Alas, spring is here…sort of. April, a month that is traditionally revered as the bridge between seasons, is undoubtedly taking its sweet time to warm up. As I write this on April 10, we are coming out of a weekend in which the average was on the cooler side of the spectrum — in the 50s with a nip in the air. Not ideal for an outdoor event, but I layered up anyway and spent my Saturday at the Charlotte Fitness Sampler, curated by The Beauty Boost.
Craving some seasonal sunshine, fresh air and social activity, the Fitness Sampler, hosted by Sugar Creek Brewing Company and CrossFit Mecklenburg, was the optimal solution. As one of the first 50 people to sign up, I got a swag bag to boot. Springtime score!
It was an ebb-and-flow style fitness event, so it wasn’t necessary to register for each workout session. Each ticket included five 25-minute workouts back to back, all of which were sponsored by a number of various studios. We were able to come and go as we pleased, which is the type of workout I can get down with!
The first workout was a warm-up: an energizing yoga flow led by Jennifer Busco, local healer, yoga teacher, wellness speaker, and creator/host of The Jennifer Jonnie Podcast.
I was definitely feeling the bottle of wine I drank the night prior (all alone), so I skipped the second workout — a CrossFit sampler by CrossFit Mecklenburg — and opted for a veggie dinner at Sugar Creek. Side note: If you’ve been homebound due to the pandemic and feel ready to explore, I recommend the full menu from Sugar Creek’s Belgian-inspired kitchen, which compliments their Trappist-style Belgian beers.
I honestly don’t remember their food having ever been so gratifying. It was hard to choose between their paninis, salads and small plates. But after learning they offer Warehouse Fitness each Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., I will definitely be back for more.
Feeling satiated from my sandwich, I traded in one bar for a different kind of barre. Back at the warehouse, I hopped into a full-body, low-intensity workout with Pure Barre. It was like I never even skipped a beat.
All I can say is hellooo glutes! I’ve heard of yoga butt, but have you heard of “barre butt”? Apparently, it’s a thing, and after that workout, I may be halfway there.
Next in the lineup was a partner full-body workout with Volofit South End. I love their workouts because they offer a unique class every day, but I resent the location. Isn’t South End oversaturated? Will someone please expand to east Charlotte? Bueller? Bueller?
The absolute last thing my booty needed was more toning, lifting and strengthening. Still, master fitness coach Adyana De La Torre-Brucker brought the pain. A day later, I still feel the burn.
Closing out an entire Saturday of fabulous fitness was a welcomed cool-down yoga flow with Charlotte Yoga and a guided meditation with Earth’s Farmacy.
Despite the chill vibes serving to wrap things up, I may have found my workout limit over the weekend. After five back-to-back workouts (minus one because, you know, sandwich life), my body was so beat I couldn’t fathom one more module. Not even a meditation — sigh.
On my way out and face-to-face with the boundaries of my fitness capabilities, my physical discomfort was soothed by a free demonstration with Stretch Lab Dilworth. I’ve noticed the sign driving through Dilworth many times and have been curious about their offerings, but have never stopped by.
After a brief intro session and restorative stretch, they have a new convert. We all know stretching feels good (duh), but it also helps to alleviate muscle tension and reduce pain. If you’re OK with people in your space, a Stretch Lab session will give you a deeper stretch than you could ever achieve on your own.
Suppose you missed this specific fitness event but want to explore more local events centered on self-care. In that case, you’ll want to keep your eye on The Beauty Boost Charlotte.
Woman-owned, the company has created a community where women feel empowered, healthy and beautiful. They offer local events like the Fitness Sampler, retreats, empowerment workshops and socials. They even have membership options — I just haven’t gone that far. Why, you ask? Well, I have commitment issues … and I’m cheap (but at least I’m honest).
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