Since we celebrate a results-oriented lifestyle that chooses longevity, vitality, and lifelong joy over quick fixes and burnout, we thought to tap Nike Master Trainer, Joe Holder— the modern wellness man, community philanthropist, Naomi Campbell's trainer— with his soundbites on rest, relaxation, and “strategic laziness.” The leader of the "plant-based gang" is now the Performance Consultant of Whoop (the regeneration fitness tracker) entitling him to be the recovery expert. His reminders seem simple but are powerful shifts: food first, incorporate rest, move mindfully, and reflect often.
Food is medicine: "Humans are not made for this constant bombardment of stimuli, so you have to find ways to deal with recovery appropriately, through both body and mind. It starts with food in my opinion. Food and sleep are the best healing options out there. I will say it’s very important for people to monitor how they feel on any type of diet. Not eating meat isn’t for everyone and that’s fine, but eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods is definitely for everyone and that’s really what “Plant-Based Gang” is all about. It’s about inclusion, not exclusion."
Basics first: "[My workout style is] a blend of performance and health modalities that at the end of the day, make sure I feel good. People are too interested in making things perfect or trying to do ridiculous movements for the sake of looking good on [social media]. Focus on the basics, understand how to create your best workout recipe, and have distinct goals."
Getting in the Green: "The energy of New York can be slightly overwhelming for me so I like any green space for a brief respite to calm me down. I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Street garden."
On “Strategic Laziness”: "Athletes do what they should, not what it seems like they should be doing. Inaction is a form of action and athletes know which actions should be done and which shouldn’t, which saves time and energy and unnecessary wear and tear on the body."
On mind-first approach: "Athletes hone in on the connection between body and mind. We understand that one can have physical progress but that doesn’t lead to dominion and control over the body unless the mind is harnessed properly."
Introspection is hard but key. "Film watching and reviewing games was always the hardest part of playing sports because as much as we want to tell ourselves it wasn’t our fault, the camera never lies. This teaches you to take ownership and fix mistakes before they become larger issues."
Taking back "wellness": "Wellness is not a capitalistic and affluent buzzword, even though the culture at large currently is trying to make it that way. Wellness is a way to free yourself from a society that doesn’t deem your health as the first priority. My goal is to help people understand that taking control of their health is the first step towards self-actualization and reclaiming personal autonomy."
