The WAG staff knows just what you’re thinking: The holidays are over and you’re feeling (and looking) a bit sluggish.
So two of our beloved Waggers – Aleesia Forni and Danielle Renda – hit the mats, yoga and otherwise, to sample different workouts to get you ready for 2017. Here’s their field report:
HERE&NOW YOGA + BODY
Move with intention and move with purpose. Those are mantras owner Jocelyn Koenig repeats to patrons. During a recent early morning visit to the studio at 138 Garth Road in Scarsdale, we were treated to a FlowNow class that left us feeling refreshed, revived and ready to take on the rest of our day. Perfect for beginners or experts alike, this vinyasa flow class emphasizes the connection between breath and movement. Koenig expertly guided her fellow yogis through a series of yoga poses from downward dog to tabletop. For those looking to spice up their practice, Here&Now also offers a variety of classes like Barre&Flow or Power Now.
For more, visit hereandnowyogabody.com.
— Aleesia Forni
TOTALFUSION STUDIO
TotalFusion Studios at 347 Halstead Ave. in Harrison is the epitome of a New Age fitness experience.
It’s among the few studios in the country — according to Hana Rukaj, one of the studio’s five partners — that incorporates technology into its cycling workouts through means of a virtual world, known as Spivi.
“It’s sort of like being inside of a video game,” says Alex Bayer, another of the studio’s partners. “It’s a beautiful visual. You kind of get lost in it sometimes.”
Spivi enables cyclers to create a personal avatar and essentially watch themselves — via television screens in the studio — navigate through environments of the instructor’s choosing. Meanwhile, the program tracks cyclers’ performances over time, from their calories burned to their distance and RPM (revolutions per minute), which earn them points in the online community.
WAG was treated to a Cy-Co class, which combines a 30-minute cycle session with 20 minutes of core exercise, a model that reflects the studio’s “Fusionology” concept. Each TotalFusion class “fuses” together different workouts, so as to circumvent repetitive motion. Such a class combination includes Piloxing Barre, which incorporates elements of Pilates, boxing and Barre.
But not to worry, because the intensity of the classes is balanced by the studio’s luxury treatment. After the class ended, we were immediately treated to sips of protein shakes and small bites, along with warm, eucalyptus-scented hand towels.
For more, visit totalfusionstudios.com.
— Danielle Renda
