How did you go from DJing to the fitness industry?
I was DJing straight out of college and it became taxing. Being up all night and sleeping during the day made me lose touch from what made me happy, which was living a healthy lifestyle. I realized that my lifestyle wasn’t sustainable and I needed to make a change. I stopped DJing nightlife and moved into corporate DJing. It was better hours, better pay and ultimately let me regain my quality of life. That’s when I decided that I was going to live my happiest and healthiest version of myself.
How does fitness play a role in this happy, healthy version of yourself?
The sweat that I get from working out allows me so much mental clarity. It helps me feel strong, independent and in tune. I’d like to think I work out every day, but in reality, I don’t. I do fit it in whenever I can and it makes me feel great.
How has fitness changed for you throughout your life?
I grew up as a ballerina. I danced for almost 15 years and then went into team sports. After college, I had to figure out how to incorporate fitness into my own everyday adult lifestyle. So, I love fitness classes. The group atmosphere is inspiring and helps me keep going.
I had to figure out how to incorporate fitness into my own everyday adult lifestyle.
What is your favorite way to work out?
To mix it up. A great week is if I’m doing something different almost every single day. Monday is Pilates, Tuesday is boxing, maybe Wednesday is cycling, Thursday’s a dance class and Friday’s maybe working out in the gym.
Why do you like to mix up your workouts?
It’s really easy to get distracted when you are used to a routine, so switching it up all the time keeps me sharp. It has a better effect on my body because it’s in a constant state of muscle confusion. It’s constantly being worked in different ways, not the same way over and over.
What inspired you to come up with your brand HBFIT?
When I was in college, my friends who weren’t from New York would always ask me for recommendations for health and beauty products in the city. I’ve always been obsessed with wellness so when Instagram came out, I started using it to showcase my lifestyle, beauty secrets, and more. I would hashtag each post with #HBFIT so when my friends started talking to me about everything I was posting, I knew that it was catching on. My following started to grow and I decided to create a website dedicated to all things health, beauty, and fitness.
What advice would you give to women who are trying to strike a balance between staying active and having a healthy work and social life?
Accept that you cannot do everything at once — once you do that it will become easier to manage your time and expectations. I run a business, have a social life, and make time for myself. But I can do that because I listen to my body and have learned how to say no in a kind way. I am conscious of what I need to do to be the happiest version of myself and that allows me to find the balance of it all.
