Member Spotlight: James Langel

Anyone who’s been to a 7 AM class at South Philly knows James Langel and his signature sense of humor. But recently, you might have been wondering where he’s been. Unfortunately, James had a skiing accident that left him with a broken leg and ankle. So for those of you missing your daily dose of James, here is our first member spotlight.

It’s also a great reminder to reach out and check on someone. Send James some love with an Instagram Story and be sure to tag us (@fearlessphl) so we can share!

Without further adieu …

What are you excited about right now?

Spring is near, a Caribbean vacation coming in April, and fingers crossed I am vaccinated by summer. Excited to soon be able to hug and fist bump my Fearless Family again!

Who/what inspires you?

I am inspired by people who don’t take themselves too seriously. By people who can laugh at themselves and just have fun with it. Of course do what you do to the best of your ability, but when all is said and done, let down your hair and let your silliness out.

What is one goal you hope to achieve in the next 12 months?

Well, my goals shifted recently. In January I was PR-ing and feeling extremely focused to leave 2020 in the past, but a recent skiing injury now has me on the bench for several months. So a new goal in the next 12 months would be 1) to crush it at PT and get back on my feet ASAP, and 2) start a new arm, shoulder, core, and leg-lift circuit at home while I work to put weight on my foot again. I am fortunate to be healthy, fit, and strong—the perfect trifecta for a speedy recovery.

What does wellness mean to you?

I view wellness as holistic. It’s as much internal as it is external—mental as much physical. It’s not just about hitting the gym but also about what you consume and the quality of the time you take to recover and decompress.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring only one piece of fitness equipment with you, what would it be and why?

A pull-up bar, without a doubt. I love pull ups and toes-to-bar, and will never skip a workout that contains those movements. Make it kipping and I am even happier to churn out butterfly pull ups. Can I also bring a pair of gymnastics grips to the deserted island??? Hand rips and salt water are a really bad mix.

What is one thing people may not know about you or would never guess?

I have a weird knack for foreign languages. I have a minor in Spanish and French, worked for three years in Austria and speak German. Took several terms of Mandarin, and am currently learning Swedish through DuoLingua. I find the semantics of foreign language extremely fascinating. “Native Tongues” by Charles Berlitz is a good read—a really interesting book of facts on language.