Posts Tagged ‘yoga’

Staying Fit Virtually while Making a Difference

I woke up this morning and forgot what month it was. I had to ask Siri what day is was, as I usually do, but this time I also had to ask her what the date was. As each day blurs into the next, it’s the shimmers of light that make a difference. Like when Siri’s response causes the screen on my sleeping iPhone to brighten, or when I hear the birds in the morning now that the sounds of traffic or planes have pretty much disappeared.

And it’s the efforts of people that add to the glow. People who are going above and beyond to help others in so many ways during our very confusing present.

Dennis Hunter and Adrian Molina of Warrior Flow

One such person is someone that I’ve known for 12 years. A friend and instructor who I met at a Manhattan gym when I was in the midst of another pivot — a time when I had to move out of my apartment — Adrian Molina was a newly minted instructor at Equinox with an exciting form of yoga that he had named Warrior Flow. Warrior Flow yoga led by Adrian in his calming yet motivating manner helped me survive some crazy months of uprooting and was the beginning of a friendship that has survived my move and his relocation from New York to Miami.

Adrian Molina

As Adrian evolved his career, he also found new ways to give back to the communities where he lived, with one such endeavor being the Warrior Flow Foundation. Through the Foundation, Adrian and his colleagues are able to take their yoga, stress management and mindfulness techniques to some of the populations who need it most including those on the front lines of crises and those without resources. Initially, the Warrior Flow Foundation reached out to homeless shelters, women suffering from abuse, and prisons in Miami. With the severe strain on first responders and medical workers at present, the program has expanded to police, fire fighters, EMS workers, doctors and nurses. The Warrior Flow Foundation continues to develop to reach out to new communities with a goal of making a difference and helping. Future plans include outreach to other cities in need as the program develops.

Warrior Flow Foundation in Miami

With this in mind, Adrian curated a weekly program of donation-based online classes for those of us confined to our homes and unable to work out, practice yoga, meditate or even socialize since the shelter-in-place regulations went into effect. In so doing, he has helped people like me stay centered and connected while raising money so needed to support those most stressed around us.

Warrior Flow in Tuscany

You can join the online Warrior Flow community by subscribing on a monthly or annual basis to Warrior Flow TV for unlimited online classes, plus a daily roster of live programs which are archived for viewing at any time. The line-up is impressive, taught by some of the country’s most accomplished instructors, many of whom have worked with Adrian during his tenure at Equinox. A portion of the proceeds goes towards the Warrior Flow Foundation. As a bonus, The Foundation’s newsletter not only includes the full schedule of classes but also adds motivational as well as introspective thoughts, interviews and readings, all very welcome as we try to make sense of the present .

Adrian Molina

The light from this group has helped me stay grounded during the past tumultuous months. Unlike other yoga practices that you might be familiar with, Adrian’s yoga classes are a refreshing, distinctive breath of community punctuated by interactive chat from members around the world. But this is still serious stuff: Adrian’s classes will give you quite a workout and will leave you sweaty and serene. So will the other classes throughout the day. Beyond yoga, I’ve also powered through Abs, Cardio Sculpt, boot camp, barre and Pilates classes, with an end-of-day reward of Dennis Hunter’s soothing and calming sound bath.

Arthur Murray NYC Dance Marathon

I’ve also kept my sanity by adding in my favorite form of cardio: dance. Arthur Murray NYC has a daily Dance Along @arthurmurraynyc on Instagram Live that has refreshed my ballroom experience from years past and brought it into the present with current music and steps. They even have a dance workout session that riffs on a theme such as the 70s or 80s, appropriate music and attire included. All classes are free, too.

Arthur Murray NYC IG Live Class

Keeping us entertained and connected, Arthur Murray NYC hosted an entertaining showcase of students performing along with the pros — you can view it on their YouTube channel. The dance school’s first 24-hour dance marathon raised money for two worthy organizations, Feed Our Superheroes and the Nurses House Campaign with non-stop instruction, films, discussions, interviews and more, all related to dance. I was captivated by the professionalism of the dancers, the sophistication of the video techniques, and the knowledge imparted. And this super community-uniting effort raised more than $6500.

Karma Yoga's Jessica Gershman

After all this working out and actual and vicarious dance, I’m grateful to have someone qualified to put me back together again. Jessica Gershman, who leads yoga and therapeutic classes online with Karma Yoga, offers a weekly myofascial release class. WFH might be productive but it’s definitely hard on the body when you don’t have the best ergonomic set-up. By helping yourself heal, you’re also giving back: Jessica selects organizations in need and donates all proceeds from designated classes to organizations such as Front Line Foods which supports local restaurants helping to feed frontline healthcare workers, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Lori McAlister of LoriYoga

Another yogini who I’ve known for many years from her classes at New York Yoga, Lori McAlister of LoriYoga, has channeled her passion into support for the BLM movement as well via the Black to the Future Action Fund. Lori’s classes are a soothing and invigorating mix of vinyasa yoga styles in a methodology she calls Sequencology.

While there are many free Zoom classes and IG Live classes offered online, as well as subscription-based and fee-based classes, it’s the ones that go beyond to help those in need that resonate with me. And they’re the ones that I encourage you to support.

For more information:

Warrior Flow, www.warriorflowfoundation.org, www.warriorflow.tv

Karma Yoga,  http://karmayogaindy.com/

LoriYoga, https://loriyoga.com/

Arthur Murray NYC, https://nycarthurmurray.com /

Give Your Sweetie a Valentine’s Day Gift for the Two of You with a Kripalu Retreat

Here’s a Valentine’s Day gift that’s an easy drive or train ride from New York City

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the beautiful Berkshires has a couples-centric gift for Valentine’s Day. Their special R&R Relationships Retreat from February 9-14 offers a schedule of daily workshops designed to strengthen your ties to the people you care about most.  Throughout the week, you’ll learn effective ways to mindfully communicate and engage with loved ones; experience yoga and movement classes focused on how to better listen to your body; explore tools and practices for self-love, self-care, and self-compassion; and connect with nature on guided snowshoeing excursions.

Photo by: Meryl Pearlstein

If the weather cooperates, you can join in on a walking meditation through the forest on the center’s grounds where you’ll learn how to be at peace with yourself and hopefully translate that experience to your significant other. I found it to be an incredibly insightful hike.  Regardless, you’ll take away a healthier outlook on your relationship while enjoying healthful dining and learning healthful habits.

Forest Bathing - Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein

If the timing isn’t right, you can also book a retreat for the two of you to any of Kripalu’s more than 700 programs a year. They’ll also customize a program to meet your needs with yoga, massage, dance, hiking, canoeing (in warmer weather), and sightseeing in the area. Here are a couple of others in February perfect for couples, Partner Yoga for Couples – (February 14-17) or Loving Like You Mean It: Emotional Mindfulness to Transform Relationships – (February 14-17).

Yoga Studio - Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein

Kripalu is one of my favorites, and it’s been around for 40 years catering to yogis like me who enjoy exploring yoga, mindfulness, outdoor activities and having an extensive menu of indulgent spa and wellness treatments at any time of the year.

Cooking Lessons - Photo By: Meryl Pearlstein

The all-vegetarian and vegan food choices are pretty wonderful, too, and there are cooking classes to teach you how to make the recipes on your own. The morning’s silent breakfast is a fascinating opportunity for self-contemplation or couples’ contemplation.

57 Interlaken Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262, (866) 200-5203

Winter Getaway from NY: Ski, Yoga and Culinary Retreat in Vermont

Yoga Ski Vermont GetawayHow rare is it when you find that one program that combines your passions all in one glorious weekend? Amy Leydon, yoga teacher extraordinare from Boston, has put together a ski, yoga, and culinary weekend March 12-15 at Good Commons in Plymouth, Vermont. For those of you who know me, I’m a committed yogini, who loves to travel and eat, and has spent quite a lot of time in Vermont, working with hotels, enjoying family retreats, and visiting my son at the University of Vermont.  Does this package have my name on it or what? Although I’m not a skiier, the retreat is close to Killington and Okemo where cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and other winter activities (like shopping in Woodstock!) and spas (again, Woodstock!) are offered.

Amy schedules a number of retreats over the course of the year, with the next one a warm-weather locale, Martha’s Vineyard in June.  I haven’t met Amy yet, but her acclaim as “Best Yoga Teacher in Boston” by Boston Magazine tells me that the six classes I’ll experience this weekend will all be fabulous.  And I hear that she plays great music, too. I wonder if there’s a piano in the house.

For more information, http://amyleydonyoga.com/yoga-ski-and-culinary-weekend-2015/

Outdoor Summer Exercise in NYC: Some for Free

Looking for some ways to stay fit without going to the gym?  New York City beckons you to play outside this summer with a variety of free or reservation programs:

Zumba

Do you love Zumba?  Every Saturday throughout the summer, Shape Up NYC offers a free Zumba class, from 11am-12Noon, at West Harlem Piers Park at West 125th Street.  No pre-registration is required. Shape Up NYC Zumba . Shape Up NYC is an NYC Parks program run in partnership with Equinox fitness clubs. For other free Shape UP NYC programs throughout New York City and Brooklyn, visit www.nycgovparks.org.

Walk

Also free, and sponsored by NYC Parks in conjunction with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Walk NYC offers a program of one-hour guided walks in the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Walks are scheduled throughout the day in a variety of parks.  An accessible version of this free program, called Walk ‘n Roll, is given in the Bronx on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings.  For a specific schedule, click here.

Fitness Conditioning

Thursdays throughout the summer. 6:45-7:45pm.   $39.  Get in shape for any sport with Discover Outdoors’ “Adventure Fit” class.  www.discoveroutdoors.com .  Led by fitness instructor Curtis Williams, a former NFL athlete and a performance coach, the classes mix high-intensity cardio with strength training, following techniques and principles used to train the pros. Classes accommodate multiple fitness levels and are geared for the outdoor enthusiast.  You can try one session or come back for others during the month to push yourself to a new level. Meet at the entrance to Central Park, at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.  Dress in appropriate athletic gear and bring a towel and water.

Yoga

Saturdays and Sundays through September 22.  Channel your inner yogi with Central Park Yoga by the Turtle Pond.  On Saturday from 9-10am, or Sunday from 10-11am, you’ll find out why doing a downward facing dog is so much more appealing when the view is of Belvedere Castle instead of a gym wall.  Even handstands seem easier on the grass.  Bring a mat, water, and a towel.  centralparkyoga.com.  Classes are $20 each, or $140 for a 10-class card.  Meet Kirtan Smith (Saturday) or Lisa Langer (Sunday) at the entrance to Central Park at 81st Street and Central Park West.

Boot Camp

Stacy’s Boot Camp is a three-week session designed to push you to your limit.  Three summer sessions, June 24-July 12, July 22-August 9, or August 19-September 6, will help you advance your fitness level while you take advantage of the natural props that Central Park offers. Bring one-gallon water bottles, gloves, a towel, and a sense of determination. Multiple park locations will help you stick to your resolution to get outside and sweat.  Classes are offered in Central Park, Battery Park, and Washington Square Park with morning and early evening schedules. Pricing varies depending on whether a package of one, two or three weekly classes is selected.  For more details and to book, www.stacysbootcamp.com.

Great Winter Activities for February

It may be off-and-on cold and warm this winter, but the reality is still that scarves and hot chocolate are becoming the accessories of choice.  If the winter blues are getting you down, try these suggestions to put a smile on your face.
More on Great Winter Activities for February

September is Yoga Month in New York City — Free Activities

With the hustle bustle of back-to-school and a new season, take a second to take a deep breath in and a long stretch and embrace National Yoga Month. Stonehenge, a real estate company in the city, and National Yoga Month have partnered to offer free yoga classes and events throughout NYC. In addition, numerous studios are offering one free week to new students.

More on September is Yoga Month in New York City — Free Activities

Planning a trip to NYC?