Fit Milwaukee » Classes

Feel the Burn: Dance Workout

Tracey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Recently I’ve begun taking dance classes again after a long (ok, VERY long) hiatus. I was a dance major in college and have come back to it multiple times over the years not only because I just can’t quit it, but because it really is fantastic exercise as well. Now before you stop reading because you’re thinking to youself “I’ll never be a ballerina” or “I’m just not coordinated to take a dance class,” let’s back up a little bit. Right now I’m taking an intermediate level modern/contemporary class at Danceworks on Water Street. But that’s not the class I want to talk about. After a recent session I stayed after to chat with my instructor a bit. Upon hearing that I’m now a runner, she suggested that I might like to take a newer class that they offer called “Dance Workout”. It was described to me as a blend of dance with yoga, Pilates and resistance training- including props, bands and weights. Hey, all things I like! So I decided to try it out.

Photo by kauiwaui. (No, you don't really have to dress like this for class.)

I’m going to be honest. If you’ve never ever done any dancing in your life there’s a chance you might feel a little bit intimidated when you first walk into the studio. Yes, there are ballet barres. Yes you do use them (for a bit, but only for a portion of the class.) However, the instructor I had that day was so welcoming and attentive. She inquired as to what my prior dance experience was and assured me that nothing would be too complex and that she would provide modifications if needed.

But what were the exercises like? Let me just start by saying that the that the woman teaching this class was not kidding around. Although some of the exercise were “dance-y” it wasn’t the bulk of the class. The common thread throughout the hour though was that my behind was buuurnnning. Sure we did ballet exercises like plies and tendus (including a series of pulsing plies that just about killed my quads dead) but we also did about a million leg lifts of all different varieties, front, side and back at the barre and also lying on the ground. This was followed by series of arm exercises with weights and finished up with a series of ab work on the floor and a nice long stretch. I have to admit I kind of smirked at first when I realized my only options were five pound weights, but the repetition of the movement, followed by repetitions, and yes EVEN MORE reps had my arms on fire.

Could you take this class? Yes you could. Were there people with obvious dance experience in the class? Yes. But they weren’t the only people there. My class ranged in age from college students to women in the 50+ age group. And yes, we even had one male in the class. But get this: I overheard one of the more experienced students say on the way out “You’d think after taking this class for three years it would get easier.” You see? If it’s worth doing it’s never easy. Not for anyone. You’ve always got to work for it.

Go try it out!

Where? Danceworks, 1661 N. Water St.

When? Tuesday and Friday morning, Thursday PM or Satuuday AM. Check schedule for times.

How Much? $14 /$12 for morning classes (multi-class packages available)

*Also on the schedule are Hip Hop Workout, Tap Workout and African Dance Workout.

Group Fitness Deals: Win or Waste?

Tracey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Photo by Edson Hong.

It happened again the other day. Another fitness-related Groupon fell into my inbox. A few months ago I would get wide-eyed and snatch them up right away, but today’s deal was simply met with a blank stare followed by a *SIGH*.

I can’t even say any bad things about the Groupons and Living Social deals I’ve purchased for various places around town. In fact, every place I’ve been to has been just great. The ones I actually redeemed, that is. And that is precisely the problem. I get super excited at the idea of trying a new bootcamp, group fitness class or yoga studio and within a few clicks BOOM! I’ve instantly over-committed myself.

Fitness deals aren’t the only coupons that fall to the wayside for sure. But since those are the deals that usually stand out to me (along with spa deals!) that’s what I’m going to address. When Groupon first started getting big it was actually how I was introduced to Bikram yoga. I used up the entire pack of classes and ended up going back for more. Worth it? Absolutely. The second deal I bought was for another yoga class that I really enjoyed but had dificulty fitting into my schedule at time so I only used about half of them. Did I still end up ahead with that one? Sure. Then after that it gets a bit sketchy. First I accidently let a deal for a kettlebell class expire. Then a massage deal. (Ok, that’s not fitness related as much as “recovery” related.) Right now I have two offers sitting in my account: one for a boot camp class and one for another yoga studio. I honestly don’t know if I will use them or not. Yet when I saw the new deal this morning I still perked up.

It seems that even though I’m very dedicated to running and working out, I’m always wondering what else I can do. I get dreamy sometimes thinking about having the time to try out every new class that comes my way. I can picture myself rock climbing, kickboxing and Zumba-ing every free chance I get, but I eventually have to face the fact that it’s just not possible to do everything- no matter how cheap it is.

Sometimes realizations like these are hard. But I now it’s good for me to recognize potential problem before it spirals out of control. I’m sure my future bank account will thank me for it.

What do you guys think about fitness Groupons? Over them or still totally worth it?

Meet the Milwaukee Running Group

Tracey — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

One thing I tend to hear a lot from runners of every level is “I wish I had a running buddy or a group to run with!” I’ve been lucky enough to find a core group of friends that I really enjoy training with but I also remember how long I ran by myself before finding them. Running with a group is great because the time seems to fly by when you have people to chat with and push you along. Plus, you’ll be less likely to bail on a run if you know you have friends waiting for you. Accountability!

Recently I came across The Milwaukee Running Group. They just got started a couple of months ago but already have regular runs throughout the week at various places around the city. I met up with a few runners from the group yesterday at Alterra for a 5-mile lakefront run and I’m hoping to come back for more. There are runners of all levels and paces in this group so a lot of times they’ll break off into smaller groups or pairs according to pace. Still, everyone meets up at the end for high fives and a stretch.

The Milwaukee Running Group has a page on Meetup.com where they arrange all of their group runs. Right now they are asking a small fee of $5 a year to join up. You can check out their group on Facebook as well. If you’re looking for some friendly company and encouragement while you run, this is a great place to start.

Win Shoes from Performance Running Outfitters

Anne — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:21:15 +0000

Where should I buy running shoes in the Milwaukee area?

While there are thankfully lots of viable options in our area, one place I always direct people to is Performance Running Outfitters. The team at PRO has teamed up with Fit Milwaukee to put on our annual Great Milwaukee Race, and owners Trae and Jessica Hoepner are great to work with!

I’m a visual learner, so it really helps to have evidence of what my feet do while running. PRO provides this in the form of a treadmill with a video camera aimed at your feet. They record your gait and replay it for you so that you can see what your feet do while you are running. Based on your degree of pronation they recommend a shoe to meet your needs. It’s awesome.

Now, they’ve offered us a pair of shoes to give away on to one of our lucky readers!

How to win:

Comment on this post and we’ll draw a winner at random! Tell us what kind of running shoes you’re in right now, and how many miles they have on them (or about how many you think you have).

^{* Contest ends Wednesday, September 28th and we’ll post the winner on the blog on Friday September 30th!}

Adventure: The CoreAlign Challenge

Tracey — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:17:09 +0000

A few weeks ago Patty from The Lift Pilates asked if I wanted to come try out the new CoreAlign equipment at her studio. I’d been reading so many positive things about it on their blog and since i know how important core training is for my running, I figured it was high time I saw what it was all about.

Here are some of my thoughts:

1. It’s harder than it looks. Don’t let the video fool you.

2. From the second I stepped on the equipment I was hyper-aware of my posture. It really made me think about stacking up my body properly before I even began trying to move.

3. I was working all kinds of small muscle groups that I normally wouldn’t be conscious of. Running is very focused on the larger muscles (hamstrings, glutes, quads) but CoreAlign brought all the smaller, supporting pieces into play.

4. Even though the movements were smaller and more internally focused, I really worked up a sweat. It was kind of surprising.

5. I can see how this form of cross training would help me as a runner. A stronger core, along with proper body alignment and form is only going to make me more efficient at moving.

Check out the video below to see more about how my session went!

Where: The Lift Pilates
758 N. Broadway (Inside Milwaukee Athletic Club)
414-751-8200

What do you guys do for core training?

The Milwaukee Slim Down Challenge!

Tracey — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:44:05 +0000

Are any of you looking for a little kickstart to your diet and fitness routine? Maybe you want to kick those summer lazies to the curb and drop a few stubborn pounds in the process? How about a 24-day challenge to motivate you to get results? Certified Boot Camp Instructor Ashley Kumlien- who made news last year running across the country to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis- has teamed up with trainers Ambrose W.B . and Chellie DeGelleke of Mispibo Fitness to bring you the Milwuakee Slim Down Challenge. The Challenge is a great opportunity to get in shape, follow a healthy eating plan, and receive personal coaching from top Milwaukee fitness professionals.

So what does the challenge package include exactly?

-Before and after fitness & weight assessments.

-Three (3) 60 minute group workouts on Bradford Beach ($60 value) with Ashley, creator of the challenge, who is a Certified Adventure Boot Camp Instructor & University of WI-LaCrosse Exercise & Sport Science graduate; along with Ambrose & Chellie.

-A weekly workout regime that incorporates both resistance and cardiovascular training for 24-days.

-A detailed food guide that outlines smart, healthy, whole food choices complete with a grocery list.

-Weekly healthy recipes!

-Healthy nutritional & weight loss supplements with natural ingredients designed to boost your metabolism, increase weight loss, and help you achieve overall health.

-A gentle & detoxifying cleanse that allows your body to purify the intestines of built-up processed foods, and allows your body to receive the full nutritional value of the healthy eating plan & nutritional supplements.

-Personal online & one-on-one coaching from Ashley to guide you through the challenge to increase your chances of reaching your full weight loss & health potential.

-The opportunity to interact and be on a team with popular Milwaukee media personalities that are committed to a healthy and fit lifestyle.

Yours truly will be participating in the program as a “team leader” and attending the group workouts as well! I’m hoping to help motivate my team and get inspired to kick up my own training in the process. It’s easy for me to get stuck in a fitness rut because I know what I’m good and and I don’t always challenge myself. Plus, nutrition is always a sticking point for me so I’m hoping 24 days of accountability will be the push that I need. Check out the program packages here if you are interested in joining the challenge with me! You can also contact Ashley with any questions!

Bike Kids Wisconsin

Tracey — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:11 +0000

Right now I’m in the process of planning out my summer. Although there are tons of events that I’m looking forward to for myself, I’m also wondering what on earth am I going to do to occupy my kids for three whole months? Every spring my mailbox is filled with brochures for summer camps, day camps and classes to choose from. The trick is to narrow it down to what they *really* love so I don’t end up wasting money on classes they’ll end up not liking- summer camps aren’t cheap, amiright? So when I heard about a new kids biking group that’s starting up this summer my ears perked right up.

Bike Kids Wisconsin is a weekly biking adventure summer camp for kids in the Milwaukee and surrounding suburbs. Each session will offer children the opportunity to learn proper biking safety and simple bike repairs while experiencing adventure and exploration around Milwaukee. Starting each morning, the group will bike to a different destination for a programmed activity, eat lunch, and then return to home base in Fox Point. Examples of the activities include outdoor rock climbing, a canoe and kayak adventure, a Discovery World tour, and a Growing Power Urban Organic Farm tour. Each week concludes with a beach party at Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront. The camp is designed for youth between the ages of 9 and 14 at any level of biking aptitude.

I emailed a description of this program to my soon-to-be-sixth-grader and I received a message back that read: “OMG YOU HAVE TO SIGN ME UP FOR THIS!”

I know how hard it is to get kids off the couch and away from tv and computer games when those summer days seem to drag on and on. I like how a program like this will keep kids active in an environment that’s fun and exciting while inspiring a sense of adventure to boot.

Want more info? Check out the Bike Kids Wisconsin site or email info@bikekidswi.com.

Pilates for Runners: Guest Author Patty McNichols

Guest Author — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:10 +0000

Patty McNichols, owner of The Lift Pilates Studio, has worked in the fitness industry for more than 25 years. Since 1984, Patty has worked as an aerobics instructor, a personal trainer, and in management of public and private health clubs, spas, and hospital-based fitness centers. After years of training and racing in marathons and triathlons, she has found Pilates to be the best and most complete system of exercise.

As a competitive runner for almost 25 years, including more than 20 marathons and the Hawaii Ironman Championship, I wish I had discovered Pilates long ago. After constantly suffering from foot injuries, tight hamstrings and even a surgery, I had to stop running. However, after my Pilates training, I was surprised at how easy it was to run and race again. My flexibility and running posture improved as did my breathing, and I haven’t experienced any injuries since. Now that the weather in Wisconsin is getting warmer, I hear many of my clients say they are hitting the pavement and picking up running again. Here’s what runners should know about how Pilates can help your running performance:

Top reasons runners don’t do Pilates.

I hear many people say there’s not time for anything else outside of running, especially if you’re following a strict training routine. I also hear runners say that Pilates won’t improve their time. Last, runners are a tough breed and when they feel pain, instead of stopping, they will run through the pain in hopes of it going away.

Benefits of Pilates for runners.

Pilates will loosen your tight muscles and prevent injuries. Pilates exercises are done in a way that balances your muscles, especially those that are chronically tight when you run; hamstrings, quads, IT bands, calves and lower back. At the same time, Pilates increases flexibility, improves your stride length and strengthens your core. After I completed my Pilates training, my core was stronger, therefore, my body functioned efficiently for the first time the rest and running became easier.

Getting started.

I tell my running friends to come in for a few classes because you can strength train at the same time that you’re stretching. With the new arrival of CoreAlign to the studio and the warmer weather, this is a great time for runners to add Pilates or CoreAlign into their training.

To help get you started, The Lift Pilates Studio is offering a free 30-minute CoreAlign session by appointment or a free Monday Mat class at 12:30pm if you mention that you saw this article on FitMilwaukee.com. There is limited availability (but plenty of room for friends) so please contact Rachel at rachel@theliftpilates.com to reserve your spot before June 30th!

Have you tried Pilates before?

Free Pilates Mat Class this Saturday at The Lift

Tracey — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:11:37 +0000

Saturday, May 7th is Pilates Day 2011! (Really, it is.) Pilates Day is an international event produced by the Pilates Method Alliance on the first Saturday of May every year to foster the community’s appreciation and awareness of the Pilates Method. If you’ve ever wondered about Pilates and how it can benefit you, here is your chace to try it out- for FREE!

The Lift Pilates Studio is celebrating Pilates Day 2011 by offering a free mat class at 10:30AM followed by a reception with refreshments and snacks. All experience levels are encouraged to attend and everyone will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win three free mat classes!

Pilates can be great addition to your fitness routine. It focuses on building strong core muscles as well as improving your overall strength, posture and flexibility. (Runners, this can be a great way for you to cross train.) If you’re up for something new- or even if you’re a Pilate’s pro- stop by the studio this weekend for a great workout.

Where:

The Lift Pilates Studio
758 N. Broadway, 8th Floor
(Inside Milwaukee Athletic Club)

When:

Saturday, May 7th @ 10:30AM

Questions? Contact Rachel at rachel@theliftpilates.com for more information.

Girls on the Run Comes to Bay View!

Tracey — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:24:18 +0000

Over the past couple of months I’ve been lucky to come into contact with a great little organization called Girls on the Run. Who are they exactly? In a nutshell, they provide a 5K run/walk training program for girls ages 8 to 13 that focuses not only on physical health and fitness, but self-esteem, teamwork and emotional fitness as well. Over the course of 10 weeks the girls participate in running/walking workouts and games that revolve around relevant topics chosen specifically for pre-teen girls. Girls on the Run has all around the Milwaukee Area but this is the first year a site is being held in Bay View. (Can you guess who is coaching at this location?)

So here’s the deal. Right now I’m looking for girls in 3rd-5th grades to join our Bay View site. Practices will be held every Monday and Wednesday at Beulah Brinton Park from 5:30 to 6:45pm starting on Monday, March 21st. The program culminates with Laura’s Smile on Saturday, June 4th where all the girls will complete their first 5K! Registration is $150 dollars which includes the 20 practice sessions, race entry to Laura’s Smile 5K, a Girls on the Run t-shirt and a water bottle. If you have a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece or friend who may be interested in joining, you can either contact me at tracey@multiply.org or call Girls on the Run directly at 414-254-3286. There will also be a parent info meeting held at Tippecanoe School (357 E. Howard) on Monday, March 7th at 5:30-pm. You’ll hear more about the program as well as get all the info you need for your girl to hit the ground running at the first practice!

You can check here for other Girls on the Run locations in the Milwaukee area.