| Thanks to everyone who came out for our MOMS & DAUGHTERS class yesterday - we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! |
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We're celebrating Moms this Saturday (1:00pm) with a special afternoon class designed with Mom in mind! Register in advance online or at our WEST location. Expect low impact, low intensity, but lots of fun in this special Saturday class. Bring Mom along for a complimentary workout and the start of a Happy Mother's Day weekend! (16 Years Old +)
Natalya B
My name: Natalya Busygina
Studio (MDR) member since: 2010
Perfect day: Class at The Studio (MDR) + long nap + lots of food + another nap + lots of music
Song that makes me bust out my best dance moves: She Bout It by Charles Sweeting
Favorite Studio (MDR) move: Mega Lunge
Most dreaded move: Reverse Giant Wheel Barrel
First job/current job: Logistics & Supply Chain Manager/Teacher at The Studio (MDR)
On my Netflix queue: Any episode of "Friends". Never gets old.
Guilty pleasure: Shopping for workout clothes
Favorite yoga pants:Fusion Mesh Long Legging by BeyondYoga
Go-to post-workout nosh: Vanilla or Pistachio Shake by PALETA.
Can’t go to sleep without: Double checking that my alarm clock is set. Then checking again!
Why I love The Studio (MDR): The classes at (MDR) have transformed my body, and the people have changed my approach to life and turned it upside down! The Studio (MDR) is an amazing community where you can always bring your friends and make new ones in no time!
AnaHanlon
My name: Ana Hanlon
Studio (MDR) member since: 2014
Perfect day: Sipping margaritas by the sea
Song that makes me bust out my best dance moves: Any R&B or Hip Hop
Favorite Studio (MDR) move: Plank to Push Up to Bear to Pike on the rails
Most dreaded move: Plié Squats
First job/current job: Swap Meet selling jeans/House Frau
The movie I could watch 50 million more times: Any Harry Potter movie
Guilty pleasure: The Beverly Hills Cheese Store
Favorite yoga pants: Wonder Unders
Go-to post-workout nosh: Almond Perfect Bar
Can’t go to sleep without: Feeding Simon (my cat) treats
Why I love The Studio (MDR): It is humbling, in a good way.
Whit
The Studio (MDR) has a track record of bringing people together. Here’s a look at how Whitney and Dan took classes at (MDR) to get ready for their March 28th nuptials—and got even closer to each other in the process.
How did you find The Studio (MDR)?
We live just around the corner (MDR) West and would pass it frequently on our way to the beach. I was a lifelong runner and burnt out and looking for something new. I took one class and got my rear-end kicked soundly! I told Dan he had to try it, so he started taking classes a few weeks later.
How has this shared experience impacted your relationship?
We started taking Jessi's 5a.m. class twice a week. We sometimes go to other classes separately, but we prefer to go together. I have to say it's impacted our relationship in a kind of profound way. There are moments in the workout that are so hard, and your brain is on fire and you're grinding through that burn with your mind is telling you to stop. You want to just let go, then you look over at the person you love more than anything, right there in it with you, and you give each other the fortitude to get through it. Then you can sweatily hug it out afterwards.
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Whitney, was dress shopping more fun because of how fit you became?
Oh yeah! I wouldn't say I was overweight, per se, before I started working out at (MDR). But I had no muscle definition and was about 10 pounds heavier than I am now. My dress was strapless, and (MDR) was instrumental in improving the tone in my arms and back.
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Dan, how did you feel knowing that you were getting fitter and stronger before your wedding day?
It had been about five years since I'd worked out, and it feels good to be taking care of and respecting my body. It sets the right tone to start this new chapter in our lives.
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Will you continue working out at (MDR) now that you’re married?
Yes! I have done lots of sports and many of the branded workouts popular in LA, and none have changed my body and mind while protecting me from injury like the workouts at (MDR). There's something about it that is addictive—the pace, feeling yourself get stronger as weeks go by. The results are quick and the instructors are terrific. We feel very lucky it's nearby.
After giving birth to her third baby, this busy mom had a tough time losing weight and getting back into her pre-pregnancy workout routine. Now, she’s down 18 pounds and up immeasurably in confidence and happiness. Here’s her story.
* All of our transformers will now receive an amazing package of products from Previnex, one of The Studio (MDR)’s partners. To check out the line (and score a discount when you order!) click here
What was it like walking in to The Studio (MDR) for the first time?
My first thought when I walked in was, "OMG, this place is so pretty!" And I remember taking class with Stephanie, who is a teacher now! When I look back, the first two things that come to mind are the bright pink ceiling with the beautiful ambience and Stephanie making me feel so welcome.
Be honest: How tough was that first class?
My first class was an “All Levels” with Dana. I got to The Studio (MDR) in the final few minutes of the class before mine, and as I watched some of the moves, I thought, “OK, that seems manageable—doesn't look too hard." Dana gave me a crash course on the Megaformer, which was alot of info at the time, but I figured I'd be fine because she assured me I would be. Then the class started and it was so hard! The others in the last class (who were drenched in sweat within a minute, by the way) made it look so easy, and there I was, struggling through every single move. Dana helped me so much through the class, and I’ll never forget how shakey I was all over. My legs were crushed, and I was sore for a week. I knew I had landed on a body-changing workout and couldn’t wait to go back for more.
What was your starting point?
I have three daughters; my youngest is 2 and after that last pregnancy, I lost track of all physical activity. I used to be active, going to a gym and doing at-home workouts, but somehow I got "busy" and my gym routine took a back seat. Most the weight I gained during my last pregnancy stayed with me, and I was unhappy and insecure with myself. It saddened me that I couldn't fit the clothes I had in my closet, and I was also tired all the time. So, I made time in to go back to the gym, but it wasn't enough. I knew I needed more. I researched “the best workouts in LA” and that's how I found The Studio (MDR). When I first started taking classes, I was a size 10/12.
In the beginning, I was discouraged because I didn't see a big change right away, but Lindsay really helped me alot, urging me to trust the process. Lindsay was a constant source of motivation; she encouraged me to be patient in my training. And sure enough, like Lindsay promised, I started to feel a difference in my clothes. I stopped weighing myself and started thinking of my (MDR) classes as the most rewarding 50 minutes of "me-time."
Did you have any setbacks along your path of transformation? Any times where you got off-track, or wanted to give up?
I created my own setback once—by overtraining. I was too hard on myself and felt I needed to take a class at (MDR) everyday if I could. Then, one day after I finished a class, I felt an extreme discomfort in my shoulder. It may have been a strained muscle. I had no choice but to rest and I couldn't go to classes for a week. I think I needed that eye-opener to embrace the importance of the "rest-days" with this method.
There were also many times when I found myself wanting to give up, but I remind myself that I've come this far—so I need to follow through. I used to be intimidated whenever I walked into a class because the others working out next to me seemed so much stronger, fitter, and better at each move. Now, I’m not discouraged by that and instead, I use it as my motivation to help push me through.
How far have you come?
In the 7 months I have been taking classes at (MDR), I can say with confidence that I have come a long way—not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally. When I first started, I couldn’t hold plank for even 15 seconds. Each class, I held it a little longer, and a little longer, and when the plank challenge in the beginning of this year happened, I held for almost 4 minutes on my elbows.
I've lost 18 pounds to date and dropped two dress sizes. I didn't realize how much I transformed on the outside until I saw a picture of myself from March 2014. More importantly, I’ve transformed on the inside as well. I'm just happier. I've never felt so good about myself or so comfortable in my own skin.
Now that you’ve come so far, where are you looking toward going from here?
After 7 months at The Studio (MDR), I can honestly say I've found a new me—a better me. I realize now that I'm a constant work in progress, so I have many goals when it comes to my (MDR) sessions. But my one biggest goal is to finish a class with a seamless transition in sequences, without stopping or modifying. I have my work cut out for me because I'm still constantly trying to master alot of the moves and do it in perfect form. But with the guidance and patience everyone here continuously shows me, I know I will get there.
The owner and CEO of The Studio (MDR), Lisa Hirsch, opens up about the power—and sometimes, the pain—of reinventing yourself.
Last week, I got hit with something that millions of Americans deal with on a regular basis: I woke up with severe back pain—pain that was so bad, I could barely walk let alone make my beloved workouts at (MDR). To all of you back pain sufferers out there, let me say that I have now literally felt your pain, and it is something I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy.
I don’t want to harp on the negative, but for a brief moment last week the pain had me feeling so low, so not like myself, that I started wallowing in a teeny bit of self-pity. (OK, maybe it wasn’t so teeny.) I did all of that “pain catastrophizing” the experts talk about, wondering and worrying that my back pain would never subside. But then, I started slowly feeling better—and I realized that my pain was the impetus for a big “ah-ha” moment.
My takeaway? Life is about reinvention. Reinventing the little things, like how you have to bend your knees when you lift something heavy (ahem!), and the big things, like your job, your friends and those pesky bad habits that you’d like to finally break. And what I’ve learned is that the best way to crowd out the “bad” is to usher in something new. That’s why I’m continuously inspired by all of you.
So many of you found The Studio (MDR) and are reading this right now because you were looking to reinvent yourself in some small or big way. Maybe you just wanted to breathe new life into your same-old workout, or you were trying to lose 20 pounds or tone up for your wedding. I know I founded The Studio (MDR) because I felt called to reinvent my career and myself, knowing that my calling was to do something in the health and wellness world rather than the dog-eat-dog music industry.
When I go all Pollyanna on myself, I come back to the fact that these times of reinvention in our liveshelp us get to know our ever-changing selves just a little bit better. The toughest times—the ones that leave you in pain, in awe, or in a rage—actually crack us open in good ways. So while a week on the couch thanks to back pain is the pits, if you’re in a state of constant reinvention and re-evaluation, it’s way easier to take it in stride and chalk it up to being part of your process.
Of course, this is way easier said than done, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a genuine reaction to the tough stuff. However, what’s becoming clearer and clearer to me the longer I’m here on this Earth is that rising above it all and learning from your setbacks is the ultimate goal.
As we embrace Spring and start to think about ushering in Summer, this notion of reinvention is a really powerful one. The seasons are in a constant state of reinvention (yes, even in SoCal!). And The Studio (MDR) is too, with plans for yet another awesome space in the works.
So why not embrace the change? Or better yet, as Gandhi so eloquently said, BE the change. Seek out all the little and big ways you can reinvent yourself right now and know that when you do, you’ll be happier, healthier, and better able to deal with all the curveballs (even the occasional bout of back pain!) that life will sometimes hurl your way.
Big hug,
Lisa
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The Studio (MDR) workout takes it out of you.
Now, Paleta Pressed Pro (P3) helps you put it back and recover from that killer #Megaformer experience.
Created exclusively for The Studio (MDR), our awesome friends at #Paleta have packed 35 grams of protein into their Vanilla Bean for a one of a kind post-workout shake. Vanilla Bean Pressed Pro is only available at The Studio (MDR) in limited quantities - grab one from the fridge today!
Our hot new team of Studio (MDR) teachers are front and center this week with brand new ALL LEVELS classes now on our daily schedule!
After her first #Megaformer workout, Albina was hooked on the intensity and the awesome results of #LagreeFitness. Now she's pushing you to test your limits and change your life! Break a sweat with Albina every Sunday at (MDR) West with two classes at 3:15 & 4:15pm! The roster will fill up quickly, grab your spot now: http://bit.ly/MDRClassSignups
#TheStudioMDR
The Studio (MDR) East has added a brand new Megaformer to the floor.
One more life transformed, every day, every class.
Our hot new team of Studio (MDR) teachers are front and center this week with brand new ALL LEVELS classes now on our daily schedule!
There's a new guy on center stage at #TheStudioMDR, and he thrives on making you sweat. Try keeping up with Justin's back-to-back Saturday afternoon classes at 3:15pm and 4:15pm at (MDR) EAST. Jump on board now: http://bit.ly/MDRClassSignups
#LagreeMethod #Megaformer
For a full list of street and freeway closures, visit this link: http://www.lamarathon.com/race-weekend/street-closures
Our hot new team of Studio (MDR) teachers are front and center this week with brand new ALL LEVELS classes now on our daily schedule!
It's the mental and physical challenge of the #LagreeMethod that brought Olivia to #TheStudio(MDR). She's bringing that same intensity to Thursday nights at (MDR) EAST - two consecutive workouts just added to the schedule at 8:15pm and 9:15pm. Plus a new #Megaformer bed added as well! Get on the roster at:
Our hot new team of Studio (MDR) teacherss are front and center this week with brand new ALL LEVELS classes now on our daily schedule!
Leianna brings the sass and sweat to #LagreeFitness with a powerful midweek workout designed to push you through to the weekend! We're extending our Wednesday line-up with this 8:00pm nightcap at #TheStudio(MDR) East. Reserve one of eleven spots while you still can:
#Megaformer
Are you ready to mix it up? The Studio (MDR) adds 7 new dynamic#LagreeMethod trainers to their already All-Star line up!
Come kick off your (MDR) Monday today at 4PM & 5PM at East with an intense ALL LEVELS class with our kind, charismatic and oh so funny - Olivia Chaniewski
Make sure you check out the full schedule with the magnificent 7 right here:http://bit.ly/MDRClassSignups
Our hot new team of Studio (MDR) teachers are front and center this week with brand new ALL LEVELS classes now on our daily schedule!
Yumi is the most fierce med student you'll ever find on a #Megaformer, and she's kicking off Monday and Wednesday mornings with our new 5:00am classes at (MDR) EAST. Plus we've added a new bed at East - a spot open for you?? Find the full schedule at: http://bit.ly/MDRClassSignups
#LookItFeelItLiveIt(R) #TheStudioMDR #LagreeFitness
Read the full article here: http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2015/feb/17/worklife-lisa-hirsch/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcMPKkgoi1Y
