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P.E Nation World Series: Menswear Launch

P.E WORLD SERIES
Menswear Launch, Los Angeles

 
 
P.E WORLD SERIES
Menswear Launch, Los Angeles
 
“My personal mantra for life is ‘Make Moves’, it’s so generic but it works so well in every area - relationships, fitness, art. You know: Make Moves! And be yourself, everyone else is taken.”
- Kupah James
 

To celebrate the launch of P.E Menswear, we hosted a series of fitness events in Australia and across the globe. We spoke with Kupah James, fitness coach and host of our event at Equinox - a high-end sports club in Los Angeles - about performance, good daily habits, purpose and success.

 
 
 
 
 

How long have you been with Equinox and what do you love about it?
I’ve been with Equinox in the group fitness space for about 10 years. I’m a big fan of their brand and I think what separates them from the rest is the variety of locations - there are so many of them to choose from. So you can be travelling from one big city to the next - Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami - and you’ll be able to jump in and train. There are different tiers of membership to choose from too, so there’s something for everyone.


It’s not just about the luxe feel too - it’s the focus on community that really sets Equinox apart. Once you’re a member you can take all the Group X classes for free, then there are spas and Pilates classes and personal training. There’s so much they offer in one club.


How long have you been a fitness instructor, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I’ve been a fitness instructor for 20 years, and what I love is about being part of groups and communities. I think something good we can take from the pandemic is the universal realisation of how important being a part of something is. So now more than ever, people are getting out there and getting involved and working out and volunteering. When it comes to my role, nothing makes me happier than being a part of that thing - whether I’m an attendee, or leading a training group of 20 people or 150 people doing jumping jacks or mountain climbers together, that to me is the coolest thing on the planet.
 
 
 
 
 

Can you tell us about the Bodyweight BootKamp classes that you have designed?
Bodyweight BookKamp was created during the pandemic, ironically enough, because we weren’t able to go inside gyms. I live next to the beach and so my business partner and best friend joined me in creating a program on the beach that anyone could come and join. It started with eight people but within weeks that grew to groups of 60 regularly. People were still spread out but it was really cool to see during that time.


With the format for Bodyweight BookKamp, we keep it really simple and dial it back to the fundamental movements - push-ups, bicep curls, lunges, deadlifts, squats. At first, it was bodyweight only so you had to kind of get creative about how to activate certain muscles and body parts, but once we were able to add dumb bells it became a fully functional format.

I celebrate breaks throughout my class because I know my format can be a little challenging, and I do that so people don’t feel unsuccessful. It’s a personal thing of mine - I like to go into rooms and find the competencies of people versus focusing on the inadequacies. We love seeing new people come and try it out, so any newcomer will always feel invited, welcomed, seen - I introduce myself to every person in my class, I’ll high-five everybody and intentionally make sure I acknowledge everyone in the room.


If I can help a group of people explore and find wins, you know, their day can be better, their mood can be better, their week could be better, their form could be better - I just think it’s a really universal way to help everybody feel good at the end of a fitness class. I think at the end of a fitness class you should feel tired, pushed, applauded and awarded, and so I try to deliver that in all my classes.
 
 

 

What’s something you’re looking forward to right now?
Hopefully this isn’t too big or too heavy, but at 40 years old I’ve been doing this for 20 years now and hope I’ll be doing it for at least another 20 if my body allows it. Legacy is something that’s a big deal to me. I did not choose to have a family in the traditional sense, but I don’t want to be on this earth for 50, 60, 70 years and not contribute.


So, fitness has been my lane, and I’m also a DJ - I’ve been doing that for a long time as well. Being able to play music for people in a room and allow people to forget the world’s problems - and there are so many f**king problems, right? - or be in a group fitness room and also help people forget their problems and better themselves. I’ve been so lucky to find both of these careers and so in terms of what I’m looking forward to is just leaving a positive impact on the fitness community and the music community in my way.


Do you have any favourite mantras or advice for people looking for their why or their own personal drive in pursuing an active lifestyle?

There are so many to choose from! My personal favourite is “Make Moves”. It’s so generic but it works for everything, like in marriage, in fitness, in art, you know? Make Moves! Less excuses. That’s my personal mantra.


Other ones are try to find the best ways to love yourself and less time trying to be like other people, especially in today’s culture with social media. Everybody else is already taken, so just be you. You don’t need to be like anyone else, I’m happy to be myself and if there’s something about me I don’t like I do my best to recognise that and improve it - sometimes I win and sometimes I lose.

Ultimately I want people to be happier when they look in the mirror. I just want to leave more smiles around, so whatever people can do to chase the sunshine or a smile, I would advocate for doing more of everything you love and anything that makes you feel good.

 

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