Social Workout

Preparing for the New Year...

Okay, I'm gonna say it here so the internet will hold me accountable: after NYE, I'm not drinking until Valentine's Day. FUCKING EEK.

the year in review. and, my 2010.

2009 has been amazing year. Over the last year I've taken better care of myself than ever before, and, I'd like to think that while doing so I've also always done my best to try to make the lives of others around me better too. Some of the accomplishments are pretty concrete, others are less tangible and are just more of a feeling.

New York

Best Of

2009's Best Classes and Places

Group fitness has rescued us, day by day, all year long. A look back at just a few of the classes we really, really loved...

1. Masala Bhangra with Sarina Jain
2. Pole Dancing with Kyra J.
3. Rima Rabbath at Jivamukti Yoga School
4. Brooklyn Boulders
5. Silks at the Sky Box with Jordann Baker
6. Core Fusion Open with Colombe Jacobsen
7. Punk Rope with Tim Haft
8. Sunday Spin with Marion
9. TERRAcycle with Gregg Cook
10. David Regelin at Kula Yoga Project

For more classes, places, trainers, and instructors, check out the full listings in the "Local" section. 

Thank goodness for the sun salutations

I did not fully understand the Emergency Holiday Challenge and that I had to log my workouts.  Oops!  Oh well.  I will be starting the new year fresh and more attentive than I was. 

Best Of

2009's Best Workouts

From among the thousands upon thousands of workouts logged on Social Workout this year, here are a few of our favorites. 

1. Body Electric's 15-minute plank
2. H2Ownage's 450 pound superset 
3. Run Amuck (featuring msh258, Killercadoogan, Mr. Mohawk, and Sassletic) 
4. Mreynold's quiely posted kick-ass marathon
5. Molly's pole dancing discovery
6. Twinklefee's 3 x 30 mountain climbers
7. Oliver's yoga redemption
8. Sassletic's trophy wife training (and its many sequels with additional participants)
9. Joba's first half marathon 
10. Matty_G_Fresh's Bikram Blues

Unforgettable favorites we've missed? Of course there are. Shout-outs in the comments!

Newslinks

Champagne Good, Tracy Anderson Okay, Too Much Vitamin E Bad

• New research shows that drinking two glasses of champagne is good for blood circulation, blood pressure, and may even reduce risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Happy New Year!
• Tracy Anderson offered resolution advice on today's CBS Early Show. Nothing truly revolutionary, but not dumb either — set realistic goals, be specific, etc. Managing to plug her best product, she suggested that saying "I want to look like Gwyneth Paltrow by the end of the month," falls in the unrealistic category.
• Overturning previous research, a new study shows that high-dose vitamin E supplements do more harm than good and can actually lead to earlier death or quality of life decreases in later years. 
• You know those dry water massage pods they're always demo-ing at the mall? Expect to see more of them, at least in Europe. The company just signed a deal to put them in "Lady Fitness" gyms in Belgium, Spain, and neighboring countries.

Wake Up Call

Garlands of Beauty

Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds. 

~ Gautama Buddha

Naughty chronicals

I drank three glasses of red wine with a boy who was moderately attrative and there were some awkward pauses....

oh well...

maybe next time I'll find someone to hold hands with...

At least the guy does tri athalons....points for exercise...

was better than this :