Katie Minehan

[katieminehan]

The Brilliant Solution To Motivate Your Workout (Hint: It Involves Beer & Manicures)

PHOTOS: VIA MUDDERELLA.

For the past few years, obstacle-course mud races have become an increasingly popular weekend activity for those in pursuit of a Hunger-Games-like challenge. Typically, the events last a grueling four to five hours. But, for most races, once you cross the finish line, that’s it; you go home — and, presumably, straight into your shower. This seems like an anticlimactic ending, especially after you've inevitably had to skip out on party time for weeks (or, sometimes, months) while training.  Shouldn’t there be more fanfare? Cristina DeVito, CEO and Founder of Mudderella, saw an opportunity to change the course, so to speak, by creating a multi-faceted and women-focused event that celebrates fitness and friendship. 

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This Total-Body Workout Doesn’t Feel Like Work

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JULIA ROBBS.

Tracy Anderson is the ultimate dance-cardio diva. She pioneered the modern fitness craze that mixes high-energy choreography with muscle-toning moves set to pulsating club music. Of course, not everyone has access to Anderson’sexclusive studios. Luckily, this month, she’s launching a next-level version of her best-selling workout, Tracy Anderson Dance Aerobics, which features brand new cardio-meets-fly-girl routines. The goal: Work up a sweat while unleashing your inner Queen Bey, all in the comfort of your living room.  Tracy, a former dancer, created these routines in a specific pattern to keep your heart rate elevated and challenge your muscles in every direction. So, while you may have a great time doing that sexy-turn/twist/ diagonal-kick/hair-flip combo, it also helps sculpt a firmer core. 

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The Most Awesome #TBT Fitness Trend

PHOTO: COURTESY OF THROWBACK FITNESS.

When it comes to working out, I’m not much of a team player. I mean, I’m all for group fitness classes — but more along the lines of cycling, Pilates, or bootcamp classes where I sweat next to the others, not with them. So, when a friend asked me to stop by the new phys-ed-inspired studio, appropriately named “Throwback Fitness," I immediately had flashbacks of being last picked in gym class.  Throwback is the brainchild of Brian Gallagher and Ryan Wilke, two fitness addicts who abandoned their finance jobs to forge new careers based on their fondness for the gym-class activities of their youth. I was warned that their classes would be humbling, but when I entered the studio and saw minimal equipment, save for a few rowing machines, I foolishly expected it would be a breeze. In keeping with the “throwback” theme, the class (which was pretty evenly split between men and women) began with a get-to-know-you activity where each participant shared his or her favorite '80s movie. (In case you’re wondering, mine was Just One of the Guys — '80s brilliance at its best.) Then, we stood in a circle and did some basic stretching, while Gallagher and Wilke explained the structure of the class. 

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10 Fit-Cations Totally Worth The Trip

The mercury is just starting to creep upward, which means maybe it’s time to start thinking about a getaway. But, if the idea of spring break conjures up images of all-you-can-drink margaritas and passing out poolside, think again. Vacation is no longer an excuse to eat like an extra in Half Baked and skip the gym — it’s actually quite the opposite. The wellness retreat, previously the niche domain of celebrities and the upwardly mobile, has gone mainstream. Resorts worldwide are giving health and wellbeing offerings top billing in an effort to respond to the needs of the highly stressed demographic of career women between the ages of 25 and 40. Yes, and that means a lot of you guys. Apparently, we all seem like we could use some zen. Ahead, 10 different destinations that will have you sipping juices (not Coronas) and saluting (not just worshipping) the sun.

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FIT 5: 5 days in the Life of Jesse Alexander, Master Instructor at Flywheel

Thursday March 27, 2014

Katie Minehan

It’s safe to say Jesse offers one of, if not the, sexiest, “life changing” rides at Flywheel NYC. His cycle-therapeutic classes are known for his eclectic playlists (90s grunge and Snoop in the same class? Yes please!) and attention to detail and rhythm. A true believer in living your life the way you ride your bike, Jesse applies swagger both in and out of class and keeps it real by mixing up his workouts alongside some of NYC’s top instructors (and his two-year-old daughter). He really does practice what he preaches: a commitment to cycling and clean eating a few years ago helped him shed thirty pounds to get to his current ripped state. Keep reading for a sample of his roadmap to healthy, life changing success:

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4 Healthy Beauty Products We Love

Tuesday April 1, 2014

Katie Minehan

It’s no longer just about putting healthy foods into our bodies. We now look for the terms “natural” and “organic” not just when browsing in the produce aisle, but as a seal of approval on the products we put on our skin, hair and nails. A newfound awareness of the dangers of harmful chemicals in cosmetics has added to our growing repertoire of ingredients to avoid. For example, BHA and BHT, which are synthetic antioxidants used to preserve lipsticks and moisturizers, have been linked to cancer and thyroid and kidney problems. And another commonly used preservative (especially in perfume) parabens, interfere with hormone production by simulating estrogen, and have been linked specifically to breast cancer. While cosmetics’ primary function is to enhance our beauty, none of that sounds pretty. Here’s 4 products that are both chemical free and work (we can vouch for it):

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4 Reasons to Try Rowing

Tuesday March 25, 2014

Katie Minehan

Now that we’ve added a rowing studio, Row House, to our network, we’re looking forward to yet another way to #mixitup. We keep hearing that rowing is one of the hottest new workouts on the scene, and after taking a class ourselves, we agree it’s a killer (we’ve got the calluses to prove it!). But aside from being just another way to get your sweat on, rowing offers tons of benefits. Read on, and then book a class and see for yourself.

[katieminehan]

4 Green Juice Recipes for Spring Cleaning

Wednesday March 19, 2014

Katie Minehan

It might not exactly feel like it yet in NYC, but spring is nearly here! While we wait for nature to catch up, we’re getting a head start on our spring cleaning by introducing more greens in our diets. We’ll be sipping all kinds of green drinks as we look forward to seeing more green outside as trees start to bloom and flowers begin to sprout. We’re always looking for new and fresh takes on a green juice, so read below to see what’s going in our blenders this season:

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4 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

Tuesday March 11, 2014

Katie Minehan

While those extra hours of daylight give us hope that spring is finally (almost) here, unfortunately, it comes at the price of giving up a precious hour of sleep. With the change of seasons upon us, it’s a good time to re-evaluate our healthy habits, including sleep. Read below for 4 tips for getting a good night’s sleep and remember, quality is just as important as quantity (if not more so):

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Evangelical Juicing: An Interview With The Founder Of Juice Press

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN PHRANER.

Suddenly it seems there’s a Juice Press on every block. The organization is well on its way to becoming an empire, if it isn’t one already. After opening 14 Manhattan locations in the past three years (plus a new outpost in SoHo Strength Lab), and with four more expected in the next few months alone, it’s reasonable to say Juice Press could become the next Starbucks. For all this, we can thank Marcus Antebi.  As JP’s fearless founder and leader, Antebi borrowed the idea of juicing from his hippie counterparts and — with a combination of guerilla marketing (we’ve all seen the “Assertive Women Who Drink Juice Are F*cking Sexy” postcards) and cool aesthetics — he put his version of juice on the NYC map (as well as many a backstage dressing room). While there’s no question that juices are one of the most competitive new food products to hit the market (even Starbucks is getting involved), the topic of juice is rife with controversy. Juicing and juice fasts are a polarizing conversation in the medical and nutritional fields, with doctors and nutritionists either espousing the cleansing properties of juice or knocking it as yet another wacky fad. 

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Is This The SoulCycle Of Yoga?

PHOTO: COURTESY OF LYONS DEN.

We're thinking, yes. Lyons Den Power Yoga, which opened this past November, is the product of many years of combined experience for co-founders (and real-life couple) Bethany Lyons and John Murray. 

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FIT 5: 5 Days in the Life of Jeanette Simon, Founder of Flex Studios

Thursday March 6, 2014

Katie Minehan

As a business owner, mom to a 2-year-old daughter (plus a baby on the way), and Pilates devotee, finding balance is key for Jeanette. While she listens to her body (whether it needs rest or craves ice cream), she stays in shape with regular barre and Pilates classes and complements this with balanced meals that her whole family can enjoy.In Jeanette’s own words, “As a mom of a 2 year old, business owner and 24 weeks pregnant, I can tell you that I'm always hungry! Snacks, small meals and lots of water are critical parts of my day. I've found that eating and exercising can keep my pregnancy "dizzy spells" away and my energy up.

The food philosophy in my house is menu planning and making meals that my husband (who is gluten free), my daughter (a 2 year old toddler) and myself can all eat. Making one meal for all of us is key. It's all we have time for in a busy work week & we find with some morning prep work, a homemade dinner is possible after a long day! Below is a pretty accurate look into what the three of us eat everyday!”

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What To Visit At ECA, This Weekend's Boutique Fitness Extravaganza

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERIN YAMAGATA.

Unless you’re a fitness-industry veteran, you’ve probably never heard of ECA World Fitness. Founded over 20 years ago as an outlet for members of the fitness community to connect, learn and share ideas, ECA is responsible for bringing some of the most popular workouts, like Zumba, Insanity, Tabata, and IntenSati, to the public. While the conventions crop up in New York, California, and Florida every year, they've been, until recently, exclusive to industry insiders. This year, in response to a growing interest in health and wellness, the event is now open to the public (for a fee).  The NYC event, titled “One Body One World (OBOW) by ECA World Fitness,” is being held this weekend, March 7 to 9, at the Marriott Marquis. On offer are three solid days of cutting-edge workout classes, lectures, and workshops. We didn’t even know where to begin, so we spoke with Carol Scott, ECA founder and CEO, for some highlight

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CityRow: Rowing Is The New Cycling

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CITYROW.

Most of us spent a large portion of last year spinning our wheels on indoor bikes. But now, we may find ourselves spending more time strapped to an entirely different piece of equipment: the rower. It began slowly, but the rowing trend has taken off with a flurry of studios sprouting up in neighborhoods all over. (And, did any fellow Netflix addicts notice that Claire Underwood went from running to rowing in House of Cards season two?) Never one to miss out on a new fitness trend, I booked myself a few classes at CityRow. 

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4 Reasons to #MiXItUp

Tuesday February 25, 2014

Katie Minehan

When faced with repetitive exercises, muscles adapt and, therefore, cease development and growth. The philosophy of muscle confusion is designed to combat this and it’s the reason FITiST works with such a diverse network of studios. When we first start a new workout program, the results seem instantaneous, and they motivate us to keep at it. But sooner or later, we stop seeing those results, and it’s no coincidence that we then lose interest. This is why you need to MiXItUp. Not only does doing the same thing all the time get monotonous, it actually prevents you from achieving the results you want. Don’t believe us? Keep reading for more reasons why the secret to achieving your fitness goals is in the mix.

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What To Hit At The Biggest Free Fitness Event In NYC This Weekend

PHOTO COURTESY OF

If you’re anything like us, you’re feeling a little guilty from spending all last weekend glued to Netflix for House of Cards season two. Well, the second annual Sweaty Saturday, which happens February 22, is just the reason we needed to get off the couch. Dubbed “Fashion’s Night Out for Fitness,” the event benefits the Partnership for a Healthier America's (PHA) mission to combat childhood obesity. The event is cosponsored by FITiST, Mio Skincare, and Sweaty Betty, and located at their SoHo boutique. Over 40 studios around the city will participate, offering special classes, free massages, nutritional consultations, goodies, and more. Whether you’re a spinner, bootcamper, yogini, or still figuring it out, there will be endless options to get your sweat on. And, if you’re stuck in a fitness rut, this is your chance to try something new. We’ve scouted out all the classes and curated our top workout picks for the event, but also check out Sweaty Saturday’s website for a complete studio listing to see what’s happening at your favorite studios. 

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4 Must-Have Mio Products

Thursday February 20, 2014

Katie Minehan

With Sweaty Saturday mere days away, we couldn’t think of a better time to profile our favorite products from one of the event’s co-sponsors, Mio Skincare. Mio, which just launched earlier this year, is the second “baby” brought to you by the 4 women who introduced Mama Mio to pregnant women all over the world 8 years ago.

Mio was born out of a need to offer products that work for your skin the same way a spin class works for your body. We spend so many hours a week dedicated to working our bodies in pursuit of optimal health, so it makes sense that we’d want to pay the same amount of attention to our skin – after all, skin is the body’s largest (and oft-overlooked) organ. Mio’s products are designed to work in tandem with your workout to make you the best possible version of yourself. Ranging from bath soaks to muscle gels and body moisturizers, Mio offers something for everyone, and thanks to their aromatherapy infusions, they all smell incredible! We listed our 4 favorite products, but check out Mio’s website to see the whole range.

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