Recap: Be Well Boot Camp 2012

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect at our first ever Be Well Boot Camp on Saturday. I mean, I knew we had a killer lineup of speakers, classes, demos, vendors and more, but you never know with these kinds of events what sort of glitches you might run into: a torrential rain storm, say, that results in half of the attendees staying home to watch movies in bed. Or all of our fitness instructors coming down with some Phantom Stomach Flu. Or the AV guys forgetting to bring a important plug that you can only get in East Jabip, rendering their thousands of dollars of expensive equipment completely and utterly useless.

Guess what? Absolutely none of that happened.

What DID happen was this: We packed the house at Drexel’s amazing Recreation Center with over 200 ladies of all ages clad in their best workout gear to get motivated, educated and fit—and we gave it to ’em. Our marketplace was brimming with health-and-fitness-focused local vendors like Indigo Schuy and Philadelphia Runner; Catalyst Cleanse, Jar Bar and Pangaea Juice Company; Refresh Wellness, Philadelphia Sport and Social and many more. Our fitness lineup included spinning, yoga, boot camp, rock climbing, Pure Barre and Red Hot Dance Fitness. And our interactive panels touched on everything from how to read nutrition labels to how to train for—and PR in—your next marathon.

I had a great time sitting in on panels (I even moderated one!), chatting with readers, and documenting all the action on Facebook and Twitter. Check out some of the photos I took below. Later this week, we’ll have even more photos from the professional photogs who documented the day, so check back soon!

We’re already buzzing with plans for next year to make our second Be Well Boot Camp even bigger and better. If you couldn’t make it on Saturday, mark your calendar for Be Well Boot Camp 2013. You WON’T want to miss it!

Hatha yoga with Mariel Freeman, co-owner of DIG YOGA.

Our marketplace included vendors like Ame Salon and Spa, Andre Richard Salon, Vein Clinics of America, Philadelphia Runner and lots more.

On our Be Well Philly Presents stage, Jar Bar's Jennifer Vanheeswyk-Richmond made a recipe for kale salad.

Our two sleep panels with experts from Crozer were positively packed.

Our two spinning classes were taught by Mad Dogg-certified Spinning and Schwinn Cycle Instructor Lauren Dalton.

Christine Gallagher got the ladies moving with two sessions of Red Hot Dance Fitness.

We even got Be Wellers up on the climbing wall!

>> What’d you take away from Be Well Boot Camp on Saturday? Share your thoughts in the comments!