The Humane Rescue Alliance was formed as the merger of two great animal organizations in DC- the Washington Humane Society, and the Washington Animal Rescue League. HRA provides full-service care for an animal from the moment it is brought into the shelter, throughout the adoption process. Even after the pet finds a forever home, owners can continue to come to HRA for help with veterinary care, assistance with behavioral problems, and vaccination or spay/neuter services. On top of this, HRA also provides an animal police force, fighting cruelty against animals in the DC area.

HRA takes in any animal; their shelters on New York Ave and Oglethorpe street have been homes for bunnies, guinea pigs, fish, reptiles, and even pigs! The shelter is always filled with adorable, adoptable pets waiting to find their forever homes.

On May 13th HRA’s Adoption Force One van will be parked outside of MINT, with cats and dogs all available to be adopted and taken home on-site! MINT will also be hosting a series of donation-based fitness classes from 1-4pm. These classes will be first-come-first-serve, and will require a minimum cash donation of $10. Check the MINT schedule for more details about what classes will be available. Just think, you could leave your house for a cycling class, and come home with a new best friend!

Our neighbors Pleasant Pops and Hudson and Crane are also getting in on the fun, and have agreed to donate a portion of their sales from the day to HRA, with every person who mentions the event at check out. Please stop by, grab yourself a treat, pet a puppy, and pop in for a fitness class, all in the name of saving animals!

MINT would like to send a special thank you to all our instructors and staff who volunteered their time to help support this event.

SPIN TO RESTORE DIGNITY
2 Classes at 3PM and 4PM, June 17, MINT DC

Beats Pray Love is venturing into the magical world of spin! Join MINT spin instructors Colleen Daly and Paige Fetzer for an invigorating, body positive spinning class set to LIVE BEATS by Equaniseung. All proceeds from these classes will go to Restore Dignity, a budding national organization dedicated to creating opportunity, fostering personal growth, and restoring the dignity of survivors of sexual violence during their pursuit of higher education. Join us after class to celebrate community over refreshments provided by community partners!

Because bikes are limited, this will be a ticketed event. Reserve your bike for $20, and 100% of the proceeds will go to Restore Dignity.

This is an installation of Beats Pray Love, a community event series bringing together intentional movement, live music, social justice fundraising & education to promote change both personally and on a community level.

Class times on website:
3-3:45PM – Class #1 with Colleen
4-4:45PM – Class #2 with Paige

One of the best things about teaching at MINT is the studio. There is plenty of light and plenty of space to walk around between bikes, so it’s easy for an instructor to quickly identify and address a problem. But there still things that can freak us out.

1. Your long, untied, dangly shoelaces.
   No joke, I just rescued a rider last week whose shoelaces came untied during class and wrapped around the pedal crank. Luckily the rider wasn’t harmed, and the laces weren’t tangled up so tightly that we had to cut the laces to free her foot. Keep those laces tied, or better yet, buy some clip in shoes.
2. All. The. Bouncing.
   If you remember your first spin class, you know what I mean. Bouncing up and down on the saddle when the resistance is too low and your cadence is too high. Bouncing side to side to the music out of the saddle so hard you feel like you might tip over on your bike. Bouncing forward with so much energy that you nearly go over your handlebars. Add resistance. Stay in control. There should be natural movement in your body. Fight that bounce.
3. That empty space where your water bottle should be.
   You may feel well hydrated, MINT has fans and in-studio units that help keep us cool and dry, but you may need that water. Your morning coffee might leave you feeling a little dehydrated, the studio can get steamy, or maybe an extra-long hill climb will leave you feeling extra thirsty. You can always leave to grab a sip of water, but it’s just easier to have that water bottle right there when you need it.

I bet you assumed that leaving early freaks us out. It depends.

If you know you have to leave early to get to your next appointment on time, or if you’re not feeling 100% but you still want ride, please just let us know. We know what it feels like to come back after a week with the flu, or the morning after The Big Game and all the chips and beer. Maybe pick a bike near the back of the room and give us a smile and wave as you leave so that your instructor knows that you are ok.

If you need to leave early because you are really not feeling well (weak, dizzy, dehydrated, nauseated), get off that bike and take care of yourself. The MINT team will be ready to get you the help you need.

You can Le Freak like Chic or Get UR Freak On like Missy, but don’t go freaking out your spin instructor.

By: MINT Cycle Instructor Nikki Mueller

Dance Fitness Day at MINT Dupont was a success.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come out 🙂

On Saturday, May 6 MINT is offering a MINT Marathon ride from 9:00am-10:30am. The first 45 minutes will be the regularly scheduled MINT Ride, and then the marathon crew will do another 45-minute endurance ride to get to 26.2 miles. Sound fun? Sound crazy? Sound like the challenge you’ve been looking for?

Here’s what to expect:

Before

• If you plan to marathon, be sure to register early for class.
• Wear your most comfortable, sweat-wicking clothes.
• Bike shoes and shorts are strongly recommended.
• Bring a water bottle AND a bottle of electrolytes.
• Get plenty of sleep and avoid any foods & beverages that may upset your stomach the next morning. Go ahead and carb load!
• Eat breakfast. Banana peanut butter toast the Breakfast of Champions.
• Arrive early to get your bike set up, monitor customized, PIQ activated.

During

• The ride will likely take 90 minutes total.
• The first 45 minutes of class will be a normal MINTRIDE class with surges, climbs, sprints, and intervals.
• In the second half of class, we will settle into a steady endurance pace.

Note to Self: You already do 12-16 miles in a normal 45-minute MINT Ride class. Another 10.2 miles won’t kill you, but it will be a serious challenge. Together, we can do this!

• We will have multiple instructors to coach, cheer, and help us all ride as one MINT Marathon team. Bring that positive energy!
• You may experience any pain in your feet, muscle cramping, chafing from your heart rate monitor strap, so try to plan ahead or prepare yourself to carefully and closely monitor your level of discomfort.
• You may absolutely get off the bike during the ride to use the restroom, change your socks, stretch out your legs.

After

• You will be an exhausted, sweaty mess. Pack clean comfortable clothes, fresh socks and/or your favorite flip-flops.
• Your muscles will be inflamed and sore. Please stretch, and consider foam rolling, taking a bath in Epsom salts, or taking an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and stiffness.
• Pack a snack. You’ll likely burn upwards of 1,000 calories. Snacks, snacks, snacks. And then maybe a big lunch and a nap!

Tempted? Have questions? Have a favorite song you want us to play, or a drill you really want to do? Come chat to Nikki on Saturdays or message me on Twitter @NikkiMueller!
By: MINT Cycle Instructor, Nikki Mueller

Class Package sale at MINT

Start off with a discounted class package
20 classes $420 $349 (save $71) Promo code: 20pack Get it >>
10 classes $230 $169 (save $61) Promo code: 10pack Get it >>

Purchase promotion expires April 22, 2017;limit 2 packages per person