Tis the Season!

Tis the season - to do more bragging!

This time the kudos go to our staff. The bearded man in a red suit may be best known for carrying a large sack, but we have our own bag of tricks. Most of those goodies go to help our clients, but this season two staff members have pulled some other talents out of the bag and put them to use:

Nellesa, one of our GYROTONIC certified instructors, was featured in an ad for MasterCard Google Wallet. Watch her clips below:

 Anne, a member of our administrative staff, will be appearing on the ABC Family channel for six Sundays! Starting January 29, 2012 you can see and hear her sing in the 6:30 AM broadcast of St. Paul of the Cross's "The Sunday Mass."

As always, if you need the energy to chase after your charges or to push back from the season's feasting, come on in to the studio. Our instructors and staff (including Nellesa and Anne!) will be on hand to keep your holidays happy AND healthy.

Enjoy!

Trim the Tree and Your Waist this Season

Too many holiday parties? All those fancy pastries and yummy casseroles calling your name at every turn? We thought watching this little guy go through the paces might inspire you to stem the tide of impending holiday pounds. Dressing up like Santa may be great fun, but make sure you aren't mistaken for the real thing when next year rolls around! As you schedule your holiday parties, shopping outings, volunteer activities and the like, make sure to schedule time to keep your body in shape.  Put it on the 'to-do' list and check it twice. That naughty little number you want to wear for the New Year's celebration will look very nice, your stockings won't feel stuffed, and there'll be a little more joy in your world when "lose a few pounds" doesn't make it on the resolutions list!

Need more motivation?  Schedule a half hour session if you're running low on time. Invite a friend to join you. We are as helpful as Santa's elves all year round so come in for a session. You'll leave energized and ready for the season's merrymaking!

Feeling the Pressure?

Knees giving you trouble? Do they talk back when you climb the stairs. Do they squeak when you bend? Research has shown that normal activity puts five pounds of pressure on the knees for every extra pound of weight you carry. Do something exciting like work in the garden or go for a hike and that pressure can rise to eight pounds! Doing the math, carrying a modest ten pounds on your frame can make your knees really feel the pressure. Most of the studies have been done on knees, but Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic surgeon Wael Barsoum, MD thinks it's likely that hips and other joints also would be affected. Though many factors bring affect surgery considerations for his paitients, some have found considerable relief by just shedding some of the extra weight.

We, at Fluid Fitness, work with many clients who have had knee and hip pain, injury, surgery or even replacements. The GYROTONIC system helps mobilize your joints, increasing the range of articulation available to you. Clients experience decreased pain, increased mobility and, for those who have undergone surgery, consistent workouts aid recovery and maintenance.  You also work your whole body at Fluid Fitness, improving core strength, flexibility, alignment and coordination - all factors that keep your machine well-oiled and running smoothly.

If the resistance from your joints is slowing you down, have a chat with your physician. In the meantime, come to see us at to quiet some of the complaints down below. We can help you take a load off (your knees, that is). 

See you soon!

Behind the Scenes

We often praise the accomplishments of our clients and the work our instructors do to keep you in tip-top shape. This time we turn the spotlight on our administrative staff. GYROTONIC practitioners themselves, they keep the studio running smoothly and also make news-worthy splashes of their own.

Gabriela Lee is a member of the staff that helps Fluid Fitness look good and she has three ventures of her own that can keep you looking good as well. She is a stylist for Style with Glee and Stella and Dot and an executive district manager for Arbonne.  Her work caught the attention of The Freelancer's Union who featured her in their Spring 2011 NYC subway campaign. They also interviewed her about being an entrepreneur; you can read the feature on their blog. Her knack for juggling responsibilities with grace, fearlessness and style are just a few of the reasons we are proud to have her on board.

Gabriela's undertakings are more proof that taking care of yourself prepares you take on the world. Check out her websites, your next visit to the studio can have you taking care with style!

We've Been Seeing Stars!

No, we didn't get bumped in the head, but we are a dazzled by the recent accomplishments of our clients.Yulia Zagoruychenko and Riccardo Cocchi were seen last week on the hit show Dancing with the Stars.

Last month this dynamic duo travelled to Moscow where they successfully defended their title as World Professional Ballroom Latin Champions!

These three-time U.S. Professional Champions work hard to keep themselves in tip top shape and GYROTONIC sessions are an important part of their training regimen. We've often said that regular sessions at Fluid Fitness can help you reach your goals. This couple shows that taking time out for your body will ready you to take on the world...and win! Congratulations, Yulia and Riccardo!

Want to do more star gazing? Click here to check out their website and here to see them do the Cha Cha at the World Super Stars Dance Festival last year.

Spring has Sprung!

So spring is finally here! Not to be outdone by the blossoming city outside, Fluid Fitness continues to create a buzz of activity at the studio. We maintain regular teacher trainings led by top GYROTONIC and health professionals - improving the skills of our staff and local GYROTONIC instructors. Those professionals also train and practice at the studio.

Earlier this year, Justine Bernard, a Master Trainer with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy, presented a workshop at the studio on GYROTONIC Exercise and Osteoporosis. This month Goetz Lehle, MD returns from Italy and is available to our clients. His work in osteopathy, kinesiology, postural/movement analysis and orthomolecular medicine make him an incredibly insightful practitioner.

We are always doing our best to bring you the best. Don't forget your regular workouts as your agenda fills with spring responsibilities. You'll be glad you took a moment to exhale your scheduling worries. When you return to the cacophony outside you'll be relaxed and rejuvenated enough to really stop and smell all those roses.

Stand up Straight!

Those of you who are regular GYROTONIC practitioners know how you feel after a workout: longer, lighter, more relaxed, more awake, like a new person. Our instructors are a talented bunch, but what you are feeling isn't magic. The simultaneous strengthening and stretching exercises you perform in the GYROTONIC Expansion System result in a more aligned skeletal framework. In simplest terms, you improve your posture. Aside from looking taller and thinner and feeling longer and lighter, looks like Mom was right and good posture is important for your overall health.

Proper alignment allows muscles to work more efficiently, which means better endurance, strength, flexibility and decreased chance of injury. Good posture is also important for a healthy spine and nervous system. The nervous system controls most of the body's vital functions; keeping it free of impingement is paramount for overall health and function. Posture even impacts your breathing. Better ability to take full breaths means more oxygen to your heart and brain - allowing you to relax and think more clearly.

We do our best to set you straight while you're at the studio, but it's up to you to maintain the alignment lessons as you go about your day. Think about reaching through the crown of the head while you're sitting at your desk or carrying the groceries. Ever tried gentle narrowing of the pelvis while climbing the stairs? Are you breathing fully while writing that proposal? Do you keep a long spine and engaged core when lifting a heavy item off the floor? It only takes a little effort to maintain the postural alignment we help you find in your sessions. We want the best for our clients so at the risk of sounding like Mom...well, you get the idea.

Our young clients have been making big strides!

We've had the pleasure of sharing Alison Stroming's successes in previous blogs. Last month she performed with ABT II at The Kennedy Center! We wish her many great performances as she tours as a guest with the company this year.

Daphne Fernberger recently shot a music video and appeared on a well-known televion series. It's little wonder that Spiegel Culture Online Magazine interviewed and filmed her for a January post. The article gives a glimpse of her life as a Juilliard student.

Gyrotonic sessions are an important part of the these ladies' rigorous schedules. They know firsthand the benefits of a regular Gyrotonic practice whether alone or in conjunction with another training program. We work individually with our clients to find the best way to help you reach your goals. Come on in, we'll be sharing your successes in no time!

Our Clients are En Pointe!

The new year is barely underway and already our clients are soaring successes. In these pages we have shared with you Skylar Brandt's steps on her road to a dance career. Today we'd like to announce her grande jete into a professional career as one of the newest members of American Ballet Theater! ABT is an internationally recognized ambassador of some of the best in American ballet. They travel the world and all 50 states showcasing a repertoire that includes works by choreographic heavy hitters as well as shining new talents.

We invite you to join us as we congratulate Skylar on this exciting new venture. Life as a professional dancer will provide a wonder of opportunities and challenges; and the staff at Fluid Fitness will be here to cheer her on and keep her instrument in tip top shape.

Need some fine-tuning yourself? Whether you are looking to fly across the stage or just complete an extra flight of stairs, we're here to help you. Come on in!

Drop and Give Me 20...

How many push-ups can you do?

We don't often use conventional fitness exercises at Fluid Fitness the way you perform them in a gym, but we do encourage any activity that helps you stay strong and fit. So we sat up and noticed when a New York Times article reported that, "[b]ased on national averages, a 40-year-old woman should be able to do 16 push-ups and a man the same age should be able to do 27."

Why is the push-up considered an important marker of physical fitness? The idea is that although we naturally lose muscle strength as we age, continuing to strengthen muscles helps us fend off that decline. Developing upper body strength helps us carry those shoulder and spine-crunching bags we love to tote and that strength helps us brace ourselves in case of falls that may require long recovery time.

Challenge yourself to see if you are up to snuff:

• 1. Find a secure plank position: toes on the walk, heels reaching away from the calves, inner thighs kissing, tailbone reaching toward the heels, abdomen engaged, scapulae hugging the ribs, neck long and eyes gazing down at splayed palms that are angled slightly toward each other and directly under your chest. Of course, you can find the same strong, long position with the knees bent. Either way, you should be in one long line like, well... a plank - with no sags or bumps.


• 2. Lower yourself down by bending the elbows up to 90 degrees.


• 3. Exhale as you straighten the arms, returning to that secure plank position. You could even utter "1" as you exhale.


• 4. Continue with steps 1-3, counting as you go.

How many can you do without losing the integrity of your starting position?
How many can you do with varying arm positions?

• elbows out and palms angled toward each other under the chest


• elbows out and palms angled toward each other under the shoulders


• elbows out with palms close enough so that thumbs and first fingers form a triangle


• elbows hugging the ribs with palms under the shoulders, palms parallel to each other

Feel how the different positions affect your muscles? Maybe you want to try them on a stair, chair, counter or wall. Test your strength and stamina. Test the integrity of your form. The important thing is to try them; test yourself.

Want help? Not sure about form? You can always ask a trainer here at Fluid Fitness. There are lots of exercises you can do at the studio to improve your upper-body fitness, including the trusty ol' push-up.

Don't worry - we're not suggesting you give Jack Palance a run for his money, our interest is a strong healthy you - however you express it. And if you have the opportunity to show-off with an acceptance speech for all your hard work - we'll cheer you on!

New Year Changes at Fluid Fitness

The new year is a time of renewal and reassessment, an opportunity to make changes that will get you closer to your goals.

Starting January 1, Fluid Fitness will implement some changes of our own. GYROTONIC prices will increase slightly and Private Power Plate sessions will be greatly reduced. We've also created some new packages for our clients: there will be a special rate for students, seniors and union members, new combination packages, and a yearly plan that involves all the services we offer with the convenience of a once-yearly payment.

We know it can be difficult to keep a regular workout schedule during the hectic holiday season; and though I am sure all our students are faithfully practicing the homework series when they can't take a session..., the month of January will present a great opportunity to dive back with a new attitude.

Want to step up your game or try a different approach? While you're ringing in the New Year, think how every opportunity to do something nice for your body is to be celebrated. Our well and continually-trained staff is always ready to help you. Let us help craft the new you you've imagined for the new year. Besides, you know how much we love to celebrate our clients!

Happy New Year!

Teacher Trainings at Fluid Fitness

Our usual blog focus is on the accomplishments of our clients and we have to admit, they're pretty awesome. But you may wonder how our instructors stay on top of their game. Our instructors update themselves regularly on what is current in GYROTONIC®, learn to use specialty equipment and take courses that allow them to best serve the needs of our clients.

Last month, for example, our very own Hilary Cartwright, Master Trainer, taught a special course on the needs of clients before and after undergoing hip-replacement surgery. There are many other teacher trainings going on at the studio over the next several months, including a winter workshop focusing on applications for osteoporotic clients.

We at Fluid Fitness are always looking for ways to better educate ourselves and our clients. In fact, we have upcoming pre-training and foundation courses in both GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®. For the ambitious among you, this is a great opportunity to deepen your practice and eventually get more out of your private sessions.

If a pre-training doesn't fit your schedule but you want to learn more outside of a session with one of our excellent trainers, check out the library at the studio. We aim to keep our clients fit from the inside out so we collect and share published articles on GYROTONC® and its benefits and applications.

Come join us at the studio; we'll be more than happy to answer your questions or give you an excellent workout! See you soon!

Dance 212 features Fluid Fitness!

We're all about GYROTONIC® here, and we like any opportunity to share its benefits and the successes of our instructors and clients. Many of you know we also like dance; so in celebrating things we like we're directing your attention to Dance (212), a website that follows the lives of 5 dancers from 5 of New York City's most prestigious Second Companies. You can watch video episodes, interviews with the dancers and explore educational links.

One of the dancers featured there is Skylar Brandt of ABT II. Of course, our favorite episode is one that was filmed right here at Fluid Fitness! Skylar, a regular client, and Hilary Cartwright, one of our Master Instructors, talk about GYROTONIC® as an important tool for dancers. Click here to watch Hilary guiding Skylar through a typical session on our machines.

If you have news of how GYROTONIC® or Fluid Fitness is helping people find balance, please share it with us. Want to experience it for yourself? Give us a call, we'll be glad to help!

Our Clients at New World Stages

Our long-standing client, Stacy Shane has done it again! We raved before about the incredibly successful run of his play, The Temperamentals, a John Marans historical drama that garnered Stacy an award as one of Out Magazine's 100 Honorees www.out.com/out100/nominees_53.asp.

The play is opening again at New World Stages and Stacy has arranged a special offer:

See previews of the show for only $19.52!

You have one of three ways to use the following discount code:
TEMANDOG1

1. Call (212) 947-8844

2. Go to the New World Stages Box Office

3. Visit Broadwayoffers.com

Previews begin February 18th and The Temperamentals (http://thetemperamentals.com/) opens February 28. Tickets are on sale now, but hurry, the discounted price is valid only for previews!

Want to know where Stacy gets the energy he needs for all this excitement? Well, for starters, regular sessions at Fluid Fitness are a part of his routine. Have you been in for a session lately? You don't know what you've been missing!

7 Across, 5 Down

Puzzled about our title? No, these aren't the latest moves in a Gyrotonic session. Have you ever noticed the framed ceramic crossword puzzle containing the name Fluid Fitness hanging at the front desk? Joanne Sullivan created this lovely piece for our grand opening in 2007.

She created another beautiful mosaic for this year's Lullapuzzoola tournament winner, Dan Feyer who completed the playoff puzzle perfectly in 7 minutes, 10 seconds! You can see his proud prize here http://dandoesnotblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunday-82309-lollapuzzoola.html.

Since then, Joanne has been commissioned to create two more crossword mosaics. If you'd like one for yourself, give us a call and we'll put you in touch with her. You can have an up-close and personal look at ours on your next visit. You have scheduled your next visit, haven't you? Just checking.

Here at Fluid Fitness we like to believe that regular Gyrotonic sessions with our instructors can make you feel like a super hero, ready to take on the world and all its challenges. Naturally, we like to celebrate all those exciting feats and successes!


Our very own Stacy Shane has been nominated as one of Out Magazine's 100 Honorees www.out.com/out100/nominees_53.asp. He produced The Temeperamentals, a well- received historical drama by Jon Marans. The play will open again at New World Stages this winter. There is even buzz that the production may move to bigger venues soon!

OK, so maybe we can't take complete credit for Stacy's great honor, but a creative, productive mind works better with a healthy, happy body and we certainly help with that! Come in for a session. You'll be surprised how great you'll feel when you're done. When you leap that tall building with a single bound, be sure to let us know; we'll be proud to write about it.

Guess Who's Getting Fit with GYROTONIC® Now?

Who says those in search of a hard-core workout must go to a gym? Don't let the deep breathing and stretching get you thinking this isn't a serious endeavor. Shaquille O'Neal has recently been enlightened on how GYROTONIC® benefits his game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnn6StOIrig).
Glitterati like Teri Hatcher and Madonna have also made news espousing the effects of a GYROTONIC® workout on their physiques. For once a "secret of the stars" is not so secret after all. Sports stars and enthusiasts alike are learning what we at Fluid Fitness have known all along.

Looking to improve your game or trim your figure? Whatever you have in mind the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® is a mind-body workout for every body. Like Shaq says, "Look it up!" You can find more information on our website: http://www.fluidfitnessny.com. Then, stop by the studio and experience it for yourself! We look forward to meeting you.

Is RICE part of your fitness routine?

If you are physically active chances are pretty high that you have had an injury of sorts. While we hate to be sidelined or have interruptions in our routine when we're on a roll or have goals to meet, we often underestimate the real amount of time and care our bodies need for adequate repair. Even if the pain subsides and other signs of injury aren't present, continuing on with your routine without consideration could come back and bite you down the road.

A recent New York Times article on anke health gives an overview of the steps you should take when an injury occurs and why swift action is important. Included is an indispensible recipe for RICE. Follow the instructions and you'll be feeling better in no time!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/health/28brod.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Looking for Six-Pack Abs?

Have you been focusing on getting the much-heralded "six-pack abs"? You may be focusing on the eye candy and missing out on the real work required for a strong, healthy body. Check out an enlightening article The New York Times published http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/21/magazine/21FOB-physed-t.html) on the crunch-focused fitness trend that has developed in the last twenty years. Your Fluid Fitness family has always emphasized training that gives you a strong, stable and flexible body with healthy joints. That's the real treat we've been craving.

Big News from Fluid Fitness Clients

We are happy to announce that two of our youngest clients have joined ABT II! Dancers for this company are hand picked by American Ballet Theatre's artistic staff and will perform on stages all over the US. The training and experience they receive at the company will give them a huge head start in their artistic careers.

Fluid Fitness is proud to congratulate Katie Boren and Skylar Brandt on this impressive feat. We look forward to continuing to support their training here at our studio as well as their endeavors on the stage. Way to go, Ladies!