Homecoming: A Sweet Return

Rise Room NYC

Hosted at Rise Room NYC, Homecoming: A Sweet Return brought together women from all walks of life for an evening focused on movement, mindfulness, and community. What started as an email thread between Laura and I, quickly unfolded into bringing our ideas together and curating a Pinterest board for Wolf Afterglow’s first Pilates pop-up in New York City.

Growing up in a city that rarely stops moving, creating space for pause felt especially powerful. As the sun slowly started to set during the sculpt session, all the women had a moment to witness the strength that has been there, reflect, release, and reconnect with themselves. It was a reminder that healing doesn't always happen through action, sometimes it happens by being surrounded by love.

Rise Room NYC provided the perfect setting for that vision. Warm, welcoming, and intentionally designed, the space allowed us to cultivate an experience that felt both intimate and expansive. It was a room filled with connection and the shared understanding that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply slow down long enough to listen to ourselves and others.

Each attendee had a chance to experience one of Wolf Afterglow’s signature sculpts: Sweet Glow Flow in a pair of Grips.Brand’s exclusive “Lucky” grip socks. Together, we moved, strengthened and celebrated the beauty of being present. Every pulse, every breath, and every moment of stillness served as a reminder that coming home to ourselves is a practice, not a destination. Following the sculpt session, we intentionally had a moment to wind down with cool eucalyptus towels, sound bath and visualization led by the co-founder of Rise Room NYC, Laura. It was an invitation to settle into stillness, quiet the noise, and continue the inward journey that had begun through movement.

We gathered afterward over freshly brewed tea, sharing conversations, reflections, and moments of gratitude before heading back into the rhythm of the city. Many women left with a renewed sense of clarity, some wiping away tears after giving themselves the rare gift of peeling back the layers and reconnecting with what mattered most. Those moments of vulnerability and self-discovery became some of the most meaningful memories of the day.

As a final expression of gratitude, each attendee left with a thoughtfully curated luxury gift bag featuring products from Grips Brand, Summer Fridays, Biodance KR, exclusive Baccarat inspired fragrance from Bath Butter Co. (discount code: WOLF15 on next order), hydration + recovery drink mix by Bala Enzyme, and Noshinku. The generosity of these brands helped extend the spirit of self-care and intentional living beyond the walls of the event.

There was something especially meaningful about bringing this experience to New York City. As someone born and raised in Queens, who spent countless years between Queens and Long Island before studying at New York University, returning to New York to host Wolf Afterglow's first pop-up felt deeply personal. The city has shaped so much of who I am—my creativity, resilience, ambition, and sense of community.

To bring Wolf Afterglow back to the place where so many of my own beginnings took shape felt like a full-circle moment.

Homecoming: A Sweet Return was more than a Pilates event. It was a reminder that home can be found in movement, in stillness, in community, in shared stories, and in the courage to reconnect with ourselves.

And if this first gathering taught us anything, it's that we're only getting started.

“Your class was incredible and I’m glad I was able to attend! It definitely won’t be the last one!” – Shakira

“The pulses were frying me, but so worth it! Thank you so much for the class. It was definitely challenging in the best ways, feel amazing after that class honestly! Thank you!” – Judy

“I loved it. I loved the flow, the transitions and your energy. I love meeting instructors who I can see myself in and learn from. It gives like a renew sense of energy like “yes you’re doing it right!” You are awesome and will continue to be great! When you come back and whoever I travel to Cali, I’ll always take your class. I loved it. You have a great soul! Keep going until next time my girl!” – K’la Noel

“Grateful to be surrounded by good energy, movement and community. We did that! Ty don’t f*ck around and of course I’m always in the front and if you know me I scream in Pilates classes so yes I was hooting and sweating chileeeeee!” – Nashelle