This Week at the NY Studio

Level 1: Happy Graduation! Spend this week savoring the newfound bliss of your body. The "S" is now a part of your world and you're a part of ours. What was once a foreign language, you can now read, write and speak fluently. Stay close to this beautiful vacation land of pleasure, power and pizzazz. As you slowly writhe through your Routine, breathe in deeply as if each inhale is feeding your lifelong desires. As you sail around the pole in your "Firefly" and "Ballerina," lift your chin and let the fly make you high.

Level 2: Hey Level 2 Grads, nothing feels better than a comfy pair of jeans huggin' you in all the right places. Wiggling out of them has girl-next-door sex appeal and we're about to show you how to do it. It's "Jeans Strip" week! Bring your favorite pair of chillaxin' jeans to class. You'll learn to peel the denim across your hips, bum and thighs with vivacious volumes of tease. Your slinky "Snake" pole trick will take some time to perfect. Such a magnanimous trick deserves full body commitment. Go for it.

Level 3: Feel the freedom of improvisation as you get out of your brain and into every inch of your fabulous female body. Nowhere else can you let go with so much sweet abandon. Relax, release your brain's hold on your body and feel your wingspan spread like the most majestic eagle owning her space. Now that you've opened this door to an infinite ocean of expressive movement, your future is limitless. You are stronger than you can possibly imagine, so give your blossoming muscles permission to find and hold that "Descending Angel" and "Snake" for as long as you can. Give it everything you've got.

Level 4: Nothing says hot mama like a dangerously slow and tempting unveiling of the body you are now wholly in love with. That's the tantalizing "5-layer Strip." You'll need five layers of clothing to play with, like extra shirts, long pants, socks, scarves, a hat, a jacket, a shawl...you get the idea. Pile them on and playfully peel them off one at a time. Little by little, you'll reveal your delicious self. Don't rush or struggle to get out of all that luscious fabric. Getting bound and wrapped up in all that softness is half the fun. Whip up a babelicious breeze with your "Flying Body Spiral" and "Ronde Jambe/Flying Half-Pint."

Level 5/6: It's "Desperate Housewife" time so break out those "I Love Lucy" pearls and dishwashing gloves and explore your inner housewife. Are you a prim and proper homemaker with a restless tigress growling on the inside, or a soap opera lovin' kitten longing for a jet-setting life? Maybe you're a do-it-all soccer Mom playing hooky from that PTA meeting, or a devastatingly sexy Mrs. Robinson. For music, how about "Be My Husband" by Nina Simone or "Dear Mama" by Tupac. Honey, I'm home! On the pole, it looks tougher than it is when your brain tries to suss out the "Layout" or "Jacknife." Give your muscles the job and hang out like an outer space honey in zero gravity.


I’m watching the Olympic opening ceremonies…country by country parading through the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing. I don’t know why but I just love watching the athletes as they enter the arena and parade around with their flags held high. Something about the pride and integrity and excitement makes the hair on my arms stand on end. From one country to the next, Spain, Bermuda, Lichtenstein, Congo, the announcer gives a little tidbit of information after each of the nations is introduced. Here comes Iran, “One of three women representing Iran in Beijing is the flag bearer," says Bob Costas. A few more countries pass by and then Saudi Arabia, “…in its ninth Summer Olympic appearance." His next tidbit of information on Saudi Arabia is particularly disturbing, yes, for what he says, “…a team made up only of men, a nation where women are not allowed to drive and must obtain permission from a male guardian to work or even travel." It's disturbing more so because he says it with ease, and then goes right back to announcing, "Next is Algeria, Albania-". And then another Arabic country is announced, "United Arab Emirates, whose team includes women for the first time, they just happen to be the two daughters of the Prime Minister but," he says, “that is probably just a coincidence." Ugh! Then comes Afghanistan and the announcer announces, “…the only woman on the team, runner Mehboba Ahdyar disappeared from a training camp last month. She’d been receiving death threats from fundamentalists who object to any female athlete participating on behalf of Afghanistan. Possibly she’s seeking asylum.” Possibly… And then onto Azerbaijan and Namibia and a tidbit about a runner and his world record breaking abilities…leaving the disturbing tidbits of man’s inhumanity toward women along the trail of Olympic excitement. I think what disturbs me more than the inequities and the domination of one sex over the other is the ease with which we accept and distribute the information. I think what bothers me is the ease, the acceptance however begrudgingly. Let the games begin.



With a Big, Fat, Luscious Hug,

Calling All Ladies Of The "S"…We Need Your Help! ♥♥♥
Services or Merchandise: Do you or someone you know have something fabulous we could auction/raffle off at our upcoming Dress For Success Open House? Perhaps your company can donate discontinued or out-of-season merchandise and accessories that we could sell at our sample sale??? What great exposure for you and/or your company, not to mention assisting us in this worthy and amazing cause!!! Feel the pleasure and fulfillment of empowering Dress For Success' women in need! Email your mucho appreciated donation suggestions to Gerri Kyhill, gerri@sfactor.com.

Fashion Show ASSistance: We need “models” of every body type, and those of you who are hair stylists or great with hair, to be a part of our Dress For Success Open House Fashion Show! Everyone is welcome to try out. It's gonna be fun, we promise. Email Nicole Laborante (nlaborante@sfactor.com) what your forte is and she'll get back to with details and instructions!

What Are You Doing After Fashion Week???
Coming to our Dress For Success Open House…

Sunday, September 14th
5:00pm – 10:00pm
Health and Beauty Services
S Express Classes 5pm & 7pm
Fashion Show and Demo Performances 7pm & 8:30pm

This dynamic event will celebrate the definitive female empowerment charity, Dress For Success.  

• Titillating demos!
• S Express classes-->Introduce your female friends to our world!
• Sample Sale, Auction and Raffles including contributions from S Factor, Martha Stewart, Elie Tahari & Ana Sui - just to mention a few!
• Goodie bags filled with cool stuff!
• Eat, drink and strut our stuff in a Fashion Show!
• Beauty service indulgence! 
• Reach out to help other women succeed with self-sufficiency!  

 

Dress for Success solves the catch-22 that confronts disadvantaged women trying to enter the workforce: Without a job, how can you afford a suit…and without a suit, how can you get a job? The clothing that Dress for Success provides to their clients symbolizes their faith in every woman's ability to succeed.

S Factor students: Take an S Express class with your friends and if they sign up for a Level 1 session, there’s a wonderful bonus for you! TBA shortly!!

R.S.V.P.'s are open, call the studio at (212) 989-8030! We hope you'll join us in honoring this groundbreaking charity! Entrance donation is $30 for general admission & raffle ticket, or accepted as a donation only. VIP admission including an S Express class & raffle ticket is $40 for current students and $60 for non-students. Raffle tickets are One/$5 or Three/$12.

Clothing Donations: We hope you've begun looking through your closets for work clothes and accessories you can donate to job-ready women!! Collection details coming soon so start sorting. You know you need to clean out those closets and get ready for autumn!

A Delicious Double Dare
Dear "S" women, we'd like to thank you for spreading the love of "S"! Now, when one of your girlfriends signs up for Level 1, you will receive a $40 credit. "Dare" your girlfriends to join our bold "S" community. If twelve friends accept your dare you'll receive a free session. Simply visit www.sfactor.com and login to your student account to begin referring your friends today! Your referrals will receive an email inviting them to sign up for a 1/2 price Intro Class ($20). This limited-time opportunity is only available to friends you refer. After their Intro Class, if they "dare" to sign up for Level 1, your student account will automatically be credited $40. It's as easy as that. We look forward to welcoming your friends to our community. Ask a Front Desk Ambassador for more information. This program ends September 12th.

An Apple A Day...
Keeps you in love with your mind, body, heart and soul. The AppleSider Session - August 26th thru October 21st - is so close, we can taste it. Our one-time offer for first-time AppleSider students signing up for weekday, daytime Level 1 classes is ending soon...

Women new to S Factor, please call (212) 989-8030 in Chelsea or (516) 625-7350 in Roslyn to sign up for a weekday 10am, 12pm or 2pm class at the special rate of $384 (regularly $480) in Chelsea, and $352 (regularly $440) in Roslyn.

Women new to S Factor, click here to sign up for AppleSider evening classes in Chelsea, or click here for Roslyn.

Current "S" women, login to your student account at www.sfactor.com, then follow the icon to AppleSider sign-ups.

Show Us Your "S"!
"S" woman Alexis Leist had a very memorable 33rd birthday:

My name is Alexis Leist and I am currently a Level 4 student in Chelsea with Ilov Grate, who I love and adore.  I wanted to do something very special for my 33rd birthday, and somehow introduce my friends to the magical world of S Factor, so I thought what better way to do it then with an S Factor party, with Ilov hosting, of course. I was so nervous and excited.  I also planned on dancing on my own in front of them, which was the first time I brought my "S" out into the "real world."  From the minute I got to the studios, everything just worked out so great.  It was great to see familiar faces at the desk. One of my friends commented afterward at dinner that she has never seen such self-confident women (meaning the luscious staff ladies). Ilov handled all of my friends with perfection and grace and ease.  I can't tell you what an amazing woman she is to have navigated everyone so beautifully!  I loved watching them all light up as the party went on!  It was so beautiful to witness.  And when I danced for them, and heard their shouts and screams, I felt totally honored.  At the same time that I took them out of their comfort zone with my party, they stretched me by being my first audience!  Two of my friends have expressed an interest in taking the course and I am keeping my fingers crossed.  Anyway, here is a note that I got from a friend of mine in response to my e-mail thanking them for coming! Every Sunday at S Factor has really become my church, and I am grateful every day that I found it through Mama Gena's.  Thank you.
 
-Alexis
 
Alexis' friend's note: Alexis - So funny because I wanted to thank you for introducing us to S Factor.  But most of all, for showing us a more private side of you. That takes courage and I was in awe of you.  In fact, I actually want to take the courses there.  It was such an incredible confidence builder and so empowering to do that.  Thank you for showing that to me.  I can't tell you how much of an impact it has had on me.

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Got a pic of you gettin' your "S" groove on? Send it to Gerri Kyhill, gkyhill@sfactor.com!

***July 4th Make-Up Class*** 
Beauties, if you take class on Fridays, remember the class you missed due to July 4th will take place on Monday, August 25th. Don't forget...

The S Factor Family ~ Melissa Brennan Is Movin' On Up!
We are very excited to announce that Melissa Brennan has been promoted to Lead Front Desk Ambassador!! Lissa is a natural born leader with a passion for the "S" and all things good. She has been a great asset to our organization and we are really excited to have her as part of the team (the back office team that is). Please join us in congratulating her and her new role. Congrats Lissa!!!

The Ballerina Dress
Something this precious and feminine is a rare treat...  Our newest darling, the Ballerina Dress is poetry in motion. Designed especially for dancers like us, it can be tied in different ways to make a shoulder-flaunting dress or a skirt that flows with every pole trick. Check your in-studio boutique racks the week of August 25th.

Ballerina Dress