Balance, Motivation & Family with Celebrity Trainer, David Kirsch
During my Bowe Glow Boot Camp, my dear friend, David Kirsch, shared fitness and healthy cooking tips each week. David and I have known each other for years and every time I have the opportunity to see him or speak to him, I adore him even more. He’s not only an incredibly inspiring and talented trainer — to celebrities including J. Lo, Liv Tyler, and Heidi Klum – but he’s also a natural teacher. He has connected with so many people during quarantine through virtual platforms like HoneyComb.Fit and through his Instagram page – providing free workouts and tips to keep us all motivated, healthy, and moving. One of the most beautiful things about David is his role as a Mapa to his absolutely beautiful twins, Francesca and Emilia.
I am so honored to share this interview with you:
WB: In many homes, it’s a constant battle right now between screen time and staying physical. How do you get your girls off their screens and convince them to be active?
DK: So, full disclosure, there is still the occasional battle over screen time with Emilia and Francesca. That said, my girls have grown up watching me exercise – both in the gym, at home and on vacation. They have been organically exposed to the importance of moving your body a little every day.
WB: Do you think that people will return to gyms and working out with personal trainers in facilities in the same way they did pre-Covid? What do you think people miss most about those in person workout experiences as compared with the remote training people have been doing from home?
DK: I don’t think that things will completely go back to pre – Covid ways. I think there is and will be genuine concern and monitoring of the number of bodies in the gym at any given time. I think the thing that people miss the most about going to the gym is the social aspect and the overall general positive energy. I have worked ‘overtime’ to try to create the energy, intimacy and vibe through my Zoom training sessions.
WB: What’s your plan to return to training people in person? Will you and your clients wear masks during the session? Any tips for using a mask during times when people are really exerting themselves?
DK: I think for the immediate future and for some time after, we will be masked and be socially distant and maintain a high level of personal hygiene. I think masks are going to be extremely important, especially when people are exerting themselves – exhaling hard, and, at times, ‘spraying some saliva.’
WB: Do you have a go-to breakfast that Emilia and Francesca love and that you also feel good about giving them in the morning? We loved your frittata recipe and would love more of your insight!
DK: Francesca and Emilia’s favorite go-to breakfast is avocado toast!! My girls don’t like eggs, so my frittata doesn’t work for them. I am a huge believer in healthy, substantial breakfasts. Some of my favorites: frittata with whatever is in the fridge; avocado toast with hard boiled eggs, and Kite Hill unsweetened vanilla almond milk Greek yogurt with some seeds and fresh almond butter. My girls are quite comfortable and competent in the kitchen, so I let them create at will.
WB: Do you have a mantra that keeps you motivated? Do you share a mantra with Emilia and Francesca?
DK: “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles” — Buddha
WB: What does your own personal workout schedule usually look like in a week?
DK: My workouts have been shortened and are more frequent now. I have turned my living room into a home gym with some hand weights, kettle bells, a strength band and a medicine ball. All that said, my favorite purchase was a pull-up bar that I need to pass every time I leave my bedroom. I workout via Zoom with a friend of mine no less than 5 days a week for at least 30 – 45 minutes. Additionally, we ‘push’ each other to do at least 100, but most days, 200 pull-ups. Last, in addition to my personal workouts, I often workout along with my clients.
WB: What type of activities do the girls like to do to stay active?
DK: Emilia loves to dance and she’s got those TikTok moves down (unofficially, as I won’t let her have an account). Francesca loves doing Live workouts and has gotten quite good at it! They both love to swim, play tennis and softball.
WB: What’s the one tip you would give families right now who are struggling to stay active?
DK: It just takes a few minutes to get off of the sofa, put down the devices and MOVE your body! It could be a walk, bike ride, or a swim in the pool. Do it as a family, 5 – 10 minutes a day and build up from there. You’ll have better energy, have a more positive outlook, be less stressed and look and feel healthier.
WB: Tell us more about Honeycomb and these amazing free workouts?
DK: HoneyComb.Fit was born out of the idea of creating a fully comprehensive health, wellness and lifestyle destination. We realized the best way to disseminate this philosophy was through social media. Mark Messier is one of the founding partners. Stacey Griffith, Tracy Carlinsky, and I have been offering exclusive, free workouts for almost four weeks now and the feedback has been good, as the buzz and our following is steadily growing. After over thirty years in the fitness industry, I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to reach out to so many people around the world that wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to train with me. I am so proud to be part of the HoneyComb family!! In the next coming weeks, we will be inviting guest trainers with a variety of different exercise disciplines to join the team and share their expertise.
WB: What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself as a trainer during quarantine?
DK: The most important thing I’ve learned about myself during quarantine is that I have discovered my love and passion for online training. I was born to teach and I have conquered my initial trepidation of “talking” to my iPhone, and thoroughly enjoy the relatively new medium.
WB: What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself as a parent during quarantine?
DK: The one thing I have learned about myself as a parent during quarantine – in spite of the moments, and there are some, I love, appreciate and am grateful for the time I have gotten to spend with Emilia and Francesca. Real quality time of laughing, loving, cooking together, exercising together, and just quality quiet time. I have honed the art of patience, and realize that I am not always the perfect Mapa. By the way, the art of good parenting is not about perfection, but striving to do your best, and remembering to say “I’m sorry, and daddy loves you always and forever” when I have those moments and ‘lose my xxxxx.’
And now you can see why I love David so much!! Be sure to check out his insta page because you will become as hooked on his workouts – and family workouts- as we are!