Ludlow Fitness

Right off Delancey Street at Ludlow lies Ludlow Fitness. Just up one flight of stairs opens up to a room just around 1500 square feet with an area for cardio, free weights, weight machines and a small stretching/fitness room -- they offer body sculpting, Pilates, yoga and spinning. The gym has a very clean and open feel, you are offered free towels and the floor-to-ceiling windows are pretty nice...even though you're overlooking the oh-so-busy Delancey Street.

I went with my former roomie who isn't such a workout person and she actually brought me through a really cool routine which was created just for her through her friend's website. We did stretching and a bunch of other weight lifting exercises, but my favorite was the Bosu Lateral Hop (my favorite) side squats. I started out on one side of the bosu with the closest leg on top of the round ball part, then jumped over the ball, squating on each side, but moving quickly. My quads were so sore...and still are 2 days later. At the end of our workout, we lay on top of the Bosu, angle your arms in a V in front of you with thumbs facing the ceiling, your legs in a V behind you and gently lift your arms and legs up at the same time -- I was surprised at how good this was for my core -- making sure to balance your abs on the ball.

This gym is small, but has really everything one might need, other than a whole slew of classes, which is why I would never join, but it's a nice gym overall. There is a small locker room with 2 showers and a few lockers. On the counter are some toiletries, which include shampoo, conditioner, body wash and tampons (I thought this was odd) -- maybe razors would have been a better and more useful choice?

If you want to try out Ludlow for 6 months, you will only pay $299 and for a year it's just $449 - no initiation fee. Or if you want to try it out for a day, you just walk in and work out...or, that is what I did. :)

New Jersey's Mountain Creek Resort

Up until February 2008, I had no idea that I could drive just an hour and a half from NYC to go snowboarding in Vernon, New Jersey at Mountain Creek Resort. I grew up boarding on the west coast in Lake Tahoe where I was spoiled with fresh powder, long trails and relatively mild weather. The East Coast snow is a whole 'nother ball game; these runs are icy, narrow and short…and a bit colder than Nor Cal.

As an avid snowboarder these conditions aren't ideal, but because the drive is so short, this mountain is great for unplanned day trips when a fresh layer of snow has come down the day before. You should only go to Mountain Creek the day after it snows in the City to ensure that you won't be boarding on ice. The snow is typically good until about 2pm, but then the ice starts to emerge from under the fresh powder. I have been two times thus far, and just used ZipCar for about a hundred bucks and when split among four people, is a pretty cheap trip.

An all-day lift ticket will cost you $62 on the weekends, but when I went pre-season this year, I paid $49 because only two lifts were open. See you on the slopes!

Wake-Up Call: The Green Smoothie

This high in fiber and vitamin-filled smoothie will start your day right! With only 10 minutes to prepare, this yummy (surprisingly sweet) and nutritious drink should be consumed immediately to capture all the essential veggies and fruits...and to avoid the congealed glob that happens after 30 minutes.

The recipe for this smoothie originated from my friend, Alexi, but I ended up doctoring the recipe just a little bit and haven't actually tried the original. Enjoy and make your own adjustments as needed!

Ingredients 1 C  - soy milk 1 banana 1  1/2 cup  - green kale (coarsely chopped) 1/4 C  chopped celery 1/4 C - English cucumber (with skin) 1/4 C - goji berries 2-4 - frozen strawberries 1/2 T - ginger root the juice of half a lemon drizzle of agave (to taste) 1/2 t - cayenne (optional)

Directions Fill blender with soy milk and banana in two pieces to the liquid. Add the kale (push it down to preserve space), celery, cucumber, goji berries, strawberries, ginger root, lemon and top it off with a drizzle of agave. If you are a little frightened of the cayenne, try it without to start and add gradually—I like the added kick to my drink.

A little on the nutritional value... Soy milk: manganese, magnesium & selenium Banana: fiber, potassium, B6 & C Kale: calcium, fiber, iron, A, B6 & C Cucumber: calcium, fiber, iron, A, B6 & C Celery: A, C & B6, calcium Goji berries: A, C, fiber & iron Strawberries: fiber, iron, manganese, potassium & C Ginger: magnesium, potassium & C Agave: natural sweetener Cayenne: A, B6 and C

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center

Located on 24th between 7th and 8th, Sivananda is one of the better yoga studios in NYC. As someone who is from Santa Cruz, California, this studio reminds of home. If you aren't familiar with Santa Cruz, I suppose this reference will remain a mystery. I have tried many types of yoga; from Vinyasa (and other variations) at the gym to Bikram at a studio to a yoga on a rooftop in India. Sivananda is where you will find the most well-trained and committed instructors, in my opinion, and in an environment that makes you feel relaxed and at peace. I'm raving about the quality of this studio, however, I'm really not a big yoga person, so me talking about Sivananda says a lot. The yoga here is slow moving and more laid-back than I'd like in a workout; nonetheless, I like coming every few months to balance out my system and meditate (or something).

I took the open yoga session, which goes for an hour and a half and includes Pranayama (breathing exercises), a regular series of Asanas including sun salutations, and relaxation. You can choose from beginner, gentle, advanced, prenatal, Satsang (group meditation) and open classes. Because the poses are slow-paced, this class gives you a chance to work on balance and technique.

This is not only a yoga studio, there are cooking workshops and other courses, and they have a wide selection of yoga supplies including books, mats, etc. If you're lucky to come to one of the open houses, you will be able to stay for one of the most delicious vegetarian meals of your life. If you are a member, you may get free meals (?), but I highly recommend that you check this place out at least once.

Classes are priced from $8 (gentle) to $12 or you can buy an unlimited month class pass for $125. With the prices for working out around the city, Sivananda is very reasonable and, when I go once every three months, I don't mind the $12 entrance fee.

CLAY

Right off 14th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, CLAY offers more than just a gym. When my friend Lisa offered me pass for a free one-month membership, including personal training session, I gladly accepted.

CLAY has a full-service spa, member lounge with internet access, and an organic café. After sweating it out, you can cool down with a Eucalyptus infused towel from one of the refrigerators on the gym floor, relax in your own personal sauna, or grab a snack and smoothie and have it delivered to your lounge chair on the rooftop deck! The locker rooms are equipped with lockless-code lockers, disposable flip-flops and showers with the works—I love the grapefruit shower gel!

With décor similar to a spa in Miami or California, (definitely not a 2nd floor on 14th Street gym feel), CLAY has a calm setting with top-of-the-line machines, each with its own TV, bamboo stretching mats and machines that many gyms don't have. My two favorites include the sliding device, to be used only with space booties (where you slide back and forth to work out your booty and quads) and I also like the jungle gym-like stretching device. I will do my best to get a photo of this sucker. :)

In terms of group classes, there are the usual Pilates, yoga and conditioning, but there's a class called TRED, a treadmill interval training class with core and sculpting drills taught on the gym floor, which appears to be incredibly hard -- I get the impression it's something like a routine on the Biggest Loser. I am really excited to try TRED and the Kettlebell class!

The idea of joining an exclusive gym that has a cap on membership (1500) is pretty appealing, but at $180/month, plus $560 initiation fee, I plan to indulge while I can. My only complaint: low ceilings.

The Bosu Push-Up

2.17.2009 I am a huge fan of traditional forms of exercise, e.g. the good ol’ push-up. Truly a glorious strength-training move, the push-up can be performed anywhere at any time, gym or no gym, outside or inside. Muscles worked are the pectorales, deltoids and to a lesser degree your triceps, forearms and also the latissimus dorsi. There were times (1998 & 2008) when I could do 31 of these suckers (yes, off my knees), but now I can only do about 10 in a row without shaking (which is good though it means you're doing it right and gaining results). :(

The Bosu (Both Sides Utilized or Both Sides Up) push-up works similar muscles but adds in the element of balance, which increases abdominal and arm strength making it an excellent posture-enhancing move.

How to do a Traditional Push-Up

Kneel down on the floor and place your hands flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder width apart. With your shoulders directly over your hands, straighten your arms in plank position. Move your feet back, placing your toes on the floor, so that your knees are off the floor and your legs are straight (if you cannot do a regular push-up, place your knees on the floor until you work up to the regular version).

At this point, your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles—your body should remain straight throughout this exercise. Keep your head and neck in line with your body so that you’re looking down toward the floor. Now you’re in the starting position. In a controlled fashion, lower your body down toward the floor, bending your elbows, until your body is nearly touching the floor. Now, push your body up away from the floor, straightening your arms, until you have returned to the starting position.

How to do a Bosu Push-Up

With the bubble side of the Bosu down, place your hands on the outer edges of the flat platform, making sure they are directly under your shoulders. Always maintain a flat back and tight abs throughout this exercise. Descend until your chest is very close to the platform, and then slowly push back up.

I do about 3 sets of 8-10 reps, but if you’re just starting out, try doing 2 or 3 sets of 2-3 and work your way up! If you can’t do a regular push-up yet, do 3 sets of 5 “girl” push-ups until you’ve worked your way up to the straight-legged version. I know it works because my mom went from doing 0 push-ups to 7 in the course of 3 months—go mom!

And don't forget the most important part: keep breathing at all times; this may sound silly, but sometimes we forget

Equinox: Soho

When I heard that an Equinox was going to open its doors in SoHo I was thrilled! I have made my home within this neighborhood since the end of 2006 and had always made the trek to the 19th Street location for my workouts. Even though I have always worked in the Union Square area, I am now able to workout close to my apartment. YAY!

I was expecting this gym to be nothing short of spectacular. I mean, we are in Soho. When you walk into the gym, you are greeted by the shop and 'witchcraft—nothing out of the ordinary really. After walking up two half flights of stairs, there is a lounge area (about 350 sq ft) with couches, tables and a flat screen TV where you can eat, go online or just sit on the comfy cushions. The next two sets of half flights take you to the long front desk where a few snobby Soho wannabes check you in. Walking to the right of the front desk there are two choices: walk upstairs to the men's locker room and yoga studio or make a right to the main gym floor.

The main floor of the gym is pretty straightforward; you've got the regular treadmill, elliptical and bike section with flat screen TVs to keep you distracted from your workout. The rest of the large space is filled with every typical weight machine, free weights and stretching mat and, of course, a workout studio and cycling studio. In the back of the gym, above Broadway, there is a small Pilates studio where you can take private lessons for an extra fee. I tried this machine-type Pilates once, but it wasn't for me—too slow.

The yoga studio is the hands-down best in-gym studio I have ever seen (yet). With calming brown walls, giant flower pots with huge bamboo sticks, and beautiful lamps, this room puts you immediately in a relaxed state. Although I truly love what they did to the yoga studio, I hate that the women's restroom is downstairs and long walk away. If the men's locker room is adjacent to the studio, why didn't they just build a small unisex restroom next to it so I don't have to run my ass down the stairs and around the corner?!

This gym is beautiful and it exudes a new and open, and if you go during the day you may see a celebrity (I haven't seen anyone just yet). The only issue I have with going to this location is when I have to walk/push down Prince Street to Broadway through hundreds of tourists, which makes me want to turn around and go back home.

Bean & Arugula Soup

About a year ago my friend Alexi and I found this yummerific bean soup recipe and since I have made it over 15 times. About 20 minutes to prepare and cook, this easy-breezy soup makes a great lunch for 4 days or you can cook it up as a nice dish for your friends; I usually do the former. You can also pair it with some garlic toast or even sprinkle some Parmesan cheese over the top right before eating. Ingredients

2 large garlic cloves 1/4 cup plus 1/2 tbls extra virgin olive oil 1 (14- 15 oz) can stewed tomatoes 1 3/4 cups reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth 2 (19 oz) cans canellini beans, rinsed and drained (3 cups) 1 package (4-5 links) of spicy sausage -- I like to get Tofurky Kielbasa 1/4 tsp black pepper to taste 1 (5 oz) bag baby arugula

Cook garlic in 1/4 cup oil in a 3.5 to 4.5 quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring until golden, 1 to 2 min. Add sausage and saute for 2-5 minutes (refer to package for cook time). Coarsley cut up tomatoes in can with kitchen shears (I just leave them whole), then add (with juice) to garlic and sausage in oil. Stir in broth, beans, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in arugula and cook until wilted, 1.5 min. Serves 4.

Bikram Yoga Manhattan

Birkram Yoga, founded by Bikram Choudhury, is a practice consisting of 26 poses in a room that is heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme heat helps your body to burn fat more effectively, increase muscle elasticity and to bring more oxygen to the muscles, which in turn helps remove waste such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Bikram not only works your muscles, but it works out your internal organs: the glands and nervous system.

About three years 3 ago I tried Bikram Yoga, but I figured it was time I actually tried it for a few weeks at a time to really get a grasp on whether I like it or not. Yesterday was day one at Bikram Yoga Manhattan in Soho (one of their 3 locations). The Spring Street studio is pretty basic: a small waiting room with a water cooler and coat rack and two changing rooms with showers that I probably won’t ever shower in. The instructor, Byron, who was wearing a very small piece of clothing (his almost shorts) was also the receptionist. I paid $20 for 7 days of practice -- a typical first-time Bikram fee.

Because it’s hotter than a tropical country, you need very little clothing; I only wore a sports bra and short shorts because anything else would have been too much…meanwhile it was 32 degrees and snowing outside. The class started out with Pranayama Breathing where you should be inhaling six pounds of oxygen in six seconds, but I apparently need some practice because I could only go for maybe three seconds. This pose has been proven to not only increase oxygen content to the bloodstream and quadruple lung capacity, but it strengthens leg and abdominal muscles, among other things.

I was literally dripping sweat (I hate the word literally, but it’s completely appropriate in this context) from every part of my body, even from the bottom of my feet. At one point we were doing the pose Dandayamana Janushirasana where I had to interlock my fingers around my right foot while trying to straighten my right leg and lock my knee while keeping my left leg locked – the problem was that my hands kept slipping off my foot. As the class progressed each pose became a little more invigorating and difficult, but each was in preparation for the next. Toward the end of class, we lay in Savasana (dead body pose) in order to return circulation to normal and sustain concentration before progressing. Savasana is also a great way to improve hypertension, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability and generally just feels good at the end of any workout.

Indeed Bikram is a challenge, but I learned that it’s not whether you can do the pose to its full extent, but that you concentrate and use the will power to hold that pose for one minute or more without losing focus. I like this concept and can incorporate the inspiration into my day-to-day routine, in both business and personal situations.

I don’t want to go to class on Thursday morning at 7am for 90 minutes (the class is offered at many different times), but I know that once 8:31 rolls around, I will be more than thrilled that I made that decision. I will keep you posted on the next days of my practice.

Equinox: 19th @ Broadway

When I moved to New York in September of 2004, Equinox was my first gym experience; it was my father who by the way never works out, who gave me the guest pass. As a former member of 24 Hour Fitness in California, I immediately fell in love with Equinox. I'm not sure how to put my love into words, but there is nothing better than a clean gym, with beautiful people. It’s pretty pricey, at $176 per month (plus $300+ initiation) for an all-access membership, but if you work for a corporation you can usually get a steep discount.

Located in the Flatiron district, this Equinox location reminds me of the loft I have always dreamed of...the top floor in particular. A very industrial, yet modern feel, this gym exudes cleanliness and you always see a cleaning person wandering around dusting some machine or mopping the floor. Embodying four floors, there are towels at your disposal and machines and weights galore—and they are super clean. Yes, I know I keep emphasizing this, but I am a clean freak.

Right when you step in the front door, you are greeted by at least two friendly staff members and sometimes when I'm working out, the delicious smells coming from Citi Chow, Equinox's café, make me work out that much harder so I can hurry up to get the food when my workout is complete. They sell sandwiches, salads, shakes and healthy meal platters...my favorite meal includes the spinach, black bean and tofu salad with a turkey burger -- delish!

Each floor houses all the regular free weights, three stretching areas (huge one on the upper level, medium-sized area on the mezzanine and smaller one on the bottom floor) and numerous top-of-the-line weight machines and cardio equipment. There are four workout rooms including boxing and cycling studios, where you can find any class to fit your fancy, with world-renowned instructors and over 90 different classes to choose from. My three favorite classes are 30/60/90 with Kristi Molinaro, Inten-Sati with Patricia Moreno and Will Power & Grace with Christine D'Ercole. (Reviews coming.)

The women's locker room, found on the bottom floor, features a steam room, recently renovated showers with wood panel flooring, ample blow dryers and little baggies to pack away your sweaty gym clothes. Each shower is equipped with soap, shampoo, conditioner and shaving cream (razors can be found outside of the shower near the lotion, qui-tips and cotton balls). Although I don't particularly like the smell and feel of the shampoo, conditioner...or the soap—I'm happy they exist because many gyms do not have these. Also, if you feel so inclined to spend the extra bucks, you can rent a monthly locker and each time you come to the gym, your clothes will be washed for you, ready to wear.

If you get bored of looking at the pretty people or of your workout, you can always check your email on two flat screen computers found next to the women's locker room. Equinox also has a spa, which offers the usual array of services, from facials to massages. I recommend taking a trip to this gym either for a class or just to work out on the machines.