FitSugar

Gear Review: Zoom Sister One+ by Nike

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Earlier this Fall, I was invited to attend a Women's Media Summit at Nike HQ to learn about their new training shoe for women, the Zoom Sister One+ ($110). After treating all the attendees to a killer workout designed to show off the flexible features of the Sister One (I was sore for days), they sent me home with a pair of shoes to experiment with on my own. I've been wearing them for a few months now for my strength training sessions and when I use the elliptical. I feel I have thoroughly tested this shoe, and I can tell you it is pretty great.

Not only is the Zoom Sister One+ cute, but it so lightweight and flexible that I feel like dancing around after lacing them up. I am no longer plodding through my lunges, but dancing a duet with my dumbbells. The shoes make me feel nimble and ready for action. These shoes are a hybrid of the Nike Free barefoot running technology and the ultra lightweight Nike Flywire that debuted at the Olympics this Summer. The end result is your feet can truly sense the ground. And like we teach in Pilates and yoga, your feet making contact with the floor starts the muscular chain of command, so the chances of the correct muscle pattern happening are considerably higher. This means more effective and efficient training. When you do squats in the Sister One+ you don't have to think about pressing through your heels because in these shoes your weight is already there. The shoe moves in all three planes of motion, so if you are twisting and lunging the shoe moves with you instead of breaking the motion. They feel great for kickboxing when you pivot while throwing a punch with your entire body.

To see what activity the Zoom Sister One+ is not designed for, read more.

The Sister One+ is not meant for running, and running shoes aren't really meant for training either. I do like to wear my Sister Ones on the elliptical so I can feel my feet working. I also like wearing them for plyometric jumping exercises since I can feel my muscles working to keep the impact of landing out of my feet and joints. To see how truly flexible this shoe is check out this video:

Be sure to wear these shoes with a sock that is cut high over your Achilles tendon. I wore mine with basic anklets and ended up with a nasty blister. I think it is super cool that these shoes are Nike+iPod compatible too. The shoes come in a variety of colors. Although, my combo reminds me of my first pair of Nikes way back when. Check out this clip to see all the colors.

This shoe will be available the day after Christmas. You can use any leftover Christmas money to get yourself a pair to start the New Year off on the right foot.

What Shoes Do You Wear When You Strength Train?

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:30:00 -0700

While attending their Women's Media Summit, I learned that Nike wants you to think about your workout shoes. This may not surprise you since they are, after all, in the business of selling shoes.

When working out, most of us lift weights and strength train in our running shoes; I know I do. But running shoes are technically made for running - just front to back motion. Strength training happens in all three planes of motion: front to back, side to side, and rotation. And our running shoes just don't support that variety of motion. While shoes specific for "training" seem a little excessive, like a marketing ploy, I see Nike's point.

What I want to know is . . .

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Take Your Elbow Plank For a Walk

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

When you're working out, getting to the core of the matter doesn't always mean being static. Yes, holding an elbow plank will work your core, but to really fire it up, take those elbow planks for a walk. The challenge of moving your body forward and backward, as well as side to side, works your abs, back, and arms nicely. Plus it is more functional, meaning when you add motion to your planks, the movement pattern translates more closely to moves you do in your regular life. Strength training this way also helps prevent injuries. I learned this move at the Nike Women's Media Summit, and I really felt it in my abs. I may never do another sit-up again. Only kidding! But try it out and you'll see what I mean.

To see how to walk your plank, just read more.
First off, I know walking on your elbows doesn't sound all that comfy, so make sure you have some padding. If you have a yoga mat, just double it up at the front.

Start in an elbow plank, with your elbows directly under your shoulders. Your palms should be flat on the ground and in line with your elbows. Pull your abs toward your spine and reach through your heels to activate the back of your legs.
Walk about half an inch forward with your right arm. Your feet do not move. Walk the left arm forward so it is even with the right arm. Walk back a half inch with right elbow, and then your left.
Now repeat starting with the left elbow, taking one step forward with each arm and one step back.
Next you will step your right arm to the right about a half inch. Then bring your left arm a half inch to the right as well. Return to starting position, stepping first with the left arm and then with the right. Once again your feet should not move.
Reverse directions and step the left elbow to the left, with the right arm following. Then return to back to center stepping first with the right arm and then with the left.
Now add another two steps in each direction. Walk forward right, left, right, left and then backward right, left, right, left. Repeat starting forward with the left arm. Walk backward starting with the left.
Walk to the right for four steps. Return to center and repeat walking to the left.
Push back into a Downward Facing Dog and hold the pose for five breaths. Then repeat the series two more times.

Aside from working your core and your arms simultaneously, another reason to love this exercise is that it works in two planes, which will help increase your overall fitness level.

I Just Did It: Nike Women's Media Summit

FitSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Did you know that 18 months of research goes into each pair of athletic shoes with a swoosh? I had no idea about the science behind sneakers until I visited Nike Corporate HQ in Beaverton, OR, just outside of Portland. Nike hosted a Women's Media Summit event to introduce its new cutting-edge (and when I say cutting, I literally mean "cutting" like what one does on the basketball court to quickly change directions) shoe, the Sister One.

This event, where Nike treated a bunch of fitness and design writers to a two-day seminar (workouts included), will be the closest I get to feeling like a Nike-sponsored athlete. I did get meet of few inspirational Nike-sponsored female athletes that I have seen tear it up on the field and court. The six athletes we met were all beautiful; they radiated health and fitness as they were interviewed. Learn from my mistake and know that you never ask a woman in soccer about the health of her knees. Olympian soccer forward Carli Lloyd, who scored the gold-winning goal at Bejing, and Olympic goalie Hope Solo schooled me on that gaffe. I guess it is superstition.

I also learned that hoops player and two-time gold medalist Sue Bird doesn't want to play ball in a "whack looking shoe." If this point guard doesn't like the look of her kicks, she has trouble playing ball. Kinda like a sporty spin on "your are what you eat," but more "you play what you wear."

To see more about deep shoe research, read more.

Nike takes every stitch on its sneakers seriously and they research, research, research its products. From the opinions of athletes, which it inclusively defines as anyone with a body (yay me, yay you!) to the infrared stress reading of the sole, Nike shoes are designed to perform. It was cool to see the research equipment used regularly at the Nike Sports Research Lab in progress and to see Carli and Hope demonstrate the different high-tech devices that translate movement and muscle power into computer programs for analysis.

I learned a workout move or two and many fitness tips during the trip that I will share with you soon. Stay tuned for a review of the Sister One training shoe.

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