Erinn B.
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Erinn B.
Before she was an editor and writer for various mags like Self, Seventee More...
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Practical Eating
Let the Chips Fall
Today's recipe is short and sweet, and it's a comfort food ideal for a rainy day: Sweet potato chips. When you want some snacky, salty, crunch, but you want it in the form of a good-for-you veggie, this is your go-to recipe.
Right, so the first key to making any oven-baked chip is having a mandolin. Changed the way I looked at salad a long time ago, and it's cheap. Just watch your fingers on this one: The blade is sharp and, (not to be graphic but I will), can take the top off of a finger faster than you can say anthocyanins, which happens to be the name of the healthy plant antioxidants found in the sweet potato....
Running Alerts
National Running Day and Swimming in Central Park
Attention New York City runners...
- Tomorrow is the first EVER National Running Day! This is the fitness equivalent of a Hallmark Holiday, but it's got some soul because it's been organized by "a grassroots effort [of] the foremost road racing and track and field organizations from major U.S. cities." In other words, Nike doesn't seem to be behind it. Don't ask why this year, or why June 3rd. We couldn't find any exciting historical basis. Regardless, the all-powerful NYRRC has got your back with organized runs in every borough, and even a post-run happy hour for the Central Park set. Not a bad way to pick up a new jogging buddy. Possibly.
- Better yet -- still on the NYRR tip -- is the Dash & Splash on Saturday June 13. Run 10K around the Central Park, and then take a private swim at Lasker Pool, opened exclusively for Dash&Spalshers. They'll let you swim in Central Park? Yes, it's a fantasy. Registration ends next Tuesday, June 9th, but this race sells out quick.
Review
Yoga for Runners (and cyclists, and dancers....)
Danielle Lee's Yin Yoga class had me at pigeon. It was 6 P.M. Sunday, after a perfect day in the sun, and an ego-boosting 10-mile run in Central Park. How to make it perfecter? Maybe a gentle yoga class, I think, and so I coast over Central Park South to Exhale - Midtown. The studio was dimly lit, and, at the request of Denielle, I armed myself with two cushy bolsters and three blankets. Such a promising beginning. Was I so wrong to think there might be just a little dozing involved?
Practical Eating
Guac Meets Choc
Last week, I went to an avocado love-fest hosted by the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association. The celebrity draw at the event was Cheryl Forberg, the "registered dietician" behind the diets of the contestants on The Biggest Loser. I knew that avocados were a superfood, like blueberries, but Cheryl informed me that avocados are actually berries. That's right: Turns out avocados are fruits -- which, I guess, makes guacamole much closer to jam than dip. Anyway, our meal with Cheryl consisted of classic dishes (guacamole, salads, etc.), all very creamy and buttery. And all savory. I started wondering just what kind of dessert these berry fruits could make. With a little sleuthing, I discovered a recipe for Avocado Chocolate Cupcakes which draws raves from online foodies. Naturally, I just had to try it for myself, and I wasn't disappointed....
Review
Mysore and Mrs. Dalloway
A number of Social Workout regulars are fans of Yoga Sutra (on Fifth Ave. across from the New York Public Library), but I had never been. Nor had I been to a Mysore-style Ashtanga class, wherein students in the room practice the "primary series" on their own, while the teacher makes the rounds, offering adjustments or encouragement. Maybe it was the passing of Pattabhi Jois, or may just the need for a change, but I decided to give it a try....
Practical Eating
Nearly Raw Energy Bars
 _7.thumbnail.jpg "Energy Bars (via <a href=\"http://www.thedailygreen.com\">thedailygreen.com</a>)")
As it gets warmer, it's nice to stop turning on the oven. This is not as hard as you think: More slow-cooker meals and electrical grilling are two solutions. Another is eating more raw: Think salads and ceviches.
Still, heat from the stovetop is necessary at times. And when it's a quick, yummy energy bar recipe as below, it's worth perspiration. I love these almost-raw energy bars: They're high in protein and nutritious carbs so they keep you full for a long time and provide you the quick energy you need for a long day ahead. Here's all you need to make them.
Practical Eating
Shake It, With Coffee
Drink your fruits and veggies, instructed The Times this week. Apparently, we should be consuming four to five servings a day (that's generally a half cup raw, and one cup cooked). OK, we've got one for you: Here's a shake recipe that "blends" coffee -- natural performance enhancer -- with other key, healthy items....
Summer in the City
Free Bikes Hit New York, Kinda
Is your apartment too small to stash a Specialized? Lack the cash for a Canondale? Dig the Dahon alright, but not sure if you'll use it enough? Hot urban tip: Try out one of the dozens of free bikes available now through September 30, thanks to the Alliance for Downtown New York. (Go ADNY!) The bikes are on loan for two-and-half hour limits, (or you can pay hourly after that at $12/hr), and they're available on a first-come-first-serve basis in a three daily time slots: 9:30 A.M. to noon; 12:30 P.M. to 3 P.M.; and 3:30 P.M. to 6 P.M. You pick up your ride at the South Street Seaport or at nearby Piers 16 or 17 (near Fulton and South Streets).
Impractical Eating
DIY Kombucha!
A new study finally proves what an old Russian taxi driver once told me: Soda makes you weaker. (Seems the ingredients in your typical cola actually disturb the potassium levels in your blood, and can weaken muscles.) This is, of course, why alt beverages are big these days, and especially trendy probiotic drinks like Kombucha, a fermented tea that's got all the fizz of a soda but actually shows some health benefits. Kombucha helps the good bacteria in your gut to thrive, improving digestion, and may also help to relieve joint or muscle pain. AT $4 a bottle, however, you can quickly go broke if you drink alot. [Eds Note: It's true. We've seen Manhattan moms strap their children into car seats and hit the road to find bulk Kombucha discounts not available at local Whole Foods.]
There's a better way: Try making your own. The following may seem a bit like a high school biology class, but it's easy to do, gives excellent results, and is eco friendly and very easy on the wallet. (There's even a whole Flickr community dedicated to the DIY kombooch.) Without further ado, the first step is to grow your own living SCOBY (i.e. Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast)...
Hamptons
Memorial Day Workout in East Hampton
It's Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, you're hungover and staring down the muzzle of a three hour drive. In traffic. Possibly smart move: One of our fave trainers, Sara Dimmick, is hosting a free one hour workout this Sunday at Lululemon's East Hampton outpost. Yes, in case you care and missed it, Lulu opened at 35 Main Street in E.H. last summer, across from the movie theater. (The yogis took over from a real estate agency, which took over from Banana Republic, which, we think, took over from the News Co. Moral: Get out of newspapers and real estate, and into national yoga brands.)
But moving right along: If you're not planning to work out on Main Street in East Hampton this weekend, but you are looking for a new workout, you might catch up with Sara in June at one of her boot camps in either Central Park or Prospect Park. You'd be surprised how effective park benches, steps, hills and lawns are as workout props.
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Post Run
Yoga for Runners (and cyclists, and dancers....)
Danielle Lee's Yin Yoga class had me at pigeon. It was 6 P.M. Sunday, after a perfect day in the sun, and an ego-boosting 10-mile run in Central Park. How to make it perfecter? Maybe a gentle yoga class, I think, and so I coast over Central Park South to Exhale - Midtown. The studio was dimly lit, and, at the request of Denielle, I armed myself with two cushy bolsters and three blankets. Such a promising beginning. Was I so wrong to think there might be just a little dozing involved?
New York
I love this class, as well. Danielle also gives fantastic workshops. ..." More comments...
Ashtanga
Mysore and Mrs. Dalloway
A number of Social Workout regulars are fans of Yoga Sutra (on Fifth Ave. across from the New York Public Library), but I had never been. Nor had I been to a Mysore-style Ashtanga class, wherein students in the room practice the "primary series" on their own, while the teacher makes the rounds, offering adjustments or encouragement. Maybe it was the passing of Pattabhi Jois, or may just the need for a change, but I decided to give it a try....
New York
I haven't been to John Campbell's class yet, but I heard great ..." More comments...
Pilates Junkies
Dancers Know Best
When working on your core strength and posture, you might consider seeking out a former Radio City Rockette. Karyn Shipley, ex-Rockette turned working dancer/actor/singer, runs GymWithin out of her theater district home, and I can offer glowing report. After three months with Karyn, I made some "body connections" relating to alignment and flexibility that I hadn't achieved on my own in a gazillion years of group pilates classes and solo mat work.
New York
Omg, this is so true about dance. In addition to what was said ..." More comments...
Fitness Fondue
Gyro-Italo-Hindu-Hungarian Exercise Mecca in Gramercy
It wasn't the yoga, Pilates or Gyrotonics that first drew me to Sal Anthony's Movement Salon in Gramercy Park. It was the fact that Anthony Macagnone is an old school Italian restaurant guy -- think cannolis and lasagna around the corner on Irving Place, or in deepest Little Italy. The combination of Pilates and pizza was simply too good to ignore. So I took one of their classes, though must confess I skipped the marinara.
New York
Retreat Alert
Dreamlike in the Berkshires
When I to need to re-charge NOW, and a flight to Belize is out of the question, I hop a Peter Pan bus to Kripalu in Lenox, MA. Every week there are four to five mini retreats in full swing. Some of these are on the wacky side of wellness (Healing Power of Drumming, Ritual and Chanting starts May 2nd), while others are deprivation-focused, (i.e. a seven day Organic Juice Purification Retreat starting April 24th). I've found if you choose wisely, the experience can be just right. Here's one program for Pilates junkies to consider: On June 26th, Alycea Ungaro, owner of Tribeca-based Real Pilates, is hosting a three day Everyday Pilates retreat at Kripalu.
Other Places
Reviews
The Little Studio That Could (and Does)
In a non-descript office building in midtown Manhattan, steps away from Carnegie Hall and Joseph Pilates' orginal NYC headquarters, lies the teeny studio of Sarah Kate Young, otherwise known as Sky. Forget about Tracy Anderson, I consider Sky the quintessential trainer for the New York Woman. (Or at least the Midtown Woman.) She doesn't train any celebrities, or have a video or book deal, or even advertise. She does have a devoted clientele of editors, literary agents and TV producers, for whom she offers one-on-one Pilates, group yoga classes, and all-around body-awareness sessions.
New York
Thanks!
" More comments...Class Review
Vic Cabeza: Old School Sculptor
"Unless you're wearing hot-pink underwear underneath, you shouldn't be using this light weight," Victor Cabezas Jr.'s said to me. Translation: The body bar I was lifting in his Tuesday Pro Sculpt class (NYHR, 50th St.) was not heavy enough for me. (The weight of the nine pound bar is signaled -- appropriately, I now see -- by hot-pink stickers at either end.) In a nutshell, that exchange with Cabezas, Jr. sums up his approach to the body-conditioning classes he teaches at various New York Health and Racquet locations. Part sexist high-school gym teacher, part drill sargent, Cabezas, Jr. uses all kinds of old-school equipment and tactics in his classes. It's a style I think of as very early '90s, but he's made it extremely popular again. He doesn't care if I prefer lighter weights with more repetitions. If I'm not "feeling the burn," I'm not working out.
New York
Place Review
Getting Personal
Lift Gym is one of the best-kept workout secrets in New York. It's a private gym, meaning personal trainers bring their clients there, but the place is not small: It's spread out over four floors on East 57th Street, and it has scores of machines which are clean, up-to-date, and always available. I've seen two trainers at Lift over the years and found them both extra top notch. Just a few sessions taught me alot, and pushed my fitness goals into a new realm.
Small world
Breaking up with Teach, and Getting Back Together
Walking into Pilates class on the top floor of the deluxe new NYHRC on 56th Street, I stopped in my tracks: The teacher, Lisa Wolf, had taught me a private lesson at a teeny studio on 8th Avenue last summer, when I was roaming from instructor to instructor looking for my Pilates true love. Fact is, I had left her and the other studio without so much as a polite phone call, and I didn't want to have The Conversation. Really, it's a lot like breaking it off with a guy you're just not that into. And, if possible, I'm a worse communicator with trainers and teachers than I ever was with my exes.
New York
Satisfaction Guaranteed
No Holds Barre
Think the classes at Exhale or Physique 57 are a bit spendy? Consider one of Michelle Austin's Fluidity classes around town. Austin uses the same principles as the fancy studios for lengthening and strengthening the body, but her classes are on offer free to members of the New York Health and Racquet Club, or The Printing House. Not a member? Drop in at NYHRC for $25, still a relative bargain.
New York
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The bicep curls you can do with your cat are absolutely hilarious!! Thanks for this, Charity. My cat Gulliver will hate me for this!
Posted in response to: Doggie Style Fitness
Yes, I used Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats (http://www.bobsredmill.com/product.php?productid=4075&cat=112&page=1).
Posted in response to: Black Bean...Brownies?
Eating before a workout will always give you extra energy--especially if you do exercise first thing in the morning after having been on an 8 hour "mini-fast" while you slept. You should reach for a food that consists of carbs, like a smoothie or piece of fruit (like msh258 says). Protein or fat will digest more slowly in your stomach and could result in cramping or sluggishness to slow you down. How many calories you eat depends on how long you'll be exercising. Generally, you want to stay within 200 calories Examples of great, quick-digesting goods are a 1/2 cup of oatmeal, a large banana or half a bagel. They'll get digested quickly and raise your blood sugar level quickly so you've got the quick energy to boost your performance. Save a more substantial meal (maybe eggs, granola with yogurt, etc.) for the 1-2 hours after your workout.
Posted in response to: Pre-workout nosh?
She offers lots of deals so I don't know anymore. Here's her deets:
Sky Young
Owner/Instructor
Posture Strength Yoga & Pilates
PostureStrength.com
917-734-2586
Posted in response to: The Little Studio That Could (and Does)
I've never done it before Spindig. Any tips on what parts are more hilly or harder so I know how to pace myself and not run out of energy to early? Also, any good areas to take a "break" if necessary?
I will totally check out the other one.
Posted in response to: The Five Boro Bike Tour
This is great! I'm signed up for that race at the end of the month.
Posted in response to: The Five Boro Bike Tour
TONS of cinnamon, a tablespoon of peanut butter, a teaspoon of flax seeds and agave nectar. Yum.
Posted in response to: Fuel for Fitness
Hi! You have an excellent question b/c the info out there on fueling workouts can be so confusing. If you're an evening exerciser, I have some some tips on how to get the energy you need for working out.
And TealMuppet, at first glance, even though I don't know how long you workout nor what goes into your broccoli salad, you are NOT eating enough in the day to get the energy to workout at night! Maybe you SHOULD have add some mindful snacking during the day. Your breakfast is good and so is your lunch, but add some more protein. Can you add an egg or plain yogurt at breakfast? Add 4oz of chicken to that salad? If you're a vegetarian, embrace the world of nuts (almonds or walnuts say) and eat 2 oz. in the course of the day or try string cheese. I'd like to see how your workouts are going if you eat at 11 am and again at 3 pm. Also, plan to drink 12 oz. of water an hour and a half before you hit the gym. Come back to us if this doesn't work, but I think adding well-chosen extra calories to your day that are high in protein will do the trick.
Posted in response to: 4.3 Flannel Sheets 2 - Morning Workouts 0
That's a lot of time to shave off of your pace! Congratulations. Thanks for the tip on Ultramarathon Man. The other 2 books I've liked are: Strides by Benjamin Cheever and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakam...
Posted in response to: Run for Spring
Hi! You can absolutely substitute cottage cheese for ricotta. Ricotta has slightly more protein but cottage cheese (or even plain yogurt) are fine too. If you don't have a microwave, you can cook up the whole concoction on the stove top. In a saucepan, combine the cinnamon, figs, pumpkin and water. Bring to a slight boil. Lower the heat and add the oats. Simmer for about 3 minutes until oats are gooey and creamy. Turn off the heat and place into a bowl. Stir in the peanut butter. Top with your dairy of choice and maple syrup.
Posted in response to: Breakfast Fuel
on 1 year 14 weeks ago by Erinn B.