Gideon Akande is a nationally recognized elite fitness coach, consultant, and brand partner. Known for his ability to provide energetic, engaging and memorable fitness experiences, Gideon aims to uplift, educate, and motivate people about integrating fitness into daily and corporate life. While growing up on Chicago’s north side, Gideon was a dedicated athlete who wrestled, ran track, played football, and was a three-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion. He earned a scholarship to Holy Cross College, where he played Division 1 football and earned a B.A. in Political Science. 

After graduation, he worked as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor for four years before entering an 8-week competition that won him the 2015 Men's Health Next Top Trainer award. This allowed him to represent the brand as an elite fitness motivator, trainer, and educator. Since winning this award, Gideon has become a popular content creator and social media influencer. He has served as a consultant to fitness brands such as Fitbit, Gatorade, lululemon, NordicTrack, and PopSugar. 

He has been featured as a fitness expert in well-known publications, like GQ.com, Men’s Health, Shape Magazine, and Men’s Journal. An excellent communicator, industry leader, and lifelong learner, Gideon recently added marathon running to his fitness resume. He also works with companies to curate local experiences and wellness events and is an ambassador for the Illinois Special Olympics. Gideon is the proud father of two young children. 

Athlete

Athlete - Boxing

Fitness Expert

class

Warm up and recover like never before. The Normatec 3 uses dynamic air compression to create a restorative massage that helps you feel refreshed faster. 7 levels of compression and our patented Pulse technology deliver precise treatment to 5 overlapping zones with ZoneBoost™ by using biomimicry to replicate the natural muscle pumps and one-way valves of the legs. Trust us, your legs will thank you.<h3> </h3>Designed by an MD, Ph.D., Normatec is the original, most tested, and most scientifically backed dynamic air compression system on the market. Designed to provide improved mobility and profound restorative healing results, Normatec has long been the most trusted system by the world’s top athletes and consumers everywhere looking to advance their wellness.<h3> </h3><h3>Give your body a boost</h3>Normatec’s compression therapy increases circulation and helps you maintain your full range of motion, leaving you fresh and limber. <h3>Unlock your next level</h3>Give yourself the competitive advantage of recovery compression, and warm up faster no matter where you are, so you are always ready to give it your all. <h3>Conquer Sore Muscles</h3>Normatec is like the best massage of your life. It’s proven to help with lymphatic drainage, and decrease pain and soreness so you never have to let DOMS cramp your style. <h3>Get Science-Backed Recovery</h3>Science is in our DNA. Normatec was created by an MD, Ph.D. and designed with input from top pro athletes and sports medicine professionals. <h3>Customize Your Sessions</h3>Get perfectly curated routines in the Hyperice App, or choose your own settings with adjustable time, pressure, and ZoneBoost™ options. <h3>Keep the whole squad on point</h3>Compression therapy benefits more than just your legs. Normatec is also available for the hips, arms, and in a portable package so your whole body gets to feel refreshed and revived.

Ditch those sore muscles and upgrade your wellness routine with NormaTec Compression Boots. Warm up quickly, recover faster, and feel fully revived with NormaTec's restorative massage technology.

Normatec Compression Boots

You work hard, so you need to recover strong. Vital Performance™ RECOVER provides a unique combination of collagen and a full-spectrum AA profile designed to help promote athletic longevity and keep you in the game.** *Note: Packaging may vary. Rehydrate: Replenish electrolytes that have been lost in sweat during exercise. Recover Better:&nbsp;Contains 5g of BCAA to support muscle protein synthesis, combat muscle soreness from exercise, and promote muscle recovery. Athletic Longevity: Collagen peptides boost sports performance and support the health of components rich in connective tissue, like muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. Immune Support: A blend of antioxidants and minerals – including vitamin C, zinc, and L-glutamine – that supports the immune system. NSF Certified For Sport®: Ensures – through third-party testing – that users are consuming a safe supplement with contents that match its label.

You work hard, so you need to recover strong. Vital Performance™ RECOVER provides a unique combination of collagen and a full-spectrum AA profile designed to help promote athletic longevity and keep you in the game.

Vital Proteins Vital Performance Recover Supplement

The Vyper 2.0 changed fitness rolling forever. Featuring all the traditional benefits of foam rolling amplified by three powerful speeds of vibration, the Vyper 2.0 is strong, sleek, and durable. The Vyper 2.0 is constructed of a high-intensity vibrating core and rechargeable lithium-ion battery encased in an eco-friendly high-density polypropylene foam for maximum vibration transfer. Turn on the Vyper 2.0 and choose low-, medium-, or high-intensity vibrations, all with just one button intuitively placed on the side for easy access. <ul><li>3 speeds high-intensity vibrating core</li><li>Eco-friendly polypropylene roller</li><li>Rechargeable lithium-ion battery</li></ul>

The Vyper 2.0 changed fitness rolling forever. Featuring all the traditional benefits of foam rolling amplified by three powerful speeds of vibration, the Vyper 2.0 is strong, sleek, and durable.

Hyperice Vyper 2.0 Vibration Foam Roller

This isn't your typical recovery routine. In this 5-minute class, Fitness Expert Gideon Akande teaches you how to recover using some of his favorite products.

Five-Minute Recovery Class

Learn more about two-time Chicago Golden Gloves champion and national winner of the Mens Health Next Top Trainer competition Gideon Akande. 

Meet the Pro: Fitness Expert Gideon Akande 

This Buddy Lee Aero Speed jump rope is the ultimate rope for the fastest speed and cross-training. Durable handles and PVC cords make this high-performance jump rope. The technology of Buddy Lee Jump Ropes guarantees smooth rotational movement in all directions. These ropes are suitable for beginners to advanced users.

Buddy Lee Aero Speed Jump Rope

With Apple Watch Nike Series 7 and the built-in Nike Run Club app, you can track your workouts and listen to Guided Runs. Listen to music from your watch for motivation. Turn on Nike Twilight Mode for enhanced visibility. And choose from exclusive Nike watch faces and bands. <ul><li>﻿Stay connected to family and friends with calls, texts, and emails, even when you don’t have your phone</li><li>Stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks on the go, and leave your phone at home</li><li>Set up and manage Apple Watch for each family member, right from your iPhone, with Family Setup</li><li>Always-on Retina display has nearly 20% more screen area than Series 6, making everything easier to see and use; and now it’s 70% brighter indoors when your wrist is down</li><li>The most crack-resistant front crystal yet on an Apple Watch, IP6X dust resistance, and swimproof design</li><li>Measure your blood oxygen with a powerful sensor and app</li><li>Take an ECG anytime, anywhere</li><li>Get high and low heart rate, and irregular heart rhythm notifications</li><li>Stay in the moment with the new Mindfulness app, and reach your sleep goals with the Sleep app</li><li>Measure new tai chi and pilates workouts, in addition to favorites like running, yoga, swimming, and dance</li><li>Track your daily activity on Apple Watch and see your trends in the Fitness app on iPhone</li><li>Sync your favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks</li><li>Pay instantly and securely from your wrist with Apple Pay</li><li>All-day battery life and faster charging</li><li>watchOS 8 introduces new workout types, the Mindfulness app, the new Portraits watch face, and enhancements to Messages</li></ul>

Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) With Nike Sport Band 

<ul><li>Hexagonal ends prevents your dumbbell from rolling away or underfoot during your workout will stay in place when they are stored</li><li>Each end of the dumbbell is coated in a thick layer of protective rubber to reduce noise and prevent chipping</li><li>A textured handle fights against sweat to offer a secure grip through your most intense workouts</li><li>Practical construction delivers added support, reducing the risk of dropping your weight</li><li>Each dumbbell is sold individually so you can build a weight set that is customized to your needs</li></ul>

Weider Rubber Hex Dumbbells

Introducing the JBL charge 4 portable Bluetooth speaker with full-spectrum powerful sound and a built-in power bank to charge your devices It Features a proprietary developed driver and two JBL bass radiators that intensify sound with strong deep bass Its high-capacity 7500mAh rechargeable li-ion battery provides up to 20 hours of playtime The speaker carries a convenient USB charge out to quickly charge your devices such as your smartphone so you will never run out of power again The charge 4 features a rugged design IPX7 waterproof rated exterior and comes in a suite of cool colors Together with JBL connect+ it can wirelessly link more than 100 JBL connect+ enabled speakers to elevate your listening experience.

JBL Charge Speaker

Top rated for best value, Elite offers the most popular features of a Theragun in an ultra-quiet device designed for the everyday user. It's never been easier to experience the proven 5-in-1 benefits of Theragun's percussive massage for recovery, performance, sleep, mobility, and stress.

Therabody Theragun Elite Massage Gun

THE MB1 Massage Ball is composed of foam and is specifically designed to replicate the feeling of a massage therapist's hands. Featuring a patented, layered construction made up of different densities, the massage ball works to break up adhesions and stimulate blood flow to ease joint and muscle pain more effectively and restore movement more quickly. The unique EVA foam surface is very dense, yet still compresses to "grip" the tissue, encouraging blood and oxygen flow to keep muscles and fascia healthy. The MB1 Massage Ball is machine washable, lightweight, and slip resistant. 1-year manufacturer's warranty. TriggerPoint empowers people of all lifestyles to move and feel better. TriggerPoint designs and develops innovative massage therapy tools that mimic the touch of a therapist's hands - making their foam rollers, hand rollers, massage sticks and balls ideal for individuals of all ages, sizes, and athletic ability. <ul><li>Ideal for targeting small muscles such as calves, piriformis, and pecs</li><li>Encourages blood and oxygen flow to enhance overall movement, range of motion and performance</li><li>Foam surface is easier to clean and more hygienic than cloth</li><li>2.6-inch diameter, 1.2 ounces</li><li>Backed by 1 year manufacturer's warranty</li></ul>

The MB1 Massage Ball provides direct deep tissue compression for fast relief of aches, pains and muscle fatigue in small areas. It can be used on any surface, so you can roll anytime, anywhere.

TriggerPoint MB1 Massage Ball

This curation features Fitness Expert Gideon Akande's essentials for creating the perfect home gym. 

Fitness Expert Gideon Akande's Essentials for the Perfect At-Home Gym

Classes

how_to

Fitness Expert Gideon Akande loves using the Normatec Compression Boots to recover and he's here to show you how to use them in your own routine.

How-To Use Normatec Compression Boots 

How-Tos

Hyperice Vyper 2.0 Vibration Foam Roller Recommended by Fitness Expert Gideon Akande

Vital Proteins Vital Performance Recover Supplement Recommended by Fitness Expert Gideon Akande

NormaTec Compression Boots Recommended by Fitness Expert Gideon Akande

TriggerPoint MB1 Massage Ball Recommended by Fitness Expert Gideon Akande

Product Reviews

Articles

Ivorie Jenkins is a seasoned wellness expert and yoga instructor who transitioned from a 15-year career as a professional dancer, including five years with Cirque du Soleil, into the world of yoga and meditation. During her time as a dancer, Ivorie discovered yoga as a powerful healing practice, which eventually led her to teaching full-time. She has since deepened her expertise through travels to India and the completion of a yoga therapy program at Loyola Marymount University.

Today, Ivorie runs her own business, Ivory Jenkins Yoga, and teaches classes both in studios and privately. Her areas of expertise encompass wellness, meditation, yoga therapy, and motherhood, and she is a senior teacher leading retreats and teacher training programs. Ivorie is also a contributor to digital wellness platforms, helping to make yoga accessible to a broader audience.

With a personal philosophy that links yoga practice to overall wellness, Ivorie emphasizes meeting her students’ individual needs, seeing yoga as a personal prescription for health. Looking forward, she aims to expand her impact by leading more international retreats, developing teacher training programs, and creating wellness initiatives for schools and companies. In her personal life, Ivorie enjoys spending time with her family and balancing her wellness practice with the joys of motherhood.


Dancer

Fitness Expert - Yoga/Yogi

Ivorie Jenkins is a Yoga therapist and E-RYT 500 who has dedicated herself to the practice, study, and teaching of Yoga since…

Chef Halee Raff graduated from Johnson and Wales in 2014 with a Bachelor of Business in Food Service Management. After receiving her degree, Halee returned home to Chicago in high demand; lending her talents to well-known Chicago hot spots like Tru, Sixteen, and Naha/Brindille (all Michelin stars). She soon worked her way up to Chef de Partie and thereafter won the coveted position of Sous Chef at Band of Bohemia and then Momotaro (Boka Group). Her last position was as an Executive in the 4c Group before starting her own company amid the pandemic, Hardbittenn. At Hardbittenn, Halee offers customizable in-home dining experiences, cooking & baking classes, and offerings such as custom cakes and full lines of baked goods and pop tarts!

Chef

Chef - Pastry

"David Odom, DPT, CSCS spent his whole life being active and playing sports. Inspired by this passion for health and wellness, he went to Georgia Southern University to earn a B.S. in Kinesiology, Major in Exercise Science. In 2010, he acquired his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Georgia State University. Upon graduation, he worked in an outpatient orthopedic PT clinic. His work at the clinic transformed into a traveling endeavor when he was hired as an onsite therapist to a professional men’s soccer team. From here, his reputation for getting his patients healthy and performing to their maximum potential, landed him residencies with various Broadway Shows, Touring Musical Productions, and High Profile Concert Tours.
This work has taken him all over the world and exposed him to a vast array of healing techniques. In turn, he integrates both eastern philosophy and western medicine to create a more balanced healing experience. Whether the client is in need of pain relief or high-level performance training, David is committed to making everyone feel happy and healthy. David is the founder of Flux, touring physical therapy services. "

Physical Therapist

David Odom, DPT, CSCS spent his whole life being active and playing sports.

"Michael Chaturantabut or Mike Chat is a Thai/Thai Chinese-American actor and stuntman, best known for his role as Chad Lee, the Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue. He was born in Rayong Province, Thailand, and is the owner of XMA (Extreme Martial Arts). Chat represents a new wave of Kung Fu, with over 14 years of experience, combining Okinawan Shorei-Ryu as a 4th degree black belt, Tae Kwon Do, Chinese Wushu, Kickboxing, yoga, ballet, dance, and acrobatics. Mike was inducted in the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1992 and has captured over 50 National and International Forms and Weapons Championships. Chat has trained many celebrities for their roles in major box office films including Jaden Smith for Karate Kid, Taylor Lautner for the Twilight Saga, Willow Smith and Boo Boo Stewart for X-men, and many more award-winning professionals around the world. He’s been an actor and stunt double in numerous movies and television shows including Fight Zone, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Little Manhattan, The Rookie, and many more. Mike was inducted in the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1992 and has captured over 50 National and International Forms and Weapons Championships. His popularity really exploded after winning gold at the 1995 ISKA World Championships. He won more gold medals that year in Germany and in 1996. These skills spawned his television career and he also appeared in a video clip from Cirrus; ""Back on a Mission.""

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Actor/TV Personality

Athlete - Martial Arts

Michael Chaturantabut or Mike Chat is a Thai/Thai Chinese-American actor and stuntman, best known for his role as Chad Lee, t…

Gideon Akande

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Five-Minute Recovery Class

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