The Best Way to Get Yourself Back to the Gym This Year? Recruit Your Own Mascot(s)

After suffering a hand injury that required me to put my go-to cardio boxing membership on pause this fall, I've been seriously struggling to get back into my fitness groove. With the frigid temperatures holding me back—not to mention the dread of the soreness that's to come after taking a break for so long—spending time cozied up in my bedroom sounds a lot more appealing than heading out to my workout class. But I recently got the push I needed to get back into the game, with the help of a pro mascot, no less.

In honor of Tylenol stepping up as the 'Unofficial Sponsor of Mascots' this playoff season, the brand hosted a truly unique workout sesh to highlight the athleticism that goes into mascoting (and guys, between the weight of the costume and all the stuff they've got to do in it, it's a lot). There, I was able to chat with Jeromē Bartlett, a professional mascot and mascot trainer who has worked with teams all over the country. Since his work (and passion) is all about hyping folks up, who better to ask about boosting my own morale when it comes to dragging myself back to the gym?

Bartlett's advice? Recruiting my own gang of mascots to help get me there—a piece of advice that anyone struggling to get back to their fitness routine can take to heart. As Bartlett says, "Just having someone to support you, to reinforce, 'Hey, you got this!'" can be a huge help. He explains that he finds encouragement in his group chat, and suggests tapping your own group of friends to hold you accountable and cheer you on from the sidelines: "[Ask:] Can I send you a selfie that I made it? [Can you] give me a thumbs up or a clap emoji that I'm here, so I'm not the only one feeling like I accomplished something?"

It also wouldn't be a bad idea to lean into one of 2025's biggest wellness trends and actually find a crew to sweat right there alongside you. As Executive Mangaing Editor (and fitness buff) Catrina Yohay cited from Strava’s 2024 Year In Sport Report, "grouped activities were longer and earned more kudos than solo outings." Hey, if there's anything I've learned from sports, it's that teamwork makes the dream work. And I will say that having an actual mascot cheer me on during the workout sesh with Tylenol and Bartlett was a game-changer.

Now, while getting to your workout is one thing, dealing with pain and soreness afterwards can be quite another. But Bartlett tells me what he tells his trainees: "Listen to your body. If you've got aches and pains, treat those aches and pains—don't be like, 'ah, I'm fine' [and keep going]. There's stuff to take care of you! Being a mascot for 20+ years, I have tripped and fallen and tumbled more times than I can count, and my body is not as young as it used to be, so I've got a little more aches and pains than I used to have." Bartlett is a fan of the Tylenol's Precise Warming and Cooling creams that help provide targeted pain relief straight to sore muscles.

Of course, he also calls out the importance of staying hydrated. "Mascots actually sweat 8 to 10 pounds of water weight a game, so staying hydrated [means] drink water before, drink water during, drink water after—and the same thing goes for going to the gym." Copy that!

So if you, like me, just need that extra boost to get back into your fitness routine, take it from a mascot: Grab your water bottle, text the group chat a sweaty selfie and wait for the crowd (aka your besties) to go wild.