Today I wanted to share some photos from the inaugural NESS Fest of Greenville, SC. The NESS Fest is a 2-day health and lifestyle festival focused on wellNESS, fitNESS, goodNESS, and wholeNESS. The forward thinking event promotes instilling these four pillars in local families, friends, and the community. Local Greenvillites and beyond are invited to try new workouts, meet like-minded individuals, and gain practices to add toward creating optimal, healthy, intentional, and realistic lifestyles.
I was honored to help promote and attend the festival as a brand ambassador. The challenging workouts were just the tip of the iceberg of an ocean of fun, beautiful souls living their best, truest lives and inspiring me and others to do the same! I foresee The NESS Fest growing into a can’t-miss festival expanding over the Southeast. Follow along to read how I diversified my knowledge of health and get excited about The NESS Fest, 2019!
DAY 1
Meal Planning
Brad and I were excited and energized as we walked into Fluor field, home of Greenville Drive baseball team, and took in all the vendor tents, fun music, and activities already bustling all over the field. At the entrance, I was handed a branded, cinchable backpack full of goodies, from coupons to a blender ball water bottle, and a polymer bracelet that was my entry ticket for the weekend. We checked our schedules and ran to our first session, a meal planning seminar by local dietitian, Brittany Jones of Blush Nutrition. Brittany was a wealth of knowledge and we talked a lot throughout the weekend with she and her hubby.
The Toughest Fitness Class: Swallowing the Frog First
Next, we ran to our corresponding stages for our first fitNESS classes. I completed a 30 minute Burn Bootcamp class. Burn Bootcamp class was the most challenging session of the entire weekend. I have never done so many burpees and/or burpee variations in my life. Luckily, the environment was one where I felt comfortable enough to stop and catch my breath when needed, while also being inspired to push myself to my limit. And by limit, I mean my legs were Jello in the first 30 minutes of the festival! Pictured below, I met and Bootcamped with Rachel, who covered the event for @TheLocalGreenville. Meanwhile, Brad was psyched to workout with Ben Bouleware of Junkyard Fitness in a series of kettlebells, rowing, cycling, and weights. He was also exhausted by the workout, but not too much to get a photo with the former Clemson football star!
Bomb Braided Hair and Yoga
I curled my hair for day one, which started off with a steady sprinkle of rain. After my first plyo-heavy fitness class, I ran over to Browning Studio to get my hair done into an updo. The ladies of Browning Studio were so sweet and my updo was not only gorgeous, but also super quick. The ‘do was both gorgeous and quick! This left me with plenty of time to run over and meet Brad for a yoga class with Maya Movement. The yoga class was taught by Kelly VanLeuwen and assisted/demoed by Sarah Primeau. My cousin, Megan, took the class with Brad and I!
After a quick lunch from Happy + Hale, we hopped into a Cyclebar class since our original scheduled class was rained out. It was Brad’s first Cyclebar class and he loved it! The sweet potato-based lunch provided us with a second burst of energy!
Unique Techniques
Then, Brad and I went to see a Dry Needling demo by Elite Integrated Therapy. Dry needling is similar to the concept of acupuncture. A needle is inserted into your muscle and manipulated to induce a twitch throughout a targeted muscle. The twitch resets nerves and muscle fibers to avoid knots and encourage active use of the entire muscle. Brad got special attention to his left arm.
I stopped at the official NESS Fest Photo Booth while Brad went to grab our car and a snack. Finally, I sat in on and listed to Olivia Esquevel, founder of Southern Pressed Juicery, talk about her entrepreneurial journey. She is courageous, inspiring, and goes after what she wants. It was a fabulous way to end Day 1.
Finally, it was time to head home for A LOT of rest and to recover for Day 2.
DAY 2
For me, day 2 was more focused on recovery, wellness, and wholeness. Brad and I were starving, so we tried CocoBowlz for the first time. It was absolutely incredible. The closest thing I can think of is healthy ice cream for breakfast.
We ran into our friend Sammy. We proceeded to go into the self-care and self-love tent, below, to write a letter to our future selves. The team and sponsor will mail it to us sometime in 2019.
I loved The NESS Fest’s motto, “Engage in a better version of yourself than the day before.” It reenforced simple, daily steps to a healthier lifestyle. In day 2, we took a second Cyclebar class with Lisl, who I wrote about HERE. Then, Brad and I attended a Reiki demo, a form of energy healing, by Andrea Arlledge. It was so interesting to watch. We learned many lesser-known wellness and self-help techniques we want to dive into further in the future.
Next in day two, we sat in on a seminar about proper golf swing technique, taught by Dr. David Jolson of Upstate Sport & Spine and golf pro Jay Haas. We attended a second meal planning seminar on utilizing leftovers by Blush Nutrition. We took a meditation and mindfulness seminar. Finally, we explored the remainder of the vendors and sponsors of the festival.
Four Pillars
Fitness
In addition to the prior mentioned classes, there were a variety of available instruction and exercise classes. Whether you were more interested in cardio, strength, or simply something eccentric and new, there were classes available for everyone. Kids could shoot on the giant, velcro soccer-ball target or take a dance class. A choreographed baton dance class and hula-hooping class started off small and ended packed as they drew in spectators. The Cyclebar classes ran in 45-minute intervals. You could train heavy in a core-centric sculpt class or focus on technique with a Golf Swing demonstration with Jay Haas and Upstate Spine & Sport. Barre classes, power yoga, vinyasa yoga, cross fit, and pilates are just a few additional options that were available at The Ness Fest.
Goodness
Many vendors gave away squishy balls, frisbees, yoga mats, yoga blocks, bananas, and other fruit. Not only were gluten-free and health food vendors available, but a variety of food trucks attended. A mobile fresh veggie market brings fresh, local food from the countryside right into the city. It was actually my very first time trying CocoBowlz, an Acai-puree topped with granola, banana, blueberry, strawberry, and peanut butter drizzle. God knows that my version of heaven will conveniently have the acai bowl trucks available at all times! Brad and I also tried Farm Fresh Fast‘s gluten free donuts. If you try them you will wonder why anybody is still eating regular donuts.
Wellness
Mental health and recovery are just as important to a healthy lifestyle as working out and eating correctly. The NESS Fest did a great job emphasizing this via the wellness and wholeness pillars. One of my favorite local wellness brands, Upstate Spine and Sport, offered 15-minute Fascial Stretch Therapy, an acupuncture demo, and golf swing analyses. Frigid Cryotherapy, the upstate’s first recovery spa, offered NormaTec sessions for sore legs. Finally, a local aesthetician and dermatologist taught about skin biology and health. There were reminders of wellness throughout the park, including the “free hug wall,” pictured above.
Wholeness
Mental health and happiness are often primary goals for working out, eating right, and self-care. However, there were many featured practices and seminars on attaining wholeness at The NESS Fest. Several meditation seminars teach attendees the importance of meditation and how to meditate. A non-profit spoke on the importance of and how to empower your child to eat healthier. A prayer wall was a great place to ponder life. I shared a prayer request, slipping it into an envelope for someone else. Next, I took a prayer request to pray on for the next few weeks after the festival. I felt really connected by the prayer wall. Finally, I am excited to receive the “letter to myself” I penned, in the future. I loved the self-care exercise!
Community
In addition to filling my mind and heart with positivity, The NESS Fest was full of encouraging and kind ambassadors, volunteers, and attendees. I put a face with so many folks I know from Instagram. By the end of day two, I was exhausted physically, yet absolutely full of emotional and spiritual energy. The fun, new fitness classes provide a sense of creativity and adventure in regards to fitness.
I have actually attended Cyclebar at least weekly since attending the festival. I have also chased down Coco Bowlz food truck on more than one occasion since!
My only regret was that I could not convince more friends to join. I hope you now feel prepared and excited for The NESS Fest 2019. I am already counting down for YEAR TWO. If you have any questions, please message me, email me at audiduncan@gmail.com, or comment below. This event will only grow and makes for a great weekend for the entire family! Special thanks to The NESS Fest for inviting me to be a part of the beautiful event and team. See you in 2019, Greenville!
With Joy,
Audrey
