New Studio Opening Celebration — WellcommDC [5.18.26]

WellcommDC is the email newsletter bringing you the best of the DMV’s wellness community. Get On The List and get Wellcomm sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love Wellcomm? Then please forward our email or tag them on our IG.

[EVENTS RETURN] We’re bringing back DMV event coverage! But rather than share a long list, we’re curating one event per email and calling it our Hit Event. Keep reading to see what we picked this week, how we choose our Hit Events, and the experiences you can expect from Wellcomm going forward.

[HIGH FIVE] We gave a High Five to Amare Langford-Armstrong, an Instructor at BASH Boxing in Arlington and Fairfax, VA.

Wellcomm: Where do you workout?

Amare Langford-Armstrong: I currently coach and workout at BASH Boxing, but when I am not at the studio, I'm usually doing my shadowboxing and workouts at gyms in my office building in Bethesda, my apartment, or LA Fitness in Silver Spring. You can also find me getting some work in on Friday nights at Jonathan Nampha's boxing classes and occasionally taking Maxie Sprout's HIIT HARD WEEKEND classes, enjoying the outside weather while we drill and hit mitts.

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

ALA: Wellness means building a good habit of taking care of and improving your overall physical and mental health. The biggest form of self care is doing the proper maintenance to take care of yourself. When we are in an age of hustle and bustle, making sure you know it is okay to give yourself grace and have a day or two off to get some proper rest, go for a walk outside, meditate, stay home to watch some movies or play games, or spend time with friends or family or even by yourself benefits your mental health. When it comes to your physical health, consistency and, most importantly, effort are the two driving factors that work well together and go hand in hand with fitness and nutrition. Consistency will always bring better results when the amount of effort put into something is genuine. Continue to persevere even when something seems difficult to do in the beginning or takes time to get used to. Don’t exert yourself to such a point that exertion becomes a detriment to your health: listening to your body is just as important as continuing to do the things you love and enjoy.

WC: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

ALA: My goal over the next twelve months is to get better with my weekly meal prep and try to get better with cooking different types of meals at home. I also want to make sure that two or three times a week I get back to my routine of going for a run or jog. I also want it to be mainly outside instead of sticking to the treadmill so that I can enjoy more of the weather and nature while doing so.

WC: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

ALA: It is a blessing to have people who will show love and motivate and inspire me just as I would do for them. Shoutout to Austin Winger and Andria Winger for both recommending and pushing me to become a BASH coach. Shoutout to Jonathan Nampha for the training and the accountability that’s helped me become the BASH coach I am now. Shoutout to Nicki Cal and Frank Cadle for the motivation and inspiration they both have always provided me when coaching my classes. Frank was also my main man when I took my BASH classes and helped me when I needed to know some rehab stretches and body strengthening techniques. Last, but not least, shoutout to these three individuals: William Schons, Jamiah Harrison, and Amber Milenkevich. They have always shown me love in my BASH classes and continued to motivate me when I participated in Haymakers for Hope during my fight camp.

WC: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

ALA: Just remember that it is a marathon, not a race. Do not try to look for “get quick” methods: give yourself grace, but never give up on your journey. Even starting off with small workout routines or small but good nutrition habits will continue to build yourself up until you are finally at a point of making bigger changes to improve yourself. Everyone's story starts somewhere, and everyone is different, but the good feeling we all get when we achieve something great is always the same. Be patient with yourself, think positively about the changes you are making, and persevere even when the going gets tough.

Know a fitness instructor or personal trainer who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future High Five profile!

[HIT EVENT]

• What: STRIKELAB DC Grand Opening Celebration

• When: Saturday, May 23rd from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

• Where: STRIKELAB DC in Washington, DC

• Why: An official grand opening party celebrating the Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Jiu-Jitsu studio’s arrival in DC, featuring DJs, snacks + drinks, giveaways, local vendors, and special membership discounts for attendees who enroll that day.

• How: No classes, just community and celebration. Swing by during the event window and come check out the new space.

So how do we pick our Hit Events? They’re curated exclusively for our WellcommDC Community from former High Fives. Each week, we’ll highlight one standout fitness event in the WellcommDC email. This could be:

• a group workout

• a pop-up fitness event

• a race or charity run

• a pickleball tournament

• a cycling ride

• a recovery event or

• anything else fitness-related

These events will be shared with all Wellcomm email subscribers, but submissions from former High Fives who are subscribers are prioritized, ideally for events they’re organizing, leading, or personally involved with.

We’ll feature one event per week, so spots are limited. We’re grateful for our High Fives and are excited to share these exclusive ongoing updates from the best of the DMV!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommDC. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read Wellcomm? Forward our email to them or tag them on our IG. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.