Newest East Dane Laundry List with yoga/fitness instructor Johnny Simeonakis from Yogathletix. Everyone’s already let their new year’s resolutions by the way side, but it’s time to get back to the gym, if only because it’s empty! I’m lucky enough to take Johnny’s classes, even those Saturday a.m. Barre classes that have you dripping with sweat.
Considering the vague of athletic fashion gear I thought let’s chat with an instructor who’s work needs to be both function and style.
What’s your fashion aesthetic?
I would say that my fashion inspiration is a mix of European style with New York City underground fitness. I’ve always been a fan of comfortable cozy athletic wear but making it look stylish and fusing it with cool fabrics. I love pops of colour.
Especially working in fitness right now this is the hybrid time of fashion and fitness coming together. We’re seeing athletic street wear and pure fitness wear is so good right now.
I think I’m in a cool spot right now because with what I do people look to me even in my classes even subconsciously. I layer tights with shorts on top, gotta stay warm, but it’s also stylish.
What are the current trends for men in fitness right now?
Lots of layers, lots of skinny pants/tights and layered with shorts. Pops of really bright colours with an either all black or grey undertones.
Do you find that your work is fitness and do you brig that into your everyday?
Absolutely! I have to represent.
What’s your daytime go-to look?
All black, skinny pants oversized tank tops with a nice loose sweatshirt on top. That way you can peel off and go.
Strictly talking fitness, what are your favourite classes to teach?
Barre, everyone thinks it’s really easy but it’s so hard.
It’s killer! You’ve changed my legs!
Good.
I think that’s the main difference, barre has leaned out my prosciutto.
Barre is really a fusion, it’s a dance-based work out but you’re not dancing at all. You’re using the ballet bar with yoga with pilates into this crazy fusion work out that has cardio that uses your own body weight, you do squats and push ups, lots of lunges at the bar. It’s amazing.
How did you come about it?
Two years ago when I finished dancing on cruise ships I moved back home to Toronto and a friend was a yoga instructor and told me I should work in fitness cause I love people, I love to work out and you get to DJ and play all the songs you like and take out your aggression by yelling at people. So I said ‘sure why not sign me up!’
What was your first class?
Teaching dance based fitness classes because my background is as a professional dancer. I was teaching hip-hop cardio dance party which is my own version of Zumba. I play songs that I like in class that you hear on the radio and I make up easy peasy dances that everyone can have fun and go along with. That was my starting point and then I started teaching boot camps and barre. Abs, barre, boot camp, dance and stretching are my five specialties. Come hang out with me if you wanna whip into shape.
How many classes do you teach a week?
I do 20-25 a week.
Holy! Do you then work out on your own time?
(Laughs) Not right now, the goal is to be teaching just a bit less so that I can fuse my own work outs back in.
You’re still doing some of the things in class.
Oh yeah yeah yeah. I don’t do every rep of every exercise but of course to safely and effectively make sure that the class knows what to do with great technique and alignment you have to be able to demonstrate. I always show people what to do and go around the room with my whip just making sure everyone stays to it.
To lead a healthy lifestyle how active should you be?
It depends what you’re trying to do. If your goal is to burn more fat and lean on out or if you want to tone and sculpt; ideally working out 3-5 times a week is best of course, fusing cardio and weights.
What are the trends in fitness right now?
I can’t tell you! Cause I want to bring some of them to the city. I go to New York and I take class and I train. Things that you wouldn’t expect, that you might think are kind of weird. Barre is obviously really popular right now, but there are lots of cool different things that you just have to keep your eyes peeled out for…
Leave them wanting more!
xx @textstyles
Laundry List(s) Archives:
Grant Van Gameren
Parambir Singh Keila
Joseph of Mercury
Martin Aldorsson
Jesse Mermuys
Brian A. Richards
Daniel Faria
Eric The Tutor