10 Tools for Reviving a Workout Routine
10 Tools for Reviving a Workout Routine
In partnership with our friends at PUMA
We’ve been rethinking our workout routines lately. Not just because gyms and studios have been closed, but because
gyms and studios being closed has forced us to open up to both new innovations and old, forgotten routines. That’s
meant doing what we can with what we have while tapping into the expertise of those who know what they’re doing.
To propel us through the summer, we asked trainer Isaac Calpito, the founder of Torch’d, and Leah Bedrosian, a colleague who happens to also be an
athlete turned yogi, for the tips and tricks that keep them motivated and engaged.
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FOR KICKS
What gets goop staffer, former competitive athlete, and yoga teacher Leah Bedrosian off the
couch and on the mat these days? Gear that is both pretty and high-performance. “I’ve been eyeing these PUMA
trainers,” she says. “They’re sleek and cool and a little bit out-there, which is fun at home and will be
even more so once I’m back in the gym.” The PUMA Provoke XT is made with an airy, breathable knit; a lightweight
inner cushion that keeps you feeling nimble; and grippy rubber outsoles that help prevent slippage no matter
what kind of floor or terrain you’re working on. (And in edgy, gold-trimmed black, they look like business.) -
MAKING MAT
Isaac Calpito, the founder of Torch’d, came up with his method for anytime, anywhere strength
and conditioning when he was dancing on Broadway. He didn’t have time to make it to classes, and he didn’t have
much equipment on hand, but he had to keep his body in condition for optimal performance. So Torch’d was
born: Calpito’s forty-five minute flow of targeted body-resistance exercises. Calpito notes that you can get a
solid strength workout without much equipment. But he does recommend a finding a comfortable, flat surface where
you won’t slip. The GRP yoga mat from Manduka is a top choice: Barring a period of breaking in (trust the
process—GRP gets better with time), it’s the grippiest mat on the market and a favorite of yogis everywhere. Other
than that, Calpito recommends small weights, if you have them, to take things to the next level as you curl, row,
and press. If you don’t happen to have a pair on hand, anything that’s easy to hold—canned food, full water
bottles, your pet—will do. -
HEAD IN THE GAME
Whether you run, lift, dance, spin, or something else entirely, here’s a little something extra until the endorphins kick in: Nerd Alert is our soft chew made for dialing in. It contains caffeine and
L-theanine—two nootropics that support mental energy and focus. Which means they can help you get you in the
zone. They’re also a real treat: They taste like café au lait candies. We look forward to snacking
(responsibly). -
SORE SPOT
Generally, a little day-after soreness is a sign you’ve challenged your body and gotten a good
workout. But sometimes—let’s say that workout was really good—it can be a little much. When that’s the case,
we reach for Genexa’s Arnica Advantage: chewable tablets formulated with homeopathic ingredients that target
soreness, stiffness, and pain in the muscles and joints. -
INNER STRENGTH
As Calpito tells us, real physical strength takes mental clarity. And when mind and body are
aligned, you start to feel your own power. That, he says, is the impetus behind real change. Right now,
Calpito is using our collective drive for personal change to energize community initiatives, streaming
Torch’d classes live through Instagram to raise money for No Kid Hungry, which provides meals to
children in need and advocates at the federal level for robust safety nets for America’s families. Think
about it: If every time you worked to make yourself stronger, you gave ten dollars to charity, could you make your
community stronger, too? -
ON A ROLL
Two things absolutely essential to healthy workout prep: hydration and muscle care. Big
Bertha’s got you on both counts. This water-bottle-slash-foam-roller holds forty ounces of water (plenty to get you
from warm-up to cooldown), is made of resilient stainless steel (which supports up to 350 pounds, so you can
really lean into it), and is wrapped in high-density EVA foam that feels great for a pre- or postworkout
massage. Because this roller is built with a hard inner shell, it’s especially good if you foam roll
regularly or like things on the intense side. If you’d prefer to go a little lighter, you might try the LoRox aligned roller
instead.
Mobot BLACK FOAM ROLLER WATER BOTTLE BIG BERTHA 40OZ,
goop, $60
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WELL BUILT
There are tons of great ways to refuel postworkout, from chocolate milk to protein bars to
overnight oats decked out with fruit and nuts. After a serious sweat session, Bedrosian opts for a smoothie
she calls “life juice.” It calls for half a banana, spinach, frozen broccoli, almond butter, cacao nibs,
plant-based milk, a smidge of maple syrup, and a scoop of protein powder. Bedrosian uses Four Sigmatic’s
protein blend because it’s creamy and loaded with functional ingredients: eighteen grams of plant-based
protein from peas, hemp, chia, coconut, and pumpkin seed, plus 1,000 milligrams of functional mushrooms from
lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, and turkey tail and 500 milligrams of adaptogens from ashwagandha, reishi,
and eleuthero. (Got all that?) -
FORCE OF HABIT
Whatever your training routine, the key to success isn’t having a specific piece of equipment
or abiding by a certain workout philosophy. It’s consistency. Calpito notes that he doesn’t care whether the
clients he trains through Torch’d complete every move or even make it through the whole workout. He cares
only that they show up. “If you’ve done five minutes, that’s five minutes you’ve done,” Calpito says. “And that’s
great.”Bedrosian uses the habit-tracking app Done to make sure she gets moving five days a week, regardless of
intensity. “I love a sweaty, forty-five-minute P.volve class,” Bedrosian says. “But there’s also so much
value in some light yoga or meeting up with a friend for a walk.” -
HOLD UP
Technical fabrics that stretch, ventilate, and wick away sweat keep you comfortable and cool so
you can stay focused on whatever it is you’re here for. Take this set from PUMA: The leggings and bra hold
up well in low-impact settings from hot yoga to gentle hikes, and the grey-and-cantaloupe blocking feels both futuristic and retro—like
stepping into The Jetsons. We’re getting our hands on this one because it’s functional: Take note of
the lightweight, breathable fabrics, which use dryCELL technology to keep you comfortable, and the mesh
inserts in the leggings, which keep air flowing freely when things heat up.