Cassey Ho's route to the perfect bod: 'Start small! Go for a walk.' Find out more here...

SHE'S GOT MORE than 1 million followers on Instagram. And is said to be among the top 3 Health & Fitness Influencers in the world. Her latest Instagram shot (as we go to print) which shows her in a swimsuit at a Dubai beach drew a record 28k likes with over 200 followers sharing their insecurities about their own  'bikini bodies'. The post before that, announcing her trip to Dubai garnered over 98.3k views with many followers expressing their excitement that she was coming over to their city!
Welcome to the world of Cassey Ho, an LA-based fitness blogger, who kicked off the POP Pilates craze way back in 2009 when she fused pop music with classic pilates moves. Her YouTube Channel Blogilates today boasts over 3.9  million subscribers many of whom credit her with turning exercise into a fun activity for them and inspiring a more 'body positive' attitude in a world where fat shaming is more rampant than ever. She's also the designer behind POPFLEX Active. In Dubai to lead a team of fitness enthusiasts on Kite Beach as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, we find out more from Cassey on why you no longer need a gym membership to lead a healthy lifestyle and how she is such a social media success.

What's your motto in life?
My fitness motto is to find the joy in exercise. It should never feel like a chore.

What do you feel about Dubai embarking on the Fitness Challenge? Are you a frequent visitor to our city?
I'm so excited! I have never been to Dubai before and I'm so honoured to explore and learn more about the city!

Do you remember how or when you first decided to embark on a fit life?
I really just wanted to feel better, both physically and mentally. Once I discovered group fitness, pilates in particular, I felt more connected to my body AND my mind.
 
When it comes to fitness, do you believe today we have more avenues to explore in terms of You Tube channels, social media etc?
What's so cool about the age of social media is how it's opened doors to EVERYONE! You don't need a gym membership. You don't need to drive an hour to try a class you've always been interested in. We have the ability to stream just about anything in the privacy of our own homes. That's amazing!

Do you have an icon you look up to in terms of the life they lead?
I admire all the fearless women out there who are breaking stereotypes, leading with passion, and making changes in this world. There isn't one particular person. I'm inspired by new people all the time.
 
How do you manage to find time for all that you do? You have a YouTube channel; you have authored a book and launched your own active wear line. Where do you find the energy for all this?
I genuinely love what I do. So when you're following your passion(s), it's easy to wake up excited. Of course, I'm only human so I still have days when I'm exhausted. But on the whole, I'm living my dream. And it's something I am so thankful for.

How do you de-stress?
I find cooking really relaxing and therapeutic! And if I have time, I love getting massages.

How would you motivate someone who hasn't been doing any kind of physical activity for a while to get back into the game?
Start small! Go for a walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. And then stick to it. It's all about forming new and better habits.

You have an amazing number of followers on social media- Instagram, YouTube. To what do you attribute this draw?
I'm me to the max. I don't try to pretend to be anything I'm not. That lends me an authenticity that my followers connect to. I feel like I'm their big sister in a way.

Could you run us through your typical day - from what time you wake up, to what exercise you do, to what you eat...
Everyday is so different! But typically...I wake up, work out. Right now it's PIIT28 - Pilates Intense Interval Training. It only takes half an hour so it's great for my on-the-go lifestyle. Then I make a quick fruit smoothie with whatever I have on hand. Then I walk to our office, work with the team, and eat lunch in the afternoon - usually a Poke bowl. And then after work, I walk home, make dinner - could be tofu tacos or Vietnamese spring rolls. I stretch while watching my fave show if I have time! Then I get ready for bed.
 
When you put yourself up for public consumption on social media, there is always going to be positive and negative feedback. How do you handle the latter?
Remember who you are. When you understand yourself, what matters to you, and you surround yourself with good people, the negativity becomes background noise.

Cassey's tips for a fit life
 
1. Make sure you are drinking enough water! So many of us are dehydrated and don't even know it.

2. Find a fitness routine you LIKE. If you enjoy it, you're more likely to actually do it.

3. Try new things, like a fitness class or something you've always secretly wanted to try. You never know what you might like!

4. See if you can replace processed sugar with more natural things, like fruits.

5. Walk when you can. Grocery store close enough? Leave the car. Grab some headphones, turn on your favourite music, and walk there!
5 of Cassey's fave workout tracks

> Feel it still - Portugal the Man

> Look What You Made Me Do - Taylor Swift

> Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato

> Bad At Love - Halsey

> New Rules - Dua Lipa
ambica@khaleejtimes.com