The Trials and Tribulations of Travel... On A Health Kick

HOME sweet home.. Finally.. Well actually I’ve been home for a few days now but it seems like after 1 week away there is somehow 3 weeks of “stuff” to get caught up on. How is that even possible? Anyway… LOVE, love, love to travel, but a week out of the “normal” routine can be stressful! Especially when it comes to keeping up on your campaign for a more healthy body and self. Whether for work or play, the excuses are easy to come by and the pounds are easy to add on when you are on the road. Big dinners, an ample supply of cocktails (hopefully), beach time, work time, spa time, golf time, family time, whatever it is, exercise time is rarely part of the equation. And no one wants to be that person who brings their own lunch to a meeting, says no to the side of fries, or sips on their club soda during margarita night. So what to do? With spring heating up and summer just around the corner, finding a way to keep the fitness train moving forward despite beach vacations, bachelorette parties, or other less exciting plans like work trips is critical. So here are a few tips to consider…

1)      Pack your sneakers. We’ve all been there, looking at our suitcase and thinking “there would just be SO much more space if I left the sneaks at home”… Well don’t. Once you’ve carted them wherever you’re going, you’ll feel guilty letting them sit idly for the rest of the trip.

2)      Make your exercise social.  There’s no reason why you need to leave the party to get your workout in… Bring the party with you. Take the initiative to book your group into a fun class, set up a group session with a trainer, or just find a good walking/running route.  

3)  Explore. No better way to see a new city than to run (or walk it). Take in the sights, scents and sounds and all of a sudden you will have been running for an hour without even realizing how long you've been on the go. (Note: If you are directionally challenged, make sure you have a map or at least a method for finding your way home!)

4) Plan. In today's day and age, all you have to do is hop on the internet to find a local studio or gym. Put in 5 minutes to do some pre-trip research and join in a local class. Who knows, maybe you'll pick up some local fitness knowledge that you can bring home with you. 

5) Go shopping. Discipline and vacation are two words that shouldn't go in the same sentence. I agree... to a point. Just because you're on vacay doesn't mean all inhibitions have to be thrown to the wind and its easy to take some pre-emptive action to keep yourself in check. Go to the local store, buy some (healthy) groceries for your hotel room/house and try to mix in some healthy choices along with the fun indulgences. Breakfast is an easy one. Stock up on yogurt, fruit and granola and save yourself the calories and $$$ of the typical breakfast buffet. 

6) ENJOY. Don't be too hard on yourself... If you're on vacation, you SHOULD treat yourself to some rest and relaxation. If you're traveling for work, you're schedule is packed with meetings, meals, and arguably too much time with your colleagues. Just remember, you're workouts, classes, and healthy food will all be there waiting for you when you get home. 

Thigh High at Lithe Method

Category:  Strength

Target Zone:  Legs, Butt Location:  Rittenhouse

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I wasn't sure what to expect for Thigh High class at Lithe Method, but I signed up anyway under the impression that I've liked every class I've ever been to at the Rittenhouse studio. I walked in and looked around at all of the veterans in the class, who had a Svelte stick, aka a 4-foot wooden bar, at their spot, so naturally I followed their lead and grabbed one. The music began, everyone stacked their hands towards the top of the Svelte stick, and it was 60 minutes of grueling leg exercises. The beginning of the class started off with a brief warm-up, but I quickly started to understand why the class is called Thigh High. For one of the series, we stood in stiletto, squatted all of the way down to the ground, and back up verrrrry slowly...for 3 sets. That's when the legs really started to burn (and shake) and the sweat started to fall to the ground. I loved the challenging lower body exercises, but was disappointed by the after thought of upper body at the end of class.  I know Thigh High is very focused on the lower half, but I would've liked at least five minutes towards the end to focus on the upper body. Overall, I left the class happy with a good sweat, feeling tight and toned!

Countdown Until Spring

The countdown to spring is officially ON. Only one week from today and we will be basking in the warm spring sunshine while relishing the bright blossoms and luscious greens that will line the charming streets of Philly… supposedly. Well even if “spring” as we know it takes a little bit longer to arrive this year, remember, summer bodies are built in the winter! So, the longer the winter, the better the bod. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

So in honor of the 7 official days of winter remaining, here is our 7 for 7 challenge: Stick to these 7 tips for the next 7 days and finish this winter season with a bang.

1. Hydrate. Up your water intake and enjoy all kinds of benefits including but not limited to; better workouts, more energy, better digestion, and better skin. My latest thing is after brushing my teeth in the morning, I try to drink 10 big sips of water (or a full glass). It wakes your body up and lets your system know it’s time to get going.

2. Sleep. At least 7 hours every night this week (including the weekend).

3. Go natural. Focus on eating whole foods – fruits, veggies, lean meat and fish. Avoid anything processed (hint: if it comes packaged in a bag or box beware).

4. Winter Whites. Cut out the “comfort food” / white carbs that can become a go-to in the cold winter months. Try to stick to foods with more color and more nutrients to keep energy levels up and extra pounds down.

5. Try something new. As you prepare to switch it up for spring, try to expand your horizons outside of the normal routine. If you’ve been stuck in a gym to avoid the frigid temps, try something outside. If you’ve been on a cardio kick, try adding in some yoga or a lower-impact option to give your joints a break from the stress of running.

6. Stretch it out. Getting to a yoga class once a week is great, but research has shown that the benefit of a little bit of stretching every day is actually greater than one hour long yoga session every 5 days. 10 minutes of stretching/yoga every morning is a great way to start your day, and within a week you will see improvement in your flexibility.

7. Crunch time. Up the ante on your summer six-pack by tacking on 10 minutes of ab work before bed every night.

Philly Power Yoga and Thrive Pilates

Category:  Yoga

Target Zone:  Legs, Arms, Core Location:  Rittenhouse

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The space. At 20th and Walnut, you can't miss the big sign that reads Philly Power Yoga and Thrive Pilates. Enter the front door, press the buzzer, and head up the steps into the studio--PPY on the first floor and Thrive on the second floor. There's plenty of space to drop your belongings before class, but there aren't any lockers. There are two tiny changing areas for a quick change, but no private area to shower or change for work. Bottom line: It's definitely not the fanciest studio, but it gets the job done. 

Flexible Scheduling. They have several classes throughout the day, especially on the weekends, so it's easy to find something that will fit your schedule. It's not one of those places that you where you need to sign up for classes weeks before. Who knows their schedule two Thursdays from now anyway?? You can easily sign up the day before (and usually day of), making it easy on your schedule. Need to cancel? Make sure you do it 3 hours before the scheduled class or you'll lose a class from the package purchased. 
Easy on my Pockets. The first class is free and there are several amazing, affordable packages that are definitely worth purchasing. Unlimited PPY and Thrive classes for just $165 a month-- not only do you get a variety of classes, but it's also one of the best deals in the city! Also keep your eyes and ears peeled for Gilt City and similar discounts for even better deals! I recently bought a 5 for $50 package that expired within a month. As the days were winding down, I realized I still had 3 classes left and only two days until the expiration. I reached out to extend the package for a few extra days, and they gave me another month within in minutes! 

The not so great stuff. The good definitely outweighs the bad, but I do have to say the classes can get packed. The mats are practically touching in some classes, and while I normally don't mind this, it can get a little tight. I've accidentally smacked arms doing some of the more intricate moves during yoga, and nearly kicked the girl next to me during Cardio Kickboxing in the Thrive studio. The other thing that drives me crazy is the constant buzzing you can hear throughout class, specifically towards the end of the class as the next group is filing in. The studio is not sound proof and it can be distracting to hear buzzing as you're trying to Ommmm. 
Yoga Lovers, Listen Up. Philly Power Yoga offers a retreat in Costa Rica for a week filled with yoga, surfing, and connecting! The week also includes organic meals to complete the total retreat experience. For all of the yogi lovers, check out more details on their website. 

Dhyana Yoga : In the Treetops of Our Urban Jungle

Category:  Yoga

Target Zone:  Core, Arms, Legs Location:  Rittenhouse

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Wandering down Walnut Street, past the Apple Store and Urban Outfitters, among honking taxis, and boisterous highschool groupies hanging out on the street, it’s hard to believe that you are standing in front of a yoga studio. 1611 Walnut Street, Dhyana’s Rittenhouse location is situated in the middle of it all, but luckily, all you have to do to escape is go up. Through a secretive door to the left of American Apparel is an elevator which takes you up to the 4^thfloor, and far away from the raucous scene outside.

Hands down my absolute favorite thing about Dhyana was the fact that I didn’t have to sign up ahead of time. I just showed up, bought a very reasonable package ($30 for 3 weeks unlimited as a first-timer), and went into class. I feel like in today’s world that is practically unheard of. The growing population of healthy/ fitness crazed people (women in particular) has made getting into your favorite classes like survival of the fittest… literally. Even if I remember to sign up on the right day, if I don’t get to it until 9am I often still find myself on the wait-list. Insane! Anyway, all the more reason that being able to show up for a 630 class on a Monday night was refreshingly amazing.

The studio itself is big and open, with brightly painted walls, and mirrors lining one side of the room. It’s an older building and I loved the big open space. So since I generally have anxiety about not being able to find a space for myself in these classes, I was there a few minutes early, psyched and ready to go... but after waiting for 15 minutes for our teacher who was late, my feelings for Dhyana started to turn sour, and quickly. Now I know that things happen and though I tried to stay very zen and patient about it, I’m sorry but 15 minutes is a long time to sit and wait… especially during your precious minutes of allocated “exercise time”.

Once the teacher did get there, he made a joke about it and went on with class, which I guess is really all you can do. But honestly I’m not sure that I ever really got over my earlier frustration. Probably my fault for not being able to let it go, but my experience was definitely not what it could have been. The class itself flowed well, however (per my review about Amrita and my general disliking for classes heavy on inversions) it felt like there was a lot of time spent upside down, or for me a lot of time spent watching other people go upside down. Ultimately, it wasn’t the sweat or experience that I had hoped for.

All in all, I think it was an unfortunate coincidence that my first time at Dhyana wasn’t their best showing and I am definitely going to go back and give it another try. The location, the studio, the people were all great AND knowing that I don’t even have to sign up ahead of time makes the possibility of a last minute drop-in all the more likely. 

Amrita Yoga: My New Fishtown Favorite

Category:  Yoga

Target Zone:  Core, Arms, Legs Location:  Fishtown / Northern Liberties

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There were a lot of highlights in my first yoga experience at Amrita Yoga & Wellness, however it wasn’t the very high sweat level, the cool eco-lodgy feel of the studio, or the zenned out quasi-hipster yoga vibe that I will remember most about this adventure. No, for me, it took a trip to Fishtown to achieve what I had basically conceded was the impossible .. a real-live HEADSTAND. Quite honestly I didn't even know I cared about doing a headstand before, but after those 10 seconds spent balancing upside down, now I’m hooked. In fact there is a good chance that I will be setting up a pillow barricade in my living room tonight so I can “practice my tumble”. Wish me luck!

So if you are anything like me, the type who actually tries to avoid classes that spend a lot of time on inversions since mostly you just end up watching these crazy people stand on their heads while you get colder and feel worse about yourself (pretty much the opposite of what yoga is supposed to achieve).. don’t worry, this is not an inversion-centric class at all. This is an hour and a half of strengthening, lengthening, twisting and rinsing. Our teacher Emile’s style mixed super challenging sequences with more restorative poses, while at the same time setting a spiritual but also funny and somewhat competitive tone for the class. The room is heated to around 85-90 degrees, fueling a major sweat but not like Bikram where you start sweating immediately even before working a single muscle. 

The studio (which isn’t even really the right word to describe Amrita) was unlike any place I had seen before in the city. Stepping inside you feel like you are entering more of an urban yoga retreat, than a standard studio complete with one big room and a few changing rooms/restrooms if you’re lucky. This bi-level space has multiple rooms, hallways, and studios.. To the point that from where I checked in, I actually had to be shown how to get to the right room! Exposed wood, little rock gardens and mini-streams of running water weaving around the interior help to create an atmosphere that will quickly transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and into this organically therapeutic little yoga retreat... even if only for a couple of hours. 

The packages at Amrita are arguably the best in the city. For $70 you can buy an unlimited monthly membership which means that if you go just 3 classes a week you are paying less than $6 per class. That’s a pretty ridiculous deal, however, I will say that unless you live in the neighborhood, you could easily make up the difference by paying for your transportation to get there and back. One good solution.. Rally some friends to go with you and split the cab 3 ways. Your friends will thank you and so will your wallet! 

All in all, I felt like I had uncovered a gem when I left Amrita on Sunday. I loved seeing a new part of the city, feeling like I had ventured into some unknown territory, and discovering this fabulous yoga retreat in the middle of our urban jungle. Happy sweating! 

Body Cycle Studio

Category:  Cardio

Target Zone:  Legs, Butt, Core Location:  Rittenhouse

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Good vibe. Body Cycle Studio is one of those studios where you walk in and feel right at home. At 19^th and Chestnut, above Breakaway Bikes, this studio is a no frills, fun vibe, inclusive, good energy, great music, kind of place. Challenging classes. Cool instructors. You’ll want to work hard and leave with a good sweat. It is definitely one of the studios with an extremely loyal following of riders. This cult-like group walks around Rittenhouse with their “Team Body Cycle” shirts (kidding) and really help make BCS what it is --a home away from home.

The scene. Check in at the top of the steps with a friendly employee before entering the studio. There’s not really a locker room or changing room, just a few benches and cubbies to store your things. The actual spin studio is separated by a divider from the waiting/changing area so there is very little separation from the actual class and the riders waiting for the next class. Not the biggest deal, but it can be an issue when the next class is filing into the waiting room as your class is finishing up. 

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The studio. The studio is pretty bare bones. While they have made some recent upgrades (new fans, more bikes, new sound system), it’s not a high tech studio with a lot of technology and fancy facilities. The bathroom has one shower and it’s not the greatest. Bottom line, it’s fine for going to class and a quick change afterwards, but I wouldn’t want to shower or hang out there any longer than needed. All of the bikes have monitors on them showing resistance and RPM-- the instructors will coach you through the class and tell you where you should be, which holds you personably accountable. The only problem is that you cannot see where you stand compared to the rest of the class. I’m crazy competitive and I love the rush of competing with other riders, so that’s definitely something missing during my spin experience at BCS.

Great variety of challenging classes. One of the great things about BC is the variety of different classes they offer. There are classes ranging from 45 to 90 minutes on the schedule—90 minutes, seriously? YES! Try it, you will feel like a rockstar afterwards (and you can eat anything you want J) . There are also theme rides, charity rides, and clinics offered—most recently, a Superbowl theme ride, a Madonna theme ride, Lactate Threshold Clinic, etc. Body Cycle Studio also throws a few parties throughout the year, which are a great chance to meet other riders and the instructors in a social setting.

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Russell Carter. The owner. He’s amazing and is one of the main reasons I love this place. He is at the studio regularly and is always introducing himself to people and asking for feedback on BCS. He is also really flexible, as far as membership packages go. Recently, I couldn’t use my classes before they expired and he extended the package I purchased no questions asked.

Pricing/ Packages. First ride is FREE. New to spinning? There is a 20-minute intro class every Sunday at 12:30pm to teach the basics and get you acclimated to a general spinning class. After that, they offer 10 rides for $152 and 20 rides for $278 with even lower prices for student packages—wowzas! Their prices are insanely affordable and totally worth committing to a larger package.