There’s a lot of talk about staying healthy these days. Mostly, it breaks down into two areas: eating and exercise. Okay, I can already hear you groaning. But the good news is, we’re not going to talk about eating healthy today. And the even better news is, we’re not going to talk about working out, or running, or biking, or any of that.

There are other ways you can keep fit, healthy, alert and even improve your mental health – that are fun and don’t require a traditional gym membership. My lunch guests - Michael Matthews of The Backpacker, an outdoors specialty store, and Alaina Ray of Refuge Aerial, an aerial arts studio – are both in the business of keeping you fit, mentally and physically, in novel ways, right here in Baton Rouge. 

Backpack

Michael’s father started The Backpacker in the early 1970s, beginning as a ski travel company before expanding into retail. While attending LSU, Michael became interested in learning how businesses operate, and was already helping sell ski trips when his father decided to sell the business. Michael saw an opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps and continue the family business, so he bought The Backpacker from his father in 2006. 

Over the last 20 years, Michael has opened two more locations, in Lafayette and in Mandeville.  Michael says that The Backpacker is more than a place where customers simply come to buy gear. His larger goal is to build an ecosystem around outdoor recreation: inspire someone to take an adventure, help them plan it, provide information about what they’ll encounter, and then outfit them with the gear they’ll need.

Aerial

When it comes to learning a new hobby, maybe your interests lean towards indoor activities, things like yoga, pole, and circus arts. 

Alaina Ray discovered aerial arts almost 10 years ago, when a friend invited her to take a class in Baton Rouge. She was immediately drawn to both the physical challenge and the combination of strength and grace.

Alaina had always dreamed of owning a business, though her career initially took her into corporate work. Then, an opportunity to take over the ownership of Above Ground Aerial, where Alaina and her eventual co-founder were teaching, presented itself. 

They created Refuge Aerial and, within roughly two weeks, were renting space at CheerForce. Refuge Aerial opened in 2021. A few things have changed since then — Alaina bought her business partner out, and she’s added additional classes and performances. What has never changed is a sense of community.

Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.com.

There&rsquo;s a lot of talk about staying healthy these days. Mostly, it breaks down into two areas: eating and exercise. Okay, I can already hear you groaning. But the good news is, we&rsquo;re not going to talk about eating healthy today. And the even better news is, we&rsquo;re not going to talk about working out, or running, or biking, or any of that.
There are other ways you can keep fit, healthy, alert and even improve your mental health &ndash; that are fun and don&rsquo;t require a traditional gym membership. My lunch guests - Michael Matthews of <a href="https://backpackeroutdoors.com/">The Backpacker, an outdoors specialty store</a>, and Alaina Ray of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.refugeaerial.com/">Refuge Aerial, an aerial arts studio</a> &ndash; are both in the business of keeping you fit, mentally and physically, in novel ways, right here in Baton Rouge.&nbsp;
Backpack
Michael&rsquo;s father started The Backpacker in the early 1970s, beginning as a ski travel company before expanding into retail. While attending LSU, Michael became interested in learning how businesses operate, and was already helping sell ski trips when his father decided to sell the business. Michael saw an opportunity to follow in his father&rsquo;s footsteps and continue the family business, so he bought The Backpacker from his father in 2006.&nbsp;
Over the last 20 years, Michael has opened two more locations, in Lafayette and in Mandeville.&nbsp; Michael says that The Backpacker is more than a place where customers simply come to buy gear. His larger goal is to build an ecosystem around outdoor recreation: inspire someone to take an adventure, help them plan it, provide information about what they&rsquo;ll encounter, and then outfit them with the gear they&rsquo;ll need.
Aerial
When it comes to learning a new hobby, maybe your interests lean towards indoor activities, things like yoga, pole, and circus arts.&nbsp;
Alaina Ray discovered aerial arts almost 10 years ago, when a friend invited her to take a class in Baton Rouge. She was immediately drawn to both the physical challenge and the combination of strength and grace.
Alaina had always dreamed of owning a business, though her career initially took her into corporate work. Then, an opportunity to take over the ownership of Above Ground Aerial, where Alaina and her eventual co-founder were teaching, presented itself.&nbsp;
They created Refuge Aerial and, within roughly two weeks, were renting space at CheerForce. Refuge Aerial opened in 2021. A few things have changed since then &mdash; Alaina bought her business partner out, and she&rsquo;s added additional classes and performances. What has never changed is a sense of community.
Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://www.mansursontheboulevard.com/main/home">Mansurs on the Boulevard</a>. You can find photos from this show by<a href="http://albaledomedia.com/">&nbsp;Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez</a> at<a href="https://pod.fo/e/6a5e25"> itsbatonrouge.com</a>.

OUT TO LUNCH finds Baton Rouge Business Report Editor Stephanie Riegel combining her hard news journalist skills and food background: conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.

It's Baton Rouge: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH finds Amy Irvin conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's on the Boulevard. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds Amy Irvin conducting business over lunch. Baton Rouge has long had a storied history of politics being conducted over meals, now the Capital Region has an equivalent culinary home for business: Mansur's on the Boulevard. Each week Stephanie holds court over lunch at Mansur's and invites members of the Baton Rouge business community to join her. You can also hear the show on WRKF 89.3FM.