Finding My Balance: SUP Yoga Reviewing for Spright with Ebb + Flow

Okay. You caught me. I haven't updated my blog in a while. I blame laziness and vacation... erm, mostly vacation. But everyone deserves a little break from the interwebs every now and then, right? Anyway, here's a little update, from before I headed off on my wonderful week of vacation in the Canadian Rockies with Mr. Man (I'll talk more about that in another post).

A few weeks ago, I got to spend a wonderful evening reviewing a SUP (stand-up paddleboard) yoga class for Spright.com.

Now, let me be perfectly clear. I had never done regular SUP -- let alone SUP yoga -- before I headed down to the Key Bridge Boathouse to take one of Ebb + Flow's SUP yoga classes a few weeks ago, so I was a little nervous.

Looking back on it now, I probably wouldn't have ever thought to try the class in the first place if it wasn't for the Ebb + Flow founder, Jane Daly. Earlier in 2015, Jane introduced herself to me at a Grip the Mat yoga event, where I was working a Fiterazzi photo-booth. Even though the weather at the time was too chilly for SUP, Jane encouraged me to follow up with her in the summertime and come and try out a class.

So, after a few weeks of seeing all the paddleboarders out on the Potomac, enjoying the warm summer weather, I decided to follow up with Jane and take her up on her offer.

Now, I won't give away too much of my review (you should go read it on Spright!), but I will show you some pictures I took (with just my GoPro 3) and leave you with an excerpt to enjoy.

.... Our class started with stand-up paddleboarding demos to help any SUP newbies in the class (cough, me, cough) feel more comfortable on the water.

Then, once everyone was given their boards, personal floatation devices, anchors, and paddles, we were off, making our way to a small cove of calm water on Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Once we reached the cove, everyone put down their anchors and settled into child’s pose before starting the practice. As the hour passed, we flowed through a series of modified vinyasa moves including downward facing dog, warrior three and, aptly, boat pose....

Read more here!

Side-note: I've got to say, I'm pretty impressed with the quality of my GoPro shots -- for such a little thing, it did a pretty good job. Maybe next time I'll take my Canon out on the water -- or not. It is my non-waterproof baby, after all.

California Dreamin' in San Francisco with Jackelyn Ho

In case you were wondering, it's totally possible to become besties with someone who lives on a different coast than you who you've never actually met in person.

Don't believe me? Enter the awesome Jackelyn Ho.

You might know Jackelyn from a Nike fitness class, or perhaps for a guest appearance in a Blogilates video, but I know her as the founder and awesome editor and chief of the 2014-2015 online publication, Fiterazzi Magazine.

Jackelyn and I first met through Fiterazzi Magazine, when I first applied to be a writer in January 2014, and everything just took off from there.

From helping brainstorming crazy story ideas, to coming up with the next best thing for Fiterazzi, I had a total blast working for Jackelyn. She totally fostered my crazy and pushed me to be the best fitness writer/photographer I could be! Eventually, when I became Fiterazzi's Assistant Editor, we got to work on more strategic plans together too which was so so cool and helped us to become pretty good friends.

It's so cool when you get to meet other people who love the things you do and have a drive to do something awesome too, right?

Even now, with Jackelyn working at Spright (the site the acquired Fiterazzi), I still get to talk to her on a regular basis, which is fab. I'm telling you, finding people who you can be friends with AND work with is so rare and awesome! I'm super lucky to have met and gotten to know Jackelyn -- she's gonna do great things!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I got to go to the West Coast and finally visit Jackelyn and her man in San Francisco, which was awesome!

We did all the silly touristy things like Golden Gate Bridge (silly Karl the fog)....

... seeing the Full House house....

... eating...

... and selfieing...

... and eating....

... and hanging out and just having a BALL!

It was so cool to be in a new place with awesome friends just enjoying all the awesomeness that is life.

Hopefully, Jackelyn and her man will have some time to come an visit me and Mr. Man here in DC -- I think I can show them a good time, don't ya think?!

Springing into New Beginnings with Spright!

What a better way to kick off the spring season than with new beginnings at a brand new company?

Yeah, that's what I thought. NOTHING.

After saying farewell to Fiterazzi Magazine last month and watching it transform into Spright over the past few weeks, I'm so happy to announce that I'll finally start writing for Spright as a freelancer later this month. Yay!

Despite all the crazy that was March (moving, traveling, etc.)  I've really missed writing, researching and reporting about all things heatlh and fitness, so I'm really looking forward to kicking things off with a bang with Spright.

(Side note, I still need to write about my trip to San Fransisco to visit the lovely Jackelyn Ho and share some BIG NEWS with you. Yikes! I'll jump on that ASAP guys, sorry!)

When one door closes, another always opens, right?

Farewell Fiterazzi.

If there's one thing I've figured out at the ripe age of 23, it's that life is about change -- and my life is no exception to that rule.

After nearly 365 days of writing for Fiterazzi Magazine, the online, positive body-image magazine founded by Jackelyn and Cassey Ho of Blogilates, my journey with the publication has come to and end.

Long story short (I can't say exactly what just yet), but Fiterazzi in its current form will be undergoing some huge (BUT GOOD!) changes starting March 17. Due to these changes, I will no longer be the assistant editor of my favorite fitness magazine.

Womp. womp.

Good thing is, I'm pretty sure I'll still be able to write for the "new" Fiterazzi ... stay tuned on that one.

It funny. Over the past year, Fiterazzi has really helped be my creative outlet as I navigate the tricky world of adulthood. Through job changes, new relationships, seasons, tears, smiles and more -- Fiterazzi has been my one constant outlet to deal with all of this mess.

Now that my rock is shifting, well, I can't help but feel a little sad to lose that outlet in my life.

But that's okay.

I'll just have to look for a new side project to pour my passions in :)

My first cover story and photo for Fiterazzi Magazine

It might be the end of February, but I'm still celebrating this one big-time.

Earlier this month, I wrote about a cover photo shoot I did for a feature story I was writing for Fiterazzi Magazine, which ran earlier this month.

Not only was the first time a photo of mine was featured on the cover of the magazine, but it was also the first time my story was the lead cover story!

Guys, I worked really really are on this story. From vetting the sources, to attending events, to interviewing the Grip the Mat girls, to actually sitting down and editing the photos and writing the story, this piece was multiple weeks in the making.

Here's a snippet from the actual story...

In the summer of 2014, Christy Skarulis and Ashley Braun noticed that their friends were all asking them same sort of questions.

“Ashley, should I hang out at a happy hour with my friends after work or should I hit the gym?”

“Christy, should I go to that yoga class Sunday morning or should I meet the girls for brunch?”

For the two twenty-something yoginis, who met in yoga teacher training in Washington, DC, it seemed ridiculous that their friends were having to decide between socializing or taking care of their bodies.

Why wasn’t there something people could do with their friends that combined the social aspect of a happy hour and the mind-body benefits of a yoga class?

Realizing that there were no existing options to solve this dilemma, the entrepreneurial duo took matters into their own hands and started a never-been-done kind of fitness social event company called Grip the Mat.

Read more here.

My First-Ever Live Event for Fiterazzi Magazine at Wonderbread Factory, DC!

Sundays are for waking up late, snuggling in bed with coffee and, of course, Grip the Mat's Bendy Brunch!

If you don't know what Bendy Brunch is ... think yoga, unlimited mimosas by Vinolovers, KIND Snacks, Buffalo and Bergen fresh juices and a gourmet brunch by Spike Mendelsohn. Noms.

Anyway.

A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Bendy Brunch at the Wonder Bread Factory in DC not as a photographer for Grip the Mat, but as an ambassador/booth host for Fiterazzi Magazine -- something I've never done before!

Let me explain.

We loved hanging out at our @fiterazzi social polaroid photo booth today at @gripthemat's #bendybrunch in #DC! Thanks @spikethechef, @buffalobergendc, @thevinolovers and @kindsnacks for the fab food & drink! Hugs our helpers and everyone who came to this awesome #yoga #fitness event!

A photo posted by Sandi Moynihan (@sandimoynihan) on Jan 25, 2015 at 11:57am PST

See, Fiterazzi had been wanted to partner with Grip the Mat ever since we found out about the company in the fall of 2014. After a bit of brainstorming, we decided that we would sponsor our very own Fiterazzi Social Polaroid Photo Booth at a Grip the Mat Bendy Brunch.

The idea was that people would leave with a fun Polaroid photo memory of the day -- but only if they took a photo of the booth, tagged Fiterazzi and Grip the Mat and shared the photo on Instagram and/or Twitter. We wanted to help boost both Fiterazzi and Grip the Mat's social footprint in a way that was still fun and not SO labor intensive that it turned people away, and I think we totally accomplished that.

Having so much fun at the @fiterazzi social photo booth at @gripthemat with @christynoele and @abraun2 #dc! #yoga #fitness #bendybrunch

A photo posted by Sandi Moynihan (@sandimoynihan) on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:44am PST

Besides playing host, handing out flyers and taking snaps of people, I also got to practice yoga at the event -- something I normally don't get to do when I'm busy taking photos. It also helped that my awesome buddy Alisha was there to help me out so I didn't go totally crazy brained during the day -- kudos girl.

Loving the @fiterazzi social photo booth at @gripthemat #bendybrunch in #dc! #yoga #fitness

A photo posted by Sandi Moynihan (@sandimoynihan) on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:12am PST

I think we had about 40 people come through the booth to take photos, which was totally awesome!

All in all, it was a really fun event and I can't wait for an opportunity to host a booth again for Fiterazzi. Here's to the next time!

@fiterazzi social photo booth is kicking off at @gripthemat #bendybrunch in #dc! #yoga #fitness

A photo posted by Sandi Moynihan (@sandimoynihan) on Jan 25, 2015 at 9:09am PST

Behind the Shoot: Grip the Mat Cover Shoot for Fiterazzi

In the creative world schedules are never predictable. Shoots happen at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. People are late. Cameras break. Things go wrong.

But sometimes, just sometimes, everything goes right.

That was exactly the case for my recent (well, sort of, late-January kind of recent) photo shoot with the lovely ladies of Grip The Mat for their recent February cover on Fiterazzi.

Now that the cover is finally published, I can share my awesome photos with you and tell you a little bit about the shoot.

I've blogged about Grip the Mat before and how I've photographed their yoga social events, but this shoot was extra special. See, although I've written and photographed for Fiterazzi for over a year, I've never had a cover photo or cover story before.

Add that excitement to the fact that I totally love the concept behind Grip the Mat and you've got the formula for awesomeness.

 

We toyed around with the idea of doing the shoot outside in the winter cold (stupid, I know), going to an art gallery or doing it in someone's apartment, but none of those seemed fitting. As the deadline of the cover story loomed closer, I realized the perfect place for the shoot: Tryst Coffeehouse and Bar in Adam's Morgan.

Bingo.

The ladies of Grip the Mat and I arrived bright and early at Tryst at 7 a.m. morning before work and basically struck gold.

I mean. The lighting. The colors. Everything was spot on, for the most part. In retrospective, some of angles are a bit off, but hey, I can't win everytime.

... or can I?

That Time I Shot an Event at Hierarchy DC for Grip The Mat

Happy Monday! I hope you're having a fabulous & warm start to your week, especially if you're in the Northeast area (stay save in this crazy blizzard weather!).

I'm coming off quite a high from last week's craziness. Not only did I have a bunch of my stories for the USO publish, but I hosted my first-ever booth for Fiterazzi at a Grip the Mat Bendy Brunch event -- but more about those things in later posts.

First, I want to take you back in time. Back before New Years toasts and Christmas morning hugs to those sweet weeks of anticipation before December 25th...

Before I headed off on my amazing tropical Christmas vacation, I had the privilege of shooting another yoga event for Grip The Mat. 

One of the duo's signature events is called Vinyasa to Vino, which is essentially a combined happy hour and yoga class.

I believe they've hosted all of these at Hierarchy DC (where I was at), which is a hip little art gallery in Adams Morgan.

While the space was tight and the lights were few and dim, I managed to capture some really nice moments and even got to whip out my new Canon 7d (woop!) for its inaugural run.

I know it's not a Mark III, but hey, I'm progressing as fast as my bank account will allow me.

I'll admit, I don't have shooting a yoga event down pat. I'm still learning which poses and angles are fabulous in pictures and which ones are super awakard for both the shooter and the shootee. I'm pretty confident I'll get there though.

In the meantime, I'll keep snapping pics and you, my friends, will give me all the feedback in the world.

New Year, Same Fabulous Blog: Why I Haven't Been Posting & More

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a restful holiday season and ate plenty of chocolate-filled goodies :)

The past few months have been a total blur for me -- which is probably the reason why I haven't posted in so long. Over a month without a single update, yikes!

Don't worry -- if you look at my other media outlets, I haven't been as active either, so don't be too offended.

See, aside from dealing with work & gig craziness, spending the holidays with my family in Hawaii and getting my feet wet at my new side gig as Fiterazzi's assistant editor (read: BUSY), I thought it was very important that I take a bit of a social media break during the months of December and January.

I love social media. I love photography. But I, like all people, need to take the occasional forced digital haitus for the sake of mental sanity to avoid burning out. Honestly, nothing is more refreshing than just... tuning out of the digital world for a few weeks to recharge, which is exactly WHY I did just that!

All that being said, I'm refreshed, re-energized and ready to take on the year with full gusto! I hope you are too!

In the coming weeks, look for posts about what I've been up to the past month and a half, as well as some of my fabulous vacation shots.

Take care!

My Fiterazzi latest: Tights Review, HIITs & Tips for Staying Healthy this Holiday Season

Happy Friday! For some reason, weeks after holidays always feel the longest. It's not like anything bad has happened -- I love my job -- but something has had me looking forward to a low key weekend all week long.

I blame the grey winter weather that's rolled in. Anyway.

Over the past few weeks, I've been doing a lot of photography, writing and organizing for Fiterazzi Magazine, who I moonlight for when I'm not working for the USO.

Just before Thanksgiving, my article all about the latest and greatest in workout leggings hit the web and has been doing fabulous!

I've gotten a lot of great feedback from readers about this article, so that's super encouraging. I think next time I'll try to keep the prices of the products I sample in mind. Some of my readers pointed out that the options were a little out of thier price ranges. Woops.

Anywho. Here's a sneak peak for you to read :)

You can read the full piece here.

Oh, and if you're feeling like you want to get a workout in, I also whipped up a fun Pre-Turkey Day HIIT.

I also wrote a fun little piece about a few easy tips and tricks to staying healthy during the holidays.

I think people can get caught up in the business of holiday festivities and forget to take care of themselves, so I thought it would be helpful to write up a little guide of how to keep yourself on track no matter how festive you might get.

Here's a peak at that story.

You can read the full piece here.

Enjoy!

Behind the Shoot: Fiterazzi Leggings Test Photo Shoot

One of the best parts about writing for a new magazine like Fiterazzi is the chance to involve my friends and acquaintances in my work, and my latest project was no exception.

Last month, I released a HUGE review of 13 different fitness leggings brands to try, and, before doing so, hosted a wonderful afternoon photoshoot for the story at Union Station with two fab fit models and fellow Alpha Delta Pi - Pi Chapter sisters Pamela Fitzgibbons and Pavla Ovtchinnikova.

I hadn't caught up with either of these ladies in the longest time, so I was thrilled to have them be my models for an afternoon -- plus, who doesn't love taking pictures of their friends?

Not only did we shoot some fabulous pictures, but I got to hear all about their busy awesome lives and, let me tell you, they're both going to set the world on talent and look fit and fab doing it!

Besides the awesome company and fresh faces for this shoot, this was also one of the first indoor shoots I've done for Fiterazzi.

I don't normally host shoots inside for my fitness pieces because the lighting is so much better outdoors, but because the weather has gotten so cold (it was 30 degrees outside the day of the shoot), I've been scoping out more interesting indoor spots, and thought Union Station's bright but corporate look would be a nice change of pace for the shoot.

I think the shots turned out alright. Thoughts?

Dare to Go Bare: My latest for Fiterazzi

Take. It. OFF! Take it all off! Your makeup, I mean...

While I enjoy the occasional dab of blush, most days, I'll admit, I'm 100% makeup free, and happy to be so!

To me, makeup is more of a costly, acne-causing early wake-up call than a fun part of my daily routine, so I choose to skip it on the regular.

In my latest story for Fiterazzi, I dish all about my non-makeup ways and give ten awesome reasons to skip the mascara and head out the door.

Here's a preview of my post:

Read the full article here!

Behind the Shoot: Spooktacular-ly-awesome photos for Fiterazzi Magazine!

Happy almost Halloween! I hope you're as jazzed about the festivities tomorrow as I am!

This past weekend I hosted the fall shoot for Fiterazzi Magazine with a few of my fit-minded friends. the idea behind this shoot, in comparison to the summer shoot was to capture some fall foliage/scenes and showcase some new fitness moves in the cooler autumnal weather -- andd talk about autumnal weather, we scored the JACKPOT on Sunday. 60 degrees. Sunny. What's not to like?

My four lovely models and dear friends -- Alisha, Sarah, Autumn and Sara -- donated their smiling faces and strutted their stuff on camera for me about two hours total.

It's funny, before the shoot,  I don't think any of the girls new each other, but they all knew me, and by the end of the session, they were all laughing, smiling and getting along splendidly.

I met each of these ladies in a very different way and each at a different time in my life.

Autumn, the lovely African-American sporting the charcoal sweater, met me when I was 18 when we were both starting out playing on the GW softball team together

Alisha, who's gorgeous dark complexion makes her pink jacket just POP, I met earlier this year while playing dodge ball at a local social sports league, USS, here in the city.

 

Sara, the fierce gal rocking the short hair cut, has been my creative competitor and close friend for years, since we studied journalism and video production together at SMPA.

And the other Sarah, who's wearing my favorite pair of BODYPOP watercolor print leggings, was one of the first real-world friends I made when I was working with her at Post TV -- the video outlet of the Washington Post.

Each of these women has been a friend to me in her own special way -- which is why I was so glad they all got to meet each other and help represent Fiterazzi with me, looking fit and fabulous in on the streets of D.C. on that spectacular fall day.