“Fitness.” For many of us, that word has long conjured up images of superhumans bulging with muscles and looking as though they were chiseled out of marble by the finest of sculptors. REALITY CHECK. Let’s leave the uber-bods to the die-hard bodybuilders and redefine fitness for the rest of us: BODY-MIND-SOUL. Bodies that are long and lean and fueled by a healthy diet and cross-training. Stamina. Relaxation. Muscle flexibility. Realistic goals. Injury prevention. Variety. Increased energy. FUN. A body that makes you feel good. That’s right, we’re talking about all-around health ~ physical and mental ~ not just how much you weigh or how much you can benchpress. BALANCE.

We were happy to find athletes who agree with our thoughts on fitness ~ and who remind us that athletes in all disciplines need to be aware of the condition of their bodies and minds although they may concentrate on different areas of their physiques and have different workout/maintenance techniques. And even for those of us who don’t consider ourselves athletes, there’s a lot we can learn from their experiences, daily routines, and expertise ~ as well as from all the new fitness trends that are gaining popularity because they do take into consideration the needs of “real people.”

The Fitness Trends of 2009
By Linnea Sheldon

The days of Sweating to the Oldies in our spandex leotards may be behind us, so it’s a good thing that new fitness trends are easy to come by. The even better news is that with today’s savvy consumers and well-educated trainers, these trends are becoming more practical and legitimate. The gimmicks and unrealistic promises that have left us frustrated in the past are instead being replaced by high quality workouts like P90X, Yoga Booty Ballet, and the Bender Ball, which all promise, when combined with a healthy diet ~ drastic results if you’re willing to sacrifice a good amount of sweat and tears. The difference with these workouts is that they do indeed deliver the goods.

In addition to the abovementioned methods, there are a number of other fitness trends for 2009 that are sure to keep your workout exciting and productive. For example, back-to-basics workouts are making a huge comeback. Incorporating body weight exercises with free weights, these classes are often held boot camp style, and the hardcore participants surely believe the “No Pain, No Gain” adage.

Kettlebells continue to gain popularity as knowledge of the centuries-old method of working out spreads. The kettlebells offer a full-body, functional workout with a core focus that is never boring and always produces results.

The practice of combining activities also continues to gain momentum. Yoga and Pilates have been offered together for several years now, but get ready to see more eclectic combinations like Spinning and yoga, dance and water aerobics, and water aerobics and yoga come together for fun and exciting new classes.

Gliding Discs offer a great, affordable way to add more challenges to your everyday workout. Classes offer a fun and interesting new take on the basic group exercise class. Check out Gliding Discs at www.glidingdiscs.com.

The Gyrotonic Method has been gaining popularity among many celebrities who credit the fitness routine with helping them achieve that long and lean look. According to the website, the method “…allows users to stretch and strengthen muscles, while simultaneously stimulating and strengthening connective tissues in and around the joints of the body.” Check it out at www.gyrotonic.com.

Overall wellness is also being stressed like never before. By focusing on our bodies, inside and out, with classes like yoga and Pilates as well as meditation, healthy eating, nature walks, etc., people are able to improve their health and lower their stress levels. This truly health-centric trend needs to stick around!

Group leagues and recreational activities have really surged to the forefront of fitness in the past several years and look to be bigger than ever in 2009. Basketball, softball, and bowling leagues are great ways to connect with friends and stay fit. Ballroom and Latin dancing continue to increase in popularity, and gyms are becoming more creative in offering unique ways for their members to work out.

Sporting events like triathlons, marathons, and 5k runs are also no longer solely for the elite athlete. People from all walks of life are now able to enjoy the benefits of training for such events as well as the feeling of accomplishment they get from completing the challenge, often raising money for charity in the process.

Making fitness accessible to everyone has become a trend itself. With kids’ fitness classes popping up to help fight off the childhood obesity epidemic, corporate fitness centers being used to improve productivity and decrease health insurance premiums, and at home fitness (such as Wii Fit, downloadable iPod workouts, and exercise television-on-demand), fitness is now available to the masses.

The trend toward smaller, more personal facilities also seems to be taking off. Personal training studios seem to be popping up everywhere. Mommy and me classes, bridal boot camps, and pre-natal classes are also increasing the number and variety of offerings for people who are just looking to stay fit and healthy.

With all these exciting and practical fitness trends gaining momentum, there’s no excuse to glue yourself to the couch at night. There’s something for everyone, and you’re sure to actually enjoy the process of getting fit when you choose the method that’s right for you!

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Shaun T.:
The Man Behind Tilted, Tucked, and Tightened

By Matt Shaw

Fitness guru Shaun Thompson, who may be in possession of the most famous abs on the planet, has tilted, tucked and tightened his way into fitness superstardom with his hit series, Hip Hop Abs.

The New Jersey native grew up a natural athlete, playing football and running track in high school, but fell out of his fitness routine in college. “I actually didn’t participate in sports for my first year and a half in college,” Thompson says. “I gained a lot of weight. I got back into fitness because I needed to lose that weight.” In short order, the communications major switched his focus to sports science. “I knew if I had to do it as a major, it would be a lifestyle for me.”

Thompson taught aerobics classes in and around his college, danced in Philadelphia, and then decided to give the west coast a try. “I went out to L.A. and I tried out for this agency and started dancing professionally,” he says. “But I was always teaching. I was still doing aerobics classes, boot camp classes, kickboxing classes, the whole thing.”

“I’m blessed with the fact that I love what I do,” Thompson says. “It’s actually not hard, it’s enjoyable. And really, really fun.” And all that fun has a profound impact on would-be athletes who are bored with the usual gym routine. “Hip Hop Abs is for people who really probably aren’t that motivated to work out,” Thompson says, “and who want to find something fun to keep their mind off of the exercise. I’m just a tool to help them out.”

The positive vibe is abundantly evident in his high-energy videos. With incredible production values and Thompson’s over-the-top onscreen enthusiasm, these aren’t your mother’s workout tapes; they’re more like dance parties. But for Thompson, it isn’t about the production. “At the end of the day,” Thompson says, “I think it really matters how genuine the instructor comes across.” Still, having a staff of professional instructors certainly helps. “They’re all fitness professionals who really want to be able to motivate people, too. Being able to interest people who really believe in the same thing I believe in is really what it’s all about.”

Thompson is currently shooting a new project that ups his already fervent tempo. “I’m working on a new series called Insanity,” he says. “It’s a sports conditioning program that’s so intense. It leaves no room for failure. You get results in sixty days, and you just hit it. It’s a lot of sports drills, athletic drills and plyometrics, and I do it seven days a week.”

“I’m pretty much a calorie counter,” Thompson says of his diet. “I usually go to restaurants that have the calories written somewhere. But unlike most fitness professionals – a lot of people eat five or six times a day – I only eat two, maybe three times a day, just because my body reacts to food differently.”

Thompson understands that not everyone has the same fitness goals. But being healthy isn’t about spending most of your life in a gym. “Live a healthy life that you can manage,” Thompson says. “Don’t do so much that you get unmotivated. Once you do too much, it becomes a job. I want people to continue to have fun, and be healthy.”

www.beachbody.com

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Bad to the (Broken) Bone

By Kim Dunbar

Checking in at over six feet tall and 280 pounds, freestyle sportbike rider Scott Fraser is a perfect example that athletes and fitness come in all shapes and sizes.

“You need to have personality in our sport,” said Fraser. Fraser and his teammates Mike Meehan, Jeff Howlett and Gerry Owreka make up Team XBA, formed in March 2008 by the four friends so that they could combine their individual riding organizations to strengthen and enhance their sport.

Each rider has a unique physical build. Meehan is thin, and ~ like Fraser ~ focuses on arm and upper body strength, while Howlett is shorter and “built,” valuing weight training and cardio workouts. Each rider has a different method to his training madness, too, but all agree that flexibility, strength and stamina are keys to the sport. “Stretching is the most important thing,” said Howlett. “You need the flexibility and strength to perform the upper body tricks while moving your lower body off the bike. It’s easier to save yourself in a crash when your muscles aren’t tight,” he added. The physical demands of the sport also require stamina; because a rider’s adrenaline is pumping during a ride, he (or she!) needs to be in top-notch cardio shape to stay in the game.

And while the sport may appear less physically demanding than other popular mainstream sports, the friends insist it’s all part of the show. “All the hard work happens behind the scenes,” said Meehan. “All the blood, sweat, tears and broken bones are covered up at the shows. We are here to entertain, you don’t see the effort and all the work that has gone into it.”

During the season, the riders practice four to five days a week, four to seven hours a day. “Practice is all about becoming a better rider and learning new tricks” said Fraser. Their time is split amongst stretching, riding, and mentally preparing for and discussing their runs. “We coach each other,” he added.

And while freestyle motocross riding is still mostly an underground sport, it is slowly getting support and creeping into the mainstream. “We’ve gone from riding in parking lots to performing local shows. We don’t just do it for us anymore,” said Fraser. And that makes all the blood, sweat and broken bones worth it.

profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=427091700

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Trotting the Globe Is Hard Work

By Kim Dunbar

If you are ever in a water balloon or Super-Soaker fight with Anthony “Buckets” Blakes, you’d better hope he’s on your team. “Not only am I quick but I can scale fences and build some nice forts. I have exceptional survival skills,” said the 6’2” Harlem Globetrotters guard.

Growing up with two older brothers (and one of ten children), Blakes learned survival skills at a young age. “They were competitive and I have to keep up with them. I had to survive to fit in,” said Blakes.

The Phoenix, AZ native, who is in his seventh season with the Globetrotters, grew up playing basketball, track and football, idolizing athletes like Phoenix Suns guard Kevin Johnson and Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett. He wanted to play like them, but his coaches all had different ideas. “I realized I wasn’t them, that my skills were different,” said Blakes, who is a strong believer in being the best you can be, because everyone is different physically and mentally. “A lot of people try to emulate…someone else and that is tough. You have to work on the things that make you different.”

While Blakes is now a one-sport athlete, he plays racquetball, attends spinning and yoga classes and participates in pick-up basketball games with former European and NBA players to stay in shape. “We can get in some good cardio and play basketball the way it should be played,” said Blakes, who also jumps rope and walks uphill on the treadmill for cardio.

However, being a Harlem Globetrotter isn’t only about being physically fit. “It’s more than basketball,” said Blakes. “We have to be in the best shape physically and mentally. We have to be ready to deal with a grueling season as well as learning the life skills and traditions of being a Globetrotter.”

Continuing to dispel the stereotype that professional athletes are not positive role models, in addition to entertaining, the players visit over 200 schools a year and after each of their 300 games spend 30 minutes signing autographs for the fans. “We are all role models whether we like it or not. As athletes we have to make sure we send a positive message and we are living up to that as Globetrotters,” said Blakes.

The Globetrotters bring their “Spinning the Globe” World Tour to Worcester on February 22nd. To catch what Blakes calls an “unskippable” event, visit the DCU Center box office or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

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Healthy Dancer, Happy Dancer
By Rachel Shuster

Director of Dance at Ballet Arts Worcester (BAW) Jennifer Agbay shares her expertise with Pulse on how becoming a great dancer stems from maintaining great health.

Being in class everyday is crucial to a dancer’s physique and fitness. “You need that discipline to be in class,” Agbay states. This discipline is not solely physical, but largely mental as well. “You need a well-formed body and mind. Being a self-motivator makes a healthy, good dancer,” Agbay says, and provides a “competitive edge.”

For dancers, cross-training with skiing, gymnastics, Pilates, yoga and swimming is very beneficial; Agbay reaped those benefits as a young dancer and encourages her students to do likewise. The combination keeps them mentally and physically focused and “…helps your form, posture and dexterity. There has to be a balance of going to your scheduled dance class plus going to the gym and doing aerobics, running, etc.,” Agbay advises.

At BAW, the focus is foremost on the art form of dance and on discipline, but also on the importance of a healthy body. Despite long-standing stereotypes, the idea of a “dancer’s body” has begun changing and evolving over time. Dancers with varying body types are finding more work more frequently; they are not stick thin and unhealthy looking, but instead, because they are nourishing their bodies with proper exercise and foods, they are slender and toned. “Dance is very visual. It’s important that the body looks healthy, hydrated, nourished.”

Contrary to popular belief, the age range for a dancer’s “life expectancy” has changed as well. “Back in the day, it was 15-20, but now many employers are looking for seasoned dancers, 25 and up. I see prima ballerinas in their 40s! It’s all about maintenance,” Agbay says.

Fitness regimes can vary, but at BAW, Agbay explains, “Our advanced students have class six days a week, including technique and pointe for an hour and a half a day. Also, an hour and a half to three hours of extra rehearsal, three days a week if there is a big performance.” Whether a dancer is just taking class or practicing for competition or a big performance, he or she “…must replenish the body with as much energy as it exerts,” Agbay says.

With rigorous practice comes the potential for injury. Injuries to the ankle, knee and back are common in dancers. Can these injuries affect a dancer? “Yes and no,” Agbay says. “Even with injuries, a dancer can stay in shape by swimming, doing Pilates ~ less aggressive options.”

As Agbay will attest, “fitness” in the dance world is no longer defined simply by how thin a dancer is; it is defined by a combination of physical and mental health, strength, and rigorous but well-balanced training.

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Bay State All Stars:
Three Cheers for Fitness and Health!
By Rachel Shuster

Contrary to what many believe, cheering is more than rooting for a sports team and shaking pom poms. Cheering itself is a highly intense and strenuous sport. Matt Holdridge of Bay State All Stars in Worcester explains to Pulse how demanding the life of a cheerleader really is.

Practice and physical training for a cheerleader consists of warm ups, tumbling, stunting, conditioning and practicing routines. Holdridge, co-owner and 18 year veteran of cheer and dance, explains a typical practice: “We practice three hours, twice a week. We start by stretching for 25-30 minutes, then begin warm ups, then stunting, and practice our pyramids. Then we do tumbling, which includes standing skills. Then, the routine. Cheering is very visual, so we practice the routine at first, sitting in a circle with our backs to one another and visualize it with the music. Then, we get up and do it 3-5 times,” Holdridge says. After an intense practice, the cheerleaders start in on conditioning, which consists of push ups, crunches, suicide sprints, a jog around the floor, and leg and back strengthening.

Training for cheering starts young. “We do the same program for the older teams as we do for the younger ones. The only difference may be an hour less of practice,” Holdridge says. Starting young helps cheerleaders as they get older. “A true cheerleader cheers until he or she physically can’t anymore,” Holdridge says. “They start young and cheer and compete throughout high school and into college. Once out of college, you can find open teams with cheerleaders in their late twenties.”

The hardest thing about cheering? “You need to be committed and want it,” Bay State All Star cheerleader Katie Potter says. Holdridge adds, “Endurance. You need to have stamina. You need to be able to do a jam packed routine like a piece of cake without passing out.” Other sports that compliment the endurance of cheering include dance and track.

Another aspect of cheering that can be tough is the injuries. “The most common are ankle injuries, like rolling your ankle, that can affect jumps and tumbling,” Potter says.

As for diet/eating habits, a cheerleader definitely needs to eat right in order to stay healthy and keep up his or her energy. “You definitely have to eat healthy. We always have orange juice before competitions [to keep our energy up],” Potter says.

Cheering can get a bit pricey; however, Holdridge says, “At Bay State, we offer a lot of inclusive packages which include extra tumbling and strength classes. Many fees include those of competitions, which can be expensive. We do as much as we can to help out.”

It takes great drive and physical training to be a cheerleader, but if you’re devoted, it is just something you love to do.

www.baystateallstars.com/

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Korin Danchise-Curtis
Senior Captain of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team at Clark University
By Rachel Bryson-Brockmann

For Korin Danchise-Curtis, swimming isn’t just a hobby ~ it’s a lifestyle.

“I’ve been swimming competitively since I was eleven,” she says. Now a senior and a psychology major at Clark University and one of the five captains of Clark’s varsity Women’s Swimming and Diving team, swimming affects many aspects of her life ~ how she spends her free time, what she chooses to eat, and the friends that she has made. In fact, swimming dominates a good deal of her life ~ but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love swimming because it’s an escape from other responsibilities,” she says. “When I’m in the pool all I think about is swimming ~ all my worries are gone.”

Danchise-Curtis adds that being a competitive swimmer has helped her in many facets of her life. “The confidence that comes from working hard helps me in other areas outside of swimming, like with school and work,” she says.

And it is hard work ~ during the most intense training times, the team will swim for up to four hours a day. “You just have to remember that you’re working towards a goal, and the sets will all pay off when you drop time in your events,” she says.

As a swimmer, she must watch her diet and eat a lot of nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables. But her diet isn’t too strict ~ “I can eat pretty much whatever I want, because my body needs many calories to burn through during practice,” she says. But in the off-season, she says she has to watch her food intake, as her body doesn’t need as many calories as it does while she was training.

A competitive swimmer also trains outside of the pool, running to increase his or her endurance and weight-lifting to increase strength. How a swimmer weight-lifts depends on which event he or she is competing in ~ a sprinter lifts a high weight with few repetitions to get that burst of speed, while a distance swimmer lifts a lower weight with more repetitions to build up strength over time.

Swimming is unique in that it is a sport that people of all ages can enjoy ~ and it’s extremely healthy. It increases endurance, muscle strength, and cardio-vascular fitness, and it can be a relaxing, almost meditative exercise. And the sport isn’t expensive ~ all you need is a suit, bathing cap, and goggles.

After graduating in May, Danchise-Curtis will continue to train a few days a week. “My love of the sport has kept me in the pool all these years,” she says. The pool is her home, and she doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

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Sarah Deschene, Personal Trainer

By Linnea Sheldon

Sarah Deschene, Personal Trainer, Group Excercise Instructor, Nutrition Consultant at Omega Performance Center in Shrewsbury, lives and breathes health and fitness. She is a strong believer that it is never too late to achieve your health and fitness goals, and it is this belief that helps her clients continue to reach new highs through hard work and discipline.

“No matter who you are, how old you are, what kind of shape you are in, it is never too late to take your health in your own hands, and get to the fitness level you want to be at,” Deschene explained. “You have to want it, and commit to it, and it’s as good as yours!”

Deschene began her career during her first pregnancy back in 2000. After she began taking some nutrition courses she quickly realized that it was her calling. By the time her son was born the following year she had completed her Nutrition Consultant Certification with ISMA, Personal Training and Group Exercise Certification with ACE, and her first Pilates Certification with NETA.

She has continued to build her knowledge, earning several national certifications and devoting her life to the health and fitness field. “Teaching group exercise classes and working with my personal training and nutrition clients quickly became my passion,” she said. “For the first time in my life, I looked forword to getting out of bed at 4 am to head to the gym and start training and teaching.”

In August of 2006 Deschene went in to Omega Performance Center to talk with owner and trainer Craig Lindberg. “I was pleasantly surprised to see that he shared my passion for training, and I began training clients and teaching group exercise full time at OPC, where I remain today,” she said.

Deschene takes a well-rounded approach to her training programs. “When you train all of the body’s muscle groups in every way, not only do you look great, but it becomes much easier to tote around the kids, carry the groceries in, shovel your driveway,” she said.

Out of her own training she has learned to accept and love her own body for what it is. “I am proud of the gains I have made, and continue to make, but I also am at peace with the flaws,” she said. “I can honestly say to you today that there is nothing I would change about my body.”

One of her biggest issues with the health and fitness field is how many myths there are out there. “I meet so many people who are so misinformed about fitness, and nutrition,” she explained. “Everyone wants a quick fix, or magic supplement to make getting in shape easier. There is no such thing. Fad diets don’t work, cure-all supplements waste your money. The only way to get healthy and strong is to work at it.”

“I have no concerns about getting older. I still feel like I’m 20, and that is a bit disturbing as my children get older,” she concluded. “The older I get, the stronger and faster I become. Age is a number and nothing else.”

Sarah can be reached at sddeschene@yahoo.com.

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April D’Allessandro-Andrews
of New England Karate Academy
By Tine Roycroft

April D’Allessandro-Andrews is a feisty 26-year- old with beauty emanating from inside and out. With her positive attitude and upbeat personality, she’d slip into the role of your best gal pal within minutes of meeting her.

And she just happens to be a fourth level black belt, a senior kickboxing instructor, a sensei and an aerobics instructor at the New England Karate Academy. But who isn’t, right?

“I’ve been training for 17 years,” Andrews said. “My brother got me into the martial arts when I was nine. He got involved before I did it and my parents finally let me do it. My brother is also fourth degree and my father is a sixth. We’re a scary family!” Andrews laughed.

This kick-ass karate gal might be fun-loving, but she is a complete professional when it comes to her classes and her students. She loves her students, will overcome sheer exhaustion simply to teach them a new technique, and speaks very openly about her love of karate ~ an art form that she says has helped her live a full life. See, Andrews is severely asthmatic. She says her doctor credits karate as the reason that this young spitfire can keep her asthma under control.

“It really helps with my breathing,” Andrews said. “My doctor says if I ever stopped doing karate, I would probably never do anything else.”

For the karate beginner who is looking for an excellent workout, Andrews suggests shopping around and trying a few studios on for size before committing to one. She believes that the relationship between a student and his or her instructor is what keeps a person going back for more ~ even when the weather is dismal and the couch is calling. Andrews is also a proponent of group classes instead of private lessons for learning a martial art.

“I like the group environments for people who are just learning because you get a real life scenario,” Andrews said. “You get people of different sizes and different strengths and weaknesses. You’ll get a guy who is 6’2 and 240 pounds and he’ll have to do a technique with a woman who is 5’2” and 130 pounds.”

For Andrews to be able to teach a variety of classes and maintain her excellent health, she focuses on diet. She teaches her students to eat healthfully and to concentrate more on moderation than restriction. But Andrews holds herself to higher standards.

“I eat about 7-8 meals a day. Everything is multigrain, most of it’s organic,” she said. “I’ll eat multigrain cereal with almond milk, no dairy. Then 2-3 hours later, I’ll have juice that I make with my juicer. I’ll have a salad with chicken for some light protein. Might have some broth. And tons of water!”

Andrews has one other love in her life besides karate ~ a supportive and wonderful husband who also teaches boxing at New England Karate Academy. But the courtship was not your typical Cinderella story.

“We met at a club where we were both working ~ The Atrium, when it first opened,” giggled Andrews. “He was a DJ and I was a bouncer.”

And they lived happily and healthfully ever after.

For more on New England Karate Academy, go to www.neka1.com/default.asp

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Rough Rollin’ with Central MA Roller Derby
By Jennie Fitzgerald

This isn’t your mom’s sport. Or is it? Central Mass Roller Derby, a co-ed league based out of Leominster is for anyone looking for a fun challenge and intense workout. What does it take? According to creator Cindy Panagiotes a.k.a. “HeLLenBed,” “…commitment, endurance, passion, and teamwork. And it’s the most fun you will ever have; pinky swear.”

HellenBed has been training for two years, starting off at Pioneer Valley and New Hampshire Roller Derby. She’s not afraid to admit the hard work it takes and sacrifices she makes to be the best skater; “As much as I would love to be on the Cheetos and beer diet, I just can’t.” Practice can be the hardest thing to get out of bed for ~ but the feeling of “strapping on the skates” after a long day’s work is the best for her.

Training and conditioning can be as brutal as the actual sport – but surely it all pays off, right? They practice 2 to 3 times a week for two hours. Stretching, push ups, sit ups, and a warm up skate are followed by drills and a scrimmage. HeLLenBed loves “hitting” drills where everyone skates in a line, arms length apart and each end person hits to make their way to the front. Outside of the rink she does Pilates, runs, and has even joined a few boot camps. Anything to prepare you for the real deal!

Contrary to popular belief, Roller Derby is a fight-free zone and has members from all walks of life. It’s a rough sport but fights are frowned upon. Injuries however, are more like bragging rights. Busted knees and bruises may be the most common but what fellow rollers call Rink Rash is a true battle wound. HeLLenBed says, “I have had a few where I was pretty proud to show off; kind of like a badge of honor in derby. “

Fresh to the scene only starting three months ago, CMRD already has 24 members ~ but is striving for 80. They would like to have two teams of 20 for both men and women. So, all of you daring adrenaline junkies, this one’s for you…Roll On!

Contact Central Mass Roller Derby at www.worcestercountyrollerderby@yahoo.com or watch them every Friday night from 8-10p at Rollon America.