So I have some exciting news Athleta, a division of Gap Inc will be opening its doors here in Houston on May 9th .
This brand of stylish and flattering active wear is designed by women for active women.
Athleta’s new store will be located in the Town & Country Village where they will carry fitness and lifestyle apparel for your sport such as running, yoga, golf as well as they carry accessories and footwear plus a lot more.
I had the opportunity to interview Tess Roering, Athleta’s VP of Marketing. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
When and by whom was Athleta started?
Athleta was founded in 1998 in Sonoma County as a catalog business and was acquired by Gap Inc. in September of 2008; it is now one of the company’s five brands and is headquartered in Petaluma, Calif. Athleta sells direct through a consumer catalog, online through www.Athleta.com, and now through 12 stores across the country.
What was/is the inspiration behind the brand?
Athleta’s mission is to celebrate and serve women athletes of all levels. Our unique breadth of product designed by and for female athletes offers both strength and beauty for every athletic pursuit, from running to swimming to skiing to biking and everything in between. We use technical fabrications and unique designs targeted at women athletes who want high performance in the activity, and incorporate meaningful details – reflective designs on flicker points, hidden pockets with locking zippers, thumb holes, quick drying fabrics, and more. Athleta combines that with beautiful, feminine designs that make women look and feel beautiful.
Why did Athleta decide to open a Houston location?
For years our customers have been telling us they want a place where they can touch and feel – and try on – our beautiful performance and lifestyle products. The store will provide an opportunity for our Houston customers to do just that, as well as connect with and be inspired by other women athletes. As with other markets, we listened to our amazing existing catalog and online customers to help us pinpoint a location nearest them. We are thrilled to be making our Texas debut by opening in Houston, one of our most saturated customer markets. Having a store in Houston will not only reach our existing customers but also expose new customers to Athleta.
How does Athleta plan on becoming involved with the community?
We are a national partner of Girls on the Run – a national non-profit prevention program that encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running – and will leverage our stores, in addition to national support, to provide additional assistance to the organization’s local chapters. In fact, in celebration of our Houston store opening, we’re making a donation to the Houston chapter of Girls on the Run and will be working locally to build awareness of this terrific program and helping them to recruit volunteers. While our first month or so we plan to focus on making sure our customers have the best experience in our store, we plan to partner with our customers to identify where and how they would like us to get involved.
Will you have local ambassadors?
We definitely love to partner with local fitness enthusiasts to share the Athleta culture and to in turn learn what the local community is interested in. We also offer a discount to fitness professionals and have an Athleta Sponsored Athlete program that is granted to women around the country on a yearly basis. This program celebrates the powerful life force and athletic accomplishments of a select group of women that embody the essence of Power to the She.
Will Athleta offer free classes occasionally?
Our Town & Country Village store will offer a variety of free fitness classes throughout the month. These classes may include yoga, Pilates, Zumba, or a run club. Each store offers a different, localized class schedule. To the get latest information, visit our store page on www.athleta.com/stores .
How can I as a Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer help to promote the new store?
Some of the opportunities within our stores include teaching classes, receiving our fitness pro discount and trying out our latest products, or hosting a private shopping event with clients and friends. We encourage you to meet with the store’s General Manager and Customer Experience Lead to see what needs they may have out in the community. They’re always interested in getting to know trainers and instructors as it’s these connections that help to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our customers.
Here are just a few pieces from the collection. Go check them out and spread the word. This is a fantastic brand.
Adding the following exercises to your routine will help you get ready for Summer.
V Sit Hover
Sit on your hips bend your knees in close to your chest, lifting both feet off the ground balancing on your sit bones. Clasp your hands behind your head elbows wide. Engage abs and lean back and touch your lower back on the ground, extending both legs out pause for a few seconds here. Return to the start by using her abs to sit up. Do 3 sets 12-15 reps.
Side Plank and Row
Attach one end of a resistance tube to an object near the ground. Get in side plank position, making sure your shoulder is over your elbow. Hold tube in the free hand and extended in front of you, engage your abs in lift your hips off the floor. Pull the tubing in towards your side, pause for a count of 2 and return to the start. Do 3 sets 10 reps each side.
Medicine Ball Pushup
Start on all fours, place both hands on the ball, shoulders over wrists. Engage abs and lift into a plank position. Hold this position for a 2 count, exhale and bend elbows and lower chest to the ball. Straighten elbows and return to start. Do 3 sets 10-15
Single leg Tricep dips
This is one of my favorite exercises for the triceps.
Sit with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Hands behind your hips, shift your body slightly behind you, (towards elbows).Engage your abs and lift your hips off the floor, extend one leg to the ceiling and hold here while bending at the elbows to lower upper body to the floor. And return to the start. Do 3 sets 10 reps on each side.
Bird Dog
Start in tabletop position with shoulders stacked above wrists. Raise one arm forward and extend opposite leg back. Hold for three counts. Repeat on other side. Do three sets of 10 to 12 reps. To make it more challenging you can hold 3-5 weights in each hand.
Pullover with Straight Leg Crunch
Start with legs at a 45degree angle, both arms overhead. Inhale and lift your arms and legs at the same time.Pause for count of 3 and return to start.
Do 3 sets 15-20 reps.( use weigh of your choice).
As always warm up before and stretch after your session.
I thought I would share a delicious recipe I came across on Cooking Light under Gluten free recipes, ( gluten free is a diet that is free of the following: wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, and any derivative of these grains.)
This lotion smells so good I got both, I had a coupon though so I got one free. If you have not been to Bath and Body Works lately they have a lot of new scents.
Rest your head on your arms, lift your leg, foot flexed, and bring your heel toward your butt. Press your heel up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, only smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Extend your leg and slowly lift up and down by an inch for 30 seconds. Continue, smaller and faster, for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat the entire sequence.
This is a classic Pure Barre move I do 3-4 times a week and it works. You can go here for the entire routine.
Here are 2 healing and nourishing foods to add to your shopping cart this week.
Watercress
This vegetable is touted as a cancer fighter. According to researchers the members of the population that consume more cruciferous vegetables have lower cancer rates.
Watercress is also effective against respiratory and urinary tract infections.
Ok we have all heard how bad stress is for you so when I came across an article from Women’s Health that stated stress in small doses can improve your health, slow down signs of aging and prolong your life I had to read some more because that was news to me.
The type of stress they referred to in the article was short bursts of stress that ends quickly, not chronic stress. A study was performed on mice they found that when they experienced short bursts of stress they were better able to fight the flu. Why? According to the article, stress sends your system into repair mode. They compared it to when you are injured, your body hones in on the injured area to repair it, thus building your immune system to protect you from infection. If the stress is minor you are able to deal with it quickly and still have energy left to continue. Who knew?
Being able to relax after a stressful situation is key as this will help your body to heal.
I deal with stress by doing a few things:
1. I exercise daily, which includes running, zumba, pilates, strength training, etc
2. I play card games, for example solitaire
3. Cross word puzzles are a great stress reliever as well
4. An occasional massage
5. Acupuncture
6. Tetris is great as well, infact the same article mentioned that researchers found that people who experienced traumatic event and then played Tetris were less likely to experience flashbacks.
The foam roller is often used for self massage, but this versatile gem can also be used to improve our balance, flexibility and stability. I incorporate the foam roller in my Pilates mat sessions for variety and it helps to keep the sessions fun and fresh.
Here are a few exercises:
The Swan
Lie prone with roller on the floor above your head. Place your hands on the outer edge of the roller, thumbs pointing up.
Engage the abdominals and slide your blades towards your hips and lift your upper body into extension rolling the foam roller towards you.
Exhale and slowly lower your torso to the mat while rolling the roller away.
Perform 6 times.
A variation to the above exercise is to perform the Scissors:
With your upper body lifted or extended position, lift your legs off the mat a few inches and open and close your legs 6-8 times, maintaining a stable pelvis.
Roller Pike
From the plank position, engage your abdominals and pull your hips up to the ceiling in a pike position, bring the roller towards your pelvis.
Inhale and lower to the starting position.
Perform 5 times
Tendon Stretch (this exercise is typically performed on the Reformer.)
Sit with the roller under your calf and your arms by your side with your hands in a fist and placed on the mat.
Inhale and press your hands into the mat and lift your hips off the floor.
Exhale and pull your hips back through your hands, lowering your head to your knees.
Inhale and return to the start.
Perform 10 times.
Leg Pull Down
Place your hands on the mat with your shoulders above your wrists. Place the roller under your ankles.
Inhale and lift one foot off the roller and pulse twice towards the ceiling.
