Fitness: MOD, Portland Mercury

Dirty Girl Mud Run

Marjorie Skinner — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:03:26 -0700

It's peak running season out there (not too cold/dark, not too hot yet), and here I am warming the bench with a stoopid knee injury. But the roster of summer fitness events is about to get started, and are a nice motivator to break out of the cold-weather coma. Here's one just for the ladies: The Dirty Girl mud run is an all-ages, all-female 5k race marked with optional obstacle courses on its route, all of which is covered in lots and lots of mud.

Touring cities all over the country, registration fees to participate go toward the goal of a $500,000 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and survivors run for free. It hits Portland (well technically Canby) on Saturday June 1, with two waves of runners at 8 am and 4 pm. Don't slip, now.

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The People’s Yoga

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:52:00 -0700

Seeking an affordable, close-by Yoga studio I landed upon The People’s Yoga. With two locations, one on NE Killingsworth, and the other in SE Belmont, I was instantly drawn to the measly $8 drop in fee per class. Biking to class this morning just a few blocks up the street from my home in Northeast, I loved the clean, simple space, which filled with the most gorgeous sunlight. After exhausting nearly every introductory package at studios all over the city, I am trying to find somewhere more permanent that feels like home, and although it was only my first class I think People’s Yoga is the new jam for me. The class this morning was of the Hatha Flow variety, and the teacher Renee was graceful and thorough in guiding us through a zen, yet challenging class. Unlike some of the gym-like places I’ve been for yoga class, People’s Yoga caters to all different kinds of clientele, and is ‘less bass in your face’ pumping sweaty yoga, and more mindful movements designed to get your blood flowing. Another added bonus is if you bike to class you’ll receive a punch card that gives you your 10th class free just for biking! Check out the class schedule and all the details on pricing here. Namaste!

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Chicest Bikes on Craigslist

Kayla Rekofke — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:59:00 -0700

Riding my adorable purple Schwinn Collegiate (tanker) of a bicycle home and getting passed like Bowser in Mario Kart makes me giggle, but saving tons of money of gas and parking downtown is no laughing matter, not to mention good for the ol’ gams. Now that the weather is starting to shape up, it’s the perfect time to find the bike of your dreams. I’ve just combed Craigslist for the most stylish bikes I can find, so without further adieu:

Click images for full details

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Free Classes at StudioX Fitness

Elizabeth Mollo — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:22:00 -0700

StudioX Fitness is celebrating 9 years of being in the fat-burning biz by offering all of it's classes for free starting today and going through Thursday. Whether you want to start getting into shape for summer or need to change up your workout routine, this is the perfect opportunity to check out this establishment, which I have heard can be pretty brutal but yields real results.

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Magic Carpet Yoga Mats: The Video

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:59:00 -0800

Remember Magic Carpet Yoga Mats, hand drawn and designed by San Francisco artist Sophie Leininger? Well, she made a rad video about her incredible yoga mats, check it out below!

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Fun Ways to Burn Flab

Kayla Rekofke — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:59:00 -0800

New Years, ugh! I won’t go all Jenny Craig on you, but I am definitely feeling the repercussions of a holiday season spent partying, staying up way too late, and traveling. I am totes not a “gym” person, so besides the occasional yoga class I don’t have a routine fitness plan. Enter 2013, and my pending birthday. I decided it’s now time to really get serious about not only losing weight, but feeling healthy and more balanced.

If you hate doing millions of crunches and logging hours on the elliptical here are a few fun ways to get that metabolism kickin’:

Jazzercise: Get jazzy! One of my closest friends swears by Jazzercise, saying that she not only sweats bullets, but has a lot of fun doing it. Seeing her re-enact the moves is enough to get me to tag along for a class. Check out the Jazzercise Portland website here to find pricing and the class schedule.

Volleyball, or any rec-league sport: I joined a rec-league vball team last fall and couldn’t be happier. Growing up I played competitive volleyball from the time I was 10 all the way through high school. One of the best parts of joining a rec-league team is meeting new people and getting to play a sport I love. Check out portlandvolleyball.org to find a team. Underdogportland.com also makes it super simple to create or find a team to play on for Football, Softball, Volleyball, Dodgeball, and Kickball, and there are plenty of options for all levels of athletes.

Pole Dancing Class: Although I haven’t yet tried pole dancing, I can tell you after many a visits to Sassy’s I know it would be quite the workout. Enter Ecdysiast A Pole Dance Studio. Your first class is just $20, and you get a full introduction to the exciting and elusive skill of pole dancing. Click here for more deets on how to register! I’m thinking of getting a group of girls together for a fun hour of sweatin’ and shakin’.

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Root Whole Body

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:59:00 -0800

I thought I had exhausted all of my “new student specials” at various studios around town, so I was beyond excited to discover Root Whole Body over in my new hood. Located at 2626 NE 15th street, right off Broadway, the space is absolutely gorgeous! Two of my favorite instructors, Nikki Weaver and Shaney Aalbers, whom I took classes from back when I was at Yoga Pearl, are also teachers at Root. Needless to say, I was over the moon to hear this. Add in free tea and a sauna sesh each time you visit and I’m sold. I left my first class at Root feeling mega-zen, refreshed, and ready to take on the day. Nikki has such a calming energy, but her class leaves you nice and sweaty, no doubt about it. If you’re not into yoga, Root also offers massage therapy, facials, acupuncture, and overall wellness (naturopathic, nutrition, and detoxification.) Your first class is free, and Root offers a variety of membership programs, check it out here.

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Hot Yoga For Life

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:59:00 -0700

Here’s the gist: 10 hot yoga classes for $10 at Hot Yoga For Life. It's not very yogi-like of me, I admit, but I almost didn’t want to tell you guys about this, because the last class I went to was absolutely packed to brim! Super hot, super sweaty, and easy on the pocketbook, I definitely got a great workout. Check out their schedule and locations here. Namaste!

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X-Press Boot Camp: In Which I Am A Bridal Cliché

Marjorie Skinner — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:14:00 -0700

Studio X, the small gym on SE Stark tucked next to the Bonfire, is a place I've revisited intermittently since I first profiled it when it opened in 2009. They have a variety of boot camp-style classes (as well as yoga and Pilates) that feature circuit training heavily (one thing I really like is that they have lots of water breaks built into their programs, which helps save some pain on the sports-massage table), all the instructors are cool, and the space itself is clean and modern.

I've been under a pretty steady grind of stress since about March, segueing from producing a big event (Open Season, if that's not obvious) immediately into the emotional/financial roller coaster of first-time home buying, and I'm getting married in two scant months. Sometimes when I'm stressed out I lose my appetite, but lately it's had the opposite effect, making me crave comfort foods (mostly cheese, which I've been caving on, despite having been non-dairy for the past few years), plus I've been cultivating a disturbing capacity for chardonnay. I've never stopped working out—I run 10-20 miles a week, plus biking and walking a lot—but I need a shot in the arm, especially in the face of mounting pressure to look "my best" at the wedding. It really, really doesn't help that I'm five pounds over what I was six months ago (thanks, CHEESE), which totally pisses me off.

And so, on the suggestion of a friend, I signed up for Studio X's X-Press Boot Camp, reintroducing things like, oh, upper-body exercise to my life, as well as making a so-far valiant attempt at calorie counting, something I've always doubted the accuracy of and shunned as too much hassle.

There are two tiers of participation in the X-Press program, 30 days or 90 days. I signed up early enough to snag the early bird pricing on the 30-day, which was $130 for up to three boot camp classes a week, the scary sounding "Nutritional Coaching and Dietary Accountability," and progress reports that involve calipers and measuring tape. I'm less than a week in, with two boot camp classes under my belt. I started Friday with an initial measuring session and discussion of my goals with Studio X owner Tim Irwin (a former bartender who swears like a sailor: qualities that put me at ease).

I like exercise, and I enjoy the soreness and compromised mobility that peaks exactly 48 hours after a good workout, so that's not necessarily the hardest part for me (remind me I said that next time I need a break from doing a million "mountain climbers" in the instructor they call "Arms'" class). In addition to the boot camps I did Friday and Saturday, I ran five miles on Thursday and again on Monday. I think that's pretty decent, and I go back for boot camp #3 this evening (Arms again—ack!).

Harder for me is the food thing. Not that I eat like shit. I have plenty of dietary rules for myself, but I tend to do better with general guidelines like "no meat" or "no carbs after 4 pm" or whatever than with cataloging everything that passes my lips. X-Press, however, recommends an online program called MyNetDiary, which is actually pretty handy. When you start typing in a food item, it brings up a bunch of suggestions generated by both the site itself and other users, which helps with accuracy. (You have to keep an eye on it sometimes, though: I was impressed that my semi-obscure brand of coffee substitute—basically just granulated barley—was already an option, but when I selected it, whichever moron had plugged it in had it listed as 56 calories per cup! Um, no. Try five.) You can always just go ahead and make a new entry too, and the program will automatically calculate the calories left in your daily plan (determined by how much you want to lose, and by when), granting them back in exchange for the exercise you enter on a given day.

I still think these things are by their very nature pretty inaccurate, given the variables of individual composition and metabolism (to say nothing of the variety of what a "serving size" is—one thing I dislike about these things is that they make eating packaged shit appealing because it's easier to track accurately, when avoiding packaged foods is actually the healthier choice, but almost impossible to record accurately—and do not even say "food scale" to me. I have a life, you know.) But I've taken to leaving that tab open on my desktop all the time, adding food and beverage items (including, reluctantly, guilty glasses of chardonnay) to it as I go, and it's weirdly kind of fun to obsess over.

Needless to say, I haven't had any weight loss. I'm still in the phase of information gathering (Tim has my food-journal log-in so he can spy on my consumption), so I haven't been making any particular dietary adjustments, and I've been around the workout block enough times to know that what I've added to my exercise regimen is as likely to add pounds of muscle as it is to shed those of fat. At the end of the day, though, a lot of this is psychological: I'm going to feel 100% better on my wedding day (and on any day) knowing I made an effort, regardless of how my body decides to respond. That, to me, is well worth four bucks and change per day.

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Get your cleanse on with Pure Simple Juice

Kayla Rekofke — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:59:00 -0700

From Gwyneth, Nicole Richie, to Beyonce, all the svelte celebs have been spotted with their trendy glass bottles full of colorful concoctions. Before you have to be bikini bod ready, you may want to try a juice cleanses to get rid of any bloat, and kick start your diet. Enter local juice company Pure Simple Juice, who offers cleanse packages for either 3 or 5 days. All of their juice is freshly squeezed and ready to pick up in the morning, or can be delivered for a small additional cost. My friend recently completed the 3 day cleanse, and she said the juices were super tasty, and that Pure even sends encouraging e-mails each morning of your cleanse!

The spring 2012 cleanse package includes:
Per Day, One 16-ounce bottle of each freshly pressed juice:
• + Carrot plus
• + Green juice
• + Green lemonade
• + Almond milk
• + Kombucha (fermented tea)
• + 1 quart Veggie Miso broth (bone broth optional)
• + Herbal tea
• + Handouts on what do before, during and after the cleanse

Get all the deets here, and happy juicing!

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Four Easy Excercises for a Strong and Sexy Bod

Elizabeth Mollo — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:59:00 -0700

Summer is coming fast, and most of us would like to look somewhat sexy while baring minimal clothing. Luckily for me I am able to utilize my brother, Daniel Mollo, to help me whip my body into shape. (Unfortunately he lives in San Jose, so I only get one-on-one training a couple of times a year.) He has an MA in Kinesiology, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer, did consulting work for the NASA Ames research center, and he works as an independent trainer and at a physical therapy clinic. During a recent trip back to San Jose I asked him to show me some exercises that could be done at home that would yield results that could be both seen and felt, (look great and gain strength.) The following exercises are ones I am sure you have done before, and you will maybe exclaim, "No shit! I know how to do those exercises! I have done them before and they are boring!" Well, I suggest revisiting them, because you will soon read they are highly beneficial and are some of the most underrated and effective exercises you can do:

These four simple exercises require no equipment and can easily be done at home. They are effective and also do not require a lot of time to complete.

Push-up: Not only does the push-up strengthen the chest and arms, it also strengthens your back and core muscles as well. Position your hands directly under your shoulders and place the feet next to each other. Elbows should be angled slightly to the side. Keeping the torso straight with the legs, push your body off the ground and then lower the body back down to the point that your nose almost touches the ground. If you can not lift the body off the ground or your lower back arches as you lift up, you can modify this move by placing your knees on the ground. Start with 3 sets of 10 repetitions, building up to 5 sets of 15. Rest at least one minute between each set.

Plank: The plank is one of the best core exercises you can do to strengthen your abdominals. You utilize every muscle in the abdomen to keep your body upright throughout the movement. A strong midsection translates to a strong and pain-free back. To start, lay down and position your forearms and elbows on the ground. Lift the hips off of the ground while keeping your torso and legs in a straight line. If you can't hold this position for more that fifteen seconds without your lower back arching or your hips sinking down, modify the exercise by putting your knees on the ground. Start with 3 sets of 30 second holds, building up to 3 sets of 60 seconds. Rest 45 seconds between each set. Once you are able to perform all three sets in 60 seconds comfortably, make the exercise more challenging by lifting one leg off the ground or putting your arms on an unstable surface like a BOSU ball.

Stationary Lunge: The stationary lunge is not only a great way to strengthen your glutes, hips, and thighs, it also is a great way to work each leg individually. This promotes core stability and balance. To start, position your feet about 3 feet apart. Bending down and back at the hip, lower the body towards the ground until the back knee almost touches to floor, then bring yourself back up again. Start with 3 sets of 10 repetitions for each leg, building up to 5 sets of 12. Rest one minute between each set. Make sure that your knee does not come past your toe when you lunge down. This ensures that you are utilizing your hips and glutes.

Bridge: The bridge helps to promote glute and hip strength as well as core strength. To start, lay down on your back with your knees up and your feet on the ground. Tighten your glutes and then lift the hips off the ground, hold for 3 seconds, and then lower back down. Start with 3 sets of 15 repetitions. To make this exercise more challenging, only use one leg to lift off the ground. If your hamstrings start to cramp, try bringing your feet closer to your glutes.

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Yoga Pu-Pu Platter: The Movement Center

Courtney Ferguson — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:44:46 -0700

A continuation of a yoga-class sampler series, where I flit about town using my Passport to Prana card ($30 for over two dozen individual yoga classes around town).

I've been wanting to go to the Movement Center (1021 NE 33rd) ever since I first wandered by it in my ramblings. It's a very mysterious-looking building tucked right behind the Tonic Lounge off NE Sandy with a large Jane Eyre-esque brick building, a huge private garden, and a cloistered allure that plays host to visiting swamis and spiritual retreats. After breezing through the gates, I walked through the beautiful spring-blossoming grounds to the side of the building. A receptionist in a light and airy area was there to greet classgoers, and behind her was a large chapel-like room where they hold meditation classes (I didn't get a great look, but I think this is a picture of it). She directed me down a flight of stairs to the changing rooms, prop storage area that had a awesome view of an outdoor walkway to another section of the building, and two yoga studio spaces, which were nice rooms with windows looking out into the surrounding trees. My first impression was that maybe that particular class at the Movement Center didn't get a lot of walk-in yoga students, like I was a bit of an anomaly in the after-work gentle hatha class. The class had about half a dozen mostly older students who seemed to be regulars. And when I say "gentle," I really, really do mean gentle (so gentle the teacher was wearing jeans and I counted three distinct set of snores during the shavasana). But I did feel fantastic afterward, so my body liked it, even if my mind wandered. I'd love to go back to the Movement Center—and I think I will for their $5 community classes—just because I don't think that class was super indicative of their typical yoga experience, in fact, I kept thinking I'd accidentally wandered into a seniors-only class and no one had informed me of my blunder, which made me all the more self-conscious of wearing a Mickey Mouse-emblazoned T-shirt. While I was packing up my stuff to leave, one of the mediation classes was taking place and there was chanting and music pouring out of that chapel space, and a woman walked in carrying a tower of halved coconuts. You can bet your booty I'm going back, just to see more of those sights.

Next week: I clean myself up and put on mascara to go to Yoga Pearl.

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The Warrior Room

Marjorie Skinner — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:29:00 -0700

Yesterday evening I made the trek out to The Warrior Room in Milwaukie to check out two of the most prevalent workout trends of the times: 1) Kettlebells, those cast-iron handled weights that were introduced in the US from Russia (where they have been common since at least the early 18th century) in the early '00s that have been causing weight loss aficionados' hearts to flutter for their time-efficient, full-body exercise potential:

And 2) the increasing trend of economy-stressed people moving away from the expense of hiring a personal trainer in favor of participation in less formal, small group training environments like the Warrior Room, where a maximum of six participants work out in a two-car garage under the watch of NESTA Certified SAQ Specialist and ACE Certified Personal Trainer Ashley Jensen, who also keeps one eye on a video monitor of the house's interior. Inside lives an elderly man (her partner's grandfather) suffering from dementia for whom Jensen works as an around-the-clock caretaker, occasionally leaving her "warriors" to their kettlebell repetitions to dash inside and assist him.

It's partly due to these circumstances that Jensen's rates are low (eight one-hour sessions: $64, unlimited monthly pass: $96) compared to other workouts with that level of personal attention, though she also feels strongly that people shouldn't neglect their fitness goals out of monetary concern. The class sizes (nine are offered each week, including one class for kids) help foster a tight-knit community. In the yard of the house they've created a community garden, swap healthy recipes, and support each other through monthly challenges and weekly competitions like sticking within daily calorie allotments or completing an additional number of reps of a certain exercise within one week's time.

The one-hour workouts focus on kettlebells, which are used in swinging and lifting motions that engage multiple parts of the body simultaneously, often said to mimick the motions of manual labor such as farm work. One of the reasons it's been so lauded is that it combines cardiovascular with strength building exercise, cutting down the length of time spent working out over all to achieve the same effect. Calorically, studies have shown it to burn at the same rate as running six-minute miles. As the American Council of Exercise (ACE) proclaimed:

Based on comparisons with data from previous research on standard weight training, the HR and VO2 responses during the kettlebell snatch routine suggest it provides a much higher-intensity workout than standard weight-training routines. Furthermore, the kettlebell snatch workout easily meets industry recommendations for improving aerobic capacity. “This is good news for people who are looking for a very good resistance-training workout that will also help them lose weight,” says Schnettler. “For people who might not have a lot of time, and need to get in a good workout as quickly as possible, kettlebells definitely provide that.”

The kettlebells are broken up with short circuits of the sorts of activities you'll find in a boxing or CrossFit gym, from jumping jacks and burpees to jumping in an out of a tractor tire, or "slams"—literally slamming a long pair of thick, heavy ropes up and down on the floor. The exact routine of each class is different, but it's all different kinds of kicking your ass. (To put it into perspective, if I were still training at a classical boxing gym, I would have smoked the 40-second circuits—boxers go for 3.5 minutes at each station. My current regimen of running an average of 25 miles per week, plus Bikram about once a week and 400 crunches more or less daily saved me from abject humiliation at the Warrior Room, but I had to punk out more than once and switch to a lighter kettlebell and half-assed more than a few "v-ups"—like a sit-up, except your feet and hands both shoot straight up to meet each other over your straining torso.)

It's not that the exercise offered here is all that unique, but its class size and rather ad-hoc location are, as is the comradery among the (mostly women) who work out here. (One man who comes four or five times a week after not having exercised for 20 years is a favorite among his classmates; he's lost 30 pounds and counting since joining two months ago.) After our workout we went out for a late dinner and drinks. Over and over the phrase "sense of community" kept coming up, and the proof was in the pudding. In no time at all we were cackling and telling stories and dirty jokes like old friends over rounds of beer and wine, something you might not do very often with your trainer under traditional circumstances. But for Jensen, demonstrating that you can find balance in your life—that old saw about work hard, play hard—is part of the ultimate point.

Finding a place like The Warrior may take a little more digging than a Google search—most of its participants seem to have come by word of mouth. But if you're stuck making tough decisions about your finances, and gym memberships and trainers are near the chopping block, it may be worth it to pay a little closer attention to Craigslist, or the flyers on the community board of the grocery store.

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The Spring Classic Duathlon

Marjorie Skinner — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:59:00 -0700

The long, weird Portland springtime of on-again, off-again spots of sunshine produces an effect down on the Waterfront that always makes me think of this old I, Anonymous:

Why is it that whenever Portland sees some sunshine, runners come out in droves?... There were seriously tags for athletic apparel strewn on the sidewalks of downtown Portland, as if office workers burst out of their offices at lunchtime, ran into Niketown and changed on the sidewalk—in such haste that they could not be bothered to deposit these tags in a trash can.

True. There are obviously a lot more people (including seven-person-wide phalanxes of staggering tourists taking up the whole goddamn path—they seriously need to stop doing that) opting for outdoor exercise when the sun sees fit to poke its head out than there are when it's just you, the January wind and hail, and the other three joggers you pass and exchange stoic little nods with.

It also means that it's the early season for the marathons, triathlons, and other athletic events that will run through the summer on weekends all over town to raise money, give exercisers a goal/charitable sense of purpose as motivation. This weekend, for instance, is the Spring Classic Duathlon, which I would not suggest you try if you're not already in reasonable shape and a regular runner/biker, but should be just fine if you are without any specific training: It's a 5k run followed by a 15-mile bike ride, followed by another 5k run on an almost completely flat course—piece of cake! The route itself will close off most of Marine Drive, and the cost to participate is $65 ($70 if you wait to register until the day of—a bit spendy, but these things all tend to be, and it's a lot less than the Rock 'n' Roll marathon later this month that was going for $115 and counting last time I checked. I don't think there's a charity either, so you know, do it for yourself, the t-shirt, and the bragging rights.). Register and complete info is here. Stretch! Hydrate!

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Yoga Pu-Pu Platter: Root Whole Body

Courtney Ferguson — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:59:22 -0700

A continuation of a yoga-class sampler series, where I flit about town using my Passport to Prana card ($30 for over two dozen individual yoga classes around town).

I think it's been established that I'm a slacker, right? We all know this truth to be self-evident. Actually, I was on vacay and gone for a bit, but my Yoga Pu-Pu Platter series continues with a wee review of a hatha class at Root Whole Body (2526 NE 15th). The space is lovely and well appointed with glass doors all along the wall of the yoga studio that open when the weather is not trying to drown every citizen of the Pacific Northwest. Root has a nice locker room with showers, towels, and also a co-ed, clothing-mandatory sauna that you're invited to use before or after yoga classes. I've had a massage there in the past and the waiting area is a cozy and delightful little nest beyond the sauna, complete with warmables like tea. To the yoga class: There was a new instructor for the mostly full class on a weekday night, and she was mellow and welcoming. I'm used to hatha classes being a little more laidback and gentle than vinyasa, but in this class we held poses for long stretches, almost like a yin class. It started to get a tad uncomfortable and then the instructor would ease off, transitioning us to new poses. Overall, it felt really good and she came around the room at several points when our eyes were closed to mist us with various spritzes, like we were cats she was trying to train to keep off the kitchen counters. I kid—whatever concoction she was spraying on our faces smelled lovely, although one has to wonder how all those hyper-sensitive-to-perfume people were feeling. I've always been particularly pleased by the various yoga instructors I've encountered at Root, they're challenging and and knowledgeable. It was a 75-minute class that went 15 minutes over, so I was hauling ass to get out of there on time—rushing to stuff my face with my man at Laurelhurst Market (sweet, sweet MercPerk)—so I didn't enjoy the sauna, but I've soaked in its splendor before. It's well worth a visit.

Next week: The Movement Center (that bizarre building behind the Tonic Lounge on NE Sandy, where I'm pretty sure they're brainwashing Jane Eyre to learn the way of the yogi). I can't wait for this one! I've been meaning to go there for years!

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Yoga Pu-Pu Platter: barre 3 Southeast

Courtney Ferguson — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:28:03 -0800

A continuation of a yoga-class sampler series, where I flit about town using my Passport to Prana card ($30 for over two dozen individual yoga classes around town).

Totes intended to go to the barre3 location in the Pearl, but the easy walk home from the Southeast spot (2523 SE 22nd) lured me in. Because much like last week, I'm kinda lazy when it comes to Thursdays. I do a boot camp in the morning on Mt. Tabor, so I'm pretty spent by the end of the day and I have a couple intense workouts on Fridays and Saturdays, so I find myself looking for something chillaxing on Thursdays. So I really had NO BUSINESS being at a barre3 class. The local company describes its workouts thusly:

barre3 evolves the dancer's workout by combining the grace of the ballet barre with the wisdom of yoga and the strength of Pilates. barre3 classes are set to an upbeat soundtrack and follow a vigorous pace moving through a sequence of postures designed to shape and lift the entire body.

They neglected to mention how hard it would be in that description. The upbeat instructor set me up with a litany of props (a squishy ball, yoga mat, yoga strap, and small hand weights), cranked up some Adele, and plopped me in front of a vast room-sized mirror. There's nothing worse than staring at your grimacing reflection for an entire hour-long workout. Then for an interminable amount of time we flapped our wings, and stretched our legs to the heavens on ballet bars, while the instructor chirped encouragement into her headset, "Tap, tap, tap, tap those booties. Suck in that stomach. Tap, tap, tap those toes to the ceiling." I had dreams of Little Miss Vicki's tap class. It was a sort of cumulative pain, deceptively easy at first with minimal movements, which became increasingly more difficult. We also did a lot of squishy ball squeezing with our ankles, thighs, and back. My abs are sore today, as are my inner thighs, and my booty's been sufficient tapped (heh). The space itself is quite nice, with a kid corral in front where children are imprisoned in a happy, fun zone, and the studio is large and open, with room-framing ballet bars and elaborate skylights overhead that enabled me to explore the cosmos whilst in a dizzying amount of oblique-crunching pain. I'd recommend it, especially for former dancers, as it's sort of a melange of aerobics, pilates, and ballet. I'd also recommend standing in the back so you don't have to see every sweaty, gross pore on your face in the ginormous mirror while you're grunting along to Madonna.

Next week: Root (because that complementary sauna sounds fan-fucking-tastic).

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I Sweat With Richard Simmons

Marjorie Skinner — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:25:26 -0800

Not to get all travel diary on you, but I just came back from a trip to Los Angeles, and feel compelled to share with you the cheap thrill that is Richard Simmons' aerobics class:

This was taken on Saturday afternoon by my friend Laurel right after we'd completed an hour and a half of "Richard Simmons Sweat!!!", the surprisingly (?) pervy, ridiculously amusing workout hosted three times a week at the Slimmons Studio in Beverly Hills by the 62-year-old motivational fitness celebrity at the totally worth it drop-in price of $12.

I sought this class out on the recommendation of a friend who goes every time he's in L.A., and it was everything I hoped it would be. The Slimmons Studio (it gets worse every time you say it) has an outdated Beverly Hills vibe, painted in pale teals and pinks that could use a fresh coat, like you'd imagine the employee break room at The Peach Pit. No one ever picks up the phone there, but the outgoing recording recommends you show up an hour prior to classtime to guarantee a spot—no reservations are taken. It wasn't quite that bad (we would have been fine 40 minutes ahead of time for an 11:30 Saturday slot), but the small entry room steadily filled with middle aged women wearing "I Sweat with Richard Simmons" t-shirts, younger men, and ironic young women wearing zany and/or retro workout clothes.

There were still hardly any people there when Richard swooped in the door wearing the above boa-ish pouffs and ridiculous eyewear, plus a loose black top with bedazzled glittery flames all over it, shredded Champion workout shorts, nude hosiery, white scrunchy socks, and white tennis shoes. Almost immediately he dramatically sidled up and gave us each long, rather forceful kisses on the cheek before drifting off to teach his pre-Sweat motivation class, which ended with him throwing open the doors to let in the rest of us, music blaring (opening song: "Sexy Back," followed by hits including "What A Feeling," "Conga," and "I Want Your Sex") and instantly launching into a long dance-party cardio session. It consisted of him leading us through easy-to-follow jazzercise movements made ridiculous. We did variations on the cha-cha, moves where you link your arms and "do the snake" with them, bobby sock-esque hand-over-hand waves, that thing where you trace the outside of your head really quickly like you're applying hair product, and so, so many more. It was almost impossible not to crack up while doing them, and it was an undeniable blast.

Frequently Simmons leans over to turn the music down so he can yell out borderline-inappropriate things like "I wanna lick your neck!!" and "Make it SEXY, DAMMIT!" I guess I was too young to pick up on it when he was in his heyday, but I did not really anticipate that he would be so horny. During one protracted section of the class, he had everyone form a circle around the edge of the room, pulling people into the middle to do the moves with him as we all bounced along. He selected both men and women, but did not fail to single out every reasonably fit young man in the house, ripping the shirts off of each (and in at least one case, stuffing it down his own shorts) before leading them to the center of the floor. I saw him mouth to at least one guy pre-pounce that he was "comin' ta getcha." He referred to himself several times as "Little Dickie," and once to "Little Dickie kisses."

In addition to his constant words of encouragement related to how we were/weren't going to get laid that night, another surprise was that he's kind of mean. He loves to give people personal attention, but a healthy portion of the time it comes in the form of browbeating, like asking a struggling 20-something their age and then squealing, "Twenty FREAKING four? You should be ashamed of yourself! You should just go home and sit in a dark room by YOURSELF!" Luckily we managed to avoid any negative attention, although he did blow me a kiss at one point, and after we were warmed up and sweaty he came over to sort of make out with Laurel's bicep, then turned to me and bestowed a series of kisses down the length of my back. Needless to say, I bought a towel to remember it by:

We knew it was going to be kitschy, but we weren't sure if it would actually be difficult. In a city where the norm is to work out not once but twice each day, though, you really can't front. I wouldn't say he broke my ass, but the abs and arms portion of the class definitely pushed me. I'm still kinda sore.

After all the verbal abuse, the class ended with his becoming all verklempt and giving a pre-Oscars pep talk about how every single once of us is a star, climaxing with a final shouted command: "DON'T LET ANYONE TARNISH YOUR STAR!"

SO, long story short: Next time you're in L.A. and feel like combining exercise with a pansexual dance party, nostalgia kitsch, confusingly supportive verbal abuse, and you've got 12 bucks? So worth it.

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Yoga Pu-Pu Platter: The Bhaktishop

Courtney Ferguson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:44:28 -0800

Geez, I made a big stink about starting up this yoga sampler series, yet here we are two weeks later. In a move that mirrors my current level of laziness, my first yoga class I used from the Passport to Prana card ($30 for over two dozen individual yoga classes around town) was for the Bhaktishop (2500 SE 26th). It's by far my favorite studio in town, with a perfect blend of no-nonsense yoga practice and some things that prior to my move to Portland so many years ago I would have decried as woo-woo crockery, like chanting mantras at the top and bottom of each class, singing "om" in a my monotoned manner, and being enchanted by a floor accordion known as the harmonium. So yep, I was feeling lazy yesterday after a morning hill run, so I opted for the delightful night-time Restorative Lounge class taught by my favorite Bhaktishop yoga teacher Jeannie. This is the type of yoga class where you end up making yourself a fortifying nest of bolsters, blankets, blocks, and eye pillows and nearly falling asleep on the floor surrounded by drooling white people. There are also candles. And the Bhaktishop has cookies in the lobby. It's a lazy girl's nirvana. I was a mite concerned when the well-populated but laidback class was tainted by the appearance of an aggressive downward dogger, all butt waggling and heavy sighing, but she settled her ass down pretty quick. The rest of the class were in the restorative spirit, and there was plenty of nesting. It's a delightful class, in a warm and pretty space. I definitely recommend it... also COOKIES!

Next up: I head downtown. That is not a euphemism.

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Yoga Pu-Pu Platter

Courtney Ferguson — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:50:52 -0800

Okay, I saw this on Portland Picks (insert joke about cocktails, getting fat, buying jeans, silly men, etc.), and they're right, it's an ingenious idea. It's the yoga pu-pu platter! A smattering of yoga classes from dozens of studios around Portland, this sampler idea is called Passport to Prana. For $30 you can attend one yoga class from places like the Bhaktishop (my favorite!), the Bikram joints around town, Root (the fanciest with their complimentary sauna!), and the enchanted-seeming Movement Center (that crazy big building right off NE Sandy tucked in behind the oil-change garage). I'm already a sampler of yoga places around town, so I'm going to put my dilettante skills to use for the benefit of MOD's yogis by going to all of Passport to Prana's studios (but maybe not the out-of-town ones—I refuse to drive to Vancouver for vinyasa). Then I'll report back on a weekly basis about my yoga travels.

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New Year Specials To Help Keep Your Resolutions

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:59:00 -0800

The post holiday period is tricky. If you’re like me, you may have overindulged with lots of parties, home cooked meals, and yummy cocktails. Here’s a few local spots to help you on your path to overall wellness in 2012:

Sprout Health located on SE Hawthorne offers health coaching, affordable yoga classes, cooking classes and a wide variety of workshops and programs. I’d love to try their 21 Day Anti-Inflammation Group Cleanse, which involves 3 weeks of education and active anti inflammation cleansing. After unsuccessfully trying the trendy “Master Cleanse” last year, this option seems much healthier and realistic. Another interesting option is the Pantry Clean Out and Grocery Store Run Through. A wellness expert will come to your house and scour the cupboards to see what’s lurking, sounds scary but awesome! For more information about all of Sprout’s classes and programs click here.

Loyly has a cleansing New Year Package- $85 per person or $159 for two: 45 minutes in the sauna and steam, followed by a renewing 45 minute massage, then 45 more minutes in the facility. Also includes a sparkling Voss water, cleansing tea, cleansing clay mask and body salts. Sounds like the perfect way to sweat out all those toxins. Click here to see Loyly’s other specials and to find out more information about their beautiful steam/sauna facility.

Get a free introductory week to the SKOGG Gym located in the Pearl. If you’re feeling up to a fun, fierce, and intense workout, this would be a great program to try. The SKOGG system combines cardio, conditioning, and kettlebells in a one-hour class that is sure to tone your bod in no time. For more deets click here.

Treat yourself to a Spa Retreat with Dosha salon. The package includes a full body massage, spa pedicure, spa manicure, and shampoo and styling of the hair for $165. If you need a little maintenance and relaxation this is sure to do the trick. Also noteworthy, their steam room, soaking pool and showers are complimentary with services such as massages, facials, and body treatments. Dosha has a few locations in the area so click here to find the one closest to you.

Yoga Shala is offering a new student special: $20 for two weeks of unlimited drop-in classes plus 20% off your first 10-Class Package or 10% off your first 5-Class Package. Yoga Shala has a NE and SE location, click here for more information and their class schedule.

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Sisters 4 Survivors 24-hour Yoga Event

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:14:20 -0800

Coming up on January 28th-29th is Stretch 4 Survivors a twenty-four hour yogathon, with all proceeds benefitting Sisters 4 Survivors, a nonprofit organization which supports women affected by breast cancer. Join this powerful event individually, or as a team of 12-24 people. Featuring classes taught by some of the most highly recognized names in the local yoga community, Yogi’s of all abilities are uniting to help this amazing cause. The event will take place at Hawthorn Farm Athletic Club, for more information and to register click here.

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Introducing: Magic Carpet Yoga Mats by Sophie Leininger

Kayla Rekofke — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:59:00 -0800

San Francisco painter Sophie Leininger recently debuted her new collection of hand drawn and designed yoga mats. Combining her affinity for painting and practicing yoga, Ms. Leininger found the perfect new project; Magic Carpet Yoga Mats. Each mat design is hand drawn, and are sustainably printed in California using only non-toxic, phthalate-free materials. Leininger believes that “Performing yoga postures on a beautiful mat enhances the yoga experience by connecting the pleasures of the heart to the movement of the body,” and I couldn’t agree more. These beauties put my decomposing Lululemon mat to shame- I know what’s on the top of my Christmas list this year! To purchase via her website click here.

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The New Workout Plan

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:59:00 -0800

The decadent holiday season can have you packing on the pounds in no time. Don't wait for the new year to hit the gym with these challenging workout—many of which are offering awesome introductory deals—and keep your mind, body, and spirit focused and fit!

Click studios to see schedules, pricing, and more:

Fulcrum Fitness- Intense boot camp style workout, first week free! Click here to sign up.

The Bhaktishop- One week unlimited yoga for $20.

Barre3- Ballet bar meets yoga/pilates: Three classes for $30.

Portland Adventure Bootcamp for Women- 3 days a week/month for $239, prices vary according to package.

Portland Thai Boxing- Kick some ass with Muay Thai, CSW, Kali, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style classes offered daily.

YoYoYogi- New student special 12 classes in 30 days for $38.

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Homeschool Snowboarding: Break Your Neck Local!

Marjorie Skinner — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:29:00 -0800

I've never gone snow skiing in my entire life. And frankly the one time I attempted water skiing was not encouraging. However over the years I've been had an increasing number of friends expound on the virtues of mellower snow sports like snowshoeing and cross country skiing—which, as was just being stressed to me over drinks last night at the Rum Club, is both extremely thigh toning and totally doable with a to-go jug of whiskey in hand. I guess I could get down with that.

For the less faint of heart, of course, there's snowboarding, and just in time for the season a new local start-up, Homeschool Snowboarding, has its outerwear on the market for the first time. If I'm in the snow trying to/not to break my neck, I'm going to care foremost about being warm and comfortable, and Homeschool addresses the need for functionality by working with tech fabric company Cocona (out of Boulder), which claims to have produced a product that wicks moisture from skin 50% faster than competing technical fabrics.

As for how they look, the majority of the designs are straightforward, which I like, though there is one crazy pattern available. Simple pants:

You can check 'em out and buy through their site, or hit up the US Outdoor Store. Crazy pants are after the break.

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Boot(y) Camp with Kristi Cole from Yo Yo Yogi

Kayla Rekofke — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:59:00 -0700

I don’t know about you guys, but for me summer is ubiquitous with BBQ’s, beers, and lounging in the sun. September is right around the corner, and it’s about time to get those skinny jeans back on. Beat the bloat with Boot(y) Camp. A weeklong, early morning, ass-kickin’ workout that combines yoga, running, and circuit training to get you sweating off those extra lb’s. Camp starts September 19th and runs through the 23rd, space is limited and at only $48 it is sure to fill up fast. Register here now!

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