FROM LEFT: the newly renovated Equinox at 76th Street; work the kettlebells at The Sports Club/LA; clay offers a zenlike approach to fitness.
Rock the Bells
For a three-dimensional approach to weight training, consider the kettlebell instruction at The Sports Club/LA, a full-body workout using handled iron balls of various weights that allow for a fluid, full range of motion while strengthening and stoking cardio fires. The key? Momentum, not brute strength. Trainer Oren Lippmann says it’s more about taking the kettlebells through a series of movements (cleans, jerks, lifts) than lifting them. To supplement, try Lippmann’s Rope Burn—an arm and core workout involving a long thick rope (different widths equal different hefts) looped around an anchor. Clients—beginners to professional athletes—hold the ends of the rope and undulate it at varying speeds. It boosts endurance, power, and aerobic and anaerobic capacity (an avid runner, I was out of breath after a few goes). The real bonus? A break from the norm. The Sports Club/LA, 330 East 61st Street, 212-355-5100; thesportsclubla.com.
Mold Me
Austere and simple, Clay has a mellow and calming vibe, a full array of state-of-the-art equipment, and a soothing spa. But part of its charm is its emphasis on members getting the most out of their workouts. A program advisor can help outline the perfect approach, while sixto eight-week mastery programs allow for full immersion in activities like self-defense, tai chi, and running. There’s also Pilates, yoga (try the vinyasa, a challenging barrage of poses), circuit training, and cardio-sculpt. In shape, indeed. Clay, 25 West 14th Street, 212-206-9200; insideclay.com.
A True Original
When the first Equinox opened in 1991 on Amsterdam Avenue and 76th Street, it was like nothing anyone had seen or experienced. Now the original location has been revamped, and the three-month-old update is better than ever. “[In 1991] the fitness world was ready to take their workout from the basement muscle gyms and leg-warmer aerobic studios to a new level,” says Kacy Duke, personal trainer and original aerobics director at the 76th Street outpost. “I knew that we were on the verge of resurrecting fitness into something new… something stateof- the-art and edgy with a cool urban groove.”
Consider that resurrection a complete success. With 18 clubs in the city (plus one in Brooklyn, three on Long Island, and two in Westchester), Equinox has firmly established itself as the gym of New York. And 76th Street is no exception: Along with popular group fitness classes (Skinny Jeans, Powerstrike) and bread-and-butter studio cycling, yoga, and cardio classes, the location also offers Circular Strength (the latest consciousmovement program), as well as other classes like MicroSculpting and a cobranded Pilates mat program with instructor Brooke Siler. “Our goal is to provide our members with resultsbased, strong, and consistent programming and to continually reinspire and motivate by bringing them new signature programs every quarter,” says Carol Espel, national director of group fitness for Equinox.
The renovated spot holds to Equinox’s clean, modern look, adding a library and a den to foster the community feel. It’s a formula that has won over thousands of New Yorkers looking to get fit, and is sure to continue its evolution and remain a favorite. “We set the tone for the next trend,” says Duke, “and truly knew the future of fitness.” Equinox, 344 Amsterdam Avenue, 212-496-2374; equinoxfitness.com.
