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Starring NJ Pickleball, Yoga, & Ice Skating Fitness with a Local Olympian

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:

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