Stalked: James Pisano, Master Trainer, Core Collective.
3 October 2016
I'm sure anyone who has been to a fitness class agrees it's not so much the 'class' but the teacher that will inspire you to work harder and therefore achieve the goal you set yourself at the beginning. This was certainly the case with me, after attending many HIIT classes and TRX I found myself losing interest when the teacher lacked personality. That was until I stumbled upon the very cool studio Core Collective, and the lovely (and brutal) James Pisano.. you know the class is going to work when you're dying and already aching and then hear the words, 'right that's the end of the warm up' !!
Please may I introduce you all to my first proper fitness stalk.. James, we caught up after a Resistance (TRX) class, arms still shaking I attempted to hold the camera as steady as possible during this shoot!!
Why did you decide to
enter into the world of fitness training for a career and what do you love
about it?
I landed into this
fantastic industry through injury funny enough. My hopes and dreams were set on
being a Royal Marine Commando and after entering basic training on completion
of the PRMC it wasn't long before my all that running and pressure destroyed my
groin. Given 9 months to recover I took to a Physio and PT to aid my
recovery and I was blown away by their work which turned me away from the armed
forces and into my current position.
I have so much respect for every member of our
armed forces, I'm very proud of each of them and I'm always in admiration but I
have never looked back. It's not in my nature!
Have you
noticed a shift in popularity towards classes versus traditional gym
workouts in the last 5 years and where do you see it going in the future?
Coming from a personal trainer I have seen growth in this market and that's
exactly why we are in it. The lifestyle of today is very much about
working hard, eating well and training smart. The shift I feel hasn't
been aimed towards classes but more towards great products. The shift
comes from a growth in professional and planned executions of classes and the
methods behind that workout. The class attached to a membership/leisure
centre has its place but it was designed for motivation not on performance
which is what we at the core collective and many other bespoke fitness gyms
nationwide now deliver. This won't change or slow down as it's not a
fashion statement. The only issue we will face is a saturated market
which may dilute products or worse. Outside of that, competition is
healthy and more expertise can only bring more incredible products and training
methods.
Describe a day in the life of James?!
Typically I'm at work early, classes or admin.... We tend to have at least one team meeting a day to discuss programming, scheduling, class structure, delivery or trainers ( new and current ). Then it's all interaction. I make sure I do at least one accelerate class each working day.... Sometimes 3 . Then is usually lunch and walk with the pup before the afternoon/evening classes and fitness madness begins!!!
Where do you sweat, shop and eat in London?
I sweat in my spin studio ( accelerate at core) and I let the team push me in Velocity classes throughout the month. I also run Richmond park with the puppy... When he is in the mood to exercise! Since we have done so much work with Lululemon I tend to get all of my bits and pieces from them with the odd rogue purchase when I see something I like.
Food wise I do indulge in our very own c/c cafe as its right here for me all day and fantastically balanced and delicious. I also spend my days off in Farm Girl on portobello road as they allow the pup to eat with me, which is a sure way to get me in your door!
What five items can
you not live without?
My Dog is number one!
My little bestie!
My Apple Macbook is my
life... More than my telephone... Which I constantly drop.
Hard, loud music on a
daily basis!!
My TRX is my go to
tool for when I'm either away from the gym or away from the UK...
I'm split between
almond lattes and sparkling water! As I have many of each everyday
The Next Big Athleisure Brands
26 September 2016
The 'Wellness' industry now worth more than 2.5 trillion is still gaining pace with new brands popping up all over the place. A huge part of the ever growing industry is the marriage of fitness and fashion and with that comes the exciting start-ups who are exploring new fabrication, sustainable materials and even built in resistance panels.
Here are some of my favourites..
Aeance
Premium athletic
fashion with a strong focus on timeless style, highest performance and
eco-sustainability.
Bridging the gap
between fashion design and sports, German label Aeance are creating timeless apparel
for both sports and athletics. Ultimately, these are clothes to live in –
whether running a marathon, sprinting across town to run errands or flying to
the other side of the world, Aeance aspire to design garments that fit
effortlessly into everyday life.
Physiclo
Sleek workout gear
with built-in resistance to challenge the body and increase productivity.
The brainchild of a
group of medical students looking for a way to push people to reach the
‘minimum baseline of healthy exercise’, Physiclo clothing uses resistance
panels to target specific muscle groups.
Made from materials
that help to ventilate the body and keep moisture at bay, the athletic garments
can help burn up to 14% more calories each time you exercise, encouraging
customers to get fit faster.
Having already won
first place in the Technology Venture category of NYU Stern’s 2014
Entrepreneurs Challenge, as well as raising $152,000 on global crowdfunding
platform Indiegogo, Physiclo is well placed to capitalise on the emerging
relationship between activewear and technology.
Try this revolutionary sportswear here
Jogha
A brand that is
harnessing the power between social media and fitness.. a tool that no brand
should underestimate!
Created for active,
fashion-conscious women who don’t want to compromise on performance or style.
Bold, sustainable and
comfortable, Australia brand Jogha aspires
to give women the power to reach their potential by providing them with support,
style and ease of movement. They encourage their followers and ultimately
customers to join the club and become a 'Joghagirl' by tagging themselves
wearing the sportswear.
Jogha specialise in
creating some beautiful pieces by their use of shapes, materials and prints,
tailored to suit different lifestyles and types of workout. Versatility is key
for this Canada-based e-commerce startup, who are catering to consumers who
want designs that are are simple, minimalistic and affordable.
Already enjoying
success, with an increase of 400% in legging sales and the launch of a pop-up
store in Montreal, founder Daniel Lieberman (a
fourth-generation apparel entrepreneur) plans to produce a line of ‘after
workout items’ consumers can slip on after exercising.
Aiming to disrupt a
marketplace full of high-priced mega-brands such as Lululemon, Cory Vines has
the potential to drive an emerging market segment, where high-quality and
affordable prices collide.
And onto one of my
favourite yoga brands ...
Alo Yoga
Alo Yoga is based in
LA and has developed its collection by the means of yoga practice, creating
functional yoga-wear for the real yogi. With playful designs in a multitude of
colours and fits this brand is nipping at the heels of Lululemon and with a
slightly more reasonable price tag makes this young brand one to check out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
