When greeting cards, candy and gifts start popping up in stores everywhere, it means only one thing: Valentine’s Day is coming. Whether you’re single and just looking or taken and just looking, you’ll be glad to meet Brooklyn Crew‘s Michael Aiken, my favorite fit crush.
Why he’s different: Remember from my recent review of the studio, Michael is a real crew coach vs. a fitness instructor. He rowed competitively in high school and college; after graduation, he continued as a coach for a few girls’ varsity teams and, most recently, the men’s varsity team at Clarkson University. He describes his training style as “a mix of fun camp counselor and intense crew coach” and you’ll find that all this high-level rowing combined with professional coaching makes for some really loud in-class cheering and major attention to proper form.
What’s inside his closet: A self-described very low maintenance kind of guy, you’ll find lots of workout clothes by Lululemon and Nike plus a few vintage pieces from Beacon’s Closet and newer ones scooped up at H&M.
A day in his life: Starts with 20 minutes of stretching, followed by 3-4 back-to-back classes at Brooklyn Crew. On off days, you can find Michael listening to bands at Glasslands and eating pizza at Roberta’s in his Bushwick neighborhood.
Fitness (and life) motto: “Keep calm and row on.”
Want to book a class with (and bat your mascara-free lashes at) Michael? Click here.
Wow! I have to admit, I didn’t see erg classes coming! As a former coxswain, I hope it is a huge hit!
Yes, there’s a rowing revolution in and around NYC. Brooklyn Crew. City Row. Come visit me and check it out!
Very cute but not my type!
Ha.