Why Twerk Cardio Should Be Your Next Workout
I don't know about you, but the City Girl's "Twerk" video featuring Cardi B had me somewhere between wanting to book a girls' trip to Miami and running to the nearest gym to go get my body right. Bikini season will soon be upon us and everyone is looking for the best ways to incorporate more exercise into their schedules.
Before you spend an hour "working out at the gym" – five minutes on the treadmill and taking selfies in between crunches don't count *cough cough* – try a twerk cardio class!
Anyone who has truly thrown that ass in circle for an extended period of time knows that twerking isn't all fun and games. Most of us have been to a party before where you arrived with your edges laid and high heels on and left with your silk press sweated out and feeling as if you just ran a marathon. Even a nice, slow whine is a full-blown waist and ab workout – shout out to the Drake "Controlla" - Rihanna "Work" Summer '16. The real ones know it's a workout – a twerkout!
To provide some context about the fitness component of the twerk cardio class, I'm not a couch potato. Maintaining a healthy level of fitness activity is crucial to keeping up with my work and social schedule, so I go to the gym about 2-3x a week and typically do a mix of cardio and ab work. Even though I'm in pretty decent shape, I was so sore after taking the twerk cardio class hosted by NYC Twerkout.
The routine that the founder and main instructor, Nikki Nicole, taught the class was a full body workout and quickly revealed to me how little I engage my biceps, triceps, and lower back muscles. The stamina required to dance and throw dat ass back for 45 minutes straight totally differs from 20 minutes on a treadmill. As a whole, the class was upbeat, free form, and without question, a memorable way to bond with my bookclub girlfriends.
Finding fun, engaging, and creative ways to incorporate fitness into our schedules can be a game changer and is frequently cited as one of the top reasons American adults do not work out.
Be it a Zumba or cardio pole dancing class, feel free to switch up your fitness routine. Go to joint classes to make it a more collaborative activity. Schedule sessions in advance and loop in friends so you will have an accountability partner(s). Pause the Netflix binge-watching marathon for one hour to roll out your pilates mat and watch some ~free~ YouTube ab work videos. Exercising is a lot more interesting and accessible than many of us want to believe.
No More Excuses in 2019. It’s Time to Get This Body Right. Yes, I’m Talking to You.
Recently, xoNecole had the opportunity to pop in on one of Nikki's twerk cardio classes and learn a few moves.
"If you have a booty. If you don't have a booty. Wherever you are in your journey, this is the class for you. You can come get sexy, turn up with your girls, act like you're in the club... But, really just have a good time and start burning a whole lot of calories and getting in shape," Nikki shared.
Watch the video below for my Twerkout experience & exclusive interview with Nikki Nicole:
[ia_video https://s3.amazonaws.com/roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/runner%2F9136-twerkshop%2Bv4.mp4 source="https://s3.amazonaws.com/roar-assets-auto.rbl.ms/runner%2F9136-twerkshop%2Bv4.mp4" autoplay=true feedbacks=true shortcode_id=1550797728603 expand=1 ]Learn more about NYC Twerkout by keeping up with them on all social media platforms at: @NYCTwerkout.
Featured image by Getty Images
Lydia is a recent Ivy League graduate and lifestyle writer based out of NYC. Storytelling her way through her 20-somethings, her lens is all things career, self-care, and #BlackGirlMagic. Meet Lydia on Instagram @hello_lydia.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
Courtesy
Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy