5 Creative Ways to Stay Active During the Holidays
1. If you’re staying in DC, check out an indoor neighborhood pool. 2. Play with the kids! Got cousins, nieces and nephews? Put them to work!- Play TAG! volunteer to be “IT” for a few rounds and see how many steps you can rack up.
- Everyone (read: kiddos) love a good human jungle gym! Get low, offer piggy back rides and superman flights (Note: Some height and weight restrictions may apply!)
- Every time you get asked an awkward question, do 5 pushups. (You know what we’re talking about! “When will you two get married?” “No kids yet?” “Do you really need another glass of egg nog?” and on, and on, and on….)
- Every time you go to a retail store, do 5 burpees
- Every time you hear a child crying, do 5 squats
- Every time you get asked, “Did you eat yet?” do a 60-second plank
- Every time you meet a new relative (baby, spouse, distant cousin…), do 5 jumping jacks
- Every time you go to a bar, 50 crunches
Enjoy the upcoming holiday season – no matter what you’re celebrating!
Now introducing [Small Group] classes at MINT.
Classes will launch January 9!
- Squat Basics (Levels 1 and 2)
- Cycle Class Basics
- Yoga Basics
- Foam Rolling Fundamentals
- Bench Press Basics
- Barre Fundamentals
- Power Playground Fundamentals
- The Perfect Pushup
- Core Workout Basics
[Small Group] classes will start in January
and are included with all class-access memberships.
Meet featured MINT member, Shaila!
MINT member since:
April 2016
Which MINT location is your favorite?
MINT Dupont
Favorite type of exercise?
Strength training, yoga, pilates, barre, dance cardio, cycling, playing sports, swimming
What is your favorite exercise?
Hiking with the dog
What is your favorite group fitness class at MINT? Why?
Barre-Lates! But also love the theme-ride spinning classes (Calvin Harris vs Taylor Swift? Keep em coming!!)
Who is your favorite MINT trainer/instructor/concierge and why?
Everyone has been great.
What motivates you to hit the gym and stay healthy?
I’m seeing results! After years sitting at my desk, working 14-hr days and living on takeout, I made a commitment to take better care of myself, and my MINT membership is a huge part of that. I deserve this. I need this.
Why do you love MINT?
It’s a great gym – never too crowded, clean (this is impt), nice vibe, interesting classes and very convenient for me. All this helps make it a good habit.
Disclaimers: Consult a doctor before beginning an exercise regime. Never force a pose. Stop if you feel pain or intense discomfort. Yoga is meant to be yummy. I love vinyasa yoga and I am obsessed with good alignment. This obsession doesn’t stem from a need for perfection, which would be very “un-yoga-like” of me, but from a passion for protecting the body from injury. Most bodies can safely practice yoga on a daily basis, but maintaining sound alignment is essential to your physical wellbeing. In this series, I will break down some common poses—explaining how to stay safe and fully enjoy each posture. Finally, remember to BREATHE consistently while practicing yoga to receive the full benefits of the practice … otherwise, you’re just stretching in Sanskrit. Today’s pose is Tree Pose, or Vrksasana.Keep it up, Shaila! You’re serious #MondayMotivation.
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Tree Pose, Vrksasana
- Stand in tadasana at the top of your mat.
- Bend the right leg, and place the foot at the left ankle, calf, or upper thigh. Never rest the foot directly on the knee.
- Raise your arms towards the sky. Shoulders roll up and down the spin, away from the ears. Shoulder blades come together at the midline.
- Arms slightly externally rotate, meaning that palms begin to face towards the back of the mat.
- Hip points should face out equally in front of you, and your bent knee should extend towards the right.
- Release any unnecessary tension in your neck and face.
- For a challenge, try balancing while closing your eyes, and/or gently swaying your arms like a tree in the wind.
- After you are done, try the pose on the other side to even out the body.
Ashley Binetti received her 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training at Saraswatis’s Yoga Joint in Norwalk, CT in 2011. Her favorite pose is Triangle. When she’s not doing yoga, Ashley works as a nonprofit attorney. She is also a MINT Ambassador.
The INTENSITY studio at MINT Dupont is finally here! After months of planning and a Thanksgiving holiday full of renovations – the studio is ready for use!
Check out renovation photos here and sign up for a class to check it out for yourself!
Meet Featured MINT member, Julia B!
Featured MINT Member, Julia B.
January 2016
Which MINT location is your favorite?MINT Dupont
Favorite type of exercise?Running, swimming, strength training, yoga, cycling, triathlons, p90x
What is your favorite exercise?Deadlifts
What is your favorite group fitness class at MINT? Why?PowerPlayground because it opens my eyes to exercises I wouldn’t have normally pursued. Plus, every workout is different so it constantly keeps you guessing what’s next.
Who is your favorite MINT trainer/instructor/concierge and why?Paige Fetzer because she gave me advice about my first triathlon and always managed to check in on how I was doing! It would be wrong of me, however, if I didn’t give a special shout out to Dru Ryan, Liz Harvey, and James Parker Ashley for teaching classes that are sure to leave me humbled, sore, and inspired.
What motivates you to hit the gym and stay healthy?There’s nothing more satisfying than setting a long-term goal and achieving it. I’m passionate about endurance racing not only because it tests my mental and physical limits, but it’s something for me to focus on outside of work and all the stress that comes with it.
Why do you love MINT?The diversity and number of MINT classes make it so accessible for journalists like me who operate on crazy schedules.
Keep rockin’ it, Julia! You’re #MondayMotivation for us all!
One of the most commonly asked fitness questions around this time of the year is, ‘how do I stay on track during the holidays?’ Well, I would have two general answers for that.Want to be featured? Fill out this form!
First, don’t beat yourself up about it. All the MINT members I know are working hard every day; at the office, the gym, daily lives. So, allowing your body (and mind) to rest and recover while enjoying the holidays isn’t a bad thing!
Secondly, don’t go into the holidays with an ‘all or nothing’ mentality. Don’t think that since you can’t make it to an hour of Power Playground, there is no point in working out. Just getting up and moving, like taking a walk after a meal will benefit you.
So, I’ve written this blog post for those with the motivation to shake off that food coma and get in a workout with my ‘Take PlyoFit Home With You’ workout that is modeled after my Monday night PlyoFit class, accommodated for at home with no equipment.
Below are 3 circuits, complete each circuit two times through – and stick to the appropriate rest times, get that heart rate up!
Circuit 1:
- Jumping Lunges – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Wide Leg Mountain Climber – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Push Ups – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Inchworm – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Repeat!
- Power Jack – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Side Lunges – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Side to Side plank – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Plank Up Down – 45 seconds
- Repeat!
- Squat Jump – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Glute Bridge – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- V-Push Up – 45 seconds
- 15 seconds rest
- Bicycles – 45 seconds
- Repeat!
Paige Fetzer is our Cycle Director extraordinaire. She also teaches PlyoFit, MINTfuze and cycle at MINT.
MINT (and master pilates instructor, Karla Adams) is hosting a “Pilates for Chronic Pain Management” Workshop on December 4th.
About the workshop:
WHEN: Sunday, December 4, from 4-5:30pm
Register (and pay in advance) here!
If you’re anything like me, your Thanksgiving countdown has officially begun. While spending time with family & friends, and being grateful for what we have is a joyous and wonderful part of the holiday – we all know that we’re all so excited for the food!
Thanksgiving is that time of year when many people love to let their walls down – piling massive amounts of food onto our plates, taking a quick power nap, and then doing it all again. And while this is incredibly satisfying, and can be totally acceptable – wouldn’t you feel a little better knowing there are healthier meal alternatives to some of your favorite dishes.
Here is a list of some delicious, unique and healthier options for making stuffing for this holiday season. Just because you are creating a healthier option, does not mean you are sacrificing taste. This may make you feel even less guilty going up for those seconds, thirds, or leftovers the next day. So check it out, and amaze all of your family and friends at your upcoming Thanksgiving or potluck event!
Melanie Rubin is a Physical Therapist in DC and a group fitness instructor at MINT.
“You don’t get better when you workout – you get better by recovering from a workout.”
As a physical therapist in the DC area, I often get asked about foam rolling and its benefits. Various beliefs exist regarding the benefits of foam rolling from both anecdotal and research perspectives. Based on personal and patient experiences, I believe foam rolling can be influential on altering an individual’s pain, and therefore, giving that person the opportunity to move.
This article gives a great description as to why foam rolling can be beneficial, and also provides, various techniques and positions for which it can be used. Take a look and try it out!
