Throughout my entire life every problem, no matter the root, has had a shared solution: move. Exercise became a form of combined therapy and freedom. Over time, I realized that, like a shark needs to swim, I needed it to survive; an addiction that provided strength at my weakest moments. Each form of movement armed me with an artillery of self-confidence, physical strength, mental resilience, emotional awareness, and optimism against life’s most difficult moments. As long as I channeled my energy into empowered movement I could overcome any obstacle ahead. That’s how the event, Empowered Movement, co-created with longtime colleague and friend, Jessica Mackin of James Lane Post, was formed.
Empowered Movement: Discover Your Strength is an event founded on the pillars of insightful conversation, community connection, and mental strength through movement. In July 2022, the inaugural event kicked off at The Baker House 1650 in East Hampton. It began with a panel discussion featuring Courtnay Mariani, co-founder of DanceBody, Gina Bradley, founder of Paddle Diva, Fred DeVito, founder of CoreBarreFit, and Amanda Freeman, founder of SLT. The panel was followed by an outdoor hip-hop class with DanceBody then networking with refreshments and light bites provided by our sponsors.
This summer, Empowered Movement returns with three separate events for the season. It will kick-off in Hoboken, New Jersey on June 7 at Local Barre Social Club, as well as its official signature event at The Baker House 1650 with DanceBody on June 17, and conclude on August 12 in Bridgehampton (details coming soon). Each Empowered Movement panelist is carefully selected to discuss how their brand’s implementation of movements has empowered the mind-body connection in everyday life. And how they’ve used this empowered movement as a source of financial and emotional strength.
The June 17 East Hampton event will feature Isaac Boots of TORCH’D, Courtnay Mariani of DanceBody, Mila Tina of RitmoFit, Vanessa Acero of RitmoFit and Alumbra Sport, and Aryan Rashed of TREMBLE. Following the panel there will be a DanceBody class taught by Courtnay Mariani. Guests can enjoy healthy bites, beverages, gift bags, and more.
Our June 7 Hoboken event will feature Jacey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo of Jane DO, Julie Insogna-Jarrett of Prime Cycle + Body, Katie Knowles of Local Barre Social Club, and John Bevacqua of Crossfit Hoboken.
Here’s what some of our past and upcoming panelists had to say about empowered movement:
“The way you feel is the most important gauge, and there’s no better way to express it than by coming together through movement — Empowered Movement. It is a great honor for me to lead this event, and I assure you that after our workout, you will undoubtedly feel empowered to unleash your inner potential. Passion, persistence, and perseverance are key factors for achieving goals. However, it is crucial to find a balanced strength across mental, physical, and emotional aspects to attain alignment. Neglecting any one of these elements can hinder personal growth. The journey begins internally and extends outward.” — Courtnay Mariani, co-founder of DanceBody
“We measure a woman’s strength by her level of confidence, and we are on a quest to build the largest community of the most confident women. Confidence does not come simply from being physically fit. The four pillars of our brand are physical, mental, financial, and emotional strength. Therefore this series perfectly aligns with all that we stand for as a brand. Our ‘Janes’ are taking the confidence they build inside the studio outside to do incredible things. We see our ‘Janes’ not only crossing finish lines, but also rocking lingerie for the first time, asking for a raise, buying homes, and beyond!” — Jacey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo, co-founders of Jane DO
“The vast majority of people who come to our classes are driven to work out to build strength in all aspects of their lives. The physical is the obvious because of how we feel during a workout but the benefits reach far beyond that. Taking time to let our stresses go and get a little lost in our physical workouts builds our confidence, our self-love, and our ability to feel in control. This control truly strengthens us. Empowered Movement is an incredible opportunity to have an open conversation and understanding of how the physical work we all do in fitness and movement can help us grow mentally, emotionally, and even financially. The stronger we are in all of these areas, the stronger we will be when facing our daily challenges. Sharing stories and being vulnerable with others in movements like Empowered Movement will collectively change the perception of mental health — a conversation and motivation we all need in our lives.” — Julie Insogna-Jarrett, founder of Prime Cycle + Body
“Empowered Movement is exciting; it connects a variety of experiences, expertise, and backgrounds that might not otherwise have the chance to meet. It connects communities together that are ultimately striving for the same desires and results — to feel better both mentally and physically.” —Katie Knowles, Local Barre Social Club
“The interconnectedness of our mental, physical, emotional, and financial well-being profoundly impacts our overall state of being. As we acknowledge and explore these interdependencies, we can develop a comprehensive approach to life that cultivates resilience and allows us to thrive. Engaging in discussions that highlight the intricate connections between these aspects of health enables us to create a holistic plan for a well-balanced and fulfilling existence.” — Mila Tina, co-founder of RitmoFit
“We can learn and grow together by actively engaging with the insights and wisdom shared by the panelists from our community.” — Vanessa Acero and Mila Tina, RitmoFit co-founders
“To be truly successful, you have to have a balance between all of these elements. Financial strength is not always a function of hard work alone. We have now seen the fitness landscape endure a very difficult time and many of us had to lean on physical and emotional strength, as well as our communities, to come out the other side brighter.” — Aryan Rashed, founder of Tremble
“The most important thing in our daily lives is to move our bodies to keep us strong, fit, and feeling good. What I love about the Empowered Movement series is that it is a nonjudgemental way to engage in your own comfort level for fitness. Be it biking, lifting weights, walking, housework, spinning, surfing, fitness classes, or paddling it’s all about doing something, not being the best or the leader. When mental, physical, emotional, and financial strength are in alignment, then we live our best lives.” — Gina Bradley, founder of Paddle Diva and 2022 panelist.
“Mindful Movement provides an opportunity to provide balance in all the areas: mental, physical, emotional, and financial. Simply because Mindful Movement is single-minded.” — Fred DeVito, founder of CoreBarreFit and 2022 panelist.
For tickets, click here.