Where Are They Now? 'Sister, Sister' Character Teaches People to Fly
At a time when some of our favorite 90's TV shows are talking about "reboots", I'm amazed at a connection I recently made to all the buzz. Today, US Weekly reports Sister, Sister star Tia Mowry says a reboot of the popular show "may happen next fall."
And Friday, the cast of one of my favorite shows of all time- Moesha- reunited for the first time in 16 years on The Real.
According to today's news, Tia Mowry says there is "one more step before finalizing" the show's return. The announcement comes 23 years after the first season premiere on April 1,1994. When asked what Sister, Sister will focus on, Mowry adds "I think I would want it to pick up with where our lives are now."
And how fitting! Unbeknownst to me, I recently met one of the characters from the popular series, Victor Togunde. As referenced in my previous blog, Perfect AirBnb Getaway to Los Angeles, California, Victor is also known as "The Acro Machine", a popular instructor of Acro Yoga in the LA area.
Victor teaches people to fly through the practice of "Acro", which combines yoga and acrobatics. Read my interview with Victor below to see how his journey has taken him from "Stinky Steve" to one of the most sought after Acro instructors out there.
Interview with Victor Togunde, "The AcroMachine":
Carla: Where are you from?
Victor: I’m originally from Dallas, Texas
Carla: What is your "I moved to LA" story?
Victor: I moved to Los Angeles right after high school to pursue a career in acting. One of my first jobs in LA was on a TV show called Sister, Sister, where I played their boss "Stinky Steve".
Watch Victor in the Season 2 episode "Dream Lover" below. Tia has a recurring romantic dream about "Stinky Steve" and it's pretty funny:
Carla: When did you first try acroyoga?
Victor: I first tried acroyoga a little over three years ago when a girl I was dating at the time suggested we try a few poses she had seen on Instagram.
Carla: Had you practiced yoga prior to trying acroyoga? If so, for how long?
Victor: Yes I’d practiced yoga for about two years prior to discovering acroyoga. It was the main reason that girl I was dating at the time felt comfortable asking me if I would be willing to try "Acro".
Carla: What other skills or training helped to give you a foundation for the body awareness needed for acroyoga?
Victor: I’ve always been active my entire life but I think the key thing that gave me the ability to have the body awareness and strength needed for acroyoga is that I was a cheerleader in high school back in Texas. I was part of the competition squad that had 10 guys and 10 girls. We each were paired off with partners and did a various array of stunts that were collegiate level.
Carla: When did you become "The Acro Machine" ?
Victor: About a year and a half into my "Acro" practice I realize that I was probably one of the best, if not the best person here in Southern California. There were a couple of guys who had been in longer than me, but I picked up incredibly fast. When I started playing with "pops" and "whips" on a consistent basis, it really started to get people's attention because no one in our community was doing them. Next thing I knew, companies like Disney and Marvel and Under Armour were asking me to choreograph or perform acroyoga because I was getting a word-of-mouth reputation about my skill level. At the time, I was against posting any of my acroyoga on my personal Facebook or Instagram page, so I decided to start an entirely separate account just devoted to the art of "Acro", called "The Acro Machine".
Carla: You've stated that you are interested in encouraging more African American participation in acroyoga. Why do you think there is a lack of AfAm people engaged in the practice?
Victor: I think the lack of participation is just due to the fact people don’t even know it exists. I think once people in our community know and see that it’s a possible new fun activity to include in their lives, I anticipate that it could explode.
Carla: What are some benefits of acroyoga?
Victor: Some of the biggest benefits of acroyoga is learning how to build and earn trust, building communication, and creating close plutonic connections with other people.
Carla: What is your advice for someone who is interested in trying acroyoga?
Victor: My advice is don’t be afraid. Try it, it’s easier than it looks.
Carla: What inspires you?
Victor: Seeing the look on someone’s face when they think they can’t achieve a particular skill. It really puts a smile on my face.
Victor Togunde, "The Acromachine" is based in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, find him on instagram @TheAcroMachine or email him at vtogunde@gmail.com.
My Testimonial:
Although I've done yoga for nearly 15 years, and gymnastics for 8, trying a new skill that challenged my 32 year-old body was intimidating. Activating muscles that may have been dormant and trusting someone I just met aroused some fear--particularly because falling is a risk. But shortly after the first pose, I realized Victor knew what he was doing.
I could trust him to understand my ability, challenge me and keep me safe. He taught me various acroyoga poses, including "bird", "throne", "side star", "ninja star", a "four step machine", and "mermaid".
Then, as a special gift, he coordinated this "birthday flow"and set it to music. What better song than a remix of Beyonce's Formation!
WATCH THE VIDEO:
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