Classes
Class Reviews
Prepare Yourself to Run Off with the Circus
If you're the sort that leaves Cirque de Soleil in speechless wonder, a slight pain in your heart that you weren't the one lifting the sad clown out of his misery, well then, you must consider an "aerial silks" class. Trapeze is totally last summer, and rope climbing is too 19th century. But where? mizzFit has a promising review of Heather Hammond's Heliumm Aerial Dance company, which offers aerial classes five days a week in Brooklyn and Manhattan. These are small and high end affairs — just two to four people, and $50-ish off your bottom line — so it's not likely to replace your regular yoga habit. But the joy factor is high, and the upper body workout intense. Also, perhaps there's a high ceiling somewhere in your future. Best to start training now....
New York
Best Of
2009's Best Classes and Places
Group fitness has rescued us, day by day, all year long. A look back at just a few of the classes we really, really loved...
- Masala Bhangra with Sarina Jain
- Pole Dancing with Kyra J.
- Rima Rabbath at Jivamukti Yoga School
- Brooklyn Boulders
- Silks at the Sky Box with Jordann Baker
- Core Fusion Open with Colombe Jacobsen
- Punk Rope with Tim Haft
- Sunday Spin with Marion
- TERRAcycle with Gregg Cook
- David Regelin at Kula Yoga Project
For more classes, places, trainers, and instructors, check out the full listings in the "Local" section.
Not To Be Missed
Alvin Ailey Extension: Intro Horton
Alvin Ailey dancers are stunning. I've never left an Ailey performance without feeling a sense of awe for the human body. (If you haven't seen an Ailey performance, buy tickets now.) Note that I said awe for "the body," and not for "my body." My body isn't a fluid cascade of muscles. My dance experience is limited to bopping around while cleaning. Which is why I pretty much freaked out in the hallway before the start of my first class at the Ailey Extension.
Alvin Ailey Extension offers "real classes for real people" with the goal of "making dance accessible to everyone." Reassuring in theory, but the first time I went, the other people in the hallway did not seem quite as "real" as me. They looked like Broadway dancers on their day off. I considered pretending to get an urgent phone call. I considering hiding out in the bathroom till class started, then sneaking out of the building. But I stayed. And my first Ailey class, Intro Horton, was beyond worth it. It's one of the best classes I've ever taken.
New York
Wow! Thanks for this review, the class looks awesome! I always ..." More comments...
Lets get it popping!
I made a commitment to myself this year to become more active, think outside of the gym as it simply doesn't work for me. I'm going to limit indoor gym workouts to twice a week.
Here are some of the interesting free/cheapo things I plan on trying.
More...New York
Wheee!
The Circus Comes to the Gym
From the ceiling hang about twenty trapeze bars, secured by thick ropes with cloth hooks. It's Tuesday, and I am trying "Jukari Fit to Fly" at the 19th Street Equinox -- the new trapeze-style class developed by Reebok and Cirque de Soleil. Fear and love brought me here: I fear heights, but I love being in the air (I know, the irony....) At the 19th Street Equinox, there are no spotlights or platforms 30 feet high, just, for the moment, a trapeze bar hanging down in front of me about chest high. Things start normally enough: When I do stretches, I hold on to the bar. When I do side lunges, the instructor makes me swipe my hands beneath the bar to make sure I’m getting low enough. Then it gets interesting: I walk forward and back, holding on to the bar. As I walk, the bar lifts from my chest over my head. When I walk back and the bar is almost over my head, the instructor says, “Now add a little jump.” And I do, and it is fun my friends. Soon I’m jumping even higher, pulling my knees into my chest. Then I’m hopping in large circles, holding on to the bar and not even thinking as I lift off into the air. People are whooping, smiling, giggling even though we are all out of breath. I am sweating, but I don’t even think about it. I want to keep jumping and swinging on that bar. Then the fun stops....
New York
Trampoline Effect
Adventures in Shen Tao
How to describe Shen Tao? Imagine a three hour ballet class, conducted on a trampoline, and featuring pullies and 20 lb weights strapped to your ankles. Or don't imagine that, and just know that I've had long term relationships that asked less of me than this class. And maybe given me less too...
Shen Tao combines ballet, urban rebounding, and Pilates. It's extra physical, and yet also has a yogic touchy-feely, finding-a-connection-with-your-emotional-center element.
"Three-hours is intense," I remarked the first time I walked into Shen Tao Studios. Bill Hedber, Shen Tao's creator, looked at me with pity. Over time, I learned that Bill sees S.T. less as a fitness class and more as mind-body "practice" akin to yoga. He's so dedicated, that he has started giving away the classes for free: Starting this week classes are by donation only....
New York
OMG! I am soo intrigued. Sounds awesome and semi-scary, definitely ..." More comments...
My aerial silks classes are super fun - and the Brooklyn classes are ..." More comments...