CLASSPASS Month in Review – October & November

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As you may remember, three months ago Bo and I decided to give ClassPass a try after hearing wonderful things about it, realizing the two of us could leverage it together and a positive month long trial back in July.

Each month I will provide a brief recap of our experience including the number of classes taken, average cost per class and a brief recap of the studios where we sweat that month. In addition, if you’re on CLASSPASS feel free to follow my fitness schedule here. I love meeting readers so if you see me in a class, please say hello! If you want to check out my recap from Month 1 click here.

Month 2: October 20- November 19th

Number of classes taken: 13

Number of studios visited: 8

Number of classes missed or late cancelled: 0

Average cost per workout based on NYC rate of $125 per month: $9.65

Considering that I spent six days traveling for business or races, I am thrilled with the number of classes I took the first month. Of these classes, nine of them were early morning classes taken with Bo before work. On a typical day I take the subway into Manhattan with him for a 6 AM class somewhere in Flatiron or Chelsea. Once class is over he’ll shower at the studio and head to work while I’ll quickly hop back on the subway towards Brooklyn.

Keep in mind, while Bar Method Brooklyn is a ClassPass studio, I use their registration tool and the membership as part of our partnership versus registering on ClassPass. If you include that, then there would be an additional seven classes and one studio added to the below list, which would of course reduce the average cost even more.

As you can see from the below, last month I didn’t do as much yoga, but still mixed things up with lots of cross training especially after the half marathon on November 7th.

Last Month’s Classes

The Distance at Mile High Run Club (3)

I’ve professed my love of Mile High multiple times (full review here) but only recently did I begin taking their distance classes. The distance class is 60 minutes of running, and is therefore designed specifically for the advanced runner or athlete who is looking for a challenge. The 60 minute class isn’t for the feign of heart as it includes 50 minutes of non-stop running including hills and speed work. During the three classes I covered an average of 5.5 miles per class, which included race simulations, sprints and hill work. I highly recommend class with Luke or Michael who each teach a handful of distance classes per week. If you are new to Mile High or running, the Dash 28 class with Andia Wilson is also a great option!

Lotus Hour at Laughing Lotus  

When I lived in Gramercy, I used to frequent Laughing Lotus with Theodora. This class, which I took with five other blogger friends, reminded me why I frequented the studio. It is conveniently located in Chelsea, has classes almost every hour, their classes tend to be challenging but motivating, and the warm studio means that by the end of the 60 minute class you are drenched in sweat. The only downside to this studio is the changing area which is tight, crowded and steamy.

Row House Full Body 45 at Row House Chelsea (2)

Rowing is a wonderful, low-impact workout which can supplement any workout plan. While I’ve taken classes at CityRow, Row House is the first rowing workout in NYC that truly reminded me of the rowing practices Bo and I sweat through in high school. The Full Body 45 class is a 45-minute class which includes a 5 minutes of rowing drills to warm-up, 15 minutes of rowing intervals and sprints, 5-10 minutes of strength work, another 15 minutes of rowing intervals and sprints, followed by a short cooldown. The class is perfect for people of all abilities as each person controls the speed or intensity at which they row. Scott is our favorite instructor, constantly motivating students while correcting form and ensuring that everyone is pushing themselves. For those who need to sweat and then dash to work, the Row House Chelsea location includes a small, but nice locker room featuring two showers, blow dryers and toiletries where you can get ready for work or date night.

Fly 45 at Flywheel (2)

Historically, I’ve had a love hate relationship with Flywheel. I love that the studio provides water, spin shoes, towels and healthy snacks with the cost of every class. But, I have had one too many sub-par teachers who don’t inspire or push me during class. Luckily, last month, Bo discovered two teachers (Josh Arden and Johnny De Triquet) who merged challenging classes with awesome, upbeat playlists. Now that we’ve discovered these teachers, we’ll more than likely use our 3 classes per month allowance since they have 5:30 or  6 AM classes daily.

Flow and Restore at Area Yoga

I’m a huge fan of the Area Yoga studio in Carroll Gardens due to the hands on approach to teaching, airy second floor studio and proximity to our house. This class included 40 minutes of strong, power yoga which left me sweating but then flowed into a relaxing 30 minute sequence of restorative poses. I was so relaxed by the end that I fell asleep during legs up the wall. Make sure to bring your mat and towels to this no-frills studio as it’s $2 to rent.

All Levels 75 Min Flow at Brooklyn Yoga Project

Nestled in a Carroll Gardens brownstone, this studio is small but mighty. Featuring just one studio space and a small entry area, they squeeze in average of seven power yoga classes per day. I joined three of my girlfriends who live in Brooklyn and are ClassPass addicts for this 75 Minute Flow on a Sunday morning and left the class drenched in sweat, exhausted and refreshed. While the class is open to all level students, I would recommend it for intermediate to advanced students as it was a challenging class even though the instructor’s adjustments and support made it inspiring and manageable. The Sunday morning class was packed to the brim, meaning that at points I thought the person in front of me was going to kick me during the moves and transitions. Make sure to bring your own mat and towel as this studio charges for both.

Signature Fhix at Fhitting Room (2)

I think I screamed with glee the day I received the ClassPass email stating that Fhitting Room was now an affiliated studio. Bo and I love the 50-minute high intensity classes which pair two instructors with a class of 20-25 students for a sweat inducing good time. The music is always perfectly on point, motivating and pushing us while the instructors lead the group through functional movements such as lunges, burpees and squats followed by strength training with kettle bells and finally high intensity exercises including rowing machines, ski-ergs and box jumps. The atmosphere is one of the most supportive I’ve felt and it is a great starting place for people who want to learn more about functional training and using items like boxes and kettlebells as the instructors adjust students during class. The dual instructor model means that there is always someone watching you! The studio offers showers, lockers, towels and water.

45 Minute Metrics at Peloton

After a solid first experience, Bo and I decided to give Peloton a second try due to the fact that they have lots of classes on their daily schedule, feature one of the nicest locker rooms for post workout showers and we’d heard a great deal about their bikes. This 6 AM class did not disappoint and we loved the instructor, Hannah M Corbin, who motivated me with her six pack abs and infectious smile. The Peloton classes are all streamed live so Peloton bike owners can follow along at home. This creates a different dynamic as the instructor is at times motivating and coaching the class while other times she’s giving props to the riders at home. Regardless, we both agreed that we’d return to this studio because the bikes were the best we’ve ridden on – smooth, easy to read computers and easily adjusted. The gorgeous studio greets clients with complimentary spin shoes, water and towels which make things easy in addition to a spacious locker room which features all the essentials!

Your turn: If you’re a NYC local, what are your favorite studios? Where should I sweat next? 

This post is not compensated nor requested of me via CLASSPASS. While it does contain affiliate links, as a CLASSPASS affiliate, I only receive a small compensation if you choose to purchase a CLASSPASS membership. 

 

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A Flawless Look in Just Minutes

Bo and Ashley Toronto

If you follow along on Instagram or Snapchat, then you saw that we enjoyed a quick 30-hour trip together in Toronto this weekend. Since Bo needed to be there for Friday meetings, it was easy for me to fly up Friday morning, work remotely from the hotel and then enjoy Friday night and Saturday in the city together.

We posted the above picture online Friday night, while enjoying the views from one of Toronto’s landmarks, the CN Tower. A couple of people immediately commented on the picture, saying that my hair and makeup were perfect. What they didn’t know was that I rushed to transition from a sweaty, gym outfit to this outfit in just 30 minutes. Since that time included shower, drying my hair AND doing my makeup, I wanted to share the six beauty items that made this quick transition possible.

I’ve been using the below items for over a month and in this short time, I’ve recommended each of them to multiple friends and even ordered two of them, the lip gloss and concealer, for my mom!

Make Up Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer – This is one of the best concealers I have ever used. The wand applicator is easy to use anywhere, without requiring any other accessories, and the small, pen like size allows me to easily toss it in my purse or makeup bag. It comes in more than fifteen different shades so you should be able to find one which blends easily with your coloring. I use this under my eyes, on my scar and on any blemishes that pop up overnight.

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pomegranate Delirium– My mom has always said that just a quick swipe of color to the lips adds brightness and life to a tired face. It has taken years for me to embrace this but finally, after discovering this easy to apply lip gel last month, I’m a believer. Every day I swipe on this rosy, plum gloss before leaving the house and it instantly wakes up my face and provides a more finished look. Unlike many other lip glosses on the market, this one isn’t drying, doesn’t have a strong smell and is not sticky. The vibrant color stays on my lips at least a few hours and at the $14 price point, I can afford to try different colors.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eye Liner – Similar to the lip gloss, a quick application of eye liner, right along my upper eyelid instantly makes my eyes pop even when I’m exhausted. When we are going out in the evening I apply a thicker line, which makes more of a statement.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Until last month I’d never tried a setting powder. But, after being convinced by a very persuasive Sephora sales associate that this would help my makeup stay in place all day, I bought the travel size. To say I was skeptical was an understatement. Why the heck did I need one more powder in my life, much less on my skin. But, after using it just a few times, I was convinced. People commented that my makeup and skin looked flawless, every bit of makeup stayed in place ALL day and my face had less shine come five o’clock. It hides blemishes, helps my blush and bronzer blend and leaves me with a luminous finish. Even though it is a white powder, it goes on translucent and will quickly become your favorite makeup item!

Bumble & Bumble Hairdressers Oil – Even though I have naturally straight hair, it tends to have a mind of its own. If I don’t tame it properly with a few different potions then it’s a frizzy mess due to the curly nature of my bottom layers. This light oil has made a huge difference in the time it takes to do my hair as it has eliminated the need for a flatiron. I use two pumps for my long, thick hair and apply one pump to the bottom layers and another pump to the ends before blow drying my hair. Unlike Moroccan oil, this doesn’t weigh my hair down or leave my hands feeling greasy.

Drybar Sparkling Soda Shine Mist – Always a fan of the blowouts I get at Drybar, I’d actually not tried or purchased their products until recently. I am now the proud owner of four of their products, this one being my favorite! After a quick blow dry, I spray this all over my hair before one final hand smoothing. The result is a high gloss, flyaway free hair hair style that will last all day even in humidity.

Your turn: What is your favorite beauty item these days that you recommend to everyone? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes beauty items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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SweatStyle: Fashion Forward Fitness Apparel

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Even though I have good intentions to get dressed in “real clothes” each day while working from home, I often find myself wearing the same thing at least 2-3 days per week: leggings, tank, and hoodie. After four months, I’ve started to get sick of my workout/work outfits. I already have a somewhat limited wardrobe after donating all the gear that didn’t fit or flatter me.

Luckily, as if they read my mind, the team at SweatStyle, quickly came to the rescue, promising that they could send over two pieces that would help give my wardrobe an update while highlighting the assortment and style of fitness apparel they offer clients.

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SweatStyle is a fashion-forward company that delivers five pieces of personally curated workout gear to your doorstep. The founder, Helena Cawley, is one of the founders of Uplift Studios and, therefore, knows workout gear well. She also knew that many of the women working out in their studio were tired of wearing the same gear day after day. I guess I’m not the only one whose wardrobe can use an update. Black spandex is flattering, but it can also get very boring, very quickly.

Before we get into the gear I was able to try, let’s talk about how it works.

Sweat Style is super simple to use and personalized, based on your interests.

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Similar to Stitch Fix, upon setting up a username, you are asked a series of questions that allow the stylists to better meet your workout needs. Questions include the type of gear you like, color choices and most importantly when you will wear the gear. Do you spin? Lift? Yoga? Or are you looking for strictly athleisure gear for Saturday errands?

 

style shopstyleOnce you fill in your preferences, the SweatStyle team will use this information to choose five pieces of apparel for you which could include tights, tanks, sports bras, jackets, etc.

Once you open the package and try everything on, you have five days to make a decision on what you want to keep or return. They provide you with an easy-to-use prepaid mailing bag that you can use to return any of the items that you don’t like. The $20 styling fee is used towards the cost of any items you decide to keep. Also, similar to Stitch Fix, you get a discount if you keep everything.

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Another thing to note about the gear that they feature on their site is that it is very curated which means you’ll often find smaller, new to the market brands which will allow you to have a unique style versus matching everyone in your class. The pieces are fashionable yet functional, offering all the bells and whistles you’d expect from workout gear such as pockets, sweat resistant and soft seams. If there are any special items or needs you have, you can also request that in the notes section to make sure your stylist takes it into consideration when choosing your pieces.

Since SweatStyle gifted me with a trial, they sent over two pieces which highlight the range of styles and brands they carry.

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Alala Sport Chill Tight Leggings –   Made by a new-to-me brand, Alala, these tights are perfect for winter runs and outdoor walks. Based on their website, it’s clear that Alala loves the effect of adding small details to functional items, whether it’s side panels, bright zippers, contrasting colors, or mesh. Every item has a small surprise. The shiny side panels are a fun detail on these while the brushed spandex dresses these up a notch while making them very cozy. Their stylish nature also makes them perfect for post workout brunch dates or running errands. My only complaint is that due to their 27 inch inseam, they are closer to crops on my long legs. But, this is nothing a pair of Nice Pipes can’t solve when the temperatures drop below freezing.

Heroine Sport Studio Jacket – As soon I pulled this jacket out of the SweatStyle bag it was love at first sight. While it is lighter weight than my other black workout jacket, I love the mesh details and thumb holes. The longer length and fitted cut mean that it is flattering, unlike most bulky or cozy jacket alternatives. This paired with the zippered pockets have made it my go-to choice for cool weather running during this mild December. In full transparency, I do not know that I would keep this jacket, even though I love it, if I received it in a SweatStyle box as the $198 price point is higher than what I’d normally spend for a non-waterproof/windproof jacket.

Your turn: What’s your favorite brand for workout gear? Do you prefer sticking with your favorite workout gear brand or are you open to new brands? Have you ever tried ShopStyle or something similar?

Thank you to SweatStyle for the complimentary items and for letting me get to know your brand a bit better! All opinions and reviews are my own.

 

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