In January, yoginis are packed in the studio like Lululemon-clad sardines, with resolutions dancing in their hearts. Wrenching myself into prasarita padottanasana isn’t about flexibility, but trying to avoid the butt of the yogi next to me. By February, the masses will have dissipated, and we’ll all be home binge-watching The X-Files reboot and binge-eating kettle corn. Is it even possible to not fall off the resolution wagon? Maybe. If you’re already running out of steam for your goal, whether that’s cultivating calm, eating more vegetables or a leading a more active life, here are a few ways to gain traction, plus, how much they’ll actually cost. And a pro-tip: Don’t try to do everything at once. Pick one goal and gradually incorporate it into your life until you can’t even remember a time when you didn’t bring delicious healthy lunches to work on the daily. Then move on to the next thing.
Resolution #1: I’m going to clear my mind and regain my balance.
Liza Roeckl is a one-stop shop for inner wellness. With reiki and ancient Mayan techniques, you can find health again. Photo: Liza Roeckl
Arvigo Technique and Reiki Healing Liza Roeckl is a healer through and through. Her experience with reiki, the Arvigo Technique, cranial-sacral work and flower essences means that she has all the tools to unblock long standing issues in the body. “A lot of people try to get healthy in the New Year. Through Arvigo you bring balance back into the body,” Roeckl explained. “This non-invasive massage improves circulatory, lymphatic, nervous systems and the flow of energy throughout the body.” The list of issues that Roeckle says can be resolved using this technique are too long to list, but include infertility, digestive issues, low back pain, and prostate issues. Self care is a major part of the Arvigo Technique, so although the initial appointment can be expensive, you’ll learn to do the work to heal yourself at home. Available for appointments during the week at her Union Square office or at Shen Beauty, 315 Court St., Carroll Gardens, on Thursdays. $150-300 depending on length/nature of appointment
For anyone who wants to try something new this year, a Medicine Ceremony might be just what the doctor ordered. Photo: Maha Rose
Medicine Reading Ceremony Maha Rose is the Brooklyn spot for breathwork workshops, meditation circles and tarot readings, and on Sunday, Jan. 24, they will host a two-hour medicine reading workshop with Seeress Deborah Hanecamp. This ceremony will include healing, balancing, chanting and spiritual guidance. The class description promised that you’ll experience: “The past healed, the path cleared, intentions set and seen to fruition.” What better way to start the new year! Maha Rose, 97 Green Street, Greenpoint. $88 early bird/$108 day of the ceremony
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Author Marie Kondo has created a cult of people who fold their pants in thirds. But before you scoff at yet another book about simple living, look around at your apartment. Does everything in it fill you with joy? Really? How about that stained kitchen towel and the mismatched pillowcases that you inherited from your old roommate? Using this book as a guide to clear out your cobwebs (literally and figuratively) will jumpstart your 2016, and make room for all the new things that are coming your way. It may be more actual sweaty work, and less actual magic, but rest assured you’re feel lighter and more focused when the job is done. If you have trouble getting rid of things, Kondo has a way of thinking about your stuff that may actually help you let go–no joke. $10
Resolution #2: I’m going to eat more fruits and vegetables, or otherwise change my diet for the better.
Provenance Meals three-day Whole Food Detox Provenance Meals is a Brooklyn-based meal delivery service–they prepare entrees, soups, grain and vegetable bowls and baked goods, using whole foods, healthy fats, sprouted grains and lots of fermented items. We tried one day of the Whole Food Detox and honestly, it was delicious, from breakfast through dinner. All the food is simple and plant-based, but perfectly seasoned, super flavorful and delicious. This would be a perfect way to jump start a resolution to add way, way more vegetables to your diet. $199 for three days
Don’t worry, foodies! There’s even a cleanse for you. Photo: Bon Appetit
Bon Appetit’s Food Lover’s Cleanse 2016 If juicing seems a little intense for you, and you like to indulge your teeth in chewing solid food, then this cleanse might be what you are looking for. This two-week cleanse includes ideas for breakfast, lunch and dinner (and even desserts!) If you like the sound of chia seed pudding, sea scallops with celery root, and tabbouleh salad, then you’ll probably like this approach. The menu serves four for dinner and one to two for breakfast and lunch. If this seems like too much cooking, maybe you’ll be more interested in The Taco Cleanse, a cleanse “anybody can follow and stick to.” $ free/cost of groceries (you gotta eat)
Melvin’s Juice Cleanse will set you back $144. Photo: Melvin’s Juice Box
Melvin’s Body Good Juice Cleanse ($48 per day* recommended 3-5 days) A juice cleanse, other than that ridiculous lemonade cleanse people were so into back in 2005, is the most hardcore of cleanses. Melvin Major, Jr. of Melvin’s Juice Box at Miss Lily’s, has been called “New York’s first celebrity juicer.” He suggests that “the primary benefit of doing a juice cleanse is to cleanse your body of toxins. It also increases energy levels, promotes weight loss, and leads to clearer skin.” Not everyone agrees that cleanses are worth it, but if they make you feel good, the Body Good cleanse includes seven different juices a day that Melvin says are filled with essential vitamins and nutrients. He also recommends only doing the cleanse for three days at a time, every two months for maximum benefits. Major promises that “your whole body will feel rejuvenated and recharged.” The cleanse can be ordered online for pick up or deliver to Manhattan or Brooklyn. $144- $240, 20% off the normal juice price for the month of January
This ayurvedic cleanse doesn’t include food, but it does include your own tongue scraper! Photo: Ayurvedic Yoga Detox
Ayurvedic Yoga Detox Cleanse at Lucent Yoga From Jan. 27 through Feb. 3, at Lucent Yoga (172 Norman Avenue, Greenpoint), you can participate in an ayurvedic cleanse that includes a lecture outlining the fundamentals of Ayurveda, daily support and encouragement, a printed manual with recipes and daily practices, tea, body oil, a yoga class, herbs, vitamins, spices, a dry skin brush, snack bars and a tongue scraper. Plus for an additional $95 you can add on a three-day juice cleanse. $175
Resolution #3: I’m going to live in the moment and manage my stress.
The cost of weekly therapy could be more flexible than you think. Photo: Andrea Jaffee
Weekly Therapist If you want to get to the heart of your stress, nothing beats a weekly talk therapist. Andrea Jaffee, LCSW, counsels that “Many therapists do have a sliding scale in order to meet their clients financial needs.” So, don’t let the cost hinder you from seeking help. Also, for busy New Yorkers, therapists often Skype or do phone sessions in lieu of weekly office visits. No time to chat? Talkspace, a text therapy service, can cost as little as $19 per week. You just text your problem, and a licensed therapist will hit you right back. “It’s not how I work.” Jaffee says. “But, for people that don’t have access to traditional therapy–limited time, money, proximity, physical constraints–it could be a good option.” $80-$600 a week (or $25/ $30 co-pay with insurance)
Meditation is free, but paying for a meditation app can keep you more focused and motivated. Photo: Headspace
Headspace Meditation App The great thing about meditating is that it’s free, and anyone, anywhere can do it. Finding the time to sit quietly with your eyes closed is a luxury that it’s shockingly hard to provide for yourself without a little encouragement. Dharma Punx offers meditation classes for small fees and the Zen Center: Fire Lotus Temple has suggested donation sessions. But if going somewhere is out of the question, there are many meditation apps now that can be downladed to your phone. Headspace is probably the most popular and user friendly. After downloading the app for free, you’ll have access to a 10-minute meditation to get you started. With a monthly subscription you’ll get access to the entire library, building your way up to 20 minutes a day. If you just really can’t sit still, they even have “on the go” meditations to listen to while you’re rushing through your day. $12.99/ month subscription
Reduce Stress Small changes can make a big impact to your resolutions. Andrea Jaffee, LCSW, suggests some tips to help us mellow out in 2016.
#1: Delaying gratification. “Do the things you don’t like to do first.” So, finish that Powerpoint before you keep reading Brooklyn Based!
#2: Slowing down. “Sometimes say no to things you actually want to do.” For instance, that all-night bender will just make tomorrow’s work day more stressful.
#3. Talk to a trusted friend or read a good self help book. “One of my favorite self-help books for stress relief is The Dance of Fear by Harriet Lerner.”
And finally we’d love to add #4: Don’t check your email until you’ve gotten out of bed. The world won’t seem as stressful once you’re fueled with caffeine. $ free/$13.99 for the book
Resolution #4: I’m going to exercise.
A man who can lift this much can also get your body in shape. No excuses. Photo: Ethan Baum
Hire a Personal Trainer Many people think of a personal trainer as an indulgence for celebrities looking to shed weight before a movie, but actually hiring one can help you reach your target–think of it as a way not to avoid spending money on a gym membership you’ll only use a few times. Ethan Baum, a personal trainer at NY Sports Club in Astoria, works out everyone from the kid who wants to make the basketball team to the senior who had knee surgery. “It’s pretty imperative to have someone guide you in the right direction,” he said. “Everyone has an idea of what they want to look like and my job is to set simple and specific goals to get there.” Clients can still see benefits with as little as once a month maintenance visits to their trainer. Still not convinced? Do you go out to dinner once a month? “That’s the cost of one session,” he says. “If you want the help and knowledge, it’s very economical and do-able.” To train with Ethan Baum, contact him at baumethan@mac.com. $80 a week and up
Unlimited choices, unlimited classes could equal unlimited results. Photo: Classpass
Boutique Class Membership For those intimidated or adverse to a big gym, ClassPass offers a membership ($125 + tax) to small boutique gyms and studios around the city. By allowing unlimited classes, but only three per studio, clients have the opportunity to sweat it out without getting bored. (We put ClassPass to the test last summer and tried three really eclectic workouts in one week.) Plus, the flexibility works for busy New Yorkers who want to be able to work out near their house, office, Tinder date, favorite bar or fiance’s house. If you prefer more of a hands on reward, Greenhouse Holistic offers a membership ($149/ month) that includes unlimited yoga classes along with unlimited sauna use and one 90-minute monthly deep tissue massage. Now that is taking care of yourself, body and soul. $125 and up/month
No time? No problem. The 7-Minute-Workout app literally only takes seven minutes. Photo: NY Times
The Seven-Minute-Workout App If you don’t have the time or the funds to join a gym, you can still meet your New Year’s goals. Can you find seven minutes in your day? (If not, then your resolution should be to find a new job- you’re working WAY too hard.) The seven-minute workout is a free app by the New York Times that you can install on your smartphone or your laptop. The step-by-step guide has illustrated directions and a peppy voice over to keep you moving through your squats and planks. But, unfortunately, no one will stop you from rolling into a fetal position during rotating push ups. $ free
