I actually wrote this post a week ago and I sent it to a friend to check. When I sent it to her I knew something was missing and I knew exactly what it was. When I got her comments back, there it was staring me in the face in black and white “it would be nice to hear more about your personal experience at the event, as opposed to just what the event was.” I know I can write about the things I do but I know I am lacking when it comes to sharing my personal experiences. Funny you would think if someone starts a blog they would be able to share but that is not always the case.
About a week and a half ago, I took a SoulCycle class in the middle of Union Square in my sports bra. Why did I decide to spin half-naked in public? That is an easy answer, to help support the S.E.A.K. Foundation’s mission to help give teens and younger adults the courage to feel comfortable in their own bodies and to hang out with some amazing friends I have made since I started taking classes at SoulCycle.
If you told me I would be doing this when I was younger there would have been NO WAY I would have gotten on that bike, but as I got older I started to realize one important thing. It doesn’t matter what you look like, what matters is the people you surround yourself with. They will give you the confidence you need to grow and strive. Growing up I had a lot of negative friends in my life and a lot of positive ones (one in particular that has been my best friend since 5th grade). Over the years I quickly realized that no matter what I looked like my true friends were always there to support me.
Since I have moved to New York I have become somewhat of a Fitness Fanatic (okay who am I kidding here, I am TOTALLY a Fitness Fanatic). A lot of what I do and talk about is fitness related and bless my friend’s hearts, always talking about that can get annoying. When I started SoulCycle I met some amazing people who I now consider some of my closest friends. Not only do they get my crazy fitness habits they get me. I can’t imagine not spending my Saturday nights with them, I don’t know many other groups that can finish off 8 pastas and 6 pizzas (Partee). So going out to ride in the Sports Bra Challenge was not only to support a great cause but to be out there with my friends that give me confidence and inspire me to always give it my all. You guys know who you are, I am so thankful I have met you.
Alright now on to the event itself. This was S.E.AK. Foundation’s second annual Sports Bra Challenge. The Sports Bra Challenge is a day-long charity fitness event centered around women working out in a series of group fitness classes in their sports bras. Men and woman came out to support and empower one another to feel comfortable in their bodies – exactly as they are. This year the challenge supported the City of Hope’s Positive Image Center, which helps cancer patients regain and retain confidence in how they look while undergoing treatment.
The Sport’s Bra Challenge started at 2:00pm with a live performance by No Way Josie and then throughout the day they offered a yoga class and Crunch fitness class called Pound Rockout. At 5:00pm and 6:00pm they had two SoulCycle classes with a 100 riders each! For a special music performance they brought PS22 from Staten Island (the same choir that sang to President Obama) to perform the last couple of songs for each of the rides. SoulCycle classes are always an amazing workout, but the best part was the experience and seeing everyone that came out to support the cause. Even Olivia Ward (The winner of the Biggest Loser Season 11) and her sister Hannah Curlee came out to support the cause. Just seeing everyone have the confidence to ride in their sports bras was very empowering. I am so happy I was able to be a part of such an amazing event (See me below in the neon orange sports bra, I am towards the back).
Photography Credit: Gail Tobias
S.E.A.K. (Strive, Embrace, Achieve, Know) is a non-profit foundation that helps teens and young adults express themselves, feel comfortable with who they are both mentally and physically, and discover the inner-confidence and passion to achieve their goals. S.E.A.K.’s educational resources and services include after-school programming focused on fitness, nutrition, health and other aspects of personal wellness. To find out more about S.E.A.K. and how you can get involved please visit their website or Facebook page. You can also check out this article about The Sports Bra Challenge by, the Director and Co-founder of S.E.A.K., Jenny Gaither.
I hope you are having an amazing Memorial Day weekend and I hope that you surround yourself with people who give you the confidence to be yourself. Friends are truly one of the most powerful things you can have in your life.
Filed under: Workouts | Tagged: Biggest Loser, FitFluential Ambassasdor, Friends, Hannah Curlee, Olivia Ward, S.E.A.K., SEAK, SEAK foundation, soulcycle, Spinning, sports bra, sports bra challenge, Union Square spin class | 4 Comments »
Small warning bells started going off in my head, what had I gotten myself into, I thought this was just spin, but these people clearly were on a whole other level. They cleaned the room and let us in, it was dark and lit by candles and smelled like grapefruit (let me tell you how thankful I was for this, I was slightly nervous about what it would smell like based on what the people looked like from the class before). I got on my bike and immediately noticed how close all the bikes were and the giant speakers above my head. Warning bell number 2, this was not like any other spin class I have ever taken. A cute girl named Madison came walking in, in converse high tops (I should mention I now want to own converse high tops) and started the music. It was fast and had a great beat, I almost felt like I was in a club and then it happened… The entire class went from just spinning to dipping down on the bike in unison. I was amazed! It dancing while spinning.
). The reasons why SoulCycle is so addicting and people pay the money they do is for the following reasons:
Hello! My name is Kristine and I live and work in New York City. Since I have been here I have realized how hard it is to maintain a healthy balance while living in the City. Work starts to consume your life and you can get lost in everything around you.
