She's so Fit

She’s so FIT

May 2015

Revive Refresh Rejuvenate

Barre Fit How to get a ballerina’s body

What’s (s)UP Stand-up Paddle boarding is the sport to try!

Move over Meat Vegan invasion

Show Your Curves!

The Yoga pants craze

Were you born in the wrong era ?

Fashion through the ages $2.99 US

Mia Cooper

shares her thoughts on beauty

All Hail Healthy Put away the packaged foods

Author Biographies • Adulthood is tumbling around the corner for Ruth Mewhinney, and when it hits, she will be prepared for it. Why, you ask? Well, Mewhinney’s whole life has been enclosed a bubble of medicine. Not one, but both of her parents are trained doctors and their professions have rubbed off on Mewhinney in the best way. She has accumulated an excellent knowledge of human health and is determined to transpose her comprehension of human health to animal health. In the past, her home has housed pigs, geese, ducks, cats, dogs, lambs, chickens, and pigeons, all of them suffering from one disease or another. This has induced her longing to save helpless animals and has had one other strong effect on Mewhinney; she is a recently resettled vegan. This past Lint has provided young Mewhinney with the final ounce of motivation she needed. Her mother and father, being doctors, display little effort of shifting their diets for their recently commenced vegan. But this does not stop her; her inspiration stretches past her parent’s lack of motivation, pushing her to fulfill her determinations of being vegan on her own.

Laney Philli ps, consumed by passion and determination, has devoted her life her greatest love: dance. Since the age of three, Philli ps has been venturing across the city five times a week to her studio, Dance Discovery, to lay down her fearsome new moves. Her mom, a fitness

trainer, noticed Philli ps’s recherché talent the day she took her first steps. Mrs. Philli ps immediately enrolled Philli ps into the top baby ballet school in town. Ever since then, Philli ps has done nothing but excel in her dance career.

Talia Willcott, born and raised in Austin, has consumed nothing less than the best in Texas cuisine since the day she was born. Having a family full of chefs has prompted her mature appetite to skyrocket, passing all other kids in her age group. From father to daughter, the pattern of cookery adroitness has passed from generation to generation and will not stop. Willcott has no choice but to be an adventurous eater, thanks to her grandmother, Judy Willcott, who opened up a popular bakery/ restaurant and passed her cooking education to her sons, and her father, who cooks home meals every night varying from raw sushi to baked pasta. Since the only food Willcott has at her house is ingredients, the only meals she gets are those her parents make from scratch. This forces her to expand her palate to match the ones of her parents’ supreme tastes.

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Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, The issue of She’s so FIT that you’re about to read was created with our blood, sweat and tears. No seriously, Talia Willcott cut her hand while typing out her feature and cried for ten minutes. Putting this magazine together was a pretty remarkable feat, if we do say so ourselves, and I am incredibly proud of my team.

Our goal was to make an original magazine, filled with interesting stories and exciting news that would leave the reader feeling happy, healthy and empowered. For the coming summer months we thought what better than a magazine centered around fitness and health, at a time when most young ladies are starting to think about a diet plan to get that perfect bikini body.

We wanted a magazine that promoted a healthy and active lifestyle instead of unhealthy and unrealistic images of so called “fitness”. Our magazine features fun ways to work out with your friends, centering yourself, how to de stress, and healthy alternatives to your favorite foods so that you can be the best possible version of yourself.

She’s so FIT Editor-In-Chief Mia Cooper

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FEATURES

20BALANCED

Laney Phillips fulfills the reader with guidance for beginners who wish to take a yoga or barre fit class, but do not know what to expect.

8 AUSTIN BY WATER Ruth Mewhinney provides information about active types of water sports in Austin. Including rowing, supping, swimming, and all of their benefits.

Talia Willcott writes about her family business, Texas French Bread and how they incorporate healthy food into their menu.

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FITNESS FASHION

14TEXAS FRENCH BREAD

26 Mia Cooper explains the fast-growing presence of fitness clothing outside of a gym or workout setting.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 12 WAIT YOUR VEGAN?

Ruth Mewhinney gives inside information on the difficulties of being vegan, and introduces some vegan-friendly restaurants in Austin.

18 ALL HAIL HEALTHY

Talia Willcott offers healthier cuisine alternatives for the average breakfast, lunch and dinner choices.

24 YOGA

Laney Phillips demonstrates easy, every-day yoga poses to refresh your day and leave you feeling relaxed.

30 EVOLUTION OF FITNESS FASHION

Mia Cooper presents the progress of fashion in the fitness world from the ‘60s to present day.

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Austin by water Rowing, paddle, and swim like never before By: Ruth Mewhinney

C

ities are filled with uninviting masses of grey buildings crowded together suffocating out the possibility of parks, soccer fields, and trails. Green sparsely appears in busy cities, with the exception of the BP logo appearing on gas stations.

Austin defies this mentality to an extreme. At the heart of the city lies a 351 acre park, Zilker Park, that contains both people and activities that embody Austin’s fitness focused attitude. Zilker park; home to Barton Springs, a natural swimming spring.

A three-acre pool that keeps it’s gates open year-round. Here Austinites of any age flock to escape the heat. True to the values that it upholds, Austin offers many other water activities that entice people out to its lakes.

Town lake offers smooth waters and stunning views ideal for paddle boarders and rowers alike.

These sports encompass both fitness and fun. For Austinites that haven’t yet learned how to exercise outdoors during the simmering Texas heat, a trip to the lake might be in order.

“When I started

rowing I couldn’t even run half a mile without having to stop and take a breath, and now I can run 5 miles without stopping,” said Anna Davis.

Davis, a high school student at the Liberal arts and Science Academy in Austin, started rowing at the Texas Rowing Center about a year ago for P.E credit, but soon discovered she enjoyed the sport. Despite the noticeable physical benefits, rowing is a low impact sport, perfect for injury prevention, people with joint injuries or those overweight. Davis represents the physical transformation that all unfit people hope for, “I’ve lost 15 pounds and I’m 5’3 so that’s really changed my body type, I definitely feel much more confident, “ says Davis. Davis rows five times a week for several hours, but never feels burned out or overwhelmed by rowing. Many opt for a rowing machine opposed to actual going out on the lake, but in Austin actually going out on the lake is the obvious choice. The thick greenery around the lake accompanying the shimmering Austin skyline provides the perfect horizon to row towards.

Rowing is not something you dread of doing, rather something you look

“When I first started rowing I couldn’t even run half a mile without having to stop and take a breath, and now I can run 5 miles without stopping”

Anna Davis and friends at rowing practice on Town lake.

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“ It’s huge, refresing, and beautiful, just like Texas girls, so who wouldn’t love it”

Barton Springs on a typical summer day.

Children enjoying the diving board at Barton Springs.

extra challenge to their yoga routine. Dessie forward too. Rowing provides an unique feeling Tien, a high school student in Austin owns of accomplishment. Davis remarks,”the feeling 3 paddle boards, and sups on the lake every you get afterwards like dang I just did that, if I can do that I can do anything.” To stay in shape, week when the weather permits. “I can sit and experience some of Austin’s charm Davis down, kneel, stand, and easily get in the water, versus a kayak where it’s harder to get encourages people of all ages to come down to the docks. You don’t need to over “Barton fits the in the water and stand, supping offers a lot of variety, “ think fitness, you just need to do it Everything is she adds. says Tien. The Texas Rowing

Alongside the rowers are bigger in Texas Center used to only offer rowing, but recently they added stand-up paddle boarders . stereotype“ paddle boards, canoes, and Austin is referred to as the supping capital of the world, and this is apparent to kayaks. This variety shows how easy and exciting any passerby seeing the surface of the Colorado River dotted with boards. Supping is Austin is trying to make fitness. “You can’t even tell you’re working out because your the sport of the young and the hip. Teens hanglooking at the lake, and the ducks, and ing out with friends, young couples on dates, and yoga enthusiasts are the main people out messing around with your friends,” Tien says. on the lake. While most of these people are Supping is a low-impact sport that enables simply enjoying the outdoors, they are also people to row long distances with ease, causing a sense of relaxation and accomplishment. “It’s partaking in an great way to exercise. Standing nice to be alone and have time to reflect and upright on the unbalanced surface strengthens relax,” Tien remarks. “With supping you have your core while the repetitive motion of rowing builds arm muscle. Due to the strength requires complete control over how fast and far you go,” to balance on a sup board, many people do yoga Due to the fact that supping is a solo sport, individuals do not feel the stress of letting down on the board to improve stability and add an

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a team and can control every aspect of how they row.

“It’s huge, refreshing, and beautiful, just like Texas girls, so who wouldn’t love it,” Darb Gunn remarks about Barton Springs. Barton Springs is a three acre pool fed through underground springs, that keeps it at a refreshing 69 degree year around. Gunn is a retired lifeguard at a Barton Springs, but he still regularly swims at Barton Springs. The pool is shallow enough for young children to play in, but it reaches 18 ft in some areas. “Barton fits the ‘Everything is bigger in Texas’ stereotype, “ Gunn laughs.

Surrounding the spring, unlike most neighborhood pools, is a huge grassy area shaded with oak and pecan trees. Visitors are delighted by the lush grass where they can lounge and play with their kids. Barton Springs provides an oasis for anyone looking to seek refuge from the 108 degree Texas summers.

Even topless sunbathers are welcomed to bare it all.

Swimming laps is a common practice here for people looking for exercise. When most of your body is submerged underwater, the water holds up about 90% of your body weight.

It’s the perfect sport for people with stiff muscles and joints. This means people recovering from injuries, wanting a low-impact sport, overweight, or suffering from arthritis would benefit from swimming laps. Even if you do not fit into any of those categories, swimming is a great way to tone muscles

throughout your body. Water is 784 times more dense than air, which is why pushing your body through water is more beneficial than running through air. To work up a sweat, Gunn encourages people to visit Zilker Park beforehand. “ It’s inside of Zilker park, which is great because after you play volleyball or run around the park you can just walk over to the pool and cool down, “ says Gunn. Three massive volleyball nets with sand flooring invite friendly competition. 351 acres surround the nets, filled with people taking advantage of the field. Soccer, ultimate frisbee, and even disc golf is played here on a daily basic.

The possibility of finding a fun and healthy way to be outside in Austin is exponentially growing.

Hanging out with friends will replace going to the gym because these activities allow effortless and enjoyable fitness. Whether you want to spark your competitive nature and see who swims the fastest or simply practice your favorite yoga poses on a sup board, you will be apart of the hippest and most popular summer activities in Austin. Buy a new bikini, embrace the Texas sun, and shed pounds. •

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“ Wait, you’re...

By: Ruth Mewhinney

VEGAN?”

Vegan food so filled with freshness and flavor that they will put any meat lover to shame. Check out our writer’s favorites and be ready to devour every morsel at these affordable restaurants

Berry White

Pad Thai with Tofu

1. Juiceland

3.Thai Kitchen

Juicelands takes their smoothies to the next levels with their colorful concoctions and unusual ingredients.

Forget the usual banana strawberry smoothie and trade it in for a coconut oil,chia seed, ginger smoothie (also known as the Chai Chai smoothie) that is guaranteed to add a bit of freshness in your day.

While not advertised as vegetarian and vegan, many of there dishes feature,noodles, vegetables, and tofu. Thai kitchen is an Austin staple due to its distinct flavor and charm.

My personal favorite is the Pad Thai,and yellow curry.

Bueno Burger

2.Mother’s Cafe Stereotypes about veggie burgers, and wraps are put to shame by the Bueno Burger on the menu. It has been voted the best veggie burger in Austin and is one of my personal favorites

5. Conscious Cravings Tofu never tasted better, Conscious Cravings puts a unique spin on their tofu wraps to create a delicious meal that even meat lovers will enjoy. They are filled with fresh veggies, spicy beans,and grilled onions. Buy the baked rosemary fries for a healthy alternative to the typical fried fries.

Menu is determined daily

4. Casa de Luz

Cajun Tofu Wrap

All photos and illistrations by Ruth Mewhinney

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Situated in a Garden that can be described as nothing less than a “peaceful rainforest” is a quaint restaurant that wholeheartledy belives in what they are serving. They offer nutrient rich,100% organic, vegan meals that will improve your health.

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Texas French Bread What should you be putting in your body?

Story and Photos By: Talia Willcott

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young Judy Willcott listens to the customers eager chit-chat as they wait for the pristine cook’s quintessentially crafted baguettes to bake to perfection. Anticipation fills the air as the timer goes *BING*. Slowly she reaches forward to grab the scolding hot rack in her mitten clad hands. The smell of freshly made bread infuses the air immediately after the goodies were removed from the oven. One at a time, Judy drops each loaf into a paper bag. A token of gratification replaces the baguette filled minaudières in Judy’s hands as each customer praises Judy for her lovely work.

These three people were the unwitting agents of Texas French Bread founding.

Judy Willcott began her culinary journey when she opened the first Texas French Bread in her home kitchen in 1979. Judy used her house oven to bake bread, pastries and meals for anyone who requested. Thanks to her happy customers and all the pâtisserie’s success that came with them,the small kitchen bakery was moved to a small space downtown that she turned into a real bakery in 1980. As the popularity increased, Judy was able to earn

enough money to open, over time, nine other Texas French Bread locations. She managed to create a friendly, open environment in each and every one of the bakeries. Austin was not as health conscious as it is today, so when Judy first opened Texas French Bread, it was about the quality of the food, not the affect it had on your body.

Throughout the years, realization hit her that food was not only about taste, but also about the healthiness. Her culinary journey was coming to an end soon so she used the time that she still had to begin renovating the food TFB sold and incorporating more health positive food. By the time retirement came into the picture, Judy had prepped Texas French Bread enough so that when her sons took over, they would have a good start on the road to nutrition.

Even though she is now retired from the food business, she keeps up her reputation by cooking for friends and family with her own special reci pes that only use the healthiest ingredients. “A varied diet of healthy amounts of leafy green vegetables and low amounts of sugar contributes toward fewer health

“Everyone has to eat, so why not eat healthy?”

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These are a few pictures of Texas French Bread’s frienly restaurant environment. problems and more energy,” says Judy about her unique reci pes. Judy and her husband create and experiment with new diets for themselves every day. “Diets are important because what we eat determines how we feel and our overall health.”

Says Judy. She is jam packed with food knowledge, and never falters her healthy eating environment.

Two of Judy Willcott’s three sons are Ben and Murph Willcott.

Having grown up in the kitchen,these boys were more than capable to take over TFB when their mother, Judy Willcott retired. Over the years, the Willcott brothers were able to transform this cozy bakery into a friendly deli by day and a sophisticated restaurant by night.

Madeline Pizzo, a recurring customer at the bakery, has been visiting since she moved to Austin in 2004. By that time, Judy had sold the bakery to her sons, Murph and Ben. “I am very health conscious, so when I first moved here I could only eat Texas French Breads food occasionally. But

when they added the restaurant and the farm to table dinners, I was ecstatic because it meant I got to spend more time at my favorite place in Austin.”

Madeline now visits at least once a week for her traditional ‘after workout’ treat.

One of the many modern trends of today’s culinary world Texas French Bread has to offer is farm to table dinners. Many local farms contribute to farm to farm and farm to table dinners by supplying fresh, pesticide free fruits and vegetables to restaurants around Austin, including Texas French bread. By using these ingredients, TFB is not only supporting small local farms around Austin but is also encouraging people to cook with fresh ingredients grown in the community.

Eating food that was harvested without any pesticides or toxins means the consumer is only helping their body. When people eat food that was cleaned using pesticides and toxins, they are killing their body by ingesting the chemicals. If everyone ate naturally grown fruits and vegetables, we would be a generally healthier race: people would live longer and obesity rates would decrease dramatically. The effect of using organic cleaners on the Earth would, also, have a positive, long lasting outcome. People would be emitting less air pollution and the world would be cleaner.

“A varied diet of healthy amounts of leafy green vegetables and low amounts of sugar contributes toward fewer health problems and more energy,” 15

Along with running a bakery/restaurant, Murph enjoys staying healthy himself. He goes to the local gym as much as possible and eats his absolute healthiest. “I would say whole,natural foods would be the most easily modified for dieting,” says Murph. “Highly processed or “junk” foods may be subject to caloric restriction, but a person who is limiting calories needs to be sure they are getting adequate nutritional value, or it will be harder to meet their goals.” Having experience in the food business helps with dieting and healthy eating.

Texas French Bread buys most of their ingredients from local farms like Boggy Creek Farm where they grow their foods with no pesticides and sell them to local restaurants,but when they do not have what TFB needs, organic grocery stores located around town have Murph’s back. A few of TFB’s most trustworthy partnershi ps are Central Market,Whole Foods,and Wheatsville.

Central Market began in Austin and has now spread around Texas. You can find stores located in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Southlake, Plano and San Antonio. Central Market is a Texas-based H-E-B that offers healthy,high quality, locally grown foods. They have many hard-to-find ingredients and offer gourmet, pre-prepared meals.

Whole Foods is a local grocery started and based in Austin. There are three locations around town. They offer high quality,organic ingredients along with pre-prepared meals found at an in-store restaurant / buffet bar.

Texas French Bread is running strong and will continue making improvements to their menu.

Thanks to the Austinites supporting healthy living, Austin is full of health wary restaurants and grocery stores, much of which Texas French Bread takes advantage of. •

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Texas French Bread is a local Austin bakery created by Judy Willcott in 1981. It is now run by her son Murph Willcott who recently attached a restaurant open for dinner. The meals use all locally grown, farm-fresh ingredients.

All photos were taken by Murph Willcott at Texas French Bread.

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ALL HAIL HEALTHY What you eat is one of the most important things to keeping a healthy body,mind and soul. Here are some healthy alternatives for you everyday meals.

Unhealthy

BREAKFAST

• coffee,tea,fruit juice • toast,bagel,roll,muffin, topped a spread • cereal with milk and with possible addition of fruit • fried,scrambled,or poached eggs,or an omelet • pancakes or waffles that are buttered then doused in syrup • bacon, ham • potatoes,baked or refried beans,grits

Unhealthy • fast foods • cafeteria bulk lunch • deli meat and cheese • sandwich,maybe with veggies or potato chi ps, and milk or soda on the sideleftovers • frozen microwavable entrees

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Healthy

• avocado toast with egg • peanut butter banana moothie / fruit and yogurt smoothie • zapped scrambled eggs with veggies • fruit and yogurt parfait • breakfast burrito • healthy morning glory muffins / zucchini muffins • zucchini bread oatmeal / pumpkin oatmeal

LUNCH

Healthy • herbed cheese and tomato sandwich • veggie burger • fish wrap • vegitable pita • spicy black bean burrito • grilled cheese with tomato and turkey

Unhealthy • meat • baked or mashed potato, rice,macaroni and cheese,beans • vegetable,often steamed,or a side salad • pasta with a side of bread • Chinese takeout • pizza

DINNER

Healthy • chicken breast with shaved brussels sprouts barley-Stuffed Poblanos • burger with mushrooms and radicchio • grapefruit and avocado salad with seared salmon • Brown Rice Bowl With Turkey • spaghetti with wilted greens and walnut-parsley pesto • sweet potato and spinach quesadillas

Eating healthy will increase mental and physical health; save your body today.

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YOGA & BARRE FIT

Balanced Your guide to a fit body and a calm mind.

Story and Photos by: Laney Phillips

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llison Phillips’ normal day begins with her sunrise yoga class on the Town Lake trail. She loves the beautiful scenery of the tree canopy and dazzling water, as well as the calmness of the area around her. This fitness instructor takes advantage of the many benefits of yoga as well as the outdoors. Even with the unique surrounding and mindset of a yoga studio, this fitness enthusiast finds the outdoors to have great mental benefits.

“Anytime you’re in a setting where there is the beauty of nature to distract you, you don’t even realize you’re exercising.”

Yoga has been popular in Austin for numerous years, whereas barre fit has just erupted in the past two years. These extremely effective forms of exercise appeal to all ages and all levels of fitness. All types of fitness fanatics have expressed their opinion on how yoga benefits every part of the body and how the more recent finding of barre fitness has affected active people all around Austin. These two promising forms of exercise have made their way around town and influenced the way people workout. After learning of these fitness regimens, Austinites have noticed a change in their mental and physical health. Allison Phillips,a personal trainer and owner of Backyard Fitness, gives her insight on the fantastic and “huge

benefits” of yoga. Edith Brooks has noticed these benefits as well and comments on the best ways to experience yoga and fit it into a busy schedule Working around her busy schedule as a dance teacher, Lisa Nicks has taken advantage of this new-found interest in barre fitness and has experience and noticed the physical effects on herself and her students.

There are many reasons people choose yoga and barre fit over other forms of exercise. Barre fit is a newly established category of fitness; while sticking to a pure ballet barre guideline, it is altered to accommodate for an average person’s flexibility and strength. Both yoga and barre fit have extremely noticeable physical and mental benefits. Strength and flexibility are only some ways yoga improves your every day lifestyle. “Physically, I noticed huge strength gains especially in my upper body, I was much stronger in my shoulders, chest, back, and abs.” says Phillips, already being an extremely fit trainer, this assures that it can benefit everyone.

These types of fitness also appeal more to a less experienced person, mostly because these types of exercise are gentler on the body and more accommodating to all body types. Many prefer yoga for recouping after an injury or use for preventing injuries.

Phillips explains how yoga touches on the mind, body, and spirit. To this religious and fit personal trainer, those are the three most important things about working out and feeling comfortable about your body.

Laney Phillips holds a headstand at Rockport beach during spring break 2015.

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“The mental benefits are stress release, and a better ability to handle stressful situations and maintain life balance.” says Phillips.

Not only does yoga take stress out of your daily life, but it helps you focus on the present. “You are supposed to just focus on what you’re doing, so it helps to clear your mind and make you more attentive to what you’re actually doing.” says Edith Brooks, a busy college student who uses yoga as a stress reliever and a way to get fit. Brooks comes across as a very put together and efficient person, which results in attending yoga classes a few times a week.

Brooks usually attends classes at Black Swan Yoga Studio, but occasionally she takes classes on the Town Lake trail. “You see the swans and the sun coming up, it is very peaceful.” says Brooks.

Yoga is a very portable type of exercise and easy to do anywhere, especially in Austin parks and public settings where it is very accepted.

“I believe that your physical fitness is crucial to your intellectual abilities, and to do well in school or your professional life.” says Phillips. Having yoga as an exercise source helps your mental health by making it easier to focus on important activities and calming you down in high pressure situations. As for the physical benefits; adding yoga as an additional resource for exercise helps target muscles that usually get left

out of your normal routine for a full-body workout.

When first beginning yoga most studios would recommend beginning with flow classes which focus on breathing and moving through each pose smoothly and slowly. A flow class will concentrate on building your flexibility and which once built up will provide great benefits in the long run.

“Barre fit targets muscles that you don’t normally worry about which is beneficial and adds to your fitness routine.” says Lisa Nicks.

Nicks also mentions how closely related barre fit is to ballet, so the workouts commonly include a ballet oriented barre but tend to alter to accommodate for the average person. These ballet positions help to burn calories and burn fat in places which leads to the long lean figure of a ballerina. Barre fit is considered two-in-one by building muscles using small weights and lengthening muscles when stretching.

Edith Brooks, a yoga enthusiast, began yoga a few years ago in order to reduce stress and build up her strength. Brooks attends a few yoga classes a week to couple with the amount she runs a week. She uses it to stretch and recoup after running long distance. She also uses yoga to prevent and treat injury. “Yoga helps make your body more in sync with

“You are supposed to focus on what you’re doing, so it helps to clear your mind and make you more attentive to what you’re actually doing.”

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slimming along with mental health in mind.

Barre fit and yoga are not just developing in Austin, but everywhere in the country. They are extremely beneficial forms of exercise that can be coupled with other types of exercise or performed on their own. Both are very easy to tailor to your lifestyle and everyday activities. Exercises can always be modified whether you’re a beginner or have an injury, but can also be amplified if you’re advanced and looking for more of a challenge. Many fitness fanatics or experienced instructors have proved yoga and barre fitness as effective in the form of healing and building strength. From experienced to beginners, barre fit and yoga can be for everyone.•

itself,so you can be more centered.” Says Brooks.

Having balance and being aware of your center in your everyday life along with the other physical activities you complete is one of the best things Brooks has discovered about yoga.

As well as balance and a control of your center, Allison Phillips; a fitness trainer for more than 20 years now discovered yoga awhile back and has noticed more flexibility and strength gains in places she didn’t worry about before. “My personal philosophy is that mental health, spiritual health, emotional health and physical health are completely interconnected and you can’t have one without the other.” says Phillips; having this admirable physical health makes it so much easier for this busy mom of five kids to find time for her emotional and spiritual health. Having these leads to “exceptional mental health” and an easier time with stressful situations and calming down in tense encounters.

Barre fit and yoga are expanding extremely quickly in Austin. One noticeable aspect is Austin’s growing population with younger people interested in remaining fit and healthy, and is one of the reasons barre fit and yoga are growing in Austin. But the main reason they’re expanding is because they are more unique and effective forms of exercise focused on

Laney Phillips tests her balance on a windy day in Austin at Zilker Park.

“A lot of sports you get it or you don’t, but you can alter yoga; instructors really help you to alter or change a pose you can’t do.”

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The perfect poses to begin or end every day that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and calm.

Photos by: Laney Phillips

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Mountain Pose Stand tall with feet together, shoulders

relaxed, weight evenly distributed through your soles, arms at sides.

Downward Dog Walk your hands out in front of you and

curl the toes under then push back raising the hips and straightening the legs.

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Forward Bend Fold from the hips and lean forward,

bringing the fingertips in line with the toes and pressing the palms flat.

Plank Extend legs back, coming onto the

balls of your feet, and keeping your shoulders above your wrists.

Continued...

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Cobra Press down into your hands and

straighten arms, pulling your chest up toward ceiling.

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Warrior Two From Warrior One, open the arms so they are parallel to the floor, palms down.

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Warrior One Pull one leg forward into a lunge with your

hips squared to the front. Bring the arms up with your palms touching, coming into a slight back bend.

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Reverse Warrior From Warrior Two, bring the rear hand down the back of the rear leg. Bring the front arm up next to your ear.

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Sweat with style...

Fitness Fashion

Story by: Mia Cooper

The sweat dri ps down her face, as she pulls her hair back into a sloppy ponytail with pieces sticking out. Wearing a ratty old T-shirt with holes in it and basketball shorts that probably belong to her father, this 20-something year old not only feels unhappy with her own body, but will never have the confidence to feel good about herself. Now, she enters the gym with a blinding smile, wearing her slimming yoga pants and tight tanktop, with enough confidence to stop a train in its tracks. This is all thanks to a recent trend in both fitness and fashion, dubbed “fitness fashion”.

But, most of all, teenagers have been headlining these trends from middle school to college. Certain fitness apparel has become staples in any teenage girls’ closet. And within our green city of Austin, the trends have especially taken hold, without much surprise from anyone.

“[Fitness] becomes a little bit more fashionable as well, there’s so many good styles out there” Mia Cooper wearing a Lululemon headband, a Nike sports bra, and Nike running shorts (left and right) Photos by: Ruth Mewhinney

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Moreover, the popularity of fitness fashion can only grow from here.

“You don’t have to worry about wearing just a hum drum loose T-shirt to the gym, you can actually look really good going in and feel good about it,” says Alicia Brunetti. She has witnessed these trends firsthand, working in clothing at REI. Brunetti has the chance to help countless women feel more confident in themselves and their body by using these fashion trends correctly. Many women have made the switch to fashionable fitness gear already,and more switch everyday. “I think

anyone can wear it, we have people of all ages who come in here,” Says Brunetti.

Grace Sweeten a student at LASA high school in Austin, Texas, loves the practicality that fitness fashion offers her. She also says that fitness fashion works well with her hectic schedule as a competitive cheerleader and high school student. Running from school to the gym is an easy transition when you wear your fitness clothing to school she explains with a smile.

The fact that fitness gear has also become acceptable as normal clothing has also impacted the trends. When fitness fashion first started to become popular and stylized in the 80s, it was mostly for looking good in-

side the gym, a big change from the times before. But even now, a bigger change has occurred in the fitness fashion world. Activewear clothing has become acceptable to wear out and about on the street, as it’s own fashion style.

as normal clothes “...daily I would wear nike shorts in the summer, in the winter I wear yoga pants and my favorite part is being able to do anything when I’m wearing fitness fashion.”

As well as for practicality and fashion, many women also love the comfort that fitness fashion offers them. “Yoga pants have gotten super popular, like yoga clothing, and a lot of women have found that sports bras are way more comfortable than wearing a regular bra,” says Brunetti, who thinks this is another reason the recent fitness fashion trends have become steadily more popular. “I’d probably say our Lucy brand is my favorite, Sweeten also loves this aspect of they make these pants,they’re fashion fitness, she says clothes called hatha pants, they’re yoga

“I definitely do wear my activewear clothes as normal clothes...”

Celebrities Spotted!

Kylie Jenner (above) wears a loose tanktop and leggings, comfy and functional!

Kim Kardashian (left) wears a tanktop underneath a running jacket.

Jessica Alba (right) wears a stri ped tank top underneath a looser bright tank top and yoga pants on bottom.;

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pants, I know I’m sticking to a trend, they have the extra band at the waist, you don’t have anything sticking out, they make you feel slim and they’re never super short they’re always a good length,” Brunetti says.

Sweeten agrees, she says “When I started exercising I realized how comfortable the fitness clothing was... now I can wear yoga pants and a t shirt to school and it’s become acceptable.”

Jennifer Gray, a college student at St. Edwards University, has another theory about the source of the immense popularity of fitness fashion. “Companies know that the way to get young people’s attention is through something being functional and attractive, which is a lot of the reason these trends are so

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incredibly popular.” she says. One such incredibly popular company is Lululemon, a Canadian based company with a reputation for yoga pants and running clothing. Lululemon clothing is one of Grays favorite brands because she likes their wholesome approach to fitness. Later, she talks about the popularity of fitness fashion with teens in Austin.

Growing up in such an active city really influenced Gray, as well as hundreds of thousands of other teens living in Austin, such as Sweeten. “I definitely see it all over Austin,” says Sweeten, “there are college kids wearing it and high school kids wearing it and middle school kids wearing it.”

Famous for countless

hike and bike trails, and acres upon acres of green space in the middle of downtown, Austin is the ideal city for a fitness fashion following to take hold…

Which is exactly what happened.

“People are way active in this city comparatively, because I’ve travelled around the country a bit and I’ve never seen as much green space as we have in Austin,” Brunetti says.

If there’s one thing that Austinites can agree on, it’s that living in Austin offers a unique healthy, active lifestyle that you can’t find anywhere else. “If I didn’t live in Austin I doubt I’d be half as active as I am right now!”

Gray jokes.

Teens especially majorly utilize the active lifestyle that living in Austin supports, and the fitness side of fashion fitness

becomes slightly more important. An especially popular place to exercise is the downtown Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trails. A favorite among all Austinites,the scenic trail leads through green parks alongside the lake for about four miles, in a loop. The trails are also pet friendly, leading to lots of use from dog owners. Sweeten is the proud owner of a malti-poo, a maltese poodle mix, and loves running the trails with her. “Sometimes during the summers I’m fortunate enough to get to run around town lake with my dog, and I really enjoy it,” says Sweeten.

Going to school downtown at St. Edward’s, Gray says it’s easier to find the time for a run around the lake. Running the trails helps Gray de-stress and re-focus. “It’s a great trail to run, and also a good place to clear my mind. It’s nice to just step back and appreciate the beautiful city we live in,” she says.

The perfect combination of comfort, chic clothing, creativity and confidence, fitness fashion is becoming exponentially more popular. And no matter how the trends started,no one can deny the popularity of fitness fashion within Austin. Their popularity will continue to grow, and only time will tell whether the trends will stand the test of time, or fade within the next few years.•

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The Evolution of Fitness Fashion By: Mia Cooper

‘70s

Tight short shorts for running became popular in the ‘70s, unisex styles were favored because of the simplicity and long sweatshirts were used for anything from running to weightlifting, for both sexes.

‘60s

‘70s

‘80s

‘80s ‘60s

Popular excersise attire in the ‘60s consisted of one pieces with tight leggings, this was conducisive to yoga and dance. Looser one pieces were also popular for other fitness activities.

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The ‘80s marked a revelotuion in the fitness fashion world. Jane Fonda, a fitness guru (pictured to the right) popularized these trends, and along with the rest of the ‘80s, leaotards, colorful tights, and legwarmers left their mark on fashion history.

Fitness Fashion has changed immensely throughtout the ages, each decade bringing new changes and variations allowing fitness fashion to become what it is today, and will continue to evolve from where it is now when today’s trends fade from popularity or change in the coming years.

Sources: http://www.fashion-era.com/, http://www.culturefried.com/, http://www.perrinpt.com/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/, http://universe.byu.edu/

‘00s

In the early ‘00s the CrossFit trend brought about new trends in fitness fashion namely patterned knee high socks and sports bras.

Fitness clothing also became specified for different activities. Yoga favours clothing which allows you to move freely, while weight lifting favours tighter and less clothing.

‘90s

‘90s

Fitness fashion in the ‘90s took a break from the crazy trends of the previous decade and became more conservative laid back in style. People began wearing more stylized activewear clothing for running.

Tracksuits became popular for their comfy and breathable fabrics. Zumba was invented as well, and the loose comfy styles worked well with the dance fitness.

‘00s

Today

Today

Modern fitness fashion has come so far from where it began. Evolving into its own branch of fashion, many women now wear it even when they’re not headed to the gym. Fitness fashion will no doubt continue to become popular in the next few years, but only time will tell if that popularity will be maintained, or added to the history of the evolution of fitness fashion.

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