Healing Heels
What we do for our Jimmy Choos! But endless hours on towering stilettos can knock a girl’s alignment all out of whack. Thankfully, movement studio Backbone and Wingspan’s six instructors—Tim Driscoll, Cathy Ferrara, Gabriel Bobek, Karen Donelson, Luciana Achugar and Nancy Golike—have combined their respective talents for the High Heel Workout, a private, one-on-one Pilates program designed to restore your posture. The stretches, done with the Cadillac and a fi tness ball, are equal parts full-body massage and toning session. After just one hour you’ll feel taller, looser and better prepared to rock this season’s platform Louboutins. Not ready to commit? Check the studio’s website for upcoming free two-hour clinics to sample the service (one is planned for September 14). 115 W. 30th St., Suite 1209, 212-647-8878; backboneandwingspan.com
Muscle Tone, and a Lotte of It
Opinions differ widely as to what constitutes the ideal body. But when it comes to a long, lean, dancer-inspired physique, The Body—an updated approach to the Lotte Burk method that fuses Pilates, yoga and fl exibility training—just might have the inside track. The brainchild of head instructor Shawn McCormack (who trained in the Lotte Burk method and taught Core Fusion at Exhale), the workout uses mats, the ballet barre and light weights to guide muscles through an uninterrupted fl ow of movements. The focus is on body alignment and proper positioning during moves like deep pliés (the legs will protest), lunges, push-ups and core moves, all set to an uptempo soundtrack (Mötley Crüe!). Thorough stretching helps muscles recover and reshape. The results? A body to be proud of by any measure. Classes are available in beginner, open and advanced, as well as a 90-minute stretch session. 802 Lexington Ave., 212-688-8000; thebodynyc.com
Power Shake
Acceleration training, which is also known as “whole-body vibration”, was perfected by Dutch Olympic trainer Guus van der Meer after it had been introduced by the Russian space program to help cosmonauts weather the muscle-atrophying effects of zero gravity. Now it’s catching on in the fi tness world. Power Plate (at Peak Performance) dispenses the training through a platform that delivers between 30 and 50 vibrations per second, forcing muscle fibers into increased contractions that result in high levels of muscle activity in short amounts of time. (“More bang for your buck,” in the words of trainer Ed Williams.)
The sensation? A little strange at first—unless you routinely work out on an active fault line. But the vibrations do help settle the body into positions, opening it up to proper alignment (i.e., squaring hips or pressing shoulders back and down). When done on the platform, static moves (lunges, squats, stretches, dead lifts and holds using straps), push-ups and even weight training can help increase muscle strength, bone density, balance, circulation and flexibility. (It’s also used for massage, and cosmetic claims include cellulite reduction and collagen production.) And the decreased time spent—sessions are about 10 to 15 minutes three to four times a week—makes it an effective supplement to any regimen. 54 W. 21st St., 212-229-3670
PEDAL TO THE METAL
Spinning continues to evolve with the inception of Ride the Zone, a new program and studio launched in Soho by Marion Roaman, founder of ZoneHampton Studios. Incorporating a variety of 45-minute rides (from classic to advanced), Ride the Zone uses newly designed bikes that move like the real thing, tilting, turning and working the entire body—not to mention giving the feel of a real day out on the road. 441 Broadway, 212-226-1330; ridethezone.com
