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I admit it. I was suspect upon entering Manduu, a modern and compact space located in downtown Miami. Oliver Strauss, President for Manduu USA, confirmed he gets a lot of that, since the philosophy is new in the US. Already established in Europe with over 60 locations, Strauss is passionate about spreading the health benefits of electrical muscle stimulation, or EMS, across the country.Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is the prompting of muscle contraction using electric impulses. The Manduu philosophy uses EMS to help customers achieve in just 15-minutes a week, the same results they would get from weight training at a conventional gym. Strauss says, “It’s the perfect solution for busy professionals with busy schedules.”EMS aims to develop every muscle group equally, in order to achieve a stable body. The electric impulse reaches deep muscle tissues and more than 90 percent of muscle fibers. This helps increase muscle mass at a speedier rate, thus increasing metabolic rate which impacts number of calories burned while a body is at rest. Strauss equates EMS to charging a battery. With each session at Manduu, “we load-up the battery, with the long-term goal of keeping the battery fully charged for as long as possible.”Following an assessment of my personal well-being and health goals, I step onto the InBody machine for body composition analysis. The report provides a breakdown on body makeup -- water-to-protein, to-minerals, to-body fat mass, as well as muscle-to-fat ratio and body segments (e.g. arms, legs and core) ratio. It even informs me of my visceral fat composition, or fat surrounding key organs.Oliver explains that Manduu evaluates clients in three categories: C-Type, I-Type and D-type, determined by analysis rates of weight, skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass. When connecting the dots of where each measurement sits on the spectrum, the line makes either a C, I or D shape. C translates to muscle mass being under what it should be, while I means a balanced body with all parts equal. But the goal is a D-shape, when your muscle mass is greater than weight and body fat mass. This analysis informs the regimen your Manduu personal trainer will develop for you, taking into account your health goals.Trainer Mike John sets me up in the special vest and shorts, kitted out with EMS sources to connect me to the machine. After reviewing proper form and the importance of flexing my muscles during the 15-minute session for maximum impact, we get started.We evaluate the electrical stimulation levels for each part of my body, ensuring I am comfortable with the sensation. The workout includes squat variations, dumbbell lifts and tricep kickbacks with a device called a Smovey, and ab crunches. All of this performed while receiving the muscle stimulation, which provides a tingling sensation.As a maximum resistance base workout, I could definitely feel my muscles being challenged. It felt like exercising against a very strong ocean current. By the end of the 15 minutes, I feel slightly sore, similar to concluding a really powerful session at the gym.Manduu philosophy is that each individual is just that, an individual and discourages comparison to others. They focus on individual goals, with personal trainers customizing workouts to your specific body composition, in a private atmosphere.Currently there are a few Manduu locations throughout the US, with the goal of 8 studios by the end of the year. Each location is connected, allowing customers to enjoy any studio as they do their hometown one. For more information and pricing visit www.manduu.com.

“Forbidden black coconut rice, marinated kale, raw roots, hickama beets, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato hummus, lentils and adasha which is a local based protein that a local entrepreneur named Taylor Cohen invented - we’re the first restaurant to feature it.”You ask the woman what her favorite bowl is and she responds with the healthiest mouthful of ingredients you have ever heard, and of course shares the creation of a local entrepreneur like herself. That’s Della Heiman for ya!Oh wait, do you know Della? Have you heard of The Wynwood Yard? Well, she created the magical space!“The Wynwood Yard is a culinary incubator for promising food and beverage entrepreneurs to launch their concepts, iterate and be part of a collaborative and supportive community,” says Heiman.

Della was always intrigued by what her parents did running a 3rd generation family business. When asked as a child what she wanted to be when she grew up, Della always new she would be a businesswoman.“I think the funny part about that, is in my mind, when I said ‘business woman,’ I envisioned a woman in a business suit sitting at a desk talking to people, and now I’m running around all day crawling on the ground, shoveling dirt and picking up trash!”After Harvard Business School, with a business plan in hand, Heiman came to Miami on a whim and it’s been more incredible then she could have imagined.“I moved here to open Della Test Kitchen as a brick and mortar space, but real estate is so inflated in Miami, I couldn’t find a space that made economic sense,” recalled Heiman. “So it ended up that I needed to get a little more creative. I had met so many inspiring entrepreneurs along the way that were facing the same barriers to entry that I was, so I decided to change up the model and do this incubator instead. Then I launched the restaurant inside it.”

Along with being an incubator attracting dynamic entrepreneurs in the neighborhood, The Wynwood Yard has become a sort of haven to locals with interests in the arts, food & beverage and fitness industries, and the community has been collaborative in making all of this accessible.“It’s been incredible to work with so many different people across so many fitness platforms and it’s really unique. Here we do everything from Zumba, to Pilates, to yoga, to hula hooping classes, to runs and it’s all over the map,” boasts Heiman.“I’ve been really inspired by the generosity of so many instructors and studio owners who just want to give their gift to the community and don’t want to charge anything for it, they just want to give free classes to enhance the community and it’s just the most generous thing ever.”

The Wynwood Yard puts out a calendar monthly with anywhere from 20-30 events a week. If you’re lucky, you may just be around when a high-profile artist like Shakira show’s up.While strolling through the Yard, you’ll notice a garden tucked away in the back. This is an organic garden curated by the Little River Cooperative then harvested by the Yard, with the produce showing up in your dish when dining at Della’s Test Kitchen or the newest Wynwood Yard resident, Charcoal Bar and Grill.During her college years, Della had the opportunity to travel abroad living in Mexico, Spain and Chile with families picking up culinary inspiration from each of them.

“I always loved cooking with my mom ever since I was little,” recalls Heiman. “Everything I know about cooking is from spending time with people that have been cooking a certain way for a very long time then learning how they do it and experimenting in my own kitchen.”And her advice to individuals, like myself, who are so much better at consuming then creating dishing, “don’t be afraid to experiment. I feel like cooking is all about having fun in the kitchen and just enjoying yourself and not worrying about messing up. It’s just food and you can always figure it out.”

The popularity of Spinning has grown exponentially in the last decade. According to Statista, in 2013 over 43 million Americans participated in indoor cycling activity. This has no doubt increased with the explosion of boutique spinning studios across the country.For my first ever spin class, I gave Miami’s newest studio, Cyclebox, a try. Cyclebox is a secondary concept from FitBox Method founder, Avidan Edelsberg. Unassumingly tucked away in the back of the Bay Parc Plaza lobby, the modern designed gym houses two spaces - a high-end gym for Fitbox Method and a space resembling a nightclub for Cyclebox.I checked-in at the front desk and was assured that the bikes allow you to clip-in or use standard sneakers. Then I entered the Cyclebox studio, where music videos were playing on the 150-inch giant screen at the front and the dimly lit room immediately giving the feeling of a high-energy dance party. The nearly 20 bikes are surrounded by mirrored walls and the room has a subtle glow highlighted by black lights. I am confident the class will live up to the description I read of feeling like you are coming out of a night club after dancing all night.

*Read: 10 Miami Gyms You Need to Try in 2017*

Instructor Daria Deptula (@missfitvegan) gets us right into it, with a packed playlist of songs and accompanying music videos that you can’t help but move to, including tunes from Bon Jovi, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Imagine Dragons and Lady Gaga.Music is one of the most important parts of Deptula’s class. She believes that, “focusing on the rhythm helps people push through and work harder.” And adds, “Cyclebox is different from other spin classes that have a heavy focus on reaching certain RPMS, putting too much emphasis on numbers and not enough on fun. Cyclebox pushes you to ride to the beat and use the music to drive your energy.”Edelsberg has built Fitbox Method and Cylcebox on his philosophy of fitness as a lifestyle. He believes “if you are having a good time then you are more likely to come back and commit to the workout.” He wants classes to be a fun hobby not a gruesome workout.Daria made the class so much fun - with dancing, arms pumping and some occasional singing. The 45-minutes, which included a round of weights to ensure a fuller-body workout, flew by and I left feeling energized!Cyclebox officially launches June 12th with a regular daily class schedule in mornings and evenings. Classes will be taught by rockstar instructors including Daria Deptula, Johnny Rhodes (@iamjohnnyrhodes), Ana Rodriguez and Nadia Porter. Keep an eye out for theme classes, like Ultra Wednesdays, where high definition quality Ultra Music Festival concerts will be powering the flow of the class.Cyclebox is located at 1756 North Bayshore Drive, Suite 119, across from Margaret Pace Park. Class schedules can be found here and membership fees here.

Summer is here (although it’s summer pretty much all year round here in the 305!) and we find ourselves eager to lose those extra pounds gained through the Winter months. We might not have gained that much, but two, three or even four pounds can make us feel a bit uncomfortable and hesitant about throwing that bikini on.Here are 5 tips to motivate and kick start those healthier summer habits.

1. Don’t Wait for Monday – Just Start

Mondays are probably the worst day to start a diet because it brings on that pressure to starve 10 minutes after breakfast, setting up the perfect excuse to overindulge the rest of the week. Choose any other day to make a commitment with yourself to start eating healthier.

2. If You Don’t See It, Don’t Eat It

Get rid of all the leftovers in the fridge, all the chocolate, chips and cookies in the cabinets and all the soda that may be lying around. If you don´t have bad food around, chances are you won’t eat it.

3. Organize Your Groceries

Everything in life needs some organization and your eating should be no exception. Plan out your weekly meals and go grocery shopping based on the menu. This is one of the easiest ways to stay on track and avoid buying those unwanted items at the store.

4. Eat Carbs

Yes, you read it right: eat carbs! They are necessary for your health and even more if you are exercising. Be smart and choose complex carbs like sweet potatoes, brown rice, corn, quinoa and whole grain. They will keep you satisfied and avoid those unhealthy drops in blood sugar.

5. Move

A good diet makes a huge difference, but moving is the “cherry on top.” Mix up your routine to target different muscle groups. Try to do something every day for at least 45 minutes, even if its walking. You won’t regret it.

In 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) launched the ACSM American Fitness Index (AFI) with the intention to help communities across the U.S boost the health of residents in order to expand and support healthy lifestyles.Within the yearly reports of the AFI the economic and demographic diversity of each community, level of chronic disease condition, health measures, and community resources that support physical activities and other aspects are evaluated.For the 2017 AFI Report, our very own magic city, Miami, was ranked the #23 fittest city out of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It evaluated the areas pertaining to Miami-Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.People in Miami are taking into consideration what they consume on a daily basis. There is more vegetable and fruit consumption. Health is becoming a topic of depth at schools, fitness facilities and events are having a drastic expansion around the city.To view to full pdf-report by the AFI on statistics of the metropolitan areas including Miami you can visit: http://www.americanfitnessindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ACSM-AFI-Report-2017.pdf

Pilates ProWorks, an outside-the-box fitness concept centered on the fundamentals of classical Pilates with a modern, innovative twist, is excited to introduce its latest original workout - Tone & Flow.An athletic combo class delivering a vigorous flow between yoga and Pilates, Tone & Flow demonstrates Pilates ProWorks’ dedication to providing fun, high-energy workouts that offer variety and keep clients engaged.Through a fusion of familiar yoga postures, calisthenics and Pilates core strengthening moves, Tone & Flow allows clients to sculpt, tone and flow their way to a strong body and calm mind.From upbeat yoga sequences designed to raise your heart rate, to plank variations that will challenge muscles you didn’t know you had, to a series of stretches to combat tension, participants will improve balance, stamina and flexibility, and achieve effective, sustainable results without the pain or harm of more high-impact workouts. Ample available modifications make this 55-minute mat class accessible to all levels.“Continuing to develop diverse and inventive fitness is a fundamental part of Pilates ProWorks,” said Pilates ProWorks Co-Founder Taylor Carter. “By fusing Pilates and yoga, clients can now gain the mind-body benefits of the two practices all in one dynamic, efficient class. It’s a powerful two-in-one workout and we’re beyond excited to roll it out to all of our studios.”Tone & Flow joins the roster of Pilates ProWorks’ beloved creative offerings such matBox, a full-body workout that brings together kickboxing, Pilates and Yoga into one intensity-packed session; and Pilates Pro, the signature amped-up Pilates class that combines resistance, lengthening, and strength training into a high-energy, music-fueled total body workout.Tone & Flow is rolling out to Pilates ProWorks across the country including the Coral Gables location in South Florida.

You can order just about anything these days with an app on your phone – a car service, food, groceries - you name it, it will find a way to your doorstep. So why not add ‘personal trainer’ to the mix? Enter Helthee App – the Uber for fitness.Started by a trio of Miami natives – Brett Heimann, Zachary Parris and Gabriel Penaloza, Helthee App makes it simple for you to connect and book with certified fitness professionals in your area and at your convenience. Simply download the Helthee App or log on to Helthee.com. Choose from a variety of workout types, desired time and location, trainer gender preference, and book in seconds. A certified, vetted and insured Helthee trainer will arrive at your home, office, hotel or local park in as little as an hour, or up to a month in advance with start times as early as 5:30am and as late as 9:30pm.Helthee trainers will bring all the required equipment for your appointment. All appointments are 60 minutes and you can book single (solo), pair (you + a friend), or small-group (you + 4 of your friends). Helthee's services are available 365 days including holidays. The Helthee App is currently available across all iOS&Android devices.Earlier this year, Helthee App expanded to New York City, a market critical to their growth."It's an exciting step for us expanding into New York City," said Brett Heimann, CEO & co-founder at Helthee. "New York City is the first stop of our nationwide expansion, as we plan on bringing Helthee: On Demand Fitness to other growing, health-conscious cities that are ready to take advantage of our services."

The Superior Bike Shop opened this month, to offer Miamians a distinctive, and affluent, new way to travel the city. Catering to both serious cyclists and luxury lovers who pedal for pleasure, the high-end shop pays tribute to the tradition of bike riding while being inherently future-forward.The new 1,500 square foot space, located in the heart of Wynwood at 2105 NW 2nd Avenue, features an elite collection of contemporary, hand-assembled bikes from Europe that were handpicked based on their one-of-a-kind quality, performance and limited availability in the United States.

The Superior Bike Shop boasts three contemporary brands – Schindelhauer, Fabike and 8bar – that are committed to designing and producing the lightest and fastest urban bikes for the modern city. Frames are designed for brisk city biking and made using super light-weight titanium, carbon fiber and aluminum alloys found only in professional sports until recently.A focus on technical innovation has allowed these brands to incorporate the most advanced technologies and time-tested design elements including: Gates carbon drives, Brooks seats and handlebars, Schimano cranksets, Pinion gearboxes, Rohloff Speedhubs and slick hand-made tires and wheels. Both men’s and women’s bikes are available and prices range from $2K to $7K.

“The Superior Bike Shop experience is like stepping into art gallery, where the bicycles are appreciated for their design and technology and admired like pieces of art,” explains Michael Nikolaev, founder and bike enthusiast. “Owning a bike from The Superior Bike Shop is a unique privilege as they are masterpieces designed to be comfortable, durable and timeless.”The bikes are sculpted for performance, and every line serves a purpose. Seating is complimented by minimalistic materials to provide secure balance while ergonomic support ensures complete control. The lightweight frames offer easy transportation, and carbon fiber belts eliminate the unrefined mess of oil for a lifetime exceeding 20,0000 kilometers.Miami’s wealth of character and unrivaled style served as the inspiration for The Superior Bike Shop while the city’s climate and flat terrain make it an ideal landscape for those on two wheels.

Today, I grabbed my car keys and my little man's hand and headed out to run errands. I have become accustomed to driving in Florida, but the native New Yorker in me decided we are walking today.In New York, I walked everywhere. My fitness studio was a 20-minute walk from my house. The six days a week trek in sunshine, snow or rain was my time.Walking with my boy today, I thought of the different cities I've trained the different cultures, yet one thing remains the same no matter where I lived.I hear around this time of the year... "I want to be Summer Ready!'So I thought of some ways to prepare for a Summer Body no matter where you reside. I am all about your journey and want you to enjoy the road to your summer body. Here’s how to get it done.Set Your GoalsWhat are your specific goals? Its easy to be general and say, “I want a summer body.” What does a summer body mean to you? Get specific.Do you want to gain muscle, lose some weight or something more fun like tank top arms? Write down those goals and set a strategy. A goal with no strategy is just a wish.Evaluate Your Current Workout ProgramDoes your program work for you? Is there consistency? I notice that the older I get my body doesn't bounce back quite as quick as it used to. So I have to remain consistent in order to see and maintain results. I need an effective workout that does not exceed 60 minutes.Look at your specific needs. If your career involves lots of sitting, you need something that will get your heart pumping to feel alive and balance you out.Workouts Must Be AppointmentsYour workout is an important appointment. Its not a luxury, its a necessity. Put the phone away (unless it is playing your music) or turn the ringer off. Completely zone out during this appointment. Put your full effort into that time.One of my mentors shared that every workout should be met with a high level of intensity and focus. Don’t just go through the motions - set yourself up for success.Buy A CookbookGet serious in that kitchen. Make your shopping list and invest in your nutritional health. There are tons of recipes out there that will fit your dietary needs and budget.For those that are consistently on the grind and that is just your life right now, there are some truly wonderful meal delivery programs that offer the same level of health and nutrition. Do your research.Walk or BikeIf the little one's school is close by, walk them there. My son's school is a 20-minute walk but its good for us both to walk, not to mention a chance for us to bond.Get A MakeoverNothing screams summer ready more than a new look. Do you want to cut or lighten your hair, or donate some clothes to an organization while you buy some new gear? Think about it! Go for it!Prep for Success at WorkThe workplace can be a downfall for fitness goals. Bringing your own food and healthy snacks is crucial to success. Ditch the juices, or sugar loaded coffees and sodas by switching to water. If you do just one thing every day to stay fit, it should be to drink tons of water. Don’t believe me? See what these Miami fitness trainers had to say.Sign-Up For an End of Summer RunFitness events are great because they give us something to prep for. It gives us something to work towards and keeps us on track. I challenge you to sign up for something that is going to keep you inspired to chase your goals.Tag Your Workout PartnerWe are better together. I train at Legacy Fit, where our one-hour, Partner Interval Training (P.I.T.), workouts pair two people together each class.A workout partner helps you stay on track. Who is that person for you? Is it a co-worker, spouse, child or best friend?Don’t Forget to StretchOne of the things I hear (and am guilty of myself) clients say is that they do not stretch enough. Dedicatee time every day to stretch. Turn on some calm music or just listen to the melody of your natural environment. Without stretching, you can increase can the chance for tightness and injury.

For some reason when I signed up for Budokon’s Mobility and Agility class, I thought I was in for just another Yoga class. Boy, was I wrong.The description of the class listed on the Budokon website reads: “This class explores hip, spine and shoulder mobility through a variety of yogic transitions, animal locomotion and martial arts techniques that will change the way you move.”Indeed, this one-hour class challenged my body in ways that I didn’t know were possible.The class I took was taught by Jose who introduced the class with “get rid of what you expected - this is not a yoga class,” he made clear.Throughout the next hour, we moved our bodies in natural, but challenging, undulating movements. I spent a lot of my time observing the teacher and who I assumed were regular students - all absolutely gorgeous movers.I mostly felt a bit awkward, but this was no fault of the teacher. Jose was incredibly helpful and gave each student focused individual attention to help them understand the movements. He made me feel welcome and confident in the movements despite my own perceived shortcomings.“Everyone’s body is unique,” he stressed, “and we should move as such.”Melayne Shayne, who is the Global Brand Director of Budokon University and wife of founder Cameron Shayne walked in mid-way through our warm-up and greeted everyone with a warm hug and kiss.Everyone who works here gives off the energy that they were designed to move - their warmth and welcome emanate naturally. The entire class seemed to flow.Towards the end, students started trickling in for the next session (sparring). Some would join us on the mat and others would ebb out into the day.

And then Cameron Shayne, owner and “Father of Mixed Movement Arts,” stepped in to take over. The energy in the room shifted to a level of razor-sharp focus as more people flowed off the street and onto the mat.Cameron is a fascinating persona; he is both intense and philosophical, with over 30 years of martial arts experience. Its all he has ever known.Son to a notorious street fighter, Cameron found martial arts at the age of twelve. He went on to achieve a 4th degree black belt in Olympic Style Taekwondo under the Harmon brothers, a 3rd degree black belt in Yoshukai Karate under kick boxing world champion Gerry Blank, a brown belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with Rickson Gracie, and a 4th degree black belt with Gui Arashiro.He has been practicing – mostly self guided - yoga for over 20 years. He once worked as Charlie Sheen’s Bodyguard. In recent years, he has focused on researching and teaching animal locomotion to create the Budokon system. (read more about Cameron).Animal locomotion is Cameron’s signature philosophy and I was lucky enough to experience his instruction in the last minutes of class. We started moving like gorillas and then shifting into the movements of a panther and a lizard (Cameron and Jose did this effortlessly – me, not so much).“Humans are weak and animals are strong,” Shayne explains. “By changing the surface or number of limbs you use to locomotive, you can change your anatomy.”I left after the first class (I’m pregnant, so wasn’t up for sparring), but would highly recommend staying through the evening. The evening classes shift seamlessly from mobility & agility into striking (described as: a combination of striking techniques from boxing, karate, and taekwondo to help build a solid foundation of skill, stamina, and practical self defense), and finally onto grappling (described as: this class combines wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu to help build a solid foundation of ground combat for self defense).If you are looking for a workout that will completely shift the way you think about your body, you must give Budokon a try.For more information visit, http://www.budokon.com/.

When two guys with a passion for fitness and a desire to improve the wellbeing of others connect, they create greatness and inspire.New to the South Miami fitness scene is the sweat-so-hard warehouse, Stunna’s Fit. What began as a trainer-client relationship quickly turned into a goal crushing partnership between Gabriel and Jose.Former MMA fighter, Gabriel Varona, refused to leave fitness behind him upon retirement and started as a personal trainer. Outside of the ring, Varona was also known for his motorcycle stunts, hence the name Stunna.But don’t let the hot-headed exterior fool ya (his words, not mine), this tri-athlete is the type of human whose team you want to be on and are sure to be empowered by.Aside from impacting the physical state of clients, Varona has set out to impact the lives of Miami’s homeless. When he saw a man in a dumpster and learned the man was looking for shoes, Varona took the size 11’s off his feet and gave them to the man. From there, non-profit Shoes for Streets was founded.

For Jose Hernandez, the corporate marketing creative and other half of Stunna’s Fit, training with Varona not only provided physical benefits, but that inspiration and motivation to do what he’s is best at—creating, but in a whole new capacity.With both men, successful in their careers, decided to add ‘entrepreneur’ to their hats and bring South Miami a place for fitness to thrive.Varona starts training at 6:00am five days a week with a Fit Camp class that will push you to your limits - and then some. The Stunna’s Fit team of local rock-star trainers each empower the best physical version of yourself to come out and play in a place that feels just as much like family as it does fitness.Stunna's Fit classes range from Fit Camp and Boxing to Kettlebells and Savage Sundays with special events happening on the regular.Keep up with Stunna’s Fit on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/STUNNAFIT/ and on Instagram @stunnasfitsomi and drop by the warehouse at 5850 Commerce Lane, South Miami, Florida.

VibeClass, the popular workout delivering impactful results in just 30 minutes, is now calling South Miami home, on the heels of their Sunny Isles and South Beach locations.At VibeClass, virtual personal trainer “Gina” takes you through 10 different vibrating stations, programmed to spit out 1,000 variations of strenuous and stimulating exercises. A single station is 40 seconds of work and 20 seconds of station transition time. With a total of 10 stations, the workout is done for 3 or 4 rounds.A single 30-minute workout can burn up to 600 calories, with the vibrating platforms helping to strengthen and tone muscles and reduce cellulite.Jennifer Edward was my trainer for the day at VibeClass South Miami. I was given a monitor to wear throughout my session to view my heart rate, time and calories burned.Jennifer guided me through every station, providing tips and instructions on each of the movements. This was my first time using the vibrating platforms, so this method was all new to me. I workout about six times a week by doing strength-training, spinning and other various methods, but I have never come across vibrating platforms.My session started off on the treadmill to warm-up, before I progressed to the 10 stations consisting of triceps, abs, back, pushups and more, for three rounds.VibeClass South Miami is open Monday- Saturday, offering various membership options and the first session free. For more info check out: www.vibeclass.com.

From the creator of Fitbox Method comes a new lifestyle workout concept called Cyclebox. "Unlike the rest of indoor cycling studios, Cyclebox focuses on comradorary instead of competition," says Avidan Edelsberg, creator of Fitbox Method and Cyclebox. "You will share the experience and be motivated by a positive room of riders all aimed at the same goal."

*Read: 10 Miami Gyms You Need to Try in 2017*

Cyclebox takes a step back and focuses on what made indoor cycling a popular trend, “Club Music." At Cyclebox, you will dance away calories with your teammates in front of a giant 150-inch screen showcasing the best sound tracks, music festivals and concerts.

"Our studio is nightlife inspired, with a total acoustic glow in the dark room," boasts Edelsberg.

Classes at Cyclebox are primarily aimed at burning calories, but also provide a full body workout, including upper body strength, training while using aerobic weights and shadow boxing.

"Our goal is to make you sweat and burn calories without noticing how hard you've been working," states Edelsberg. "We want to make you feel like you just came out of a night club after dancing all night."

Classes are 45 minutes in length, and will be taught by some of the industry's most talented instructors. Prices will range between $6 - $12 with membership, and $14 - $25 with packages.

Don't miss the soft opening on May 8th, with the grand opening coming in June. For more information, visit www.fitboxmethod.com.

In front of a fierce, smart, and saucy army of women, stands Janet Jones: confident, fearless and ready to put the Vixen’s to work.The Miami native, and mastermind behind the sexiest dance workout in the industry, is a prime example of the great success that can occur when you finally decide to step up to the plate regardless of anyone’s opinion.“Don’t listen to society,” said Jones. “Focus on discovering who you truly are without the noise of who you’re supposed to be.”Vixen Workout, an all women’s dance workout that makes you feel like you are an on-stage performer, was created by Jones in 2012. Since then, it has expanded to make women feel sexy, confident and powerful in New York, the Dominican Republic and LA.But like all the good things in life, this wisdom did not come without a price. At the age of 30, Jones found herself moving back into her mother’s house with a child after being laid off from her previous job.“I was at rock bottom,” explained Jones, who is not one to stay down for long.From this personal struggle, the Vixen Workout was born, along with the greatest lesson of her life, “I’m not afraid to lose it all because I know I’ll start over and kill it again.”Jones is an inspiration for young women and entrepreneurs alike. She is defying the status quo by focusing on her personal development rather than her competitors. The sheer content of the quotes that came from our conversation are proof that she is the epitome of what it means to be a vixen.“Cultivate self-awareness” said Jones. “Because inside you have all the treasures and tools you need to find happiness within yourself and in your career.”To get a taste of what it takes to be a Vixen, make sure to pass by their new studio in Wynwood opening May 1st.For more information visit, www.vixenworkout.com.

"Getting you in, and getting you out,” that’s the motto Bodytek Fitness lives by. In just 60-minutes, you’re burning fat, strengthening muscle and improving your endurance, because let’s face it, sometimes the gym is the last place you have time to attend.Bodytek Fitness likes to keep the energy vibrant and the music loud. Whether you’re hitting the free weights, rowing, utilizing that TRX strap, or taking advantage of the equipment, you are bound to get an incredible workout. They pride themselves in never repeating a workout, because when you use every muscle group, you're bound to shed the pounds and gain that muscle.In 60-minutes, your body will push itself to limits you didn't believe existed, surrounded by others who are working hard to achieve their own goals – talk about #Fitspiration!The trainers at Bodytek Fitness are there to accommodate your needs, and can scale the workout to your fitness level, helping you to get the most out of your 60-minute “sweat sesh.”Bodytek Fitness now has three locations – Wynwood, Davie and Wilton Manors. So start working on that summer body, and go check out Bodytek Fitness – the first class is free!For more information, visit http://www.bodytekfitness.com/.

Adrian Escarate didn’t win a penny of the $1,175,505 that Miami Open champion Roger Federer earned Sunday for defeating Rafael Nadal.But be assured that Escarate, though not outwardly beating his chest, feels proud that he played a small part in getting the world’s sixth-ranked tennis player prepared to beat the equally respected seventh-ranked Nadal.“Yes, I do,’’ he agreed on Sunday afternoon. “I feel like I did a good job.’’Escarate, 28, an assistant St. Thomas University men’s tennis coach and Miami Killian High alum, served as a tournament-designated “hitting partner’’ for the past two weeks of the Miami Open. He warmed up several world greats, usually hours before their matches. But none were more famous than Federer, 35, who became the oldest Miami Open victor with his 6-3, 6-4 victory.At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Escarate was on Stadium Court with Federer, hitting ground stroke after ground stroke, setting up lobs, slamming overheads, moving his iconic partner back and forth for about 25 minutes.“It was a surreal experience,’’ said Escarate, a native Chilean who came to Miami with his parents at age 3 and has been attending the Miami Open every year since he was 5. “My parents were there, my uncle, some friends – a pretty big crowd. I was just trying to hit my best, trying to move and not let the nerves get to me. Just trying to keep the ball deep and match his speed.”Before Sunday’s practice session, Federer, from Switzerland, asked that Escarate hit with him Saturday at about 12:30 p.m. on the seventh floor roof of a Miami Beach hotel. “I couldn’t believe it,’’ he said.One reason Escarate, a former St. Thomas player and top juniors competitor, was in high demand as a tennis partner for the Miami Open is that he is left-handed, as is Nadal. Thus, practicing with him helped prepare Federer and others for their next match.“The ball comes with a different spin when you play a lefty,’’ explained Escarate, who also teaches at the Biltmore and Salvadore Park in Coral Gables. “It’s traveling in a different direction than usual. Usually, a player’s forehand is their strength, so it’s easier for the lefty to go to the player’s backhand.’’Among several players with whom Escarate practiced were 55th-ranked Nicolas Mahut of France and Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the World No. 4 who lost in a quarterfinal, as well as American Shelby Rogers, who lost to left-handed top women’s seed Angelique Kerber.Escarate, who is studying for his masters in communications at St. Thomas, made the cut with about eight others, he said, during a mid-March tryout at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, where the tournament is played.The hitting-partner gig is volunteer, but freebies include some tournament T-shirts, sweater, cap, parking pass, about $20 in daily food money, water and Gatorade.Escarate said Federer was quiet, but “a nice guy’’ and thanked him several times.One coveted prize Escarate didn’t get: a ticket to see Sunday’s final.“Watching it from the players’ lounge,’’ Escarate texted during the match.He left it happy.This article was originally published in the Miami Herald and can be found here.

In 2007, Myk Likhov founded Miami’s Green Monkey Yoga because he wanted to make yoga accessible to the Miami mainstream. Last year, he launched Modern ŌM, which has a mission of doing the same for meditation through their underground meditation community The 7.I had the opportunity to sit for a guided meditation in the Modern ŌM loft after our chat and was blown away. Sitting for 15 minutes in my own home feels like an eternity. Sitting for 45 minutes surrounded by members of my community, guided by an awesome teacher went by quickly, and seemed much more impactful.Adding to the experience, Myk offered us all a post-sit tea and we had the opportunity to stick around and talk about our experiences of both the wonders and challenges of meditation.

1. You have a background in economics and business. How did you come to start a meditation-focused business?

My lifelong passion is personal development. My whole life I’ve been reading books on both eastern and western spirituality, and the reading led to my yoga and meditation practices.My foray into the business of spirituality began right before I entered Wharton. My mom sent me to a 3-day session with two karmic astrologers in Vermont. I went to humor her, but I had some pretty profound spiritual experiences there. At the end, they kind of gave me the idea to go into the spirituality business.

2. How long have you been practicing yoga?

I’ve been practicing yoga 2-3 times a week since I was 20. I completed two teacher trainings: one with with Paul Toliuszis, now of Tropical Vinyasa, and one with Rossella Rossi to deepen my practice and to connect with the Green Monkey Yoga teachers. I also subbed a few classes in the early days of Green Monkey.

3. How did Green Monkey impact Miami’s yoga community?

Green Monkey Yoga helped bring yoga to the mainstream. We made yoga really accessible and community-driven. It helped to shine a light on that aspect of wellness and making it non-threatening.

*Read: Miami's Best Yoga Studios - Where to Practice in 2017*

Green Monkey allowed people who were interested in yoga, but maybe hadn’t tried it, to be suddenly very open to the practice.

4. What is Modern ŌM?

The mission of Modern ŌM is to make mindfulness accessible through product, practice, and community. It’s exciting because we are on the cutting edge of mindfulness not only in Miami, but also nationally and globally. Making these practices palatable and relatable is a really big deal, because we can help a lot of people.

5. Aren’t yoga and mindfulness the same thing?

Mindfulness is a set of practices and attitudes that are not dissimilar to yoga, but broader than yoga. Mindfulness can be applied to many areas of life —you can eat mindfully, exercise mindfully, speak mindfully, work mindfully… people can incorporate this set of practices into so many things that they do.

6. What is the Modern ŌM community like?

Modern ŌM started with the launch of the products and then I realized that people really need to experience the practices, so I started an underground meditation community. I’ve always sort of been the ringleader in life, the party was always at my house. The party is still at my house, only this time it’s a meditation.

7. What do the colors behind the Modern ŌM products mean?

The product line represents intentionality. Modern OM products have 7 intentions (such as Vitality, Compassion, Connection…) that correlate to the body’s chakras (energy centers). Because the chakra system can be a bit esoteric and complex, we made them more accessible by reconsidering the chakras as intentions and colors and bringing them into everyday objects that remind people of who they want to be and how they want to live.

8. Tell me about your own meditation practice?

I meditate at least once a day for at least 12 minutes at a time. I also attend all of the bi-weekly sits of The 7. Meditation can be really powerful when practiced in a group, there is almost a tribal element to a community setting that allows people to connect in a more meaningful way.

9. Can everyone benefit from meditation?

Yes. Meditation is hugely beneficial in this world that we live in because we’re always so stressed, anxious and over stimulated. It can help people find a deeper understanding of who they are, which helps them choose to release thoughts and emotions that aren’t serving them. Meditation becomes a tool that is useful in all areas of life and the longer you spend with the practice, the more accessible the tool will be.

10. What are you excited about right now?

I’m really excited about our upcoming Mass Meditation at Brickell City Center that will take place on Earth Day. My friends and teachers Luchi Estevez and Jennifer Grace will be leading the meditation. There will be 1,000 people there – the largest event of its kind. And it’s free! Get tickets.

The badass in me honors the badass in you. As Hip-Hop and Meditation class concludes, feelings of restoration, euphoria and satisfaction fill my mind. This yoga class has whooped my bad ass.The Buddha Shack is the synergy of opposites: cozy yet minimalistic, stylish yet homey and glamorous yet it doesn’t make you feel out of place in yoga pants and a sport bra.The two Co-Founders, Christina Echavarria and Jenna Guadagni, opened the Shack March 1st and it is already gaining a strong loyal Coconut Grove fan base.

“This space is a gift for the community, where we can all work on becoming better versions of ourselves,” says Echavarria, who is intent on creating a hub where yogis and non-yogis alike can come together, socialize and get their Buddha Burn practice on.“We want people to sit on the couch, have coffee and talk about what they do,” adds Guadagni, whose passion is to configure classes where yogic tradition meets modern-day-needs. “I wanted to create a workout where this is all you have to do," and she does it with ease.2lbs weights, mountain climbers and squat hops combined with meditation and synchronized breathing, creates a yoga class where our cardiovascular, strength and flexibility needs are all met.

Jenna is the yin, as she coordinates the yoga program and creates fat-burning and innovative classes, while Christina is the yang, as she runs the business and retail. These #girlbosses want to help the community find their inner voice, peace of mind and confidence.The Buddha Shack is a unique experience worth trying, if you enjoy being part of a tight-knit community that you connect with on the mat over a Vinyasa, or in the lounge area over a glass of champagne.If you live in the 33133, take advantage of their April special, where certain classes will be free for residents of this area.For more information, visit http://www.buddhashack.co/.