GRASSROOTS FITNESS PROJECT

For those in the NYC area, check out the Grassroots Fitness Project that is co-founded by Heather Gunn Rivera and Wil Rivera. We took some time to find out more about this gym that focuses on increasing the strength of those that walk through their doors regardless of their age or gender.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How would you describe Grassroots Fitness Project?

HEATHER GUNN RIVERA: Grassroots is a close-knit community that provides top-notch individualized fitness training (in private or small group format) in an empowering, judgement-free environment.

AM: What led to the creation of GRFP and what is its ethos?

HGR: Grassroots was created in 2004 by personal trainers, myself and Wil Rivera. I feel that we were ahead of our time, as we had a vision that would soon become the norm. 

Coming from a big box gym, in a time when there were only big box gyms, memberships, and large group fitness classes, we wanted to open a small mom and pop studio where community, one on one and small group training were the focus. 

This speakeasy gym was home to many on the Upper West Side, because it felt like home, and everyone was treated like family. 

Grassroots Fitness Project (originally named, The Studio on 80th), started out as a live-work space in a residential building, and eventually developed into a thriving business in a 2,200 square foot storefront on the UWS. Steeped in community, for over 16 years, this mom and pop space is still a place where clients come because everyone knows your name. 

AM: What are the programs that are offered at GRFP for those that are looking to get in a great workout?

 HGR: Grassroots offers the following:

• Small group training:

  • Hiit 

  • Hiit express 

  • Superset

  • Core and Restore

  • Women’s Strength 6 week Series

• One on one training (adult/child):

• 60/45/30 minute training programs with focuses on the following:

  • sport specific 

  • post rehab

  • general fitness 

  • pre/post natal

  • osteopenia/osteoporosis 

  • strength 

  • mobility and flexibility 

  • senior and youth 

  • climbing 

  • parkour 

  • yoga 

  • Pilates 

  • in-home training

• In-home Training

•  30 minute stretching or reiki sessions

• Youth Semester Programming:

• epic obstacle 

• parkour

• tween/teen strength

• Special Events

• Youth Camps

• Outdoor Climbing Trips

• Workshops

AM: Although we’re navigating winter at the moment, are there upcoming programs offered in the Spring that our readers should know about?

HGR: YES! Our women’s strength training program.

The women’s strength classes were created based on a need and want. At the age of 30 women start to lose 3-5% of their muscle every decade and after menopause, that number increases drastically. As personal trainers, for over 20 years, we have seen this to be true first hand, and with the saturation of cardio classes in the industry, we felt it was important for us to create balance. Clients (women ages mid 30’s through 50’s) were coming in and saying that they wanted to get stronger and work on strength. This willingness gave us the green light to start strength classes for women! The classes are programmed for a 6-week cycle. Every day is the same workout for 6 weeks so that women can work on form and see improvement via increasing weight. 

As an example, every Monday is the same for 6 weeks, but Tue is a different workout from Monday and so on. The program is set up for people to come every day or choose a few days or choose 1 day. We recommend 3-5 strength days per week. Depending upon goals. 

We also have our core and restore class Tue/Wed/Thur for recovery work. 

The strength classes focus on teaching and breaking down movements so that the client fully understands what they are doing.  Strength is the focus. 8-10 minutes at the end of the class is a higher intensity portion. 

AM: In addition to offering fitness classes, does GFP offer nutrition, post recovery options and more?

HGR: We don’t offer nutrition programs, as we are not nutritionists, but we do offer accountability sessions and food journal check-ins. We have found to be super effective and important for clients. 

If there is a need that is specific to weight loss, eating disorders or auto immune-related, we refer out. 

Post recovery, we offer manual stretching sessions, our core and restore classes and our CBD products.

AM: Are there additional services, equipment, on-demand features (for those that may wish to work out but can’t do this onsite) that are available that our readers should know about?

HGR: Additional services would be in-home sessions, online programming or Skype sessions coupled with access to our YouTube programs. 

We sell an eco friendly calf stretcher and a recycled heavy rope

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PURE YOGA

Pure Yoga is a sanctuary of yoga with a number of practices from pilates, yoga, meditation and teachers that come to both locations (it's definitely encouraged to check the schedule for offerings). 

There are special events such as a recent one we went to from SoundOff Experience. These classes require you to wear illuminated headphones where you can hear the DJ play as the yoga teacher provides instructions. Interestingly enough, we found ourselves in the zone as if it was a one on one session. It's also cool to look out and see a sea of people flowing in the dark with lit headphones!

Founded in 2002, Pure Yoga became a leading yoga studio in Asia, before its arrival on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side of New York in 2008. 

The primary focus for these two locations is to continue to provide great services and quality to its members and guests.

We're fans of the common areas that allow for those who are in between classes or coming in earlier or staying later, can enjoy sitting on chairs and couches to catch up on their work or to interact with others. It's one of our favorite things about coming to this space. Bathroom amenities include shampoo, conditioner, and lotions provided courtesy of Kiehl's. 

Pure Yoga updates their website daily with new offerings, as well as their social channels at @PureYogaNYC for the latest details. Stay on the lookout for a community page that they are setting up as well as an in-studio installation later this year.

After taking a class or signing up for a membership you will notice that their ethos is, "Many practices. One intention." This means that they stay true and authentic to the lineages of yoga and its history, but offer a wide variety of practices.

To that end, they offer 350 weekly classes across 20 yoga styles including, but not limited to, hot yoga, meditation, ashtanga, and iyengar. They also offer their signature barre program Figure 4 Barre and a cross training class.

A variety of workshops, teacher trainings and retreats are hosted by a mix of their own on-scheule faculty, as well as some of the bigger named yogis around the world. They partner with many like minded brands to offer treats to beverages to students.

In addition to great classes, Pure Yoga works closely with the Shop team at Equinox to make sure that the trends in athleisure are offered in their boutique with Pure-branded apparel as well as lines that include Alo Yoga, Beyond Yoga, Lululemon, and more.
 

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 PURE YOGA WEST

204 W. 77th St NY, NY 10024

PURE YOGA EAST

203 E. 86th St NY, NY 10028

Read more from the April Issue and see ATHLEISURE LIST's Pure Yoga in mag.