Gabby Reece working out courtesy of FitBit
Gabrielle (Gabby) Reece is a powerhouse. The 6’3” former professional volleyball player, athletic shoe designer for Nike, best-selling author, TV and podcast host, and high intensity workout creator (HIGHX and XPT). Gabby Reece lives in Malibu and Hawaii with her husband, big wave surfer Laird Hamilton (read our story with Laird here), and their kids. She is an outspoken advocate for maintaining a healthy, high performance lifestyle under all circumstances, and she took the time to share some of her secrets with LA YOGA.
Gabby Reece Photo by Jennifer Cawley
What do you do to stay motivated for your own workout?
It’s not that I stay motivated, it’s that I create a formula in my life to be successful. There’s maybe 50% of the time I’m not motivated. I have kids and I have work. Of course, it’s easier sometimes not to, so I have places I have to be or people I must meet to train to keep me accountable. When it comes to working out, I also have taken the emotion out of it. I don’t say to myself, “I don’t feel like it.” Working out and being active is just part of my life.
Do you find that working out with other people makes it fun or maintains the accountability factor?
It’s everything. Having people around me who push me, inspire me, teach me, or make me laugh, whatever it is, it’s the only way it happens. I can’t do it alone. I need somebody to go, “Yeah, you ready?”
What advice would you give people to help them keep a workout in their routine?
There are so many diverse types of training available, from yoga to spinning to Cross Fit to lifting, all these cool classes. There’s something for someone everywhere. Put a little effort into figuring it out. Know yourself and find something that feels like, “Oh this is me.”
What do you do for food to make sure that you maintain a routine that works for you, that maintains performance?
Part of it is understanding the food that is serving me. Beyond that, we cook a lot at home and I’m always looking for recipes to try something new. We occasionally do dinners with other families. I bring half a meal and they bring half, so then you’re sharing food, you’re gathering around food, and you’re taking your time around food. People are so busy sometimes that they just get their food down, or they nuke it and eat it. Sometimes we also just need to take the time to check in with each other. Food is an essential part of life and community.
Clean Acai Mango Bowl from Gabby Reece
2 Sambazon original superfruit packs
unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened apple juice
scoop of cashew butter
½ cup frozen mango
½ banana
1 Tbsp hemp seeds
Toppings
fresh coconut meat
gluten free granola
raw honey
Open your superfruit packs with a knife, cutting it across the middle, or use a pair of scissors to cut it across the top. Break açai into your blender and add all other ingredients (minus toppings). Blend for at least 45 seconds or until everything is fully combined. Pour into a bowl and top with any combination of the following: fresh coconut meat, gluten free granola, raw cashews, or almonds. If you can’t find fresh coconut, try shredded coconut.
Post-Workout Acai Smoothie from Gabby Reece
1 Sambazon performance protein superfruit pack
1 cup unsweetened apple juice or unsweetened almond milk
banana
1 Tbsp almond butter
Optional: ½ cup frozen mixed berries
Open your superfruit packs with a knife, cutting it across the middle, or use a pair of scissors to cut it across the top. Break açai into your blender and add liquid, almond butter, and banana (berries, too, if you’re using them). Blend for at least 30 – 45 seconds. Pour into a glass and sprinkle with cacao nibs and hemp seeds. Be sure to use a reusable straw.
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.