Trainer Marcus
Jovan Abernathy is an international marathoner and owner of Houston Tourism Gym. To claim your free tour, contact her at info@tourismgymhtx.com
So, I've been going to my boxing classes for about a month now. The challenge is amazing, but I feel like if I actually knew what I was doing, my workout would be that much better. After class, I see the owner, Elm, and decide to ask his opinion.
"You know what you need is some sessions with a personal trainer. I'll set you up with one of best trainers. Can you come in on Tuesday at 2 p.m.?"
"I'll be there with bells on!" On Tuesday, I showed up ready to go. My new trainer comes through the door. He introduces himself as D'Marcus. He is a lean, but very muscular young man.
"So, you want to learn how to box? The first thing I'm going to teach you is how to breathe and how to stretch." D'Marcus demonstrates how to breathe.
How to Breathe
No matter if you are lifting weights, running, or boxing, breathing is most important to not only have a great workout, but to get the results that you want. Breathing should be done to keep your head in the game.
D'Marcus instructs me on the proper way to breathe. Puff out your chest like a peacock. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. This should be a slow, deep, and from the diaphragm. Do 10 breaths.
Spinal Rollsyoutu.be
Spinal Rolls
The first stretch is spinal rolls. He is really speaking my language. Spinal Rolls ease the tension in your lower back. Lift and raise the chest. Lean slightly back while tucking the chest in. Roll your arms and squeeze your abs while creating a circular motion. These are great for people who sit in their car for a long commute or at a desk. Of course, remember to breathe from your diaphragm. Repeat for 10.Torso Rollsyoutu.be
Torso Rolls
Next are torso Rolls. Torso Rolls open up your chest so that you get more oxygen. These are also great to relieve stress in the upper and lower back muscles. To do these, lean back and roll to the right side. When you ge to the front of the body, tuck your chest in as you complete the roll. Remember to breathe and repeat for 10. Do rolls for the left and right side.
Leg Rollsyoutu.be
Leg Rolls
I'm sure you have experienced a heaviness in you legs. Leg rolls are great to alleviate this heaviness as it helps loosen up the hips. Start with breathing from your diaphragm. Raise the chest. As you tuck your chest in and sit back on your hips. As you sit back on your hips, bend your knees. As you straighten your legs, push your hips forward. Repeat for 10 sets.
These stretches are not only good to do before a workout, but when you get up, and whenever you feel tight. I'll let you in on a secret. When I was done with my lesson, I literally felt high as a kite. It's nice to know, I can get high at anytime during the day. Just joking.
If you are interested in taking a class or personal training with D'Marcus at Title Boxing Club contact Jovan at info@tourismgymhtx.com
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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