OH MY GIRLS! „¢ WILL MAKE HISTORY!! THE FIRST EVER HEALTHY LIVING CENTER FOR GIRLS AGES 8-18 140 Jericho Turnpike, SYOSSET, LONG ISLAND, 516-802-5800 www.ohmygirls.com TO ARRANGE FOR MEDIA COVERAGE: LISA ROSEN 516-702-9523 OR CLAIRE LIEBER-SAUL 516-375-9931 OR OMG@OHMYGIRLS.COM -------FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE----- SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 ATTENTION EDITORS: PLEASE CONSIDER COVERAGE OF OUR OPEN HOUSE - SAT. SEPT. 10TH (11:00am-4:00pm) It's really rough growing up today: technology-induced ADD, internet bullying and social isolation abounds. Oh My Girls! „¢ ("OMG!"), a revolutionary healthy living center designed exclusively for girls, is a refuge from all of this. OMG! has the lofty mission of helping girls create a truly sustainable, healthful lifestyle though fitness, nutrition and cooking and social skill-building in hopes of breeding a generation healthy women. Girls who join the Center will immediately find themselves in a funky and intimate setting, face-to-face with their peers, whether it be in one of the hottest new fitness classes such as Cardio Jam or Zumba ®; in a cooking class (international, gluten-free, vegetarian, healthy desserts, etc.) discussing healthy eating habits; or in one of the many self-empowerment workshops which run the gamut from avoiding bullying and peer pressure in middle school to making your own skin care products. There is also a smoothie bar full of ingredients that power up a girl's growing body and mind. OMG! prides itself on understanding that girls have unique needs that should be nurtured and embraced. Classes have a maximum of 12 students and are all age-specific to give girls the attention they need in a setting in which they are most comfortable. Owners Lisa Rosen and Claire Lieber-Saul are not only professionals in the healthcare industry, but have tween girls of their own. Rosen received her Psy. D in psychology in 1998 and specializes in the relationship between physical and emotional health. As her children entered adolescence, she recognized a lack of quality programming for tweens and teens. She craved a place where her own daughters could find age appropriate classes that would empower them in these extremely formative years. Finding nothing to meet these needs, she created OMG! which fulfills all of them and more. OMG! is not only about the physical part of growing up, but about subtle social needs as well and is one of only places where girls will find themselves in a media-free zone. "Growing up a girl has always presented its challenges, but never before has it been so easy to disengage and become isolated from your peers," says Dr. Rosen. She feels OMG! is a place where girls can be offline, developing long-lasting friendships, healthy lifestyles and social skills that will help them transition into adulthood with ease and success. As a fan of holistic living, Lieber-Saul, a former litigation attorney, certified life coach and fitness instructor, placed her daughter in the Waldorf School for the benefits of its holistic education program. Having seen the benefits of this type of education (which limits media exposure), she developed a strong passion for seeing children raised in the most healthful way from the food they eat to the television programming they consume. Lieber-Saul's biggest concern is that "children who sit in front of screens all day and night not only reduce their social and intellectual development, but increase their risk for diabetes and other illnesses. We need to get kids unplugged from technology and plugged back into their lives if we truly want them to succeed." She created OMG! as a very appealing and fun way to do this and is thrilled when she sees teens come to the space who don't even seem to miss their cellphones, ipods and laptops. What people have to say about Oh My Girls!: Oh My Girls! is an incredible place whose time is long overdue and is sure to make history! Girls will be introduced to healthful living in a fun and supportive setting that will set them on a great path for lifelong good habits of regular exercise and healthy eating. Joanna Dolgoff, MD, Pediatrician, Child Obesity Specialist The owners of Oh My Girls have worked tirelessly to ensure that the space is an environmentally healthy space. They even sought out "PVC- free" fitness balls from the only manufacturer in this country that makes them to ensure that the girls who spend time in their fitness room are breathing clean air. Patti Wood, Executive Director-Grassroots Environmental Education, Radio Show Host - Green Street Radio (WBAI Radio) This is a very well thought-out operation and the staff have a long list of impressive credentials. While OMG! is the first place of its kind, they are planning to open more centers... in the future. Susan Leaderman, Syosset Patch My girl LOVED it! I am so impressed with it! Wasn't sure what to expect...WOW! Mimi Grabovenko, Owner, Mimi's Creative Kids