Category Archives: health and wellness

Sixth Annual NYC KidFest June 18 in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 16, 2011 @ 7:56
By HarlemGal
As side from the farmers market taking place this weekend (June 18) in Morningside Park, there is another activity to check out, NYC KidFest. NYC KidFest is a free, one-day family event bringing artistic performances to NYC families. Packed with music, theater, dance, storytelling, face-painting and much more; this festival promises to delight, inspire and jump-start the imaginations of children of all ages in a fun atmosphere.

To attend, enter the park at 113th Street and Manhattan Avenue. If you are coming from downtown, take the 1, B or C subway trains to West 110th Street.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Free!, Harlem, health and wellness, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Land Yoga in Harlem to open June 16, celebrates opening with helping others

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Jun 13, 2011 @ 11:05
By HarlemGal
If you have been wondering when Land Yoga will open on Frederick Douglass Blvd., it is happening this week. On June 16th, the will have a soft opening, but not without thinking of others. Land Yoga will be donating $1 for each student who comes to practice to Odanadi, a non-profit which helps fight against Human Trafficking. Society Coffee is joining Land Yoga to raise money for this great cause. So if you’re around this coming Thursday morning, stop by Society Cafe or Land Yoga. They are both located on or near the corner of West 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. Om!

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Posted in art and culture, business, Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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AOL features Harlem on Gadling

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 13, 2011 @ 7:00
By HarlemGal
If you’re not on Flipboard, Taptu or Pulse on your Ipad, get there soon. I am finding a load of information about Harlem on these app tools, such as Gadling, which has a profile of Harlem up on their site. Gadling is an AOL travel blog.

In their profile on Harlem, they list different things to do than The Boston Globe or The Financial Times. They tell their readers to check out places in Harlem, such as the Jazz Museum, Hip Hop Culture Center, Patsy’s in Spanish Harlem, WYZ Bar at the Aloft Hotel and more. Check out the complete story yourself by clicking here!

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Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, fashion, film, Free!, Harlem, health and wellness, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC, politics, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, review, shopping

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Part 5: NYLean25 fitness challenge in Harlem turning out results

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

May 25, 2011 @ 7:30

For the month of April, we have been hearing about the NYLean 25 fitness challenge from our HarlemCondoLife reader.  That month came and went. So what’s next? Our HCL reader tells us she has decided to extend the program into May. Let’s hear why!

Dear HarlemGal,
Since everything is going so well on the NYLean25 plan working out in Harlem, I decided to extend the program. For the last week in April, NYLean 25 founder and instructor Robert Brace wanted me to try the Turbo Diet plan. This is a fat burning diet meant for quick results.  It is designed to strip down your fat, sugar and carbohydrate intake while relying on protein to provide you with energy.

I want to tell you what the meal plan consists of and what I had to eat :

Breakfast- Egg whites or an egg white omelette for breakfast

Snack-  Tuna (no mayo) or 2% cottage cheese or turkey slices

Lunch- A salad with chicken, tofu, tuna or halibut w/ red wine vinegar as the dressing

Snack- Same as above

Dinner-   6 oz of chicken, tofu, tuna or halibut, romaine lettuce, cauliflower, cucumber and red wine vinegar

You can eat as many green vegetables as you want. Stay off the alcohol. Water is the only drink recommended, but zero sugar, zero calorie beverages are also an option.

This was no easy task. I had friends in from London and Dallas and lots of social activities planned. I even had another work event BACK at Dylan’s Candy Bar!

The only thing that has kept me going on the NYLEAN25 plan is that I have actually been seeing RESULTS!  Other people have noticed it too. So, I decided it was time to take out that box of clothes I had stashed away in the bottom of my closet with stuff that no longer fit. It felt incredible when I was able to fit into a pair of denim capris that I couldn’t come close to even buttoning last year! Some things are still tight, so I still have a way to go, but I am feeling really great about my progress!

Here is NYLean25 Weight Loss tip #4 for all you HarlemCondoLife readers:

Eat Slowly and Stop When Hunger Ceases

Eat slowly and stop when you are no longer hungry before you feel full. Savor each bite and you’ll probably feel more satisfied than if you “wolf” it down in just a few minutes. Don’t eat in front of TV or while on the computer. You should be focused on your food and listening to your body tell you its full

I will share with you my final days on NYLean 25 soon. So far, I am so glad and happy that I joined the NYLean25. Working out in Harlem has been challenge, but very rewarding.

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Registration open for Land Yoga adult classes in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

May 20, 2011 @ 11:45
By HarlemGal
Our fellow yogi Lara Land gave us the heads up that Land Yoga, located at 2116 Frederick Douglass Blvd., is now open for registration for adult ashtanga classes. If you’re interested like I am, you can register at Land Yoga Shop before June 16th for the early bird special.

Not sure what yoga classes to sign up for? No worries. There is a partial schedule listed here. There you can find what classes will be offered to start!

And want to meet Lara Land, head on over to Nectar Wine Bar today (May 20). She is participating in Parents and Pinot from 4 PM-7 PM at 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

For more information on Land Yoga, check out their Facebook page. Om, shanti, shanti, om. Namaste!

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Posted in business, Community, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem Yoga Studio makes 125th street hOMe

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

May 12, 2011 @ 7:15

By HarlemGal
The wonderful and dedicated teachers over at Harlem Yoga Studio gave us the heads up recently that they have a new hOMe on West 125th Street. If you recall, they use to be located at 119th and Lenox Ave in a nice size corner brownstone. Fast forward to today, Harlem Yoga Studio classes are now on the third floor of 20110511-111445.jpg
44 West 125 Street between Lenox and Fifth Ave. This new space offers plenty of room for yogis to practice their sun salutations, warrior pose or downward dog, etc. right in the heart of Harlem.

In addition to the move, Harlem Yoga Studio is updating their class schedule to include new adult classes, and many more Vinyasa, YogaTone, Prenatal, Full Figured Yoga, Donation Only Community Classes, Pilates, Kids and Family classes, and more! Check out their website for exact class details.

And in honor of the new location, Harlem Yoga Studio is offering FREE Yoga outside starting this coming Saturday, May 14. Every Saturday from May 14 through September at 11 AM Harlem Yoga Studio will offer a FREE one hour yoga class at the Target East Harlem Community Garden located at 415-417 East 117th Street, between First and Pleasant Aves.

That’s not all, starting at the end of this month, Harlem Yoga Studio will be offering FREE yoga in Central Park at Harlem Meer. This sounds cool and awesome way to practice yoga!

Overall, there are plenty of options in Harlem for us Harlemites to either continue or start yoga practice!

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Part Four: Spring temptations test NYLean25 April challenge

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Apr 25, 2011 @ 10:30

Our series continues with our HCL reader taking the NYLean25 April Challenge on behalf of HarlemCondoLife.com. In this diary entry. she reports how temptation to eat sweets was at every corner.
Dear HarlemGal,
I am in the home stretch of my NYLean25 April challenge. It’s been going great. 20110425-120905.jpg
However, there are times when its tough. For example, when temptation creeps up right under you at the work place.
Recently, I resisted doughnuts in the office kitchen. Later, a co-worker actually came in to my office with the box to offer me one. I mean, really?!? It wasn’t easy, but I declined. I felt skinnier just for doing that!

However, doughnuts were not the only problem. The other day I resisted the feast on the table in our office kitchen. There were all sorts of fatty sandwiches and cookies and brownies. There was also the catered kid’s birthday party. My god-daughter’s outing was at Dylan’s Candy Bar in the Upper East side (I must admit I did have a few starburst) and then
there have been several Spring work functions with lots of tempting foods and drinks. The temptations really never end! These are not the foods on the NYLean25 diet for sure! I’m not saying I never give in, but if I had it my way, I’d be noshing on a lot more junk food. I have to be honest!

Given all this temptation, I am…well…tempted to have all those things that are not good for me. I need some help readers! How does one resist temptation to cheat on one’s diet? My training and diet with NYLean25 is going very well, but there are so many things that can throw me off. My new motto is WWRD (What would Robert, the trainer and founder of NYLEAN25, do? He would not eat the doughnuts that’s for sure!

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Posted in Community, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Part Three: Harlem Gal Inc reader drops three pounds on NYLean25 April challenge

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Apr 14, 2011 @ 11:30

We have another diary entry from our HCL reader, who is taking the NYLean25 April Challenge in Harlem. She has good news to report!
Dear HarlemGal,
Week one on the NYLean25 is over and I lost three lbs!  I am ecstatic!  Every Friday we get weighed in and measured at the Kennedy Community Center on 135th St in Harlem. We were at Twirl Lounge, but the class got to big so we moved to the Kennedy Community Center.

It’s very hard for me to lose any weight, so I had to do a double take at that scale.  I also lost two inches in my waist.  I thought that must have been a mistake, so I tried on a pair of jeans yesterday and noticed a difference.  I know week two is going to be a bigger challenge.   Isn’t that the infamous week on  the NBC television program called The Biggest Loser when everyone gains weight or stays the same?

I decided to hit up NYLean’s website for some more support.  The at-home workout plans are very easy to read with videos embedded in the descriptions.  The cool thing is one can actually submit a workout log to your trainer.  You can do the same with a food log.  I’ll be submitting that to my trainer Robert this week.  Let’s see what he says!  The website also has articles on fitness, recipes and a calorie counter.

By the way, I used the tip below today when I got a serious craving for some chocolate. I even went a step further and did a teeth whitening session that involves having a tray in your mouth for 40 minutes.  You can’t eat with that on!
Tip #2:  Brush your teeth or eat a mint.  If you get hungry and feel you’re going to cheat, drink a big glass of cold water and then brush your teeth.  If you aren’t in a position to brush your teeth when the craving come on, then pop a sugar-free mint or piece o mint-flavored sugar-free gum.

While doing the tip #2, think this thought: “There is no food that tastes as good as being lean feels!”

Until next time…

Best,
HCL reader C2WL

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UPDATE: Land Yoga to offer Adventures in Yogaland, new Harlem studio opens June 16th

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Apr 14, 2011 @ 9:41

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By HarlemGal
Adventures in Yogaland, a mini-yogi summer camp for kid’s ages 3 and up, is coming to Harlem! And parents can sign up their children now by going to Land Yoga for kids. Discounts apply for those that sign up by May 1st! For those that want to practice yoga, Land Yoga will be opening in Harlem June 16th at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Adventures in Yogaland offers a playful approach to yoga and it involves teaching children how to mimic the world around them by doing engaging, kid-friendly, exercises like moving their bodies in the shapes of plants and animals. Each week’s camp will feature a different yoga adventure, followed by a healthy snack and related art project. The main objective of Adventures in Yogaland is for children to have fun!

Adventures in Yogaland begins in South Harlem Tuesday, June 21st and runs for ten weeks through August, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 PM to 4:30 PM!

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Part Two: NYLean25 day two was tough at Twirl Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Apr 7, 2011 @ 11:00
On Monday, we told how one of our readers is taking the  NYLean25 April Challenge on behalf of HarlemCondoLife.com.  She provides her second diary entry. And based on her words, NYLean25 is getting demanding and at the same time promising.

Dear HarlemGal,
I’d like to first say a quick thanks to my fellow HCL readers for the comments they posted so far. It’s a big help to me and I want them to know it. Keep those comments coming in!

I went to my second class at NYLean25 at Twirl Lounge in Harlem. The class was so full the moved us to the Kennedy Community Center in Harlem.

Day two proved to be much harder than day one. I didn’t realize just how sore my body was until I worked it out again! This session we focused on legs, so there were lots of squats, leg lifts and all that fun stuff. Each week focuses on a different area, so one class will be legs, another will be arms, followed by core. All sessions include high intensity cardio intervals, which is no joke!

I must admit I wasn’t very good on the diet that goes along with the program for the first few days. I hadn’t gone food shopping with my work schedule packed, so I was improvising with stuff I already had. The diet consists of a high fiber, low carb breakfast, non-creamy soup and/or salad for lunch and dinner, and a healthy snack in the morning and afternoon. I finally went food shopping. Currently, I’m stocked up with the right food. I have no excuse!

NYLean25 gave me a list with nine weight loss tips.  I will share them with you throughout my diary entries.  Here is tip #1: drink a minimum of 8 glasses of COLD water a day.  You will burn around 150 calories of energy to heat the cold water to body temperature while simultaneously boosting your metabolism.  (And it’s good for your skin and hair too.) I could go for that!

More soon…

Best,
HCL reader committed to weight loss (HCL reader C2WL)

 

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