This Thanksgiving, Jamie Hoffpauir was extra thankful. That’s because her successfully funded Kickstarter Campaign, which ended on Thanksgiving Day, allows Hoffpauir to put $16,000 toward her business concept, pauir athletic apparel.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago, Hoffpauir knew she wanted to keep her active and healthy lifestyle. “Exercising increases a woman’s chance at survival, however, scarring and tissue damage from surgery and radiation, prove to be a challenge and almost impossible for putting on a shirt during this time,” she says. “I knew I wanted to help other women like myself, which led me to create pauir athletic apparel.”

Jamie Hoffpauir, founder of pauir athletic apparel

This specialty athletic apparel line allows women with breast cancer to zip easily into their fashionable workout gear and move just as effortlessly from an athletic to a social scenario. “No more restrictions and exclusions,” Hoffpauir says. “No baggy, makeshift clothes and no more excuses.”

Having successfully funded her Kickstarter campaign, Hoffpauir says she’s using that financial support to shore up startup necessities, such as product design, branding, marketing, legal, “and, most importantly, the production of the first 200 pauir Workout Tops,” Hoffpauir explains. “Pictures have come in from St. Paul — all labor and materials made in the USA — and the manufacturers are as excited as we are! This is the beginning of a brand that will help women undergoing breast cancer treatment survive and give those with any line to cross the support to accomplish just that!”

Next up, Hoffpauir says they are continuing to get the word out locally and nationally, making the pauir athletic Workout Tops available on different breast cancer and athletic sites across the country. “We will also be selling the tops at local running and endurance events, such as the Flying Pig Marathon,” she adds. “Beyond that, we are looking to evolve the product line to include an accompanying Workout Bottom, various color incarnations of the Workout Top and then move into a swimsuit line!”

Hoffpauir says they will continue to explore ways that pauir athletic apparel can bolster not only women aspiring to beat breast cancer but others facing down disease and impairment related obstacles. “Overall, and more importantly, this will be the brand to accompany and help those with ANY line to cross, any barrier before them…to aspire, achieve and succeed,” she says, adding their tagline, “Get to the other side…with pauir!”

To learn more, visit their website, www.pauirathleticapparel.com and watch the video below.

pauir athletic apparel Kickstarter Video—introducing the world’s first workout top for women with breast cancer.

ELMNTL Fitness makes the outdoors your gym for fundamental movements you need to be healthy

Using nature as an inspiration for a gym, Kevin Wimmer opened ELMNTL Fitness three and a half years ago at Woodland Mound Park. The business name was not only inspired by elements of nature, but also, the lack of vowels suggests another important concept of ELMNTL fitness: it’s all about the basic, fundamental movements necessary for being a healthy and fit person.

Wimmer saw an opportunity for this type of “gym” three years ago as he was walking his dog, Sonny, through Woodland Mound. When he got Sonny, he made a promise to take him hiking at the park every weekend, rain or shine. This promise ultimately was what made Wimmer move from his branding job in Cincinnati to this new “job” as a business owner and functional fitness instructor where he gets to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle.

According to Wimmer, ELMNTL Fitness is a fundamental circuit of exercises set in the outdoor elements. Fitness in nature is intended to make one mentally and physically prepare for circumstance that may arise in one’s daily life because of the adapting environment in which we live. Wimmer believes that working with these changing elements, instead of against them, will make his clients stronger and more able to adapt to their environment and ultimately their workout.

“Accomplishing a workout at the gym prepares you for a workout at the gym,” Wimmer says. “When you challenge yourself in nature, the workout is different each time. Fresh air, no chemicals or crowds. The sun’s on your face and you feel nature under your hands and feet, which is what ELMNTL fitness is all about.”

Creating balance, agility, and strength in real life and not gym life is the main goal of ELMNTL Fitness. Only 16 people are permitted per session, which allows for personal attention to ensure proper form and safety. This includes a 60 minute session with variations of nine fundamental activities throughout the park including walking, running, jumping, climbing, balancing, pushing, lifting, pulling, and quadrupedal movement.

“I believe being healthy should be fun, challenging and satisfying in a truly unique way,” Wimmer explains. “I believe you should never pay for equipment you don’t use or features you don’t want. I believe you should always get personal instruction while exercising. I believe challenging yourself against the elements creates practical, real world strength and fitness that can be applied every day. I believe if you have fun while exercising, you’ll do it more, and those benefits are immeasurable.”

For more information, visit www.elmntlfitness.com.