On Wednesday night, GoingDry.co celebrated the close of 2025 with a Nordic-inspired recalibration. Inside NRTHRN Strong’s Flatiron studio, guests gathered for a low-impact, full-body workout rooted in Nordic movement principles, followed by nonalcoholic cocktails and herbal-forward bites that extended the experience beyond fitness.
NRTHRN Strong is a studio that highlights restraint: clean lines, reflective surfaces, soft blue lighting, and a deliberate focus on breath-led strength. The atmosphere felt transporting without tipping into discomfort. The room glowed cool and calm, a stark contrast to the red-lit intensity that defines so many boutique studios in the city. The workout alternated between time on the studio’s custom ski machines and functional work off the platform, targeting the abs, glutes, and lower body with resistance bands and dumbbells through seamless transitions.
Coach Tyler, who led the class, embodied that same sensibility. A steady guide, he moved easily between instruction and encouragement. The class opened with long, grounding inhales and simple coordination drills that gradually built into a series of movements inspired by cross-country skiing. Instead of sprints or circuits, we moved in rhythmic glides that mimicked ski strides, switching between balance holds, diagonal reaches, and sliding lunges. It looked calm at first, but by halfway through the workout, everyone’s pulse had clearly quickened, and the room glistened with sweat.
One moment we were driving through a controlled ski interval; the next, we were grounded on the floor, working through slow, deliberate core sequences or banded leg work designed to stabilize the hips and protect the joints. Low-impact movements didn’t feel like low effort, but rather a shift toward efficiency. Each movement recruited multiple muscle groups while minimizing unnecessary strain, particularly on the knees and lower back. The rhythm and retraction of the ski poles kept you focused, with breath acting as the anchor. Ultimately, the class felt disciplined and balanced, immersive and energizing, built for endurance rather than aesthetics.
After class, the experience shifted naturally into recovery and connection. Tables were laid with healthy bites like roasted eggplant and tomato crostini, cauliflower bites, and other warm, plant-forward snacks provided from Breads Bakery. Alongside them, nonalcoholic cocktails were poured featuring herbal tinctures from WishGarden Herbs, a leading liquid herbal supplement brand of plant-powered formulas.
The mocktails were customized with tinctures tailored to specific needs. Fruity spritzes were paired with immune-support herbs. A ginger-forward tonic offered warmth and balance, while a softer botanical blend leaned calming and aromatic. We opted for an immune activator with respiratory and immune supporting herbs like Elderflower, Baptisia Root, and Yerba Santa leaf. The drinks were functional and well-balanced, designed to complement the physical work while supporting recovery and a lifestyle built for endurance in New York City.
The Nordic influence carried through to the locker rooms, which featured Dyson hair dryers and a Swedish skincare line rooted in organic botanicals and minimalist formulations. The experience felt holistic in movement, nourishment, and recovery.
The event marked the final GoingDry.co gathering of the year, curated by founder and author Hilary Sheinbaum, whose work has reframed sobriety and mindful consumption as lifestyle choices rather than restrictions. Through her books The Dry Challenge and Going Dry: A Workbook, she has built a community that values balance, presence, and sustainability. Together, the workout and the herbal cocktails explored what a healthier lifestyle can look like in New York, prioritizing social rituals that leave you clear-headed rather than depleted.