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How to Prepare for your first Power Playground Class!

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Never taken a Power Playground class but always wanted to try?
Intensity Director Roger Mack has some tips to make sure you’re prepared for your first class!

1) Do some Research before heading to a Power Playground Class so that you know what to expect. Understand what the class entails so that you have proper form to prevent against injuries.

2) Make sure you hydrate before class. You want to be hydrated enough to perform at your optimum best.

3) Fuel up before class! you want to eat something at least an hour before class. This will help avoid getting nauseous and gives you energy to power through the class. Avoid too much fat or fiber, which can upset your stomach while your’re working out.

4) Always introduce yourself to the instructor and let them know if you have any injuries or limitations before class starts.

5) Arrive 15 minutes early to class so that you are comfortable.

6) Listen to your body! Your trying something brand new so modify before trying to master a move or technique instantly.

7) Remember to Have FUN!

By: MINT Instructor Roger Mack

MINT Open House

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We are hosting an Open House weekend April 14 & 15. Bring your friends and family to tour the facility, drop in for a free class, and get to know some of our community partners! We will have exclusive offers this weekend only so don’t miss out!

Saturday, April 14: MINT Studios (1346 Florida Ave NW | Washington, DC 20009) noon-3pm
Sunday, April 15: MINT Dupont (1724 California St. NW | Washington, DC 20009) noon-3pm

Free Class Schedule:

4/14 – MINT Studio
Power Playground 1-1:30pm
Coach by Color Technology Cycle 2-2:30pm

4/15 – MINT Dupont
Power Playground 12-12:30pm
Cycle 12-12:30pm

New Class Reservation Policy

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Dear MINT Members,

We have updated our class reservation standards to further encourage pre-registration. We’ve done this for a few reasons.

First, to maintain our general sustainability, we must run classes which actually have attendees! Being a progressive company, we are always exploring and trying new classes- some hit and some miss. Our new policy encourages pre-registration, which gives us maximum accurate information as to a class’s success rate.

Second, to maintain the resources to continue bringing you fresh programming (as well as maintaining awesome gyms), it’s our due diligence to not run classes to an empty room. Along with the new policy, more classes with extremely low or no registered attendees will be cancelled prior to class starting. This allows us to continue a weekly class that may have spotty attendance vs cancelling it altogether.

Lastly, related to above, most people don’t want to be in class alone; including instructors. The market for great instructors is very competitive; maintaining the best requires giving them active classes to lead.

We have zero interest in charging class related fees; that’s never been our business model and it’s not now. Please reserve with intent and cancel when you need.

Class Standards

  • Class bookings and personal training appointments at MINT may be canceled or rescheduled when appropriate advance notice is given.
  • You will be charged $5 for cancellations given within 6 hours of class start time. No-shows will be charged $13. Please try to notify us if your schedule changes so we can alert our instructors and make room for additional guests
  • Please note that individual class occurrences without adequate registrations are subject to cancellation
  • When reserving a spot for a non-member buddy, book yourself twice (note: computer only, cannot be double booked via MINT app). You are responsible for both yours and your buddies reservations per standard policies
  • To change a class reservation or training appointment, use our app or log into your MindBodyOnline account.

We Thank you for being a valued MINT member!

Meet Gina Burd, our Member of the Month!

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I joined Mint in September when I moved here from Boston. My favorite part about Mint is that it is a non-judgmental and friendly community. When I first joined, I was recovering from an achilles tendon injury that prevented me from having a consistent exercise routine. My initial goal was to increase my strength and endurance, and now, six months later I even lost 30 pounds. I take Barre and POP Pilates classes with Kathryn and find her enthusiasm very contagious. Timea’s Pilates classes are challenging and so “Zen”. Both instructors have different approaches and both have really contributed to improving my overall health. I’m very grateful!

Yoga Pose of the Month: Savasana

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By: MINT Yoga Instructor Bonnie Foote

Savasana might be the most important yoga pose that we do. It looks deceptively simple, but lying flat on the floor gives your body ideal feedback for maintaining neutral, healthy posture. It helps to reverse car-computer-couch slouch, bringing your spine, neck and shoulders into healthy alignment. A good long Savasana is also crucial for calming and regulating the nervous system–and, once you start delving into the meditative aspects of yoga practice, for calming the mind itself. Because of Savasana’s unique potential for supporting mental balance, some teachers will remind you that it may seem like the easiest yoga pose to do… but it’s also the hardest! Taking Savasana seems as easy as breathing, but like the breath, it can take a lifetime to fully explore.

If your low back feels tight or sore during Savasana, try adding a blanket roll under your knees–or, for the deluxe version, stack up blocks and blankets under your lower legs as if you had them up on an ottoman. You can also play with legs up the wall (a.k.a. Viparita Karani)—taking Savasana against a wall with your legs elevated, which is very calming for the nervous system. For another calming variation on Savasana, try lying belly down; if you like you can add a short stack of blankets under your torso, from just above your hip bones to the top of your head. You might listen to meditations or Yoga Nidra, you might focus on relaxing one part of the body (try the space between your eyebrows, your temples, or the base of your thumbs where they meet the hands), or you might just notice your shifting bodily sensations or the waves of your breath. In any case–enjoy! And know that, lazy as you look, you’re actually receiving all of the benefits of one of the most powerful yoga practices out there. Namaste.

Now Hiring for Outreach Director

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Posted March 16, 2018

Outreach Director

MINT is seeking a dynamic and driven individual who excels at external promotion, networking, sales, and creating and maintaining relationships. Required attributes include strong organizational skills, sales/marketing background, an engaging personality and interpersonal skills, cold-calling skills, and ability to stay calm and focused on lead targets and overall goals.

Primary responsibilities are:

1.Lead creation: Personally engaging local retail, apartment, business, and pedestrians to facilitate both individual sales leads and organizational/corporate sales leads
2. Ambassador team management: Lead and manage MINT’s team of about 20 Ambassadors within their roles in outreach.

This is a permanent part time position with flexible hours of 15 to 20 weekly. There is excellent opportunity for advancement, but advancing is not a requirement. Qualified individual is able to work a mix of some partial weekday days, some evenings, and some weekends, all on a very flexible schedule. MINT owners will direct outreach focus areas depending on company needs; for instance the first 4 to 6 months of the position will be entirely devoted to creating leads for the new MINT Studio.

Lead Creation: 12 to 15 hours weekly
● Create meaningful engagement of the surrounding community by connecting with local organizations and residential population to drive leads to the MINT facilities, utilizing free trial offers, group discounts, special group classes, team-building activities at MINT, co-branded events, etc.
● Legwork, cold-calling, multiple follow up, personal meetings, and relationship building and management
● Create relationships with local organizations:

○ Retail and restaurant: Identify and execute ways to connect with their customers, setup co-branded events, gain their company’s participation in MINT corporate memberships

■ Within 30 days: five or more meetings
■ Next 30 days: eight or more additional meetings
■ Following 30 days: ten or more additional meetings

○ Apartment and condo buildings: connect with residential manager; arrange table events, co-branded events, flyers for inside individual apartments, and other mediums to reach residents.

■ Within 30 days: five or more meetings
■ Next 30 days: five or more additional meetings
■ Following 30 days: five or more additional meetings

○ Local offices: connect with decision makers to gain their company’s participation in MINT corporate memberships

■ Within 30 days: five or more meetings
■ Next 30 days: five or more additional meetings
■ Following 30 days: five or more additional meetings

○ Specific efforts to connect with members at WeWork at Manhattan Laundry
○ Other organizations identified by Outreach Director and others

● Personally follow up with leads created from events

 Internal Sales

● A limited scheduled internal facility sales role of 3 to 6 hours most weeks will help build team camaraderie and maximize information flow (note that lead follow-up work can be accomplished during some of the sales hours). This internal sales role can likely be scaled down after two to four months.

Ambassador Team Manager, 2 to 5 hours weekly:
This role is primarily organization and overall leadership. Note that the hours are in relation to management of the team, and will be spread out.
● Leadership:

○ Lead MINT’s ambassador team by providing leadership and communication
○ Lead by example; show the team personally how to do outreach effectively
○ Leverage the team with the personal outreach role to plug Ambassadors into events and follow up
○ Hold each individual accountable
○ Provide individual and team incentives
○ Be the primary POC for the team, field requests and inquiries
○ Field requests from partners and potential partners

● Logistics and organization

○ Hold quarterly launch meetings
○ Organize and send ambassador team updates
○ Personally participate in select events
○ Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard two to five new ambassadors quarterly
○ Create and manage calendars for outreach
○ Decide which ambassadors are being invited back each quarter

○ Tracking:

■ Points earned throughout each quarter, and calculate cash bonus rewards
■ Partner perks
■ General productivity
■ Update ambassador staff list

Position reports directly to MINT owner Patrick John, and works in collaboration with facility General Managers, Marketing Director, and others as needed.

Compensation is $25,000 annually
Apply to: Patrick@mintdc.com
Performance review after first 60 days will be based on observed leads created