Introducing Gail Gensler

Fashion Trends and Friends is as much about friends as we are about fashion! We’re excited to kick off 2020 Featuring a Friend, Gail! Gail and I will be partnering throughout the year bringing you posts co-hosted.

First a little about how we met. Gail and I were following each other on Instagram. I was intrigued and motivated by Gail, the “Boxing Princess”! We are the same age and very like minded. Although our platforms are slightly different, – mine more fashion focused and Gail’s more fitness focused – our messages are the same. Age shouldn’t limit you! Do what you love and brings you joy! It’s never too late! You’re never too old!

I was attending a conference in Miami this past March. When I posted about my attendance, Gail reached out and we realized I was staying a block away from where she lives. We agreed to meet and instantly knew we liked each other. We spent the evening talking, which actually felt more like catching up with a long time friend. The conference was shut down; and we had to scramble to get our flight changed to get home. The quarantine had begun! I wish we would have had more time together. We both felt as though we would be doing things together in the future!

One of the advantages of blogging and being on social media platforms is meeting amazing women doing amazing things regardless of age! I feel as though I could go anywhere in the US as well as other countries and connect in person with those I’ve met through IG! Gail is a wonderful example and here’s why…

Meet Gail

Fit. Fabulous. Forever.

 I’m about to be 60 years young and truly do believe that age is just a number-it’s a mindset.  

My goal is to change the narrative about aging from a “real woman’s” perspective. I’m not a subject matter expert on fitness, supplements, nutrition, skin care, dermatology, plastic surgery or style. I have just found what works for me to keep myself vibrant and healthy. 

My belief is that age should never determine one’s lifestyle, appearance and most certainly what type of workouts to do. I work out 6 days a week as it’s my joy, primarily boxing which I have been doing since 1999 but also HIIT training and am always open to trying new modalities. 

I have been in the automotive industry since 1986, and am considered to be a leader in my industry. I manage the BDC for sales and service for a dealership and just celebrated my 21^st year. 

In March 2020, I pursued a new goal and began my journey on Instagram for business, began blogging and am now pursuing a modeling career. 

I am divorced with one incredible daughter who at 24 is adulting on a grand scale- a teacher, homeowner and pursuing a Masters Degree. 

I sadly have lost both my parents in the last 4 years, but am grateful as they both lived into their 90’s. 

Originally from New York, I have been living in Miami since 1989. 

My other interests include art, fashion, reading  and international travel. 

Fitness

Athletics is one of the biggest parts of my life. It’s what I have repeatedly done for the duration of my life, and therefore it is intrinsically tied to who I define myself as. I derive joy from working out both on a physical level and also a mental level.  

 I was active throughout my childhood, participating in tennis, volleyball and tetherball in both school and camp. 

Retrospectively, these sports all had one common factor-they were hands on activities where I was using my upper body strength. 

It was no wonder that when I took my first boxing for fitness class in 1999 I was ‘hooked”. I actually went on to purchase the boxing gym I was attending and taught group fitness boxing classes as well, the last time at 55 years old! 

Age is a small afterthought when I workout. I enjoy the challenge and the exhilaration of the experience and now realize that additionally I am an inspiration and motivation to others. 

How I look impacts my self esteem and confidence .  It allows me to help fight the natural issues of aging. 

The physical benefits are well documented and proven for longevity, immunity and strength. 

I’ve never needed convincing that health needs to be a priority hence my continued research on anti aging, supplements, and my incessant archiving of workouts so that I can be creative and not get bored by redundancy. 

I am blessed to have tremendous longevity in my genes, and I want all my years to be strong, productive and healthy years for myself and to be around for my daughter. 

With all that being said, my personal WHY is primarily because I love to have fun! Working out is my adult version of playtime. Listening to great music ( personal preferences being EDM, disco, 80’s and 90’s dance music) which gets me dancing during cardio drills and gives me the beat to throw punches and kicks to. 

When I’m sweating it out in a class surrounded by like minded people I’m having pure fun.  It’s actually reminiscent of my long ago club days! 

I immerse myself in the experience, enjoying the strength, endurance and aptitude I have.

Jumping , mountain climbers, jumping jacks, burpees are fun (well maybe not the burpees) and nothing is better than hitting the boxing bag, feeling my strength and utilizing my hand eye coordination and mind in executing the combinations . 

I’m living in my joyful moment. Improving myself, adding meaning and fulfillment to my day all the while being grateful for my energy and abilities, never once thinking about my age! 

Getting Started

Making the decision to work towards a healthier lifestyle is timeless – it can happen at any point in your life, but how and why should you choose to make yours? From my personal experiences, here is my advice: first of all, congratulate yourself for starting your wellness journey. It is not an easy lifestyle change and will require a willingness to shift your thinking from immediate benefits to long-term benefits. You are making the choice for yourself- to live a longer, stronger life. When you want something bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen, regardless of any obstacles.

Find something you enjoy or you will find it much more challenging to be consistent. Decide how you plan to balance the fitness aspect of your wellness journey with the adjustment in your eating habits – one of the most difficult changes to make. The temptation is always there and we are creatures of instant gratification.

Choose what fitness activity makes you happy in your life and what foods are best for your individual metabolism. I encourage everyone to think about HOW and WHY! I found it best to reflect back on the activities I enjoyed in my childhood. As an example, I was on the volleyball team and tennis team, and I was also a champion at tether ball. What was the common denominator here? Being able to hit things! That’s why boxing for fitness resonated with me immediately. One will continue with a routine if they find it fun and engaging. It’s the reason why I look forward to my workouts every day, no matter if I’m working out at home or at my local boxing gym.

As for eating habits, the diet will definitely make an impact on your body’s wellness- but everyone’s bodies are different, and therefore everyone’s diets will be different. I have found that staying away from starches and sugar works best for my body, but I also know that to keep myself happy, I will enjoy a treat every now and then. Again, it’s about what works for YOU- and for me, a cookie is worth it when I know that I’ll be working it off on the boxing bag the next morning.  My wellness lifestyle focuses a well researched combination of fitness, nutrition and supplements . 

Remember that if you are choosing to start your wellness journey, you have to decide how and why YOU are making this change to your lifestyle. It is a personal journey – no comparing!  

Blogging

March 2020. I had a foreboding apprehension that my gym would soon be closing, and even early on I was not comfortable- for the first time EVER- going to sweat in that environment. I was not even comfortable at that point going to the outdoor workouts from one of my favorite trainers for fear of being too close for comfort. 

Inspired by a quote from the owner of the company I work for, “CQER- consistent, quality execution regardless of the obstacles” – I made a plan to make it happen. 

So who better to ask for advice than a gym owner who I greatly admire and who herself uses Century Martial Arts WaveMaster bags in her gym? I immediately ordered one. Additionally, I ordered a set of weights (good timing – they soon sold out everywhere) and some extra items to make a small home gym in the corner of my condo bedroom. So began my at-home fitness journey. 

Once CMA started seeing my Instagram posts with my new WaveMaster, their social media agent reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to contribute to their blog about my experiences with the new bag. When she asked me if I was a blogger in true Gail Gensler fashion I said, “ Yes, I am!” 

After receiving my initial article, she and I discussed collaborating on a monthly basis and so began my blogging career. 

I have contributed to and been featured in  

Brickell Magazine 

Brickell City Centre 

The Brickell Scoop 

Midtown Miami Magazine 

CKO Miami 

“The Over 50 Health & Wellness Podcast” with Kevin English 

The Pro-Age Woman 

“Headstrong Podcast” with Danielle Mills 

Century Martial Arts 

Century Martial Arts Europe 

Inspire Her Health 

Hello 50 

Kuel Life 

Forty and Beyond Magazine 

Changing Decades

I’ve been boxing since 1999 and the thought of stopping due to age has never occurred to me. If anything, I’ve become more inspired to find new challenges and continue pushing myself. I try different workouts even if they seem impossible (that’s you, HYROX). Am I usually the oldest one there? Sure. Do I care? Not at all. Especially when younger women come up to me and tell me how I am inspiring them. It’s not an insult to be acknowledged as older. Why should it be? We all age. I know that they will have a different narrative to tell themselves about positive aging. 

A big positive about being in midlife is that I have accepted myself as I am, while always striving to be the best version of myself that I can be, through fitness and embracing a healthy lifestyle. I’ve realized (wish I had earlier) that it’s not about perfection, it’s about effort. I work very hard at staying fit and appreciating how at 59 I can still perform as well as ever. As Vince Lombardi said, “Mental toughness is essential to success.” It’s a mindset. 

I no longer compare myself to anyone else. I am unique and proud of my efforts and results. I keep a balance and enjoy my cookies and dark chocolate too. 

The challenge is to not get in my own head. I must accept that although I avail myself to many wonderful resources to fight the signs of aging, I must accept the aging process. I control the controllables: good nutrition, a supplement routine, good skincare, no sun (tough In Miami) and lots of sleep. I surround myself with positive, like-minded people, read things that inspire me and have done what I can to delete or diminish toxic relationships. The things that I can’t control, I don’t sweat over (I do enough of that working out, anyway!). 

I won’t let a number stop me from doing what I love and have fun at: punching, kicking and pushing myself onto new challenges! 

As I do truly embody the age is just a number mindset, I will just continue to DO ME! 

60-So What! 

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Aren’t you just so inspired and motivated by Gail’s story and her message? Everything she says resonates with me; and I know you feel the same! As Gail and I plan to collaborate throughout the year, we’d love to hear from you. What topics would you like to see us cover or discuss throughout 2021? Leave us a comment! Thanks in advance!

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