Between family gatherings, platefuls of cookies at holiday parties, and too much champagne at New Year’s, everyone looks for a little detox come January. One little yoga studio, eat. drink. Om. YOGA CAFE, is turning one local watering hole into the newest wellness center and inviting locals to stay healthier without breaking any resolutions.
West Chester’s only healthy happy hour is every Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 pm, and is located on the second floor at Barnaby’s (15 South High Street). No need to do laps around the borough looking for parking for the Healthy Happy Hour, Barnaby’s validates the first hour of parking at the Bicentennial Parking Garage (20 South High Street).
“It was made to be a healthy happy hour because trying to get people after New Year’s resolutions, people would comment ‘I want to lose 40 pounds’. You have to cut down the goals a little bit and realize that you can still go out and eat healthy right here in town,” said eat. drink. Om. YOGA CAFE owner, Susan Sluk.
Susan wanted to do more than feed her students’ bodies and souls, many of which were looking to meet people and hang out after class, so Susan approached a community-oriented local, Frank Herron at Barnaby’s about creating a healthy happy hour. Last year, Barnaby’s sponsored the yoga mats with people who are visually impaired or blind, allowing Susan to continue giving everyone the chance to practice yoga.
Cleanse your palette with post-class salads, sweet potato fries, veggie burgers and items from Chef Greg’s Monday night light fare menu, which is coming soon. Meditate with fellow classmates over ever changing taps of craft brews, Skinny Girl drinks, and soon fresh fruit infused drinks. Students who nosh after class will receive ten percent off their next Healthy Happy Hour with their Barnaby’s receipt. Future classes will hopefully include post-class massages from local massage therapists, health sessions with nearby practitioners, and springtime classes in Barnaby’s outdoor courtyard.
“Where else can you go and do yoga at a bar? I’m trying to change the mentality of it’s not just a bar. One of the branches of the Ashtangha Yoga and Moksha Yoga is creating community and I’m trying to bring my studio into his business,” said Sluk.
Whether you’re a master yogi or can barely touch your toes, Susan’s warm, inspirational, and funny demeanor will make anyone feel comfortable in this all-level class. No expensive outfits or yoga mats are required, if students can’t bring their own mat to class, they can request to borrow one upon registering online. Cost is $10 and EMTs, firefighters, police officers, students and local vendors receive a 10% discount.
This year, skip the treadmills and gym commitments and join eat. drink. Om. YOGA CAFE and Barnaby’s for a bit of soulful stretching, healthy bites, new friends, and downward facing drinks every Monday night. For more information, call the studio at 484-356-8655, email [email protected] or visit their website.
Susan’s Tips for Healthy 2013
- Keep two emergency kits in your car — one for the car and one for you. Fill your emergency health kits with almonds, water, seltzer and healthy snacks you can eat to get home quickly and avoid the drive-thru.
- Add steps to your day. Park the car a little further or take the stairs over the elevator, it’s all cumulative.
- If you can’t go to work out, grab one pound hand weights. Put them on your wrists and feet and walk around with them during the day. You’ve tricked your body to thinking it’s carrying more weight, you’ve tricked your metabolism into working harder, and you’re building muscle endurance.
- Make the “food house.” Have a dairy, protein, small carb, and vegetable as the main structure and consider dessert to be the chimney (and try fruit for dessert!). Put four fist-sized portions on your plate. If you can’t resist a sweet, go out and get half the normal portion. Add raw foods to every meal like uncooked veggies, raw honey, and nuts.
- Skip the Muscle Milks and Red Bulls since high caffeine actually dehydrates you.
