Q & A with Chris & Elle
This month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with powerhouse couple (and avid fans of This is J) Chris Smits and Elle Daftarian. Together, they've crafted an online business dedicated to empowering women over 40 to embrace their lives with confidence, vitality, health and joy. We delve into their inspiring journey, explore their wellness and sleep rituals, and uncover the profound passion that fuels their commitment to transforming women's lives for the better.
We’re so excited to bring you our Q & A with Chris & Elle!
First things first, how did you discover This Is J?
Jaimie was a longtime client at Chris’ former business, Forme Fitness - and we were introduced to her business way back then. We’ve been big fans ever since!
Tell us about your 35+ Metabolic Reset Method and why you’re so passionate about helping women of a certain age transform their lives.
The 35+ Metabolic Reset Method is a holistic program specifically designed for women 35 and up who are looking to rejuvenate their health, reshape their bodies, and reclaim their energy. This age group often faces unique challenges such as hormonal shifts, slower metabolism, and lifestyle changes which traditional fitness programs fail to address comprehensively. Our method combines tailored 1-on-1 nutritional guidance, strategic exercise plans, and mindset coaching to address these challenges head-on. We focus not just on weight loss, but on metabolic health, muscle tone, and overall wellbeing, ensuring sustainable and life-enhancing results. We're deeply passionate about this because we've seen firsthand the struggles women face as they age. It's not just about looking good, but feeling vibrant, strong, and confident in your body. Seeing the transformative impact on our clients' lives – more energy for their families, renewed self-esteem, and a love for life – that's what fuels our dedication to our clients success.
As partners both in business and life, how do you carve out time for yourselves individually and as a couple?
It’s pretty easy (!) we are more then business partners and life partners - we’re best friends and that’s why it all works :) We don't feel the need to carve out time to be together - instead we have built a life and a business that brings us joy while we are in it. We work hard so we can take time to travel and lately it's been to our favourite place on earth; Santa Teresa COSTA RICA to our little hideaway from the world called Blue Surf Sanctuary. It’s our slice of heaven and we envision ourselves living the Pura Vita life some day very soon!
You guys are active and on the go every single day but (like us) understand the importance of winding down. What is your preferred ritual for decompressing after a busy and active day?
After a busy day, finding time for decompressing is key — a usual wind down routine is dinner with the family where we catch up on everyone’s day then chris and I alternate in the sauna, magnesium, a nice relaxing tea and off to bed.
We love seeing you and your family in our jammers. What is it about our pajamas that make you want to cozy up in them?
The fabric and the fit are just so perfect. Whether we're lounging around with the family or enjoying a lazy Sunday morning, our This Is J jammers are our uniform of choice!
Can you share a pivotal moment or lesson learned that has significantly impacted your business philosophy or strategy?
The pandemic shut down our beloved gym and we never opened again. We decided to look at this horrible situation as an opportunity to evolve and launched our online version of the transformational program we had great success with in our gym. We can now say it was the best thing that ever happened to us because we can now help our clients achieve better results than ever with our 1-on-1 online coaching program.
As fitness enthusiasts and coaches, you know how integral sleep is as part of an overall wellness routine. What are your non-negotiables in helping you relax and prepare for a restful night's sleep?
SLEEP! The holy grail of wellness. We take our bedtime rituals seriously around here. It's all about creating a sanctuary of serenity: magnesium before bed, a dark, cool room and a good ol' fashioned ban on screens after a certain hour. Creating a sanctuary for sleep is key for a restful night's sleep, which is the cornerstone of a vibrant, energised tomorrow.
What do you love most about This Is J pajamas, and how does wearing them enhance your relaxation and downtime?
The fabric is unlike any other pajamas and what really sets This Is J apart for us. That feeling of comfort is just unmatched. Wearing them enhances our relaxation and downtime - it's like they have this magical power to signal to our brain that it's time to unwind. Plus, there's something about matching with the family that adds an extra layer of warmth and connection to our downtime together.
Coach Chris & Elle with their family and living life in comfort in Bamboo Jammers.
What’s on your nightstand?
Here you'll find a large bottle of water for the morning, all our morning supplements, eye masks, well-loved stack of books, and a journal filled with dreams and gratitude.
Lastly, what’s your favourite style of This Is J jammers and why?
We’re neutral / solid colour people for the most part but I (Elle) still love my Black Toile Long Sleeve Set from years ago and Chris lives in the black t-shirt and pajama pant set.
