Want to work out without the burnout? Jericho McMatthews and Elise Joan are the brains behind Beachbody On Demand’s new FIRE AND FLOW training, a four-week programme that serves up 25-30 minutes of either Jericho’s metabolism-boosting moves or Elise’s stress reducing sessions, six days a week.
‘FIRE AND FLOW has everything your body needs because it combines high-intensity exercise with low-impact, recovery workouts,’ says Elise.
‘On alternating days, we fire you up with Jericho’s epic metabolic conditioning, and then you’ll flow with me into a completely different type of movement – slow and controlled, using dumbbells and resistance loops to restore your body and expand your range of motion. By the end of the month, you’ll be feeling conditioned and energised.’
We caught up with the workout wonders, Jericho McMatthews and Elise Joan, so that you can try a taster of their training method at home…
What inspired you to become a fitness trainer?
Elise: ‘I found yoga after a vocal injury ended my musical theatre career. Forced into silence, I had to start expressing myself in a different way. For me, it was movement. I found that every time I stepped onto my mat, I had a cathartic experience.
‘I wanted everyone to be able to experience this, so I started on my teaching journey to awaken people to their own worth, potential and capacity for growth on all levels – physical, mental and emotional.’
Elise: ‘I found yoga after a vocal injury ended my musical theatre career. Forced into silence, I had to start expressing myself in a different way. For me, it was movement.’
What’s been your career highlight to date?
Jericho: ‘It would have to be stepping into my new role as a Beachbody Super Trainer. I got to do it with my brand-new son in my arms. It was exhausting but empowering, and it made me feel like a Super Mum most of all.’
How do you like to exercise?
Elise: ‘I love mind and body work – like I created in FIRE AND FLOW – because I encourage people to move like themselves, take up their space, and really challenge what we think we know about fitness. It doesn’t all have to be heavy weights and high jumps. We need those, but we also need more. I’ve gotten shredded by focusing on mobility, agility, slow control and stability training. But more than “looking” good, this type of work has my body feeling good!’
Jericho: ‘Exercise means so much more to me than a basic sweat or calorie burn. I love workouts that push past the physical. The workouts I develop are based on a wide variety of training styles and fuse together my love of mixed martial arts, HIIT, dance, yoga and circuit work with all of my favourite equipment – battle ropes, heavy bags and kettlebells, to name a few.’
Is it all about exercise or do you watch what you eat as well?
Jericho: ‘My nutrition philosophy is pretty simple. I’ve never been strict on calories or obsessed over macros, but I understand and respect what works for and against my body to feel and function at its best.
‘I don’t believe in restriction but am a huge advocate of moderation. What’s the point of indulging in something amazing and delicious if it ends in shame or self-loathing? Life is too short. Eat the cupcake, just not every day. We only get one body and time is never promised. It’s about balance.’
What inspired you to create FIRE AND FLOW?
Jericho: ‘So many people burn themselves out without realising they’ve been overtraining, whether they hit a plateau, end up injured or just can’t stick with a programme. FIRE AND FLOW was designed to help you work out smarter, not harder.
‘This programme meets you where you are, while also teaching you how to tune in, find awareness and build trust in your body. The FLOW workouts are a game-changer to not only help you recover from, but also truly maximise, your efforts on FIRE days. They work together like yin and yang to deliver amazing results in the most synergistic way. It’s magic!’
Jericho: ‘Stepping into my new role as a Beachbody Super Trainer, with my brand-new son in my arms, was exhausting but empowering. It made me feel like a Super Mum most of all.’
How does it feel to be working together?
Elise: ‘Such fun! Jericho and I are both deeply innovative creators, and although we have completely complementary styles and energies, we’re actually more alike than you might think! We truly bonded during this creative process.
‘We celebrate each other’s gifts, and we each challenge the other to bring out the very best we have to offer. There has never been anything like this programme. More than a workout, we bring you an experience.’
Could fitness fans benefit from buddying up, too?
Jericho: ‘Absolutely! Beside the fact that sweating it out with a friend is way more fun than flying solo, it can also increase accountability for you and your workout bestie! We all need a little extra workout motivation from time to time, so anytime I can work out with friends who are down to cheer each other on to push harder, I’m totally in.’
Super trainer workout tips:
Stay fit and functional with these top tips from Jericho McMatthews and Elise Joan…
- Find a workout programme that is fun and makes you come alive.
- Get out of your comfort zone and try new ways to move that you’ve never been open to before. That is where the true gains come from.
- Don’t neglect balance, stability, functional movement, breathwork, mobility and flexibility! They are the cornerstones of a healthy body.
Try FIRE AND FLOW on Beachbody On Demand. Membership costs £99 for 12 months, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stay tuned for an exclusive FIRE AND FLOW taster workout from our cover stars, Jericho McMatthews and Elise Joan – coming soon to Women’s Fitness UK!
