Kristi Yamaguchi no longer considers herself an athlete. In fact, this Olympic gold medal-winning ice skater is probably done with Triple Lutz’s for good. Instead, she’s just like you and I – juggling two kids and a busy work load. Fortunately for her, she’s got the clout to focus her work-time on uber-cool projects like writing children’s books, filming workout DVDs and designing new fitness apparel. Kristi and I had a chat this week in which she gushed about her new clothing line Tsu.ya, revealed just how “normal” her workouts have become and what she has in store for the future.
Fitz: Tell us about Tsu.ya!
Kristi: It’s my new line of women’s active wear, which I designed to fit the busy woman’s/busy Mom’s active lifestyle. The clothes are multifunctional so we can wear them to a workout, to a cafe and then to run errands and look great the whole time. That’s how my life goes. I’m thrilled with Tsu.ya, because it fits my needs as well as those of other busy women.
Fitz: Some of the item’s like the “leopard fit” top look a tad dressy. Are they all really for fitness?
Kristi: That shirt is made of lycra and is uber-comfy for working out. But the clothes are actually not being sold in the active wear department, because they’re fashion forward and can be considered casual wear. We have real yoga pants, but our outer pieces like the sweatshirt dress and jackets can be worn almost anywhere. They serve a lot of different purposes.
Fitz: Perfect for the she-she Moms who always like to look fancy! So what do you do to stay fit now?
Kristi: Really, not as much as I’d like to. I don’t have a set routine, but I try to workout one to three times a week. I do everything from the elliptical, to an isometric workout I do with my husband and really light weights. My younger daughter skates twice a week, so sometimes I get out on the ice during her lesson to do a few laps and get my heart-rate going.
Fitz: Can you still do all the fun stuff on the ice?
Kristi: No! That requires a lot of training to keep up, but I can do the basics: skating, edges, spins and the other easy moves.
Fitz: Can you at least impress your daughter?
Kristi: I can show her a few things.
Fitz: You have this clothing line, a workout DVD and a fabulous book “Dream Big, Little Pig”. You’ve got your hands in a lot of different buckets. What’s next?
Kristi: I’d just like to keep working on things that support my Always Dream Foundation and early childhood literacy programs.
Fitz: Lastly – it sounds like your life is just like mine and that of millions of other busy Moms. What is your advice for staying fit and sane.
Kristi: Give yourself a break! We’re always trying to do so much for everyone else, but sometimes we just need to carve out an hour or a few to do what WE want. Whether it be a quick workout, time to set a menu for the week or plain old free time, just make time for you.
Fitz: Thanks Kristi!
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