Meet Our Summer 2026 Cover Model
Shot on Location at Petal and Pour
When she’s not working downtown at her family business, Yacoubian Tailors, Ani Yacoubian Riggs can be found getting up early for CrossFit, spending time with her husband and children, or winding down with a good book. Here, she shares more about what helps her set each day up for success, and how family has been an inspiration amid it all.
What is your approach to wellness? How has that changed over time?
I originally started working out to stay trim and fit, but that idea has greatly changed over the years. Now, I work out to be strong mentally and physically. I have also realized over time that what I fuel my body with has as big an effect as exercise. I bounced around for a long time before I found a workout program that kept me engaged. Thirteen years ago, I had a personal trainer, Stephen, who was taking on a job as a CrossFit coach at a new gym. He convinced me to give it a try, and I never looked back. CrossFit has been the only thing that has consistently gotten me out of bed before the sun rises. From the workouts to the community, there is nothing like it.
What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?
The biggest portion of my self-care is going to the gym six days a week, when schedules allow. It’s how I set my days up for success, and it’s good for the body. I also love to wind down every night by reading. I love all sorts of fiction, and it helps my brain detach from the stresses of the day, which is good for the mind. My most favorite self-care activity is my “girls’ brunch.” I have a group of friends that get together regularly for brunch, which is good for my soul.
What are the traits you most value in yourself?
I believe that consistency and reliability serve me well while running a business and my household. I’m also probably overly organized, thanks to being Type A. I have digital calendars, paper calendars, and an unruly amount of sticky notes to make sure nothing falls between the cracks.
What are some of your current goals?
I think my biggest goal is trying to find a better work-life balance. Thinking about it in big-picture terms can become very overwhelming, so I try to break it down into smaller pieces. One of the simplest things I’ve found that works is putting the phone aside when I get home so I can be fully present with my family.
When it comes to health and wellness, is there anyone you admire or look up to?
My mom has always been my role model. She has always been active – I can remember her doing various exercise videos when I was little, and she still walks every day. She has always been everyone’s encourager. If it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure I would have ever valued daily exercise.
How do you approach emotional well-being?
There are several tools that I use to recharge my “battery” as an introvert. The biggest thing that helps me is getting outside, whether it’s for a short walk or to just sit in the backyard. I also love a good jigsaw puzzle or fiction book, which help me disconnect from daily stress.
What have been some of your recent challenges?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced recently was the loss of my dad. He was such a big part of my life. Not many adults can say they spent almost every single day with their dad. I was lucky beyond measure. He was my biggest supporter and always had the best advice about anything and everything. It has been hard to navigate the “new normal,” but with the support of family and friends it has been manageable.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My dad always preached to treat everyone with kindness. I believe that was one of his biggest keys to success. A little bit of kindness can go a long way, and it costs us nothing!
How do you encourage health and wellness within your family?
I know how much better I feel by taking care of myself, so I always try to push those around me to do more for themselves. I’m always encouraging my husband to find time to either exercise or take care of his emotional well-being. I have the twins enrolled in gymnastics classes and swim lessons. I feel like these both encourage balance, stability, and coordination, which are great foundations for everything in life! I try to teach my stepdaughter about food and how it fuels you, partly because I wish I had more knowledge about it growing up.
