Social Workout

Stories

One Year On: The Banker Turned Yogi Tells All

A little over a year ago, my life was different. I scrambled out of the house every morning in the dark, threw on mascara in the backseat of a cab, and made my way to the mayhem of the trading floor. Now, I wake up, throw on some Lululemon, and head to a yoga mat. You may recall, I'm the one who went to a yoga class, skeptical, at the suggestion of my annoyingly skinny boyfriend, and then promptly quit my job on Wall Street to open my own yoga studio, I.AM.YOU. on Mulberry Street. Well, Oliver asked me to give the Year One retrospective, and so I've compiled the lows, the highs, and the small miracles....

First, the numbers. In the last 15 months, I've taught 91 classes to 4,000 students across six different countries, with 40 original music mixes. I've hand washed 4,500 mats, and hand folded 5,000 towels. I've done 1,680 pounds of mat dry cleaning, and mopped up about 100 gallons of sweat, maybe more. It's more than I ever thought possible, and it makes me smile.

New York

Events

The Godfather Does Yoga

The invasion of urban outdoor yoga continues! First we had yoga in Bryant Park. Coming in June are yoga in Times Square and then Yoga on the Great Lawn (more on this later). But before all that, this Saturday, New Yorkers will get yoga on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. Huh? Forget about it! At high noon, on the gritty street where Coppola filmed The Godfather, our friends at I.AM.YOU Yoga are busting out their yoga mats and turntables. Call it Pasta Pranayama! Kirtan and Cannolis! There amid the fried dough, a sweaty, athletic vinyasa class, backed by Ibiza-style DJ. Priceless. Deets on I.AM.MULBERRY below....

New York

Workout

A Yoga Affair in Little Italy

I arrive on the yoga mat with bones, body, and soul frazzled. I.AM.YOU Yoga is on the sixth floor of a building deep in the heart of Little Italy. It's my first visit. Outside: Waiters in white coats, wives in Juicy Couture, and husbands scarfing canolis in Sopranos tees. Inside (by way of stainless steel elevator): Lauren, remarkably toned former investment banker in skintight, black short shorts, a dozen black yoga mats laid out in tight rows on the polished hardwood, and twin turntables at the ready. Mister Bob Dalbolina kicks off a tremendously physical yoga series to soothe the tightly wound souls of the very fit mostly female class. All good, but on this night, in these very close quarters, I realize to my horror that caffeine and stress are rising from me in pungent form. Oh god, I'm stinky.

Retreats

I.AM.YOU Miami Weekend Escape

• Who: Lauren Imparato of I.AM.YOU Studio
• What: A weekend of yoga on the dock of the Standard Hotel in Miami, overlooking the water, with DJ-ed yoga on Saturday night.
• Why: Home of thongs, Jell-O shots, and stilettos, can Miami also be the home of thoughtful yoga? Banker-turned Yogi Lauren Imparato thinks so. The Standard is a notably chill spot a mile from the craziness of Miami Beach. If you're looking for silent macrobiotic meditation, maybe you should go to the Berkshires, but if you're looking for a sunny, healthy spring break for grown ups, you've found your retreat.

FOS 15: Twisted

Been slacking off BIG TIME these past 2 weeks, as I've had friends staying with me over the weekend, leaving me absolutely exhaused for the week. Got back on track w/ I.AM.YOU last night. Feels good. Managed to hold wheel pose for a full 5 breathes, which is a big feat for me. Maybe i'll get another challenge done??

Workout

FOS 13: Slippery

Had some time in between work and yoga@I.AM.YOU so I decided to get a pedicure in the neighborhood. Seemed like a great idea, but the combination of well-lotioned feet and wet toenail polish does NOT go well with Upward Dog. Oops. Finally stopped slipping around on my feet...just as my sweating caught up with me. Ended up having to turn my mat over b/c i had no traction for anything. Gross.

Workout

FOS 10: Sweaty

Got inspired by SW here and took a class last night at I.AM.YOU. All I can really say is....

WOW. I have never sweat so much or felt so fantastic after a yoga session. My skills definitely can't compete with more than half of the class' but it didn't matter. Endless thanks to the lovely Lauren for opening up her home to total strangers in the pursuit of kick-your-butt yoga.

Profiles

From Banker to Yogi by Way of Skinny Boyfriend

[Since we launched Social Workout, people have started to tell us their stories. Stories of how -- often after years on auto pilot -- they found an unexpected path to happiness and community in a new exercise routine, an inspired teacher, or a hole-in-the-wall studio or gym. We love those stories. Lauren emailed us to mention she was launching a new yoga studio on the Lower East Side. But wait, wasn't she just a banker at Morgan Stanley? Yes, she said, but that was until her boyfriend suggested she take a yoga class.... -The Eds.]

Not long ago, I was a Morgan Stanley banker with a 60 mile a week running habit. Yoga was not part of my vocabulary. I was a Wall Street lifer. Or at least a Wall Street lifestyler. Yogi? No way.

New York