WellcommDC [1.26.26]

WellcommDC: The Best of the DMV's Wellness Community

January 26, 2026

WellcommDC is the email newsletter bringing you the best of the DMV’s wellness community. Get On The List and get Wellcomm sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love Wellcomm? Then please forward our email or tag them in one of our IG posts.

[WELLNESS MONTH] We’ve partnered with The DC Influence for their Wellness Month.

Here’s a look at the upcoming Wellness Month events:

January 31 at 11:30AM: End of Wellness Month Potluck Brunch [FREE]

[HIGH FIVE] WellcommDC headed south this week to WellcommATX where we gave a High Five to James Quigley, General Manager at East Austin Athletic Club and an MC and Host for Hyrox America based in Austin, TX.

Wellcomm: Where do you work…out?

James Quigley: East Austin Athletic Club where I’m the General Manager (aka Gym Dad). We have an incredible space and really amazing coaches who do a tremendous job. I also love dropping into great gyms around Austin. The teams over at Atomic Athlete, Korrect, CrossFit Central, and Squatch have all been great gyms that have either welcomed me or have whipped my butt. Austin has many incredible fitness professionals and gyms. I can go on: there are so many.

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

JQ: Wellness is about the bigger picture and a holistic approach to health and fitness. As modalities such as meditation, breathwork, sauna, cold plunge, and mindfulness have become more popular, it’s enhanced the conversation about life beyond the gym. That is something I've always been very passionate about. I never liked the quote or attitude of "We want to be the best hour of someone's day," whether through a training session, a coaching class, a great workout, or an online coaching call. I have always believed that as professionals, our job is to set people up for an even better 23 hours of their day. We give them the tools to handle all things life throws at them. Whether physical or mental, we help to set them up for success. That hour or so that they spend with us helps them to do that. So to answer the question, I view wellness as the bigger picture of what we do as a lifestyle.

WC: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

JQ: I'm in my late 40s now, so my goals have shifted through the years. I'm also recovering from mold poisoning and a few injuries, so it looks really different from the years I competed or trained consistently. I'm playing the long game now, so it's all about consistency. I still compete with my younger self to see who can be more durable and not just the fittest. I want to train or be active for a minimum of one hour per day and focus on recovery while increasing my running to 5-10 miles per week. I've also been working with Hyrox as an MC since 2021, and I've never run one. A big goal of mine is to participate every time I'm on the road with them.

WC: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

JQ: I look at men around my age to gain perspective on days when I'm not feeling it. Greg Schienmen is a good friend and someone I have always considered a big brother and mentor. Another dear friend is Eric Hinman. What Eric has been able to do and accomplish between life, fitness, and career inspires me greatly. I love celebrating the people who continue to show up to life everyday despite it trying to kick them in the balls. One of my all-time favorite mentors is Jennifer Hunter-Marshall. She's one of the best coaches and leaders I've ever had the honor to learn from and train with and one of the most inspiring and incredible humans you'll ever meet. She's also strong AF! Lastly, Eric Frohlich has been such an amazing mentor. He was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's, and he isn't letting that stop him. He's 60 now and is still kicking butt. When you see someone who has been such a great leader in the wellness space go through something like that, it gives you such a profound perspective.

WC: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

JQ: Be honest with where you are right now. Start small, and give yourself time and grace to be bad at whatever you're doing. Enjoy that "newbie" process. Find a group of people who are on a similar journey. Community has become such a buzzword, but look for authentic people who share similiar values and goals to connect and collaborate with. Shared suffering is so much more fun than going solo! Keep it simple, and learn to do the basics really well. Consistency, hard work, and discipline will never go out of style. Have faith, and have a blast along the way.

Know a fitness instructor or personal trainer who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future WellcommDC High Five profile!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommDC. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read Wellcomm? Forward our email to them. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team (@wellcommdc)

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.