Very few things make me feel more anxious than exercise. I played sports growing up, sure, but the general discomfort in one’s body that comes with maturing faster than peers tends to seep its way into how you move. Exercise, especially in public, has always made me feel self-conscious. That was until I started dressing modestly. In the same way that covering my hear and wearing flowy-er clothes sort of turns down the psychological noise of being perceived, modest activewear allowed me to find movement that felt amazing, without background worry about how i looked or if I was quote too big unquote for whatever I was doing. It allowed me to feel like exercise didn’t need to revolve around how I looked, but how I felt, and I could move in a way that made me feel alive and strong. One of the trickier things when you start dressing more modestly is finding these activewear clothes that make you feel cute but also cover all the parts you want to cover, and there are many activewear brands out there but few of them cater to the longer and looser silhouettes that folks who wants to dress modestly are looking for, and even fewer of those are owned by people who truly share a sense of purpose and aren’t just looking to turn a buck on a niche fashion interest group. Aja Cohen is at the helm of one of these incredible companies: Transcendent Active. From designing in the head-spinning churn of the fast-fashion industry to being a mother of three running a small modest activewear business, or as she calls it “empowered activewear”, Aja has committed her bubbly spark and fiery dedication to creating garments that help people feel confident and beautiful. Her relationship to modesty is fluid and effervescent, and in listening to her, I hope you’ll feel supported and encouraged to explore modesty on your own terms.