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Fitness Instructors: Ripped or Average?

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:30:00 -0800

If you like to take fitness classes like Pilates, aerobics, or kickboxing, I'm sure you've had your fair share of instructors. Does it matter to you what they look like? I have to say that although it's inspirational to see a strong and muscular instructor, it's a little intimidating. Sometimes I just feel much more comfortable taking a class from someone who's softer and more normal looking, you know, someone who looks like she takes care of herself but doesn't obsess about it.

When it comes to fitness instructors, what do you prefer?

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Ever Thought About Becoming a Personal Trainer?

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 -0800

When you spend a lot of time at the gym, you get to know your way around. You learn how to use all the equipment, and you take classes or have sessions with a personal trainer to learn all the killer strength training moves. I'm wondering, after spending so much time becoming fit, have you ever thought about becoming a personal trainer or fitness instructor to inspire others to be strong and healthy?

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Speak Up: Fitness Instructors That Yell to Motivate

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Sometimes when I hit a mental block while working out, a few strong words of encouragement such as, "Don't give up," or "Just two more reps," or "Jump a little higher," are definitely appreciated. I always end up feeling so proud for pushing myself a little harder, and without the fitness instructor or personal trainer's inspirational nudge, I don't think I would have been able to get there.

Some instructors can be a little more forceful or overbearing though. They may feel that yelling is the only way to motivate someone beyond their personal limits. So how do you feel about being yelled at? Are there times when you appreciate the tough love, or is there no place for screaming demands in your exercise world?

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A Little Yoga Insight You May Not Learn From Your Instructor

FitSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:10 -0800

Sure, practicing yoga is all about health and wellness, but Smart Money knows that it is also booming business. There are some aspects of yoga class that may not be in keeping with the healthy lifestyle you seek - just don't expect your yoga instructor to let you in on them. Here are a few pointers for staying healthy while practicing yoga, and remember that even when taking a fitness class led by an instructor, it's best to think for yourself to figure out what feels right and what practices work best for you.

Your Instructor May Be New to Yoga Too - With all of the various certification programs around, there's a range of skill that's being taught to instructors. "The problem is that there’s no real standard for how much teacher training is required of instructors, so almost anyone can lead a yoga class," writes Smart Money. It's best to try out a class before you commit, and learn where the instructor trained.
Yoga Mats Aren't Just For the Die-Hard Yogi - Bringing your own mat to class doesn't mean you can do full lotus. It's simply good hygiene. Yoga studio owner Ann Merlo told Smart Money, "One of the key elements of yoga is cleanliness." Sure, many studios hose down the mats after a few sessions, but there's no guarantee they do. With all the contagions flying around this flu season, it just might be worth it to spring for your own mat and avoid catching a bug.

To learn more about how to make the most of your yoga time, read more.

It's OK If You Don't Want to Be Touched - Yoga tends to cultivate a very intimate atmosphere in the studio, and many members of the class may feel totally at ease with the instructor helping them into a pose (which is fairly common), but that doesn't mean that you do. "A thoughtful teacher should always tell you that he’s going to touch you," writes Smart Money, and all adjustments should be done with professionalism. However, if you'd prefer not to be touched at all, don't be shy about speaking up and making your preference clear.
The Advanced Class May Not Be For You - While yoga instructors may ask some general questions about your level of experience before a class begins, no one is likely to turn you away from a session that may be too advanced for you. Yoga requires serious strength and flexibility. The article suggests calling the studio beforehand to find a class appropriate for your ability.

To find out exactly what else your yoga instructor may not be telling you, get up to speed with all of SmartMoney's tips, and be sure to check out our Yoga Stretch and Tell Group to connect with fellow yogis and share your questions, stories, and advice.

The Ultimate Date: Indoor Rock Climbing

Fit Community — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:32 -0800

Women That Rock (Climb) community members Spacekatgal and her husband Spacekatdude give you their take on why indoor rock climbing makes a perfect fitness-inspired date.

Spacekatdude and I are married, so we're always looking for fun new things to do. Recently, we decided to give indoor rock climbing a shot! We totally loved it! We wanted to post a bit about it for newbies.

We each signed up for a $160 class, which included gym membership for two weeks. We got free equipment rental and a really great instructor named Nate that taught us the basics, focusing on safety. We were taught to tie our own knots and how to "belay" your partner safely, meaning how to catch them if they fall off the wall.

I will be honest and say it's a real trust building exercise. I love my husband dearly, but I also know it's in his nature to be distracted. It was a little hard for me to put my life into his hands and trust him to catch me if I fell. Throwing myself off the wall for the first time was very scary - but I quickly learned that I could count on him for this. Working as a team to guide the other person up the wall is both fun and good for your relationship!

It's also a great workout. Within a few weeks of rock climbing, I've greatly increased my upper body strength. If you have moxie, I would definitely say it's a sport you should try!

To hear Spacekatdude's perspective, read more.

A guy's perspective - Spacekatdude here. Rock climbing is awesome. It's not just a physical thing - it's very mental, as you try to figure out set paths up the wall, only being allowed to touch rock outcroppings of a particular color - very challenging. Whenever we go to the gym there are a lot of women there, and it's great to watch those who love the challenge and love to push themselves, I think that's awesome. Our instructor Nate also told us that it was great for kids - one of the best rock climbers he knew was an eight-year-old girl, who showed him some excellent routes during an outdoor climb.

I mentioned that climbing is a mental exercise. This is because you have to constantly concentrate on what you're doing. If you go in mentally weak or lazy, bad things can happen: I read of some climbers who went to Half Dome at Yosemite, all ready to hammer in their own ropes to descend from the top. But there were ropes already there, embedded in the rock, and they just used those. As they climbed down, the ropes gave way, and they fell to their deaths. So laziness has no place in rock climbing.

Also, as you climb, it's important to remember to use your feet for power, and not to try to pull yourself up by your arms. So the mental challenge is to keep concentrating the entire time you're roping yourself in, climbing, and belaying.

Share your climbing tales in the Women That Rock (Climb) group and spread the love! Not a climber? Be sure to take a look at our other community groups - there's something for everyone!

Source: Flickr User Charlie Brewer

Class Act: Cardio Tai Boxing

FitSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:13 -0800

I'm big on fitness classes, but tend to stick with Pilates, yoga, or something slower-paced - usually afraid that I won't be able to keep up with a class that requires any dance technique. My exercise solution came in the form of Crunch's Cardio Tai Box class - a class that gets you moving without a required-knowledge of dance choreography. All you need to know? How to punch and kick. Really.

In fact, once you master the basic kicks and three different kinds of punches, you'll easily catch on when the combinations are introduced - so don't psych yourself out if you can't keep up right away. The key throughout the workout is to focus on each individual action, fully extend your arms and legs for punches and kicks, and be conscious of your core - if you're flexing your abs throughout you'll notice improved balance and form that'll make leg extension easier for round-house and side-kicks.

To learn more about the class and see video, just read more.

Ultimately, you'll find that the high intensity that the class requires goes hand in hand with the kinds of moves you're doing - and throwing a few punches is sure to relieve stress or any aggression after a long day at work; it's hands-down my top choice for a workout to shake things up and re-energize mid-week. If you lag behind during round one, just go back and do it again, or pull aside your instructor after class to go over technique, this way, you'll be up to speed and blasting calories by round two in the cardio ring.

DVD Review: Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:00:50 -0800

It's no lie that Shiva Rea is one of my yoga idols. Considered one of the best Vinyasa yoga instructors due to her calming energy and challenging sequences of postures, Shiva has created a new DVD. You know I was excited to try it.

Titled Daily Energy - Vinyasa Flow Yoga ($20), the new video contains seven 20-minute sessions to encourage a little time on the mat every day. Shiva believes a little daily yoga is more beneficial than occasional long and intense practices. The DVD is as flexible as its creator - you can practice for 20 minutes or longer by combining a few sequences for a longer yoga session. She has also created pre-set practices for you to experiment with if you're looking for longer combinations, with some practices being grounding and relaxing and others uplifting and energetic. Depending on your mood, you can choose which session will benefit you for the day.

I love that the video includes short yoga workouts, so you can always fit in a quick, yet complete practice. It's so much better than popping in a full-length video and following along for only part of the series. This video is great to do after a run or bike ride. The unique and fluid sequences strengthened my arms, core, and legs, but also gave me a good stretch. Shiva never lets me down and is always coming up with challenging variations of postures I've never seen before. Beginners and seasoned yogis will both love this DVD.

To see a clip of this video, read more.

If You Could Afford It, Which Would You Rather Have?

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Hopefully you all know that I'm giving away $1000 to help one lucky winner get in tip top shape for beach time. (So if you haven't entered the giveaway yet, click here). Although it is important to feel good about yourself when headed to the beach, it's also important to feel good every day. So that got me thinking about ways to stay healthy in general, all year round.

So I was wondering . . .

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Katie and Her Cross-Dressing Boys Dress Up Jordan Style!

PopSugarUK — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:52:53 -0700

Wow! Katie Price must be a master of persuasion, as she got four of her closest men to dress up in various trademark Jordan outfits for the launch of her latest book Standing Out: My Look, My Style, My Life at Selfridges in London this afternoon. Kate's boyfriend Alex Reid swapped his usual Roxanne persona to copy Kate's gold outfit from Ibiza, and Kate's riding instructor Andrew Gould fittingly dressed up in her KP Equestrian launch outfit. Kate's brother Daniel wore a version of her wedding dress, and her good pal Phil Turner went for a tight yellow and black number. What do you make of Kate's attention-grabbing book launch?

To see more pictures of Kate's different outfits plus her pals, just read more.

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Couples Retreat: Not Exactly a Relaxing Getaway

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:30:11 -0700

Everyone loves a vacation, right? Beautiful scenery, tropical drinks, fun in the sun. Add a few of your closest friends and you could have the trip of a lifetime - or a romantic getaway gone horribly awry.

To be fair, the four pairs in Couples Retreat don't realize what they're agreeing to when they head to Eden East, a swanky resort on a remote island. But once the relationship boot camp begins, the friendships quickly break down, and it's often more depressing than hilarious. To see what I mean, just read more.

The movie's couplings range in age, family size, and personality, with Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman at the epicenter. As Dave and Ronnie, they are perhaps the most "normal" of the bunch. Between Dave's demanding job making video games (hello, Guitar Hero product placement) and raising two young sons, Dave and Ronnie don't even realize their problems until they are forced into couples skill-building. Vaughn is his typical wise-cracking character, but a touch of sweetness makes his on-screen relationship with Akerman the most enjoyable to watch. You can actually believe that they love each other and aren't using the trip as a band-aid for a bullet hole.

Jason and Cynthia (played by Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell), on the other hand, are a lot harder to relate to as two type-A personalities with an undying love for organization and PowerPoint presentations. Jason and Cynthia present the idea of the group vacation to their friends as a last-ditch effort to save their marriage (promising that the therapy sessions are optional, of course). Bell is her typical adorable self, but Bateman is insufferable. His character is painfully meticulous and overbearing, making the audience feel just as suffocated as Cynthia does.

Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy (Kristin Davis) represent the worst of the worst: the couple that's been together so long that they don't even notice each other anymore. The high school sweethearts take the trip not as an opportunity to re-kindle the flame, but to chase skirts (or in this case, bikini bottoms) and muscular yoga instructors. Favreau gets a few laughs with his quest to get to Eden West, the "singles" side of the island, but age-wise, Davis doesn't quite fit in with Bell and Ackerman. It's also hard to laugh at characters that embody one of the biggest fears for young couples, and their ice-cold relationship is almost too realistic to scoff at.

Then there's Shane (Faizon Love), who's newly separated from the wife he still loves, but brings along his 20-year-old girlfriend for the ride instead. As Trudy, Kali Hawk steals a lot of the laughs as she yearns to drink and party all night long while her boyfriend would rather take a nap. One joke that never gets old: Trudy's insistence on calling Shane "Daddy" throughout the entire film.

With such a strong headline cast, it's disappointing that the supporting actors steal the show. I laughed the hardest at Dave and Ronnie's adorable boys (who get very little screen time) and at the motley crew of therapists and other wacky workers at the resort dedicated to making this the trip from hell.

At the end of it all, you'll get a few laughs along with some very beautiful imagery, but you might just want to put your money toward your own vacation instead.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures