Sweat Session with SELF Magazine

From the 2011 Workout in the Park, courtesy of SkirtPR

Grant Park is no stranger to hosting fitness events. If you live in the Windy City, how many times have you passed the park on a weekend only to see it scattered with event tents, and not the kind that signal a music festival or Taste of Chicago? Probably a lot, especially this time of year. And typically right around this weekend, Grant Park would be ready to play host to an old favorite, SELF Magazine's Workout in the Park, which was held at Butler Field last year on May 21.

One problem: NATO is coming to town and the Workout in the Park won't be in May but in June. I can't blame NATO entirely, even though it is the obvious choice given that businesses in and around the Loop are shutting down Friday through Monday and many workers have been granted a three- or four-day weekend. If the NATO conference wasn't about to take over Chicago, literally, I'd assume that SELF's mobile exercise-y event would most likely stick with the weekend that has worked and not be pushed to later date (especially considering that San Francisco kicked off this year's festivities on May 5 followed by New York City on May 12). But it happened and there's nothing we can do about it except hope that a June 2 date means a greater assurance of warmer, workout-friendly weather.

Tickets for Sale: SELF Workout in the Park NYC

It doesn't matter if it's in New York, San Francisco, Chicago or any other city. SELF Magazine's Workout in the Park will always have a special place in my heart and not only for the fitness festivities. Forget Vegas or a girls weekend getaway, I had part of my bachelorette party at the Chicago edition, thanks to my friends who know all too well that a fitness component was a near-necessity in the party-planning process (and I'm so thankful that they played along). So when Fit-Ink received news about tickets for the New York event going on sale on March 15, I wasn't about to ignore the request to talk about it. And before I forget, I should also mention that this year's events are happening in San Francisco on May 5, New York on May 12 and Chicago on June 2, and all the details and ticket information is available at selfworkoutinthepark.com.

It doesn't matter if you've sweat through a SELF Workout in the Park before, this day of fitness is far from a "been there, done that" event. Organizers are quick to flex their exercise expertise to offer new and different workouts, celebrity hosts and perks from year to year. New Yorkers, here are just a few reasons to clear your calendar and make May 12 all about you and your health:

Chicago's Best Spring Workout

Excuse 1: You spent the last 24 hours awake and the only thing keeping you from a usual Saturday workout is sleep--all day. Excuse 2: You're not going to be in Chicago on May 21. Excuse 3: You have a wedding, or wedding-related event, to attend and the plans can't be changed until another day or moved to outside the 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unless you're sleeping in on a Saturday, and really dragging your feet on leaving the house, you want to make your way to Grant Park and SELF's Workout in the Park.

You won't want to miss the 2011 rendition of this event, which only seems to grow bigger and better year after year. The new and unique workouts that can give you that change in the routine to rev your metabolism. Moving from Lincoln Park to a larger space at Butler Field in Grant Park. Bringing A-list--or maybe I should title it Fit-list--celebrities like Maria Menounos and Jillian Michaels. And now this year, Chicago is matching that with Ali Sweeney, host of The Biggest Loser and author of The Mommy Diet, making a special guest appearance. Biggest Loser fans can rejoice now and get excited for Sweeney to share her eating tips and how she makes exercise fun.

Chicago is the last stop on the 2011 Workout in the Park tour and it hosts the event on Saturday, May 21. If you've ever wanted to see what it's like to have the pages of SELF magazine unfold before your eyes in live-action form, now's your chance.

The health, wellness and fitness festival lands at Butler Field, 300 East Monroe if you need an address, in Grant Park, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I know what you might be thinking: four hours is a long time to be working out especially if I don't have an Ironman, half Ironman or marathon on the docket. But honestly, this four hours is so jam-packed, you'll wish you had more time to cruise the beauty booths, snag some samples, break a sweat at the fitness classes, or rejuvenate body and mind in the quiet zone.

Even if I trip over my own two feet when I try choreographed group fitness classes, Workout in the Park's highlights are its fitness classes. With 17 to choose from running throughout the day and featuring top-notch instruction from Crunch trainers, it's hard to want to sit them out--even the ones that were so popular in the past that they're back on the schedule like Retro-Robics, Masala Bhangra and Beach Body. Among the class offerings and experiences, here are four to check out:

• LaBlast. Do your best Dancing with the Stars moves at this cardio fat-burning dance class that involves ballroom dance genres. Its combination of body movements and creative routines will make you sweat!
• Glee. Who knew that a sing-and-dance TV show could be transformed into exercise? Not me. But in this class where you're the star, you'll learn songs and dances from the show.
• Kama Strength. Strengthen now, prep for later? This class also takes on another meaning: Kama sutra fitness. Externally it'll strengthen the muscles, and internally it'll boost your libido.
• Reebok Toning Zone. If you've wanted to know how toning shoes, one of today's biggest fitness trends, compare to your usual sneaks, you can witness it first-hand here where you'll perform unique total-body exercises inspired by Reebok's EasyTone shoes from core tightening to strengthening.

Good news in Chicago is you can plan ahead or make it a spur-of-the-moment decision to attend. The $20 per-person tickets include a subscription to SELF as well as the events for the day and you can score them by purchasing in advance online or pay cash at the door. But don't bring a suitcase for all the samples you can take home with you or you won't be allowed in. Who's ready to work out?

Work Out in Central Park...with SELF

Working out with SELF in San Francisco on April 30

Maybe your New Year's resolutions to get fit in 2011 went out the window months ago and you've been trying to jump back on the fit wagon. Maybe you're a gym junkie and you're ready and willing to try anything when it comes to fitness. Maybe you need an activity to do with Mom or the girls and want to give it an active spin. Whatever the case, if you're in need of a little fitness and you're going to be in the Big Apple--or close enough to Manhattan to venture in on a Saturday--you won't want to miss the 2011 rendition of SELF Magazine's Workout in the Park.

I'm unfortunately too late in sharing the details on the San Francisco edition that took place this Saturday, but I'm just in time--barely I'll admit (sorry!)--for the two that follow in New York and Chicago this month. New York is up first on Saturday, May 7, and then Chicago gets the Workout in the Park next on Saturday, May 21. If you've ever wanted to see what it's like to have the pages of SELF magazine unfold before your eyes in live-action form, now's your chance.

Each city's event varies a little bit and this time around I've got the details on what's happening in New York on May 7. The 18th annual health, wellness and fitness festival lands in Central Park, at Rumsey Playfield to be exact, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I know what you might be thinking: four hours is a long time to be working out especially if I don't have an Ironman, half Ironman or marathon on the docket. But honestly, this four hours is so jam-packed, you'll wish you had more time to cruise the beauty booths, snag some samples, break a sweat at the fitness classes, or rejuvenate body and mind in the quiet zone.

The highlight? For this workout enthusiast--even if I do trip over my own two feet when you stick me in an unfamiliar group fitness class--it's all about Workout in the Park's fitness classes. With 17 to choose from running throughout the day and featuring top-notch instruction from Crunch trainers, it's hard to want to sit them out--even the ones that were so popular in the past that they're back on the schedule like Retro-Robics, Masala Bhangra and Beach Body. Among the class offerings and experiences, here are four to check out:

• LaBlast. Do your best Dancing with the Stars moves at this cardio fat-burning dance class that involves ballroom dance genres. Its combination of body movements and creative routines will make you sweat!
• Glee. Who knew that a sing-and-dance TV show could be transformed into exercise? Not me. But in this class where you're the star, you'll learn songs and dances from the show.
• Kama Strength. Strengthen now, prep for later? This class also takes on another meaning: Kama sutra fitness. Externally it'll strengthen the muscles, and internally it'll boost your libido.
• Reebok Toning Zone. If you've wanted to know how toning shoes, one of today's biggest fitness trends, compare to your usual sneaks, you can witness it first-hand here where you'll perform unique total-body exercises inspired by Reebok's EasyTone shoes.

Leading you with plenty of energy is Danielle Monaro from Z100's Elvis Duran and The Morning Show. She'll be hosting the day's festivities with that same spunk you hear on the radio, perfect for when you're feeling a sugar low or pooped out from the last activity.

But if you want to attend the New York City event, you have to plan ahead. Unlike in San Francisco and Chicago, you won't be able to pay cash for on-site tickets. The $20 per-person tickets include a subscription to SELF as well as the events for the day--plus almost half of the ticket cost goes toward Cancer and Careers, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can score them by purchasing in advance online. Who's ready to work out?

Photo grabbed from Everyday Socialite at flickr.

Know Thy Self Workout in the Park

An excuse to workout for most of my Saturday? All the samples a girl could want? Fitness classes that aren't the same old same old? I'm sold! But where do I want to go so badly? The Self Magazine Workout in the Park, making its last stop of the season, in Chicago, this Saturday, May 15.

I can't quite explain why I get excited over this event year after year--and that's even in years when I can't attend due to other commitments (including this Saturday). First time, I didn't know what I was getting myself into and dragged my husband--then-fiance--with me to Lincoln Park to check it out. Granted I was the only one who went inside--maybe a little too much estrogen and chatty Cathys for him--but I left way too early by my own wishes. Note to self: Don't give yourself only a half hour to peruse the park because you'll leave without experiencing much of anything.

That's because Self is transforming Butler Field at Grant Park into a fitness festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You don't have to worry about when you're going to get your workout in for the day, the three fitness take care of that with classes that start at 11:10 a.m. and run all the way to 3 p.m. And a new class starts up every 25 minutes so you don't have to suffer through moves your body can't handle. Try classes like Beach Body, Retro-Robics and Rock Bottom on the main stage--aren't the names enough to draw you in and wonder what kind of sweat session you're in for?--or head to the Rebounding Zone for either Resistance Rebounding or Urban Rebounding. Not in the mood for those types of cardio? Chill out in the Quiet Zone with yoga and Pilates, taught to you by Mandy Ingber, yoga trainer to celebs like Jennifer Aniston. Check out her yogalosophy she shared at New York City's Workout in the Park.

Ingber isn't the only person with a celeb connection in the house. You've seen her on Access Hollywood and NBC and now you can spot Maria Menounos on the Main Stage in Chicago. She'll be working out and sharing her fitness secrets that keep her energized for her hectic, and often bicoastal, job.

I'm not even close to covering all of the booths and events at the Workout in the Park. But hopefully there's enough here and online to convince you. It's like the pages of the magazine unfolding live in front of you with all the workouts, product samples, taste tests, beauty products and style consultations your eyes can handle. And with Saturday promising to be a little nicer than it was a week ago, what are you waiting for?

Fit-Event: Self Workout in the Park

We'd all like to think that spring is in the air. I've heard that a lot lately even though the temperatures and conditions outside like to show me otherwise. But with April already here and an onslaught of triathlons--distance ones at that--this weekend, it's really time to buckle down and work on that fitness. No more gym excuses or lazy days on the elliptical to squeeze in a TV program. Most of my favorites are starting to come to an end anyway so I'm more and more tempted to take my training outside. Work on some much-needed speedwork that I've always managed to avoid, break in my new running shoes, strengthen my hips and quads as I've been told...you get the idea. I was gently reminded of one of my favorite one-day outdoor activities while sifting through my e-mail yet again: the Self Workout in the Park. And for those in Chicago, it's even better than in years past.

Ready to burn some calories and gather enough healthy information to last you the season? Prepped to have a fitness day outdoors in some of the largest group fitness classes you'll ever attend? That's some of the fun each Self Workout in the Park brings to a city near you. This year, the events are kicking off in San Diego on April 25, New York City on May 9 and Chicago on May 16. And the good news, at least for a down economy, is that you can even purchase tickets at a recession-friendly price of $15. That includes a one-year subscription to Self magazine--Workout Challenge here I come--and saves you at least $5, maybe $10 from previous years.

Now as for the Chicago special I was alluding to? I'm erring on the side of this being a good announcement--although some of what I caught of the latest Biggest Loser is making me think otherwise--Jillian Michaels will be on hand to work out in the Windy City and sign copies of her new book, Master Your Metabolism. Hmm, maybe she'll even divulge some of those secrets for how those BL contestant lose so much weight in one week--and it can't just be from spending endless hours in the gym 'cause no body can favor that forever.

As for the event, you'll be treated to an array of fitness classes, sampled in 20-minute segments from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Names like Rock Bottom, Beach Body, Stiletto Strength and Million Dollar Knockout already have me intrigued. And that's just the cardio on the main stage...you can also head to the quiet zone for yoga and Pilates or check out the rebounding area. Regardless, there's something for everyone--even if you just want to sample snacks--at this Workout. Photo grabbed from dietsinreview at Flickr. Posted by Kate