Recently in Fit in SA Category

If you see people in your gym that look like they are gearing up to be on "Dancing with the Stars," then you are probably witnessing the latest craze in fitness--Zumba! Although Zumba been around SA for about four years, it has recently been gaining in popularity and showing up at more traditional clubs such as the Spectrum. Why? According to Zumba instructor and Challenge Fitness certified personal trainer Rachel Connor, it's because anyone can do it.

"There are people from many different fitness levels who participate," she says adding that she has taught classes that ranged from 20 year-olds to senior citizens.

 "It is neat to see people who have never worked out before start working out because it's fun," she says.

By definition, Zumba is Latin American dance so participants spend the 50 minute to one-hour classes gyrating through everything from salsa to merenge, reggaton and even hip hop. But besides being fun, Zumba is also one effective total body workout that combines cardio with conditioning. Each class varies depending on instructor and but it usually involves a balanced mix of slow and fast dances to get the most from the experience.

"But I can't dance," you wail. That's no excuse.  "It doesn't matter if you can't dance," assures Connor. "It's a party so no one cares. Everyone is having a good time and you do what you can."

Like any fitness routine such as step aerobics, yoga or Pilates, Zumba takes practice. You cannot expect to walk in and become an expert. You can expect to walk in and burn as many as 500 calories depending on your intensity. You can also expect to see people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

"I got involved in Zumba because it gave my clients a way to do cardio that was actually fun," says Connor. "It's not just running on a treadmill."

If you are considering a Zumba class for the first time, wear regular exercise clothes and running shoes. Also be aware of whether the class is Zumba or Zumba Gold.

"Gold is an easier class designed for senior citizens or someone who is overweight and just beginning an exercise program," explains Connor.

For more information or to find a class near you visit www.zumba.com.  

Dive into fitness this summer

By Bonny Osterhage


When temperatures soar in South Texas, many of us turn to the neighborhood pool for some relief. But rather than just utilizing the pool for a heat reprieve, why not use it as a wonderful addition, or warm weather alternative, to your existing exercise regimen?

You can get a fantastic cardio and strength-training workout in the water without putting excessive stress and strain on your joints.

Why is swimming so effective? Water provides more than 700 times more resistance than air.

Why does that matter? Because it is like adding a full set of weights to any cardiovascular workout.  It's like getting a two for one -- all without significantly raising your body temperature!

The best part is that almost anyone can perform water exercises. All you need is a pool and a willingness to try something new.  Most gyms even offer water aerobics for all fitness levels to get you started.

So go ahead: Dive in to a new form of fitness this summer!

Walk & Roll 2009

by Bonny Osterhage

This month, two events will mark the 13th annual Walk & Roll season sponsored by the Metropolitan Planning Organization. The events are designed to promote healthy, economical and eco-friendly modes of transportation that can be enjoyed by everyone.

The fun starts Friday, May 1, with the Walk & Roll to Work Rally from 8 to 9 a.m.     Downtown participants are encouraged to participate in a short morning walk or bicycle ride to Main Plaza where the rally will be held. VIA Metropolitan Transit will provide free bus transportation for cyclists.

Sunday, May 31 is the date for Walk & Roll on the River Fest from 8 a .m. until 1 p.m. The event will celebrate the opening of the San Antonio River Walk's new northern extension. As part of the day's festivities, the Texas Wanderers have designed both 5 km and 10 km routes for guests to trek, while cyclists can choose from a 28-mile Historic Missions Cycling Tour led by a member of the San Antonio Wheelmen, and/or a short Family Bike Ride led by the South Texas Off-Road Mountain Bikers.

Throughout the day, complimentary refreshments, music, health screenings and bike check-ups will be available as well as educational exhibits and prizes, all at the Pearl Brewery.  For more information visit www.walkandrollSA.com.

Says Tri-athlete Wendy Wilson-Welsh

By Bonny Osterhage

"Anything is Possible!" That is the slogan of the Ironman competition and, coincidentally, it is also the slogan of Ironman competitor Wendy Wilson-Welsh's company, Outside the Box Productions. But these aren't just empty words to Welsh -- they are a way of life.
 
A marathon runner, Welsh was inspired by her brother, a three-time Ironman competitor, to give the intense triathlon a try.

 "I know some people say they can't do tri's because they don't know how to bike or swim, but neither did I when I started," the 41-year-old says.

Welsh met the challenge with her "anything is possible" attitude and began training. She hired a coach, joined a bike group and took swim classes before competing in her first half Ironman in September 2005.

"From that point on, I was hooked," says Welsh. "I competed in my first Ironman in June of 2006."

That first competition was a turning point for Welsh who developed the stomach flu the night before the event.

 "After training for over a year, it's hard to give up a dream, so I went out there and attempted it anyway," she recalls. "I passed out before I was able to finish, and that 'failure' was very hard for me to get over."
 
Add to that the fact that Welsh had lost both of her beloved dogs, and the normally energetic and optimistic athlete found it very difficult to pursue her dream. After taking a year off from any type of training. Welsh decided to once again follow that dream and, in January 2009, she started all over again.

 "This time around I came from ground zero, and that was very humbling," she describes.

 Now, Welsh trains approximately six days a week for an average of 2.5 hours per day -- that's 15 hours per week! Of course when you consider that the event consists of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and ends with a 26.2 mile run, it is easy to see why so much training is required. But Ironman training is more than just honing the required physical skills. You must also train your body not only to eat right, but also to eat while exercising -- a task that Welsh finds challenging.
 
"The first time around, I did not understand the number of calories and amount of protein you need to take in to stay healthy and be able to do extremely long workouts on a consistent basis," she explains. "During the competition, I will need to eat somewhere around 200-300 calories per hour during the race to maintain my endurance, and I will be taking in fluids constantly."

Welsh's big day is June 21 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and this time she will be ready. She has a strong support group that includes her staff at Outside the Box Productions, her family, her friends, her brother and, of course, her coach. They are the people that keep her motivated and focused on her goal. And, when it is hard to get out of bed and train, Welsh says she remembers that there are those who, for whatever reason, cannot participate in this type of grueling regimen and that she is blessed to be able to go out there and give it her best every time.

"I guess it's like anybody's dream in life," she muses. "It's not always easy, but its but it's the perseverance and belief in yourself that gets you there."

HELPS RAISE FUNDS FOR
CANCER RESEARCH
Pilates Master Ron Fletcher to join in celebration
 
A pain-free back, a release from stress, improved flexibility and athletic performance: Pilates has been embraced by millions because of its power to change. Studio A: Pilates and Spectrum Athletic Clubs will celebrate the "Power of Pilates Changing Lives" with an afternoon of Fletcher Pilates® on Saturday, March 7, at Spectrum Athletic Club in Alamo Heights at 1246 Austin Highway. Participation is open to anyone who wants to enjoy an afternoon of Pilates led by some of San Antonio's top teachers and help raise funds for cancer research. Two sessions of different classes begin at 2 p.m., and each will last one hour. Donations for participation are tax deductible and benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Registration is required and can be made by calling Studio A: Pilates at (210) 828-5900 or by e-mail at info@studia-pilates.com.

A reception with Pilates master Ron Fletcher will follow the second session of classes. Ron Fletcher was a protégé and student of Joseph and Clara Pilates for nearly three decades and is one of three master teachers still teaching the work.

 Richard Garcia, Fletcher Pilates® instructor at Spectrum Clubs, lost his mother to lymphoma last year and for him, the benefit of Pilates is both personal and professional. He knows firsthand how Pilates can change lives. "My mother was diagnosed on Oct. 2, 2004. I started my professional training for Fletcher Pilates® on Oct.4 that same year," says Garcia. "Leaving my mom while she was sick was hard, but she always told me, 'Do what you have to do.' For me, Pilates gave me direction, and I had found my calling. When my mom passed, it was Pilates and the Pilates community that gave me strength and hope, two qualities of my mother."
 
Garcia will be leading classes along with Aída Zorrilla, owner of Studio A: Pilates and senior faculty for the Ron Fletcher Program of Study®. Zorrilla is participating in the LLS's Man & Woman of the Year Campaign and wants to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Her life was touched by a client who at the age of 43 lost her battle to cancer last year. To honor her client, Zorrilla made a commitment to do her part to support finding a cure. "Through our donations, each one of us is the man and woman of the year because together WE can make a difference," explains Zorrilla. "The society's mission -- to find a cure for blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, resonates with Studio A's mission--to change lives, inspire transformation and the joy of movement , and improve the quality of life of our clients through Fletcher Pilates®."
 
Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 1930s by Joseph Pilates. It focuses on the core postural muscles, which help keep the body balanced and which are essential to providing support for the spine. Ron Fletcher's pivotal role in the evolution and popularity of the Pilates method has resulted in a lineage that added specific breathing patters to movements and draws from Fletcher's studies with Martha Graham, Yeichi Nimura and Alma Hawkins. After living and working in New York and then Beverly Hills, Ron Fletcher now resides in Stonewall, Texas.

Studio A: Pilates is a movement studio specializing in Fletcher Pilates® and is also the Texas campus for The Ron Fletcher Program of Study®, a professional Pilates teacher certification program. To find out more, visit www.studioa-pilates.com.