Kait Vadenais

Plant-based SEED Food and Wine Festival is coming back to Miami for its seventh year November 3 through 7, coinciding with World Vegan Month. After a year-long hiatus due to COVID, SEED Week is back with a bang, boasting an extensive line-up of incredible events including the famous Plant-Based Burger Battle™, the bustling Festival Day, upscale celebrity chef dinners, workshops, wellness and more, all showcasing the best in sustainable, luxurious, plant-based living.

Ranked 3rd in USA Today’s “Top 10 Best Wine Festivals,” SEED is the premiere plant-based food and wine festival in the U.S. since 2014. SEED is more than your average foodie event. SEED is a movement dedicated to conscious wellness, offering attendees an array of options in the lifestyle space that celebrates the growing plant-based community.

The flagship SEED Festival Day on Saturday, November 6 will take place outdoors for the first time at beautiful Regatta Park in Coconut Grove with unlimited pours and bites included in the admission price.

The festival includes tastings from national and local restaurants, vegan wines, fresh juices, live music, organic body care, clothing, yoga, and everything that celebrates conscious plant-based living. SEED will gather some of the most talented speakers, chefs, celebrities, athletes and authors for a fun, educational, sexy, hip (and most of all, delicious!) week of food, cocktails, parties, and industry-led workshops.

Miami's amazing local culinary scene will also be strongly represented. All events are ADA compliant and sign language interpreters will be present at the Festival Day lecture and chef demo stages, as well as handicap accessible seating areas.

SEED is also committed to being a leader in sustainability. They are a Zero Carbon Footprint event and their charity partner is Debris Free Oceans. Debris Free Oceans is a Miami-based organization that inspires local communities to responsibly manage the lifecycle of plastics and waste as part of a global initiative to eradicate marine debris from our beaches, reefs, and oceans.

"We're beyond thrilled with the lineup that's shaping up for 2021," says Alison Burgos, co-founder of SEED Food & Wine Festival. "Some of the biggest names in the plant-based world will be joining us for what we are sure to be the best SEED Week 2021."

For those looking to dig in the deliciousness in advance, SEED will host and participate in several events leading up to the weeklong festival. For more information or tickets, head to seedfoodandwine.com. You can also follow SEED Food & Wine Festival for event updates at @SEEDFW.

The Underline announced via their Instagram that construction of Phase 2 has begun and is expected to be completed in mid-2023. This phase includes approximately 2.14 miles of improvements running parallel or below the Metrorail extending from SW 19th Avenue to SW 13th Street (Coral Way). ⁠⁠

Per The Underline's FAQ, the project will enhance communities and improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. It will include new dedicated pedestrian and bicycle trails, landscape, and lighting. The amenities will include native vegetation landscaping; wayfinding signage; lighting; and plaza & recreational areas located adjacent to Simpson Park, Vizcaya Metrorail Station and between SW 17th and SW 16th Avenue. ⁠⁠⁠⁠

To do this work safely, the M-Path will be closed during the construction of each segment. The first closure will be between SW 22nd Avenue and SW 17th Avenue. Efforts are also being made to minimize the impact of the construction activities on area residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, Metrorail and Metrobus patrons, businesses, and motorists.

To learn more about The Underline project, you can head to theunderline.org/phases.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is now accepting applications for a FIT Permit. Offered through the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation, this permit allows certified, approved instructors the opportunity to teach outdoor fitness and exercise classes at select parks in the city.

The application fee for the permit is $5 and there is an annual fee of $15.

While every city has different rules around obtaining permits for outdoor fitness, some general rules include leaving the park as you found it - no litter! - and avoiding areas specifically dedicated for another use, like playgrounds and dog parks.

If you are interested in leading fitness classes or training others in Fort Lauderdale park, call (954) 828-6250 for more information!

Downtown Miami's newest mixed-use tower, Legacy Hotel & Residences, signed a record-breaking joint venture deal with Adventist Health called Blue Legacy Ventures (JV). The JV will lease and operate a first-of-its-kind 120,000-square-foot health and well-being center.

The estimated $100 million, 10-floor center reflects all the parties' shared vision to make Miami Worldcenter (MWC) in Downtown Miami, and eventually Miami as a whole, the next Blue Zones community.

Using original Blue Zones research, Blue Zones Project works with cities to make healthy choices easier through permanent and semi-permanent changes to a city's man-made surroundings. Participating communities have experienced double-digit drops in obesity and tobacco use and have saved millions of dollars in healthcare costs.

The Blue Zones experience at Legacy will combine modern medicine, holistic healing, and the most sophisticated artificial intelligence and technology for members, guests, visitors, residents, and employees to live better, longer. The Center’s membership model will offer high-touch, frequent interactions and deeply rooted health relationships with patients, members, residents, and visitors.

Everyone can expect a fully immersive Blue Zones experience as they visit the Legacy Hotel & Residences where the healthy choice is the easy choice. Blue Zones programming will also benefit the wider Miami community, including an onsite farmers market, a curated voluntourism program, movement activation in downtown Miami's planned 80-acre park system as well as the creation of the Blue Zones interactive Exploratorium.

"Blue Zones has captured the imagination and attention of people all over the world for being a pioneer in improving the health of entire cities and helping us all get the most out of our years," said Developer Dan Kodsi, Founder and CEO of RPC. "Now with The Blue Zones Center, their proven principles will come alive as hotel visitors will actually be able to see, touch, and live the Blue Zones lifestyle themselves for the very first time."

"This will be a more advanced way of addressing health, where the patient's journey begins with a highly personalized medical evaluation by your physician, followed by a unique and customized high-tech and high-touch program that utilizes all of the services within the center, including surgical, aesthetic, therapeutic, consultative, lifestyle coaching, well-being programming and more to keep people well and happy," said Stephen Watson, Managing Partner of RPC Health, who envisioned and lead the development of the center. "We believe this combination of advanced diagnostics with lifestyle medicine and unparalleled personalized care will help members reach and sustain their optimal health."

"Creating the first Blue Zones Center and integrated large-scale lifestyle medicine center marks our commitment to move beyond sick care," said Bill Wing, President, Adventist Health. "It will also establish a model and lead the way to the fusion of care, health, and well-being."

The Legacy skyscraper is part of the MWC project to feature 274 residences above a 219-room hotel, with ground-floor retail with amenities that include the city's first enclosed rooftop atrium taking up the top seven floors of the tower with a members-only international business lounge and the wellness center.

Check out some renderings of the new Wellness Center via Quinn PR below.

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54D will begin its US expansion plans this October with the opening of its new Miami Design District studio. Located on 3946 North Miami Avenue, the brand new 6,500-square-foot studio marks the brand’s second U.S. location.

The Miami-based fitness brand will continue its expansion within the U.S. market over the next year with new locations slated to open in 2022 in Broward County, New York City and Los Angeles.

The new Miami Design District studio will be equipped with state-of-the-art fitness and recovery equipment. 54D is a 9-week program that combines high-intensity training, custom nutrition, recovery and community. 54D has a no-excuses approach to fitness, which the 54D team considers crucial in order to deliver measurable results.

“We have built an amazing community in South Florida with our Coral Gables studio and are looking forward to continuing to grow our local 54D family with our new Miami Design District location,” said Rodrigo Garduño, Founder and Creator of 54D. “We already have a waitlist for the new facility and are excited to welcome our new members.

Garduño is a former professional soccer player who first founded 54D in 2012 in Mexico City. He brought his innovative approach to fitness to the U.S when he opened the brand’s Coral Gables location in 2019. Last year, the program became a global sensation as Garduño began offering free online workouts via his Instagram account. To better serve 54D’s followers from all over the world, 54D launched an online program in July 2020, 54D ON, a 9-week online program that takes the brand’s signature system to a global audience.

“Our online program has allowed us to reach thousands of people around the world, but we still believe in the brick-and-mortar model,” said Omar Yunes, CEO of 54D. “We want to bring the in-person experience to new markets as the brand continues to grow. Our U.S. expansion is currently underway with the new Miami Design District studio opening soon and the Hallandale, New York and LA locations already in the works.”

54D has become a favorite among celebrities and athletes alike, with athletes such as Alex Rodriquez and Jorge Posada, models like Adriana Lima, and singers and performers such as Juanes, Fonseca and more joining in.

For more information, please visit www.54d.com and www.54d-on.com.

According to a new study by moveBuddha, Miami is ranked as the top 15-minute city in the United States.

The authors of the study described a 15-minute city as a city in which, wherever you live, everything you need is located within a 15-minute walk or bike ride away. The study looked at the nation’s 78 largest metropolitan areas, meaning a population of 250K+, and collected area data including walk and bike scores, access to dining, safety, child care centers, schools, medical facilities, and more.

Miami is the best city overall thanks to its high walk and bike scores, plus the highest scores for proximity to dining and parks, child care density, school density, and medical access.

According to the study, "Miami may not be the first city you’d suspect as a 15-minute locale, but thanks to a collection of small urban meccas across the city with pedestrian-friendly designs, the transformation is in full swing. Other efforts include projects like the Underline working to repurpose surfaces under the Metrorail into gardens, walking paths, and open-air gyms."

For more information about the study, or, for the complete list of 25 Best 15-Minute Cities in America, click here.

Planet Fitness, home of the Judgement Free Zone®, is opening a new location in Miramar in early September. The new location will be at 12531 Miramar Parkway, near retailers including Five Below, Publix, Ross, and CVS.

The new facility will occupy 16,000 sq. feet of space and offer state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, a 30-Minute Express Circuit, rowing machines, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, HydroMassage loungers, massage chairs, tanning booths, Total Body Enhancement booths, and more.

“Planet Fitness Miramar marks the 20th club in South Florida for our Franchise group, and we’re excited to continue our growth in this market with more clubs coming in the near future,” said Shannon Meyers, Vice President of Marketing, PF Atlantic Holdings, LLC, a franchise division of Planet Fitness. “Finding the right gym can be intimidating, but Planet Fitness aims to make fitness accessible, affordable, and Judgement Free for everyone, as well as safe and squeaky-clean with our spacious clubs. We invite everyone to visit our presale office to learn more about the amazing amenities we have to offer in Miramar and take advantage of our limited-time presale membership offers.”

As an introductory special, members can join now before the club opens for 25 cents down and $10 a month with no commitment during the pre-sale, occurring now through early September. Stop by the presale office located at 12515 Miramar Parkway or join online at www.planetfitness.com/gyms/miramar-fl.

The PF Black Card® membership, which is $22.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge and access to all 2,100+ Planet Fitness locations.

Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and being home of the Judgement Free Zone®, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment. Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully equipped locker rooms, flat screen televisions and free fitness training by a certified trainer through the PE@PF ® program.

For more information or to join online, visit www.PlanetFitness.com.

FlyFuel in Aventura is celebrating their one anniversary this weekend and is giving out free drinks to customers! Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, stop by and get a free liquid fuel with a minimum purchase.

This includes their signature coffee creations, iced teas and refreshing lemonades including Dirty Matcha Latte -- coconut water, almond milk, matcha and a shot of cold brew or a tropical Dragonfruit Coconut Green Tea -- cold brew green tea, coconut milk, dragonfruit and agave. 

FlyFuel features a vast menu including healthy salads, acai creations, smoothies and ingredient driven bowls.

“Since opening in Aventura, we’ve noticed an incredible rise of new fitness studios and more people are becoming health conscious,” said Jesse Gimelstein, co-founder. “As much as we loved our vegan fare, we wanted to offer more fueling options – especially for a post-workout or hearty meal. Our goal is to give back to the community and provide the best of both worlds.”

FlyFuel prides themselves on only using the freshest, cleanest ingredients in every dish. Vegetarians and vegans alike can enjoy a spin on tuna salad made with chickpeas or delight in a wild caught roasted salmon. New items incorporate chicken roasted in-house and sustainably caught ahi-tuna including the Curry Bowl and Avocado Ahi Wrap.  

Other menu highlights are Cauliflower Crust Pizza topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce, arugula and olive oil, Sweet Potato Toast layered with almond butter, honey, berries and coconut, and a Lentil Veggie Salad filled with arugula, chopped romaine, black lentils, shredded carrots, avocado, roasted sweet potato, roasted asparagus, almonds and honey balsamic vinaigrette.

FlyFuel has something for everyone and Gimelstein wants his guests to become family - even dogs are welcome! FlyFuel is located at 20804 Biscayne Blvd in Aventura. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 8 AM until 7 PM, and Sunday 10 AM until 7 PM. For more information, visit www.EatFlyFuel.com or call (305) 894-6936.

Thanks to a million-dollar appropriation from the state of Florida, Ludlam Trail is yet another future outdoor space for residents and visitors to enjoy. The funding will be directed towards the design and construction of the trail, and once completed, the Ludlam Trail will enhance bike safety, mobility, and connectivity for Miami-Dade.

The trail is proposed to generally follow the north-south alignment between SW 69th and 70th Avenues, within the former Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway right-of-way, running 5.6-miles, between NW 7 Street and SW 80 Street. The project is located in unincorporated Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, Florida

The purpose of the Ludlam Trail is to provide a new shared-use trail in Miami-Dade County that will include safe, dedicated, direct pathways for walking, running, and cycling; to encourage active lifestyles and the use of green non-motorized modes of transportation; and to enhance overall connectivity and accessibility between schools, parks, transit stops and residences, workplaces and shopping.

The proposed project supports the vision to provide an interconnected trail system offering transportation alternatives and reducing traffic congestion for a livable, sustainable County. Ludlam Trail will be a vital component of a seamless network of future greenway and water trails connecting to the Metrorail Dadeland North Station to the south and to other planned trails including The Underline/East Coast Greenway, South Dade Trail, Snapper Creek Trail, East/West Trail and Merrick Trail. It will enhance mobility and strengthen connections to neighboring communities, providing increased opportunities for economic development.

Included in the trail proposal are bicycle repair stations designed to include all the tools necessary to perform basic bicycle repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat tire to adjusting brakes and derailleurs. Also included are trail shelters or rest stops along the corridor to include drinking fountains with both bottle filling as well as pet accessible water stations.

For more information on this project and to help shape the vision, visit bit.ly/ludlamtrail.

The University of Miami is looking for participants in an upcoming study on blood vessel health, body composition, and aerobic fitness, and they want to pay you to workout!

This 3-month program includes a 30-minute exercise program three times weekly for 12 weeks that can be done virtually via Zoom, or in-person at Sexy Sassy Strong in Brickell. The total time commitment also includes one hour of laboratory testing both before and after the program. Upon completion, participants will also be compensated for their time.

Volunteers for the study should meet the following criteria:

• Age between 18 and 45
• Gender is female
• BMI is between 25 and 45
• Non smokers
• Fluent in English

For more information on the study click here, or reach out to Gina Zito at gcz5@miami.edu.

ADAPT is proud to debut a 20,000-square-foot expansion to its North Miami fitness facility and announce the launch of its non-profit arm, ADAPT Foundation. The new space doubles ADAPT’s size and includes multipurpose courts, a parents lounge, locker room, and areas for programming that will take place under ADAPT Foundation, which will educate and empower local youth through wellness experiences that support lifelong personal growth.

Located at 14901 NE 20 Avenue, Studio A in North Miami, ADAPT was founded by Scott Grondin and Jorge Sanchez with the aim to create a comprehensive wellness center that emphasizes quality over everything. Passionate in their belief that physical activity and exercise fosters personal development and wellbeing, the expansion brings an opportunity for ADAPT to reach more members of the community and engage youth who are most in need.

“We’re excited to be able to expand our offerings and welcome even more members of the community into our ADAPT family,” said Jorge Sanchez, co-owner and director of performance at ADAPT. “We are passionate about the importance of physical activity and fitness for overall well-being, and it’s important to lay the foundation for that at a young age. Through ADAPT Foundation, we hope to provide a positive and productive environment for wellness experiences that support lifelong personal growth.”

ADAPT Foundation programming will include one-on-one mentorship focusing on nutrition, fitness and overall wellness as well as enrollment in ADAPT’s Youth Development Program (YDP) classes, which are geared to help young athletes to build power, speed, and athleticism. Participants will have the opportunity to join some of ADAPT’s other enrichment programs for all ages as well.

The expansion adds to ADAPT’s long list of amenities that include a functional fitness floor with top-of-the-line strength and conditioning equipment, recovery lounge, sauna, cold plunge, massage and therapy rooms. ADAPT’s fitness and specialty offerings include group exercise classes with four types of workouts, functional golf training, programming for kids and teens, and hybrid conditioning and technique-based sports training.

Its growing team comprises 30 expert wellness professionals including personal trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, a dietitian and a yoga instructor. Individualized professional services include personal and semi-private training, Mindtap sports psychology coaching, nutrition counseling, and Chainwork physiotherapy.

Founded in 2015, ADAPT moved from a 6,000 square-foot facility to its current location last year, which opened just before the pandemic began. Despite the challenges of running a gym during a pandemic, the business found safe ways to operate, and quickly saw a need for expansion.

“We’re proud to announce this expansion after the year of uncertainty our industry faced during the pandemic,” said Scott Grondin, co-owner and director of operations at ADAPT. “We felt the impact pretty hard, having opened our new facility just six weeks before the shutdown, but we focused our additional energy on creating better systems and processes, educating our team, and improving and expanding our facilities to be prepared for the surge of demand that we saw coming on the other side.”

Scott Grondin and Jorge Sanchez founded ADAPT, Athletic Development & Performance Training, choosing to use an acronym that fit their goals and philosophy. Together, the duo worked to create a unique culture for their facility that focuses on improving the quality of a workout and correcting alignment and body positions in order to ensure the best exercise and prevent injury.

ADAPT’s four types of group fitness classes include Functional Strength Training, a full-body workout with functional movements; Torch, a high intensity interval training class; Flow, a sequence-based class that uses a single piece of equipment or tool; M.A.S.H. (Myofascial Release Active Stretch Habits) a maintenance class focused on releasing and lengthening tight muscles.. Membership prices start at $59.

For more information, visit trainadapt.com.

Registration for the 20th Anniversary Life Time Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is now open. The races will be held on Sunday, February 6, 2022.

Join runners from all over the world on a course that brings you across Miami and Miami Beach. Registration will be capped at 15,000 participants this year so make sure to secure your spot before it sells out.

The weekend also will include a family-friendly Tropical 5K race on Friday, February 5.

As an event, the Miami Marathon has evolved to become one of the fastest-growing annual marathons that hosts tens of thousands from around the world. Known for its scenic, USTAF-certified, flat, single-loop and Boston-qualifying course, the event attracts first timers and elite distance runners alike.

This year, participants have the option to complete their Life Time Miami Marathon, Half Marathon, or Tropical 5K virtually as well.

For more information and to register for any of the races that weekend, head to themiamimarathon.com.

UNKNWN launched the Nike LeBron 8 “South Beach” 2021 last week with a curated in-store experience at their Wynwood location.

The outdoor courtyard and basketball court have been repainted with pink and teal to commemorate the re-release of the style. The transformation is also in celebration of the release of LeBron James’ movie Space Jam: A New Legacy.

In store, UNKNWN is also showcasing rare and specialty Nike LeBron PE basketball shoes from LeBron James’ personal collection and giving away personalized “Welcome to South Beach” custom photo booth postcards during the release of the style.

Check it out yourself at our upcoming bootcamp class this Sunday at UNKNWN (261 NW 26th Street, Miami). Join STAY FIT 305, UNKNWN, and NOCCO for a morning sweat on Sunday, July 25th at 10:30 AM for an all-levels bootcamp workout, featuring Miami fitness trainers Laura Carolina Gonzalez Marin and Andres Aleman. Get your tickets here before they sell out!

ROAR Station announced their relocation to a new, larger space in Fort Lauderdale this week.

The 5,500 square foot studio will be perfect for all of the group fitness classes. The new address is 1110 NE 8th Ave, Bay #4 in Fort Lauderdale.

ROAR Station offers a variety of high intensity interval training classes featuring cardio, boxing and strength training. They offer three styles of classes - MAX OUT, with strength and intervals, focused on upper, lower and full body, SMASH Boxing, taking your core and conditioning to another level, and Zoom50, a sports performance inspired class, which will take your agility, footwork and conditioning to another level.

Learn more about ROAR Station, or sign up for a class at roarstation.com, or find them on Instagram at @roarstation.

Lettuce lovers rejoice! Taste the difference with Imagine Farms produce, grown right here in Miami with no pesticides or preservatives.

Originally named Box Greens, the company was started in 2016 by two sisters, Cheryl Arnold and Lisa Merkle, who were born and raised in Miami. Lisa was recovering from a life-threatening cancer diagnosis; and Cheryl, a serial entrepreneur had just exited her previous endeavor. While Lisa was recovering from surgeries and chemotherapy, Cheryl was looking towards a brighter future with her sister by researching, designing, plotting, and planning what would eventually become Imagine Farms.

With Imagine Farms, they created an indoor, vertical, hydroponic farm located in Little Haiti. Here they can sustainably grow a wide variety of lettuces, herbs, and microgreens, utilizing technology and minimally impacting the environment. Not only do they use 95% less water than a traditional farm, but there is also no pesticides or harsh chemicals, no food waste, and no agricultural runoff.

"We're an indoor farm, because of the precise growing conditions our greens are flavorful, crisp, and tender," said Lisa.  "Our customers are obsessed!  We never use pesticides or harsh chemicals and deliver salad greens that are ready-to-eat, 365 days a year."

The manifesto of Imagine Farms is to produce large quantities of food within urban cities, minutes from where residents live, work, and play. Distributing in close proximity to where the produce is grown minimizes food miles and reduces food spoilage and food waste.

Some of the produce currently being grown and sold by Imagine Farms includes their Happiness Blend, which is their version of mixed salad greens with romaine, green leaf, red leaf, and crispy, and Butterhead Babes, which is butterhead lettuce that can be used as a lettuce cup for culinary dishes.

Expect to see microgreens, salad turnips, sorrel, white Russian kale, leaf broccoli, and round Paris carrots soon, and they are always open to requests of what else they should grow.

Greater Miami can enjoy the produce within hours of harvest through their subscription with local delivery. The subscription is $18 per week for a pound of lettuce, or $20 a la carte. Deliveries take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and greens can also be picked up directly at the facility.

New subscriptions get their first order free with the promo code Imagine Free at checkout. Visit imaginefarms.com or find them on Instagram at @imagine_farms.

Eat healthy without the planning, prepping, and portioning that comes with meal prepping. Let Chef Nicole Miami deliver flavorful, well-balanced meals right to your door!

For Nicole Retchin, providing Miami with a healthy meal delivery service is her passion. About 6 years ago, Nicole started small and part-time out of her own kitchen before beginning to rent kitchens, and as the business really took off, she purchased her own.

The meal plans are portion-controlled into two sizes - Lean Machine with meals between 400-500 calories and recommended for someone who is looking to maintain or lose weight and learn proper portion control, and Ultimate Warrior, with meals between 700-800 calories and recommended for people who live an active lifestyle.

Chef Nicole's meals are healthy but not restrictive. They are made with whole foods and real ingredients, without eliminating any food groups. All meals are comprised of lean protein, complex carbs, and vegetables.

Some of her recent meals have included: 

• Turkey vaca frita with brown rice and black beans, grilled plantains, and asparagus.
• Dijon salmon over farro with orange-grated brussel sprouts and goat cheese
• Slow-cooked brisket with cauliflower mac and cheese and green beans
• Sauteed shrimp linguine with saffron garlic cream over spinach

Nicole loves trying new foods and that inspires her weekly menus, which are anything but boring. There will always be lots of cultures represented with new meal options every week. The menus feature as many seasonal options and locally sourced produce as possible. Nicole also has breakfast and snack options available, as well as kid’s meals.

We love that Nicole acknowledges that food is fuel for your body and you don't have to eat less, you just have to eat right!

"I have been an athlete my entire life running high school cross country and track & field, to training and completing half marathons and triathlons," said Nicole. "I am very passionate about the role proper nutrition plays in overall health and well-being, and athletic performance. Food is fuel for the body and mind."

To order, head to chefnicolemiami.com and check out the menu. Orders are due by midnight on Thursdays for delivery the following week. Deliveries take place on Mondays and Wednesdays across the greater Miami area.  First-time users can get 10% off their first meal plan order with promo code STAYFIT10.

Lastly, be sure to follow @chefnicolemiami on Instagram for all the mouthwatering food pictures and the latest menus.

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Miami Beach is renowned for its wide array of award-winning spas located throughout the city. Now, as the summer kicks into high gear, take advantage of being a local with unbeatable deals as part of Miami Spa Months, taking place now through August 31, 2021. As part of the two-month promotion, enjoy up to 50 percent off a variety of treatments – from pampering with an open-air spa facial to indulging in a Swedish or Balu fusion massage or even disconnecting with a private couple's mud bath treatment. 

"Now more than ever, we can all use some self-care, and we're inviting travelers to indulge in tranquil spa treatments in celebration of Miami Spa Months," said Steve Adkins, Chairman of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). "As the poster child for relaxation and renewal under the sun, Miami Beach is ready to pamper travelers and help them decompress, so they can return home feeling refreshed and recharged."

Earlier this year, 86 percent of Americans reported emotions associated with prolonged stress, including anxiety and anger, according to a study by the American Psychological Association. The study also found an increase in unhealthy weight gain and drinking due to high-stress levels. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, integrative medicines – like massages – are standard treatments for reducing stress, pain, and tension while improving blood pressure, immune function, and increasing overall relaxation.

"Following the events of the past year and a renewed focus on wellness, the proverb 'health is wealth' has never been more accurate or top of mind," said Grisette Marcos, Executive Director of the MBVCA. "The offers included as part of Miami Spa Months are truly unbeatable, making now the perfect time to escape from the daily to-dos and enjoy an overdue detox escape to Miami Beach."

Travelers ready to embark on their detox journey will have several luxury destination spas to choose from this summer. A few highlights include:

• The Palms AVEDA Spa is offering options with four different treatment packages priced at $139 each. Travelers can choose from a signature facial and manicure treatment, a full-body Swedish massage, a Tropical Island Glow body treatment, or a Tropical Island Journey massage experience.
• For couples, enjoy an invigorating mud bath treatment paired with a bottle of bubbly in a private villa at Esencia Wellness. Vacationers can also choose a 'Woke in Wynwood' facial or a full set of lash extensions for $139, or a Nobu Miami Nagomi massage, facial, and body exfoliation ritual for $199.
• Valmont for The Spa at The Setai features four private spa suites with just enough room for up to two guests. Enjoy ocean and pool views, a private bath and steam room, and choose from a hydration facial, full-body skin polish, 'Triple Fix' treatment with facial cleanse, foot and scalp massage, or 50-minute Bali fusion massage for just $139 each. If 50 minutes isn't enough, guests can choose the 80-minute Bali fusion massage for $199.
• Head over to The Spa at Carillon Miami Beach and pick from an array of massage, facial, or body treatment options while enjoying breathtaking rooftop views of the Atlantic Ocean.
  

For more information on Miami Spa Months deals on Miami Beach, follow @ExperienceMiamiBeach on Instagram or download the Miami Beach App at http://www.miamibeachapi.com/app/.

Miami Swim Fashion Week is back on Miami Beach beginning today, July 8, and running through Sunday, July 11. This annual event by Paraiso focuses on the promotion of swimwear and resort wear brands and their upcoming collections and is the largest event like it in the world. And what better place to do it than where we wear bathing suits all year long!

This year is a busy schedule of runway shows, events, and parties to make up for last year's pandemic restrictions. In fact, this is the first full capacity fashion event since COVID-19. The Paraiso tent will be at Collins Park and events will also be held at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, Mondrian South Beach, and Plymouth Miami Beach.

Some of the 30+ designers you can expect to see include:

• Oh Polly!
• Honey Birdette
• Liliana Montoya
• Boohoo
• My Happy by Stef Roitman & Mery Racauchi
• Mery Playa
• Maaji
• NIA LYNN Collection by Nicole Williams English
• and more!

While you can find resortwear and bikinis at any event, but some will be showing off cultural diversity and sustainability as well. PNDMC has a collection created by Shervan McClain, the first African American Male swimwear designer to show at Swim Week. Gabriella Montells is from Miami and her swimwear line, Swim'in G uses eco-friendly sustainable techno-fabric, made of ECONYL® regenerated Nylon, and also gives back to the oceans.

For the entire schedule and list of events, click here.

Echelon Fitness announced its partnership with GRAMMY®-winning independent international superstar, education advocate, business entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Pitbull. Also known as Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull is ready to ride as part of the official Echelon Fitness team.

In addition to a financial investment in the company, Pitbull's involvement will offer considerable new content and value for the Echelon Community members, globally. The partnership will include:

• Dedicated anthem song written to inspire members, and get the world moving and feeling good. The Echelon anthem will be released as a single on his new album, heard on his upcoming I Feel Good tour and through radio and TV Echelon spots.
• Special dedicated "Ride with Pitbull" content channel, including the music of Pitbull.
• Ability to ride with Pitbull himself along with some of his dancers including classes created and taught by his dancers, The Most Bad Ones.
• Exclusive, co-branded bike and merchandise centered around his Timeless album launch.
• Echelon's engagement with Pitbull's educational learning centers SLAM! by offering internships and college scholarships.
• The anchor channel will live within the Echelon Fit app (exclusive to members) featuring Pitbull's brand, image and music.

"It is truly an honor to partner with Echelon Fitness," says Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). "With this new venture, we look forward to producing new avenues for music and fitness. Music is the universal language. Fitness is a cultural movement. Together we will create a powerful generation. I don't know about you but that makes me feel good, Dale!"

"Learning Pitbull was a fan of our product and our community was humbling," said Lou Lentine, President and CEO of Echelon Fitness. "We have been experiencing significant growth, and confidence from key financial investors, including a recent investment led by Goldman Sachs. Pitbull has featured and been featured with some of the biggest talents in the music industry. And now his latest feature is with Echelon Fitness. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Worldwide to the team!"

For more information about the Pitbull Listening channel, the Echelon Connected equipment and membership, visit echelonfit.com.

As gyms and studios reopen and return to full capacity, our workout habits are once again shifting. We are starting to get back to our pre-COVID workout routines and in-person classes. According to ClassPass' new Comeback Report, here are 8 trends we can expect for the remainder of the year, and beyond.

‍1. IRL Experiences Are Back And Here To Stay

• 9 of the current top 10 experiences getting booked on ClassPass are for in-person classes and appointments.
• Once we go back to in-person experiences, we keep going back. Among users who have returned to class, average usage is 10% higher than it was before the pandemic.

2. Vaccination-Required Classes Are In

• Studios such as [solidcore] are starting to offer vaccination-required classes. These classes typically require proof of vaccination at the door, but no mask during class. 
• A ClassPass survey shows 69% of members would prefer returning to classes that require a vaccine, and 18% plan to only return to studios with vaccination requirements.
• 59% of respondents would prefer to remove their mask in class once vaccinated.

3. The Afterwork Workout Is Back On Our Calendars

• 5:30pm has just made a comeback as the time we are most likely to break a sweat; earlier during the pandemic we saw lunchtime workouts score the #1 spot.
• Lunchtime workouts are still popular (12pm is the second most popular class time), but we are finally venturing out and using an end of day workout as the perfect way to create separation from our email, take a deep breath and kickbox our way through some workday frustrations.

4. Yoga Is Growing A Loyal Following

• Livestream yoga is the only digital class type in the top 10 most booked classes and appointments.
• In-studio yoga has climbed to the second most popular class type since studios have reopened. It’s likely that the at-home yoga spike produced some new students, and that both new and seasoned yogis are excited to practice with a community again.
• People new to ClassPass are most likely to book a yoga class first.

5. Outdoor Classes Continue to Boom in Popularity

• The outdoor trend first started as a way for studios to offer classes while their indoor spaces were closed. Since May 2020, there has been a 917% increase in the number of studios offering outdoor classes.
• Outdoor classes continue to grow in popularity -- May 2021 saw the most outdoor reservations in a single month ever on ClassPass.

6. Self-Care Tops Our List Of Needs

• For the first time ever, massage is one of the top 10 reservation types on ClassPass.
• In many cities such as NYC, one-third of ClassPass credits are now being spent on wellness and beauty services including massages, facials, manicures, haircuts and more.

7. Weekend Glow-Ups Have Returned:  

• Friday is now the most popular day to make a beauty or wellness appointment. We are back to booking blowouts and manicures before the weekend, wanting to feel our best for seeing friends and family for the first time in over a year! 

• Vaxed and waxed is not just an Instagram hashtag -- searches for wax services are up 700%+ compared to June 2020.

8. We Crave New Experiences Beyond Our Homes:

• Around the world, discovery of new experiences is on the rise. In the past month, ClassPass usage increased by more than 100% in the US and tripled in the UK. (data is from May 1, 2021 to June 10, 2021)

• Strength training is the most-booked class type as people return to studios and look for classes with gear they may not have had access to at home. Digital classes have dropped significantly in the rankings -- only Livestream Yoga remains in the top 10.
• We are again getting social -- there has been a 64% increase in people inviting their friends to class since the start of the year (January 2021), and May saw the highest volume of people inviting friends to class since pre-shutdown.

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To read more of the ClassPass survey results, click here.

You can call it a comeback! ClassPass surveyed members during the month of June to find out whether or not people are returning to in-person experiences post-COVID and the results of their Comeback Report are showing YES. Here are the things we missed most about IRL workouts and the 5 reasons we are heading back according to survey participants.

‍1. Better Access To Equipment

• Since it can be hard to fit a Pilates reformer in a studio apartment, two-thirds of people say access to equipment is one of the main reasons they are heading back to class.
• 4 of the top 5 fitness genres with the highest recent reservation volumes use equipment that is typically not found in home gyms.

2. Feeling Good Physically And Mentally

• 60% of people say in-person classes and appointments are better for their mental health than an at-home digital routine – and let’s face it, after a tough year, self-care is now more important than ever.

3. Pushing Ourselves To Achieve More

• 81% of people say they push themselves harder in class than they do on their own – which makes sense considering there’s not a tempting couch or needy pet nearby. 

4. Receiving Guidance From Instructors

• 74% of people prefer to have an instructor’s direction and encouragement when working out. Shoutout to our faves!

5. Greater Accountability

• 67% of people say in-studio classes make it easier to work out regularly and keep up a routine – and ClassPass makes it easy to pencil it in.

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ClassPass allows consumers to book at over 40,000 gyms, fitness studios and spas through their monthly membership. Read more about trends they found in their Comeback Report here.