WellcommDC [8.3.26]

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 on our IG.

[HIGH FIVE] We gave a High Five to Devan Schowe, an Instructor at Shine Hot Pilates and Life Time Downtown in Austin, TX.

Wellcomm: Where do you workout?

Devan Schowe: When I'm not coaching, I love to take classes at both of the studios at which I currently teach (a good teacher is always learning) and have really enjoyed taking Bri Ellsworth's HIIT-style classes at the Austin Bouldering Project Springdale location. She has a personal training background, which has been super helpful for me to see different ways to cue proper body mechanics when demonstrating exercises for my classes, create more mindful programming, and make sure the workout always feels approachable and fun! I will also always have a soft spot for rhythmic spin, as it was the first format I ever taught when I entered the fitness space in 2021. I love all music that is bass-heavy and loud with an epic, dopamine-releasing beat drop, so going to Megan Knight's Headbangers Only classes at RIDE definitely scratches that particular itch.

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

DS: Wellness means balance. Wellness means fully exploring and developing a solid mind-body connection and not using working out as a means to mask or ignore what might be lying right underneath the surface. Wellness means taking inventory every day on what kind of energy you're lacking, what you need to replenish it, and how to best achieve that. As the saying goes, "The best workout is the one that you consistently do." I used to think that feeling like I gave everything I had that day and leaving entirely depleted meant I had a successful workout. Now, I’m focusing on sustainability, progressively building, and using my fitness to work through the hard things instead of simply distracting from or delaying thinking about them.

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

DS: My wellness goals are to keep learning, adapting, and changing, both physically and mentally. In December 2025, my spin coaching career came to an abrupt halt when the studio I worked for suddenly closed. Instead of immediately seeking out a replacement home in the spin world, I let the universe do its thing: in less than one month, a recruiter from the Shine team reached out to me to audition. I had never taught mat Pilates before, and while the opportunity was full of unknowns and uncertainties, sometimes the universe pushes you into situations that you wouldn't have pursued otherwise. So I trusted in the universe and rolled with it. It felt right. Now, I'm furthering my Pilates education to continue to become a better coach, and I couldn't be happier with the growth I've seen from leaning into something new and scary. It's something I reference a lot in my classes: the idea that you don't get better or learn your full potential until you try something new. The more it scares you, the more you grow!

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

IDS: Megan Whitford is one of my all-time fitness inspirations. I worked with her at my first boutique spin job ever at Amor Cycling Studio in San Antonio, Texas. When I experienced self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and new-instructor nerves, she was endlessly supportive. I genuinely don't know how she does all of the things she does: she coaches fitness full-time and somehow also competes in national road cycling races most weekends. She develops close, interpersonal relationships with everyone she coaches because she genuinely cares and wants to help people achieve their goals, which I am super grateful to have witnessed as a brand new instructor who has been influenced by her in how I coach. I am also perpetually amazed by David Garza, one of the OG fitness pillars in the Austin fitness community. He always brings the best, most light-hearted energy to his classes and even mixes his own playlists with his DJ experience. In addition to coaching fitness full-time, he's participated in several Ironman races and marathons, always with a big smile on his face. If he ever feels tired or unmotivated, his classes never know. I feel like I would need a few extra days in the week to even attempt what these coaches do regularly!

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

DS: I would tell them to seek out that discomfort of trying something new. Let yourself settle into feelings of uncertainty, weakness, and unpredictability. It is only when we stop fearing the unknown and learn to embrace it that we find the space and opportunity to grow. Growth does not happen inside that cushy little box we call our comfort zone: we have to take a step out of it to see what we are actually capable of.

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 High Five profile!

[DMV HIT EVENT]

• What: Vitalify Medspa’s August New Membership Special

• When: Now through the end of August

• Where: Vitalify’s Dupont Circle location

• Why: Thanks to Tristan Barros and the team at Vitalify, new Upper Face Tox Memberships will receive a complimentary DiamondGlow Facial, helping you maintain your aesthetic goals while also prioritizing your skin health and wellness.

• How: Purchase a new Upper Face Tox Membership for $188/month during August and receive your complimentary DiamondGlow Facial, a $225 value. You can book via the link in Vitalify’s IG bio, and let them know you heard through Wellcomm!

So how do we pick our Hit Events? They’re curated exclusively for our WellcommDC Community from former High Fives. Each week, we’ll highlight one standout fitness event in the WellcommDC email. This could be:

• a group workout

• a pop-up fitness event

• a race or charity run

• a pickleball tournament

• a cycling ride

• a recovery event or

• anything else fitness-related

These events will be shared with all Wellcomm email subscribers, but submissions from former High Fives who are subscribers are prioritized, ideally for events they’re organizing, leading, or personally involved with.

We’ll feature one event per week, so spots are limited. We’re grateful for our High Fives and are excited to share these exclusive ongoing updates from the best of the DMV!

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 or tag them on our IG. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team

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