Find out the Story Behind Silver Continent – and the Bracelets Made Just for BoCo!!

When Georgia Alexandra of Silver Continent mentioned the possibility of creating a bracelet specifically for Body Conceptions, I was floored. I had met Georgia through a circle of mothers in the city who had built fantastic companies in the wellness, beauty, and fashion industries. Georgia’s jewelry is delicate and sophisticated, and she uses only the finest socially conscious materials and gemstones. I had admired her work on several occasions. And the possibility of having an exclusive piece with BoCo colors thrilled me! Georgia’s Collection Bracelet line is made with silk and lapis beads in the sport version and with additional diamond adornments in the classic version. The BoCo edition features our classic grey and purple colors. These bracelets can be worn day and night in the shower and to bed without taking them off. And most importantly, you can wear them while you exercise!!

I have included my interview with Georgia here for you to get a better sense of how she got to this amazing place in her career. And I have also included shots of Lauren, Allie, and I rocking the bracelets during a fun photo shoot in the park with Kathleen O’Neill. We had a blast that day!

We are now finally offering these Silver Continent Bracelets on our store page! Check them out – and come wear them with us in class!!

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Getting to know Georgia and Silver Continent:

1) Where are you from, and where did you grow up?
Born in NYC, I grew up between New York and Athens, Greece.

2) What led you to become a jewelry designer? Have you always been an artistic person?
From a young age I fell in love with fine arts. In college I pursued graphic design only to move on to visual communications in the field of fashion because using the computer as my ‘instrument’ felt too structured. To create something visually beautiful that carries some kind of information always underlies what I did. Be it creative direction for an editorial photo shoot or painting a piece on commission. When my son was born there was a shift. The freedom to create something tangible sparked joy and fine jewelry was clearly it.

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3) Tell us a little about Silver Continent and the pieces you create.
Silver Continent is a fine jewelry collection inspired by my family’s heritage, background and love of travel. I believe it will continue to evolve as we do into a refined vision of my expression. Each piece of Silver Continent Fine Jewelry is created with the highest quality fine gemstones and metals available. Conflict free and sustainable materials speak of the urgency for socially conscious fine goods. It is ever so important to know how something was made as well as where it comes from. The collections are for the most part made up of a limited edition of pieces. In addition, one of a kind fine jewelry is created in collaboration with our clients upon request.

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4) You are a mother, right? How do you manage to incorporate fitness and healthy living into your lifestyle? (And is that hard to do sometimes?)
As a mother of two little ones (soon to be 4 & 6 years old) it has become increasingly important to incorporate fitness and healthy living into my every day. A brief early morning meditation followed by a morning workout boost my energy for the day. In all honesty, it was difficult to find the right formula – for me. When the children wake up there is always something I can be doing with them and I don’t want to miss out on that. So for me, that means waking up at 5am and giving myself a two hour window to meditate and exercise and put my full attention on these. Every woman is different, every Mom is different and every family is different. It may take longer for some than others, but there is a balance that can be found that really feels right. I also like to take some time in the evening and come back into balance with meditation.

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5) We are so excited that you are curating a piece for Body Conceptions!! I’ve worn mine every day for two months through workouts, showers, and everyday living, and it still looks beautiful. Tell us about your Diamond Collection Bracelet and Necklace!

I love to hear that Mahri! I am thrilled to offer this exclusive piece to Body Conceptions clients! The Collection Bracelet / Necklace was created in essence as a collection of memories we gather during our travels. A short trip upstate or a journey back home to Greece or India. Every time we travel we create these new beautiful memories and almost always bring something back with us. And so, this piece is symbolic of that kind of journey. Also, it is versatile and can be worn simply around the neck as a layering necklace or shorter choker like piece or as a bracelet wrapped around the wrist a few times. Simple, thoughtful, timeless.

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6) Tell us something interesting or different about yourself that people may not realize!
Every woman has many facets. A few of mine include exploring our beautiful planet as a fashion stylist for Vogue in what I now call “my past life” (life before children!), and a deep connection with and love of nature and animals.

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7) Did I miss anything?
Cheers to a new collaboration and friendship celebrating health and beauty! Thank you!

Bracelets.Georgia Alexandra Davis portrait March 2015

Purchase your Diamond Collection Pieces for BoCo here.

www.silvercontinent.com
www.georgiaalexandradavis.com

BoCo Backstage: Get a Sneak Peek Behind The Scenes to Find Out How Mahri Created her Fitness Empire. And This is Just The Beginning! —

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that there’s a lot of activity going on in the Body Conceptions world these days.  Between some amazing new instructors, photo shoots, events, and new locations, BoCo is busy — and getting busier all the time.

We caught up with Mahri Relin, founder and owner of Body Conceptions, to get to know her a little better — to understand where all of this came from, how she really feels about the fitness scene, and what drove her to create her company in the first place.  We can tell that some big plans are in the works.  Stay tuned for news of some exciting new directions.  And in the meantime, read all about the woman behind the method!

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Tell us about yourself. Where were you born, and where did you grow up. Where did you go to school, what did you study? What styles of dance?

I was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico but moved to Cape Cod, MA after a year and grew up there. I went to the Nauset Regional school system before heading off to college at Williams to study psychology and neurobiology. I had started dancing (ballet) when I was 5, but I didn’t think it would become a serious part of my life until I attended graduate school. I was in a doctoral program in Clinical Neuropsychology at UCSD/SDSU but spent every free minute taking modern dance or ballet class or performing in the area. Since I soon realized that dance was my true passion, I made the greatest decision of my life to leave school, move to New York, and see if I could make it in the dance scene. I had begun with ballet as a child, but I had gotten serious about modern dance and had also spent lots of time during my travels studying different forms of dance around the world. Because of this, I was pretty well prepared to enter the Broadway scene that requires proficiency in lots of different dance styles.

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How did you get into fitness? What is your fitness background?

After dancing and performing nationally and internationally for many years, I realized that I needed to ground myself in the city and think about having a more consistent form of income. That was exactly the time when a great friend of mine contacted me to audition for Tracy Anderson. I was so impressed by the way that she brought dance and fitness together. And I also loved the way she used music to motivate people (because I’m a music fiend!). I was hooked and knew that I had found my next career. I was sad to leave her studio after a major ankle injury, but that brought me to FlyBarre, the new barre method that grew out of Flywheel Sports. I was honored to be named the Creative Director for their first year, and that paved the way for me to want to create fitness material that was most effective for me and also for my clients. I had lots of ideas that diverged from the barre scene, so starting my own method and my own company made the most sense.

Who was your mentor/guide supporting you on your journey to success? Describe how and why you established relationships in the industry?

I had some amazing clients who encouraged me to go for it and start my own thing. They saw that I had lots of ideas about how to run a company, and I was always coming up with new material that revolved around my personal fitness philosophy. And I saw how amazing their results could be. Once I started Body Conceptions, I was incredibly lucky to reconnect with Deborah Kessler, an old friend of mine with expertise in small business marketing and operations. She was a wonderful addition to the team and helped guide us tremendously in our early years. She remains a really valuable confidante and close friend.

I have built Body Conceptions around my growing relationships in the health and wellness community. I believe that fitness should be part of a larger wellness picture for people, and I like to bring lots of different resources to our clients. Out of this philosophy, I have had some of the most wonderful relationships with businesses and wellness figures in the community that include Jane Jourdan of Fit for Broadway, Dana Campbell Coaching, Lolë Activewear, Just Salad, Ellie Shepley, Brooke Marrone, Elvie, Tovita Nutrition, and WTRMLN WTR among many, many others.

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What inspired you to launch Body Conceptions? What was your main goal when you started?

I had been creating material for other companies, but I had a huge desire to create my own method using fitness principles and approaches to movement that felt the best for my body. On top of that, I was seeing results in my clients that were amazing me.

I think my psychology background also had an impact on my decision to create a place and an environment that I believed in. I saw so many women who were afraid of exercising because they had insecurities about their bodies and felt like they didn’t fit into the fitness scene. And I believe that EVERYONE deserves to experience the benefits and joy that come from making fitness part of their life. I wanted to create a studio where the fitness was highly effective but where the environment was extremely welcoming, supportive, and community-driven. I am so proud of the way my instructors have embodied this philosophy.

How did you come up with the name Body Conceptions? Were there other ideas in the works? Can you explain the meaning behind the logo?

Believe it or not, my mother came up with our company name. She knew my philosophy about how fitness belonged in a bigger health and wellness context. And the name, Body Conceptions, spoke to the many ways that we think about and care for our bodies – through mind, spirit, diet, social connection, music, exercise, etc. I loved the name immediately.

The logo came from our wonderful designer, Brad Egnor. He created a feeling of flow and movement using the “B” and “C” letters that reflected my background in dance, my personality, and the sophistication I wanted to convey.

© 2015 www.mattsimpkinsphotography.com

How have you and the company grown over the past few years? Has anything about the mission and/or goals changed at all?

I began the company as a one-person private training business. I knew I wanted to grow, so I wrote the manual for the method and started attending networking events to meet like-minded wellness professionals in the city and create partnerships. When I started, I didn’t think I wanted to open my own permanent studio but rather sought connections with people in hopes of eventually joining a bigger collective or wellness center.

Soon I had way too many requests for training to handle them myself and hired my first instructor. I also realized that I needed to start giving public group classes so that more people could find out about us. Within 2 years, I had 4 instructors and a regular class schedule on top of a growing private training program in the Hamptons, NYC, and New Jersey. It felt amazing!

Looking at the opportunities around me recently, I have thought a lot about our growth – both alone and in connection with the partnerships we have built over the years. I am also now open to having a dedicated Body Conceptions studio space, which would open so many doors for us and give our clients a truly elevated fitness experience. We have some exciting plans coming up, and I almost can’t believe how far we’ve come! Stay tuned!!

What obstacles did/do you face while running a small business? What are the most rewarding aspects of spearheading BoCo?

Starting from scratch the way I did gave me a lot of opportunities to build the business from the ground up just the way I wanted. I was able to be extremely careful about the instructors I chose, and I could spend a lot of time developing the brand culture. I could also build the relationships in the community the way that I wanted and focus heavily on client needs. The downside of starting small without investors is that you have to improvise a lot with your resources – and renting space in different locations can be tricky. And anything that goes wrong falls on your shoulders! But I am so grateful for the dedication and support of my team. I look forward to growing with them together and expanding the company model.

© 2015 www.mattsimpkinsphotography.com

How is Body Conceptions different/similar from other fitness programs?

I developed Body Conceptions very carefully. It is based on dance principles and focuses on developing the lean and sculpted physique of a dancer. But I don’t ever want people to feel intimidated to come if they aren’t dancers! There is no complex choreography in our classes, and all levels are welcome. In addition, we have a more balanced focus on both body sculpting and cardio in our classes than other methods. You will truly feel like every part of your body has been targeted!

I am a huge music junkie, so music in our classes plays a major role in helping clients enjoy what they are doing without realizing that they are working so hard. I think having fun is crucial to sticking with a fitness method long-term. You should really WANT to make fitness a part of your life every day. And while this is one of the more challenging methods out there, I take huge pride in our extremely low injury rates and in how many of our clients overcome their back, hip and knee injuries through their work with us.

What do you look for in a BoCo Trainer? What do all of them have in common, and what makes them unique?

So many of us love our fitness classes when our instructors are great. For that reason, I take lots of time finding just the right people. I want instructors who are extremely warm, supportive, and motivating and who are not afraid to push our clients’ limits. It’s crucial to me for everyone in our classes to feel like they are important and for our instructors to monitor their technique and progress over time. All of our instructors have nationally recognized certifications. And most of them are also certified pre- and postnatal exercise specialists.

I like to choose instructors who understand the method but who also have their own unique charisma and personality. Every BoCo class you take will be true to our method, but you will also see differences between each instructors’ personality, choice of music, and style of movement. I’m really proud of those differences, and I love coming to the classes they teach to support them. I am a broken record, but I am so grateful for the love and care they all put into their work and the ways they have developed their own unique identities. I hope we are able to keep this level of excellence no matter how big we grow.

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Your Trainers are specially experienced in pre and post-natal fitness. Can you describe what exactly this entails and why you want to focus on it?

Yes! We want to be able to work with women through all stages of their life – and that includes their pregnancies. So many fitness studios in the city neglect pregnancy. But so many studies that shown how important it is to keep exercising when you’re pregnant!

I have studied pregnancy extensively, and I subsidize the pre-and postnatal education of my instructors. That way, they can work with our clients from the moment they prepare for their weddings through their multiple pregnancies and beyond without interruption.

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What was your most memorable BoCo moment? Was it when a client improved drastically, or when you got to teach class to your best friends? Or when Vogue published an article about you?

Wow – that’s a hard question to answer. I think my favorite night was our official public launch in March 2013. We held our big class and reception at a studio/gallery space in TriBeCa. Some of my favorite friends, clients, and members of the press filled the room for the class, and we had a fantastic live DJ – Shem Alleyne. The energy in that room as we exercised together was magical, and the love and support I felt from everyone that night made me feel so happy. Nights like those help you realize that you are making the right choices and that your work really matters to people. I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my friends and colleagues.

Why do you believe that the BoCo method really works?

I love the way my body feels doing the Body Conceptions workout, and I definitely notice a difference in myself when I am doing it. But don’t just believe me! Our most dramatic empirical data has come from our challenges during which our clients take as many classes as they can for 6 weeks while we measure their progress. We see significant changes in their waist, hips and thighs across the board, and most challengers lose a total average of 7 or more inches. One challenger blew everyone out of the water when she lost 14.2 inches – 5.2 inches off her waist alone!

Many of our private clients have had major life changes because of their work with us. Three of my current clients started exercising for the first time in their lives and are now making it a regular part of their lifestyle. (One of them even ran a marathon last year!) Many of our clients lose lots of weight, and they also experience dramatic changes in their body shape. I am particularly proud of our pregnant women. So many of them experience easier labors because of our workouts, and they recover much more quickly after the baby. And on top of everything, we get to be part of their growing family.

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Meet Our Fit For Fall Challenge Winner & The Instructor Who Motivated Her!

The Fit for Fall Challenge included six weeks of unlimited classes, weekly measurements, tons of wellness tips and fun prizes. Instructors worked very closely with the challengers and encouraged them to work hard and stay focused. Our 2015 Fit for Fall winner, Jackie, lost the highest percentage of total body inches – an impressive accomplishment! This was Jackie’s second challenge. Her team leader for the Spring Into Summer challenge just a few months before was Lauren Rodriquez. Lauren remained a huge motivator for her the second time around. Below, get both of their perspectives on how they faced this challenge and came out on top!

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Meet Challenge Winner, Jackie

Jackie grew up on Long Island and attended college in Boston. After graduating with a business degree in accounting and finance, she moved back home to New York. Now she lives in Manhattan and works at PwC, in the Real Estate advisory practice. She loves trying out new fitness classes, drinking red wine, eating ice cream, watching ridiculous reality TV shows and documentaries, and spending her summers in the Hamptons.

What is your fitness background?

I was an athletically challenged child who wasn’t great at team based sports, but I took ballet class through middle school and was a member of my high school dance team, which performed at the football and basketball games. During college, dance wasn’t a big part of my life, but since moving to the city, I’ve found that I gravitate towards dance-based fitness classes. To my family’s surprise, I have become a very fitness-focused person!

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How did you find out about Body Conceptions and what is it about Lauren’s class that’s so fun?

I found BoCo through ClassPass while exploring different dance-based studios. I started going to more and more classes because of how intense the sculpting part of class is. I saw immediate changes in my legs and arms, which can get addicting! Furthermore, all of the instructors are amazing!!

Lauren and I started working together when I participated in the Spring into Summer Challenge in June and July. She was my team leader and helped me track my progress and stay focused over the eight weeks. I love taking her classes because of the great energy she brings, fun dance moves, and the killer burn in her Power Sculpt classes!

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How do you make fitness a priority when you’re busy with your day job? Were there any moments where you wanted to give up?

Due to the nature of my job, I sit at a desk for the majority of my day, staring at a computer screen. I need an outlet to get up and move, so I always make fitness a priority! I’ll alternate working out before and after work. During crazier months at work, where days can be long, it’s definitely hard to find time for class. However, I’ve found that working out with coworkers is a great way to stay motivated!

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What piece of advice would you give to other young professionals trying to achieve their fitness goals while balancing a day job?

I like to plan out my workouts the week before. If I’m already signed up for a class, it’s less likely I’ll bail on it! In addition, it was important for me to communicate my fitness goals with my coworkers. They have been really supportive!

Favorite song to work out to?

I love my Kygo station on Pandora!

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Team Leader, Lauren

Lauren is originally from Charlotte, NC and trained at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has been teaching dance and fitness for 13 years and has been a Body Conceptions trainer for 2.5 years.

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Were there any moments when you thought Jackie wanted to give up?

Similar to most of our challengers, Jackie started to struggle at the halfway point. The first couple of weeks were filled with excitement and adrenaline, but by week three everyone’s body started to feel a bit fatigued. I was able to encourage them to persevere by reminding them of the many improvements they had made thus far and how much stronger they had become in just a few short weeks.

You train countless clients on a daily basis. What makes Jackie special?

Jackie’s positive attitude allowed her to overcome obstacles with a smile and have fun while working out. It also helped that she had competed in previous BoCo challenges that gave her a strong technical foundation. This allowed instructors to give her more refined modifications and really push her to the next level of her fitness journey.

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What advice would you give to newer personal trainers about keeping clients motivated?

I think the best way to keep clients motivated is to give them a specific attainable goal. Whether it’s fitting into an old pair of jeans or something as simple as being able to hold a plank 5 seconds longer. Having small goals set on a monthly or even weekly basis really helps to keep them motivated and gives them a sense of accomplishment

What’s your favorite song to work out to?

There are so many choices! But right now I’m loving “How Deep Is Your Love” by Calvin Harris.

Interview and photography by Kathleen O’Neill

 

Sneak Peek Behind The Scenes of BoCo’s Photo Shoot

It was a sunny Fall afternoon when the Body Conceptions team gathered together in Queens for their annual photo shoot. Veterans and newbies alike were dolled up and looking fierce as ever with winged eyeliner, loose waves, and abs of steel. Matthew Simpkins’ home photography studio was alive with excitement and nerves while chic athletic apparel by Saucony, Sweaty Betty, Lolë, and Michi scattered the sectional couch.

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The instructors tried on the clothing, looking more fabulous in every consecutive piece. Despite this, the inevitable “I’m so bloated today” and “I’m so pale” comments came out of just about everyone’s mouths. But each statement was followed by a fellow instructor’s reaffirmation of “Stop it, you’re ripped!” and “You’re rocking the porcelain look!” The level of support amongst the team was refreshing to see and was so representative of the Body Conceptions vibe.

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The day began with solo shots of Mahri, the Founder of Body Conceptions. Her Public Relations sidekick, Ashley, fixed her hair and ensured all her clothing labels were visible as Matthew pressed the shutter at each perfect moment. Bright white lights illuminated Mahri’s defined triceps as she posed like a pro in front of a deep blue backdrop. Pop music vibrated throughout the room, creating a fun, energetic vibe. When “What Do You Mean” by Justin Bieber came on, half of the group shrieked with delight while the other half jokingly rolled their eyes. Matthew quickly changed the song, causing laughter to fill the space. Their occasional differences in music taste didn’t prevent the BoCo tribe from achieving a successful photo shoot, however.

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The next scene was in a cobblestone alleyway around the corner from the apartment. Nicole, Melody, Allie, Lauren and Mahri lined up, wearing sexy black unitards by Lolë. The spaghetti straps and sheer double stripe detail created the perfect “Workout Barbie” look. From a lineup of planks to staggered lunges, the girls looked fabulous in every formation they created. Passerby’s couldn’t help but stop and ask what the commotion was, and the BoCo team soon developed a bit of an audience!

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After a quick wardrobe change, the entire crew headed to an underpass, chatting and giggling along the way. It was soon realized that rush hour was probably not the best time to have a photo shoot in the street, but the team persevered nonetheless. (Hey, the show must go on, am I right?)  Don’t worry, all the fitness gurus returned home safe and sound! :)

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Every time the traffic stopped, the group ran into position, like seasoned professionals. They donned bold patterned leggings by Sweaty Betty paired with bright colored sports bras and grey and black hoodies. Naturally, drivers honked their horns in admiration as they rolled by, but the instructors didn’t let it distract them for a minute.

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The girls started with badass posed photos, followed by intense action shots. Mahri led the group through some classic BoCo exercises, their hair whipping back and forth in unison. Then it was time for the group jump shot, and Mahri counted them in: “Five, six, prepare seven, jump eight!” After each attempt, the girls crowded around Matthew’s camera to see if they nailed it, and after a few quick tries, they did!

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Next, everyone took turns defying gravity for solo jump photos. Matthew utilized his experience dancing in West-Side story (where he and Mahri met) to provide unique ideas– and even demonstrated quite impressively! Each dancer’s jump choice did a great job expressing their individual style and fitness technique.

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For the grand finale, the girls headed back to the studio and it was time to get sweaty. After re-energizing with a handful (or five!) of trail mix, they lathered their bodies in oil, wet their hair, and intensified their smokey eyes. One by one, they entered the studio, and gave it everything they had left in them for those striking final frames.

GroupChatStay tuned for the release of the official photos!

Written by Kathleen O’Neill

Instructors: Mahri, Lauren, Erin, Melody, Allie, Kerry and Nicole

Sneakers: Saucony

Leggings: Sweaty Betty

Sports Bras and Mahri’s Leggings: Michi

Unitards:  Lolë

Photographer: Matthew Simpkins

Behind The Scenes Photography: Kathleen O’Neill