fitnesstourguide-blog

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Sal Anthony's Movement Studio (Reformer Pilates)

L​ogistics: 7:15AM // One Hour 190 3rd Av​e (Btw ​17th and 18th)

​Closest Trains:  Union Square  L N Q R 4 5 6 ​

Haves: ​2 private showers (one upstairs and  one downstairs) ​2 bathrooms for changing Shower Towels Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash (it was out though...) ​

Have nots: ​Hair Dryer​ Q-Tips Brushes

If you have never been to a Pilates studio, it looks like a scene out of 50 Shades of Grey and Hannibal, it feels like I've signed up to hurt myself.

The place has a strange cozy feeling mixed with don't $%^&* touch anything vibe. There are a lot of photos of people who must love Pilates all over the place. There's no music for the classes, at least not the early morning ones. I have no idea where to put my trendy backpack or if I'm supposed to wear my socks or take them off.

The class is super tiny, just 5 of us interrupting a private session upstairs. The first half of class is on the reformer (which has a sliding seat) and the second half is on a cadillac (which is static). They both have bars and handles and lots of things that look like a bear trap.  I didn’t feel like moving much this week. I was dedicated to easing back into my workouts, and I couldn’t have been happier with this class. Its a slow and steady paced session, lots of firey burning in those muscle, you can feel the tricep muscles coming in and that definition in your quads. 

Sarah talked a lot about the sacrum, a body part I’ve had apparently forever and am just recently hearing about. I think I confuse it with a scrotum which I’m positive I don’t have. She had us do a spine stretch in a position that probably should only be shared with an intimate partner. Let me just tell you, it was heavenly. I hope you experience it for yourself. 

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Always tryin to make ourselves better. the chair life is a dangerous one! 

The benefits of good posture

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Exhale (Power Yoga)

Logistics: 7:15AM // One Hour 150 Central Park S (Btw 6th and 7th Ave) Closest Subway NQR 57th Street & 7th Ave 

Haves: Mats Towels (Shower&Sweat) Showers Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash/Shave Gel Robes Sauna Lockers with built in locks Hair Dryers Brushes Shower Sandals  Q-Tips 

Have nots: Evian spritzers

Are you feelin like you've fallen off the workout wagon? Work got ya down? Its the end of summer, you feel pretty accomplished, maybe feel like slowin down while you get back into your daily grind. Don't be a fool! Working out is a treat! And if you need a slower paced workout and a change of scenery, welcome to exhale. GOD, WHAT A DELIGHT.   The amenities in this place are enough to make any gal feel like a princess. The classpass life has really just opened my eyes to the things I do not have on the daily but helps me stay grounded, which is so important ya know?  Like lets be thankful for all our blessings? Totally. Power Yoga is no f$%^&* joke though, lets get that out in the open ASAP.  Hillary teaches every Tuesday, it is my first class with her. She opened the class by reminding us that if wedding planning is on our minds, for example,  we should push it aside for this hour and dedicated it to ourselves and nothing else. I'm so thankful for that because my Pinterest boards have really been stressing me out, whenever I get engaged, or a boyfriend for that matter, what if none of the things I've pinned exist anymore? I will have to start all over! The wedding mention almost killed my vibe but she quickly redeemed herself with humor and superior instruction skills (to be fair, its my fault I let it drive me crazy, her ring is stunning and her body is flawless). This class was packed. Pretty much mat to mat, it wasn't overwhelming, but I would try to get to class by 7:05 at the latest, if that sort of thing stresses you out (it stresses me out to no end) I am the textbook example of what the body shouldn't be doing during yoga. I'm pretty sure yoga instructors are like well thank god that is EXACTLY what they said would happen and I know how to fix it. My hips were so out of place Hillary came over and wedged a block under me like a wobbly table, all fixed! Usually my rule with touching in class is, don't farking do it, but I will say in the case of yoga, with the right instructor, a slight push down on a hip or a readjustment sends you to the divinity that those yogis are always talking about and for a brief moment, my crazy town fantasy involves me teaching yoga on a white sandy beach helping others achieve this pure body bliss. It is a great class, especially great if you've taken an unplanned week or so off from your workout routine. #whoops We do not get upset, we just get back into it. This class is great, and Hillary talks just the right amount and is attentive to the adjustments her students need. *if you are not a frequent visitor of these fancier locations, do take advantage of the things they offer. a nice sit in the sauna before work helps melt a little bit of the stress away. everyone knows that you are not a regular, but really who cares? 

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PowerStudios  (Barre Class)

Logistics:  Barre Sculpt // One Hour  920 3rd Ave (Btw 55 and 56) 

Haves:  Two private bathrooms Two private changing rooms  Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash Shower Towels Filtered Water/cups  Mats Sweat Towels

Havenots:  Hairdryer q-Tips brushes 

Sometimes in life, you do everything right and still show up to work with your underwear showing through your dress. This is why we make friends so that they can secretly whisper to you, "I can read the message your butt is sending" and you can momentarily think they're recognizing the countless hours you've spent doing squats, and then quickly realize your underwear says "study buddy" on it and this has nothing to do with your fitness commitment. You can then regret every time you've stood around those tables at Victoria's Secret and thought, this. this is the message I want to convey to the world via my ass.

I am thankful for the Forever 21 in Times Square with employees that that find neither interest nor humor in my underwear story and keep focus on not committing suicide while they process transactions for the awful cliental that visits that store.

le barre class

There is not one ounce of a dancer inside of me. I lack rhythm, poise, grace... I'm basically like a giant baby trying to walk, constantly unaware of weight distribution. Aside from that, another main reason I'm not a dancer is my overactive sweat glands. I find that deciding whether or not to wear socks to yoga is a continuous problem since my shins sweat profusely which make my feet slippery. I'm sorry, I really am but there must be more shin sweat-ers out there. (I want to blame a elementary-school-lifetime in shinguards for deregulating my shin temperature, its most likely just my mothers fault)

I would classify barre classes in the sneaky class category. The instructor usually looks like they stepped out of the womb toned. Slender arms with all the muscles showing through, toned legs, and a torso that has never stretched out a shirt, it looks easy from them.  For me, the sweating came slowly and then all at once. The movements are small, steady, and they burn (it a good way!). I was corrected by the instructor the entire class. It moves at a slow but steady pace and at this studio, with maybe 14 girls in the class, they are able to correct what you’re doing wrong. Embarrassing sometimes but necessary.  There are dancer moves, but don’t be intimidated by them if you’ve never danced in your life you’re not going to get it right the first time. That’s why we’re doing this! To move our bodies in ways they’ve never moved before, and to like it, dammit! (or not, do you ya know?) 

good music. clean studio. bathroom policy clearly states 10 minutes for shower time, but not everyone follows the rules. 

I'm just me, bad feet and all

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Equinox.  (Boxing Class)

Logistics:  1429 2nd Ave (Btw 74 and 75) 7PM Thursday // One Hour 

Haves:  Literally all your showering needs.  Showers Soaps/Shampoo Towels Sauna Water fountains Lockers with built in lock 

Have nots: Boxing gloves - they have them sometimes, but there is no guarantee you will get them and you will do the class without them. Also they smell. Wraps - bring your own. 

From the time I walk into the lobby of the gym I am an outsider. They would never do their taxes at H&R block and none of their clothes are from Old Navy. I do not belong here, but I am on a guest pass so everyone can suck it. I am a lady, here to beat the shit out of a bag during this boxing class. 

The locker room is quite fancy with full amenities. What I have come to find is the fancier the place the more entitled you are to not wear a shirt. Now, perhaps you're thinking, "you have boobs, get over it, feminism! Yeah!"  You're absolutely right. I have them, but I'm never really looking at them right in the eye. I'm meeting people in this locker room, please imagine the CEO of your company greeting you in a locker room with no shirt on. I am screaming in my head to listen but to also not stare at their tits while they explain their life's work. I am a prude American.  I am working on it, dammit.

THE BOXING THOUGH, this instructor operates under the assumption that everyone in class will help one another and if you don't you are punished. He does not teach. He shows you a combination and tells you how long you'll be doing it. You are to keep your gloves up at all times or you will do burpees. We did partner drills the whole time, each set was 8 minutes. I like to believe that I am a fit person, and yet classes like these put me on my ass and I regret ever believing in anything, ever.  The instructor does not like to repeat himself, he does not smile, he is not nice while in this room. If you miss the combination he will not tell you, but he will yell at the class that someone is wrong and as a team we should correct them. Turns out when he yells “hips” someone is punching from theirs and they should stop. Turns out that person was me. 20 burpees which turned into 40 burpees when my partners chest wasn't hitting the floor and he was yelling “chest.” 

I'm sure it sounds like torture. In the middle of it I would have told you it was. It felt as though I would never taste water again. Partially because the 8 minutes was really just a joke, the rounds lasted an eternity and partially because my arms were going to fall off. The partner drills keep you honest. I was dripping with sweat and wanted to quit or slow down and if I was on a bag, I would have, and everyone would have been punished. It hurts like hell while its going on, but its definitely worth it. 

Today my back hurts a lot, in the greatest way possible. It hurts to reach for things, it hurts to stretch, it hurts to sit up straight, but its a good kind of hurt. My muscles are growing. Hopefully its taking away the fat that gathers in my armpit over my bra. 

It’s an awesome class. 

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Tears&Tabs

Lets break this down into a very painful, very eye opening exercise.

I have a sob story about my teenage/college eating disorder, how it destroyed my life and how it may or may not have sent me to the loony bin, but honestly who hasn’t been there before?

 Through a lot of therapy, meditation, and assistance from my shaman I have developed a different relationship with working out and being healthy. Exercise is a reward. The soreness after a good workout is my body growing and getting stronger.  It feels so good and I feel good and that is really what this is all about.  I will never look like any celebrity or model, and that is more than okay.  My body will be the best body I can make it.

 The tragedy here is the damage that I have done to my bank account.

I moved to New York in July 2012.  

The following are the devastating but necessary costs of endorphins needed to survive the winters here and avoid receptionist butt. (And maybe you're thinking, this is New York City, the greatest city in the world, there is a park in the middle of it, go run and do squats there. Save your sass or someone else, this was necessary. The winters I’ve faced could shock an Eskimo) 

Considering my gym membership is ridiculously cheap for NY, I refuse to quit and pay another joining fee, also it is too close to my apartment for weather to ever be an excuse, it keeps me honest.

Ok NEXT my seamless bill total.

I would never.

 So $5,000 assuming there are races that I’ve just now remembered registering for, sounds like I could have done so many more things with it if I just stuck with my regular gym. BUT GYMS ARE SO BORING. This is New York. It changes every second and not experiencing other types of workouts is a grave disservice to you, in my opinion.

 When you really break down the rationalization of experiencing New York via gym classes, I spend $4.39 a day on fitness.

#worthit