It's Fitness Mashup Time!Now that the hot weather is finally here to stay and with summer just around the corner, we know this is the perfect time to get laser focused on those budding health goals. And, of course The BellaVita Team is here to support you as you really go for it!
Why not include a little FUN in your workout plan while you aim for those goals? On Wednesday, June 15th BellaVita will host another lively evening at the Eddie Bauer store at 100 5th Avenue (between west 15th and 16th street). The fitness mash up will be a combination of Zumba, Yoga, Pilates and we'll start check-in at 5:45pm & class will start at 6pm sharp! Our proud sponsors include Wtrmln Water, ProTings, and Rhythm Superfoods. Come sample the BEST of BellaVita, come ready to work it out, and come to experience a glimpse of our rockin' sponsors and beautiful community! Don't miss the raffle and make sure that BellaVita members and other guests (yes, that means you!) RSVP at the BellaVita email to secure your spot. RSVP to: Info@BellaVitaWorld.com We're on the move! We're happy to be back with some great news!!! But first, a huge Thank You to all of our clients (yes, that means you) for being loyal to us in this time of transition and growth. We value your commitment to your health, and most of all, for choosing BellaVita as a place and community where we can support your body, mind, and soul journey. Now back to the exciting news, we're relocating many of our classes to TADA! 15 West 28th Street (between Broadway and 5th Avenue) starting April 4th. We'll still keep the Fitness Mashup for zumba and pilates at Reebok retail store & our amazing TTL with PatriciaFit at Doonya because those are just too fun to give up! We feel that this is another huge step in a fresh direction and we're thrilled! We've got some BIG plans! Although being in TADA! is a great move, our Founder/Director of BellaVita, Izabella Steele, is working on finalizing the details on our brand new home studio! It is going to be better than ever! So, stay tuned for the official announcement, its coming! In Health, Joi Studio Representative Lesson: Drink Enough Water!
Did you know?
Many people simply forget to drink water throughout the day. The easiest way to remember is to carry around a reusable water bottle throughout the day that you can keep with you and refill. If you have a smartphone there are actually many apps that alert you to drink water throughout the day!” Daily Water” is the name of one of them (free in the app store!). Dehydration interferes with daily tasks, concentration and alertness. Make sure you are drinking enough water to stay focused and to help promote your overall wellness. Are you dehydrated? Some signs of dehydration include: dark urine, frequent bathroom trips, constipation, headaches, muscle cramps, heart palpitations, light-headedness and dry mouth. Personal Experience Almost a year ago I was waking up every morning with a migraine. I was always groggy and I was never ready to start my day or alert enough to perform daily tasks. It was really starting to affect the way I was living my life so I went to see a doctor. My blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof. I was referred to neurologists and cardiologists and after weeks of tests they finally figured out what was wrong with me. I was simply dehydrated! Immediately I started drinking water as soon as I woke up, before bed and throughout the day. I can honestly say this little change has completely changed and improved my life, and I have never felt as ready for anything as I do now. Jacqueline Corsini Studio Rep Yoga has numerous benefits that extend themselves into your everyday life, past the walls of a studio. Dedicated yogis know that yoga becomes a lifestyle through 5 major points: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking and meditation.
With proper exercise, you improve your flexibility, strength, and circulation. Yoga not only works out your body, but it also strengthens your mentality and spirituality. Through proper breathing you take full breaths that open up your mind and revitalize you. Many people take only shallow breaths, which leads to bad posture, tension throughout the body, and lack of oxygen. Deep breathing releases prana, a subtle energy which, when controlled, can in turn help you control your mind. Proper relaxation flushes out all of the built up stress from day to day routines so you feel renewed and at peace. There are hundreds of distractions in the everyday world that make it hard for us to really relax, which drains your energy over time. Putting aside time to physically, mentally, and spiritually relax will allow for inner peace to flourish. The food you eat is incredibly important to how you function. A proper diet, consisting of quality proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats from mostly non-refined and vegetarian sources nourishes your body so you feel better every day. These foods are easy to digest and contain energy directly from the sun, so you are getting the highest quality nutrition available. Finally, positive thinking and meditation come together to help you become joyful and aware. Being able to focus and control your mind is an incredibly powerful tool, but it takes regular meditation to get to that point. When you finally do, you find that your mind is stronger and calmer. All five points bring wellness, peace, and balance to your body and mind so you can live each day feeling more in touch with yourself and the world around you. We want you to incorporate yoga more into your life, and that’s why we are happy to announce that BellaVita is one of the participating studios in the Yoga Health Foundation’s one week of free yoga! This is a great opportunity for those of you that have not had a chance to take a class at our studio to discover the benefits of yoga for the first time. If you are a new student, be sure to select BellaVita for the Yoga Month Card. After you print out your card, visit us and enjoy free yoga in our beautiful studio. This is a great opportunity to practice yoga with our wonderful instructors. We hope to see you in the studio soon! In Health, Jamie Studio Representative Many people set health and fitness goals for themselves, but few actually reach them. It’s easy to forget about them, or to start off strong and slowly lose the drive to keep going. There are hundreds of reasons why people fail, but that can change. Achieving a goal is hard, but with the right planning and hard work, you can get there. Set a goal - The first step to achieving a goal is actually setting one. This may seem like a no-brainer, but how you set goals weighs heavily on whether or not you will actually achieve them. Be specific and realistic about what you want. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big, but make sure you realize the time, effort, and skill required to complete a goal so you don’t become discouraged by upcoming challenges. For example, if you want to lose weight, don’t pressure yourself to lose weight quickly by aiming to lose 20 pounds in a month. You will get easily frustrated and have to resort to unhealthy and drastic measures to successfully achieve this. Do your research – One of the most helpful tools for anything in life is research, and it proves itself useful here, too. You have to know what is necessary to reach a goal in order to actually do it. If you want to lose weight, find healthy recipes that you can make during the week, or look up workout routines that you will actually enjoy doing. Having the knowledge of the steps you need to take makes it so much easier to accomplish things instead of stumbling around in the dark hoping that you’re doing something right. Make a plan – Break your goal down into smaller steps. This will make it easier to tackle, and following a plan allows you to see how much progress you are making. Based on your research, decide the actions you need to take that will lead you to your end goal. Focus on achieving these small steps and before you know it, you’ll be at the finish line.
Make time –Now that you’ve mapped out your plan, makes sure you actually follow it. Setting goals provides motivation, but its easy for this motivation to fade after a long day at work when you really want a pint of ice cream or you really don’t want to workout. Make time in your schedule that is dedicated completely to achieving that goal, whether its going to BellaVita for a yoga class or spending your Sunday afternoon preparing your meals for the week. Don’t rely on motivation to fuel yourself. Stay determined and disciplined, and work hard everyday. Be kind - Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake. Just because you slip up once doesn’t mean you have failed. Your success is based on a compilation of efforts. As long as you are consistent, a couple of days off track will not harm you or undo your efforts. Reward yourself – Give yourself a treat when you reach a new milestone, such as by buying yourself a new pair of jeans or going on a weekend trip with your friends. This will provide an extra bit of motivation to keep you going when life is being extra challenging. And most importantly, never place your self-worth on whether or not you achieve your goals. Find acceptance and happiness with yourself in the present. Don’t wait for the future you to allow yourself to be happy because you deserve it right now, regardless of whether you can hold a handstand or are 15 pounds lighter. In Health, Jamie Studio Representative When it comes to fitness, many of us are guilty of skipping out on resistance or strength training. Some of us aren’t aware of the vast benefits of resistance workouts, and others have been told false information about the effects of this style of training. There is so much misinformation surrounding strength training that scares women away when really, weight training is an effective and beneficial addition to any fitness plan and should definitely be incorporated for a well-balanced routine. You might have heard the claim “lifting weights will make you bulky.” Many of you have the fear that if you begin to strength train, your muscles will blow up and you will have a “bulky” or “manly” look. When you see these types of physiques on women, know that it takes years of hard work and dedication to build and sculpt their bodies. Women do not have the same level of hormones, such as testosterone, that make it easier for men to build muscle. You will not accidentally build a large amount of muscle mass.
While all body types should be celebrated and appreciated, different people have different goals. If you want a lean, curvy and, most importantly, healthy body, resistance training will help you get there. When you think of a “toned” physique, what you really want is muscle definition. You can get this definition by growing your muscles and shedding fat. Building muscle boosts your metabolism and makes it easier for you to shed fat. Your body will burn more calories even when you’re not working out. Compound moves such as squats, lunges, pushups, and shoulder presses are great because they work several different muscle groups at once. Not only will strength training make you look better, but it will also make you feel better. It has proven to greatly improve your health, sleep patterns, and mood. It increases bone density, which is especially important as you get older. You will notice yourself standing taller as your posture improves and being able to move easier with increased balance and coordination. You will lower your risk of diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and other health concerns with a regular strength training program. Finally, you will generally be a happier person when you begin working your muscles. You will fall asleep faster and more deeply. Higher quality sleep leads to a better mood, which is already improved from the endorphins released and stress relieved during your workouts. Don’t just take my word for it; discover the benefits of strength training yourself by implementing weights and bodyweight resistance training into your weekly routine. Try out a Body Conceptions (BoCo) class at BellaVita, which uses lighter weights to work your shoulders, arms, legs, and glutes, or pick up some heavier weights at the gym once or twice a week. Who doesn’t love feeling strong, looking great, and being healthy? In Heath, Jamie Studio Representative The food you eat is just as important to a healthy and balanced lifestyle as your workout routine. Make sure you’re getting the most out of the classes at BellaVita by trying these pre- and post-workout snack ideas. Make sure not to eat too close to class time, or you’ll find yourself uncomfortably full and unable to put all of your energy into the workout. For a cardio workout like Zumba, have something light like a banana or a serving of pretzels. The carbs will boost your energy and prepare you for the heart-pumping dance moves. After class, rehydrate with a delicious smoothie. You need to restore the water you lose from sweating, and a juice or smoothie is a quick and delicious way to do that. Grab a 25% off coupon for Just Salad and treat yourself to a fruity, nutritious, and refreshing drink. If you plan on taking a Pilates class, you definitely do not want to have a big meal beforehand; it will make it hard for you to utilize your core correctly, which is essential to Pilates. You will not need a lot of carbs because the muscle-toning moves do not drain glycogen stores as much as a high intensity cardio session. Try a spoonful of peanut butter (or try almond or cashew butter to switch things up) with celery sticks to fuel up on healthy fat, protein, and fiber before your workout. After class, help your muscles recover faster with blueberries mixed into greek yogurt. The combination of protein and antioxidants will eliminate waste products such as lactic acid and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. You want to keep your snacks light for Yoga as well. Munch on a granola bar and some fruit for some protein and fiber to keep your blood sugar levels steady during class so you can fully relax without feeling dizzy or hungry. Afterwards, have a spinach salad with chicken or make yourself a shake with some fruit, vegetables and protein (greek yogurt is great). Try mixing an Eboost Spruce into your juice for an extra kick of nutrients and energy. Leafy green veggies can help lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and improve your metabolism. Proper pre and post-workout nutrition is important to making sure you are going in the right direction toward your goals. Make sure to give your food time to digest before working out!Eating one to two hours before your class will allow you to put all of your energy into each Zumba routine, Pilates move, and Yoga sequence. It’s also important to fuel up correctly after class to give your body the nutrition it needs to repair itself. Keep these snack ideas in mind for your next class at BellaVita.
In Health, Jamie Studio Representative BellaVita is excited about our creative mashup classes we have been offering for the month of July at Reebok Fithub in Union Square. Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., we hold fun classes inside the Reebok store to help you break a sweat. You get two different workout styles in each unique class to make things different from your usual fitness routine. Jamece, our wonderful Pilates instructor, will challenge your body and mind with her Pilates and Core mashup class. Lifting weights isn’t the only way to strengthen your body and develop your muscles. If you want to add resistance training but you don’t like to or are unable to lift heavy weights, Pilates is a great alternative. You will definitely feel the burn with the seemingly easy moves in Jamece’s routine. Make cardio fun with our Zumba Stretch! Get off the treadmill or bike and stop by Reebok for a change of scenery. Jonathan will make your heart race with his fun and energetic dance moves. You’ll start and end the class with a relaxing stretch that’ll release all the built up tension and stress of the day. These classes are great for all fitness levels, whether you’ve never been to a class or you take one every day. Plus, Reebok is offering 15% off their merchandise to all attendees so you can treat yourself to workout gear after your sweat sesh. We’ll also be handing out 15% off cards for classes at our studio, so be sure to sign up for one of our great classes during the week. Switch it up and try out Pilates Core and Zumba Stretch with BellaVita! In Health,
Jamie Studio Representative Dear BellaVita Team, Members, Clients & Partners, This message is long overdue as it's been hard for me to put how grateful I am into words. In the beginning we had absolutely no clients, but passion and drive for making fitness fun, enjoyable, and by adding balance to our members’ lives in crazy New York City. Now we can proudly say we’ve had over 9000 class attendees to date which is incredible! On behalf of the BellaVita team, I'd like to thank all of you for meditating, exercising, and sweating with us! We've come a long way since day 1 and your continued support means everything to us. YOU are the reason we exist and our number one goal is to show our appreciation by making sure you are always happy! As a company, we've gone through major changes from schedule to a new location, and many of you have stayed loyal to us, for that I am thankful. In addition to our wonderful clients, it is especially important that I take a moment for our team. Without you, there would be no BellaVita. Each and every one of you has contributed to creating a beautiful, supportive and judgment free environment. You are our greatest assets and I appreciate everyone that has been, is, or will be a part of our team. You are what makes BellaVita exceptional. Every studio representative, instructor, clean team, and partner has made their contribution to bring us where we are today! I feel truly blessed to have THE BEST team on the planet! Love you guys! Last week was our company photo-shoot and we are so excited to be sharing pictures with you soon! With our new pictures we’ll be introducing you to our wonderful instructors. To share the excitement with everyone, we decided to make an event out of it and invited you all to come, it was a blast! I'd like to give a special thanks to all of our amazing sponsors for being a part of our special day. DAVIDsTEA gave us delicious samples to help relax & detoxify. We highly recommend their delicious blends, with over 150 teas in store and 500 total teas there is sure to be one for you! After a long day’s work, EBoost was a life savior because they gave our members an extra burst of instant energy for evening classes. Xanadu also gave us a caffeine rush for that extra push for class with their great iced coffee. Congratulations to Xanadu on the new location and we are so happy to welcome you to the community! WTRMLN WTR also showed their support by giving all of us fresh watermelon after class to stay hydrated, absolutely fabulous! Our community support is inspiring and we are so happy to have such amazing neighbors! Speaking of AMAZING neighbors, we have a HUGE partnership event in the works for May...Stay tuned for info! (SOOO excited about this one, you will be too!) A special thanks to our incredible studio representative Nerissa for coordinating; Stephen, Robert, and Imani our talented photographers and videographer for catching everything on film; DJ Radicate for taking class to the next level; Our make-up artists and hair stylists, Annie, Nichole, Monique, and Galina for getting us camera ready; and everyone else that participated in the festivities! We have many plans in the coming weeks, including additional classes, new partnerships, events & MUCH MORE! Finally if you have any questions, or suggestions, I'd love to hear from you as we are always looking for ways to improve! I am so excited to see what the future holds for BellaVita! Today is wonderful so remember to live in the present, the best is yet to come. Here's to a healthy and happy future. xoxo In health, Izabella, Founder/Director Email: Izabella@BellaVitaWorld.com Phone: 917-722-2378 |
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