Ah summer in Chicago. Warm days and nights, clear skies, refreshing breezes, a cooling lake that's not as frigid as it usually is. And then there are the activities that happen on said lakefront at any given time. Running, cycling, inline skating, beach volleyball, swimming (OK, so that's in the water), or as tonight would have it: yoga.
Oak Street Beach, technically the Levy Restaurants' food and drink outpost any Chicagoan would recognize at the south end of that beach, was the site of this semi-sweaty session--I broke into a sweat though I don't know if everyone did--of sun salutations, stretches and asanas led by Equinox instructor Stacy Levy Mann. What's not to love about staring at Lake Michigan and having the city's skyscrapers rising up behind you while working out? I loved it-- and I can't wait to get back next week.
Running on the sand feels about 10 times harder than it does on the pavement or trail. A beach boot camp seems about 10 times more difficult than it does at the gym—maybe it was all the sprinting? I can only imagine that doing yoga on the beach would be more challenging, in a good way, than it is in the studio—even if it’s a heated room and I’m dripping sweat all over my mat. You have the sand’s uneven surface that even a yoga mat can’t completely flatten out to challenge your balance. You have the sun radiating its summer heat to challenge your temperature acclimation. You have the wind’s cool breezes and the city’s humidity to mess with your body’s cooling system. You have the yoga itself to challenge your mind-body connection and any uber-tight muscles.
There will be plenty of yogis taking their practice to Chicago’s Oak Street Beach this month. Every Tuesday (except for July 2), Equinox is bringing yoga to the beach for ‘Find Your Chi,” a four-week series of exclusive yoga classes. These sweat sessions happen from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at Oak Street Beach Food + Drink (1001 North Lake Shore Drive), the city’s go-to beach bar that’s just steps from Lake Michigan, and are led by Equinox instructor Stacy Levy Mann.
Some TRX action at Camp Darby. Credit: Joyce Costello
TRX Boot Camp at Equinox might have boot camp in its name, but it's not your typical boot camp. For starters, it uses the TRX suspension trainers that uses bodyweight and gravity to perform hundreds of exercises. And it's most certainly NOT the boot camp-like workout I so lovingly despised when compared to the interval training workout at Lateral Fitness. That's probably why I forgot that it was actually the last boot camp workout I ached through and not the hated one.
I am addicted to TRX Boot camp, specifically the one taught by Gideon Akande on Wednesday nights at Equinox Lincoln Park. I'm hooked. I'm obsessed. I make it my mission to stop working and get to class. And it makes for one crazy Wednesday workout(s) because I'm equally addicted to the Shockwave circuits offered midday (taught by Gideon and fellow trainer Mike Nickles, it's the fastest 45 minutes you'll sweat through, but that's a separate story). Getting me to choose between the two doesn't happen--I just make myself extra sore the next day, or collapse halfway through a core set with my abs aching and my legs burning.
Is there really such a thing as the saddest day of the year? According to a UK psychologist, there is. He has a pseudo-scientific theory that the third Monday in January is "Blue Monday," the saddest day of the year.
It makes sense. We've just ushered in a new year full of surprises. We've welcomed the dead of winter where the cold, grey, snowy weather traps us indoors, and we don't have the holidays to keep the mood bright. We've made our resolutions--and probably already slipped up a few times especially if they border on the high expectation side. And then we're practically expected to fail at sticking to them--one-quarter drop their resolutions after the first week of the year and one-third by the end of January.
So instead of setting ourselves up for failure (or maybe never even attempting by already failing to name resolutions), Equinox wants us to stick it to the man. The fitness club that also calls itself a "temple of well-being" (their words, not mine) is on a mission to embrace fitness as more than a once-per-year goal, and one where we're most likely to fail. They're suggesting we give the January blues the boot.
How? By saying "F Blue Monday" and challenging yourself at the club's January Challenge. The premise is simple. Just workout. And if you're not sure where to start, Equinox can guide you with an entire month's worth of exercise suggestions (I'm already penciling days 4 and 14 as must-dos on my calendar because I've already fallen in love with the other high intensity options).
There's even an extra incentive for newbies.
Step one: Join Equinox. Step two: Work out at least 12 times this month. Step three: Accomplish step two and you'll get back the initiation fee you paid.
But hurry, the clock is ticking. Twelve days may have seemed like nothing on January 1, but we're almost halfway through the month. At least the New Year's rush is over--that first 25 percent have already quit their fitness resolutions. Can you do it? The 12 workouts in a month? We dare you!
Everyone wanted to get married on 7/7/07. The Games of the XXIX Olympiad opened in Beijing on 8/8/08, a special day in the Chinese calendar. Digitally remastered versions of all the Beatles studio albums were released on 9/9/09; beyond that I couldn't think of anything significant about the date. We could run marathons and other races on 10/10/10, probably the coolest day to participate in an endurance event. A horror film bearing the name 11/11/11 was released on that auspicious date.
So what's 12/12/12 going to bring? As far as I can tell, it's shaping up to be a very fit-minded day.
Catch some mid-day zzz's at Equinox's PowerNap. Credit
Holiday shopping. Parties and gatherings eating into our free time. End-of-the-year projects. December's holiday season might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the busiest.
One way to combat all that stress: a power nap. Research shows that those short, mid-day sleep sessions make you more alert, reduce stress and improve cognitive function. But try drifting to sleep for 20 minutes, the typical length of a power nap, at the office and you're bound to run into some issues.
What you need is a class that Equinox created specially for December's hustle and bustle: PowerNap. Offered on Tuesdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Equinox's Loop location throughout the month, PowerNap guarantees a revitalizing workout. Class starts with yoga flow and finishes with a restorative 20-minute meditation session designed to put your body into a deep-slumber state. During class, a wearable mp3 player called the Playbutton is powered with music by Brain Sync, technology that pairs meditation techniques with harmonically layered brainwave frequencies in soothing music. The idea is to activate your brainwaves through meditation and music, with delta waves helping you drift into a quality nap. You'll wake up refreshed, more patient, more efficient and ready to tackle that project that you desperately need to finish.
And you don't have to worry about getting caught snoozing on the job or at the punch bowl.
Last week Hurricane Sandy ripped across the East Coast, destroying towns, flooding tunnels and streets, knocking out power lines, and turning the city that never sleeps into one quiet place. And that's only part of the story.
In Sandy's wake, we've heard about relief efforts from fundraising runs to where to volunteer, from the NBC telethon to companies donating proceeds to the cause. But for the most part, you couldn't really participate if you weren't in New York or doing some shopping. Not anymore. Chicago's four Equinox locations--Gold Coast, Highland Park, Lincoln Park and the Loop--are stepping up the plate this Saturday to host a "Share Your Strength" charity event. Co-hosted by the American Red Cross, the event will raise money for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
The deal: You donate at least $100 (or ask your friends to donate a dollar for every minute you plan to sweat) to gain entry with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
The return: You can sweat your way through a series of inspiring fitness classes on Saturday. All four Chicago locations have at least two classes they're offering. Take your pick of yoga, cycling or MetCon3; they're guaranteed to get the heart pumping.
Oh my core! You'd think that with the title "Core Values" I would have known my core muscles would be getting the workout at this new Equinox class launching this November. But are these moves really supposed to hurt this much? Is my core really this weak? Am I really this bad at functional movements?
Yes--but for good reason. I've been going to workouts, except I can't say that any of them actually focus on our cores for the entire session. Sure, there's the Ab Blast here and there, but that's 15 minutes all about the midsection. And if you've heard people preaching about our core muscles, then you know that our core is so much more than just abdominals. That's exactly why I can benefit from a class like Core Values. It's way more than 45 to 60 minutes of work.
For starters, you're not going to see those love-to-hate crunches. These core moves are more complex--like crunching your arms and legs--than the basics that only work the frontal line. "Core Values is integrated movement that works the frontal, lateral and spiral lines in combination and succession," says Jenn Hogg, group fitness manager at Equinox's Gold Coast location.
You came, you ran, you conquered. Maybe finished is more like it. Either way, you earned that title of marathoner and the right to wear that medal around your neck to dinner, to bed, to breakfast Monday morning.
But now that you don't have to worry about logging all those miles, it's time to celebrate. You know, do all of those things you may have sacrificed over the last few months. Drink a beer--or a lot of it. Eat ice cream--OK, so that's my favorite post-race treat. Sit down, relax and veg out--again, that might be me. Here are my top five ways to refuel and refresh after Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Nothing special, but I can guarantee that knowing I'll have some treats after the race will help carry me through it come Sunday. Sometimes it's the little things that get me through the tough miles.
Drink chocolate milk. Team Refuel's busy prepping for the Ironman World Championship, but that doesn't mean our muscles can't use a little chocolate milk to replenish after running 26.2 miles. I guzzled two cartons after my Ironman, a welcome change from the sports drink, which I'd like to think made my muscles happy campers come Monday morning.
Legs feeling a little rubbery after running 26.2 miles? Sore in all the wrong spots? Go for a massage. Not to say that the Chicago Marathon finisher's gear isn't cool (I'm sure this year's Nike stuff will be awesome--it always is), but a massage is the best post-race treat you could give your body, except for maybe that beer we like to imbibe at the finish line.
Based on recent research, 10 minutes of a Swedish massage can reduce inflammation in the muscles. And after all the pavement pounding you'll be doing during the marathon, it seems like an hour with a massage therapist's touch would be more worthwhile than another T-shirt, especially if your drawers are as stuffed as mine. I'm already remembering how stiff I usually am after a tough race--I practically fall out of bed Monday morning--and how my calves could use some kneading. Here's even more reason to get massaged post-race: The Spa @ Equinox is offering 15 percent off all of its massage services to Chicago Marathon runners. Runners can take advantage of this offer by bringing their marathon bib to the Equinox at 900 N. Michigan between October 8 and 14.
This deal gets more and more enticing for this girl, who hates to pay full-price on anything, especially since I missed out last year (what was I thinking?!). If you need me after the marathon, chances are I've fallen asleep on the massage table--and based on how I currently feel, that time can't come soon enough.
Have you gotten a massage after a race? Did it make you feel better?
How's this for a Saturday morning workout? Temperatures edging on the side of cold (but perfect for minimizing the sweat) plus the Park Hyatt's garden bar area turned fitness floor equals a rooftop workout. Add in Equinox 900 N. Michigan's group fitness manager Jenn Hogg and you get a dose of Barre Burn, a 45-minute sculpting workout that made our body parts burn with and without weights. Or maybe it was just my body, especially my legs, that screamed in pain? It started with the first round of Pilates hundreds and didn't ease up until our final push-up.
No complaints from this Barre Burner. I'm never up early on a Saturday morning (and the few times it does happen, I either crawl back in bed or I nap in the car), but this was exactly what I needed to start off the day. Who can complain when the sun is shining and the breakfast buffeters from The Peninsula across the street are totally watching in wonderment? Yeah, I worked out and you didn't--and my glutes are going to hurt tomorrow. As if they don't already.
Summer's no longer the season. The calendar says it, the leaves show it and the weather feels it. It's OK to start sobbing, I nearly did--summer is my favorite time of year. And I'm far from ready to take all of my workouts indoors.
The swimming and biking may have already gone that route--I blame it on a cold Lake Michigan and lack of ride-able bike at the moment (it's getting some TLC at the bike shop)--but I'm not going to surrender everything. Apparently Equinox must have read my mind (and maybe yours too) because they're taking their Barre Burn class outside.
Sculpt your hips while enjoying spectacular views from the rooftop of the NoMI Garden on the seventh floor of the Park Hyatt on Saturday, September 29, at 8 a.m. They couldn't have selected a better Saturday--according to weather.com, the temperatures sound ideal for outdoor exercise. And there's no rain in the forecast unlike when I tried this class in July (and we were redirected indoors to Equinox).
Excuse the slightly lame headline but I couldn't help it. Participating in this golf program means an opportunity to meet Chicago Bears' place kicker Robbie Gould and the words just rolled off my fingers--with the post-Ironman brain I've been dealing with, I'll take it.
OK, here's the deal. Chicago is hosting golf's Ryder Cup from September 25 to September 30 at Medinah Country Club. At first glance you're likely thinking, "This has nothing to do with fitness." But it does, thanks to a program that Equinox created in anticipation of the the team tourney. Last Wednesday, the club's Loop location offered its first of five golf sessions with Tier 4 trainer Darren Tyda. Excuse the late notice, but the only things missed last week were the introduction to golf fitness and assessments.
GOLFIT by Equinox is a 5-part program that was designed to help you improve your golf game. Held on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m., you'll perfect your swing, increase your flexibility, and improve your power and mobility. Then Robbie Gould will be at the final session where you can use what you learned to analyze his swing just like the pros would. Keep reading to learn more about each session--and so you know which ones you want to clear your schedule for (you can attend as many or as few as you wish).
Can I watch this lake chaos instead of being part of it?
Weather woes. Taper tantrums. Phantom pains. I'm too much of a worry-wart with t-minus 34 hours, give or take, until Ironman Wisconsin starts to think about writing (as has been the case for most of the week too). You'd think that with two of these already under my belt, I'd be less anxious than I actually am. But being surrounded by an abnormal amount of uber-fit athletes and bikes that make my ride look like it needs to be retired, the race day jitters start to fly.
So what am I doing to calm my nerves? Definitely not looking at the weather forecast--that'll drive me crazy. Instead, I've been reading.
Whoa, Lance Armstrong can't run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon? The Chicago Tribune and Runner's World explain why.
If you loved the Epic Pass for its unlimited skiing at six, now seven, resorts in Colorado and Lake Tahoe, Vail Resorts just sweetened the deal on this less-than-$700-for-a-season-of-skiing pass. I know where I want to ski this winter--and it's not in the U.S.
Yes! The Spartan Race is coming to Chicago in October!
Who's running this 5K, or one of the others in the series, this month?
I'm not even running the New York Marathon, but I'm thankful the race organizers reversed the baggage policy put into place two weeks ago.
Gravity hits new heights with these yoga moves. If you missed the viral hit "The Contortionist", "The Balancing Act" is a follow up that's even more hair-raising--or motivating to get me back to regular yoga.
What links are you loving today? Share them with us!
Say it isn't so that summer has to end. I know I have to face the inevitable that Labor Day is just around the corner (is it just me or does time fly after the Fourth of July?), but I'm far from ready to surrender my outdoor sweat sessions, pool workouts and beach naps. Or complete an Ironman in less than three weeks. And don't even get me started on bundling up for chilly temps--I don't even remember what it's like to run in under 70 weather after the mild year we've had.
But if all good things must come to a close, at least let them go out with a bang. A summer-ending sale would do the trick--who doesn't like a little retail therapy as a pick-me-up? Equinox must have read my mind because The Shop @ Equinox's Labor Day sale started August 21 and runs until September 3 at all four of Equinox's Chicago locations. But here's where I really took notice. You can score 50 percent off select fashion and performance brands like Nike, RLX Ralph Lauren and Splendid. But what's better is shop early, as in through August 27, and save an additional 20 percent on sale items.
Ready to shop? Equinox is located at the following
Chicago locations: 900 N. Michigan Avenue; Lincoln Park (1750 N.
Clark Street); The Loop (200 W. Monroe St.); and Highland Park (799 Central Avenue).
It’s hard to believe that the Olympic torch is going to be extinguished in less than 48 hours. Sure, I’ve watched my fair share of live feeds and primetime coverage, and I’ve read plenty of stories and Twitter updates about the 2012 London Olympics. But these 17 days of sports always manage to fly by faster than expected.
How is it possible that last night I was watching 1992 footage of the original Dream Team and by tomorrow afternoon the 2012 U.S. men’s basketball team likely will have clinched their gold medal performance? How is it possible that Abdi, Meb and Ryan will be running 26.2 miles tomorrow morning—and that Desi, Kara and Shalane are already thinking about their next races and not the Olympics? How is it possible that some Olympians are already back from the Games and back to the daily grind?
I know it’s bound to happen, but I’m not quite ready to put an end to the 2012 Olympics just yet. I’m not ready to wait four years for the Summer Games—I’m not even ready to wait almost two for the Sochi Winter Olympics. But enough of my whining…it turns out that Equinox is going to let me live out my Olympic dream a little longer. It might not be one of the medals that was locked in the Tower of London, but the Equinox Chicago Summer Games could be the closest I get to wearing gold around my neck (and even that I’m not so sure of).
Equinox’s Summer Games kicks off on Tuesday, August 14, with a special edition of the fitness club’s MetCon3 workout. MetCon3 is already a tough workout in itself—granted I have yet to try it due to my ever-growing to-do list that is getting lost in Ironman training at the moment, but that’s what I’ve heard and read. Short for metabolic conditioning, this workout targets the body’s three energy systems, phosphagen, glycolic and oxidative. Don’t ask me what exactly that means, but the big take away is that you max out your calories burned in the shortest amount of time to fire up your metabolism and keep burning fat hours after class is over.
Forget sweating on the gym floor or feeling like you’re stuck in the studio rooms for hours on end. Equinox is offering an outdoor workout that’ll wake you up and work you out. And it’s on the rooftop garden of one of Chicago’s most craveable restaurants and most spectacular hotels. The fitness club is taking its Barre Burn class outdoors at the NoMI Garden on the seventh floor of the Park Hyatt Hotel on Michigan Avenue on July 24, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Space is limited but if you RSVP to Sarah.Roberts@Equinox.com, you could still score a spot for this rooftop rendezvous for dancers, fitness fanatics and anyone looking for a good total body workout.
The Hayward track four years ago today. Credit: Schmuelick
I've been waiting for Friday to arrive all week. TGIF! Hooray for the weekend! But the last thing I'm doing is jumping for joy.
I couldn't wake up to run with Liz this morning, something I'm sorely regretting hours later even with the extra rest, and I may have mistook the ache in my leg for more than what it is (after three weeks worth of bum runs I'm almost scared to have a good day). I missed the swim practice with my neighbor that we purposely planned for after my run. I'm staring down one heck of a crazy training schedule while worrying about the seven hour drive to Northern Wisconsin I'm going to be making tomorrow. And there's a storm brewing outside my window that's made the sky as dark as dusk--and it's only 11 a.m.
This might sound crazy but I started cruising around online to help me find a happier place--basically by living vicariously through others. And here's what helped lift my mood:
Stinky workout clothes where the stench won't disappear no matter how many times they toss in the washing machine and get sprayed with Febreze? Exercise gear that's more out-of-fashion than in? Running shorts and shirts that aren't as well-equipped to battle the heat wave that's predicted to happen later this week as you thought they'd be when you bought them? Gear that you wouldn't want to be caught dead in unless you were at home and you knew that Tony Horton and Shawn T wouldn't care what clothes you wore for their workouts?
You know you need some new duds--or you welcome every excuse in the book as a reason to buy more. But the problem is, you're not exactly in the market for buying said gear at full price (it's all about maximizing the dollar, right?). Welcome to the "Let Freedom Bling" sale that runs June 25 through July 8 at The Shop @ Equinox. As a way to celebrate Independence Day, customers can save up to 50 percent off fashion and performance apparel and accessories at all of the Chicago Equinox locations.
The Shop @ Equinox is known for offering top-of-the-line fitness-focused apparel--remember the Nike gear we gushed over? This summer the Shop has new lines available like Mercer & Taylor, an exclusive women's fashion collection that includes breezy woven tanks and blouses in silky, lightweight fabrics; and Bordeaux, another exclusive women's collection that features super-soft tees and tanks great for basics and layering. And there are tons of other designers gracing the shelves, too. The question is: How much can I buy to refresh the closet without breaking the bank?
Have you ever wondered what it's like to train with a NFL athlete? Now's your chance. During the month of April, Equinox Fitness Clubs have teamed up with the National Football League's PLAY 60 campaign to give select Equinox club members the opportunity to train with current and former NFL stars. But we're not talking about any training, like the football drills I tried on Leap Day at Soldier Field. It's the football stars who are leading some of Equinox's signature workouts. So instead of your favorite instructor leading Whipped, Tabata, and the newest addition MetCon3, Tim Jennings, Chris Spencer, Tom Zbikowski and Derrick Mason will be pushing your limits when class is in session--if you're attending classes in Chicago. That could spell trouble, knowing how hard they've worked on the football field. But it's the kind of kick-butt training I crave--and then regret later when I'm too sore and tired to move.
