Off of busy West 14th street, a small orange sign marks the way into CLAY, a unique, innovative fitness experience. Although many have probably passed by without thinking twice, it’s definitely not a place to miss.
Clay supports every member in his or her individual pursuit of health through physical training, mindful exercise and nutritional guidance. The alluring space, which is decorated in soothing colors, has lots of natural light from the many windows and skylights. The fireplace lounge near the treadmills and stretching area made me feel like I was in a glamorous ski lodge, not on 14th street. The space is inspirational and inviting, but not pretentious at all. The amenity-laden locker rooms are modern and pristine and the back-end of the locker room has a lounge where members can e-mail, watch TV or enjoy a coffee. The staff, from the front desk, to the group fitness teachers, are energetic and extremely personable.
At CLAY, members are offered a Program Advisor who will develop an individual integrated fitness program based on the members’ needs and desires. Advisors take into consideration each member’s specific lifestyle, giving them a customized plan of activities, including weight training, group fitness, cardio, meditation and massage. CLAY offers a range of group exercise classes, including: cycling, yoga, Pilates, Gyrokinesis® and body conditioning, among others. The two new classes that I tried out are Cardio Dance and WellSCULPT. Cardio Dance is a high intensity workout that teaches music video style dance moves that the instructor choreographs to the latest music. In my class we danced to a new Britney Spears song and although I have no rhythm, it was a total blast and really got me sweating. Next up was WellSCULPT, a high repetition, light resistance strengthening workout with props like weights, weighted bars, resist-a-bands and even a step to really strengthen and challenge your muscles. My muscles were aching from this class for a few days after, but the way you feel upon leaving is definitely addicting.
From a relaxation perspective, CLAY offers body work therapies that provide deep relaxation, stress reduction, increased flexibility and range of motion. Finally, from a nutritional perspective, CLAY has on-site nutritionists that provide consultations and personalized programs. For those that want something before or after workouts, CLAY’s café serves great-tasting, healthy meals and snacks and the rooftop seating area allows you to enjoy your meal outdoors from March through November.
Clay
25 West 14th Street, NYC
http://www.insideclay.com
Cookie craze:
I’m a huge fan of LUNA Bars and have been known to eat them before working out, as an afternoon snack and sometimes even for dessert. So I was naturally thrilled when I learned that they were coming out with LUNA Cookie! LUNA Cookie is a whole grain snack that has the texture of a soft-baked cookie, yet is packed with whole grains, vitamins and minerals for good nutrition. LUNA Cookies contain 130-150 calories, 9g of whole grains and 3g of fiber, and is also a good source of Omega-3 from flax. They are high in calcium, folic acid and contain no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and no trans-fat. The Cookies come in three flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate, Berry Pomegranate and Chocolate Mint, my favorite hands down is the Peanut Butter! LUNA Cookie can be found in grocery stores, drugstores and health food stores. Visit lunabar.com to learn more.
Personal Trainer-like abs at home:
Fitness expert and celebrity trainer Brett Hoebel is known for his unique body-mind approach to fitness and is dedicated to empowering people with the knowledge, motivation, and ability for personal change. Brett recently released his first workout DVD series, RevAbs™ (http://www.revabs.com). RevAbs utilizes Abcentrics, which ensures with every move you are completely working your core. This program, however, is not just crunches; it features ab moves from 6 angles for 6 times the results and incorporates ab training to sculpt abs, interval-cardio to burn fat and strength training to boost your body’s fat-burning ability. This comprehensive 90-day program features two phases, which will tighten and tone your abs and burn the fat that’s covering them. I’ve been using the program for a few weeks and can testify that my abs burn each and every time, and I’m determined to keep it up to see some great results for the spring.
As an international fitness expert with over 15 years experience, Brett holds numerous certifications, like Personal Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching and even Hatha Yoga, and has extensive experience in martial arts including Capoiera and Muay Thai kickboxing. He’s a highly sought after fitness, nutrition and lifestyle coach in New York City and trains a range of celebrities and models. Brett Hoebel’s RevAbs DVD series is available at http://www.RevAbs.com.
By the time February rolls around, many of your nutrition and fitness-focused resolutions may not be going as planned. Instead of beating yourself up about the lack of times you’ve visited the gym this week, start making some conscious nutrition changes that will be a part of and benefit your lifestyle. Luckily, for all of you out there that need a little push in the right direction, nationally known nutrition and health expert Cynthia Sass has shared some of her priceless advice on food and health. These easy steps will ensure you are less likely to fall off the wagon.
Cynthia believes in the power of food to optimize health and wellness, prevent disease and maximize the way you look and feel – inside and out. Cynthia has been counseling and educating for over a decade and has seen amazing transformations, from hunger free weight loss to reversing the side effects of chronic diseases, improved sleep and digestion and fewer aches and pains. Not only is Cynthia a Registered Dietician, but she has a master’s degree in nutrition science, graduate credits in counseling to improve her personal coaching skills. She’s a certified personal trainer, has completed formal vegan organic culinary training, and holds a master’s degree in public health, specializing in community and family health education. Cynthia is on a constant quest to continue her education and specialization in holistic nutrition and wellness. Here are this superwoman’s tips for getting back on the right track, for good!
Eating right during the work day:
• Sandwiches: Save at least 600 calories by ordering mustard instead of mayo or the special sauce, no bacon, no cheese and ask for grilled veggies instead of fries.
• Salads: Save at least 600 calories by skipping the cheese, croutons, bacon (or other fatty meats), and use with balsamic vinegar instead of dressing. If the dressing is a must, ask for it on the side and dip your forkful into the dressing; you’ll use less than if you just piled it in top.
• Burritos: Save at least 550 calories by skipping the cheese, sour cream and side of chips with any taco or burrito. Instead, ask for more fiber-rich foods like beans, pico de gallo or a few slices of avocado instead of guacamole.
Healthful happy hours:
• Eat before you drink: If you are going to a happy hour, eating before can ensure the alcohol does not get absorbed too quickly, lowering your inhibitions and upping your appetite. Before you down that beverage of choice, eat a small handful of nuts or a mini babybel or string cheese, protein and fat will create a better buffer for alcohol. Also, drinking a full glass of water between each alcoholic beverage will help slow your pace.
• Outsmart the late-night munchies: Before you leave for a night out, pop some low calorie popcorn and leave a small bowl out in plain sight so you’ll remember to eat that instead of pizza or leftovers in the fridge. Pop one-quarter cup kernels in one Tbsp sunflower oil to make 4 cups popped for just 225 calories.
• Dress for success: Cynthia advises to wear tight fitting clothing to parties or when you know you are going out to happy hour/dinner, as it can really boost your body awareness. Whether it’s a slinky dress, skinny jeans or stockings, constricting garments can definitely prevent you from overdoing it.
The YogaWorks SoHo studio opened this summer, right at the corner of Broadway and Grand St, a convenient spot for those who live in the area or like myself, frequently shop there and seek a retreat from the crowded streets and stores. This studio is unique in that you pay a monthly fee to join and then as a member, you can take unlimited classes. The space, albeit up some serious stairs, is quaint and peaceful with three studios on the first floor, along with a small shop and seating area, as well as chic locker rooms on the 2nd floor. The ambiance is not warm per-se, but is inviting in its own way, and the bamboo floors and serene music echo a yoga studio in a far away land. YogaWorks is all about technique and my first few beginner classes definitely helped improve my form, with lots of props (blankets, straps, blocks, etc), and slow moves to ensure I got the full benefits of the poses.
The class I was most excited to attend is called Sculptworks, one of two innovative offerings for students who want to experience the same mind/body benefits of yoga but in a creative and inspiring way, incorporating elements of dance, Pilates and body conditioning. These rigorous, energizing, and effective workouts will definitely keep you moving. SculptWorks is a 60-minute class designed to create a beautiful, toned, agile body. The class helps to lengthen and stretch the muscles through resistance work. The class begins with a 10-minute warm up of stretches and lunges before moving to the “Great Yoga Wall,” which has slots to attach stretch bands to for the next part of the workout. These bands are similar to resist-a-bands that you may have used before, and while doing familiar exercises like arm curls, squats and more, your body is pushed to the next level. Gliding disks that you place under your feet are also integrated to provide a break from the wall and a burst of cardio. The class was unique and it was exhilarating to feel my arms and legs immediately getting stronger. It was an intense workout, yet I left with the same peace of mind as I do with a regular yoga class.
While I did not (yet) get a chance to try the other new class, called BarWorks, if you are a big fan of Ballet, Pilates and yoga, this is definitely the class for you. In this class students use their body weight and the support of a ballet bar to create flexibility and strengthen and tone muscles while improving balance. Each 60-minute class is designed to transform the body, balancing muscle groups to improve posture. Sounds like something most of us could use after sitting at a desk for around eight hours a day!
Humidifiers in NYC are a definite must; the dry heat that pumps from your radiators may feel nice at first, but it can certainly wreck havoc on your skin and immune system. Instead of waking up with a sore throat and dry skin, try the new Vicks GermFree Cool Mist Humidifier. This compact device adds essential moisture to your room, providing relief for dry eyes, nose, and skin, while eliminating up to 99% of mold and bacteria, thanks to a handy germ-killing UV light chamber. I felt the effects of the humidifier my first night using it. The soft sound lulled me to sleep and I woke up without a dry throat or any congestion. Another cool, Vicks-inspired feature, is a spot on the front of the humidifier where you can insert a Vicks Menthol VapoPad, to release soothing vapors that will naturally help you fall asleep.
Available: RiteAid, RiteAid.com and Babies R Us
Morning workouts are great if you can actually avoid pressing the snooze button. However, many times even when you do get up and moving that early, your face still looks like it’s half asleep. You know, tired eyes, dull skin, not so pretty. Now you can get the circulation going in your face too, with the Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager, proven to combat the signs of exhaustion. This bright green wand contains a rolling applicator, which you massage onto your face and neck. The cool plastic roller feels refreshing and releases the anti-fatigue formula that contains caffeine, Vitamin C and antioxidants. You’ll notice after using it that skin immediately appears more radiant, awake and hydrated. So now even if you got up at some ungodly hour to exercise, your face won’t show it!
Available: drugstores and CVS.com
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Around the holidays and New Years it’s hard to eat well when the desserts, cocktails and appetizers you only get to have once a year constantly surround you. While indulgence is fun now and then, it’s not so fun when you get that food coma or sugar crash hours later! This year try some dessert that’s good and good for you from local, organic brand One Lucky Duck. Committed to organic living, they make their raw and organic products in their own kitchen right here in NYC. Their Chocolate Dipped Blonde Macaroons are a classic chewy coconut treat with a festive dip of raw, organic chocolate. Additionally, they’re gluten and dairy free and are made with low glycemic agave nectar, promoting energy rather than a long nap! Give them, or one of their other healthy snacks, as a gift or enjoy yourself as a way to keep your healthy eating resolutions.
Available: http://www.OneLuckyDuck.com
Retail Store: One Lucky Duck Takeaway 125 ½ E. 17th Street at Irving Place.
Restaurant: Pure Food and Wine, Irving Place
Does the cold weather mean fewer workouts? Try taking the Evian Limited Edition Bottle, designed by Fashion Icon Paul Smith to the gym. This new design will surely inspire you and will make drinking your water in between repetitions fun! Not practical, that’s fine, this gorgeous bottle also makes a great gift for your health aficionado friend or family member. This new bottle has vibrant colors and is clearly a nod to the famous Paul Smith stripes. The bottle captures Evian’s new optimistic signature messaging, which any health-focused person can appreciate, Live Young™. The festive bottle will also make a great final touch to a table during the holidays, so why not enjoy drinking your water?
Available in gourmet food shops and http://www.ShopEvian.com
Vitamins and supplements may fill the aisles in drugstores, but have you ever thought about what is in the vitamins you put in your body? You can be certain NUTRILITE® founder Carl Rehnborg did, as he created the first multivitamin/multimineral supplement in North America in 1934. Today, the brand is a leader in plant-based nutrition, growing, harvesting and processing plants on their own certified organic farms, using sustainable, chemical-free methods to create their products. NUTRILITE products are so unique as they contain the phytonutrients (whole fruits and vegetables) that most people don’t get enough of each day; they help to fill that gap. My new favorite is the Daily Multivitamin, which provides 100% or more of the Daily Value for 12 essential vitamins and eight essential minerals, giving you healthy bones, teeth, skin, eyes and heart. This vitamin is also easy to swallow, has no unpleasant aftertaste and does not make me the slightest bit queasy like some vitamins. Just call it the miracle pill!
For more information go to http://www.Nutrilite.com and to purchase visit http://www.quixtar.com