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CorePower Yoga New York City

Get excited New York City – CorePower Yoga is finally coming to Manhattan.  This May CorePower Yoga is opening the doors of it’s first New York City location at 70th and Broadway on the Upper West Side.

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For years, I’ve heard friends and fellow bloggers rave about CorePower Yoga. With over 160 studios nationwide, it seemed like there was a studio in just about every metropolitan city except New York. Focused on helping students live their power, push beyond their boundaries and turn stress into sweat, CorePower Yoga is far more than your typical yoga studio.  Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to preview CorePower Yoga thanks to a lovely morning event hosted by CorePower Yoga and Well+Good NYC at Central Park’s Tavern on the Green.

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Evann and I attended the 11 AM event together, during which we enjoyed a hybrid class, hosted by three dynamic and energetic women who are leading the opening of the NYC location. The hybrid class blended aspects of two of their class offerings,  Yoga Sculpt and Core Power Yoga 2, together in one 60-minute class.

Evann and Ashley CorePower YogaCan we take a minute to appreciate the sunlight that flowed through the space? Tavern on the Green’s atrium was the perfect venue for a morning flow as we were able to enjoy the blue skies and morning sun as we stretched and energized our bodies.  Even though it was freezing outside, it was warm and toasty on our mats.

Since this was my first time experiencing CorePower Yoga, one of the first things I noticed were the hand weights which they recommended we place on our mat. Unlike other studios, one of their signature classes, Yoga Sculpt, include light hand weights to intensify each yoga pose. In addition, throughout the flow weights are incorporated into strength-training moves such as squats, lunges and bicep curls.

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Once we were all situated on our mats, the three instructors welcomed us, introduced us to CorePower Yoga and explained the flow of class. As you can see from this picture, they were on Cloud Nine, thrilled to finally be sharing CorePower Yoga and the news of their new studio with so many New York City yogis. Their positive energy set a great tone for class before we even started. I loved when they told us each to not take class too seriously – it’s only Saturday morning yoga.

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After a few minutes of intention setting, we  started the flow with time in child’s pose, grounding ourselves, before quickly transitioning into the flow portion.  During the flow, which moved at a pace fast enough to induce a sweat but slow enough to ensure proper form, the instructors were hyper-focused on form and adjustments, which I always appreciate. They also created a supportive, inspiring environment for the students motivating us to do our best and be present in the moment.

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After thirty minutes we regrouped and transitioned into the challenging but fun yoga sculpt portion of class. Unlike any yoga class I’ve taken before, this class mixed strength, cardio and flexibility into the practice. For example, in chair pose we would hold the pose and then begin doing arm exercises using the weights before flowing to the next move. I really enjoyed the use of weights and appreciated the added challenge EXCEPT for the transition points on the mat. This may have been that the lighter weights didn’t have enough space to be held properly while also allowing for wrist movement but I felt clumsy during plank and sun salutations.  The cardio bursts were also a fun change of pace, incorporating things like mountain climbers into the middle of a plank series, or burpees following a flow.

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By the end of the class, I was exhausted but completely zen. My muscles were still shaking from the strength training and my tank top was sweaty from the cardio but I was standing taller and feeling lighter due to the yoga and positive vibes. Regardless of your level of practice, CorePower Yoga offers a class that is right for you. I appreciate that under one roof you can find sculpting, cardio and zen.

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Even though it is a trek from our apartment in Carroll Gardens, I will certainly be heading to the Upper West Side to enjoy classes once they open.

Interested to learn more about CorePower Yoga’s UWS location? Head over to their website to learn more about the studio and their limited time 25% off special.

Thank you to Turner PR, Well + Good NYC and CorePower Yoga for inviting me to a wonderful event. Photo credit: Barbara Corella, Evann Clingan and Well+Good NYC

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ashleyd /

A Sweaty Start to Valentines Day

orange theory valentines day workout

Happy Valentine’s Day friends! Most years I roll my eyes at this commercial holiday that has become focused more on chocolates, flowers and gifts than just taking time to be thankful for loved ones. However, this year, I woke up this morning bursting with happiness.  Over the past few weeks I’ve been reminded multiple times that I am blessed with an incredible support group of friends, co-workers and family members both near and far.  So regardless of your status this Valentine’s Day, I hope you can take a moment to be thankful for yourself and those people in your life you hold dear.  I took a few minutes earlier today to thank each of my team members for their support by gifting them $5 on Venmo for a coffee or sweet treat. It isn’t much but sometimes the smallest, unexpected gestures are the most rewarding.

This morning Bo and I kicked off Valentine’s Day at Orangetheory Park Slope with a grueling Valentine’s Day themed partner workout led by Coach Corey. One of my favorite coaches, his playlist is always amazing and he did a great job motivating the class today as well as providing prenatal adjustments. This morning’s partner workout included an endurance hill and speed treadmill station, rowing and squat thrust station and a strength station that was packed with squats, chest flies and tricep extensions. By the time the clock hit 7:45, Bo and I were both dripping in sweat. Speaking of Orangetheory workouts, did you guys know that every Orangetheory location across the US does the same workout each day? My mind was blown when I discovered this the other day. How fun is that?!

Ashley and Bo 100 pound journey

Workout dates are something that Bo and I are trying to prioritize in our schedule between now and June when Baby Girl Diamond arrives.  As many of you know, we both enjoy sweating together as it provides us with time before our busy days to connect, workout and enjoy each other’s company.  When we started dating fourteen years ago, fitness was not a priority, as you can tell from the above picture. Since we’ve been together we’ve lost a combined weight of one hundred pounds, much of which can be attributed to our healthier and more active lifestyle. I’m so thankful that these days Bo and I equally enjoy working out and staying active together. In fact, it’s become such a part of our routine that I often take it for granted until I read posts like this.  Since running is something that I enjoy more than him, most of our workout dates revolve around workouts we enjoy equally such as high intensity interval training at Orangetheory or Fhitting Room, spin classes at FlyWheel or swimming at the YMCA.

This evening we will continue to enjoy Valentine’s Day together by cooking one of our favorite dishes together, sesame encrusted tuna, and relax with a movie.

Hope you guys have a great day!

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ashleyd /

Friday Favorites – February 10th, 2017

Orangetheory brooklyn

Happy Friday! Yesterday those of us in New York and the Northeast were in a Winter Wonderland with our first snow day of 2017. In Brooklyn we received ten inches of snow throughout the day. Luckily, Bo and I were able to enjoy a sweaty workout bright and early before I was snowed in for the day. After a cancelled flight, I am finally en route to Des Moines, Iowa by way of a layover in Detroit. As I’ve mentioned, I’m heading to Iowa for a 48-hour girls weekend with some of my closest sorority sisters. While we’ve texted, emailed and chatted over the years it’s been far too long since we spent quality time together.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • Even though I only received these new Brooks Ghost Crops, which I’m wearing in the above picture, from my friends at Brooks on Monday, I’ve already worn them for two workouts this week. These lightweight, moisture-wicking crops feature a pocket large enough for my iPhone and a supportive waistband that provides some extra support to my back and stomach during workouts. I love the fun design on the aqua pair I received so much that I’ve already ordered the vibrant ones in a larger size to enjoy during my third trimester. While it’s still cold outside I’m wearing these for indoor workouts like OrangeTheory and Body Pump but I can tell they will also be a Spring staple as I start jogging and walking outside more.
  • After my friend Amanda lost all of her photos, I was inspired to make sure my phone photos are backed up to somewhere other than my computer. Luckily as an Amazon Prime member, I have free access to Prime Photos which provides free, unlimited photo storage and sharing. The powerful search algorithm allows you to quickly sort, filter and organize pictures while the easy-to-use interface allows me to send and receive photos and albums to friends and loved ones. I even organized my blog photos in one folder so I can easily reference them for use on social media!
  • I know I have a lot to learn and am currently very naive when it comes to work life balance since introducing a child into the equation changes everything. As I prepare to become a working mom, I loved reading these tips and tricks from mothers who balance multiple roles on a daily basis.
  • I received a sample of Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! conditioning hair mask from Sephora last month and immediately fell in love with the results. Not only is this mask free of parabens and sulfates, but it is also 95% composed of natural ingredients. I apply the mask in the shower after washing my hair and let it soak in while I shave, wash my face and body. My hair, which has been dry and cranky during my winter pregnancy, is soft and smooth after using this once a week for the past few weeks!
  • As I started dreaming and researching Spring fashion earlier this week, I fell in love with these chic athleisure shoes. Perfect for running errands and walking around town, the fun color of these shoes make them perfect for Spring. I can’t decide between the pink or Flyknit version. Thoughts?
  • If you’re a fan of the podcast Serial, you’re in luck. The creator announced a new podcast series that will air in March. The series, which is about an Alabama man who despises his small town and finally does something about it, will have seven episodes which will all become available on the same day.
  • Now that I’m going to my company’s WeWork office 2-3 days per week, I’ve started making food prep a part of my weekly routine. I pinned a number of salads and lunches to my Pinterest Recipe board this week which will make prepping and shopping easier. This week’s lunches consisted of homemade Chipolte-inspired salads, washed and cut berries, almonds and an apple with almond butter.
  • I realized that this JCrew Merino Wool Sweater blazer is perfect for everyone, including pregnant ladies like myself, since the material has more stretch than a typical blazer. The longer length and relaxed fit allows me to pair it with leggings while the feminine details make me feel chic and put together, even at 5:30 AM. Today I paired it with tall boots, black leggings, a black turtleneck and one of my favorite necklaces.
  • I’m all about working smarter not harder and therefore loved this Fast Company article which recommended first four things every person should do to start their work day. The Mark Twain quote which inspired their first tip is so true – if you start the day by eating a frog (aka doing the hardest task) you know that the day can’t get any harder.
  • Last but not least, I was surprised and delighted to find so many healthy food options at Cibo Express in LaGuardia Airport bright and early this morning. I was able to put together a healthy breakfast with Siggi’s yogurt, Purely Elizabeth granola, pasteurized orange beet juice and a banana!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion 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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