Four fitness influencers share the inspiration you need to stay on track with your summer fitness goals.
As a college athlete, physical activity was always at the core of Selby Hill’s (@selbymhill) life, but it wasn’t until she graduated that she tried yoga for the first time. Since completing a 200-hour teaching training course in 2016, the co-founder of Yonder Yoga (@yonderyoga) juggles being a yoga instructor and a high school English teacher. Her Instagram stories focus on personal progress, while her feed celebrates life lessons she’s gotten from yoga.
Go-to Spotify playlist to pump you up? All the throwbacks. Spotify has some great decades playlists, but if you turn on “All Out 00s,” you won’t be disappointed.
Favorite bodyweight exercise? Chaturanga—nothing gets that shoulder tone faster.
Dream celeb client? I still live for the time I got to assist Josh Duhamel in a downward-facing dog during a class I was assisting as a teacher trainee… so maybe I’d like him to come back to my class today to see how I’ve grown as a teacher since then?
If you had to choose just one... cardio or strength training? Cardio. I cannot remember the last time I picked up a weight, unless holding a block in boat pose counts.
Favorite at-home streaming workouts?
Yonder On-Demand!
Ellie Klarl (@lifeofelliemack), instructor and studio manager of CITYROW Midtown
(@cityrowatlmidtown), started her fitness journey back in college as a personal trainer. Klarl never thought about teaching group fitness, but after being contacted by CITYROW and learning about its safe-movement total-body workouts, she fell in love with it. On social media, she focuses on content related to improving mobility while showing the failures and successes of her fitness journey.
Top three songs to stay motivated while working out? “Wonder Woman” by LION BABE, “New Level” by A$AP Ferg, “Dose” by Ciara
Go-to cardio workout? Rowing, of course
Greatest fitness accomplishment to date? Becoming a nationally qualified bikini competitor… but getting 10 pullups is up there too.
Top tip for keeping a balanced diet during summer day drinking and late-night bites? Change your attitude from ‘I can’t have that’ to ‘I don’t want that.’ Make intentional decisions rather than strict rules.
Advice to someone trying to start, or get back on, the workout train? Don’t rely on feeling motivated! Create healthy habits and focus on a routine you can stick with.
After years as an instructor in an NYC fitness studio, Katherine Mason
(@katherinemason_) moved to Atlanta to start her own. Inspired by the active and fashionista vibes of New York, she created SculptHouse (@sculpthouse), a fitness studio and athleisure boutique. Different from the typical fitness influencer profile, Mason’s Instagram is all about lifestyle and fashion as she tries to be true to herself and her background as a fitness model.
The best way to get (and stay) motivated to hit the studio? Getting a new outfit! When I get a new matching set it gets me pumped up to take a class and work hard!
Best ATL spot for a post-workout snack? Kale Me Crazy
Dream celeb client? I already had her, but, Jennifer Aniston. She was so sweet and loved SculptHouse. She was also a big fan of my dog Nilla.
Greatest fitness accomplishment to date? Being on the cover of Shape magazine. I actually had the hardest on-set workout that day too. Being a fitness model in NYC is like being a professional athlete—it’s not just about looking the part, you have to be ready to work for hours with a trainer on set and match endurance with strength.
Top tip for keeping a balanced diet during summer day drinking and late-night bites? Skinny margs and vodka sodas with lots of lemons and limes! Late-night meals help me not get hungover, so I welcome them but try not to make it a weekly habit.
You may know him as the sweetheart from Netflix’s Love Is Blind, but now that the show is over, Mark Anthony Cuevas (@markanthonycuevas) is back to his life as a certified fitness trainer at Solcioty Fitness Buckhead (@solcioty.buckhead). Although he studied psychology in college, sports and fitness were always his true passions so he decided to make them his full-time career. Whether it’s through an Instagram Live workout or a fitness tip in his stories, Cuevas is always sharing ways to keep a healthy and active lifestyle.
Tried-and-true pre-workout meal? Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookie with my Ghost pre-workout
Top three songs to stay motivated while working out? “Stay Schemin” by Rick Ross, “Put On” by Jeezy and “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” by Kanye West
Favorite Instagram fitfluencer to follow? Christian Guzman (@christianguzmanfitness) and Rena Awada
(@healthyfitnessmeals)
Greatest fitness accomplishment to date? When I won my first boxing match. I trained for about two to three months and it was the best feeling getting my arm raised at the end of it.
Favorite part about being an instructor? The fact that no matter who you are, we are all on the same mission in the weight room. It’s truly a special thing when I can lead a class and feel the energy from start to finish.
Photography by: Klarl photo courtesy of cityrow; all other photos by Katelyn Vines Photography; Cuevas photo by India Welton; all other photos courtesy of sculpthouse
