We recently had a chance to visit the Different Breed Strength + Conditioning facility and experience their Breathwork (out) for ourselves. In their own words, the Breathwork(out) is “a night full of intentional fitness, self-reflection, community and wellness.”  Sound amazing?  It totally was. 

The entire event was just over 2 hours long, and consisted of 3 different components:

1. The Workout

I came prepared in my typical workout clothes and yoga mat in tow. As with any new workout situation, I was a bit intimidated, but was immediately put at ease with the friendly staff, and welcoming group. It was clear that there people of all different fitness levels, and each exercise could and should be modified to your own individual capabilities. The workout was led by head coach and owner, Kyle Shepherd and consisted of a circuit style mix of cardio and strength training. As a trainer, Kyle has a unique ability to keep you motivated, while keeping the atmosphere fun and upbeat. Plus, it’s pretty cool to workout in a former WWII aircraft hangar. I’m just glad I didn’t embarrass myself. 

2. Nutritional Seminar

We were lucky enough to have Riley Rearden as the guest speaker at our workshop. Riley is a holistic chef who had a lot of interesting things to say about mindful nutrition and how we view our relationship with food. One piece of advice: “live your life like a centenarian.” A centenarian is someone who lives to be over 100. Studies have shown that it’s not just about what you eat, but your relationships with others and your community that help you live a life of longevity. She didn’t tell you what or how to eat, but rather made you think about why we eat certain foods, how we feel afterward, and not being too hard on yourself when you eat a donut. 

3. Breathwork

Led by Rob Starbuck, Breathwork is considered a form of active meditation.  The lights in the gym are turned off, and you lie on your back listening to music. And breathe. You breathe a lot. It sounds simple, but in a world that is constantly moving, and with a mind that doesn’t ever want to slow down, it’s actually a lot harder than it sounds. Some people can experience numbness and tingling in their extremities, which he says is actually quite normal. I just had a hard time turning my brain off and relaxing. The benefit of combining a workout with breathwork is so your body is warmed up, and you have an easier time initially adjusting to the deep breathing. The best part was the end, where you scream at the top of your lungs – and let it all go.  I found it to be very therapeutic and something that everyone should participate in on a regular basis. 

At the end of the night, we were offered a variety of different kombucha drinks (which actually weren’t bad!) and left to mingle with the group participants. It was a very friendly atmosphere and nice to chat with everyone about their own individual experiences and why they came to the workshop. All in all, I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to spend the evening at A Different Breed. I got my sweat on, learned a little bit about mindful nutrition and got to yell my brains out. Sounds like a great Friday night to me. And it really was. The sense of community was palpable and there is nothing better than sharing a fun experience with a group of likeminded people are trying to better themselves physically and mentally. Sometimes we all just need a little reminder to take a step back, and breathe. 

Different Breed Strength + Conditioning is located at 11918 Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City, California. All of the information about their workshops and workout classes can be found online at www.bredstrong.com.

Tara Palty is an LA-based lawyer, self-proclaimed cat lady, writer and freelance makeup artist for MAC cosmetics.

[Top images courtesy of Different Breed]