As we all embrace a number of our work-outs, we find that recovery is an essential for our bodies to be the most effective. We're fans of stretching, foam rollers, restorative yoga and including CBD within our routines. This area of recovery continues to expand with no signs of stopping. This month, we caught up with Nico Marley, grandson of Bob Marley - who recently launched his CBD line, Lion X Wellness. He believes in the importance of CBD for athletes and fitness enthusiasts and as a former Washington Football player, we wanted to know more about the company, why he created it and what we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we get into LionX Wellness, I’d like to talk about your background. Your father Rohan Marley was a linebacker at the University of Miami where he played with Dwyane Johnson, Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis. He played professionally in the Canadian Football League. He went on to co-found Marley Coffee and is involved in the House of Marley, helps run your family’s charitable organization 1Love and Tuff Gong Clothing Company. It seems like you have also walked within your father’s footsteps. Can you tell us about your athletic career and why you also wanted to embrace your entrepreneurial interests?

NICO MARLEY: My athletic career began at an early age. I started playing football in middle school and noticed I had a certain passion and love for the sport, and that became my life for the next 10 years. My passion for football grew throughout my high school years, and I ended up attending Tulane University, where I played football for four years and studied Business Management and Marketing. As a freshman, I was named Conference USA Co-Freshman of the Year and a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team. I received other accolades, such as All-AmericanAthletic Conference Honorable Mention and All-American Athletic ConferenceFirst Team. Upon graduation, I signed with Washington Football and played for the preseason.

After I was cut from playing for the Washington Football, I wanted to find my new purpose in life. I worked with my father, Rohan Marley, shortly on Marley Coffee, and I quickly realized that I wanted to create my own legend. I'm proud of everything my family has done, and I want to continue to add value to our name. SoI started to think about my passions, and what came to mind is my love for performance, the collective impact we have on one another, and my family history.

AM: What is an average day/week like for you in terms of your fitness routine?

NM: I try my best to stay in shape and stay active throughout the week. Typically I try and run a few miles, include an ab work-out a few times a week, play soccer, and incorporate push ups every day.

AM: Tell me about Lion X Wellness. What led you to creating this company, why have you focused on CBD and what is in the cur-rent product range?

NM: I started taking CBD during my junior year of college when football season was beginning. This sport takes a lot out of you, and I wanted something natural that was going to help me focus before and game and help me recover after one. When I found CBD, it was perfect! My family had always spoken about natural healing for years, and this is something that could help me manage my pain as well as boost overall wellness naturally. As I searched for my new purpose, I thought about all the things I was passionate about; natural healing, my family history, and helping others. Lion X is all of those things for me. It incorporates a modern evolution of my family's philosophies and my passions for the game, performance, and overall wellness.

Lion X Wellness’s current product line features Vegan CBD Gummies, Full Spectrum CBD Oils (ranging from 500mgs to2,000mgs), a Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm, and Full Spectrum CBD Gel Capsules. In the future, I hope to expand the brand. Lion X Wellness isn’t just a CBD line; we’re a wellness company.

I hope to introduce other wellness products in the near future, along with comfortable apparel people can wear in their homes and on the go.

AM: What are the ingredients in your Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm?

NM: Lion X’s Muscle and Joint Cooling Balm is 500mgs of CBD. It contains Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Beeswax, a blend of mint and eucalyptus, CBD Rich Hemp Ex-tract, Lemongrass, and Aloe Vera.

AM: How important is CBD to recovery products for athletes and fitness enthusiasts that want to include this within your routine?

NM: Sports take a lot out of you, and many athletes tend to get hurt while playing. I found that for me personally, I preferred to take all-natural products and not prescription painkillers while playing sports. Soothing and cooling balms are extremely helpful for athletes that are seeking something to manage their pain. Topical salves are intended to increase circulation, ease aches and pains, as well as provide the athlete with some relief.

AM: What is Lion X Wellness focusing on as we begin to navigate 2021?

NM: We’re targeting people who want to make more conscious decisions about themselves and what they put in their bodies. We’re focusing on becoming a household name in the CBD industry. We hope that in the next year, we can touch as many people as we can while growing our company organically. We're also focused on expanding through more partnerships with leaders in this community, allowing us to educate new regions on CBD, social justice issues, and Lion X.

AM: Are there brand ambassadors/spokespeople for the brand?

NM: At the moment, we don’t have any official brand ambassadors. People like my father, Rohan Marley, former professional football player Ray Lewis, and my other close friends and family have promoted the brand on social media.

AM: Are there any collaborations that Lion X Wellness will be doing this year or in 2022?

NM: On February 6th we’ll be taking part in the 5th Annual Canna Business & Wellness Expo in Miami. The 5th Annual CannaBusiness & Wellness Expo is an outdoor event where you can learn more about the cannabis industry, growing business-es, opportunities, careers, and more. LionX along with Cannabis LAB will be taking every precaution to ensure the safety of the visitors. At the event, we’ll educate visitors more on Lion X, how we’re making a difference, and how they can enter to win up to $100 worth of Lion X CBD products.

AM: Beyond being used for recovery purposes, how else does Lion X Wellness assist the body?

NM: In addition to healing the body, LionX products are great for boosting your overall well being. Our CBD tinctures, Full Spectrum or Isolate, are amazing for promoting focus and relaxation. Our Veg-an CBD gummies are also a great way to maintain energy and to keep yourself focused throughout the day. Our gummies feature whole, organic hemp extract and have a mix of four delicious flavors in the same jar: strawberry, orange, green apple, and grape.

AM: In addition to Lion X Wellness, are you involved in other ventures, philanthropic efforts and/or are you involved in any of the family businesses?

NM: At the moment, Lion X donates a portion of its sales to Garden of Eden, a non-profit organization with the mission to empower women and youth by cultivating self-esteem and self-worth through mentorship programs in arts, education, and the development of sustainable community projects in underserved areas.

AM: What impact has Bob Marley had on you?

NM: Bob Marley said years ago, "Herb is the healing of the nation," and my family has lived by that saying ever since. My father would always say if you're going to use the plant, make sure you use it for the right reasons. Not just to smoke to get high but to connect to your mind, body, and soul. Although I have never met him, his words and his music have spoken volumes to me. I listen to his music when I need words of wisdom and it has helped me many times over the years right before a game or just getting up in the morning. Because of him I have been able to connect with myself on a spiritual level.

IG @Nico2Marley

@LionXWellness

PHOTOS COURTESY | Nico Marley