How the Co-Founders of This Buzzy Workout Class Start Their Mornings

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before you dive into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every week here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

NYC-based trampoline cardio and sculpting studio The Ness is taking the boutique workout scene by storm and for good reason. Its signature bounce cardio classes, which combine low-impact movement with fun high-intensity choreography, have helped them garner a dedicated fan base, including our chief content officer, Hillary Kerr.

Co-founders and instructors Aly Giampolo and Colette Dong are behind this feel-good fitness movement, and they recently shared with us how they prepare—mentally and physically—for a full day of teaching. Keep scrolling to see their productive and jam-packed morning routines.

6 A.M.

Aly Giampolo: I try to keep my morning routine quick and easy by packing a lot in about 30 minutes. (Why should you wake up any earlier than you really have to, right?) This is when my alarm will go off, and shortly after, I'll find my dog, Indy, standing on top of me. I'm unsure whether he's trying to make sure I'm awake or hold me down so I'll never leave, but the latter seems more likely.

6:05 A.M.

AG: I love making coffee with the French press and then using my Milk Boss Electric Frother for my steamed oat milk. Having steamed milk in my coffee from home seems like an unnecessary extra step this early in the morning, but it's a simple luxury that really makes me happy to start the day with. 

AG: Around this time, Indy will check in to see if anything exciting is happening but promptly realizes that he hates being awake and will fall back to sleep on the couch. 

While the coffee is steeping, I'll pack my bag for the day with my essentials, including my laptop and charger; an Allen key, which is necessary to assemble our trampolines; Jao Refresher hand sanitizer; and my favorite Emilie Heathe R&R Exfoliating Lip Scrub.

AG: I also always pack Mab & Stoke Focus Sticks, which are the perfect pick-me-up to help me re-energize but not be jittery after a morning of teaching, and a small rose-quartz stone. The quartz promotes compassion, emotional wellness, and love, which I always want to have an abundance of as a business owner, instructor, manager, partner, and friend.

6:15 A.M.

AG: Next up, I'll do my skincare routine. Since I get my lashes done once a month (my favorite place is Lash Love NYC), there's no point in wearing makeup when the majority of my day is spent sweating on a trampoline.

The only things that go on my face daily after a face dry-brushing session are Odièle Rose Serum, which I'll massage in with Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar (it feels like a dream!) and SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore cream.

6:20 A.M.

AG: The last thing to do before getting dressed is to take care of my teeth! I love Lumineux Oral Essentials Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash. They're completely nontoxic and leave you fresh and ready for the day.

6:25 A.M.

AG: Since I mostly wear activewear to work, I love putting on matching sets, like this, on top of my teaching clothes so I have something comfy and clean to wear when I finish teaching.

6:30 A.M.

AG: I'm headed out the door on my way to The Ness. Thank you for waking up with me this morning!

7 A.M.

Colette Dong: Good morning! I typically wake up 1 to 1.5 hours before my first task of the day. Whether that be a meeting, leaving to teach, or doing my own workout, I love to sleep as long as possible.

7:10 A.M.

CD: The first thing I do is take my dog, Chester, out. He is an Italian greyhound with a small bladder, so he acts as a natural alarm clock because he typically can’t hold it past 7 a.m. I live next to an elementary school and always look insanely disheveled as all the parents walk past me to drop off their kids.

7:15 A.M.

CD: After I’m back inside, I run through a quick a.m. skincare routine, which includes Caudalie Vinoclean Gentle Cleansing Almond Milk, a daily zap from my NuFace Facial Toning Device, and two products I can’t live without: Lernberger Stafsing S.O.S Barrier Repair Cream and Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil. I don’t wear makeup, because I spend most of the day sweating, so I love the hydrated glow these products give me.

7:30 A.M.

CD: After that, I tend to drink a lot of beverages. I really hate water and find the taste to be so boring, but since I spend most of my days sweating, you can see why this might be problematic.

Mab & Stoke's herbal blends taste amazing and have helped me drink so much more water. It’s like Crystal Light for the wellness consumer, and I am obsessed. I also drink green juice when I have it on hand.

7:45 A.M.

CD: I wear workout gear or athleisure every day, so picking an outfit is easy. I’m a huge fan of Beyond Yoga and always top it off with jewelry to add a little more pep to my step. 

I always see women in fabulous outfits on the street but have come to terms with the fact that it will never be my life! It’s a simple way to feel a little less frumpy. Tarin Thomas makes great everyday pieces that go with everything, and I always make sure to keep my Oura Ring on so I can track my activity, rest, and readiness.

8 A.M.

CD: I'll make sure to take Chester for a longer walk around Brooklyn and grab a coffee before hopping on a bike to go to the studio. It’s by far my favorite mode of transportation.

Up next, Emma Chamberlain Breaks Down Her Ideal Morning Routine and Self-Care Rituals