FitSugar

Modern Dance at the Oscars!!! Pilobolus Moves

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:12:17 -0800

Did you see the cool moves of Pilobolus last night on the Academy Awards? They're a modern dance company that has been making sculptural and shape oriented dances for years. Well if you didn't catch the show last night, here's a video of their Oscar performances. Their athletic dance style combines the flexibility of yoga and the strength of weight lifting. Trust me, Pilobolus is unlike anything you've ever seen.

Interested in seeing Pilobolus perform live, check out their performance schedule. If you've already seen them, and they've inspired you to move, classes are offered through the Pilobolus Institute (most classes and workshops are in Connecticut where they are based).

Taking risks (like standing on someone's shoulders to make a shadow image of an Oscar statuette) and trying new things is considered good for your mental health. The brain and the body both appreciate a challenge. Plus dance, especially the way Pilobolus does it, really works you out and gets you strong.

So if you are interested in dancing, try contacting local dance studios and movement centers to find out about other classes that might help you to discover a new way to move, have fun and exercise.

New Exercise Trend: Masala Bhangra

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:20 -0700

Last week we talked about the new workouts you wanted to try and today we're adding another to the list: Masala Bhangra. For those of you not familiar with Masala Bhangra, it's similar to the energetic dance numbers seen in Bollywood cinema and the worldwide hit Slumdog Millionaire.

Created by expat Sarina Jain, the hour-long cardio workout incorporates sliding steps, squats, jumps, turns, and lots of hand and wrist movement set against upbeat modern Bhangra music - a percussion-based genre that sounds like a mash-up of hip-hop and classical Indian music. The instructors are extremely motivating and the class environment feels more like a fun party than a workout regimen.

Jain first introduced the workout through a series of tapes in the 1990s but as she sensed the growing interest in Indian culture, she decided to teach classes as well. If you are a fan of dance workouts, give Masala Bhangra a try. It's a great way to burn 500 calories.

If you have done this workout, I'd love to hear what you think of it . . .

Class Act: Nia

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

As part of my New Year's resolutions, I vowed to try new things, so there I was - barefoot and in a room full of happy, chatty ladies, about to take a Nia class for the first time. I was excited because I had heard it integrated some of my favorite movements: dance, martial arts, and yoga. Once the music started, the instructor began demonstrating some simple movements to open the body. Tapping the toes, bending the knees, rocking the hips, waving the arms, wiggling the fingers, and rolling the neck were meant to activate "all 13 joints," meaning our entire bodies.

We continued to move through several short 10- to 15-minute dance segments, which were a fusion of these nine movement forms:

Martial arts: T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido
Dance arts: jazz dance, modern dance, Duncan dance
Healing arts: yoga, Alexander Technique, the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais

To hear more about Nia and see a video clip, read more.

The best way I can describe Nia is that it's a spiritual low-impact aerobics class. The instructor leads you through a simple choreographed move, like a jazz square, but you're encouraged to move your body in the unique and playful way your body wants to move. Nia is all about exploring your space and how your body moves in it. It's about sensory awareness, self expression, and finding joy. What I loved about the class is that it reminded me of yoga in that you're only concerned with your own body and not worried about what other people think. Although I was sweating a little, it wasn't a really intense workout, so if you're looking for a light workout to awaken your spirit and get those feel-good endorphins buzzing, give Nia a try.

If you want more information about this type of bodywork, check out the Nia website. They'll also help you find a class.

Class Act: The Dailey Method

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Strength training doesn’t only happen in a testosterone laden gym. You can get a full body workout, in a plush studio (full amenities from showers to mouthwash) doing The Dailey Method. In sixty minutes you will work all your major muscles and a lot of little ones you never knew existed.

The class begins with light marching to warm up, and then straight into arm work, using light weights and good old fashioned push ups. Stopping mid push up and holding the position is incredibly tough, especially on the third repetition. Trust me, your arms will feel worked.

Using a ballet barre to stretch and for balance while working the thighs and rear, gives the Dailey Method a dance-y feeling, which I quite enjoyed. My favorite part of the class was the 10 minute section of ab work. Elbow planks mixed in with C-curve crunches and super specific oblique work are sure to work your abs to exhaustion. The stretching sequence in the middle of class focuses on opening the hips, ending with an attempt at the splits. This class is a great complement to a heavy cardio workout regimen full of running and biking. The Daily Method will make you lengthen and strengthen your entire body. Class cost is $20 for one class, but there is a price break if you buy a package of classes.

To see how the Dailey Method differs from the Bar Method, just read more.

Both methods of exercise involve using a ballet barre for balance and stretching. The overall concept of the movement is a few variations on micro movements with many repetitions. Both classes will work your core. The Bar Method seems a little more based in ballet and the Dailey Method has an early modern dance feel. You can channel your inner Martha Graham more than your inner ballerina at the Dailey Method. The Dailey Method studios are limited to Northern California, with one in Naperville, Illinois; but I for one hope they will be expanding soon.

Fit’s Tip: Don’t forget your socks! If you have a pair with traction bumps on the bottom you will have an easier time during some of the stretches.

Any Dailey Method fans out there? Tell me what you love about it in the comments section below.

Source

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:45:00 -0700

That's Fit reports on a study that says students binge eat to relieve stress.

diet-blog asks "Is pole dancing fit fitness for kids"?

Leslie at The Weighting Game shares some eye opening stats on "eye lifts" and other plastic surgery and men. Yes, plastic surgery for men is on the rise. Are you surprised?

Fitness Fixation defends her need for beauty sleep with this beauty of a post.

About: Yoga want to help you prevent yoga injuries.

iFit&Healthy goes into micro detail on the macrobiotic diet.

Mark's Daily Apple discusses all types of modern snake oil to help you avoid the scams.

The Skinny Website shows that even Jon Bon Jovi has the occasional pretzel.

Back in Skinny Jeans shares a really sick Halloween costume blending skeletons with an eating disorder.

Sunny at Body by Glamour has tips on how to order low cal at a Mexican restaurant.

Source

A New Exercise Movement: NIA

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Sick and tired of the same old treadmill routine?

NIA (pronounced NEE-ah) stands for neuromuscular integrative action, and it's one of the many ways you can breathe life into your stale workout routine. NIA is an interesting blend of the fluidity of Tai Chi, the flexibility of yoga, the randomness of modern dance and the energy of martial arts. NIA is done barefoot to music and delivers cardiovascular and whole-body conditioning. It starts off slow and explodes with energy over the course of the class which is typically an hour. Want to know one of my favorite things about NIA? It supports the Pleasure Principle of if it feels good, keep doing it, if it hurts, stop! The class is gently lead by an instructor, so if you don't do well with having an instructor barking orders at you, NIA may be a perfect fit. Think of it like this: If boot camp is like your older brother that went to military school, then NIA is much more like your somewhat peppy hippie sister who wore flowers in her hair and protested the war.

To find a teacher near you and to try it out, check out NiaNow.com. If you try it, be sure to let me know what you think!