StyleWhipped

Rebecca Gordon: Yoga with a Side of Comedy

Once or twice each year, I decide I am going to take up yoga.  Given all my running and the general hyper-activity of my life, yoga seems like a good idea for my mind and body.  Also, it meets my criteria for exercise* and I hope to one day have amazing arms like my sister-in-law.   When I say “take up yoga”, what I really mean is I am going to spend a few weeks talking about how I am going to take up yoga and then never follow through on my plans.  So except for the brief period in business school where I took a combo spin/yoga class with my friend Katherine, I have made no effort to actually “take up yoga.”  At least until my friend Sarah asked if I wanted to check out a yoga place she found in our neighborhood.  What follows is the true story of what we experienced on Saturday afternoon.

Everything started off normal enough – the instructor introduced herself to us, people laid out their yoga mats and I started worrying that I was about to humiliate myself in a room full of strangers.  This is where normal ended. Before class officially started, a woman shared a story about how she recently stood in a coffee shop vestibule with Alec Baldwin while they both played on their cell phones. The instructor commented that it was “romantic”. Now I like Alec Baldwin more than the next person, but nothing about standing in a vestibule while not talking to or looking at Alec Baldwin (or any person) sounds romantic and I am not leaving out any part of the story. The whole story was: “Last week I stood in a coffee shop vestibule with Alec Baldwin while we both played on our cell phones.”  And the instructor found this romantic and the storyteller agreed. 

Class started and I was glad the weird chatter was over.  But it turns out the yoga instructor fancies herself a bit of a comedian and the weird chatter continued.  Early on in the class she suggested we try to become Facebook friends with Alec Baldwin’s girlfriend and a few minutes later she told us to either focus on our form or think about Alec Baldwin.  When we had the left leg twisted around the right and were trying to squat while holding our arms above our heads, she told us to pretend we were holding a croissant in our butts – and then she laughed and told us we would get it later. I still don’t get it and I am not sure I want to. 

And the commentary was not the end of the weirdness.  Take the playlist. For a yoga class, our instructor selected Pearl Jam, Train, Simon & Garfunkel, and Swell Season.  What about “she lies and says she still loves him” or “you have broken me all the way down” says inner-peace?  Also, are yoga classes supposed to have playlists?

Now consider the sneak attack massages the instructor gave out at the end of class.  As Drops of Jupiter faded, the lights went out and I was feeling relieved class was almost over. I closed my eyes and started looking forward to being able to laugh about this whole experience with Sarah on the way home.  Suddenly and without warning, my shoulders were being massaged and not gently.  Had this class been relaxing, the massage would have ruined it. Were I a normal person who enjoyed massages, this still would have made me feel uncomfortable (Just ask Sarah. She is normal and was equally uncomfortable.). I am not one to enjoy a massage by a stranger.  My feeling is that if you want to get that close at least buy me a drink first.  At a minimum please give me a warning or ask for my permission before putting your hands on me in the dark. Just a useful tip if the opportunity presents itself to any of you.

Lastly, let’s discuss the instructors closing words before she turned the lights on.  “Think happy thoughts and nice things about yourself because everyone out in the world is judging you.”  Really? Everyone out in the world is judging me? This never occurred to me. I always thought everyone was thinking about themselves or the presidential election or what to make for dinner.  Turns out the world is busy critiquing my choice to run and then do yoga three hours later without showering or changing my clothes. My mistake.

And after all that, I think I might go back next week.  My arms already look better.

~Rebecca

 

*Criteria for exercise:  1. No serious equipment or clothing required. 2. Can be done almost anywhere.

Be a Sport

I am a fitness addict who runs six days a week. But you will never (ever) catch me wearing a pair a sneakers outside the gym. My day-to-day aesthetic is glam, bejeweled and permanently in 5" heels (or lately, even higher!). But yesterday, something funny happened. I went to buy new running sneakers, and actually found ones that I thought were...well, cute! From my I've-run-in-their-sneakers-for-5-years Saucony, they are black (natch) with a Tiffany-blue stripe detail (love the reference to something so totally NOT sporty!), and actually adorable enough to wear in public if I had to (please note the "if I had to"...). Called the Grid Shadow Genesis, these are so incredibly lightweight, it's as if you aren't wearing anything. They also have an exceptionally stylized profile and even a bit of shiny patent-leather-like vinyl detailing. Super comfy AND super cute? I'll take two! (Actually I did...my husband got them in the white...here's a link to the men's version: Men's Grid Shadow Genesis)

While I'm on the "sporty" subject, I'm thinking that if you're going to wear cute black sneakers out in the world, you need to make sure your accessories are both minimal and equally sporty (really, this is all just an excuse to buy some cute new things...). My oversized rose gold watch would honestly look a little silly alongside sneakers, but this one, the Marc by Marc Jacobs "Jorie" black aluminum watch would be absolutely perfect. It's neon green and purple dial fixtures are a nod to the '80's and all it's sportswear glory. And the black casing and band look tough-sporty, so it's still edgy enough to wear later in the evening with leather leggings and platforms (c'mon, you knew I had to work "leather leggings" and "platforms" somewhere into this post!).

Now make me proud and go workout. Just look fab while doing it!

~ Alison

Fitness Special: New York Personal Training

You may not know this, but I am not only the "fashion police." I am also the "exercise police"! I spent 15 years studying ballet, and now work out six days a week. I think that exercise has the power to eradicate stress, lift our spirits, get rid of colds, and...well, it makes us look better in our clothes! (see, now I'm back to being the fashion police...) So, because I wanted to share a fantastic get-into-shape option with you, this week I sat down with Michael Shaw, celebrity personal trainer and owner of the exclusive, one-on-one training studio New York Personal Training (NYPT).  

NYPT is in the heart of Chelsea, and you don't pay any dues...you simply pay your personal trainer (there are 7 at the studio, all of whom are some of the best in NYC) and can workout 7 days a week at all hours of the day. Each "candidate" is given a fitness assessment to determine their personal needs & goals, and is then matched with their ideal trainer who develops a personalized program for them. A select few work with Michael, and the studio counts celebrities like Olivia Thirlby, James Earl Jones, Jim Cramer, Paul Bettany, Paul Rudd, Jennifer Connelly and Regina Spector amongst its clients. Now (and this is important...) if you want a chance to have your personal consultation with Michael, he is extending a special offer to StyleWhipped's readers...just mention this article and he's all yours for your consultation! (contact info is at the end of the article)

Now I know what your next question is...do these amazing, exclusive personal trainers cost $9,000 an hour?! Absolutely NOT. If you workout with any of the 7 trainers, it will run you $90-110/hr. If you want to workout with Michael, it will cost anywhere from $200-250/hr. I have personally trained with two of the facility's trainers, and I have to tell you they are worth way more than the top of the $90-110/hr range! To top it all off, this is one of the few spots in the city that offers another option...Michael has designed a program called "LeanMAXX" that combines a half-hour of high-intensity interval training with a trainer, and a half-hour of cardio on your own. This allows you to pay $55-70 per 1/2 hour with any of the trainers, and $125-150 per 1/2 hour with Michael.

Another question that always comes into everyone's head is that they want to get into shape with a trainer, but then they want to continue working out on their own. And it's awkward to quit working with someone, right? Well, not at NYPT, actually. Michael has also developed another program called the "Spring/Summer Shape-up" and it offers two options...one is a 6-week combination of training and nutritional guidance (perfect if you're trying to get ready for vacation or a Spring wedding), and the other is the same thing for 12 weeks (perfect if you're trying to get in shape for Summer!). This gives you a finite amount of time and monetary investment in your health, and while most people do continue longer than the 6 or 12 weeks, you never get stuck in that "I want to quit the gym" situation (c'mon, we've all seen the Friends episode...).

When I chatted with Michael this week, I asked him to shed some light on a few key questions that I always get from my styling clients while we're shopping for clothes...here's what he had to say:

Alison Stewart: Say you only have 30 minutes to do your cardio and you want to get the most for your time. What do you suggest?

Michael Shaw: That's a great question! I would definitely say to use either the bike or the elliptical machine, with both set at interval training. You will engage your upper and lower body, and the resistance these machines offer is more effective than setting a high incline on a treadmill.

AS: This year, there are lots of styles in fashion that add bulk to our frames...ruffles, tiers, origami folds...what can we do to make us appear longer and leaner so we can look good in these trends?

MS: The next thing people notice after someone's face is their neck and shoulders, so that's what I would work on first to emphasize in those looks. Try doing a circuit workout with three exercises per body part. The first set, do heavy weight and less reps. The second set, do light weight and more reps. The third set, do medium weight and medium reps. Don't rest in-between sets, and always do all three sets.

AS: That's a great idea, especially because Spring and Summer also bring strapless tops and dresses! Ok, last one. Everyone (men and women) are always asking about how they can better develop their calves (men don't want to have their calves to look small in comparison to their quads, and women want to look good in heels!). Can you help?

MS: This is a tough question because our calves are the most difficult muscles to workout. They are the most dense muscles in our bodies, so it's hard to create change in them. But my biggest suggestion would be to use "plyometric" exercises, which for this would basically be doing a squat that goes into a leapfrog jump, so you are extending your stretch all the way through your toes. Alternate this move with standard calf raises, and you'll work every inch possible in those muscles.

AS: I've done that move (with one of your trainers!), and I have to say, not only does it get results, but it is an incredible cardio workout at the same time! Thanks so much for all of this info, and I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of Stylewhipped readers in the studio soon!

MS: Thank you...and I look forward to it!

Ok, readers, want to check out NYPT? Head over to 12 West 21st Street between 5th & 6th Avenues, or call 212.673.1866!

~ Alison