Hi there! So I had a really great weekend that was due mostly to the fact that Saturday was one of my favorite days of the year: Sweaty Saturday!  Sweaty Saturday started as the fitness industry’s Fashion Night Out (which is no defunct. Sad face.)—a day when fitness studios around the city could come together and support a good cause, offer great classes and generally celebrate fitness.  Participating studios offered special classes or amped up their normal schedule and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Partnership for Healthier America, a non-profit organization that works with the private sector entities to ensure the health of nation’s youth by combating childhood obesity.  It was founded in 2010 in partnership with, but separate from, Let’s Move, which has gotten a lot of press because of First Lady Michelle Obama’s support of the campaign to get kids moving.  Partners include some mega companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, All-Clad. GE, Nike, the U.S. Olympic Committee, USTA and much more.     

I participated back in 2012 and was so excited to join in again this year.  Last time I became slightly possessed and participated in 4 (!) classes.  This time my saner self prevailed and I participated in only two with a nice two hour break in between.  Also, no Flywheel this time (sorry Flywheel!) because that class makes me feel like I’m going to pass out. 

My first class of the day was at Chaise Fitness.  I tried their classes for the first time last year at their 23^rd Street location and loved them!  I was so excited when they recently opened at the 92Y because it is so much more convenient for me.  Even if I love a class, if it is too far away I can’t go regularly. 

The lovely Tara taught Cardio Chair, which is an amped up version of Chaise’s traditional Reinvention Chair class.  You can read my full recap on the studio here, but as a quick rundown, the studio uses a modified version of the Pilates chair and incorporates it into a whole new workout.  They also use bungees that are attached to the ceiling, which I LOVE!  It works my arms and hurts so good.  My arms have always been a “trouble spot” for me so I love being able to engage them the whole class.  The class is also based on Pilates and dance principles which means deep muscle engagement that leaves you totally spent after class (think pikes while holding onto the chair and the bungees- I can’t even explain it, it’s so hard!).  The Cardio Chair class uses all these principles plus some basic jumping moves to really up the burn.

After burning it out at Chaise, I headed to AKT in Motion, which I tried for the first time a few weeks ago.  Their Happy Hour class is a mix of dance-based cardio and strength.  AKT was super pumped about Sweaty Saturdayand it was such a great time!  The vibe was incredible and it may or may not have been assisted by the disco ball that was glittering from the ceiling!  I mean, how can you not be happy when working out with a disco ball!?  

The class was challenging and a lot of fun.  The good thing about AKT is that they repeat the dance combinations over and over so the class appeals to a lot of non-dancers.  The strength sections are no joke either.  We did some heavy weight toning moves, lower body moves using a resistance band and some ab work on the foam roller.

AKT also surprised us with these awesome goodie bags that included some fun things like a few products from the new athletic clothing brand Sweaty Betty that just opened in SoHo.  I’m kind of obsessed with the headband!  

There were so many fitness studios involved in Sweaty Saturday and I wanted to go to every single one of them.  Sadly time and my body did not allow but I had a great time at two of my favorite UES locations!  Thanks Chaise & AKT!  And of course, a big shout out to the organizers of SweatySaturday for a great event and for supporting an important cause.  I had such a great time and wish there were more ways I could get involved with this great cause. 

Readers, have you heard of the Partnership for Healthier America or Let’s Move?  Have you ever done a fitness-charity event?  How do you get involved with charities?