Be Kind to Your Joints

Cool weather tends to promote tightness of muscles and joints, so it’s important now, more than ever, to add stretching to your pre-golf routine. I recommend adding a dedicated stretching time before your round that focuses on your shoulders, lower back, hips and hamstrings.

For convenience, golfers can carry a couple of bands in their golf bag they can pull out and attach to the cart for a quick and efficient stretch session. When on the range,

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I suggest players start by hitting short pitch shots and work their way up to the longer and fuller shots. This will promote a better tempo and help to avoid straining any muscles or ligaments.

Use the Change in Season to Your Advantage Since many area courses have spent the summer managing heat and agronomy maintenance, most courses are at their peak condition as the season starts to change.

Golfers can also enhance their game by taking advantage of seasonal changes that can lead to easier playing conditions. For example, courses will begin to firm

golfers keep sunscreen in their bag, so it’s easily available to them every time they tee up. Sun block is essential to protect yourself while spending hours outside perfecting your game, even during the cloudy days.

Forget the cart and try walking.

If the course layout sets up well for walking, take advantage of the cool temps and enjoy a more active round of golf.

Plan in Advance and Look for Specials

up as the weather cools, leading to more roll than you would get in the summer months.

Plus, in the beginning of fall, trees will begin the process of shedding their leaves. Fortunately for golfers, all leaves on the ground are considered loose impediments

by Rule 15 of USGA’s The Rules of Golf for 2019 book — so, golfers can use these loose impediment leaves to their advantage during their round. For example, if you do not have a clear shot on the putting green due to fallen leaves, you are able to remove them from your line and continue on your way to making that putt. Another great rule for handling those pesky leaves is Rule

16.1e, Relief for Ball Not Found but in or on Abnormal Course Condition. If it is basically certain your ball came to rest in a pile of leaves, and you can’t find it, it can be played as ground under repair, and free relief can be rewarded.

Remember the Basics

As the weather starts to cool down, it’s easy to forget some of the essential tools for your day on the course. For example, even though the weather may not be blistering hot, it’s still important to remember that golf is a physical sport, and it is imperative to stay hydrated.

In addition to bringing a water bottle to the course, I recommend

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Since the fall season is one of the peak playing periods for most courses, I recommend golfers plan ahead when booking tee times.

Additionally, right now is a great time to look for great deals for the winter. For example, here at Wolfdancer Golf Club, we are planning to offer a special Winter Golf Pass which will include unlimited green fees and cart fees throughout the season. afm

Jason Boydston is the head golf professional at Wolfdancer Golf Club at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa. With more than 12 years working in the industry, Boydston has worked at golf courses throughout Texas. When he’s not on the course, Jason enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife, two boys and two dogs.

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

FITNESS AUTHOR

Erik Stanley

HELPING OTHERS REACH THEIR GOALS n Austinite and Trail Roots founder, Erik Stanley, shares how the running community can support one another while many races are still on hold.

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ver the years, I’ve noticed that the times when I am the happiest and feel the most fulfilled is when I am doing something meaningful for someone else. I hear the saying, “You have to take care of yourself before you can really offer something to others,” and I think there is validity to this — but it depends on what “taking care of yourself ” means. We set goals in life for our jobs, families, in running and plenty of other areas, but most of us will be looking for more once our goal is reached.

Picture this: You have a current goal to run your first half marathon.

You crush your first race. Then, you want to run a specific time, and then you may want to qualify for Boston. The list goes on! Then what? In the fitness community,

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it is common to think about how one can improve even more. This is normal, but what I am getting at is that you don’t need to wait until you reach that “perfect place” to take time to take a step back and give back.

I’ve noticed this, especially at home with my wife, spending time with my son and even in my own running. When I am thinking about what would help my wife out or make her happy as opposed to what I want her to do, I feel happier. It can be difficult to get out of the “what about me” headspace — but when I do, it’s more rewarding!

When I think back on some of my more enjoyable races, I remember the volunteers, the support crew and friends who were cheering me along the way. Think about some of your favorite races. What work did others offer to make that a special

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COURTESY OF ERIK STANLEY

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race or run? How did their role change the way you felt during and/ or after the race?

As the fitness community tends to be a more motivated group, we often want to focus on how to progress and move the ball forward, but it is important to understand that we can also find joy and fulfillment from doing something for others such as volunteering, crewing or pacing a friend. My friends and family who supported me at one of my most challenging ultra trail races were likely a big reason I was able to finish. I’ve seen this with our Trail Roots running community year after year.

Our runners help pull each other through and always offer to help one another out — it is inspiring.

As Thanksgiving approaches, there is likely to be many opportunities to give thanks and offer a hand to another runner.

Races are harder and harder to come by, but goals are still there!

Your friends still have running aspirations, too. What can you do to help them during a year when we have seen more challenges and struggles than ever? Maybe it’s pacing, maybe it’s crewing for a friend running an ultra marathon, maybe it’s driving and setting out water for a friend doing a long run or maybe it’s taking a friend who has been wanting to get back at it for their first run.

While 2020 has been a year of tests and division, our world is closer than many would think.

Giving to others in need, lending a hand to a neighbor, helping a friend complete that big race (even if it is a virtual one) can make a difference. The more gratitude and giving we can offer to the world, the more we see each other as friends and family and equals, and the happier we might become. afm

AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

FITNESS AUTHOR

Emily Effren

KEEPING AUSTIN TRAILS CLEAN n How one new group of runners is working to Keep Austin Clean.

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n the morning on a couple of Sundays a month, a group of Austinite runners gather along one of the many trails in the area — not to run or make their new PR, but to pick up any trash that lines the trail.

After having to stay inside during the beginning of COVID-19, RAW Runners and friends Jordan Whittle and Collin Findlay formed a subgroup of the running group dedicated to cleaning the trails: the Clean Trail Club.

“We figured it would be a great way to give back to the community that has given us, as runners, so much. So, we started picking up trash every other weekend, and it’s

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just such an easy way to give back and take care of the trail that has taken care of us,” co-founder of the Clean Trail Club, Jordan Whittle, says.

The Clean Trail Club normally picks up trash along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Town Lake as well as parts of Shoal Creek, because both are heavily frequented and central to the city, Whittle says.

“We pick up probably like 10 big trash bags full of trash each time we go out,” Whittle says.

Over the course of the last few months, the group has grown to have around 25 to 30 regulars for each cleaning day, Whittle says. To

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be respectful during the pandemic, everyone in the group wears a mask and practices social distancing. In addition, once everyone gets to the meeting location, the group will split up into smaller groups, and everyone will meet back up at a designated time — to figure out who wins the Golden Bucket.

To conclude each meeting, the Clean Trail Club member who finds the coolest or most interesting piece of trash will receive the Golden Bucket, and the winner will get to choose the clean-up location for the CTC’s next meeting.

Over the course of one cleanup, Whittle says, even though they only cover about a one-mile radius

of area, the group is diligent about doing their best to fully clean up those areas, making sure to pick up “little ticket” items such as bottle caps and cigarette butts.

“It’s small. No one wants to pick that up, and it’s just as impactful as something big,” Whittle says.

“So, we try to do a really good job of cleaning up — you know, smaller sections, but doing a thorough job on that sub-section.”

To schedule meetings, the CTC will make an announcement on their Instagram page about the next date and time of the clean-up.

Then, they will ask that members or people looking to come to direct message the account to let them

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n FITNESS

WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS GIVEN US, AS RUNNERS, SO MUCH.”

know of their attendance.

Collin Findlay, other co-founder of the Clean Trail Club, runs the group’s social media and says he refers people to the page when people inquire about getting involved, since many people will see them and want to get involved while they are picking up trash along the trail.

“I think our plans for the future are just to kind of keep expanding as we have been. It started out with like, you know, six of us just getting up in the morning and going with a couple trash bags to pick up trash,” Findlay says.

Findlay says, since the beginning of creating the club, he has been more motivated than ever to carry bags in his car and on his person — and inspires his friends to do the same.

“You can throw a trash bag in your bag whenever you go around the lake, and you can pick up trash — even one little Walmart bag-full of beer cans is better than nothing,” Findlay says, “and if 20 people were to do that in one day, think of the impact that could make.”

Whittle and Findlay say the one

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item the Clean Trail Club sees the most of are beer cans or hard seltzer cans along the sides of the trails.

“People come here to have fun and stuff, so people will throw their beer cans in the creek and that washes down to the lake,” Findlay says.

According to the City of Austin’s website, approximately 11 tons of trash are pulled out of Town Lake each year.

Even though the group sees a lot of trash whenever they are doing a cleanup, Findlay says that

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no matter what, the group stays positive and turns their mindset into viewing it as an opportunity.

“I think, for the most part, we keep the trail club positive.

We come across these big conglomerates of trash. Sometimes … in your brain, you’re kind of like, ‘Oh man, this is really disheartening to see. This is our beautiful community that we all share.’ But I think we try to kind of subvert that thought and change it into, ‘Oh, look at all this trash we can pick up. Look how beautiful we can make this place right now.’”

W! NE

WATER ENHANCERS FOR DOGS

Electrolytes

Support Hydration

Amino Acids

Promote Muscle Health

B Vitamins Occasionally, when the group comes upon pieces of trash they cannot properly dispose of, such as mattresses and car bumpers (both have been found by the CTC), Whittle says they will call Austin 311, and the trash is picked up immediately.

Even though the group began with a majority of runners, Whittle says anyone is welcome to come out and join the club.

“We try to make it as inclusive as possible and try to be welcoming and caring — we want everyone to come have a beer with us after so

Support Healthy Energy

we can get to know one another,” Whittle says.

The best way to keep Austin clean, Whittle says, is to do one’s part by picking up after themselves and encouraging friends to do the same.

“Austin is such a beautiful city that so many people get to come take advantage of, whether that be traveling in or doing a bachelorette party here,” Whittle says. “We want to make sure that people continue to think it’s beautiful — and we want to do our part to make sure that happens.” afm

available now at

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nulo.com/h2o AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

FITNESS SPONSOR

Castle Hill Fitness

WORKOUT OF THE MONTH

Meet Tony!

WITH CASTLE HILL FITNESS n Obtain mind-muscle connection with this dumbbell workout.

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ooking to lift more than turkey drumsticks this Thanksgiving? Castle Hill Fitness trainer, Tony George, has created a full body strength workout with minimal equipment that can be done at the gym or easily completed at home this holiday season.

Core

We are starting with core because we will be utilizing our core throughout the duration of the workout. The stronger the core, the stronger you’ll become in the exercises.

2 x 1 M IN. T O E TO U CHES (UP P ER ABS )

Lay on your back with your feet straight up in the air. Extend your arms straight. Reach for the toes, lifting shoulders off the ground. Inhale while coming up and exhale coming back down to the starting position.

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2 x 3 0 SE C O ND S FLU T TER K ICKS A ND SCISSO RS (L OW E R A B S )

For this exercise, lay on your back and make sure your lower back is pressed against the mat.

2 x 1 MIN. SID E PL ANK W ITH HI P DROP + RAI SE ( OBLIQUE S & TRANSVE RSE ABS)

Get in the side plank position. Keep the hips stacked and square to the wall in front of you. Lower the hips, lower than they would be in a side plank. Then, raise the hips higher than they normally are in a side plank. Inhale as you go down. Coming back up, exhale and tighten the core as you raise the hips.

2 x 30 SECON DS SUPERM AN + 30 SECON DS SUPERM AN HOLDS

Laying on your stomach, arms and legs extend out as if you are flying. Simultaneously, raise your chest and quads off of the ground. Don’t forget to squeeze the glutes!

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

n FITNESS

Legs 2 x 10 D B NAR R OW STA NCE SQ U ATS (ENTIRE LE G MUSCLE )

Focus on quads during this movement. Slightly elevate your heels.

2 x 10 DB SI DE LUN GES (I NN E R & OUTE R THIGHS, GLUTE S)

Be sure toes are pointed forward.

Push your hips to the back and embrace the stretch on the leg that is straight.

2 x 15 D B R O MA NIA N D EAD L IFTS ( E R E C T O R S P INAE, HAMS TRI NG S )

Stand tall with good posture. Bring the shoulders back and chest out. Hinge at hips before bending your knees. Lower the dumbbells until your back is parallel to the ground. Pause for a moment and then come back up. Return to the starting position as you exhale and tighten the core and squeeze the glutes.

Chest 2 x 10 SI N GLE ARM + BOT H ARM S DB CHEST PRESS

Lower one DB at a time, then both dumbbells at the same time for each rep.

2 x 15 D B C HEST FLYS

Bring your pinkies together to the starting position. As the dumbbells are lowered, rotate your wrist so the palms of the hand are now facing the ceiling. As the dumbbells are being raised, rotate your wrist back to the starting position. Pinkies together!

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Back 2 x 10 OV E R H A ND W ID E EL B OW D B B ENT OVER ROWS

Be sure to keep elbows wide for this movement. Squeeze the shoulder blades as the elbows are brought as far back as possible.

2 x 15 SI N GLE ARM DB BEN T OVER R OWS Keep your elbow close to the rib cage.

Squeeze and pause when the elbow reaches its highest point.

Shoulders 2 x 10 SE ATE D D B SHO U LD ER PR ESS

Keep elbows wide for this movement. In order to protect the shoulder capsule, be sure to stop at 90 degrees.

2 x 15 LAT ERAL DB RAI SES

Standing tall with good posture, raise the dumbbells to the side until your arms are parallel to the ground. Imagine the DBs are as far away from the body as possible. Return to start position.

2 x 15 R E V E R SE D B FLYS

Keep the arms as straight as possible and make sure your torso is parallel to the ground during this movement.

Imagine the DBs are as far away from the body as possible.

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

CALENDAR NOVEMBER– D E E M B E R 2020

Submit your event online at austinfitmagazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THUNDERCLOUD SUBS TURKEY TROT

Rides & Races *Dates and Times are subject to changes or cancellation. Check event websites for more information.

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Shine On Virtual Remembrance Run: For Pregnancy and Infant Loss San Antonio, TX N OV E M B E R 1 0

SARR Endurathon Bulverde, TX

THUNDERCLOUD SUBS TURKEY TROT

N OV E M B E R 1 4

Reimers Salmagundi Trail Race Dripping Springs, TX

Virtual

NOVEM B ER 26

N OV E M B E R 1 4

Battle of Leon Creek Race San Antonio, TX N OV E M B E R 1 4

NOVEMBER N OV E M B E R 7

New Braunfels Half Marathon and 5K/10K

NOVEMBER 8

New Braunfels, TX

Run for the Water Austin, TX

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Cedar Park 5 Miler/5K and Kids 1k

The Hill Country Trivium

NOVEMBER 8

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Austin, TX

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Austin, TX

NOVEMBER 8

Dripping Springs, TX

N OV E M B E R 7

San Antonio, TX

Marble Falls, TX

Veterans Voyage Austin

Friends of McKinney Falls 5K

Run by the Creek 5K & 10K

Veterans Day 5K

N OV E M B E R 1 5

Run to Remember 5K/10K

ZOOMA Half Marathon Texas Wine Country

Dripping Springs, TX

Fredericksburg, TX

NOVEMBER 2020

Cedar Park, TX

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NOVEMBER 21

Turkey Trails Austin Round Rock, TX

NOVEMBER 21

Boerne Family YMCA Turkey Trot Boerne, TX

NOVEMBER 21

The Prettiest Race In Texas Half Marathon & 5K New Braunfels, TX NOVEMBER 21

Wild Hare Warda, TX

NOVEMBER 22

American Hero 25K & Relay San Antonio, TX

NOVEMBER 26

Round Rock Turkey Trot

DECEMBER DECEMBER 5

Real Ale Brewing Co 5K Blanco, TX

DECEMBER 5

Old Town Rudolph Run Leander, TX

DECEMBER 5-6

Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio San Antonio, TX

COMING SOON TO THE GROVE!

DECEMBER 5-6

Tinajas Ultra & Trail Relay Bend, TX

DECEMBER 12

Mosaic Trail Run Liberty Hill, TX

Round Rock, TX

DECEMBER 12

NOVEMBER 26

Spicewood Vineyards Half-Marathon

Lockhart State Park Turkey Trot Lockhart, TX

NOVEMBER 26

Texas Tough Turkey Chase San Antonio, TX

NOVEMBER 26

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot Austin, TX

NOVEMBER 26

San Antonio Food Bank Turkey Trot San Antonio, TX

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San Antonio 5K Run/Walk San Antonio, TX

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Candy Cane Course Austin North

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Decker Challenge Half Marathon & Deck the Halls 5K Austin, TX

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BCS Marathon/Half Marathon College Station, TX

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DECEMBER 13

Jingle Bell Run - Central & South TX New Braunfels, TX DECEMBER 19

Candy Cane Course Austin South

ONE WORKOUT AND YOU’LL BE HOOKED. WE GUARANTEE IT!

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I Ran Marathons Christmas Jingle Bells San Antonio, TX

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AU S T I N F I T M AG A Z I N E

CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2020

Submit your event online at austinfitmagazine.com

Events *Dates and Times are subject to changes or cancellation. Check event websites for more information.

BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR In Person & Virtual

PHOTO BY ANNIE WINSETT

NOV. 1 3 – D EC . 24

NOVEM BER 1-30

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#DoingThingsDigitally

Outdoor Yoga Class

Michener Center for Writers Presents: New Books from MCW Fellows

Austin athletic apparel brand, Outdoor Voices, hosts wellness discussions and virtual workouts all month long.

From cardio dances to aerobics to shadowboxing, they’ve got all kinds of workouts to keep fitness fun. You can check out their events page for more info or follow them on Instagram @ outdoorvoices.

NOVEMBER 2020

Every Friday, you can find a beginner’s Hatha yoga class in Central Park (the park behind Central Market on North Lamar). This event is hosted by Yoga in the Sun, and the donations will go to instructors and nonprofits in the area.

The space in each class is limited, and socially distanced mats and masks are required. For more info, see their Eventbrite page!

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Leah Hampton, Ben Philippe, Maria Reva and Travis Tate are fellows at the Michener Center for Writers, one of the most acclaimed writing Master’s programs in the country. They read excerpts of their newly published works and discuss them at this free, virtual event. Check out Book People’s events page for more info!

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Online: FREE Improv 101 Class

A Christmas Affair: Felicidad

ColdTowne Conservatory is now hosting their popular, free, introductory class biweekly. The online class will take you through the basics, and it’s a great way to see what ColdeTown and improv is all about. To find out more about dates, see their Eventbrite page.

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Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back

Sports journalists and coauthors of Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back, Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson, will be discussing their book and all things sports. Check out Book People’s events page for more info.

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Thai Fresh: A Cooking Demonstration

Jam Sanitchat is the owner of South Austin restaurant and learning center, Thai Fresh. She will be demonstrating a recipe from her new cookbook, Thai Fresh: Beloved Recipes from a South Austin Icon. The cookbook itself is available for purchase on Book People’s website. The event is free, live and virtual.

N OVEM BER 13 – D E C EMB ER 2 4

Blue Genie Art Bazaar

Every year, the Bazaar invites artisans with handmade artwork for a unique shopping experience. This year, the event will also have a complete, online marketplace option and personal shopper option for those who can’t come to the in-person event. Those who do come in-person must wear a mask and book a time in advance.

Check out their website for more information and ways to shop!

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Austin Celtic Festival Homebound 2020

Presented by the Junior League of Austin, this event creates a great way to buy gifts and bring in the holiday spirit. This year, although the event will be virtual, there will be more than 150 regional and national merchants available to browse. To see the full lineup of events and listings of merchants, check out their website and virtual invitation.

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Inventiveness and Invention in Spanish Colonial Art

Professors Almerindo E. Ojeda and Aaron M. Hyman will discuss the use of European engravings as a fundamental art source in the Spanish Americas.

They will explore how mastering a technique by copying it can lead to inspiration and innovation. The event will be moderated by curators of the Blanton Museum. Refer to the Blanton Museum’s events calendar for more information.

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Wyeth Airlines Flight Thirteen

The UT New Theatre presents a play about the coming-of-age of a group of middle schoolers. Directed by Andrea L. Hart, the play explores the loss of the imagination and play as the realities of middle school take over.

The performance is virtual, and the tickets are available at pay-what-youcan pricing. Check out their website for more information.

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Home Alone Drive-In Showing

Blue Starlite Drive-In will be showing Home Alone as part of their Holidaze series on November 27. The movie will be at their new location downtown, the rooftop of the Garage at 300 San Antonio Street. For more information on tickets, movie series and other locations, check out their website.

This year the big event will be held virtually. On November 14, you can find music, dance and more all via their Facebook and YouTube — all for free (though donations are appreciated). It’s sure to be a Celtic, culture-filled day.

For more information on an updated lineup, check out their Facebook!

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