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Benefits of Low Impact Exercise

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Do you prefer the rush of a high-intensity workout or the slow burn of a lower-impact one? 

If you love the rush of a high-impact, high-intensity workout every day, we get it! Those types of exercises get your heart pumping and boost endorphins. But it might be worth incorporating a couple of lower-impact days into your routine. The benefits will be felt in your body and your mind. 

Low-impact workouts at MINT gym and stuido

Low-impact exercises are movements that avoid heavy jarring, slamming, or jumping, resulting in little to no impact on your joints. Working out in this gentle manner can still result in a great workout with many of the same benefits as a high-intensity workout.  

Low-impact exercises, like pilates, yoga, barre, rowing, cycling and strength training, are accessible and healthy for people of all ages. Engaging in these activities throughout your life is a great way to ensure you can continue being active as you age. 

Another benefit is that many low-impact exercises are apartment-friendly! If you can’t get to the gym, rolling out a mat and doing a pilates or light strength routine at home is a great way to move your body without bothering your downstairs neighbors. 

A low-impact workout doesn’t have to mean giving up cardio. Many options, such as cycling and elliptical exercise, offer the same health benefits as higher-intensity activities. Low-impact cardio is efficient for burning fat, strengthening the heart, and increasing metabolism. It also reduces the chance of injury by being gentler on the joints and helps improve balance and stability. 

Whether you’re taking a class in one of MINT’s fitness studios or rolling out your mat at home, we encourage you to be gentle with your body and pursue movements that feel good for you!

Exciting MINT Remodeling Update!

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We’re thrilled to announce continued improvements at MINT to enhance your experience. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these upgrades. Below are important details about upcoming changes.

Women’s Sauna:

The women’s sauna will undergo a full replacement and will be out of service from October 21 through December 31.

Men’s Showers, Sauna, and Locker Rooms:

We’re remodeling the men’s showers, sauna, and locker areas in phases from October 21 through December 31. Please note the following:

  • Showers and Sauna will be closed from Monday, October 21 through December 31.
  • Most locker areas will be closed from late October through December 31, though as many lockers as possible will remain available.
  • The lavatory area will stay open as much as possible, with advance notice provided for any closures.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to create a better MINT for you!

MINT Gym and Studio Locker Room

2024 Facility Fee Update

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Members,

A note on the 2024 facility fee and upcoming locker room remodeling.

First, a huge thanks for being a MINT fan, we are happy to be celebrating almost 19 years with you. Over the past few years, we have invested heavily in the facility, by replacing the HVAC and building filtration systems, completely updating the reception area, installing new cycle bikes, replacing multiple strength pieces, new flooring and paint throughout, and most importantly investing in the amazing staff that keep MINT the best fitness and wellness experience in DC.  

Second, MINT has been remodeling on an almost continuous basis for over two years now.  Our goal is to always maximize your experience as a member, so we’ve spread out this work to minimize disruptions.  We have just gotten started, we have A LOT more in store over this year and well beyond, and we promise to continue to make our best efforts to stay out of your way!  

IMPORTANT!  Next up are the locker rooms! Learn more about our updates here.

  • Both locker rooms will get new saunas!  Each sauna will be closed starting early October until late December.
  • Both Locker rooms will undergo updates between mid-November and late December:
    • The men’s room showers and lockers will be completely replaced and those two areas will be closed during this time.
    • The men’s lavatory area will remain open, and we will make lockers available for use in the main club area, please plan your club visits accordingly during this time.
  • The women’s room will only experience brief disruptions over this time, each of which will be announced at least a week ahead of time.

The 2024 annual facility fee will run in early October as usual. Please know that this fee covers only a fraction of remodeling work, we are continuously committed to reinvesting in your experience.

As always, thank you for your support of MINT, locally founded and owned since 2005.

Patrick and Melissa John

Founders, Owners, and Operators

Power Up at MINT’s 6th Annual Outdoor Power Playground Event – 09.15.24

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MINT’s signature Power Playground classes are some of the most popular offered at the studio. And for good reason – Power Playground blends cardio endurance and strength in a high intensity interval style class that is organized in 8-12 circuits. Instructors will coach you through a mix of familiar and more creative, “fun” exercises. Think recess for adults, with a bonus of gaining strength and learning about your body. Incorporating kettlebells, ropes, TRX, weights, resistance bands and more, it’s a great way to learn how to use different types of equipment and perform new-to-you total body movements. 

On Sunday, September 15th MINT will host its annual outdoor Power Playground event, led by all-star instructors Braegan Padley and Myke Nicholson. Whether you’re an avid Power Playground attendee, totally new to the class, or someone who just likes having fun and getting sweaty outside – no matter who you are or what level of fitness you have, join us at Marie Reed at 10:30am for a playful group workout. This class is open to everyone and you do not need to be a MINT member to attend, so it’s the perfect opportunity to rally your friends, coworkers, promising Hinge date – anyone who’s willing to get a little sweaty and have a good time. 

Bring water and wear comfortable sneakers and clothing, and get ready for a fun, fast-paced workout. The class is free but you do need to register in advance. It’s always a popular so we recommend getting it on your calendar now, and getting ready for some summer workout fun with your favorite MINT instructors. 
If you want to checkout a Power Playground class at MINT ahead of the event, or if this event inspires you to keep up the power momentum, you’re in luck – there are Power Playground classes on the schedule every day of the week!

MINT’s Enhanced Membership Access System | Next Level Member Access is Coming!

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Updated Aug 20: MINT members will soon enjoy more convenient and more secure access to the club with facial recognition technology. Please see this post for additional FAQs.

We have meticulously researched the best overall solution for our new front door security system. While there may never be a ‘perfect’ answer to security challenges, our upcoming facial recognition system is designed to be streamlined: you walk up, and you walk in; it’s that simple, it even checks you in for the gym/class!  Our chosen security company offers the most robust modern digital security available, serving over 30 million users and over 55,000 commercial and government partners globally. They are a vetted, reputable partner of mindbodyonline, another global organization, and the software we have been using for over 10 years for member and billing information. We are working to possibly provide an alternative access method, which will carry an extra fee and be less convenient.

At MINT, we constantly strive to enhance your experience in every way possible. With this change, our staffing and service levels will remain at the high standards you have come to expect. This system is being implemented in response to recent security issues (noting that we haven’t experienced any issues in months). As we have posted recently, MINT, being an open-access environment, is no exception to issues across DC and most cities, such as ‘smash and grabs’ involving individuals and groups trespassing, ignoring staff, and stealing items that were left unlocked. While there has never been a direct threat to safety within MINT, theft is unacceptable. We have been working closely with the police to address these incidents.  Please remember to lock your personal items in our provided key-free lockers.

We eliminated all third-party guest partnerships, such as ClassPass, earlier this year to maximize members’ value, which was unrelated to any security concerns. Following the recent incidents, we also eliminated all drop-in options, including paid guests, and increased our vetting process for membership trials. FLEXGuest continues: info on that program here.

These changes come with substantial costs for us, including lost revenue, increased expenses, fewer new-member inquiries, and heavier workloads for many staff. However, we are always planning for the long term and know these changes will ultimately benefit everyone and increase the value of being a member. We will continue to work hard for you through all aspects of your experience with us.

We love our community and our city. Theft and trespassing are destructive to physical property and attempt to dismantle our peace of mind and sense of security. We are committed to enhancing the safety and quality of our environment for our members and staff. We believe that implementing these new measures will help us maintain a safe and peaceful experience for everyone. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this transition.

Thank you for being a valued member of the MINT community.

Bresni Maldonado GM at MINT Gym Studio
Bresni Maldonado | MINT General Manager

For more information or further questions, email: Bresni@mintdc.com.

MINT Member “Open House” Week – Aug 11-17

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We are excited to share that from August 11th through August 17th, we will be hosting a MINT Member “Open House” week.

What does that mean? Class access to ALL members, regardless of membership type, will be FREE.

BONUS: Members can register up to 3 guests to join you! You must register them using this form by 8/10/24.

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