Tag: Los Angeles

Wildfire Life Giveaway!

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logo-mobileIn an age when gym memberships are a thing of the past and everyone wants to check out the coolest studios in the city, fitness subscriptions are a must-have, and there’s a new one in town.

Wildfire reached out and offered me a two-month membership to test it out—could I ever say no to anything sweaty in LA?! As they officially launch today (Monday, August 3, 2015) in Los Angeles, I’m a guinea pig along with all of you!

What am I looking forward to with this subscription? Unlike others like it, Wildfire doesn’t limit how many times you sweat at a particular studio. If you’re obsessed with just two places, go ahead and sweat there on the reg…just because you can! Currently, the subscription is available in San Diego, Orange County, and LA. The studio list is growing daily and they currently have a bunch of my favorites including Rise Nation, AIR, Club Pilates, and The Phoenix Effect.

Check out their website and blog to learn more and head over to my Instagram to enter to win one of five free two-month memberships! Good luck and I’ll see your sweaty selves around town!

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Follow @sweatandrepeatLA on Instagram and like today’s picture.
  2. Tag a friend in the comments that you’d consider your workout BFF.
  3. Live in LA, San Diego, or Orange County (where Wildfire is currently located).

The five winners will be contacted and announced on the Instagram post on Thursday, August 6, 2015. Good luck!!

25 Minute Burn (x2) at Oak Fitness Club

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At a Glance:

Website: http://www.oakfitnessclub.com/
Address: 9346 Civic Center Drive Suite 145, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Length: 25 minutes (can be partnered back to back)
Price: single 25 min class/$20, 25 min 10 pack/$150, single 55 min class/$30, 55 min 10 pack/$250
Sweat: medium
Energy level: medium

Location, Location, Location. If you look on the ClassPass map, until recently, there’s been a pretty big gap in between West LA and West Hollywood. Slowly but surely, Beverly Hills studios have been opening their doors for CPers! Oak Fitness Club is one of those new additions to the roster. I googled the night before to check it out and was pleasantly surprised to see the club was located inside of the UTA plaza (tenants include such companies as the United Talent Agency and Playboy). I was a little worried if I would fit in or stand out, realizing that I was headed into a more business professional setting. I decided to stand out with my purple pants and neon pink Nike trainers because, why not? Continue reading →

Daybreaker with Fitness4Purpose

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Flash tats, body paint, crop tops, glow in the dark bracelets, music blasting, people jumping. The drug of choice is caffeine and partiers are chugging drinks thickened with chia seeds. It’s dark outside, but not for obvious reasons. Nope, it’s not midnight. This rave is happening before the crack of dawn and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

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With Saara, the founder of Fitness4Purpose

Daybreaker is an early morning dance party that originated in NYC and is making it’s way across the world—including cities such as Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, and Hong Kong. I’ve been dying to go since it came to LA, but couldn’t convince anyone to join me in setting an alarm for 5:30 AM so when Saara, the founder of Fitness4Purporse, reached out, I couldn’t say no.

Fitness4Purpose is a fitness challenge fundraiser that brings people together to explore a variety of workouts throughout LA while supporting a good cause. With their first challenge starting July 19, 2015, a group of 15 people set out to workout for 22 days straight and raise $35,000 to build a school in Nepal with the nonprofit organization buildOn. From Orangetheory to Aura Cycle, Hot8Yoga to Barry’s Bootcamp, these motivated individuals will sweat with a purpose.

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The Fitness4Purpose Group!

Daybreaker started at 5:30 AM with a one-hour yoga sesh that I opted out of. The real party was from 6:30-8:30, ending right in time to make it to work. This one took place at The Springs in DTLA and I was so excited to join despite not knowing anyone there. I checked in and met up with Saara outside who immediately took me under her wing and introduced me to the Fitness4Purpose team. They were all so welcoming and treated me like one of their own as we broke it down on the dance floor together. We raved to beats by DJ Dan and sipped on beverages by Groundwork coffee, Icelandic, Just Chill, Hint, and Mamma Chia. It was sweaty, exhilarating, exhausting, and energizing all at once.

IMG_9545Fitness4Purpose will be sweating around town until August 9th and I hope to be able to meet up with them at another inspiring workout!

Interested in attending Daybreaker? Sign up for the mailing list to see where the next rave is located. Usually there are two a month in LA, one downtown and one on the west side.

Interested in sweating for a cause with Fitness4Purpose? Check out the website, watch Saara’s moving video, and contact her to join! You can also find them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @FITNESS4PURPOSE.

How to Sweat like a Pro

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While I originally published this post in October, a week after I started my blog, I wanted to bring it back for those of you who weren’t Sweat and Repeat readers at the time. I understand that my fitness obsession can be daunting to some and if you haven’t worked out or been to a group class in a while, it can be a little intimidating. I’ve put together a list of DOs and DON’Ts that will make you look like a regular at any new studio!

DO tell the front desk if you’re new—they’ll let you know what you need to grab to set up.
DO arrive a bit early to peek around the studio for perks and amenities.
DO check out the studio online to make sure you bring the things you need and wear the proper attire.
DO keep in mind that some people are less experienced than you, but some will always be more experienced than you as well. That is the beauty of group fitness. Focus on yourself and what is best for you.
DO make eye contact with classmates during torturous moves to ensure that you are all equally miserable.
DO ask the instructor any questions you have after class—hitting all the moves correctly makes your workout productive and keeps your body safe!
DO strike up a conversation on your way out—suggest grabbing a juice at the place next door. Who knows? She could be a new best friend!

DON’T be late—some classes won’t let you in after the start time but will charge you for the class. Research or call ahead to figure out the parking situation.
DON’T forget the rules of personal space when picking your spot in the room.
DON’T get overconfident when choosing weights—if everyone has a set of 1 pounders, it’s probably for a good reason.
DON’T forget a water bottle. Even if you can’t bring it into the room, hydrating after a workout is essential!
DON’T be afraid to mention any recent or healing injuries to the instructor—they will make sure to modify throughout the class.
DON’T worry about what other people think of you in class. You are there for your own personal gain, not to show off or compete with other classmates (although competition may sometimes be encouraged in other ways during class).
DON’T hesitate to try a harder option if the instructor offers it; even if you don’t nail it, everyone starts somewhere.

No matter if you ace all of these tips or not, the most important thing is just getting out there and giving it your best. The only workout you’ll regret is the one you didn’t do.

How do you feel when you go to a studio for the first time? Do you have any other tips from your personal experiences? I’d love to hear them in the comments! 

Meditation Hypnosis at The Yogi Tree

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At a Glance:

Website: http://theyogitree.com
Address: 4475 Vineland Ave, Ste 31, Los Angeles, CA 91602
Length: 60 minutes
Price: first class $10, 1 class/ $16, 10 classes/ $125, month unlimited/$99 w 6 month contract
Sweat scale: low
Energy level: low

Every Sunday when I’m looking for a class that’s going to rejuvenate me for the week to come, I stumble upon this hypnosis class. I don’t know about you, but the only experience I have with hypnosis is when the prom court got hypnotized for one of the spirit days. I remember some having to sit down because it wasn’t working and others dancing around per the instruction of the hypnotist. It kind of freaked me out but I’m all about trying everything once (that’s a lie…I’ve never tried mayonnaise). Continue reading →

Tabata Body & Lock Box Body Sculpt at Lock Box LA

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At a Glance:

Website: http://lockboxla.com/
Address: 5925 West Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Length: 30 minutes per class
Price: first class free, 1 class/ $25, 10 classes/ $220, month unlimited/$225
Sweat Scale: Tabata- high, Body Sculpt- medium
Energy Level: Tabata- high, Body Sculpt- medium

I spoke with my family on my way to class and said “Hey Mom! I’m trying Tabata with my friend Dida!” She said “What?! Fajita?” I said “No, Tabata!” She now jokes, “Focaccia, Fajita, Tabata with Dida” as the way to describe my training…love you Mom. Tabata is actually an extremely time-efficient, driven, and challenging workout that at it’s core is only 4 MINUTES. That’s it! And it can be partnered with Body Sculpt, an equally short but strong and intense weight lifting class.

*You may notice that I am reviewing not one but two classes in the same sitting! I love combining great cardio with some toning mixed in, so I was excited to try this studio! These classes were considered separate reservations on ClassPass, and part of me is a tiny bit bummed that now I only have one class left at this studio for my month! Continue reading →

Adult Parkour Basics 18+ at Aerial Warehouse

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At a Glance:

Website: http://aerialwarehouse.com/
Address: 3961 Sepulveda Blvd. 100, Culver City, CA 90230
Length: 75 min
Price: 1 class/$40, 10 classes/$350, 20 classes (with 3 month commitment)/$500
Sweat scale: medium
Energy level: high

I first knew I would never join the USA Olympic Gymnastic Team when, at my gymnastic themed 4th birthday party, I failed to place for any real awards, despite the fact that it was MY birthday. I think the other dead giveaway for my lack of gymnastic talent is that I cannot achieve, let alone attempt, a cartwheel, handstand, or the splits. Despite my inability to contort my body, I signed up for Parkour (defined as “the activity or sport of moving rapidly through an area, typically in an urban environment, negotiating obstacles by running, jumping, and climbing.”)

Continue reading →

Cryotherapy at CryoHealthcare Inc.

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At a Glance:

Website: http://www.cryohealthcare.com
Address: 351 N. La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90048
Length: 1.5-3 minutes
Price: 1 session/$65, 10 sessions/$450, month unlimited/$299
Sweat scale: LOW
Temperature: -235°F

Since moving to LA one year ago I have tried things that I didn’t even know existed. I’ve splurged on $12 smoothies at Beaming, climbed a stationary Versa climber as lights pulsed overhead at Rise Nation, and vibrated on a Power Plate at Xcceleration Station. However, nothing could prepare me for this adventure. Let’s just say there was absolutely no sweat involved. Continue reading →