Greenpointers, join us in taking action for our wonderful friends and community pillars at Hosh Yoga. This studio has been a staple of our neighborhood since 2009. And now, the new management company that maintains Hosh Yoga’s space has increased their rent to more than double. Hosh Yoga needs our help to raise funds to move to a new space where they can continue to support our awesome community.
On July 6th, 250 people came together in Greenpoint to celebrate the first official Medi Club of the Summer! Medi Club is a collective of thousands of New Yorkers that share meditation as a common thread. It’s an evening to get together to meditate, collaborate, meet new people, and discuss topics relevant to modern lifestyles. And, Medi Club is run by the same folks who run The Big Quiet, a mass movement on meditation and culture.
Medi Club now meets at Dobbin St (64 Dobbin St)—their meditation sessions used to be held in Manhattan. The Dobbin St loft is a giant event space at the top of McCarren Park. An old factory has been transformed into a hip event space with a raw and minimalist feel. When I arrived at Medi Club, I checked in at the door and headed straight in. I arrived a few minutes early to meet up with friends, grab a seat, and a bite. The doors close at 7:30 pm and it quickly fills up, so I would recommend getting there a bit early and snagging a spot. There were two tables set up with Sweetgreen salads and a large table along the back wall with Kombrewcha kegs. I picked up a salad, cup of Kombrewcha, spotted my friends, and headed up the stairs to the roof. The roof at Dobbin St is amazing—with fantastic views of the city and tons of open space. I totally recommend hanging out on the steps and benches while you eat your green salad and catch some warm sun. At exactly 7:30, we were guided to come downstairs for the event. Continue reading
Meet the husband-and-wife co-founders of Plant Apothecary, Bjarke and Holly.
Holly McWhorter and Bjarke Ballisager, are a well rounded husband-and-wife team with backgrounds in architecture, journalism, and music. They started PLANT Apothecary back in 2012 when they saw an opportunity to promote healthy ingredients, environmental friendliness, and social responsibility. Starting with organic bodywashes, the line has since grown to include moisturizers, masks and more. We chatted with them to explore their current product line and what’s next for this dynamic conscious duo.
GP: Say I just stumbled blindly upon your company, how would you describe what it is you provide?
Holly: We’re an organic skincare and bath products company based in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. We also have multiple missions, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, [with] cool package design to whatever extent we can! We both [looks to Bjarke] have design and architecture backgrounds, that was a big part of where we came into this industry from.
GP: What was the local landscape of organic products when you entered the market?
Holly: At the time we started, about 5 years ago, there weren’t as many organic all-natural skincare products that were really straight forward with contemporary design focused on minimalism. It was either, we’re trying to sell you something luxury so you felt you were buying into the luxury life-style, or hippie centric, and either way, things were very status conscious, but we liked very straight forward products and packaging, so we created Plant Apothecary to fill the hole in the market. Continue reading
WEDNESDAY 7/19
♦ SummerScreen: Donnie Darko @ McCarren Park, 6pm, FREE, 16th anniversary celebration of Donnie Darko. Gates open at 6pm, grunge-infused rockers Sharkmuffin plays the TIDAL Rising Stage at 7:30pm, and the film starts at sundown, More info
# Banned Countries Dinner Series: Sudan Edition @ Franklin Guesthouse (214 Franklin St), 6:30pm, $125, Celebrate Sudanese food and culture by enjoying a family-style feast inspired by Omer Eltigani, author of the forthcoming cookbook The Sudanese Kitchen. Multiple courses, unlimited house wine and vegetarian options are available, Buy tix
♫ WHAT NOW? Sessions: The Sifer, Sakinah Iman, Paco G Train Bandit @ Terra Firma (119 Ingraham St), 8pm, $5, Fusion of the Hip Hop cypher and the Jazz jam session. Emcees bring your bars. Singers bring your melodies. Musicians bring your instruments. Everyone bring your vibe and let’s rock out, RSVP
* Microdosing Workshop: Sacred Plants to Enhance Mind-Body-Spirit @ Narayana Integrative Center (191 Nassau Ave), 8:15pm, $20, Learn how you can feel better, increase energy, improve focus, inspire creativity, balance mood, relax, sleep well, and expand awareness with sacred plant microdosing, More info
THURSDAY 7/20
# American Food and Immigration Policy @ MOFAD (62 Bayard St), 6:30pm, $20, An evening of thought-provoking discussion, followed by an informal reception featuring light refreshments from Brooklyn Brewery and Sonia Perez, a street cart vendor and member of Street Vendor Project’s Leadership Council, More info
♦ Superhero Figure Drawing @ Brooklyn Art Library (28 Frost St), 7pm, $10, Practice your cape drawing skills, with everything from pen to graphite — but leave your kryptonite at home, Buy tix
* 3D VHS Festival @ The City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Ave), 7pm, $10, In the garden, the Museum of Interesting Things takes us back to a future that the past never saw coming! See excerpts from movies–not just on VHS, but 3D VHS, More info
♦ Jonathas de Andrade Presents Bodanzky and Senna’s Iracema @ Light Industry (155 Freeman St), 7:30pm, $8, Inspired by neorealism as well as the films of John Cassavetes and Jean Rouch, the directors constructed Iracema by enacting a road-movie scenario inside everyday settings, combining artifice and documentary to yield a richly atmospheric parable whose lessons still maintain a grim relevance, More info
♫ DJ Questlove Presents: Bowl Train @ Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave), 11:30pm, $10, Buy tix
Continue reading
The holiday season no doubt does a lot of damage to our health and wellness; not only are our waistlines protesting against our pants, but our self-esteem manages to find an all-new low, and it becomes easy to beat ourselves up about our unhealthy lifestyles (while eating a piece of pie and sipping on a milkshake. We’ve all been there). But guess what? The holiday season is officially over! Spring is here, and with it comes a fresh opportunity to retake control of our health and fitness goals. So, here are just a couple of simple tips on how to do just that.
Find yourself a workout partner!
It can be hard to self-motivate! That’s why it’s so important to have someone that holds you accountable! Not to mention, keeping someone else in line with their goals is a great way to stay aligned with your own. Think about a couple of people that you might rely on for this. Who in your life shares your goals towards health and wellness? When you’ve come up with a short list, invite them to the gym or to a healthy cookout. You’d be surprised how many of us just need a little push to jump-start us on that path back to health.
Overcome your fear of the gym.
Gym-timidation is a real thing, we all know this. You walk into these big gyms with all their big machines and big muscles, and sometimes you just want to run to the nearest ice cream parlor for some TLC. But your fitness and wellness goals can’t run on mantras and intention alone — you must learn to overcome your fears of the gym in order to start seeing real progress. Of course, you can easily streamline the process: find a local boutique gym near you! Avoid the crowds, avoid the egos, avoid the smells.
Seek out a program that meets your needs.
Take responsibility. Throughout this process, using a program to keep you on task and focused on your goals is an excellent way to ensure that all of your hard work is realized! Do some research on fitness and diet programs in your area and see if any of them speak to your needs. If so, jump on board! Investing in yourself can never be a waste, particularly when your long-term health is at risk.
Get into meal prep.
Mentally investing in meal preparation is a great way to make sure that you’re regulating your intake, getting all of your essentialmacronutrients in each meal, and extending the reach of your dollar. Do some research to figure out your ideal macronutrient distribution, and get started prepping! If you feel that this is an area in which you can’t trust yourself to follow through for whatever reason, be sure to prioritize a food plan in the program you seek out–an improved diet is the most important key to slimming down, getting lean, and building strength.
Stay in touch with your goals.
Whether it’s daily meditation, an e-mail notification, a call from a friend, or a scolding from a trainer, find the method that refocuses you best. Daily interruptions, cravings and everyday exhaustion are the enemies of long-term progress — so utilizing the resources around you to maintain focus is an excellent way to keep your health and wellness goals at the forefront.
Need to make sure that these 5 tips become a part of your routine?
Try a one-of-a-kind holistic fitness program. The B.E.S.T. Plan, developed at [email protected] Fitness and Wellness studio (31 Nassau Ave.), is made specifically for those of us reading this article; we need the motivation, we need the support and we need the tools to keep us aligned with our goals. The Group B.E.S.T. Plan does that—plus so much more.
Need a workout partner? When you sign up for the Group B.E.S.T., all of the members become each others’ support team—ready to encourage, bring perspective and commiserate at a moment’s notice. Not to mention the 24/7 support you’ll get from our coaches and trainers!
Need to overcome your fear of the gym? At [email protected], we reject the idea of a conventional gym and create a safe, zen-like space to encourage mindfulness and growth.
Looking for a program that suits your needs? Even though the Group B.E.S.T. is meant to facilitate the group as a whole, our trainers and coaches are also focused on the individual’s needs. When you tell us your goals, we create the entire program around your needs! Or if you’re not into the group aspect, try it one-on-one.
Need healthier eating habits? The B.E.S.T. Plan comes with a free personalized 8-week food plan, specifically tailored to your dietary needs and goals. To keep you in line with your goals, we also provide weekly dietary analysis and weekly nutritional coaching.
Need to stay in touch with your goals? One of the major takeaways from the B.E.S.T. Plan is the accountability, independence and self-reliance you gain from learning the tools to reestablish control of your health and wellness.
What else do you get with the Group B.E.S.T. Plan?
Community Support
Unlimited Dietary Analysis
Custom Body Assessments
Time Management
Exercise Education
Unlimited Cardio and Yoga Classes
Strength
Life and Nutritional Coaching
Detoxifying Infrared Sauna sessions
Only you have the power to take charge of your fitness and well-being.
But to help you along, mention this post for an extra $100 off your B.E.S.T. Plan!
Call at 718.388.2900 or email at [email protected] to reserve your place in this spring’s Group B.E.S.T. Plan today!
If you’re interested in [email protected]’s one-on-one B.E.S.T. Plan sign up here.
Or not local to Brooklyn: try the ONLINE B.E.S.T. Plan here.
This time last year, I was slathering on cortisol creams to battle my eczema and having heart palpitations. I almost always ate out or ordered in. I felt exhausted. Today my skin is glowing and I am full of energy without my usual caffeine fix. My day started with a tasty breakfast that I made, journaling, and setting an intention to meditate on. It’s part of the daily practices that I’ve been working on with holistic wellness coach Jaquy Yngvason to build healthy habits that are as routine as brushing my teeth in the morning. Gone are the days when I would pick up a can of tuna fish and potato chips on the go to save time. I now enjoy every meal. I love cooking and savor simple snacks like freshly roasted carrots in coconut oil. Discovering things like how black beans and dates can make up the most deliciously moist protein-packed brownie is as exciting to me as my new favorite local Greenpoint haunt. And after seeing a lifelong autoimmune skin disease go away, I’ve become a big believer in the power of food.
That’s why I am super thrilled that Jaquy will be coming to Greenpoint to host a workshop this Saturday (2/18) in one of my favorite neighborhood spots, Maha Rose (97 Green St). It’s still the start of 2017 and a good time to set the tone for the rest of the year with self care and love!
More about Conscious Consumption EATShop:
Do you struggle to feel confident in your own skin? Are you constantly dieting and want to ditch those extra pounds?
In attending this EATshop you will walk away with tangible tools so you can feel empowered and gain a new perspective on how to self heal through food. You will learn how to create a daily sacred practice on how to consume consciously, allowing you to eat every meal from a place of joy, love and presence. Continue reading
Cold weather got you feeling blue? Longing for sunshine even though winter has just begun? Then why not head to beautiful Nicaragua February 19-25?
“An eye opening experience with every lasting adventure in perfect weather” Breanne M
Click here to register today!
Hosh returns to Nicaragua! From February 19th-25th 2017, explore a country rich in history and home to a dynamic mix of nature and culture with yoga and new friends. And this trip will be led by our very own Jocelyn Sanders!
Where else will you get a 6 night, 7 day vacation with fun adventures in the jungle, beach, mountains, hiking, zip line, lakes, surfing, massage, home-cooked meals, volcanoes, daily yoga, and great colonial cities and tourism for $1000-$1,300? Rooms are based single, couple, quad, or shared room. Space is limited, so book the trip today! Continue reading
There is a small section of Franklin Street that greets passersby with the fresh scent of jasmine and is reminiscent of a different time and place. The fragrances inspire thoughts of springtime enchanted gardens and it draws your attention to M Boutique (200 Franklin), which opens up to a cozy scene of manicured lawn, fall foliage, and a zen-like soothing habitat.
Welcome to the world of Founder Chris Foster, whose personal story can be discovered in M Boutique’s line of products for personal care, home care, pets, and babies. Drawing from his background in the fashion world, Chris pays special attention to beauty in all of his creations without compromising efficacy and safety. All ingredients are made with natural ingredients and while there is a luxurious quality about the items, they are priced affordably because they are locally made and sold directly to the consumer. Continue reading
Intimidated by all the bulky exercise machines and huge, mean-looking buffed bods at the big-box gyms? If so, you are definitely not alone. This is one of the main reasons (cough, cough–or excuses) from clients as to why they don’t go to the gym. Unfortunately, so many people avoid the gym because they’re either a) not sure how to use the exercise machines; b) they lack the confidence to give them a try; or c) they’re just too damn intimidated to even walk into a gym.
Why? “Gymtimidation!” It’s that voice inside your head that says “I don’t feel comfortable with my body,” “how am I going to look next to all those fitness fanatics who work out all the time?” “I don’t even know what I should be doing in the gym?” Your ‘meaning making machine’ is always at work and it creates a lot of negative views about the gym.
But gymtimidation is not a reason for not getting exercise, it’s an excuse; and a pretty lame one at that. #Sorrybutnotsorry to be so hard on you, but how else am I supposed to show you how ‘unreasonable’ our behavior can be? Know that a reason is valid and usually unavoidable — ex: “I was late because the train broke down” = reason. Whereas, an excuse is a transparent or perhaps a subtle attempt to shift responsibility away from one’s self — “I was late because I missed the train” = excuse. Continue reading
