THE TRIBE | Natty Zavitz, Toronto

Get to know Natty – a die-hard Toronto Rider who has been coming to RIDE for over two years. If Natty is riding, you’ll likely know it – his energy and enthusiasm are infectious. We’re so grateful to have Natty as part of our Ossington community.

What do you do for your 9-5?

I recently quit my 9-5 to focus on filmmaking. I’m a writer and director. My first feature EDGING can be rented or copped here. Pardon the plug, but that’s the gig.

If your bestie were to describe you in three words, what would they be?

He’s still dancing?

How long have you been coming to RIDE?

Um, let me check. *scrolls through hundreds of class reminder emails* nearly two years? Wow. That’s longer than almost all the relationships I’ve been in.

What motivates you to get your ass to class?

If I don’t go to a class most days I get punchy and unpleasant to be around. It is a public service.

How has RIDE impacted your life?

To be a person that exercises every day has had all the obvious health benefits like sleeping better, but mostly it allows me to eat and drink everything I’d like to. Sometimes if I’m up against a plot problem I’ll take the problem into the class and something in the dark and the mania frees up an extra bit of freedom to think.

Outside of your 9-5 – tell us about all the badass things you’re up to

Mostly I just think about movies, which was a problem at my 9-5, but I also garden. This summer I’m looking forward to trying my hand at a rose bush that I’m transplanting from my grandparents house.

In your opinion, what makes RIDE’s community so unique?

Everyone’s so good looking.

Favourite Instructor and why?

Nah, no favourites. Whoever will play some dancehall, soca, or Beanie Sigel tho.

Best RIDE memory?

Rebecca’s riddim RIDE was the best I’ve ever felt in that room. Everyone there was trying to dance.

What other workouts do you do outside of RIDE?

Tennis. Basketball. Trying to do some yoga to balance out the loud with some quiet.

Song you’ve got on repeat?

Koffee – Toast ‘Gratitude is a must’

If you could brunch with any male/lady boss (past or present), who would it be?

Spike Lee, but I’d rather it be dinner.

If you were to give a s/o to a local entrepreneur, who would it be?

I very heavily f*ck with The Legends League, who have a store on Camden and Outclass, who have a store at College and Dufferin. Both thoroughly Torontonian clothing lines and made up of good peoples and friends.

Describe your ideal Saturday in the city.

It’s June, like 16 degrees at nine in the morning, I’m tired from being out the night before. I water the backyard with a cup of coffee and then take a half nap on the couch on the deck.
The first round of lettuce is ready to harvest so I pull up a couple heads and wash them for later. My dog and I walk to Schmaltz Appetizing on Dupont and she eats some fish skin while I have a bagel with lox, capers and hot peppers.

Now it’s like, eleven, and I bike down to RIDE. After showering, I bike over to the lightbox and spend the days hot hours in the theatre. I sweat. After the film, I head home, stopping at Fiesta Farms for some groceries and the liquor store.

Then it’s a bbq. Prolly like 4 by now and folks start showing up in the backyard. Might make some chicken, a salad with that lettuce from earlier. I’m not really in charge of the food. Then that’s the night, frankly. If I’m good, I’ll have written a couple pages after the film and before the bbq. I’ll start cleaning up around 11:30.

Who motivates you?

The people I make films with. Always trying to justify the trust they put in me.

Fave quote or words to live by?

Know Yourself.

Last book you read was….

Dark Age Ahead by Jane Jacobs

What does RIDE mean to you?

I know that at some point almost every day, I’ll feel good. And it’s powerful to only have to rely on myself for that.