By Ray Rogers
PURIST: How did you get your start as a sculpt class instructor?
Andrea Saty: I grew up in New Jersey and spent every day either at dancing school or cheerleading on the sidelines of a game. In college, I was part of the University of Miami Sunsations dance team and went on to work in finance for several years. I got married and had my two girls, but everything changed after I lost my husband in 2014. When I emerged from the shock of the loss, I knew I needed an outlet to heal, so I started exercising again. What began as a way to cope quickly reignited my passion for fitness and wellness. I trained as a dance cardio and sculpt instructor in NYC, and teaching gave me a new sense of purpose and drive and reminded me how incredibly powerful movement can be.
When COVID hit, we relocated to Miami and I continued teaching virtually for a few years. I was so surprised when I realized that there weren’t any in-person classes in Miami that blended rhythm and strength the way my cardio sculpt method does, so I decided to fill that gap. My boyfriend, Michael, offered the perfect space in his hotel, and now I lead classes and host wellness events in the private rooftop terrace at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel, overlooking the Miami skyline.
As your loyal following knows, music is a big part of your workouts.
What makes my class unique is that every movement is set to the beat and the music completely drives the experience. I spend a lot of time prepping the playlists so that each set of songs flows together, switching between cardio and sculpt using very light weights and resistance bands. Your body is constantly challenged, but you’re having fun so it feels as much like a dance party as it does strength training. You’ll hear everything in my class from dirty South rap (“Money in the Bank” by Lil Scrappy) to pop (Ed Sheeran’s remix of “Sapphire” featuring Arijit Singh) to chill ambient house (“Drive” by Black Coffee and David Guetta, featuring Delilah Montagu). Each type of song brings out a different vibe: rap and hip-hop for sculpt/strength, pop for cardio bursts and chill house for the cool-down release at the end. After a few classes, people start to anticipate what’s coming just from the song, and we ride the rhythm together.
“Collective Effervescence” is one of your favorite phrases. What does it mean to you?
It’s a sociological concept coined by [French sociologist] Émile Durkheim. It describes the powerful feeling of shared energy and connection when a group experiences something together. It’s almost like a runner’s high, but on a collective level. Just last week, someone came up to me after class and said: “I got so emotional during your class, I almost started crying.” She hadn’t worked out in a while and said that once she started moving with the group she was overcome with emotion, in a good way. That’s exactly what collective effervescence is: the rush of joy and release that happens when we move together.
What’s the best way to get the class inspired and moving?
My class is high-energy from the very first song. I want people to feel like they’ve stepped into a party. I encourage clapping, cheering and even a little freestyle dance moment if they are feeling the song. I always tell the class it’s not about perfection; I want them to be confident, have fun and sweat it out.
You’re a mother to two daughters. Are they able to keep up with your classes?
They are almost teenagers now, so let’s just say they’re way more into TikTok dances than Mom’s sculpt workouts. They’ll join in once in a while and roll their eyes, but I think they secretly love it. They inspire me every day to lead by example. I try to show them what it means to be strong, kind and passionate about what you do. I started this journey when I was at my weakest to try and become a stronger mother for them, and they constantly remind me to stay grounded in my purpose. IG @andreasaty; andreasaty.com