Karlie Kloss Talks All Things Fitness
By Rachel Jacoby Zoldan
Karlie Kloss is omnipresent right now—the supermodel, who’s walked the runway for Victoria’s Secret and starred in campaigns for brands like Donna Karan, Lacoste and Lanvin, also has a healthy cookie line—aptly dubbed Karlie’s Kookies—and is spotted outside of SoulCycle as much as she is with BFF Taylor Swift. If that’s not a life to be envious of, what really is? She’s incredibly athletic, a quality that the model had long before she had a runway career.
I got to exclusively talk to Karlie about Nike’s Fall 2014 collection—complete with its crown jewel, the Pro Bra Collection (which Karlie rocks throughout the pics), her absolute favorite workout and how she always looks so incredibly glowy, even after a HIIT class with Nike Training Club Master Trainer Traci Copeland, a run with some NY locals and some cool-down stretching.
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You’ve been spotted doing all kinds of workouts (and sharing on Insta!) at boutique studios like ModelFIT and SoulCycle. What is your absolute FAVORITE workout if you had to just pick one to do forever?
Dance, hands down! Ballet and most dance disciplines are all about flexibility and strength. I grew up training hours every day and absolutely love the focus and intensity dancing requires. Plus, it’s fun. If you’re going to have to do one workout forever, you better love doing it. But, I [also] love different strengthening exercises and intense workouts such as the ones I’ve done with the NTC Master Trainers.
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So you like to switch it up, obviously. Why?
I try my best to constantly do different exercises every day. If I spend one day in the studio practicing dance, I like to spend the next day running, and the next stretching. Each workout benefits the body in a different way—it’s important to mix it up. But sweating with Nike Master Trainer Traci Copeland—doing a HIIT workout in the studio—allowed me to try different strength training exercises and really challenge myself. It was a really fun workout day!
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But wait—what REALLY motivates you to work out? You have such a strong, athletic body for a model—what keeps you going? How do you decide if you need a rest day?
I like to constantly challenge myself to be strong and reach my fitness goals. I’m incredibly competitive with myself. Through dance, I learned discipline and dedication but also to listen to my body. (FYI: Karlie was trained in classical ballet at a very young age). Dance taught me that rest can be just as valuable for your health as exercise.
Q: You’re spotted all the time rocking Nike apparel, so be honest: What do you love most about Nike—and their brand-new Fall 2014 collection?
I’ve always loved Nike’s focus on power and movement. Working out is about being strong and their apparel is meticulously designed to support every athlete. I’m a big fan of the new Nike Pro Bra collection. The fit is perfect and functional, whether I’m running, training, cycling or dancing. With that said, I love the whole collection. I tend to work out in the morning and then go directly to a shoot, so I want to wear something that I feel good in both at the gym and on the street. This collection is beautiful, weightless and wearable.
CONFESSION: One of our editors spotted you post-workout at a supermarket and said you were positively GLOWING. What’s the secret to your post-workout beauty perfection?
No secret! I always try to go makeup-free to the gym. I wash my face before and after my workouts to avoid breakouts.
Photos: Courtesy of Nike
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