In Their Own Words

Fit Houston moms and daughters discuss the special bond they share for fitness and healthy living.

Photography by Evin Thayer

Judy, Ashley and Sydney Schiro

“Fitness and athletics figure prominently in our home,” said Judy, 45, married to prominent Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. John Christian Schiro. “We try to lead by example with our children. We both have always stayed active, and I prepare most of our meals and oversee my family’s nutrition. My lifetime passion for fitness can be traced to my days running track and cross country for Memorial High School. These healthy habits continued through my college years and are now passed on to our daughters Ashley, 11, and Sydney, 7. Both daughters train year round in competitive dance and have won numerous national awards because of their hard work and dedication. Ashley has followed in my footsteps by running track at St. Laurence Catholic School. She is faster than I was, though! We are proud of all our kids and will always encourage them to stay active and healthy.”

Joan and Kelly Howard

“My mom (Joan, 78) is incredible,” Kelly Howard, 48, says. “When I was growing up, she was the only mom who exercised, and I thought it was pretty cool! For as long as I can remember, my mom practiced yoga and calisthenics. At age 50, and ready for a new challenge, she took up taekwondo. She is now a practicing 4th degree black belt and yoga instructor.

“I have always been active. Throughout my 20s and 30s, I cycled, skated, ran and went to the gym. Three years ago, I took over Bayou City Outdoors and things changed. Exercise was not just a part of my life anymore. It is my life. Before, I mainly exercised to stay in shape and stay fit. Now, it’s all about fun. It’s a lot easier to stay motivated when your exercise is all play.”

Julie Ann, Nicole and Aubrey Cloutier

“As a child, I was always involved in extracurricular activities,” Julie Ann, 46, says. “My parents had four children and we were all involved in sports. Whether it was swimming, diving, track, softball, etc., I always enjoyed staying active. After getting married and having my first child 17 years ago, I decided that it was time to get back into shape. I now have two daughters, Nicole, 17, and Aubrey, 12. Both are active in the sports.

“Nicole plays high school varsity volleyball. Aubrey is an avid soccer player and has played for a select team for the past three years. Occasionally, Aubrey participates in local 5K runs. The importance of staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle has always been instilled in our family.”

Lorri, Kasey, Hana, Amanda and Cara Wolf

“With a house full of teenagers and ‘tweeners,’ you can imagine our constant battle with junk food and video games,” says Lorri Wolff, who at 42 is the mother of four girls. “My husband and I found that the best way to fight back is with a heavy dose of health and fitness–family style!” Over the years, we have developed a fun routine involving healthy home cooking, walking at Rice University and Memorial Park and annual training for the Aramco Half Marathon and 5K races. Although the girls, Kasey, 15, Hana, 13, Amanda, 11, and Cara 9, all have busy academic schedules at St. John’s School, they find time to participate in various combinations of softball, running, lacrosse, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, skiing and surfing. I stay active with tennis, weight training, running and yoga.”

Jeanie and Allie Hubbard

“Before my brother and I could walk, we were fearlessly swimming in our backyard pool…thanks to our parents,” said Allie, 31. “My dad ran track at Florida State University and my mom is a former ballet dancer and gymnast, so being active was bred into me. At age 60, she still plays tennis, hops on water skis, participates in Pilates and out-drives some men on the golf course. She’s a stellar athlete who taught me how to tackle a sport and master it.

“Watching her gave my brother and I the drive to try new sports and find our focus. Now, as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, I appreciate her dedication to her health and can see how it adds years to her life. She’s been a role model in more ways than one, but I have her to thank for my love of fitness.”

Jane and Jamie Luck

“My mom, Jane (56) has been an avid runner and exerciser most of her life,” Jamie, 26, says. “While she never pressured me to run with her, she always said, ‘I just feel so good when I run.’ Ever since I was a child, she has supported me in a variety of sports, often playing with me for practice and fun. She cheered me at all my games, from elementary through high school, and helped me find confidence in myself by encouraging me to simply do my best and enjoy what I was doing.

“I have learned from her that eating right and exercising are not unpleasant occasional events, but an enjoyable and satisfying way of life. I am now a personal trainer and enjoy sharing with others the enthusiasm for fitness that my mom gave me. She’s a great running partner, mom and friend.”

In The Gym with...

Daniel Pineda

Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

Houston’s Daniel Pineda, 22, is a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts fighting.

“People always ask me why I fight and the answer is simple: Money and fame,” says Pineda. “Those are my goals and they are both starting to happen. I love the sport and I love to compete, that part is obvious. It’s like a basketball player hoping to make it big. You know he loves the game, but if he can get paid for it, that adds fuel to his fire.”

Pineda grew up in Waller and has a background in wrestling. “Wrestling was great,” he says. “I excelled in pretty much every aspect of it. Wrestling taught me how to control my body and strength, as well as my opponents.”

Pineda receives sponsorship support from Tapout, Final Round Fight Gear and Apparel, Club NEXT, 713 Tattoo, Undefeated magazine, Dr. Joseph Perlman and R.E.W Group.

Bobby Perez, Pineda’s head coach, says the most important part of Daniel’s training program is live sparring. Each sparring partner works with Daniel for three minutes before a new opponent enters the ring.

“That technique forces Daniel to fight tired and focus on technique,” explains Perez. “We do this for an hour to an hour and a half with no rest.”

The following are some of the more specific exercises Pineda does during his workouts.

Flipping tires: Utilizes 100- to 300-pound tires in 33-minute “rounds.” This full body exercise requires tremendous effort from the wrists, forearms and hands.

Bear crawl to slams: Done to failure. This movement builds full body strength, stamina and explosiveness.

Money on your back: Performed in two to three, three-minute rounds. Helps build strength and develop lactic acid tolerance.

Striking: Focuses on boxing and Muay Thai. Done five to six times a week, two to three hours a day (includes pad work, bag work and sparring with partners)

Grappling: Focuses on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Done five to six times a week, two to three hours a day.

—Lisa Malosky

Photography by Randy Brown

Yoga And You

Have you heard about the amazing benefits of yoga, but have no idea what style is right for you? There are numerous styles and approaches to Hatha yoga (the physical exercise part of a much larger, overall set of practices known as yoga). Here’s a quick synopsis of three of the most popular styles of Hatha yoga in Houston.

Iyengar yoga is a meticulous style that focuses on precise alignment of the body. In an Iyengar class, students typically use props, such as blocks, straps and bolsters, to assist in moving into the desired pose, called an asana.

Ashtanga yoga, a more vigorous style, is comprised of a set series of asanas that are held for five breaths each and are linked together with a flowing movement called a vinyasa.

Arising from Ashtanga yoga is Vinyasa yoga, which is an athletic, flowing sequence of poses linked by the breath. Unlike Ashtanga yoga, a Vinyasa class will consist of a different set of asanas each time and is usually accompanied by uplifting and/or relaxing music.

Vinyasa yoga teaches strength and flexibility of mind, body and spirit as you move your body through every possible range of movement. Whichever style you choose, remember that the focus of yoga should always be on creating freedom and joy in your body, which creates freedom and joy in every area of your life.

—Joy Winkler is the founder and master teacher at Joy Yoga Center, located at 4500 Washington Avenue. For more information on her Vinyasa yoga classes, call 713-868-YOGA (9642) or visit www.JoyYogaCenter.com.

Olympic Power

The 20’x20’ garage gym is modestly equipped with Olympic bars, bumper plates, squat racks, homemade lifting platforms and has no air conditioning! While the League City facility may be Spartan, Tim Swords, one of the best Olympic lifting coaches in the U.S., and director of the Team Houston Olympic lifting program, has produced extraordinary results.

Olympic lifting is the only weightlifting event contested in the Olympics, and is comprised of two lifts: the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. For the average strength trainer, Olympic lifting will help improve overall strength, power and explosiveness.

Swords estimates that he has trained over 500 kids since the early 1990s, many of whom have gone on to professional careers in football, baseball and coaching at the collegiate level.

I have had the opportunity to receive his coaching at his gym and although I have been a fitness trainer for over 10 years, I learned more from him and the older members of his team in one week than I had in years of training in the fitness business.

Team Houston is a non-profit organization, meaning Swords does not charge for his services. The team accepts donations to help defray some of the travel costs associated with competitions, but Swords almost always pays a large amount of the costs out of his own pocket. For information, contact Swords at swords72@msn.com.

—Randy Winfrey

Photography by Randy Brown


Trainers Table


Fit Houston moms and daughters discuss the special bond they share for fitness and healthy living. Photography by Evin Thayer Judy, Ashley and Sydney Schiro “Fitness and athletics figure prominently in our home,” said Judy, 45, married to prominent Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. John Christian Schiro. “We try to lead by example with our children. We both have always stayed active, and I prepare most of our meals and oversee my family’s nutrition. My lifetime passion for fitness can be traced to my days running track and cross country for Memorial High School. These healthy habits continued through my college years and are now passed on to our daughters Ashley, 11, and Sydney, 7. Both daughters train year round in competitive dance and have won numerous national awards because of their hard work and dedication. Ashley has followed in my footsteps by running track at St. Laurence Catholic School. She is faster than I was, though! We are proud of all our kids and will always encourage them to stay active and healthy.” Joan and Kelly Howard “My mom (Joan, 78) is incredible,” Kelly Howard, 48, says. “When I was growing up, she was the only mom who exercised, and I thought it was pretty cool! For as long as I can remember, my mom practiced yoga and calisthenics. At age 50, and ready for a new challenge, she took up taekwondo. She is now a practicing 4th degree black belt and yoga instructor. “I have always been active. Throughout my 20s and 30s, I cycled, skated, ran and went to the gym. Three years ago, I took over Bayou City Outdoors and things changed. Exercise was not just a part of my life anymore. It is my life. Before, I mainly exercised to stay in shape and stay fit. Now, it’s all about fun. It’s a lot easier to stay motivated when your exercise is all play.” Julie Ann, Nicole and Aubrey Cloutier “As a child, I was always involved in extracurricular activities,” Julie Ann, 46, says. “My parents had four children and we were all involved in sports. Whether it was swimming, diving, track, softball, etc., I always enjoyed staying active. After getting married and having my first child 17 years ago, I decided that it was time to get back into shape. I now have two daughters, Nicole, 17, and Aubrey, 12. Both are active in the sports. “Nicole plays high school varsity volleyball. Aubrey is an avid soccer player and has played for a select team for the past three years. Occasionally, Aubrey participates in local 5K runs. The importance of staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle has always been instilled in our family.” Lorri, Kasey, Hana, Amanda and Cara Wolf “With a house full of teenagers and ‘tweeners,’ you can imagine our constant battle with junk food and video games,” says Lorri Wolff, who at 42 is the mother of four girls. “My husband and I found that the best way to fight back is with a heavy dose of health and fitness–family style!” Over the years, we have developed a fun routine involving healthy home cooking, walking at Rice University and Memorial Park and annual training for the Aramco Half Marathon and 5K races. Although the girls, Kasey, 15, Hana, 13, Amanda, 11, and Cara 9, all have busy academic schedules at St. John’s School, they find time to participate in various combinations of softball, running, lacrosse, volleyball, soccer, tennis, swimming, skiing and surfing. I stay active with tennis, weight training, running and yoga.” Jeanie and Allie Hubbard “Before my brother and I could walk, we were fearlessly swimming in our backyard pool…thanks to our parents,” said Allie, 31. “My dad ran track at Florida State University and my mom is a former ballet dancer and gymnast, so being active was bred into me. At age 60, she still plays tennis, hops on water skis, participates in Pilates and out-drives some men on the golf course. She’s a stellar athlete who taught me how to tackle a sport and master it. “Watching her gave my brother and I the drive to try new sports and find our focus. Now, as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor, I appreciate her dedication to her health and can see how it adds years to her life. She’s been a role model in more ways than one, but I have her to thank for my love of fitness.” Jane and Jamie Luck “My mom, Jane (56) has been an avid runner and exerciser most of her life,” Jamie, 26, says. “While she never pressured me to run with her, she always said, ‘I just feel so good when I run.’ Ever since I was a child, she has supported me in a variety of sports, often playing with me for practice and fun. She cheered me at all my games, from elementary through high school, and helped me find confidence in myself by encouraging me to simply do my best and enjoy what I was doing. “I have learned from her that eating right and exercising are not unpleasant occasional events, but an enjoyable and satisfying way of life. I am now a personal trainer and enjoy sharing with others the enthusiasm for fitness that my mom gave me. She’s a great running partner, mom and friend.” Back to top In The Gym with... Daniel Pineda Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Houston’s Daniel Pineda, 22, is a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts fighting. “People always ask me why I fight and the answer is simple: Money and fame,” says Pineda. “Those are my goals and they are both starting to happen. I love the sport and I love to compete, that part is obvious. It’s like a basketball player hoping to make it big. You know he loves the game, but if he can get paid for it, that adds fuel to his fire.” Pineda grew up in Waller and has a background in wrestling. “Wrestling was great,” he says. “I excelled in pretty much every aspect of it. Wrestling taught me how to control my body and strength, as well as my opponents.” Pineda receives sponsorship support from Tapout, Final Round Fight Gear and Apparel, Club NEXT, 713 Tattoo, Undefeated magazine, Dr. Joseph Perlman and R.E.W Group. Bobby Perez, Pineda’s head coach, says the most important part of Daniel’s training program is live sparring. Each sparring partner works with Daniel for three minutes before a new opponent enters the ring. “That technique forces Daniel to fight tired and focus on technique,” explains Perez. “We do this for an hour to an hour and a half with no rest.” The following are some of the more specific exercises Pineda does during his workouts. Flipping tires: Utilizes 100- to 300-pound tires in 33-minute “rounds.” This full body exercise requires tremendous effort from the wrists, forearms and hands. Bear crawl to slams: Done to failure. This movement builds full body strength, stamina and explosiveness. Money on your back: Performed in two to three, three-minute rounds. Helps build strength and develop lactic acid tolerance. Striking: Focuses on boxing and Muay Thai. Done five to six times a week, two to three hours a day (includes pad work, bag work and sparring with partners) Grappling: Focuses on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Done five to six times a week, two to three hours a day. —Lisa Malosky Photography by Randy Brown Yoga And You Have you heard about the amazing benefits of yoga, but have no idea what style is right for you? There are numerous styles and approaches to Hatha yoga (the physical exercise part of a much larger, overall set of practices known as yoga). Here’s a quick synopsis of three of the most popular styles of Hatha yoga in Houston. Iyengar yoga is a meticulous style that focuses on precise alignment of the body. In an Iyengar class, students typically use props, such as blocks, straps and bolsters, to assist in moving into the desired pose, called an asana. Ashtanga yoga, a more vigorous style, is comprised of a set series of asanas that are held for five breaths each and are linked together with a flowing movement called a vinyasa. Arising from Ashtanga yoga is Vinyasa yoga, which is an athletic, flowing sequence of poses linked by the breath. Unlike Ashtanga yoga, a Vinyasa class will consist of a different set of asanas each time and is usually accompanied by uplifting and/or relaxing music. Vinyasa yoga teaches strength and flexibility of mind, body and spirit as you move your body through every possible range of movement. Whichever style you choose, remember that the focus of yoga should always be on creating freedom and joy in your body, which creates freedom and joy in every area of your life. —Joy Winkler is the founder and master teacher at Joy Yoga Center, located at 4500 Washington Avenue. For more information on her Vinyasa yoga classes, call 713-868-YOGA (9642) or visit www.JoyYogaCenter.com. Olympic Power The 20’x20’ garage gym is modestly equipped with Olympic bars, bumper plates, squat racks, homemade lifting platforms and has no air conditioning! While the League City facility may be Spartan, Tim Swords, one of the best Olympic lifting coaches in the U.S., and director of the Team Houston Olympic lifting program, has produced extraordinary results. Olympic lifting is the only weightlifting event contested in the Olympics, and is comprised of two lifts: the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. For the average strength trainer, Olympic lifting will help improve overall strength, power and explosiveness. Swords estimates that he has trained over 500 kids since the early 1990s, many of whom have gone on to professional careers in football, baseball and coaching at the collegiate level. I have had the opportunity to receive his coaching at his gym and although I have been a fitness trainer for over 10 years, I learned more from him and the older members of his team in one week than I had in years of training in the fitness business. Team Houston is a non-profit organization, meaning Swords does not charge for his services. The team accepts donations to help defray some of the travel costs associated with competitions, but Swords almost always pays a large amount of the costs out of his own pocket. For information, contact Swords at swords72@msn.com. —Randy Winfrey Photography by Randy Brown