Skinny Dip City » Toned

BACK IN ACTION

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:42:15 +0000

You spent a good portion of your summer (deservingly) laying on your back, soaking up the sun, and predominantly tightening up tummy muscles. But, now that we’re well into heavy laptop-toting, long Friday mode, it’s your backside’s turn to get toned. Those muscles not only improve your posture, but also stave off all sorts of future aches and pains and twitches. Here are three fitness tools under $40 that can chisel your back and better your posture—all in the comfort of your own home.

RIGHT ROUND

Fitness gurus are united in their praise for the Stability Ball. Why all the love? Let’s start with reduced lower back pain. Exercises on a stability ball (we lean toward Gaiam’s options) reach and strengthen the deep muscles around the front, back and sides of your spine. Plus, performing crunches on a stability ball keeps your abs in bikini mode. Step it up by adding lunges, push-ups, frog hops.

GET A GRIP

When you’re just about ready to snap, grab your Resistance Bands which allow your stretch and pull as wide as your arms will let, with the might you’d reserve for the nuisance that’s driving you to grrr. These giant size rubber bands mirror the back-toning exercises you might do with a seated rows and lateral pulldowns.

One option is to sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Place the middle of the band against your soles. Grab each end of the band so that it is tight, when you’re sitting in an upright position. Pull your elbows back, keeping them close to your body and squeeeeeeze your back muscles. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

ROLL UP

No doubt, the Foam Roller does look goofy. But it’s a bona fide fitness device that’s long been used in Pilates, yoga and as a cheap spa massage alternative. Make it your go-to the next time you have a knot from the inevitable work hunch. Lie on a mat and wedge the cylindrical-shaped equipment where you feel the burn. Gently rock against it, allowing the roller to roll from side to side against spine to release the aches that keep you from standing just a bit taller. For even fancier moves, consider getting a Foam Roller Challenge DVD.

—Liz Puzio

BACK IN ACTION

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:39:52 +0000

Those muscles not only improve your posture, but also stave off all sorts of future aches and pains and twitches. Here are three fitness tools under $40 that can chisel your back and better your posture—all in the comfort of your own home.

RIGHT ROUND

GET A GRIP

ROLL UP

No doubt, the Foam Roller does look goofy. But it’s a bona fide fitness device that’s long been used in Pilates, yoga and as a cheap spa massage alternative. Make it your go-to the next time you have a knot in your from the inevitable work hunch. Lie on a mat and wedge the cylindrical-shaped equipment where you feel the burn. Gently rock against it, allowing the roller to slowly travel up and down spine to release the gunk that keeps you from standing just a bit taller. For even fancier moves, consider getting a DVD.

FLY LIKE A WIZARD

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:58:50 +0000

We saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (on opening night, of course). Despite the fact that the characters have grown up, our original wizard wish list is still intact.

Credit: Jason Goodman

1. Flying

2. Flying

3. Flying

TAKE FLIGHT!

GUN CONTROL

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:24:31 +0000

GUN CONTROL

We peel open subway doors with the might of our heels, coerce our landlords into lowering our rents, and break a sweat on any piece of grass or concrete we find available (speaking of which, we’re going to Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp tonight). It’s true, we rarely give our warrior selves a break. To keep it that way all summer long, we’re hitting up three affordable NYC weight training facilities that keep us panting, toned and our guns and wallets fully loaded.

Elissa’s Personal Best

Armed with an MS in Exercise Physiology from Columbia University, aerobics and Pilates certifications, hot pink hoops and a scrunchie to match, Elissa Hyman has been training her clients with such 80s signatures as leg lifts and clapping push-ups long before shiny leggings resurfaced at American Apparel (25 years long). The big haired decade makes its way to this 750-square-foot subterranean Upper East Side studio in the form of Inner Circle and Whitesnake so your $65-$75 one-hour training sessions make you feel less recessionista responsible and more so Jane Fonda rad.

334 East 79th Street, Suite LLD, 212-744-2378

Absolute Fitness

There are no frills, but there are calories and buns to burn during these 30-minute private sessions, led by husband-wife team, Rob and Jana Castillo, who have been offering New Yorkers affordable ($35-45) one-on-one strength training since 1996. You won’t get a chance to stare down the clock during these circuit, cross and target trainings where you’ll be doing weight training, medicine ball movement, balance ball stretching, and Pilates, as the effective method here is defined by minimal rest between sets. Not to mention, your coaches, well they’re not the easily distracted kind and will be counting your every move. Though they will allow you to request your favorite countdowns—40’s and showtunes being the favorite soundtracks around these parts.

124 East 40th Street Room # 20, 212.681.9724, http://www.absolutefitnessnyc.com/

Move Into Greatness

Our very own fitness expert, Colleen Wahl, offers classes in building bones without breaking down the pocketbook at her Move Into Greatness studio. Dynamofit, a weekly 60-minute six class series ($120) is rooted in Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals so that students learn movement literacy. You guessed it–no more cubicle-shoulder crunching. You’ll walk away with less pain and able to navigate your own weight room just as confidently as the Monster energy drink guzzling, body weight lifters do. Check out the schedule or request a slot especially for you and your buddies.

320 West 37^th St, suite 1504, 585.507. 2967, www.moveintogreatness.com