Exercise Archives - Wellness Patterns

New Yorker Jay Asparro to Run 75 Miles for Alzheimer’s in Grandparents Honor

July 26, 2017 No Comments

Running is powerful form of exercise. In the great game of you vs. you, it’s all about the strength, power and focus that comes from within. Fellow New Yorker, Jay Asparro will be embarking on these challenges when he will run a collective 75 miles this November (48.8 miles from Jones Beach to Teddy Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay and the next morning he will run 26.2 miles at the New York City Marathon). This intense endeavor is driven by his passion to raise money for The Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation, a disease his grandmother, Ann, battles everyday. Last year he completed this same run, finishing 90 miles, tired yet inspired by how the awareness of his run had raised $38,000 for the Foundation. This year, the 75 miles represents what would have been his grandparent’s 75th wedding anniversary. Leading up to the run, Jay partners with local business to help raise money and awareness for his cause. This has included family bowling events to selling purple bagels at a Long Island based deli to the first annual Ann Asparro 5K. We had the pleasure to learn more about this run and the incredible cause during our recent interview with Jay. Read on to check out more about him and his cause-driven run.

New Yorker Jay Asparro to Run 75 Miles for Alzheimer's in Grandparents Honor

Interview with Jay Asparro on Running, Causes and Inspiration

Wellness Patterns: How did the idea to raise money through running come about? Why running?

Jay Asparro: I feel as though most people do not like running. If I am going to run an Ultra-Marathon, I believe I’ll be able to grab the attention of these people. Everyone knows the NYC Marathon but I don’t think anyone has heard of someone running 48.8 miles the day before the marathon. Then there are those people who love running. Most do not run more than a marathon, so I felt with an Ultra-Marathon, I could grab the attention of these people as well.

New Yorker Jay Asparro to Run 75 Miles for Alzheimer's in Grandparents Honor

Wellness Patterns: Your goal is 75 miles for this upcoming goal! How do you train for that?

Jay Asparro: I’ll be running 48.8 miles on Sat. Nov. 4th and 26.2 miles on Sun. Nov. 5th at the NYC Marathon. I hired my running coach, Patrick Hammond, from Educated Running and he puts my running schedule together for me. Unfortunately, I sprained my ankle in March and have a torn ligament in my ankle. So I swim, bike, and take hot yoga classes on top of my running 4x a week.
For recovery purposes, I take Epsom salt baths, go to Cryotherapy at Cryofit in Syosset, NY, go to Physical Therapy, get massages, and I do push-ups, sit-ups, stretch and roll everyday.

Nutrition is extremely important as well. So I’m constantly on top of my food intake eating good carbs (brown rice, sweet potatoes), protein (chicken and fish) and drinking at least 100 oz of water a day.

Wellness Patterns: What has been the reaction to your run?

Jay Asparro: When I tell people about my 75 mile run, their eyes get big and they tell me I’m crazy. Then I explain to them that I am running in honor of my grandmother to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, then they understand. 90% of the time I tell someone I’m running to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, they begin to tell me someone they know who is living with Alzheimer’s.

As for media attention, I believe it is still too early to get their attention. I’m hoping when the run gets closer- TV, Radio, and any other media outlets will give me an opportunity to speak about Alzheimer’s and the impact it has had on my family.

jay asparro running

Wellness Patterns: Why was it important for you to do this for your Grandmother?

Jay Asparro: Unfortunately, my grandmother doesn’t know who I am anymore. I know who my grandmother is and I refuse to have Alzheimer’s define my grandmother’s life. My grandmother lived with Faith, Joy and Love for her Family. That is what I run for and I always appreciate an opportunity to talk about my grandmother. She has three sons, who married three great women, she has seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren that she loves and is very proud of. I run all of these miles with love for my grandmother and my family.

Wellness Patterns: What’s something you’ve learned first-hand about Alzheimer’s?

Jay Asparro: I’ve seen the toll it takes on the caregivers. My parents, Aunt and Uncle are the caregivers for my grandmother. I also run for them because I know how much they have sacrificed to be there for my grandmother everyday. Their strength and love for my grandmother is something that helps me train when I don’t want to train.
Again, when I talk to people about Alzheimer’s, I’ve met caregivers and I see the stress and pain they have gone through or going through. I not only run for my family but I run for families living with Alzheimer’ and families who have lived through Alzheimer’s.

Wellness Patterns: How can someone help out if they aren’t a runner?

Jay Asparro: I’m raising money for the Long Island Alzheimer’s foundation, so donations would be greatly appreciated. They can go to www.theannasparrorun.com and click on the donate link. If people want to help me promote the run, that would be great as well. They can email me at annasparrorun@gmail.com.

Below is more information about the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation:
For 29 years, LIAF has been providing supportive community-based services to Alzheimer’s families on Long Island. LIAF offers critically needed social adult day programs for individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers. LIAF takes considerable pride in its pioneering role in the development of cutting edge services that foster the independence, dignity, well-being and safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s. LIAF is pleased to announce that the organization’s headquarters have relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility at 1025 Old Country Road in Westbury. The more centrally-located facility will provide the opportunity to bring services and programs more easily to those who need them. A special community open house and grand opening celebration is planned for spring 2017. For information call (516) 767-6856 or visit www.liaf.org.

You can also follow along with Jay’s fitness and fundraising journey on Instagram- jayasparro7, The Ann Asparro Run Face Book Page as well as on www.theannasparrorun.com.

Exercise

The Next Hottest Finess Craze: Cyclebox

July 18, 2017 No Comments

While we are all about exercising and getting our bodies to move and groove as much as possible; there’s no denying that it can be boring to do the same old thing all the time! We are psyched when we learned about new fitness craze called Cyclebox, a new hospitality inspired and music driven, group fitness indoor cycling studio.

Created by Fitbox Method, a Miami-based boutique boxing gym, Cyclebox includes a 45 minute instructor-led group cycling class that’s aimed at burning calories while also providing a full body workout through upper body strength training using aerobic weights and shadow boxing.

cycle box class miami

Open to adults of all fitness levels, the core methodology behind Cyclebox is for members to achieve maximum levels of endurance without noticing how hard they are working, set to the energy of heart-pumping playlists and captivating colors in a supportive and welcoming atmosphere.

This also includes a commitment to camaraderie instead of competition where members are all working towards the same goal rather than competing against each other. Cyclebox drives you ride to the beat using the music to propel your energy taking the emphasis off numbers and putting more on fun. While this all sounds awesome, we wanted to learn more and recently had a chance to do just that from the team at Fitbox Method. Check out our interview below to get the scoop about this awesome new fitness class.

Interview with Fitbox Method About Cyclebox

Fitbox Method About Cyclebox

Wellness Patterns: How did the idea of Cyclebox come about?

Fitbox Method: We wanted to go back to the basics and focus on team spirit, and fun within in a high-energy night life-inspired setting

Wellness Patterns: How does a class work?

Fitbox Method: Each 45 minute Cyclebox class is led by one of our rock star instructors and we use audio and visual components to engage our riders

Wellness Patterns: What can someone expect who is new to a Cyclebox class?

Fitbox Method: Sweat while having fun doing it, being caught up in the moment and not believing an hour passed by-instead of feeling drained – our riders exit each class feeling like they just danced the night away at a nightclub with friends

Wellness Patterns: What kind of music can we expect to hear in a Cyclebox class?

Fitbox Method: All types from EDm to Pop and Hiphop

Wellness Patterns: How is Cyclebox an effective full-body workout?

Fitbox Method: Indoor cycling works on core and lower half of the body, but by adding an aerobic weight circuit targeting upper body at the end of each Cyclebox class incorporates a total body workout.

Cyclebox will offer non-contract class passes ranging from $14-$25 per class. Monthly membership levels start at $75 per month and go up to $175. Pre-opening specials will be available until June featuring unlimited classes for $99 per month with complimentary Shimano cycling shoes upon joining.

For additional information please visit www.fitboxmethod.com or contact 305-978-3961. Instagram: @FitboxMethod

Apps, Exercise

New goEvo App: Designed to End the Cycle of Dieting

July 12, 2017 No Comments

Many of us go through our entire lives dieting. The ups and downs are a part of a vicious cycle that can sometimes be hard to break. Since weight loss its a multifaceted issue, it’s important to understand the many components of why you can’t seem to lose weight in order to make real, sustainable changes. And thanks to technology there are new ways to make improvements such as via the new goEvo app, a virtual weight-loss therapist that helps users manage their emotional eating and cravings, boost their motivation and confidence, build up their self-esteem and feel good.

never diet again with goevo app

Founded by Abigail and Amin Mohebbi, the app is designed to help users lose excess weight and keep it off by changing the way they THINK and FEEL about food, mood and their bodies. The founders believe that “the only way to get rid of excess weight and keep it off is by changing the way we think and feel about food and our bodies. That’s how we can end our dieting cycle for good and that’s what goEvo is all about.” Read on to learn more about how the goEvo app works and our interview with the founders to learn more about why they started the company.

Interview with Abigail and Amin Mohebbi, Founders of goEvo

Abigail and Amin Mohebbi, Founders of goEvo

Wellness Patterns: How did the idea for the app come about?

Abigail and Amin Mohebbi: We (Abigail and Amin Mohebbi) are a British couple living in France. We met in 2007, and we have 2 children.

I watched a close family member battle with her weight for decades as she tried every mainstream diet out there. I watched her self-esteem suffer for it, the frustrations and high and lows of losing weight then regaining it, and her misery in restricting what she was eating then rebounding. I felt there was something fundamentally wrong with the approach of the diet industry.

A strong desire to help her and other family members, along with an instinctive feeling that negative eating habits stemmed from emotional causes, led me to spend years looking into the diet industry, obesity and the most credible scientific research into weight gain and loss.

The problem was clear: diets don’t work!

The solution? A no diet revolution!

Armed with that information, we started to create goEvo with the intention of helping our family and others facing the same problems. We set out to address the root of the problem: the way we think and feel about food and our bodies.

goevo app

goevo app: how it works

Wellness Patterns: How does goEvo work?

Abigail and Amin Mohebbi: Using goEvo is like having a virtual weight loss therapist in your pocket that you can interact with any time to get support and guidance, but less heavy than the real thing! goEvo is really simple to use, it gives honest advice based on science and supports the users when and where they need it.

To build the app, we have used some the best experts on weight loss psychology and mobile technology.

goEvo works by having therapy based conversations. Users simply tap a button on their phone to log their mood at any time and an area of concern they are experiencing, like overeating, cravings, confidence and motivation. It also offers simple practical advice for dealing with difficult situations. Therapy techniques include mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapies, to help users change the way they think and feel about food and their bodies, to change behavior and easily create new healthy habits.

Users are awarded badged for achieving different milestones and there’s also a supplementary food and movement plan to help users get started.

go evo app how it works

Wellness Patterns: Why do you believe in the no diet revolution?

Abigail and Amin Mohebbi: The ‘no diet revolution’ is very simply just based on the best science and expertise that is out there minus all the hype: and marketing from the powerful diet industry. As they say, ‘the truth is out there’ but to get to it, we need to ignore all the other distracting information that doesn’t have our best interest at heart.

Here is why we think in time, most people who currently diet will come to believe in the ‘no diet revolution’, experience it first hand and feel better for it.

Losing fat and keeping it off begins with the mind; we need to rewire the habit forming part of our brain and get away from emotionally triggered eating. The good news is anyone can do it with the right tools and encouragement. That is where goEvo comes in.

For the majority of people, diets don’t work in the long term. Dieters lose weight but eventually gain it back again, and sadly the majority of those will gain back extra weight as well.
It seems to us that the diet industry is a big part of this problem. There’s a whole lot of misinformation that says failed diets are the fault of the dieters, that dieters are somehow weak willed and lacking self-control. This idea is perpetuated because it sells. People go back to diets time and time again believing it was their fault that their diet failed.

I have witnessed first hand that this is completely false. Serial dieters are some of the most motivated and dedicated people I’ve met. The problem is that the approach of restricting food or counting calories is not sustainable in the long term. It’s also ineffective. Losing weight long term is not just about calories in versus calories out.

We’d love to see dieters take back control of their own bodies and build confidence. We love the body positivity movements that are happening as the antithesis to how beauty has typically been portrayed in the media.
If you really think about it, the whole situation about diets is very unfair and wrong. But people are not alone in feeling bad about dieting and most people are willing to pass on their positive experiences and what they have learned to others. That’s why we think goEvo will make a serious positive difference to the lives of many people worldwide who suffer from obesity and related diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and depression.

go evo app logo

Wellness Patterns: What are your plans for the future of the app?

Abigail and Amin Mohebbi: The goEvo app will be launching in the next few months. Naturally we are excited to be part of the ‘no diet revolution’ and we are really looking forward to getting feedback on goEvo and using that feedback to make it better at helping users. We think once people see that something new works well and makes a positive difference to how they feel, they will spread the word and join the ‘no diet revolution’.

We will be delighted to hear feedback from users and learn from their experiences. If anyone is interested to join our beta testing team prior to the official launch of the app, we would love to have them and hear their feedback. They can participate by registering their email on our website at www.goevoapp.com

Check out more about goEvo here: http://goevoapp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/goevo.app/

Books, Exercise

Zen at Home for National Yoga Day

June 21, 2017 No Comments

happy national yoga day with learn to be lean

Happy National Yoga Day! Maybe you found your inner zen at one of the many yoga events around NYC, at a local studio, or in the comfort of your own home. For those in the home category we just discovered Learn To Be Lean: A Yoga Based Approach to Healthy Weight Loss, a fantasic reference to help you hone in on your yoga skills today and pretty much whenever you can. Not only a yoga guide, this book will provide you with the tools and expert skills to live a healthy live–all of which includes tapping into your physical, spiritual and emotional self.

Written by Nutritionist and Trainer Shannon Leavitt, M.S.,R.D., Learn to be Lean features a yoga-based approach to living healthy called the Yogalift. A clear and very specific plan, we loved how this provides a sustainable wellness and holistic plan through practicing yoga, strength training, meditation, and personal reflection to help bring every aspect of being into harmony. Featuring a workbook style guide (summer homework?), the book features very guidelines and personal questions to help you achieve your inner zen as well as provides the tools to losing weight.

This includes a daily action plan with a body-mind spirit journal where you assess your daily meals, movement, sleep and even your intention. The actual yoga part comes in through daily practice, which Leavitt states: “With practice, we become more and more aware of and present in our body.” This section provides tips and insight for staying in the moment during yoga as well as a better understanding of why yoga is so crucial to Leavitt.

A clear guide with real solutions to enable you to live and practice the yogi lifestyle, we love how proved us with the tools to learn how to better embrace wellness and health through self-awareness, physical fitness and spiritual growth.

A must-have for National Yoga Day, and beyond!

We were provided a sample for review. All opinions are our own.

Events, Exercise

Solstice in Times Square: (FREE) Mind Over Madness Yoga

June 2, 2017 No Comments

Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga Presented by Aerie Schedule

What better way to channel your inner zen than amongst thousands of other New Yorkers at the center of the city? Well you can do just that on June 21st for the annual Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga event where you can enjoy free yoga classes all day long, taught by experienced instructors. Read on to check out the complete schedule as well as how to register for some of these awesome yoga classes.

Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga Presented by Aerie Schedule

7:30am – 8:30am: Douglass Stewart
9:30am – 10:30am: Sarah Finger
11:30am – 12:30am: #AerieREAL Empowered Flow with Catherine Gignac
1:30pm – 2:30pm: Bikram Yoga with Jen Lobo and Donna Rubin
3:30pm – 4:30pm: Aditi Shah and Rachel Cohen
5:30pm – 6:30pm: Colleen Saidman Yee and Rodney Yee
7:30pm – 8:30pm: LUNA Deep House Yoga with Lauren Taus and DJ Tasha Blank

While you register, please consider donating to Bent on Learning or Exhale to Inhale, our two NYC-based yoga-related charity partners. Since all Solstice classes are free, consider a donation equal to the amount you would normally pay for a yoga class (ex. $25, $15, $10).

Join the conversation at #SolsticeTSq and mention us @TimesSquareNYC.

Secure your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-solstice-in-times-square-mind-over-madness-yoga-presented-by-aerie-tickets

Books, Exercise

Book Review: Fitter Faster: The Smart Way to Get in Shape in Just Minutes a Day

May 18, 2017 No Comments

fitter faster book

Working out is one of those challenges that we are all trying to figure out. We know that we are supposed to work out but the list of excuses (kids, no time, work, and so on) can rule whether we get our sweat in or not. We have been and are always looking for more ways to making exercise easier while still reaping the benefits. Tall order? Not so much, especially with the release of Fitter Faster: The Smart Way to Get in Shape in Just Minutes a Day, a new book by award-winning health journalist Robert J. Davis, PhD and celebrity fitness trainer Brad Kolowich, Jr, that is designed to provide you with tips to get in shape in as little as 15 minutes a day! Sounds amazing, right?!

We had the privilege of reading through this guide book, soaking in their easy-to-digest tips and step-by-step workout plans that highlight the aerobic, muscle-building, and fat-burning benefits that are similar to—or even greater than—what you’d get from much longer regimens.

This include high-intensity interval gaining, which alternates vigorous and gentler exercises in shorter hurts, with circuit training that works multiple muscles. Not only providing tips to work out your entire body, the book squashes the boredom aspect of working out where you can actually add in some much needed choice and variety to our routine!

Divided into four exercise programs (Get Ready, Get Smart, Get More Out of Exercise, Get Going), you’ll find a plan to help you tackle every aspect of working out. We really loved the Get Smart section that included tips on strength training, stretching and how to increase cardio.

A guide that’s all about shorter, more focused routines, Fitter Faster is a great way to revamp your thinking about working out with a guide that actually makes fitness fun, focused and really convenient!

For more information, please visit: https://fitterfasterplan.com

We were provided with a sample for review. All opinions are our own.

Events, Exercise

Garjana: A New Immersive Dance Workout and Fundraiser in NYC

April 19, 2017 No Comments

Garjana: A New Immersive Dance Workout and Fundraiser in NYC

Looking for a new way to get moving this year? Then you’ve got to check out the new immersive dance workout called Garjana at their upcoming event in NYC that will raise money for Food Tank, a nonprofit focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters.

Garjana: A New Immersive Dance Workout and Fundraiser in NYC

Held on April 26th, this fun event will include a one-hour completely immersive and interactive dance workout experience featuring original music, visuals, props, choreography, and lighting followed by a pop-up farmers’ market with free tastings.

At Garjana, five dancers, all Broadway performers, will lead attendees in easy-to-pick-up and fresh-looking synchronized dance moves, all set to original music and fully immersed in visuals specially created for the event. In addition to the class, participants will see short dance performances by Broadway Bodies, PMT Dance Studio, Liberated Movement and Fit4Dance along with a musical performance from Jambalaya Brass Band.

Garjana: A New Immersive Dance Workout and Fundraiser in NYC

Event partners include: the New York City Food Policy Center, the James Beard Foundation, Edible Manhattan, Edible East End, Edible Brooklyn, GrowNYC, WhyHunger, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Bronx Green Machine, Glynwood, Global Green, Change Food, Food-X, Food Future, NYC Bollywood Funk, Body Conceptions, Broadway Bodies, Dance Cardio Plus, PMT Dance Studio, Banana Skirt Productions, Liberated Movement, Fit4Dance, Jambalaya Brass Band, Where NYC, Stumptown Coffee, Beanitos, Go Raw, GT’s Kombucha, Gluten-Free Bites, Purely Elizabeth, Gotham Greens, Stonyfield, Icelandic Glacial, KIND Snacks, 88 Acres, and Harmless Harvest.

Following the event, participants can nosh and hydrate with a tasting of some of the hottest local brands in the New York City food scene. Rescuing Leftover Cuisine will be doing all food recovery for the event.

Garjana: A New Dance Workout Happy-Hour Movement

WHAT: One hour of interactive dancing (cardio-fitness) led by performers
WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 6:00PM (SHARP) to 7:30PM
WHERE: Highline Ballroom (431 W 16th St, New York, NY 10011)
Participants are encouraged to “dress to sweat” and can purchase tickets ($40 requested donation, $29 early bird pricing till April 20) at Garjana.com. Doors open at 5:30PM. The event begins promptly at 6:00PM and will run roughly for one and a half hours.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garjana-a-new-dance-party-happy-hour-workout-movement-tickets-32140689668

Exercise

Awesome New e-Cargo Bike & Bicycle from Sanitov Studio

April 14, 2017 No Comments

Sanitov Studios: Stylish, Functional and Innovative New Bikes

The start of spring has out and about more often as we soak in those sunshine vibes. This time also inspires us to get involved in more outdoor activities, like biking, and if you’re in the need for a new bicycle we have two cool new options for you from Sanitov Studio. They recently launched a really cool e-cargo bike called the “movE” and a single-speed bicycle called “speeD.”

Founded in 2009 by Danish designer, Alexander Host, Sanitov is rooted in the world of design, which is prevalent in the functionality and minimalism of the movE and the speeD bikes. While they offer two different types of mobility, together they redefine what urban mobility is.

Sanitov Studios: Stylish, Functional and Innovative New Bikes

For moveE, this innovative bike has been developed over a six-year period that is back-loaded and has a concealed, electric motor to assist the user as he/she moves about in the city. The backloaded design – which is also inspired from a classic Chinese load-bike predating the Cultural Revolution – improves navigation and makes it possible to transport heavy goods and even children. movE also has a low turning radius ensures easy and intuitive navigation while the back-loaded design makes navigation safer. The bike has the lowest turning radius on the market.An optional GPS tracker is available for the movE (scheduled for November 2017), which can be super helpful for get around a city as well as to offer a piece of mind with the concern of theft.

Sanitov Studios: Stylish, Functional and Innovative New Bikes

As for the speeD bike, you’ll find an awesome single-speed bike designed with the modern urban dweller in mind. Its simple design and features means that it is easy to maintain, while its clean lines ensure that the owner looks stylish as he/she moves about in the city. The frame is made from high-quality CR-MO steel, making for a stylish but sturdy ride. The 2017 version does not yet feature Sanitov’s GPS chip. However, this is being incorporated in future generations and will be ready for spring 2018.

Check out even more about these innovative bikes in the video, below:

Introducing ‘The MovE’ a cargo-bike by Sanitov Studio from SANITOV on Vimeo.

Exercise, Technology

Sworkit: Cool New Personalized Workout App

April 5, 2017 No Comments

Sworkit: Cool New Workout App

Spring has officially sprung but that doesn’t mean that the weather has been jiving with those much-needed spring vibes. In NYC, this has been a collection of rainy days and cold days that has us longing for the warmer weather. Another annoyance to this dreary situation is how challenging it is to get out and exercise, which can be particularly painful if you’re an outdoor runner (like us). One way that we have been trying to still get our sweat on is by checking out some new fitness apps and online workouts. Not all are the same, and today we are sharing more about the latest fitness app called Sworkit, a personalized video workout where you can have your own personal trainer from over 20 pre-built workouts. Read on to check out more about this fitness app to see if it’s something that could work for you!

Sworkit: Breaking Down the Basics of the App

No equipment necessary: Every exercise is done completely free of equipment. The portability of it allows your Sworkit exercise routine to complete anytime, anywhere.

Follow along in real time: The app makes it easy to follow along with each exercise in your custom playlist. A trainer demonstrates each exercise in real time for Sworkit users to mimic.

Unique custom settings: Sworkit offers many customizable options. Each user can choose an area of focus (strength, cardio, yoga, stretching), and the amount of time that they want their workout to last. The app then compiles a unique exercise playlist to fit its users current needs.

Premium Version: Sworkit Premium provides a new first-of-its-kind feature with their Workout Builder. The Workout Builder gives users the power to filter their workouts by difficulty, category, stance, impact level, and focus area, along with the ability to share their workouts with others. Users are able to build new workouts, customize and save existing workouts, and even import workouts from other programs. A free 7-day trial version is available.

Kid Friendly Version: Sworkit Kids is a great way to keep the whole family moving and healthy, even on those rainy spring days. Much like the regular app, Sworkit Kids allows users to choose an area of focus. Recommended for children 5-14, Sworkit Kids offers fun exercises targeted toward kids like crab walks and ‘tightrope’ walking. The app is meant to help kids develop healthy habits from a young age by showing how fun exercising can be.

For more information, please visit: https://sworkit.com

Exercise, Fashion

SweatStyle: New Boutique Subscription Box Featuring On-Trend, Activewear (and an Interview!)

March 23, 2017 No Comments

SweatStyle subscription box

Activewear has come a long way since its heyday of sweats and oversized t-shirts. Not that we don’t love rocking baggy sweats every now and again, but it’s nice to have fitted and cute options to wear when you break a sweat. Enter an even easier (hooray!) way to get the most trendy, cool activewear without even having to leave your house with SweatStyle, a customized subscription service. How it works is to take a short quiz so that SweatStyle can curate your dream box based on your personality, preferred workout and lifestyle preferences. You can then receive the trendiest, curated fitness apparel every month, every other month or every three months.

This also includes some of the coolest products out there, featuring brands like Terez, Koral, Nux, Vimmia, Yogasmoga, Track & Bliss and more “boutique” premium apparel. The best part, you can adjust your budget to what works best with your wallet’s comfortability without sacrificing on the quality of brands. To learn more about SweatStyle, we chatted with Helena Cawley, the CEO and Founder of SweatStyle and co-founder of Uplift Studios. Read on to learn more about how SweatStyle works and how’s it’s really different from what’s out there.

SweatStyle Interview with Helena Cawley

SweatStyle Interview

Wellness Patterns: How did the idea of SweatStyle come about?

Helena Cawley: I started SweatStyle to help women find the right fitness clothes to suit their workouts, lifestyles and preferences. With the fundamental shift over the last few years in women leading more healthy lives and also wearing athleisure both in and out of the gym, there was a great demand for new and fun clothes to wear for workouts and beyond. The designers were taking notice too; amazing new brands were being launched with hi-tech fabrics, fantastic colors and prints and a diverse range of options for all women across all sizes and workout preferences. Yet there remained a big disconnect between the brands that were producing these wonderful new clothes, and the women who wanted to buy them. Many were very young companies themselves and were hard to find, leaving them wondering where the customers were and the customers wondering if there was anything else out there besides the same old options that they’d been wearing now for a few years. Enter SweatStyle.

It was my vision to create a personalized shopping experience solely focused on fitness clothing. By using information from our customers’ profiles about their workouts and lifestyles, we hand pick the best new styles and brands for each woman. Then we send our selections right to their door and allow a five-day try-on period, so customers are getting convenience, personalization and fashionable fitness clothes that they wouldn’t have otherwise found themselves. When you have a great new outfit to show off, it’s extra motivation to hit the gym, so we’re also helping women lead healthier and more active lifestyles. The old adage is really true: When you look good, you feel good. That’s the fundamental mission of SweatStyle.

Wellness Patterns: How does it work?

Helena Cawley: 1) Customers come to our site and fill out a profile indicating their favorite types of workouts (spin, barre, yoga, etc), their sizing info and their style preferences (do they like big, bold colors or more neutrals, a tight fit or a loose fit?). See the profile here.
2) SweatStyle will curate a box of five items personally for each customer based on her profile.
3) Everything is shipped to her door and she has five days to try it all on and decide what she wants to keep and what to return. She’s only charged for what she keeps.
4) A new shipment automatically arrives every one, two or three months (based on customer’s preferred frequency) with the latest styles, trends and brands on the market.
5) We keep meticulous data on what was kept/returned so that we understand each customer inside and out and can select the perfect items for her that we know she’ll love.

Wellness Patterns: Tell us a little more about Uplift?

Helena Cawley: Uplift is a women-only fitness studio that I co-founded in 2012. The philosophy behind Uplift is rooted in my experience with fitness – that it should help you feel better, not just look better, and that pushing yourself to and past your own goals makes you a stronger and overall person in all aspects of your life. Uplift offers amazing group classes and one-on-one personal training, but what really sets it apart is the community of women that we have cultivated. We spend a lot of time with our clients outside of the workouts discussing careers, breakups, politics, nutrition starting your own business, etc. Uplift had created a network of friends and contacts like I have never seen before. Fitness is at the heart of the business but there is so much more to it and it is such a special place. After spending four years as CEO and Co-Founder of Uplift, I started my company SweatStyle.

Wellness Patterns: How have been finding balancing motherhood and your new company?

Helena Cawley: I don’t know that anyone really feels that they have the “balance” of motherhood and career figured out (if she’s out there – introduce me!). I take it one day at a time and usually I am able to spend a large amount of time on both, but sometimes one has to take priority over the other. I have a great support system that lets me be flexible when I need to be. I have had to sacrifice some other aspects of my life, like spending time with friends and reading for pleasure, but I know that my two main priorities right now are my family and my work and as long as I’m feeling good about both of those, then I’m happy.

Wellness Patterns: What is your advice for women who want to get into the business side of the fitness industry?

Helena Cawley: Talk to as many people as you possibly can as you get started and as you grow. Nobody can do this alone and the more people you connect with, the more ideas you’ll generate, the more help you’ll get, the more relationships you’ll foster, the better your business will be. When we first started Uplift and when I was launching SweatStyle, I tried to meet with new people almost every day to pick their brains or just learn about their experiences. I always left with a new way of thinking or at least another round of practice on perfecting my pitch. It was never a waste of time and more often than not, there was something really valuable that came of it.

Wellness Patterns: What has been the most challenging part of having your own business?

Being my own cheerleader. I’m not the type of person who demands I talk about myself all the time to anyone with an ear, so I sometimes have to force it. There is no one else that is going to get your business noticed or help you grow, so you have to put yourself out there, network and ask for help as much as you can. It’s not easy to do that, especially for women.

For more info about SweatStyle, please visit: https://www.mysweatstyle.com

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