This is the Art Beauty podcast where we tell the real truth about the fake shit. Hi, everybody. I'm Amber. Today my fabulous co-host is a friend of the show, Casey Cohen, and she is an ELI performer at Life Time Fitness. We're going to talk all about that. And she's really here to help us get our fitness goals in check in order. Maybe you need a little fitspiration. Maybe you have a ton of it yourself and she'll comment on that as well.
But first of all, happy New Year and welcome to the show, Casey Happy New Year. Oh, man, I feel like getting through 2022. I don't know about you, but the end of the year was like the last week of the year. For me. It was a real drag. It's interesting because the last week, this past week for me, like I because I'm so accessible all the time with posting my schedule and what I'm doing and where I am.
I decided that these last like this last week specifically because there's just been so much going on in my personal side of things, and I was like, You know what? I'm going to like detach for the week because it's not important for everybody to have access to me. It's important for me to, you know, live in living the present moment so that I can set myself up for success or this new year. Right. You know, it's interesting you say that.
So I we do a podcast every week, the last two weeks of the year, I always take off because or I don't have a show scheduled. It gives me time to work on shows for the upcoming year, but it also just gives me a little bit of a mental break for that last two weeks of the year. Like you said, to be a little bit more present. A lot of people are spending time with their families.
I try to do it with mine, you know, and then just you get started back up in 2023 and it seems like no matter what industry you're in or what you do or whether you're an influencer on Instagram or whether you're constantly connected or not, 20 The New Year always seems sort of like a reset to everybody. And, you know, I feel like for so many people, we had you on last year and I loved it because you gave some real tough love about how to reach your fitness goals.
And if you need to hear a little bit of that, I'm sure we'll talk about that today. But you know, now that the new year is kind of year, I feel like so many people are kind of back on. Do you feel that like do you see that in your line of work? I mean, you must rightly gyms become January 1st. Yeah. Like everyone's getting, you know, booking the classes a week ahead instead of like the night before. They're getting more like disciplined with how they're going to be living their day to day life.
I think that I've been saying this a lot in my classes just like taking inventory of your life. And I'm like, sometimes I'm guilty of having all these subscriptions or getting boxes of products from Amazon to my house and not really doing like a good overall inventory of like, why do I need all these things? Like, I don't need an extra bottle of set of fill or like, why don't I regulate this more and like push it back instead of every month?
So taking inventory on your own life and seeing like, Hey, this year I spend so much time on my career, but other things I neglected, right? So like, maybe I need to make more of an effort, like with the seeing my friends or my relationship, but you start to reexamine how you're allocating your time. I think that's super important. Now for people who might not be aware, you are like the ultimate, I feel like fitness instructor.
We talked about it last time, you know, where you fell in love with indoor cycling and you were taking like, I mean, sometimes would you say like five classes a day for. Sometimes six more? Was I've ever taken a seven. But that was just because my, my love for it was so strong. But also I noticed doing a regression was not only was it my passion, but it was filling a void at that time for like training and educational purposes. And like I wanted to become so good at something.
I became so good at something, but it also took away from other parts of my life, even though I use and I and I'm so grateful that I have this skill set I needed to like allocate that amount of time. It's almost like a professional athlete, like they need to put all this time towards their craft, towards tennis, towards practicing, right? So that they become that good so that I can actually teach it, right. Instead of just saying like, Oh, I'm a teacher. Like, I don't live like that.
I live and breathe what I do. So I spend a lot of time studying the industry. I mean, it's funny, you know, you mentioned before professional athlete, because I have to be honest, I knew you as a professional athlete, Right? You are. No, I do. I mean, for anybody if you really want some fits break in, check out her Instagram. I think it's at Casey Elle Cohen So impressive I can be on your page forever. You've got you know fabulous body images and it shows that you really work for it.
And I love that you also then share products that you like as well. But to me, you are a professional athlete. Which is like, thank you, Which is interesting because like sometimes if people don't understand what I do, like the other day I was having lunch with somebody and I just said, you know, I teach like about anywhere between 15 and 16, sometimes 20 classes a week plus I'm taking class on top of that because I'm keeping myself involved in the ecosystem.
All different classes and even just cycling, like I'll go to a yoga class or I'll do something else, just show or boxing just to get myself immersed in the different side of things and see what people are doing and how they're teaching. Because the only way to become better is to learn from other people. I don't think one person has everything right, so the amount of class I'm taking is is a lot, right? And I have to listen every day to my body, which is for the new year.
Like people will say, Should I be doing all these classes and what should I do? And you know, who do I console and how do I get that way? And it's it's more of like if you love something, like if somebody loves swimming or somebody loves yoga, you're going to gravitate towards that a lot more than coming in saying, Oh, I'm going to come and take Casey's head class. Right, right, right, right. Like you might not like my style of teaching because it's a little extreme.
It's not as normal in quotes as most other people might want to go to a class. Right. You're going to be pushed in a different way, both mentally and physically. But when you find that person that drives you. Mm hmm. That's the attachment to getting in shape in general, because you're like, Oh, this person's going to push me in this way. I need that. I need somebody to comfort me. Some people really, really need that push.
You know, you mentioned before, though, like for for people who might just be like starting on this fitness journey, you know, Do you have any suggestions for the best way to go about it? Because you probably don't want to start and and take five classes in one day because it's probably one I don't even know if you could, but even if you could, your next two weeks are going to be miserable
because you're gonna be hurting. Right? So. So do you have good ideas for how you can kind of ramp up into a fitness routine? Yeah, I think every obviously everyone is different, right? So like, what are you doing it? Like, I would have to ask a bunch of questions to lead up to that. But if somebody is not moving at all, I would suggest to just like, go outside and like, start with like a walk or something. Maybe not even use your phone, not compare yourself to other people.
Don't look at like even my Instagram and say, Oh, wow, I want to look like this or I want to be that because that's that's not reality. This is like my own profession, right? So if you want to get to a certain level, anybody can get to that certain level with starting. But in order to start, you have to find stuff that you love. Yeah. So I would say like maybe go into a yoga class, you're like, That's not for me. Or Oh, what are your other friends doing? Maybe you need help.
You need like a body, you need a community to go into a new kind of find me like your own way. I don't always like to go to class with other people because I'm an instructor, and sometimes I just need to, like, be with me. And I don't even want to be in the center of the room. I'll ask, Can you push me to the side? Because people know right away that I'm in fitness. I need to shut off you. Right? So it's knowing what you need and and how you can hold yourself accountable.
But getting a buddy, maybe somebody else that's starting new in fitness or somebody that's been in it for a long time joining a gym. Right. So like, Lifetime is really amazing because there's so many different classes to try, right? And there's so many different locations. Maybe it's just even going to sit in a sauna like it's doing something. Right is on a there I miss on. A chiropractor Oh steam room and all the things
it's like the ultimate like one stop shop luxury. Like it's like a country club in my opinion. So like for me as an instructor too, I'm in a place where I know I can take care of myself and recover afterwards as well. Like if I want to go sit in a steam room or sauna, I have that ability. Or I can take my other friends classes or things like that. So just finding that. Is it's I love that you said to find what you love. And I also know that it can change.
I know personally I used to love indoor cycling during COVID, then it kind of switched to weightlifting. I love weightlifting. It's really great for my body. We bought a peloton in in in early 2020 beginning of COVID and I was using it all the time in the summers. I don't use it at all. So I literally just kind of brushed it off and was like, I'm going to do this again. But you got to kind of ramp up because I like to be outside.
I like to get my cardio outside, I like to lift weights pretty much every day. But I do love you know, there's something about being on the bike and sweating it out. But I know I couldn't make it to your class yet. Like, I would need to work up and you need to ramp up. But I think sometimes, like even 20 minutes can help you kind of get there because you don't want to you don't want to try to overachieve, right? You do want to set yourself up for failure. Failure. So I agree.
But my class, like the way it's designed it is. It's for every level. And there are people that I have currently that might be in there like eighties that walk into wow. Okay. Amazing and has nothing to do with really like it's about what you say to yourself and it's more so than than physical in the long run because you can get yourself to do anything right. So if you're feeding yourself with, I can't do this, this is impossible. It's just super hard, though.
You're not going to be able to get up. But if you say, Oh, okay, I can do like 10 seconds or I can do 20 seconds, I can build to this, there's a place for everybody in the room, and sometimes people will come up to me afterwards and say, like, I felt like the entire time you're speaking to me. And it could be something that's going through in my own personal life.
I try to draw from examples because if I'm feeling it, there's probably somebody in the room that is feeling it or had experienced this or being told no or being put down in a job or making that transition in a relationship, or how did that break up? So there's somebody in there that needs to hear something that I'm hopefully tapping into. So a lot of this is release or it's reset and then they're coming back because they're seeing a result both mentally and physically.
You know, you bring up an interesting point about sort of changing your mindset, right? Instead of saying, I can't do this, say, you know, thank God I have a body that is able to do this. If even for 10 seconds, do you have sort of along that line, any advice for people?
Right. So so New Year, everybody's gung ho, but I feel like, I don't know, at about week two, a lot of those classes that were impossible to get January 2nd, third, fourth, but they start to open up a little bit more because I think people kind of start to fall off the wagon. So do you feel like you have any advice for people, you know, on those days, like when you just don't feel like doing it to kind of convince yourself to get up there and and do it?
Yeah, I feel like there's there's multiple ways around that, right? Each person is different. But like, again, finding a body to hold accountable, maybe making it like some sort of vision board where you can see it all the time and you're like, you're ripping off a piece of paper and you're like 362 days of working out and you're holding yourself to that level of expectation and like, set a goal for yourself. I'm going to work out twice a week, the first month, right?
So that way you're making sure these little goals become big goals. And then in February, it's three times a week, you're adding on to it. Each person is different in terms of what I'm seeing just in general, a lot of people are putting up, which I find fascinating on social media stories, like I'm going to not put so much expectation on myself. I'm going to let things be. I'm kind of going to let live in the present more instead of living, you know, six months from now.
What is my goal? Look, in six months from now. And I agree with that because a lot of the times, even if you look at that as like a parent or things like that, I'm going to build this whole future for my kids and then you're missing out on them growing up, right? So same thing with working out if you're like in six months from now, this is how I'm going to be. Well, what about right this week?
Like break it down into a smaller goal like these next few days, I'm going to make sure I get to workouts in the next week. I'm going to make sure I get three workouts in. And that way, the little milestones become a bigger set of goals. That way. Six months from now, you're like, Wow, look at me. Look what I did. It's interesting. I feel like we've spoken to a lot of nutritionists and that's always kind of the way it's been with food, right?
You know, don't go on a diet like don't go on this long term because it's not obtainable. You can set these lofty goals. I got to lose £25. I'm never going to eat sugar. I'm going to cut out all booze and that you kind of set yourself up to fail when you said such extreme extremes. So maybe the smaller, achievable goals are good and then celebrate them, right? Yeah, of course. I mean, there's there's something I do in my class that has taken me a very long time to do it.
I present to everybody this opportunity to do like like a 5 to 6 minute endurance program. Right? And it's not even about what it is. It's what you tell yourself, what you think you're going to be able to do. Can you build this every single day, even though things are changing around? Right. It's not always the same song, the same duration, the same speed. But if you have the foundation there to pick yourself up, not anybody else but you, that can be applied to so many other things in your life.
So how many classes are you teaching right now? Right now, about 16, 17, not including some of the new locations opening in the next couple of weeks and other surprises that are coming up. But it's something that for me, like somebody was like, Oh my God, you're teaching five classes and it's different than taking five classes, right? Like being being on is what's going on in my personal life, what's going on in the back end. I have to shut up.
And everything is about the people in the room to experience this amazing performance. Right. As well as a workout. And when I used to take all those classes, I could just shut off and be with me and then be like, Why is the instructor tired? Like, I'm not I'm not really sure. And now I'm. I'm learning a better balance. Yeah, not everybody can teach five in a day. That's like, that's an accomplishment in itself.
But I'm proud of myself that I've gotten to that point where I can actually shut off and teach five no matter what's going on. That's like that was a goal for me. I mean, it's insane, right? So I just know from podcasting in, in bouts of 20 to 30 minutes and sometimes I'll do five shows in a day and at the end I'm exhausted because you have to be on. I can't imagine adding to that the amount of physical energy and stress.
Like I when I, I do a lot of peloton weight classes and I watch them here in my house and even that sometimes I'm amazed. I'm like, God, not only are they doing the same exercises with me, but they're talking through it for the entire time. So it is talking through. It is on a whole other level. But like I say, these I said this in my room not too long ago. Like, you know, I do celebrate people that take a lot of classes.
It's a big accomplishment for somebody if that's something that they want to do. I want to take multiple classes of yours. But that doesn't mean I'm going to like glorify somebody because somebody is taking five and somebody's taking two and each person is different, right? Yeah. But being able to speak through that and and do the exercises is on a whole other level. And that's something I will build up to that. Yeah, you're right.
Like I do celebrate those moments because not everybody can do that. I have a question for you. So because it has been a while since I've been back in a room and I you talk about, you know, when you're taking classes, you can tune out. I will say one of my favorite parts of of indoor cycling was that you could go and you can shut your eyes. You can be in your head. You're moving, you've got the music. You don't have to worry about somebody hitting you.
You don't have to worry about running into anything. There is something very meditative and special about it and not as an instructor, but as a taker of the class. You can really kind of get into your own head in whatever way it needs to be while your body is moving. Do you ever think that there's a point when, like but actually I'm going to backtrack on that. What I was saying before is I haven't been in a class in a while. Are classes full again, like is it back to normal? Pretty much.
I mean, where I am specifically? Yeah, my classes are pretty full now. Are people still masking? No. No, no. No. Okay. For a while in hot yoga, people were masking, you know, and we had to mask and I was like. I think that's a personal choice. I don't. Very. Personal. There is no way I even when I was there, it's very it's very challenging to be speaking to that, Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. Okay.
But you think right now and sort of in terms of like pandemic over things are back to normal and I mean, that must be pretty exciting for you to kind of see everybody back in the saddles. Yeah. I mean, I also I like that we had this at home workout time because I still think there's a little mini hybrid, you know, capability with the digital components that people are still doing at home workouts, which I don't think people were or like. More people are open to that as an option.
They didn't even think about, Oh, I'm going to get a bike. So yeah, I think that was that. It's a great thing that happened for us. Yeah. That we have that opportunity now to to work out in our own home. But working out on the space with other people. There's nothing like it. Yeah, there's nothing like it. And just so many people. There's a guy that came up to me not too long ago and something happened and he is with an injury.
And he said to me, you know, I was sitting in the hospital and I was just like thinking to myself, you know, if I reach if I reframe the way I'm thinking about this, because Casey always says in your class, you reframe the way you're thinking about this, like this isn't as bad as it could be. And he said, like he would replay certain things that I was saying.
And he came out and he came to my class and he said, I just want to let you know, like those words specific thing that I was saying got him through those moments, like as an instructor, being able to reach more people in in class, setting a studio setting as being has been much more fulfilling because I'm not sure if I'm reaching people digitally. Right. Right.
In the future, right on digital, because I don't teach on digital yet. But having that in-person connection is huge for somebody's journey. It is. And there's nothing like that community, because when you collectively, no matter what level you are, finish a class together. Everybody feels in a sense of accomplishment. And one of the best things that I learned years and years ago from a trainer was nobody ever regrets going to the gym, right?
Like, so there's I mean, granted, unless you get super, super hurt but Right. No going to a class, going to a gym, that's not something you ever would be like, Oh, man, I shouldn't have done that. We can talk ourselves out of everything, but sometimes you know why like the homework on us? Because when I'm like, I don't want to do this.
I can't make an excuse because it's not like, Oh, they don't have a class in my time or, oh, I got to get it's like, just walk in the other room and just do something. And I find that a lot of the times, even when I don't want to do it and I start for five or 10 minutes, I'll end up working out an hour because once you get those endorphins going, you're like, Oh, this isn't bad. But I do I do miss being back out in classes again. And it is something that, like I said, brushed off the peloton.
I'm going to work back up to it because I want to get back out again. Doing a 45 minute class. I haven't done a 45 minute class in three years. Yeah, but I'm sure I'm sure you could, even if you were doing totally increments. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I have a question before we kind of let you go. You you've always provide some great inspiration and things that I take away. I love this idea of reframing your your mindset.
I have to ask, do you as a fitness instructor, like, do you have any sort of goals for 2023 that you could share with us, whether they're fitness related or not? Yeah, like for me just being, you know, I said this to somebody the other day, like doing inventory, right? And like putting the pillars up that you have, like whether it be love or friends or family or financial or your job and getting those things in place and realizing that I have like three out of the five things. Right, Right.
And looking at those other two and being like, that's my main focus this year. I'm going to focus on this and I'm going to focus on this. I don't like to share like major, major goals unless they're going to be happening. But in terms of like career career wise, like I've always said, I'm going to be everywhere.
I'm like, there's big in the sense that I'm going to impact other people, not just for myself and like, whatever that that means for me, like being in the public eye or having to share more and more stories. I share are so much in the room that there is a reason why I'm in a place I'm supposed that I'm in. And I believe that what's meant for you will never pass.
I've been talking about the teaching for so many years and taking all these classes and putting in that work to make myself in a light that will help other people. That it has always been the main goal and being global, whether it be for cycling or head or strength, whatever it might be. So that's definitely going to be a goal wherever that leads.
But then also, just again, like letting things happen the way they should stop putting so much pressure on, like when people are like, Oh, you know, I have to get married by X, Y, Z date. It's like, why don't you just like, live in that relationship and you don't need to always share so many things that are private, right? I think that that's a goal of mine too. Is that being so open on social media?
I've been doing a really good job privately holding in those moments that I don't always need to share. I saw a friend of mine who got married in April and she didn't share it until like December. And I think that like holding those moments that are just true for you and other people are so valuable. You don't need to put everything out there all the time. Right?
That is so important to me, especially with 2023, just like living in those spaces that mean something to me that might not mean so much to other people. That is such a wonderful thing to say. And I do think, you know, going into 2023, so many people are still tied to their phones, right? You go on vacation with some friends and everybody's like too busy filming something to sort of take a look around at that. So I feel like that that really just resonated with me.
So I'm going to try to take that into live a little bit more in the moment. I love before what you said at the start of the podcast, you're seeing a lot of people who are not putting so much pressure on themselves. I think that that's hard to do, especially look, we live in New York. New York is a lot of high achieving, high goal setting people. So sometimes it's hard not to compare yourself. But we're all different. We all have a different path. You know, we're all different.
And it's so interesting because when I first wanted to become an instructor, I had a lot of people, like in their own way, be like either say things that were like kind of passive aggressive or like encourage me. Some people were open to it. And I think that no matter what, like if I saw somebody that wanted to teach, like they're not me and I'm not them and there's space for everybody. So like, I want to do something, you do it, you find those people.
I have like a team around me that are super supportive and like, even certain people were like, Are you sure you want to do this? It's like, No, I'm sure I'm I want to do this and this is what I'm going to do. So like, either you're for me or not, but no matter what, I'm going to push myself up because this is what I'm destined to do. So if you do come across those people, you got to trust your gut. You got to know exactly what your skillset is, what you're capable of. Nobody is you.
So no matter what, if anybody wants to do a podcast or be an editor or like go into beauty or be an instructor, nobody is going to do you do or say what I say and what I say. So like once you heal yourself in your confidence and you step into your power like you become severely unstoppable. Oh, I love that. And I feel like so many people need to hear that right now. And P.S., by the way, I've had people reach out to me and they're like, I want to get into podcasting, this, that or the other.
I'm always ready to help you. I mean, that is something I feel like we need to lift each other up as a community, as a society. So if anybody ever has questions about that, you know, you can always reach out to me because I'm happy to do that. And I love that You said nobody is ever going to do things the way that you do them and there is space for everybody to succeed. There really is. Yeah. I mean, absolutely, Especially because of how I came up through that.
I was said different things or like said, Oh, you're not good enough or oh, you're not going to know what to do or but they don't know you. They don't know me, they don't know where I've come from. They don't know my training, they don't know my background, you know, especially with casting or auditions, people will say, Oh, you're not good enough, or Oh, this person looks a certain way. That's nice. Like they look a certain way, Like that's them. That's not me.
So again, like, you have to trust yourself. I mean, I'll tell you this, if you're trying to get into any kind of acting or on camera, anything, you have to have tough skin. You do. Because you mentioned audition casting like you could be the most perfect part, but half of the time you will go into a room. And my dad was in film and television. He taught me this. He's like, They already know what they want and you're either going to fit it or you're not. And it's not.
You could give the best performance, but if they're looking for a blond fitness instructor and I walk in, it doesn't matter. I could I could give a Shakespeare performance. They're not going to do it right. That in divine timing is a really interesting thing. Yes, sure. Like, so like if somebody were to ask me last year at this time, I was in not well, let me phrase it in a positive way. I'm in the best environment I could be in for my career right now, possible.
So I'm open to all these other things. Last year at this time, I was unfortunately not in that position, so I was closed off to a lot of other things. Right? So when you heal yourself through through channels, you become open, right? Where somebody if I meet them even as a friend or other things, they could be in a position where they're like rebuilding certain aspects of their life. Divine timing is a very interesting thing.
If people meet even just friends as acquaintances when time aligns, that's when things are supposed to happen for you. I love that you just said that. And I do want to kind of reiterate and point out that you just said that you are in the best place right now and that maybe we're in a year ago. And for anybody who might be in that place right now where you're like, I'm not feeling my best. I've had me personally, ups and downs this past year. Give yourself time, trust the process.
Also know that that you know, my grandmother used to say this to social change, right? So if you're in that down period, like let let yourself be there, let yourself heal, let yourself have that time and know that because you're allowing yourself that time now to heal, you were going to come out stronger and better and, you know, ready to take on the world, which it seems like you are right now. Casey Yeah, I'm there.
I'm very grateful for how I did just in terms of like fitness and and where I'm at in a personal note because when you're not working on yourself and you're not giving yourself time to reflect and look back and say, Oh, those things had to happen the way that they did, even though I wasn't happy during some of those points, they had to happen that way for me to be where I am now. And that's super important.
No matter where you're at, No one, no one, regardless to what they're posting on their Instagram, is happy 24 seven. It's just not real. It doesn't make sense, right? Especially with a career. It looks like it happened overnight, but things don't happen overnight. Things are happening when the lights are off. So when the lights come on, you're you're ready to step up into that place, right? So amazing. Yes. Social media is the highlight reel of our lives, right? You know, it is. It is.
You know, so now that you are ready to take on 2023, if people want to find you, people want to come and be inspired by you. Where's the best place to find you? So I am obviously teaching. So they're more than welcome to either drop in for a day pass or a monthly basis lifetime. I have a link to that. And then I'm on social media, all platforms at Casey. I'll come in and I'm happy to answer any that you might need except for food related questions or playlist, because I don't talk about food.
I'm not a registered dietitian or nutritionist, and I don't care about my playlist because I listen to music all day long. And unless you come to my class, Shazam all day, that's something that I take pride it. I mean, you should listen to a great workout playlist. You know, it's been a while. I've been married now for 13 years, but I had a break up playlist that was so inspiring and like that I would share with my girlfriends because it was like that thing that you needed to hear.
But man, music can move you and whenever I take a class, you're great music that is your intellectual property. You've put the time that is part of your job. So now don't share that with anybody. I support that. I'm jealous because I love beer. But guess what that means We're going to have to go to your class. I want to thank you so much for being on the bus, for giving us your time today.
It's always you have inspired new information and I hope that maybe it's just giving anybody who needs a little bit more motivation or encouragement or permission to just chill that. They got that from this podcast today. Well, thank you so much for having me. I love these talks Always. Always love this. So if people want to find you, they can find you at Lifetime Fitness. You can find you on Instagram @caseylcohen.
And of course, you can always email me and I'm happy to pass on any questions you might have to. Casey, you can email me at hello@artbeautypodcast.com. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube @artbeautypodcast And as always, we will see you next Tuesday, hopefully feeling a little bit more fabulous by. All right.