Tag Archives: health and wellness

Harlem yoga happenings for September

20110906-123901.jpg

There are several exciting yoga events happening in the month of September in Harlem. Some events are as simple and important as the release of a new Fall schedule or an introduction to a traditional Indian medical system known as Ayurveda.

20110906-123851.jpg Harlem Yoga Studio, located at 44 West 125th Street, has implemented their Fall yoga schedule, which includes more yoga classes for adults and children. In addition, Harlem Yoga Studio will continue to offer free outdoor yoga through September on Saturday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Target East Community Garden, located at 117th Street between 1st Ave and Pleasant Avenue.

At Land Yoga on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 114th Street, they will be offering an introduction to Ayurveda on Friday, September 9 from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. The workshop will examine simple remedies that will help promote calmness and ease from stress especially during the fall season. To attend this workshop, register here.

On September 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Land Yoga is also hosting An Evening of Bharata Natyam performed by Jaan R. Freeman. Bharata Natyam is the most popular of the classical dance of India. To attend this event, the cost of admittance is $20 for adults, and $16 for seniors and students with valid ID. Email landyoga@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Celebrate the website redesign of GetHealthyHarlem.org at Harlem Tavern


GetHealthyHarlem.org, a health information website where Harlem residents, families, businesses and organizations can find local information about getting and staying healthy, is have a special gathering tonight at Harlem Tavern. They are celebrating the launch of their website redesign.

According to the organization, viewing and posting information will be much easier on their website, such as a community calendar where readers can post their own events. Go to their website to learn more or better yet, join in on the celebration, it starts tonight at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. at Harlem Tavern. RSVP to gethealthyharlem@gmail.com

Experience a massage at EG Bodywork in Harlem


I want you to meet my new best friend in the area of massage, but shhh…he doesn’t know it! Meet Edwin, founder of EG Bodywork located inside Land Yoga at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd!

Edwin, who specializes in stress reduction  and message therapy services, is now offering his services right here in Harlem on Tuesday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  I recently experienced his Swedish and Deep Tissue massage…and let me tell you, it was out of this world wonderful!

I went to Edwin because like most of us, I was feeling stressed all over. I felt tight in my shoulders, my right ankle was bothering me, my stomach was acting up and just felt restlessness-need I say more. When I went to see Edwin, all of those bothersome items went away. I felt relief in my stomach and ankle; and just plain good all over from a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage.

I felt even better after Edwin explained the benefits of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. According to Edwin, he says through the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration, this type of massage provides relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The goal in Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other benefits include stimulation of circulation, deeper breathing, relaxation, and increase in muscle tone.

As for Deep Tissue, it is aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue. According to Edwin, Deep Tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage working to release chronic muscle tension or knots, also known as “adhesions.”

I hope this blog post explains why I call Edwin my new best friend. He listens about what’s on your mind in terms of aches and pain. He works to help find some relief and then explains the benefits. Isn’t that what best friends are for?

If you want to have a similar experience (and a new bf for massages), learn more by visiting egbodywork.com.

Come to Land Yoga Harlem Grand Opening Celebration, discounts to be offered

Land Yoga in Harlem at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd has been open for about a month and like most new businesses in Harlem, it hasn’t had a slow day since. Their schedule is in full swing, students are showing up in large numbers in LED classes and specialty teachers are in place, such as a health and wellness counselor. With these building blocks in place, it is now time to celebrate with a grand opening celebration. Land Yoga Harlem invites you to their grand opening this Saturday, July 23 from 4-7:00 pm. Lots of cool stuff are planned. Here is the lowdown:

  • There will be yoga demonstrators doing yoga in front of the building!
  • Packets of material will be available that includes schedule, regular and one day only party rates, and information on wellness practitioners: Ed Genece, Serena Dawn, and Candice Taylor!
  • All retail will be 10% during the party!
  • Free reiki or wellness treatments and henna will be offered!
  • The yoga room will be decorated in a moody world theme with flowers and candles by Franz James Floral and accented with music design by DJ David Chang.
  • There will be a sampling of all natural, no cal sokenbicha tea by Anita Bryant.
  • Food and Drink will be provided by 5 and Diamond, 67 Orange, bier international, Harlem Tavern, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Nectar, Red Rooster Harlem, Society, and Zoma.
  • Land Yoga will announce one day discounts, which can be added to any existing package.
  • A PERKS program will be launched, which will offer gift cards from bier international, Lido, and Society for 3, 6, and 12 month Land memberships. 3, 6, and 12 month members also get in-house perks such as 5%, 10%, and 20% off wellness services and retail discounts too!
  • Also, Land Yoga will introduce a Friday night interactive workshop series, a workshop on Mindful Eating hosted by wellness guru Candice Taylor and based off the book Savor, which is sold at Land Yoga.
  • Special guests include the local Daily Troop. They will be in attendance in uniform. Land Yoga is a site sponsor for the local Daisy troop.
  • And most importantly, Land Yoga will be raising money for a local food bank.

So a lot is happening for Land Yoga’s celebration. Come out Saturday afternoon and have some fun with us. I will be there as well as some of my fellow yoga classmates! Hope to see you there!

Shop farmers market and practice yoga in Harlem

Friends of Morningside Park, Community Markets and Land Yoga are putting the tag terms, health and wellness, community and grocery shopping in action. This weekend (July 9th) they are starting outdoor yoga in Morningside Park. From 4 to 5 pm, you can practice yoga under the big blue Harlem sky with Lara from Land Yoga at the 110th St and Manhattan Ave entrance. This free class will be held at the same time every week, weather permitting. So bring your own mat and dristi (focus) to the park.

And also bring your grocery list! The Morningside Farmers Market opens at 9 am sharp!

20110708-024600.jpg

20110708-025659.jpg

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

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!

20110613-105632.jpg

Part 5: NYLean25 fitness challenge in Harlem turning out results

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.

Registration open for Land Yoga adult classes in Harlem

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!

Duke University Alumni and Children’s Aid Society to host free health and fitness day in Harlem

Apr 27, 2011 @ 11:00
By HarlemGal
When the academic world partners with the non-profit world, good things can come about. Here is one of them. This Saturday (April 30), there is a public Community Health and Fitness Day from 9:30 AM-3:00pm in Harlem. The event will be hosted by Duke University in partnership with The Children’s Aid Society at the Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club, where members of the Duke Club of New York volunteer monthly. Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club is located at 14-32 West 118th Street in Harlem.

The event will offer locals, FREE of charge, basic medical screenings, fitness classes, nutrition/wellness seminars, and healthy cooking classes to encourage lifestyle choices that help prevent diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and other preventable medical conditions. Duke Club of New York anticipates serving approximately 400 local residents (adults and children) from Harlem, with the participation and support of more than 100 Duke University alumni volunteers.

So if any of you know of someone that is in need of a health screening, please pass this information along!