Saturday we woke and decided to do some filming…me preparing my ‘shrek smoothie’ that I make for my kids at home for Sadie while staying at her place. If you haven’t checked it out yet head over to Sadie Nardini’s Facebook page or visit my studios page on Facebook under Simplicity Yoga & Fitness Therapy Studio – great way to see live how you can improve your body and your day in about 5 minutes flat…prep – sip!

So once we had our breakfast we headed over to Area Brooklyn studio for a great Core Strength Vinyasa class, small studio about 20 bodies all smushed together – it was divine!

Afterward Sadie and I did a bit of shopping for something to wear to Leslie Kaminoff’s book release party and then headed back for more chatting and brainstorming.

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was to get ready for Leslie’s book release party, his book Yoga Anatomy was one of the first that I began to study with and to this day I still have nearby at all times. In the beginning it had a comfy little home on my nightstand and now on my desk at my studio…if you don’t own it buy one now! You will not regret it.

We arrived with the place bustling as people poured some wine and headed in to hear a lecture given by Leslie on the proper biomechanics of our feet and the impact our shoes have on our overall posture and health – he gave a great explanation of barefoot science (something that quite intrigues me). Once the lecture was over it was time to mingle, chat and introduce myself to as many people as possible!

Socializing has never been a week point or issue for me and those who know me know this well. In fact when my husband and I go to functions we walk in hand-in-hand and then part to make our way around the room, glancing periodically at each other with reassurance only to re-join hand in hand by the end of the night. Well on this occasion my husband wasn’t there to walk in hand-in-hand but Sadie was and as I made my way around the room talking everyone up and introducing myself, she and I glanced at each other periodically – huge smiles and reassuring nods – only to walk out arms linked by the end of the night.

That evening I met Leslie and we chatted a while, I met Amy Matthews his co-author and partner in crime, JC one of the bookers for Sadie, many other extremely talented NYC-based instructors and two amazing ladies who own a studio in New Jersey. We got chatting and Sadie introduced me as her new addition to the team; Sadie Nardini’s Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Expert – Jenn Pike (insert fist pumps, major girlie squealing and a cart-wheel).

They began firing off nutrition questions like one of those ball machines tennis players use when doing a solo practice…it was like rapid fire response for me. Finally Charlotte one of the women just looked at me and said I have learned more in the 20 minutes of listening to you than I have in the 20 diets I have tried – we are booking you at our studio in New Jersey!

Saweeeet!

Sadie and I headed to one of her favorite Brooklyn restaurants for a frigging fabulous meal at the wee hour of 11pm. We stayed for a long time there sharing awesome stories, creating a vision and where we see all of this going…

This evening was a masterpiece success.

Sunday came around all too quickly – my last day:( We woke to make another smoothie which we filmed the ‘Shazaam Smoothie’ and then headed off to Greenwich to connect with Sadie’s amazing Mom Janet and have some lunch at a local cafe. So incredible to spend the time not only with Sadie but her whole little NYC crew…pretty special:)

Ava met us for lunch and firmed up the next steps of me joining Sadie’s team. I made sure to re-iterate exactly how excited I was but more importantly what my personal and professional vision of this new relationship and these new teaching and creative projects we are about to embark on. Ava has fantastic eye contact which to me is vital in a strong and communicative relationship; she asked me if I was freaking out with excitement and if I was in somewhat awe and disbelief as to everything going on?

I sat, quietly for a minute, and then looked at all three of them Sadie, her Mom and Ava and said, ‘No I am not freaking out about it. I am so unbelievably happy and grateful for all of this but I also feel like I am perfectly poised in my life and career right now to take this on. It has taken 13 years for this opportunity to be in front of me because that is how long I needed to learn, grow, change, learn, grow and change again in order to be my best and fiercest self yet. And, I deserve this! I have worked extremely hard and been dedicated to not only this journey but myself along the way. I have never wavered not even for a moment about my passion for this career and for my life – it is a gift that for me keeps on giving as long as I am open enough and grateful enough to receive it and right now I fully am!

With that I excused myself and went to the washroom, looked myself in the mirror and said, “holy shit Jenn! Is this really freaking happening? You GO GIRL!!!!

When I sat back down we started to pack up to leave for last-minute shopping for the kids and then off to the airport, but before we got up Ava said, “well Jenn before you go I just want to say thank you for being so fucking enthusiastic about what you do!” (sorry to drop the f-bomb but I want this to be as authentic as possible and sometimes, as it were true in this case, a F-bomb is needed to get the point across:)

There is only so much I can say as we are still planting some seeds to cultivate and create with. This is what I can tell you to look forward to over the next few months from Sadie Nardini and Jenn Pike working together:

  • Our 14 Day Metabolic Firestarter program on DailyOm.com by the New Year – just in time for all your resolutions needs!
  • Our 21-Day Core Strength Transformation book – complete with a different 20 minute practice each day of the week along with guideline and core inspiration tips from Sadie; from Jenn 21 days of meal plans; a 7 day plan for Gluten Free, 7 days for Vegetarian and 7 days for a Balanced approach those of you who still enjoy animal products. All of these meal plans are complete with recipes…42 to be exact!
  • You will also begin to see (as of this week) a Simply Living Video tip and everyday a Simply Living Tip of the day on Simplicity’s Facebook page, plus 4 weekly blogs; everything from food, skincare, hormone balancing, yoga, pilates, strength training…you name it I will write it!
  • We are also working on Spring projects for Sadie and I to co-teach live workshops and seminars at various conferences and studios; bringing you the most complete balance of EVERYTHING yoga and EVERYTHING nutrition so that you can have a fully balanced approach covering all facets of your lifestyle in an effort to create the most FIERCE version of yourself!

 thank you so much for all of you who have followed along this journey of NYC through my blogs, I truly appreciate all of your suport, encouragement, joy and positive comments and feedback.

Stay tuned Thursday when my lifestyle bloging begins again!

Jenn xoxo

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