Myself Award

Seven people who achieved extraordinary things received the Myself-Favorites Award.
Category: Beauty
Winner: Jasmin Kirstein

Jasmin Kirstein is one of Myself’s favorites because she said “no” to the ordinary gym, that is based on the slogan “come, work out, and go”. At “My Sportlady”, your workout is fun, relaxed and constituted on an integrative concept. Cooking courses, children play groups, meditation, massages, fitness - you can find everything under one roof, without having muscled men watching over your back. This gym exists for over than 20 years now - Jasmin was one of the first that had the courage to open up a women-only gym.

Comments by readers:

Adelheid Dannes: I have known Jasmin for over 25 years. What she achieved deserves great respect.

Dave Pickering: Jasmin created something women have been waiting for for years: a gym, in which you are not being stared at by wannabe bodybuilders.

Germany’s first cookery school in a fitness centre is opened

released in BODY LIFE - July 2010

Munich’s My Sportlady fitness centre chooses innovative paths. As reported in the last issue, studio owner Jasmin Kirstein has started something completely new: After 25 years of successfully running the 2000m² fitness centre in the heart of Munich, she has now opened Germany’s first cookery school in a fitness studio.

Koch Dich Glücklich (Cook Yourself Happy) by My Sportlady offers cookery and nutrition courses (for men and women), which communicate the benefits and enjoyment of healthy eating as a basis for fitness and general well-being. The experienced, innovative and unconventional chef at Kirstein’s side is Volker Mehl, member of 3-star chef Harald Wohlfahrt’s team and moderator of Germany’s only Ayurvedic radio show. Together they want to develop and offer this new idea as a franchise concept.

Ayurveda in the kitchen

The program ranges from combined yoga and Ayurvedic cookery courses to Ayurveda meets Thai or Italian and voyages of discovery in the world of healing-plants. Whether firm cookery events or the private birthday celebration of a club member, here you get treated to something that little bit different. For Kirstein, the concept of a cookery school in a fitness centre unites two things that have always belonged together. Healthy nutrition and regular exercise are the foundations for good health. “With a holistic approach, healthy nutrition can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual”, is the belief held by the qualified yoga instructor and Ayurvedic chef. “It thus represents the perfect complement to an active, balanced lifestyle”.

Nutrition awakens emotions

‘Koch Dich Glücklich’ (‘Cook Yourself Happy’) places emphasis on practical healthy nutrition. The goal of the two pioneers is to use local ingredients to create meals that are light and fresh and enjoyable to prepare.

Mehl guides participants through the courses with passion and a profound understanding of his art. Using a balanced mix of theory and practice, he communicates the basics of a healthy diet and how these principles can be applied to everyday meals. Mehl explains the connection between nutrition and well-being and sums up the unusual concept by saying that “nutrition has an emotional soul”.

‘Koch Dich Glücklich by My Sportlady’ has recently begun to visit primary schools and nurseries. This venture, financed by the My Sportlady Trust Fund, aims to make young children and their parents aware of the benefits of good nutrition.

An interview with Jasmin Kirstein

Body LIFE: Frau Kirstein, eight months ago you opened Germany’s first Ayurvedic cookery school in a fitness studio. Which services have proven to be particularly in demand?

Jasmin Kirstein: The most frequent requests are for Ayurvedic recipes that can easily be prepared without prior understanding of Ayurvedic cookery. Many course participants want to change their eating habits to help them to feel better within and about their own bodies. Weight loss is not the primary concern, as it isn’t in the fitness studio, but this is a likely consequence of the change in nutrition and attitude.

Body LIFE: How does your club benefit from the new target group?

Jasmin Kirstein: My Sportlady has followed a holistic approach for many years. With 15 yoga classes a week and many other programs that are dedicated not just to the body but also to the heart and the soul, we place emphasis on sustainability. We don’t just offer our members the chance to quickly loose weight; we also offer them the means to improve their quality of life in the long term by cooking healthily. We want to demonstrate to our members that we strive to give them that, which they are seeking: To get and stay fit naturally. Healthy nutrition and a love of cooking really can make you happier.

Body LIFE: Apart form the enormous target group comprised of overweight persons, nutrition places only a small role in many fitness centres. How would you advise other fitness centres that want to change this?

Jasmin Kirstein: How about a small cookery session in the studio, for example? Just demonstrating to members how easy it can be to prepare a simple, healthy dish can work wonders. It is important to convey enjoyment and positive energy. My first cookery sessions were conducted on a fold out table using a single hotplate. It didn’t always go exactly according to plan, but that wasn’t what was important. Setting a good example and proving to our members that their health is of the utmost importance to us is what it’s all about.

Body LIFE: You want to offer your concept as a franchise to other clubs. How do you intend to go about it?

Jasmin Kirstein: I would be happy to share our knowledge and the philosophy of this holistic concept, as well as the experiences we have with it. I would like to help people further afield than Munich to adopt a healthier lifestyle. In order to be able to cope with the trials and challenges of life it is important to take notice of oneself and others, and to maintain your energy and strength levels. My Sportlady has 25 years of experience of to offer. We share this with others in the form of courses, franchises, seminars and advice sessions.