About a year and a half ago, Suparna Bhasin made a great connection, encouraging our collaboration with Patricia Moreno, the founder of IntenSati, which combines empowering affirmations with interval training, martial arts, dance and yoga. There was something so attractive and mystical about her, a woman so visibly strong and poised, but also incredibly warm, centered and wise; I always had it in my mind that I wanted to work with her.

Finally, one day in the shower (the BEST place for ideas!), while musing about the perfect lineup of guest teachers for #GetTHANKFUL, I realized that Patricia was the perfect person to teach  affirmations! I had serendipitously come across her teachings again, highlighted in an essay for NYU research on the subject. Shortly after, I was able to connect with Patricia, and she was kind enough to guest teach the first #GetTHANKFUL class, and whoa did she blow us away with her wisdom! My top three takeaways include:

• Affirmations should be short, powerful, positive and present.
• Say them many times a day, and use physical movements while looking in the mirror to really solidify them!
• Emotions cause motion.

After class, I wanted to become an IntenSati disciple myself! Recently, on a Friday afternoon, I participated in a class at Equinox in SoHo and saw what all the raving was about. The class was full of ladies who were clearly familiar with Sati Life, and I immediately noticed that everyone was open and friendly. Patricia began by having us sit in a meditative state and allow her voice to wash over us. Automatically I felt like I was in an alternate state, yet completely tuned into her words and the energy of the room. Then came the workout of the year! Wow, I had no idea how out of shape I was!

The theme of the class was change — accepting what we cannot change and having the courage to change the things we can (don’t we all need this?!). I realized that change is a daily commitment, repeating the affirmation, “One day at a time, the choice is mine,” while doing jumping jacks to the beat of the music playing over the speakers. After over an hour of running in place, boxing, dancing, aerobics and tons of encouraging high fives, I was pooped! Yet at the same time, I felt so alive and clear. Days later, the repetition of  affirmations in sync with the movements are still fresh in my mind! I knew without a doubt that not only did I need more workouts like that for my body, but I also needed more affirmations like that for my soul!

I’m excited that we will be announcing more collaborations  with the amazing Patricia and IntenSati soon! In the meantime, please take a class with her at Equinox, her own weekly Saturday class, or her amazing masterclass. I HIGHLY recommend it and know you will LOVE IntenSati!