Originally Aired August 2025

A peace-filled boat ride winding through the Pine Barrens to catching waves along the Jersey Shore with a most incredible community.

In this episode of Healthy in the Garden State, we venture from a peace-filled boat ride winding through the Pine Barrens straight to catching waves along the Jersey Shore with a most incredible community.

Host Kate Cherichello Tente explores how nature, movement, and human connection can transform our well-being. Pinelands Adventures introduces us to one of the world’s most unique ecosystems and the restorative power of spending time outdoors, then we meet the incredible volunteers and families of Heart of Surfing, a nonprofit creating life-changing surfing experiences for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Health is about exercise and getting outside, yes, but it’s also about community and a sense of belonging.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed creating it.

🎥 Who are we?

Healthy In The Garden State is a New Jersey–based streaming series and community media initiative highlighting practical, expert-backed approaches to living healthier across the Garden State. Our mission is to be a resource serving New Jersey, helping in any way we can to support a healthier community.

Host & Producer: Kate Cherichello Tente
Director of Production: Isaac Perez
Social Media & Marketing Intern: Gabby Lamboy

Links to Additional Resources:

Pinelands Adventures

Pinelands Alliance

Heart of Surfing

Additional sports and fitness programs for people with disabilities (partial listing):

–Special Olympics New Jersey provides free, Olympic-style sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
–North Jersey Navigators coordinates adapted sports training for youth and junior athletes, including track and field, swimming, archery, and road racing.
–The Center for Disability Sports, Health, and Wellness
–Children’s Lightning Wheels
–Spectrum Sports

More on trails & parks from Healthy In The Garden State: S1E1

New Jersey has gyms and studios for just about every workout imaginable. While we wish we could visit every one of them, we did get the chance to experience three standout fitness experiences in Hudson County, NJ.

If traditional workouts have never felt like the right fit, this episode encourages you to think outside the box. Fitness in New Jersey can be accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful, whether you prefer working out alone, with a group, at home, or in a gym. Most importantly, movement should feel right for your body and your goals.

From rock climbing to trampoline jumping to the expressive movement therapy of Bollyheals, we show how exercise can build confidence, connection, and consistency. These Hudson County locations are just one example of the many creative fitness options available across New Jersey.

Explore what’s offered in your area, discover a workout style that works for you, and see how movement can become something you actually look forward to.

Studios in this episode:

Gravity Vault Hoboken

Jane DO Jersey City

Bollyheals

For our curated list of fun fitness classes throughout NJ, send us an email with ‘FITNESS’ as the message, and we’ll send it directly to you!

First Aired December 2025

Winter in New Jersey means colder days, darker evenings, and the instinct to hibernate — but staying active this time of year can make all the difference for our mood, energy, and mental health. In our Season One finale, we’re diving into fun, accessible, winter-friendly ways to move your body all across the Garden State.

Join host Kate Cherichello Tente as we explore three uplifting winter wellness activities that boost strength, balance, breath, and joy:

⏱ In this episode:
00:00 – Intro: Why winter movement matters
01:20 – Trying pickleball for the first time at Montclair Pickleball (Fair Lawn)
08:50 – A grounding + energizing yoga class at Release Yoga (Hillsdale)
16:40 – On-ice fitness with Olympic figure skating legend JoJo Starbuck at Codey Arena (West Orange)
24:00 – Final reflections + winter wellness inspiration

🎾 PICKLEBALL: America’s Fastest-Growing Sport
Curious why everyone’s talking about pickleball? We visit Montclair Pickleball to learn the basics, experience the community firsthand, and talk about the physical, social, and mental benefits of this wildly popular sport. Huge thank you to founders Matthew Slowinski and Aaron Reznik for the warm welcome!
If you want to get started, search for pickleball groups near you on Google, Facebook, Meetup, or your local indoor recreation center.

🧘‍♀️ YOGA & BREATHWORK: Movement That Meets You Where You Are
Next, we head to Release Yoga in Hillsdale, where Kate steps into her first yoga class in years. (Spoiler: she survives AND feels great after) We explore how breath, mindful movement, and a supportive studio environment can calm the mind, strengthen the body, and help you reset during the winter months.

⛸ ON-ICE FITNESS WITH JOJO STARBUCK
To finish, we visit Codey Arena in West Orange, part of the South Mountain Recreation Complex, for a unique winter workout: adult skating fitness.
Olympian JoJo Starbuck — U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Famer, Ice Capades headliner, and lifelong performer — now brings balance, strength, grace, and joy to skaters of all ages through her weekly classes. Her “Cool Workout Class” is a reminder that winter movement can be fun, expressive, and accessible.

❄️ WHY WINTER MOVEMENT MATTERS
Staying active through the colder months supports:
✔ Mood + mental health
✔ Energy + circulation
✔ Strength + mobility
✔ Social connection
✔ Overall resilience during darker days
We hope this episode inspires you to move, breathe, and thrive — all season long.

💚 ABOUT HEALTHY IN THE GARDEN STATE
Healthy in the Garden State is a New Jersey–based lifestyle and wellness series produced by NJ360tv. We shine a light on local people, places, and practices helping our communities live healthier, more connected lives.

SPECIAL THANKS
Season One Sponsor  @hunterdonhealth_Flemington 
Host: Kate Cherichello Tente
Production:  @nj360tv 
Director: Isaac Perez
Intern: Kelly Booth

Disclaimer:
The content provided in “Healthy in the Garden State” is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as medical, fitness, or nutritional advice and should not be interpreted as such. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any new health, wellness, fitness, or nutrition program.

Participation in any activities or use of information presented in this program is voluntary and at your own risk. The producers, hosts, guests, and affiliated organizations of “Healthy in the Garden State” are not liable for any injury, condition, or damages arising from the use or misuse of this content.

The ship was making her way steadily through small waves which slapped her and then fizzled like effervescing water, leaving a little border of bubbles and foam on either side. The colourless October sky above was thinly clouded as if by the trail of wood-fire smoke, and the air was wonderfully salt and brisk. Indeed it was too cold to stand still. Mrs. Ambrose drew her arm within her husband’s, and as they moved off it could be seen from the way in which her sloping cheek turned up to his that she had something private to communicate.

Links Related to this Episode:

• Montclair Pickleball: for lessons, tournaments, and gear throughout the state

• Release Yoga in Hillsdale

• JoJo Starbuck’s website: for joining the class, private lessons, or purchasing a gift card for a loved one

• Tips on Staying Healthy over the Holidays from Piedmont Health

• MindBody: a resource for finding fitness classes in your area, including yoga

• The book that’s next on my list to read: There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather