Category Archives: CLASSES

HAWKs LA: Reconnecting Children With Nature 

March 5, 2024

Hey LA Parents!  Please check out this amazing Curriculum-Focused Day Camp With Programming Like Forest Bathing, Salad Foraging and Natural Art Dye:

HAWKs LA (Hiking Adventures With Kids) is an LA-based after-school program and day camp that is dedicated to reconnecting children with nature and away from screens. The company was developed by experienced educators, naturalists and parents and is offering a dynamic curriculum beyond traditional learning like Forest Bathing, Salad Foraging, Natural Art Dying and more. 

HAWKS camp

“HAWKs was created as an investment in our children’s wellness as much as an investment in the future or our environment,” says co-founder Emma Flanders.

As “explorers” (what the camp calls their campers) continue to navigate further into understanding the planet, they begin to earn more than just experience. HAWKs has a colorful badge system celebrating the kids’ accomplishments and learnings, helping to encourage excitement about the world around us. Plus, explorers can show off their creativity and personal style. 

Their mission continues to touch many families as there is growing evidence that links the lack of nature in a child’s life to the rise in obesity, attention disorder and depression. On average kids only get 4-7 minutes of outdoor free play and 1 in 3 children have never climbed a tree. HAWKs wants to change these statistics and with their robust programming, have started to make incredible strides. 

“One of the main things we teach students is how to identify native plants. It’s amazing to watch students, even as young as five, begin to see our beautiful chaparral not as a blur of brown and gray shrubs that might poke you or make you itchy, but as a complex and bountiful ecosystem full of unique plant life,” says Emma. 

 

You can find their full list of programming on the HAWKs site. You can register your explorers for upcoming school closures like Spring Break, April 24th, and of course, Summer Camp as well as Weekend Adventures like Natural Plant Dye workshops and Salad Foraging!

A BAR ABOVE: Cocktail Sets That Will Cause A Stir

November 21, 2023

Stirred cocktails, like Martinis & Manhattans, are some of the most iconic drinks in any mixologist’s repertoire. With the right tools and techniques, anyone can start creating restaurant-quality stirred cocktails at home.

So what are these tools, and how can you be sure that you are getting the best value for your money?

Enter A Bar Above, a family-run premium mixology brand co-founded by Chris Tunstall, a professional bartender & bar manager. A Bar Above’s products are wallet-friendly, durable, and stylishly designed, making them a must-have for any home bar. In addition to offering top-quality tools, the brand also offers a suite of courses that cover everything you need to know to get started and expand your skills in mixology.

You can find A Bar Above on Amazon! There you’ll find several sized Craft Cocktail Sets. They also offer really cool Bar Basics Course which is such a fun creative gift.

Instagram: @abarabove
TikTok: @abarabove
YouTube: @abarabove
Facebook: @abarabove

Ward 8 Cocktail Ingredients

To craft this delicious cocktail, gather the following simple ingredients:

  1. Rye Whiskey: Opt for a quality rye whiskey, known for its robust and spicy character. This helps balance the Ward 8’s sweet and sour flavor profile.
  2. Fresh Lemon Juice: Use fresh lemons rather than store bought juice to infuse your Ward 8 with natural, bright citrus notes.
  3. Grenadine: A sweet and tangy pomegranate syrup, a hint of grenadine for sweetness adds depth to the cocktail.
  4. Orange Juice: Freshly squeezed orange juice imparts a delightful, citrusy tang that complements the other flavors, especially when the two citrus juices are mixed together.
  5. Maraschino Cherry or Orange Slice: A maraschino cherry or orange slice (or even a piece of orange zest) serves as a classic garnish, although it’s also common to skip a garnish on this one.

 

oranges and lemons for a classic whiskey cocktail in a chilled glass

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy via www.unsplash.com

 

How to Make a Ward 8

In this week’s video, Chris not only makes the classic Ward 8 cocktail but also shows you his Ward 8.1 version using his secret ingredient… Limoncello! Check it out here:

 

Ward 8 Variations

Chris himself offers two variations today; before we riff on this Boston classic, let’s look at the basic recipe:

  • 2 ounces rye whiskey
  • 1/2 ounce lemon juice
  • 1/2 ounce orange juice
  • 1/4 ounce Grenadine

While this vintage cocktail is really yummy with its citrus flavor and signature sweetness, here are a few variations to explore:

  1. Ward 9: Swap out the rye whiskey for bourbon, adding a smoother and slightly sweeter profile to the cocktail.
  2. Ward 8 Royale: Top off your Ward 8 with a splash of sparkling wine or champagne for a touch of effervescence.
  3. Winter Ward 8: During the colder months, add a dash of aromatic bitters, such as Angostura or cinnamon bitters, to bring warm notes to your drink– This plays well with the rye mixture.
  4. Tropical Ward 8: Experiment with incorporating a splash of pineapple juice or coconut water for a fruity, refreshing twist. It will play with the other citrus flavors and add a tropical feel.
  5. It’s also popular to use fresh lime juice instead of lemon.
  6. If you’re feeling ambitious and/or creative, make your own homemade grenadine instead of using the overly-sweet store-bought version. Create your own pomegranate simple syrup of sorts by combining equal parts pomegranate juice and sugar with a splash of orange flower water or 1 ounce lemon juice. Note: This natural grenadine won’t produce the same bright color of traditional sweet tart syrup from stores. Don’t be surprised if your final cocktail doesn’t look like our photos!

 

craft cocktail in a chilled glass

Photo by Alex Kubsch via www.unsplash.com

 

Gotta Love This Classic Whiskey Cocktail

The Ward Eight is a classic rye whiskey cocktail that brings together whiskey, citrus, and grenadine for a balanced drink.

Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day or impress guests at your next gathering, the Ward 8 offers a delightful blend of flavors and a touch of American history. So, gather your ingredients & your cocktail shaker and perfect your shaking technique– It’s time to make the Ward 8!

famous drink Ward 8, a classic whiskey cocktail, with 1 ounce orange juice

Copyright A Bar Above

 

Ward 8

A twist on the classic cocktail, this surprisingly bright & bitter is a tasty way to use orange juice in a non-sweet drink, adding Limoncello & subbing in single malt whiskey to round out the drink.
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Course: Drinks

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 oz Single Malt Whiskey
  • 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 oz Limoncello
  • 1/2 oz Orange Juice
  • 1/4 oz Grenadine

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
  • Shake for 10-15 seconds.
  • Use your Hawthorne cocktail strainer and fine strainer to double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  • Optional: Garnish with an orange peel and/or cocktail cherry.

Camp Los Angeles Opens Doors to Newly Expanded State-of-the-Art Studios in Santa Monica

June 1, 2023

Camp Los Angeles – the multi-disciplinary yoga and fitness destination in Santa Monica –opens the doors to its newly expanded state-of-the-art studios, doubling the size of the campgrounds and bringing the best of four programs to one location.

camp los angeles

To celebrate the grand opening weekend from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, Camp Los Angeles invites class-goers to tour the new campgrounds and take part in sponsored Sculpt, Circuit, Yoga and Stations classes in partnership with brands including Vuori, Lululemon, Essential Elements and Athletic Lab – with lots of giveaways up for grabs. Promising a vibrant scene, local pop-ups from known and loved local brands will be on-site throughout the weekend providing complimentary bites and beverages and experiences, from ice baths to permanent jewelry and flash tattoos.

To join the community of CAMPers during the grand opening weekend, secure your spot on the Yoga, Circuit, Stations or Sculpt class taking place that weekend across the four studios, led by L.A.’s very best instructors.

Visit welovecamp.com to learn more and book classes. Saturday, June 10 line up: LINK x LOU Permanent Jewelry Experience, Essential Elements, Celsius, Holy Grail Donuts Sunday, June 11 line up: Pause, Christians Tattoos, Ritual, nocco + barebells

“The grand opening is just the start of our next chapter as an all-encompassing fitness and yoga playground where our wellness-centered community can grow and thrive. We have the crème de la crème of collaborators all in one place who are bringing the nostalgic summer camp experience to life,” said Jamie Lanza, Co-Founder of Camp. “We’re so excited to bring the best of all worlds to our campgrounds and share it with our campers from all walks of life – right from that first class on a Monday morning to enjoying food truck fare at our campgrounds on a Friday night.”

CLMBR West Hollywood

February 3, 2023

 West Hollywood knows how to do fitness and it is always fun to see what the latest and greatest fitness workout is in this legendary city. With top fitness boutiques such as Rumble Boxing, Barry’s Bootcamp, Training Mate & more, only the best workouts will make it here! We recently checked out the city’s newest fitness concept, CLMBR, the 30 minute high-intensity, low-impact workout in the heart of West Hollywood. CLMBR combines the benefits of High Intensity Cardio Conditioning, while activating 86% of muscles, all in just 30 minutes. There are so many benefits to this new Weho workout:

  • LOW IMPACT. MAX OUTPUT: Climbing is a low impact and full-body, allowing for life-long use without negative consequences.
  • SUPERIOR CARDIO & STRENGTH: Combined cardio and strength allow you to achieve higher output in less time. Say goodby to separate leg and arm days. They’ve now become one!
  • HIGHER V02 MAX: Studies have shown that heart rate and maximum rate of oxygen consumption are significantly higher while vertical climbing.
  • CONTINUED CALORIC BURN: Vertical climbing can burn up to 600 calories in a 30 minute session. Due to high V02 max, this high output allows the body to continue burning calories hours after the workout.  

West Hollywood is buzzing with new fitness and wellness offerings, so to make a splash a brand has to deliver results. Word around town is that CLMBR is the hottest new workout! CLMBR combines the benefits of High Intensity Cardio Conditioning, while activating 86% of muscles, all in just 30 minutes. 

The new fitness concept offers 5 different workouts:

  • JUST CLIMB – This 30 minute workout features high intensity, full body, cardio conditioning on the State of the Art CLMBR! 
  • BOOTCAMP – This 45 minute workout is half on the CLMBR and half utilizing resistance bands and/or dumbbells with a focus on body strength. 
  • CLIMB & CORE – All the benefits of our classic climb class with focus on core work. 
  • JUST LIFT-  A class specifically designed to strengthen and sculpt your body.
  • ADVANCED CLIMB – This 45 minute workout features high intensity, full body, cardio conditioning on the State of the Art CLMBR! 

Just like West Hollywood, CLMBR is a community and they “Reach for Greatness” together. For more information visit: https://studioclmbrla.com/location/west-hollywood/

 

HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE: TIPS TO STAY SANE, CENTERED AND ACTIVE THIS SEASON

November 21, 2021

Joy Puleo (M.A., PMA-CPT, Balanced Body Education Program Manager, and member of the LGBQT community) has put together tips to stay sane, centered and active this season, and Portia Page (Balanced Body Education Program Liaison and certified pilates instructor) will help you kick off your “New Year, New You” wellness plan.

Holidays, though a time for cheer and good will, can also be a time of stress and anxiety. Holiday dinners and parties with family and friends throw our schedules into upheaval, not to mention provide lots of temptation and indulgence in rich food and drink. Schedules are put aside, family shenanigans abound and, to top it off, evenings are spent schlepping from store to store in the elusive quest to find the perfect gifts. And make no mistake, the shortened and often cold, winter nights take a toll on our mojo.

How to remain sane, composed and active during this time is challenging. Below are tips on how staying mindful and mind+body movement can help you stay as healthy as possible.

Every moment is an opportunity to reset: You may have had too much bubbly the night before or you may have eaten too many of the holiday cookies at work, or both. There was a time when I would think, “Well, now I blew it, I might as well continue to eat and drink and worry about it after the holidays.” Give yourself permission to enjoy, but do not let the indulgences accumulate without some modulation. Every moment is a good moment to reset. After drinking the night before, wake up and have a healthy breakfast and drink lots of water and start the day fresh. Eat the cookies and, instead of beating yourself up afterwards only to dive into a chocolate cake after dinner, go to a yoga or Pilates class. Balancing indulgences with doing something healthy and nourishing will help you to keep your mental and physical equilibrium and will also help you to maintain your health and weight during the holidays.

 

The holidays only come once a year, but cookies are forever: The holidays bring with them cozy fires, oversized clothing and the primal desire to bake. Remember, though the butter cookies are shaped like Christmas trees and reindeer, they are still just butter cookies. Sometimes we indulge because we feel it’s such a unique treat, but the reality is, it is a butter cookie and it can be made anytime. Truly, the availability of food during the holidays combined with the winter doldrums make the cookies that mount up in the common room at work most irresistible. Instead of walking to the common room, put on your jacket and step outside for a walk. When the urge to reach mindlessly for that cookie rises, mindfully choose an alternate activity instead. Not only will this redirect your attention, but it will help you to remember that what lies beyond in the common room is just a butter cookie and has no particular magical, mystical holiday powers.


Stay mindful and check in with your body: I have not stepped on a scale in three years, except for the occasional doctor’s visit, and even then, sometimes I decline! I, like all of us, have spent the better part of my life a slave to a number. Instead of getting on the scale I take moments, preferably transitional moments, such as when I wake up, when I park the car in the parking lot at work, and when I am on my way home, to check in with how I am feeling and what I need from this next moment. In so doing, I organize my thoughts. This helps me be less reactive to my environment and, particularly during the holidays, helps me stay centered and less susceptible to whims and cravings. I also have a much better sense for how my body feels, how my cloths fit and whether or not I feel good and confident in my own skin. I am not advocating you avoid your scale during the holidays, but I am advocating that you check in with how you are feeling about yourself. You will find that how you feel about yourself is a far more accurate marker for how you are doing then any number on the scale.

 

Stay active doing an activity you enjoy: Keeping your perspective during the holidays is challenging as events seem to get the better of you. With that in mind, staying active is a must at this time. I know, you are thinking there is simply no time. But the reality is, being active should be a priority. Find something you enjoy doing and make it a part of your holiday schedule. Mindful activities, such as yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates and others are ideal for this time of year as they help you to stay in tune with the needs of your body. They also help you to feel strong, confident and flexible at a time when all the excess food and drink send the exact opposite message. Most importantly, staying active helps you stay emotionally and physically balanced which helps you stay centered and refocus’ your awareness internally. How nice, at a time when we are so busy thinking about everyone else, to take the time to remember yourself.

 

Get plenty of sleep: Sleep and exercise are finally getting the recognition they deserve as key factors to staying healthy and well. No longer is it about getting your ‘beauty’ rest or working out simply to be skinny, but it’s about sleep and exercise being the recipe for better overall health and wellbeing. As already explored, staying active is an imperative this time of year but so is getting enough sleep. Sleep provides the brain an opportunity to heal, process and support the intellectual and mental work you do all day long. Sleep also provides the body an opportunity to heal, process and support the physical work you do all day long. You shortchange your sleep and, in the long run, you will shortchange your health. 

 

Get some Vitamin D: Instead of going to the break room for that cookie, walk outside. I know, it can be cold, but when did a little cold stop you before? Going outside for a walk will help you reset your mind and keep you active during the day. Getting outside in the sunlight will also expose you to vitamin D, which by the way is a must for your bones. An added, and often overlooked benefit, is that by drinking in the cool fresh air not only will you energize your body but you will also trigger your metabolism to bump up its calorie burning potential in an effort to keep you warm. I highly recommend that you take some time, every day, regardless of the temperature, to step outside drink in the air, who knows, you just find you are less likely to want to drink in the punch!

 

Never go hungry: Do not forgo breakfast and lunch before a big event. We think that if we bank our calories by not eating regularly during the day, we can enjoy ourselves more at the event. This is erroneous on many levels.  Not eating at regular intervals during the day will cause a physiological cascade of events that will only serve to lower your resolve when in the presence of food. As a result, in a short period of time you will be prone to over-indulge. Make sure you eat, eat well and that you are satiated before heading to the party. This will allow you to enjoy yourself and make choices based on what you feel rather than be at the whim of what your body demands.