WHEN NEW YORK LOCKED DOWN FOR THE COVID-19 pandemic last year, I was on vacation and figured I could improvise until things lifted — which had to be in a few weeks tops, right? “Workouts in the sand!” I decided, taking advantage of my surroundings. And honestly, why wasn’t I already doing this? Even though I was supposed to be on vacation, I was still taking meetings for the gym and frantically scouring the internet for fitness equipment I could have delivered and ready when I arrived back home. Back in New York, my clients were all one step ahead of me, transforming their living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens into home gyms. They consulted me in the process:
Client: “Should I get the 15s or 20s or both?”
Me: “Obviously, both.”
Client: “I can’t find 15s but they have kettlebells, should I get those?”
Me: “Absolutely. We can do a lot with kettlebells.”
Client: “Now the kettlebells are sold out but they have a barbell, what do think?”
Me: “You have room for a barbell? Yes, get the barbell — but good luck finding plates for it, because it’s sold out everywhere I looked. You got the bands right?”
Client: “Yeah, those are coming this week.”
Me: “Perfect! Get the barbell and if you can, buy a landmine attachment. You can borrow plates from the gym. You’ll be good!”
As we spoke and they continued to revamp their home gyms, It was becoming apparent that this was going to be longer than a few weeks. I started strategizing with clients on how they could continue to train at home, which led to Live Virtual Training sessions via FaceTime or Zoom. I’m not going to lie, there was something exciting about this new venture. I was able to maintain some normalcy during this time and do it out of the comfort of my own home. From a trainer’s perspective, I relished the challenge of trying to provide a good solid training session for my clients with minimal equipment. “Okay, so we’ve got two mini bands, one long red band, two 20 pound dumbbells, a 26-pound kettlebell, and a yoga mat. I’m going to murder your legs. Happy Monday!”
Lala Duncan and Walter Savage photo by Alice Teeple
By the middle of summer, the novelty of minimalist training was wearing thin, and many of my clients were starting to install full gyms in their homes. One of my clients in the Hamptons turned her basement into a full gym that would rival any boutique fitness studio, while another client moved to a slightly bigger apartment on the Lower East Side just so that she could have a squat rack in her living room. But our training program never changed. No matter what, in the gym or at home, on Mondays we squat. And as my client, Rachel, says to me, “No problem, let me move the chaise lounge to make room for my new squat rack.” As a strength coach and trainer, this can be better than hearing “I love you” for the first time from a new beau.
Now here we are a year later, and no one can predict what the future holds as the world starts to “open up.” What I can tell you is that in Manhattan and across the world, women are taking their health, fitness, and strength into their own hands. A lot of my clients have expressed to me that they now feel more comfortable strength training at home because there’s less intimidation than being in a crowded gym. And they feel confident that when gyms do fully re-open, they can walk up to the squat rack, adjust the height, load the plates themselves and lift like a boss. The conversations I used to have with my girlfriends and clients about handbags, clothes, and shoes have now turned into “Hey, what do you think if I bought a trap bar, do you think I’ll use it?” My answer? “Abso-freaking-lutely!”
Residents of Battery Park City and their community were not having it: Governor Cuomo was not going to take away their green space. Cuomo wants the Essential Workers Monument up by Labor Day 2021, and we’re all for a memorial celebrating those who put their lives on the line during the pandemic. But there must be a process that includes the community — is this too much to ask for?
All they were asking for was to be included in the decision, planning, and process.
Many of those who spent the night outside and braved the hot sun fighting for their rights to be heard are actually the doctors, nurses, police, and essential workers among business leaders who live and work right here in our beloved downtown.
Within hours of hearing about the bulldozers, opponents started a Change.org online petition that was signed by 5,000 individuals and counting. Busy parents and people of the area camped out in the park for days on end, and like The Lorax, “we speak for the trees” was just one phrase plastered on posters hugging the trees. In just four days, their pleas were answered- to a degree.
Many people were surprised this neighborhood came together on this issue so quickly.
“But the moms in the community were not surprised at all. Our community is extremely unified and tight-nit— almost like a small village. We all truly care about one another. We already had multiple WhatsApp groups, connecting hundreds of neighbors. We also had almost 1000 members in our BPC Parents Association Facebook group (I founded it with some friends 5 years ago.)
These platforms have been mostly used to exchange advice, give away hand-me-downs, or report a lost shoe. So when the news got out about Rockefeller Park being at risk, we were able to mobilize very quickly by using the existing platforms we had already been using for years.
The Parents Association has now morphed into the more formalized BPCNA (BPC Neighborhood Association) and will now have a seat at the table with the BPCA (BPC Authority). The DNA of the group was formed by bonds between neighbors who respect each other and interact in a considerate, caring way. We plan to keep that style, even if the new direction moves towards political causes. “Laurie Sheindlin
“This is a Political Unicorn,” exclaimed Greg Sheindlin on the green grass under the trees at Rockefeller Park. Just days before, bulldozers showed up unannounced at that very park, ready to upheave the grass and replace it with a concrete monument honoring NYC’s essential workers.
The green space is well-loved by the people of the community, occupied by playing children, book readers, bike riders, birds, pets, and everything in between.
In protest, the people spoke out — and to think, it all started over social media. What started as a group of parents over WhatsApp turned into a herd of people that caught wind of the project. In under 24 hours, an alliance was formed against Governor Cuomo’s plan to pour concrete over grass and overturn trees.
Those whose children were raised in this area are today grown-ups themselves that still came out to fight, like Mary and Kelly McGowan, 30-year residents. They know the fight down here all too well, as they too had to fight for important issues when their children were small. “The great thing about this protest is that everyone was calm and no voices were raised: it was done with facts and from the hearts of the families and children who live and love this area. We had a mission and we were not going to give up.”
Social media gets a bad wrap, but when it’s used properly, there’s nothing like it. “Today, it’s different: at the click of a finger you can send one message to an entire community, and for that matter, around the world. When my daughter was growing up we had to rely on telephones and in-person meetings, but not today,” described Grace A. Capobianco
One politician stood out as he chanted and rallied with the parents and children. Christopher Marte was there from day one, and just happen to win his seat for District 1 Council. Other leaders still showed up after the fight was over. “We’re elected by the people and we should serve the people. If people knew how valuable this space was to parents, kids, to the little league, soccer, baseball leagues out here, this wouldn’t have even been thought of as a space that was going to be turned from green to concrete,” emphasized Christopher Marte
Tammy Meltzer, Chair Community Board 1, was at the protest and rally and fighting every step of the way at the meetings. “To lose any of the quality of space that is part of this green space is really unfair to people,” she noted.
Meltzer’s teen daughter added, “we grew up in Battery Park City: this is our home and going to other places, it’s not like this — this is one of the only places that has so much green open space. Everywhere you go it’s used extensively by all kinds of people, which is something really beautiful that you don’t get everywhere.”
It was unanimous to all parents, grandparents, and those without children that while the community of New York City and Rockefeller Park would love to honor the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, they would like to honor it without losing the city’s already limited greenspace.
As of today July 12, 2021, the fight continues, and all residents want is a seat at the table to have their voices heard.
There is a rally today at 4 PM Irish Hunger Memorial.
It was a cloudy summer afternoon. I was home alone, surfing the television, in need of an uplifting movie to watch. After a few minutes too long of no luck, I resorted to a scroll on Instagram. The first post that popped up was one by Netflix, promoting a new film, “2 Hearts”. The main character in the teaser was recognizable: it was Jacob Elordi, the rising star from HBO’s “Euphoria”, and Netflix’s “The Kissing Booth”.
Without hesitation, I queued up the film, given zero context of the plot. “This seems like a simple, light romantic comedy for my relaxed Sunday,” I thought. Two hours later, I was uncontrollably sobbing, irreparably moved by this less-than-simple film. Two days later, I jumped on my email to get in touch with anyone I could that was a part of it. Two weeks later, I heard back from three important men. I sat down to begin writing this story. I felt as though it needed to be spread.
2 Hearts, 2 Intertwined Lives
Jorge Bacardi was born on April 6, 1944, with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a debilitating lung disease. He was also born into his family’s business: Bacardi rum, which produced spirits for 150 years. Jorge met Leslie Bacardi when she was a Pan Am air hostess. They later married. By the age of 64, Jorge’s life was slipping from his fingers. He was in need of a new set of lungs.
Christopher Mark Gregory was born on December 13, 1988. He was raised in Maryland, with his two older brothers, and his mother and father, Eric and Grace. Chris attended Loyola University in New Orleans, where he completed his first and only semester of college. In the middle of his second, Chris suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. He was later pronounced braindead.
The real Chris Gregory
On March 27, 2008, Jorge and Leslie received a phone call. There was a match found. Jorge would receive Chris’s lungs. Under 24 hours after the transplant, Jorge was walking around the hospital, without a breathing tube. The nurses dubbed him “Superman”.
Soon after his lung transplant, Jorge and Leslie Bacardi gave funds to Mayo Clinic and founded Gabriel House of Care, a nonprofit hospitality house for families awaiting an organ donation. Gabriel was the pseudonym the Bacardis used for Chris until they learned his real name.
What Could Have Been
2 Hearts follows two true love stories that lasted a lifetime. One of Jorge and Leslie, and that of Chris and his college girlfriend, who is referred to as Sam in the film. The plot fantasizes about what Chris’s life might have looked like if he had lived on. But unfortunately, it stops short and continues on in another body. In Jorge’s, and in the other six other recipients of Chris’s organs.
The Story Heard ‘Round The World
After speaking with Robin Russin, the co-writer, the director, Lance Hool, and Chris Gregory’s father, Eric Gregory, it became very clear to me that I was not the only one who was so touched by the film. Each three of these men remarked on how people from all over the world reached out to them individually, sharing how moved they were by the story.
The story is a kismet entanglement of and stunning example of right place right time. Not only in the plot of the film, but in the way that all of the puzzle pieces came together to bring the project to fruition.
Robin Russin
Robin Russin
Robin Russin was the co-writer on “2 Hearts”. He is a screenwriter, playwright, and director. He studied at Harvard, Oxford, The Rhode Island School of Design, and UCLA. He is currently a professor at UC Riverside. He was approached by Lance Hool to work on this story.
Marley Gifford: How did you first hear about Chris Gregory’s story?
Robin Russin: Lance Hool approached me about it after his brother Conrad met Jorge Bacardi while on vacation and learned of the lung transplant and how he and the Gregorys got to know each other. I’d worked with Lance on several other projects, and he thought I had the right sensibility for this story. As it progressed, Veronica Hool brought in the idea of exploring the life Chris might have had, but never got the chance to.
MG: What moved you to want to be a part of the film, “2 Hearts”?
RR: I loved this story from the start because it was so moving, both sad and yet uplifting—how out of an unimaginable tragedy, a new friendship emerged. More than that—it was as if through this shared trauma these two families became one, and truly came to love each other.
MG: What sets it apart from other films in its genre right now?
RR: I think, as mentioned, it is different because — other than the fantasy sequence of the life Chris might have had — it is based on the generosity, courage, and decency of these real people. I really fell in love with these people myself.
MG: Did the actors in the film, like Jacob Elordi (Chris) and Adan Canto (Jorge), bring to life what you had co-written in the way you had imagined?
Yes, absolutely— they felt so real and so appropriate to the characters they were portraying. I also want to give a shout-out to Tahmoh Penikett, who perfectly embodied Eric, Chris’s father. But they were all great, and all so on-target with their representations.
MG: This must have been a big success for you, to have a film that you have co-written debut on Netflix? What was that like?
RR: A bit surreal, to tell the truth. I’ve been working in the film business for a long time, but often on projects that never got this kind of response. I’m hearing from people around the world, how moved and inspired they were by the film. I really owe Lance a great debt of gratitude for believing in me and involving me in the film.
MG: What message do you want viewers to take away from the “2 Hearts” film? What lessons did you learn through your journey with the film?
RR: I want people to come away from the film with the feeling that life is short, precious, and unpredictable— but that through love and sacrifice, life can achieve [greater] meaning and purpose than anyone could imagine. I want people to realize that even in death, a gift of life can be given to others, and that grief can be transformed into love.
Lance Hool
Lance Hool directed “2 Hearts”. He has also worked as a writer, executive producer, distribution company chairman, studio chief, and actor. He has produced over twenty-five major motion pictures. Two of which have reached number one at the US box office; “Missing in Action” and “Man on Fire”.
MG: How did you first hear about Chris Gregory’s story?
Lance Hool: My brother Conrad met and befriended one of the couples. He told me their story and asked if I saw a movie in it.
MG: What moved you to want to direct “2 Hearts”?
LH: My first impulse was: this is a great story but a very, very tough movie to make. How do we tell the story of two couples that are so far apart in age and in time? And how do we keep the mystery going of how they get together through a whole 100-minute film? I told him: “This is not in our wheelhouse.” “Man on Fire”, “Missing in Action”, those movies were. And if it was a comedy, “Pure Luck” and “Crocodile Dundee”. But this one was something that I’d been looking for for a long time, which was a story that was really deep in the human aspect of our lives. And so he convinced me, “You can make a great movie out of this story.” And so I jumped into it. Fully dressed, into the swimming pool. I was looking for a human story that was real.
MG: What sets “2 Hearts” apart from other films in its genre right now?
LH: It is a film that relies entirely on human relationships. There are no bad guys, no guns, it is based on pure love.
MG: What was it like working with the actors in the film, like Jacob Elordi and Adan Canto? Did they bring to life your vision for 2 Hearts?
LH: Because it is such a unique story, I always felt that I needed to have actors that weren’t known. You have to get so involved with the character as an audience, the worst thing is to say, “Oh look, there’s Tom Cruise playing a doctor” or whatever. You just can’t get divorced from that for a while, so you’re out of the story. I wanted to capture every character so that the audience could easily identify with [it] immediately. So it was a six-month period of casting, in which we interviewed hundreds of people.
I had an extremely set vision that I saw throughout the film. The first character I cast was the only “known” actor, Radha Mitchell, whom I had worked with in”Man On Fire”. She is a terrific actress who I knew would immediately create a base for all the actors. Jacob Elordi was very green and took a lot of work but was a pleasure to be around, and Adan Canto is a revelation. A tremendous actor and [a] great human being. The other actress with a huge future is Tiera. I worked with a great cast and they performed beautifully. The screenplay is exceptional.
MG: Congratulations on 2 Hearts Reaching Top 10 in the U.S. on Netflix! That must be a gratifying feeling, is it?
LH: It hit number one. We are all thrilled at the millions of people who have seen the film and love it. It is very gratifying.
MG: What message do you want viewers to take away from the “2 Hearts” film? What lessons did you learn through your journey with the film?
LH: Take every moment of your life as it could be your last. Leave a legacy. Remember always that you can’t take it with you and do your absolute best to do good and love.
Eric Gregory
Eric Gregory
Eric Gregory is the father of the late Chris Gregory. Less than four years after the death of his son, he wrote “All My Tomorrows: A Story of Tragedy, Transplant, and Hope.” In 2014, Jorge Bacardi met Conrad Hool, Lance’s brother and eventual producer of the film. From there, the manuscript was turned into “2 Hearts”. Eric carries on the legacy of his son through this story.
MG: What compelled you to open your heart and write your son’s story, “All My Tomorrows”, years after the passing of your son, Chris?
Eric Gregory: The project actually began in February 2012, less than four years after Christopher’s death. By then, we had become close friends with Jorge and Leslie Bacardi and met most of the other four recipients of Christopher’s organs. In the back of my mind, there was always the biological clock; that they might not survive long enough to see this project’s completion. It took me five years to finally get it into print.
Beginning with Jorge and Leslie, among the first questions I asked each of these unique individuals (when we met) was “where were you when you got the call” that an organ was available for them? In Jorge’s case, he received two calls in the same evening, an extremely rare event. But as they each told us of the incredible events surrounding their transplants I started to overlay their experiences with our own. For instance, Nic was sent home (to die) after his failed angiogram about the same time that the second neurological exam confirmed Chris was truly brain-dead. Jorge was waking up from surgery about the time we were cleaning out Chris’ dorm room.
It seemed to me that everyone’s stories were intertwined and really interdependent upon each other. That’s when I thought it was a story that deserved to be told and I tried to convey this when I constructed the narrative of the book.
I really felt like I owed it to Chris to tell his story. I just hoped that I had the perseverance and writing skills to pull it off. I wanted to celebrate my son’s too-short life, promote the cause of organ donation and maybe offer some hope to other grieving parents since this was their story as much as mine.
MG: When did you first learn that your story was going to become a movie? What was that experience like?
EG: I believe in 2014 Jorge Bacardi called me and said that he had met a movie producer while on a cruise ship in the Pacific. The producer was Conrad Hool (Man on Fire), Lance’s brother. During their conversation, Conrad learned of Jorge’s transplant, about Chris, and about the friendship that was developing between the Bacardis and us. Basically, I was in disbelief. Jorge said, “I told him he needs to talk to you because you’re writing a book about it.”
Grace and I went to Santa Fe and met Conrad and discovered how serious he was. So I told Conrad that whenever I had a manuscript completed I would share it with him.
I can tell you that the research and writing process was an emotional roller-coaster and not the cathartic experience people assume it to be. There were many, many moments when I said, “I just can’t do this.” And then I’d get a call from Jorge, “Hey Boss. How’s that book coming? Conrad wants to know when he might get to read it.” And I’d throw myself back into the project.
I assure you thirteen years ago we never imagined talking about books or movies or any of this in the present context. It is very bittersweet and it isn’t lost on us that most donor families do not share this kind of experience.
MG: When did you watch “2 Hearts” for the first time? Were you with your family? Were you emotional when you watched the film for the first time?
EG: We saw it for the first time at a screening in Los Angeles. The Bacardis were there with some of their family and friends. Grace and I flew out from our home in Arizona. I was stunned by how well Jacob Elordi captured Christopher’s mannerisms and spirit.
I have seen the movie six times. I get emotional every time because, while some creative license was taken, the movie is still very true to the real story. So much of the dialogue comes from actual conversations and situations. I have heard from people who were actually there (at the hospital) saying that it is difficult to watch.
Lance told me after the screening, “Thank you for trusting us with your son’s story.” I have never regretted doing so. The Hool family always took care to treat Christopher with respect and to portray the subject of organ transplantation accurately. That meant a lot to us. It was the same meeting the cast and crew. They seemed genuinely invested in the story.
MG: I love the sentiment behind the letters that Jorge sent you and your family, and how he said he was “with Chris” when he was doing something like going fishing. What does that mean to you?
EG: I should mention that Jorge passed away in September but we remain close to his family, especially Leslie. I loved getting those letters and we still love hearing from Leslie or any of their family. They are always special. Those first letters were what stopped our downward spiral and let us know that we could survive the loss of our son.
We were told by the organ procurement agency that we shouldn’t expect to hear from anyone for years maybe. And even then we shouldn’t expect too much. But those first letters and e-mails, Leslie calls them the “love letters,” did more to help us heal than I can describe.
MG: It is clear that Chris’s story has made an impact, and will continue to now that this film is getting out there more. How does that make you feel?
EG: Grateful. Humble. I am getting e-mails from people I’ve not met saying how much Christopher’s story has touched them. It means his life hasn’t really ended and that his love remains very much in this world. Especially when folks tell us that they signed up as an organ donor. That’s why your interview is so important. Most people register to be organ donors at their local motor vehicle administration office. But because New York has so few drivers compared to the rest of the country, they have a smaller donor base but a greater need for organ donors.
While the movie features Chris, it is about donors everywhere. They’re all so young and they die so suddenly. Justin Harrison was only fifteen. Tim Susco was twenty-four. Dru Mayon was ten. Their deaths were unexpected and they left behind holes in their families that can never be filled. Their parents didn’t get to plan their weddings. They had to plan their funerals instead. But somebody else lived because those kids died and that has to count for something. They didn’t die for [no reason]. I think the movie makes that point.
You know each of us has a story and we tell our story in the way we live our life. Well, Chris never got to finish his story. So I tried to tell his story through the medium of print. And now Lance and Robin and the cast and crew have told his story through the medium of film. And that means his story will be told forever because cinema is art and art doesn’t die. The craft of storytelling is powerful and compelling and permanent.
MG: What do you think Chris would say about having his story shared with the world right now?
He wouldn’t say anything. He would just get a wry grin on his face that meant he knew something the rest of us didn’t.
The Importance of Organ Donation Specifically in New York
Chris’s father imparted to me the need for organ donation in the state of New York; a region in which there are fewer drivers than in other states, meaning less opportunity for organ donors, in a state in dire need of organs. If you reside in New York, or anywhere else, consider checking the organ donor box the next time you can. Any opportunity to save a life is one worth taking.
Visit organdonor.gov to make the choice that could save a life, or seven, just like Chris.
On June 26, EnChroma, a lead manufacturer of glasses for those who are colorblind, teamed up with Eataly Downtown for a fun and colorful event. At this event, five color-blind New Yorkers experienced viewing color for the first time. La Pizza & La Pasta A Colori, a restaurant created by the Color Factory and Eataly, provided colorful arrangements of food including wines and cheeses to add to this colorful experience. Some of A Colori’s proceeds will be donated to EnChroma’s Color Accessibility Program. This program donates EnChroma glasses to libraries in New York for color-blind guests.
Expectations of EnChroma Glasses
Many of the guests had mentioned that being color blind makes their classes school or their job more difficult. Steve Brandon, a college student, explained that classes like “Geology in college was definitely a bad experience. Distinguishing the colors of rocks for exams and assignments would always be extremely difficult and I never did too well in the class.”
Also, participants described having difficulty playing certain color based games, being creative, and picking out outfits. Dr. Samuel Fam, a family medicine physician, explained that he loved to draw as a child “but once color blending became a more advanced skill I shied away from being creative because I couldn’t match shades in natural ways.” The participants hoped that the glasses would make them feel more confident and able to relate to the beauty of color that the rest of the community so easily experiences.
Thoughts on EnChroma Glasses
The participants adored the EnChroma Glasses! Bob Brown, NYC firefighter and police officer, explained that “the colors [were] just dancing…[the world] is popping with color!” The participants agreed that the glasses do indeed make a huge difference. Peter Fong, a software engineer, exclaimed that this was “a life changing experience.” Delaney Scheidell, a high school student, explained that she’s “excited to go home and experience a new environment”. Eataly now has a permanent set of EnChroma glasses available at their restaurant for color blind customers.
Dogpound trainers run individualized Virtual Personal Training (VPT) via FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangout, and more.
With the recent pandemic closures, our routines have switched from in-person to virtual. Without our NYC average of 8800 steps per day, our fitness needs to go virtual, too. We reached out to Dogpound’s Head of Training and Development Lala Duncan to get the scoop on their virtual training program.
Downtown Magazine: We see a lot of gyms selling pre-recorded VPT, what is the difference? Lala Duncan: Many gyms and fitness professionals started selling pre-recorded workout programs before the pandemic, given the low cost and ease of access of these programs. That market has grown with COVID.
Clients get to have access to a DP trainer with them whether they are at home, on vacation
Pre-recorded programs are great for people to stay active during uncertain times, but these are workout programs designed to appeal to a wide range of people. They are not designed for any one individual and, after a period of time, clients can become unmotivated and bored because of the lack of accountability or personal attention. Most people who purchase pre-recorded programs end up paying for programs they don’t use.
That is why Dogpound offers individualized VPT based on your goals and available equipment. Clients get to have access to a DP trainer with them whether they are at home, on vacation, or at a quarantine destination (Hawaii and St. Bart’s).
DTM: What does one need to prepare for VPT?
LD: Whether you are a current or new client, we ask each client to answer a short questionnaire about their fitness goals, time commitment and expectations as well as what type of equipment, if any, you have to train with at home. Once we have that information, the trainer can devise a long-term plan to keep their training and on track.
Clients with mild to moderate depression, sleep deprivation, and anxiety
DTM: Are clients staying motivated?
LD: In the beginning, there was the fear of “losing my gains.” People were rushing to buy dumbbells and weights or whatever they could get their hands on just to stay fit, not really knowing how long this would last. After a couple of months, I noticed that there was a slump in motivation with a lot of my clients. I had clients that were suffering from mild to moderate depression, sleep deprivation, and anxiety all brought on by the uncertainty of the pandemic. Some days my sessions would consist of talking and light stretching. Especially for New Yorkers, we were in the thick of it. For some of my clients, our VPT session would be the only interaction they had with anyone all day or week. Our amazing staff of trainers takes this responsibility very seriously. It’s not just about working out; it’s about health, longevity, and ultimately happiness.
“I now see clients more than I did in the actual gym”
DTM: Are clients getting the same results from virtual training?
LD: More, actually. Originally the goal was just to keep people moving and motivated. Now the goal is to keep progressing people forward in their long-term fitness goals. About 3/4 of my clients have set up some kind of home gym, whether it be some dumbbells and kettlebells or full gyms with squat racks and weights. Since we have started the VPT at Dogpound, I now see clients more than I did in the actual gym.
DTM: Do you think VPT here to stay?
LD: Absolutely! As the saying goes, it takes 30 days to create a habit, 60 days to make progress, and 90 days to see results. It’s not going anywhere; Virtual training is truly the new virtual reality.
If you are interested in signing up for virtual sessions with Lala Duncan or other Dogpound trainers, you can contact their NYC location at info@thedogpound.com or their LA location at lainfo@thedogpound.com
The pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone. From the loss of jobs, lack of opportunities to safely socialize, and more, people around the world felt the impact of the pandemic. As I finish up my junior year, I realize that I learned quite a bit from taking in-person classes at college during a pandemic.
Photo by Charlotte May from Pexels
1. Teamwork is extremely important
As expected, there were a few outbreaks on campus throughout the semester. However, COVID-19 cases almost always spiked as a result of students failing to follow safety guidelines. Even when a majority of students follow the safety guidelines, the failure of a few students to do so will still lead to outbreaks on campus. It was essential for students to work together to prevent others from getting sick. We were able to effectively work together as a school to stop the spread, finishing the school year with two successful semesters in-person.
Photo by Charlotte May from Pexels
2. Planning your days helps you get a lot done
Being on campus always helped me focus more, but when the pandemic was factored in, I sometimes found it difficult to focus on my studies. In addition, since many of my classes were still virtual, the amount of work I had to do out of class was overwhelming. I realized that if I made deadlines for myself, I got work done in a more efficient manner. Planning your day really makes a difference in productivity.
Photo by Nicole Michalou from Pexels
3. It’s okay to give yourself a break
It’s frustrating when you’ve been working for a long time and get nothing done. This was something that I experienced often while at school. Due to the pandemic, there were a lot fewer activities to participate in. In addition, interaction with friends in other housing areas was occasionally not allowed depending on the number of cases on campus. As someone who relies on social interaction with friends as a refreshing break, this was very difficult for me. I found new ways to effectively give myself breaks such as cooking or baking, watching TV, and going on walks around campus.
Photo by Samantha Doria
4. Be thankful for what you have
Before the pandemic, I found myself living in the future instead of enjoying the present. Being at college during the pandemic taught me to enjoy every fun moment I had like it was my last. When I was able to safely spend time with my friends, I cherished these opportunities. Even if my junior year was not what I had hoped for, I am thankful for the experience I had.
