Hello, everyone! We told you this month would be littered with new ideas, and this afternoon we’re beyond excited to present another brand new column for your reading pleasure. The past few months our blog has mainly focused on the journalists and publicists who directly engage with Haulix on a regular basis, but what about all the artists whose releases are shared on our service? Starting today, they too have their own place to call home on the Haulix blog. From interviews to advice columns, artists are going to play an increasingly large role in our content moving forward, and we’re always open to new suggestions. If you have an idea for a future column or article, please do not hesitate to email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
Josh “Chachi” Marunde has been playing the drums for a long time, but it wasn’t until earlier this year he was announced as an official member of chart-topping eOne rock act Pop Evil. Since then, Josh and his bandmates have been touring the world in support of their latest album, Onyx, and when their final tour date wraps later this month they will have performed well over 100 shows during the course of 2013. With a schedule like that it is easy to understand how personal health and fitness could be overlooked in light of other priorities, but Josh has made a commitment to do whatever he can to keep himself in shape while out on the road. We asked him how he keeps it together when he never knows what challenges he’ll face the next day, and fortunately for us he was kind enough to provide an in-depth blog about staying fit on tour. You can read his thoughts and advice below.
I like to think I am a fan of all genres of music, but there is something about great rock and roll that simply takes the cake. Pop Evil are an incredible band making great music for the right reasons and we’re beyond thankful that they were willing to help us launch our artist-lead advice series. If you want to find out more about their touring efforts, make sure visit their official website. Any questions and/or comments can be left at the end of this post.
It’s not the 60’s anymore. People, more than ever, are making a conscious effort to get healthy, stay healthy, and live longer, fuller lives. I’m embrace and advocate this movement. Being healthy and feeling great is imperative to my attitude, my life longevity and my day-to-day performance. But, new places everyday, expensive day passes to gyms; little to no buyout (or money of any kind), pizza everywhere and fast food seems to be the cheapest option for food. So, how do I stay healthy on the road? It’s no secret that it takes a discipline and commitment. A daily routine or outline is difficult to establish so I recommend a “workout buddy” to help keep each other on track. Making optimal health my goal, I’m not concerned with huge muscles or becoming the next Sly Stallone (though that’s also achievable). I focus on feeling my best and taking care of my body to achieve maximum performance and avoid injury. Let’s face it, playing 5-7 days a week, 250+ shows a year is tough on the body. So, here are some simple tips I follow to help take care of my body.
Diet – this is the most important factor. What you put in your body is going to directly affect the output. I stick to clean eating practices, eating lots of fresh produce, put fruit on the rider, and avoid fast food at all costs. For cheap, healthy options, try oatmeal, eggs, and bananas. No worries about the cooking process, you can purchase a multi-purpose skillet from a Wal-Mart for about $20. Drink lots of water, tea, or low sugar sports drinks. Avoid soda. Easier said than done, but even beer is a healthier option – especially craft brews and aged wines.
Active Stretching – So important. So simple. So often overlooked. Static stretching (google it) is a thing of the past. Nowadays, to warm up, you activate your muscles to prepare them for what you’ll be putting them through later that day/night. Deep, properly executed squats, arm circles, jumping jacks, inch-worm walkouts, “good-mornings”, trunk twists and lunges are some of my favorites. I do mine first thing, while sipping my coffee and again before show time.
Exercise – Without a gym, without weights, without anything other than your own body, you can get and stay in GREAT shape. Practice HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) methods, completing various exercises in a row with very little to no breaks. This will optimize fat burning, is low-risk of injury, and is easy to do with no weights. If weights are an option, even in the slightest, be efficient and use kettlebells and a jump rope. Hands down, two of the most effective tools available, even at a gym. A sample workout circuit might look something like this:
3RFT (rounds for time – as fast as possible while executed correctly)
– 10 pushups
– 20 squats
– 30 mountain climbers
– 20 burpees
– 10 lunges
The internet is an amazing place of reference for bodyweight workouts, movements, stretching, and more. I personally follow CrossFit, religiously. But, that’s a discussion for another blog post, haha. I hope this finds you well, and encourages you to take care of your body, out on the road. Have fun with it, feel great, and use all the extra energy to melt faces across the nation.
