Category Archives: FIT + WELL

GROOMED L.A.’S BEST HOME WORKOUT DVD’S – PHYSIQUE 57

August 10, 2010

It's a no brainer, trying to (find the time to) get back in shape with a new baby is HARRDD!  

Tired.  No time (said that).  Unmotivated.  Etc.

Why not pop in a DVD and grab a quick workout while le bebe's in a swing?  Having been a group exercise teacher for over 20 years this is a sticky subject for me.  I am PICKY!  And I know what's up.  I am tough on anything workout related let alone a DVD. If it's too easy I get all crazy.  If it's corny, I lose my mind.  If the music sucks, I'll shut it off.

First up in my DVD picks is PHYSIQUE 57.  The 57 Minute Full Body Workout is perfect for a new mom or anyone looking for a solid full body workout that's a hybrid barre, ball, Lotte Burke meets Pilate's thang. Challenging core work.  Easy on the stuff: all you need is a basic playground ball, a mat and a set of light weights.  Surprisingly, the music ain't bad.  To be honest, on the 57 minute workout some of the coaching, uh, tickles me ("Do you have a license for those guns?!" ) but I'm getting past it because the WORKOUT – the important part – is solid. The method's creator, who's doing most of the uber-enthusiastic teaching, Tanya Becker, was extensively trained by Lotte Burke herself and taught her technique for over ten years before developing this one on her own so I do have to give her mad entrepreneur props.  I really like Shelly Night's teaching groove and her ARM AND AB 30 MIN WORKOUT is cool.  

Overall, this work makes my list as a very solid DVD for easing back into connecting with your post-partum body – you can follow the moderated version to get going and then continue on with the more challenging level by watching the advanced, kick ass Shelly do everything at the highest level.

FYI: PHYSIQUE 57 just opened in Bev Hills!!

Physique 57
 320 North Cañon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA  90210
P:  310.271.0570
O: 310.285.0292
C:  310.779.1345
F:  310.388.8428
 www.Physique57.com <http://www.physique57.com>
Follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/Physique57>  
 Tweet Physique57 <http://twitter.com/Physique57>
 

Physique 57™ is a focused and proven cardiovascular program of isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches. Physique 57™ tones your seat, abdominals, thighs and arms; strengthens your legs and back; and improves posture to produce a beautiful, sexy body. Our interval training sets use your own body weight for resistance, and through dynamic exercises your muscles are targeted and overloaded to the point of fatigue, then stretched for relief. We call our process Interval Overload – overloading the muscle to create long, lean sexy muscles.

 

 

You can take advantage of this special package offer, which is what I did and I'm super into it. 

78221-461
 
 




So

UP DOG YOGA AND CYCLING – LOOVEEEITTT!

July 11, 2010

OMG.

Finally, a spinning AND yoga (!!) studio as beauteous as my beloved Body and Soul (R.I.P.)…

UP DOG YOGA AND CYCLING  which coincidentally is in the former Body and Soul space in WeHo on Santa Monica just West of La Cienga (and above my addiction, BODY FACTORY for the Body Fuel shake….yummm) has revamped the studio with a total overhaul and fresh new look.  Crispy clean white with touches of fresh grass green, spacious, light filled, WINDOWS and fresh air in the spinning room (THANK YOU!!), beautiful hardwood floors and just an overall feeling newness, like drinking a cold pitcher of cucumber water on a hot summer day.  Can you say AHHHH?

I've hit mecca.

First of all the spinning Goddess, Tevia Celli Recht (former owner of Body and Soul) is teaching there now. YAY!  She is also teaching E -RYDE here. I cannot wait to try this!  Tevia helped design this total body elliptical workout designed for group fitness classes.  It's like spinning but on the elliptical – if you can get your mind around it!  I'm going to try a class and get back to you on it soon. 

In the meantime I have fallen in LOVE with this place.  The adorable Adam Goldstein taught the cycling class I took this morn.  Fantastic energy, great vibe, knows his stuff, great form (a pet peeve of mine. I admit I'm a spin snob, having taught myself at Body and Soul for several years – I cannot stand seeing bad form!) and great, infectiously delightful energy – someone you want to be working out and hanging out with.  To me spinning, like yoga (which I also taught for several years) is an intimate experience in a group situation.  It's a place to detox, to unload, to hunker down and face your blocks head on.  Because of this, it's important to feel your teacher can hold this space for you.  They need to feel connected to you, to the ride and to themselves in a deep way.  They need to understand the deeper meaning of what it means to sit on a bike for 45 minutes and push yourself just a little bit more than you did yesterday. Or not.  And that either way is OK.  Ya get it?  ( If not, you'll have to take MY class and I'll lead you on this kind of journey. Whenever it is that I start teaching again, that is…UP DOG has really inspired me to get back on the bike – so to speak!) 

I'm looking forward to trying out more teachers here and more classes and of course, the yoga too.

They've got some of the best and brightest teachers here for both. 

I have a feeling you simply cannot go wrong popping in to any class at any time. 


 

8599 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
6 am to 9 pm

(310) 360-7200

www.updogfitness.com