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It makes sense that when Crunch opened its first D.C. club two months ago in Chevy Chase, it was at the site of a former movie theater. That's because the New York-based gym tries to appeal to all audiences. The facility's stocked with top-of-the-line cardio and strength equipment. There's a vast space dedicated to functional training, including Purmotion, a setup that's essentially a jungle gym for grown-ups. And then there's the main attraction: the group exercise studio.
Crunch, which pioneered pole dancing as exercise, has built a reputation in the industry for launching outrageous and inventive classes. Over the years, the offerings have ranged from Cycle Karaoke (Spin and sing!) to Bar Hoppin' (a blend of trampolines and body bars) to What You Knead (a self-massage workout). "We try to merge fitness and fun," explains Washington general manager T.J. Spence. "Not everyone is jumping for joy to be in a gym. So, we make it a get to, not a got to."
There are more than 100 Crunch class formats, but only a handful of those are on the schedule at Chevy Chase — and at the second D.C. Crunch, which opened a few weeks ago near Metro Center. "It's a process of unleashing them all," Spence says. Still, there's quite a selection available for members already. Here are three notable options.
Continue Reading "Head of the Class: Group Exercise at Crunch" »
Getting our hair to behave sometimes takes a miracle. At least, that's what Olympia Hantzopoulos hopes. The owner of Miracles salon in Arlington (1501 Wilson Blvd.; 703-516-9800; Miraclesinthecity.com) has developed a sulfate- and paraben-free organic hair care line, Miracles by Olympia, to help hair shine.
The formula for her signature hair oil ($25 for 4 oz., Miraclesbyolympia.com) came to her in a dream. She blended the seven ingredients of the olive oil-based product in her kitchen and mixed it into clients' hair dye. "The dryness went away, there was more shine, and their scalp didn't flake," Hantzopoulos says.
Continue Reading "Tonic to Tame Tresses: Arlington Salon Owner Develops New Hair Shiner" »
Cotton gets soaked during a workout, but going commando doesn't feel any better. So, New Balance's line of performance underwear has guys covered in odor-resistant, moisture-wicking fabric. Our tester slipped into a pair of the sport briefs (left, $20, Shopnewbalance.com) and was impressed by the level of support — not as uncomfortable as a jock strap but just as secure. One complaint: The odd hole to the right of the fly wasn't nearly as "functional" as advertised.
Attention shoppers! Grocery stores have figured out that you're overwhelmed by the process of picking what to put in your cart. "They don't have time to flip over everything box by box," says Kerry Neville, a dietician who works for Safeway. So last month, the chain launched Simple Nutrition, a flurry of green tags across the store highlighting the benefits of products that satisfy a series of guidelines.
The produce section gets the most love, with tags on just about every item in sight — grapes are a "good source of antioxidants" and spinach is a "good source of vitamin A and C." "But in the chips aisle, you won't see many," says Neville. Safeway's also using similar tags to draw attention to products that are gluten-free, organic and "calorie smart." "This is like having a personal nutrition coach with you," Neville adds.
If you want to actually have a personal nutrition coach with you, you can get hooked up with that at Whole Foods. The world's largest organic grocer last year kicked off its "Health Starts Here" initiative, which included putting healthy eating specialists in each of its stores. Amanda Louden, who holds that position at the Clarendon location, says she often hears from shoppers looking for hand-holding. "They'll say, 'My doctor told me to eat leafy greens, but I don't know what a leafy green is or how to prepare it.' So, I give them tips," she says.
Continue Reading "Tags Mean These Foods Are It: Grocery Stores, Nutrition Programs" »
Turning political is the natural evolution of a yoga practice, according to internationally renowned instructor Seane Corn. "At first, it's 'How can I change my body and my life?'" she explains. But before long, it becomes about performing service and changing the world. "Yoga doesn't feel complete without that," Corn adds.
Giving yogis the tools to fulfill this mission is the goal of "Off the Mat, Into the World" (Offthematintotheworld.org), an organization she launched in 2007 with friends Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling, and the Engage Network, a nonprofit that's reshaping community organizing by tapping into the power of small social circles. "We realized e-mail lists were not enough," says co-executive director Marianne Manilov.
The centerpiece of OTM's training program are five-day leadership intensives that rely on yoga, meditation, skill-building exercises and lectures to help attendees tap into how they can make a difference — which they then go home and do. And the first one ever to be held in D.C. kicks off this Thursday ($650, register at Flowyogacenter.com).
Continue Reading "Position Yourself as a Leader: 'Off the Mat' at Flow Yoga Center" »
My partner is a smoker, and I find it totally disgusting. He has tried everything to quit, but he always ends up back to the cigarettes. I hate the way it makes him look and smell, but also that he doesn't have the willpower to quit for his own good. It's getting in the way of me finding him attractive. — Help!
If an ultimatum could work, then Big Tobacco executives wouldn't be driving such nice cars. I think you realize that cigarettes — like alcohol, binge-eating or even just cuticle-chomping — take more than self-discipline to quit. Systematic behavioral changes are needed, along with patience, self-esteem and a profound motivation to change on the part of the person doing the quitting. Loving you more than his cigarettes just isn't enough.
You can still support his efforts by finding resources or encouraging him to talk to a cognitive-behavioral therapist whose gig is smoking cessation. But though you can help him find the map, he must drive the car. And it's you who has to decide whether you're willing to go along for the bumpy ride and how long you're willing to wait if he never seems to get to his destination.
Continue Reading "Baggage Check: Reading the Smoke Signals" »
It's only a couple grand jetes from BTI Dance's old digs on 14th Street to the studio's new home at 1643 Connecticut Ave. NW. But it's hoping the move will get more people interested in moving, so there's a series of free classes planned over the next two weeks for new students. It kicks off this Thursday with midday energy yoga at 12:30 p.m. and continues at Pilates on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Contact BTI at 202-588-8282 for details.
When you book a room at any Kimpton Hotel (Kimpton.com), you're sure to have company: Joy Bauer. With a few presses of your remote, the health and nutrition expert will appear in a series of complimentary videos, offering advice on how to work out in your room, how to bounce back from a hangover and what to eat on the road. That includes a few Bauer-designed meals available from room service, like this yogurt-berry parfait, that can prevent a spring break in your diet plans.
Leaping off buildings and running up walls might seem like a job for superheroes. But it's also what the entirely human athletes on "Jump City: Seattle" need to do to score points for their teams. The G4 series showcases a tournament competition among the country's top parkour practitioners, including members of the Tribe, who are based out of D.C.'s own Primal Fitness.
The gym was the first in the nation to specialize in the art of parkour, which is usually defined as finding the quickest and most efficient way of getting from point A to point B. On a practical level, that means arriving at your destination by vaulting, rolling, scaling and jumping — a form of urban gymnastics that requires pushing the mind as much as the muscles.
It's as amazing to watch as it sounds, says Tribe member/Primal Fitness instructor Michael "Frosti" Zernow. "People are doing things with their bodies no one has ever even thought of," he says. Those people include Zernow, whose debut on the show last week featured a lightening-fast dash around obstacles in Freeway Park. (The secret of his success? "I've got these short stubby legs. And I spend a lot of my time running and jumping," Zernow says.)
Continue Reading "Such Great Heights: Primal Fitness, G4's 'Jump City'" »
Some days I come home in tears because of my abusive manager at work. Recently, someone filed a complaint about her lack of professionalism, and several of us are being questioned by HR about her behavior. But I'm afraid that if I tell the truth about how awful she is, she'll turn on me even more. And part of me thinks that maybe she'll shape up after this scare. Your take? — Disgruntled
It's understandable that you wouldn't exactly dance a jig when imagining taking a stand against somebody who's been so dominating and emotionally powerful over you. But this is finally your chance to level the playing field and get some power back in this situation. The simple fact that you want to give her one more chance, since maybe she'll be scared into shape, reminds me a little of the rationalizations that can accompany relationship violence. (Reality check: Abusers might occasionally get scared into temporarily good behavior, but fear alone won't change who they are).
So, take advantage of this opportunity to do what's right — for your colleagues, for your workplace and for yourself.
Continue Reading "Baggage Check: Time to Spill Those Beans" »
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