BodyRock! 2017 pop-up fitness fair happens April 30 at Stage AE

Highmark and Allegheny Health Network present a sample of heart-pumping fitness

PITTSBURGH (April 26, 2017) — On April 30th, Stage AE on Pittsburgh's North Shore will transform into the burg's "rockinest" fitness studio and apparel boutique. BodyRock! 2017 will showcase Pittsburgh's premier fitness instructors and studios and provide an opportunity to sample what they offer.

On-site registration begins Sunday, April 30 at 8 a.m. Fitness classes begin at 9 a.m. and run through 2 p.m., and will take place on Stage AE's indoor and outdoor stages. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Individuals purchase tickets for the specific fitness session of their choice, and are then entitled to unlimited classes at no additional cost on a first-come basis.

"Anything with the word "rock" in it, I'm there," said Cindy Donohoe, Highmark's chief marketing officer who will be attending. "Cardio-vascular fitness is critical to helping women minimize their risk of heart attack and stroke, the number one killers of women. Every class at BodyRock! 2017 is guaranteed to get your heart pumping and that’s exactly what you want to achieve."

Highmark and Allegheny Health Network (AHN) have teamed with Rory Lazear of High Maintenance, to present a high intensity cardio jump rope class at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Additional fitness offerings include spinning, Pilates, barre, fatbells, and FitSpirit (think dance meets strength training). As presenting sponsors, Highmark and (AHN) are gifting yoga mats to all attendees, and providing free jump ropes for those brave enough to try the rope burn class.

If you need new workout gear to go with your new fitness obsession, Ragged Row will have a pop-up boutique on site to outfit you. GNC Live Well and local health food purveyors will be on hand to keep you nourished.

"At Highmark and AHN, health plan and doctors are working together to design a new model of women-centered care," Donohoe explained. "This means offering the region's first post-partum support and treatment center, and our Cancer Collaborative quality initiative which cut in half the length of time women are exposed to radiation during breast cancer treatment. We deliberately locate medical offices in locations convenient to busy women so we can save them the time of commuting to us."

In addition to the BodyRock! event, also be sure to watch for the big red blow-up heart you can walk through outside PNC Park at the Pirates game on Sunday, May 7. The AHN Cardiovascular Institute will have more jump ropes on hand, along with good advice on protecting your heart.

"We are happy to help play a role in bringing to the community any endeavor that raises awareness of the importance of good cardiovascular health," said Indu Poornima, MD, a cardiologist and director of Allegheny Health Network's Women's Heart Center.

Highmark and AHN are the presenting sponsors of BodyRock! 2017. Additional sponsors include Fame15Creative, Stage AE, GNC Live Well, Ragged Row and Chelsea Collective.

To keep up with the action, please visit the BodyRock! 2017 Facebook Event Page.