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Core Bosu Blast: A New Fun Way to Engage Your Core 

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MINT strives to offer our members innovative ways of improving their workout experience. We love introducing new classes to challenge your fitness and push you to expand your exercise comfort zone. Mixing up your workouts helps balance the types of exercise your body undergoes, activating new and different muscles, while also engaging your brain as you learn new movements. 

One of the newest classes on the schedule is Core Bosu Blast, taught by Tali Israeli. If you love Tali’s Slow Burn Sculpt classes, check out this new core-focused offering. Using the versatile BOSU ball, this class focuses on strengthening and toning your core muscles while also improving balance and coordination. Designed for all fitness levels, this fun, high-energy workout combines functional movements and targeted exercises using the BOSU ball to challenge your muscles, build a strong foundation, and enhance stability. You will definitely feel the burn as you transform your core! 

The BOSU ball, the primary piece of equipment for this class, is similar to an inflatable stability ball but about half the size and with a flat, hard plastic bottom. It is often used in balance exercises, and can be used with either the round or flat side up. It not only helps improve coordination, but also agility and strength. 

If your 2025 goals include getting a six-pack or simply improving your overall posture and strength, MINT offers three core-focused classes: Core Bosu Blast, Core Circuit, and MINTCore (a shorter, 25-minute class). Try them all, and let us know which is your favorite! 

BOSU Core Blast

Master Your Barre Practice: Breaking Down Barre Workshop with Audrey

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Whether you’re new to barre or a seasoned participant looking to refine your form, our 90-minute Breaking Down Barre workshop is designed to help you move with confidence and control. Join Audrey on Saturday, April 19th at 1:15 PM for an interactive session that breaks down the fundamentals of barre, ensuring you get the most out of every class.

Breaking Down Barre Workshop with Audrey

What to Expect

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll:
✅ Perfect Your Form – Learn how to engage your muscles effectively for a full-body workout.
✅ Customize Your Movements – Discover modifications and advancements tailored to your needs.
✅ Ask Questions in a Supportive Space – Gain clarity on technique, posture, and positioning.
✅ Receive 1-on-1 Coaching from Audrey – Get personalized feedback to enhance your practice.

This workshop is an opportunity to build strength, deepen your understanding of barre, and feel empowered in every movement—whether you’re stepping up to the barre for the first time or looking to level up.

🔗 Spots are limited! Reserve your spot on the MINT schedule.

Your Body on Exercise

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We know that exercise has many health benefits, including simply making you feel good. But what exactly happens in your body when you start exercising? Here’s a breakdown on how your body responds to moderate-to-intense movement. 

Myke Nicholson Intensity Class
  1. Heart rate increases 

The first thing you might notice when you begin moving – even in small amounts – is an increase in your heart rate. Sometimes this can happen even before you start exercising, an effect called an “anticipatory increase.” This is caused by a stress hormone that gets your body ready for more movement. As your workout continues, this process escalates. Heart rate typically rises by 20 to 50 beats per minute during exercise. 

  1. Blood pumping 

As your heart rate increases, blood pressure also rises, and the combination of the two leads to greater blood flow. Your body then directs that blood towards your muscles, providing them the oxygen and nutrients needed to adapt and grow with increased exercise. 

  1. Breathing intensifies 

One of the most noticeable effects of exercise is harder and quicker breathing. With especially intense exercise, you might feel burning or tightness in your chest. When you exercise, you increase your body’s need for oxygen because it’s working harder – therefore, your lungs need to take in more oxygen, which results in faster, harder breathing. 

  1. Brain boost 

You receive mental benefits within minutes of beginning exercise, as your brain becomes activated in the “priming stage.” This happens due to the above factors: increased heart rate, blood flow to muscles, and oxygen intake. The mood boosting side effects can include better focus and alertness, an adrenaline-fueled energy burst, and eventually, a calming effect as you settle into exercise. 

Sometimes getting started can be the hardest part of your workout, and now you can see why! But these bodily reactions set you up for peak performance and long-term better health. 

What sensations do you experience when you work out? Do you relate to the above responses, or do you feel other effects? 

MINT’s Enhanced Membership Access System | Next Level Member Access is Coming!

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MINT members will soon enjoy more convenient and more secure access to the club with facial recognition technology. Please see this post for additional FAQs.

We have meticulously researched the best overall solution for our new front door security system. While there may never be a ‘perfect’ answer to security challenges, our upcoming facial recognition system is designed to be streamlined: you walk up, and you walk in; it’s that simple, it even checks you in for the gym/class!  Our chosen security company offers the most robust modern digital security available, serving over 30 million users and over 55,000 commercial and government partners globally. They are a vetted, reputable partner of mindbodyonline, another global organization, and the software we have been using for over 10 years for member and billing information. We are working to possibly provide an alternative access method, which will carry an extra fee and be less convenient.

At MINT, we constantly strive to enhance your experience in every way possible. With this change, our staffing and service levels will remain at the high standards you have come to expect. This system is being implemented in response to recent security issues (noting that we haven’t experienced any issues in months). As we have posted recently, MINT, being an open-access environment, is no exception to issues across DC and most cities, such as ‘smash and grabs’ involving individuals and groups trespassing, ignoring staff, and stealing items that were left unlocked. While there has never been a direct threat to safety within MINT, theft is unacceptable. We have been working closely with the police to address these incidents.  Please remember to lock your personal items in our provided key-free lockers.

We eliminated all third-party guest partnerships, such as ClassPass, earlier this year to maximize members’ value, which was unrelated to any security concerns. Following the recent incidents, we also eliminated all drop-in options, including paid guests, and increased our vetting process for membership trials. FLEXGuest continues: info on that program here.

These changes come with substantial costs for us, including lost revenue, increased expenses, fewer new-member inquiries, and heavier workloads for many staff. However, we are always planning for the long term and know these changes will ultimately benefit everyone and increase the value of being a member. We will continue to work hard for you through all aspects of your experience with us.

We love our community and our city. Theft and trespassing are destructive to physical property and attempt to dismantle our peace of mind and sense of security. We are committed to enhancing the safety and quality of our environment for our members and staff. We believe that implementing these new measures will help us maintain a safe and peaceful experience for everyone. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this transition.

Thank you for being a valued member of the MINT community.

Bresni Maldonado GM at MINT Gym Studio
Bresni Maldonado | MINT General Manager

For more information or further questions, email: Bresni@mintdc.com.

Remodeling construction update!

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GREAT news! As of March 24, the current phase of remodeling work is complete!  The men’s and women’s showers and saunas, and the men’s lockers, are all new.  

The women’s locker area will be rebuilt in mid-May; we have planned this night work to cause no disruption to your daily routine. 

Thanks for your patience and support as we continuously work to improve your MINT experience!

Class Pass Returning to MINT

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After much consideration, we’re excited to share that MINT is now welcoming ClassPass guests again on a limited and trial basis. This decision was made thoughtfully, with systems in place to ensure our valued members remain our top priority.

We’ve collaborated closely with ClassPass to manage guest access carefully. Availability will be limited and fully at MINT’s discretion, and many classes will continue to be reserved exclusively for members. Rest assured, our system prioritizes members, guaranteeing you always have the first opportunity to secure your spot.

The decision to reintroduce ClassPass on a trial basis comes with benefits for everyone. The added resources will allow us to continue investing in our community—paying our instructors more, enhancing the energy in classes, and supporting improvements and new offerings to keep MINT thriving.

Thank you for being the heart of MINT! Here’s to even more growth and connection in 2025.