’24’
courtesy of ‘sazztastical’

Worn out by the constant snow? Yeah, me too. And I’m a blizzard-baby, February’s child, I’ve got ice running through my veins. So they say, anyway. But winter’s got me beat. During the past several days stuck at home I’ve been browsing spring fashion and fantasizing about the day when summer kisses my cheek.

But then it hit me – all this hibernating comes with a price tag, and it isn’t the one they keep touting the Fed’s closing. Oh no, it’s the extra poundage we pack on during winter to keep us from freezing (or at least, that’s my justification). So guess what? It’s time to start getting motivated and work it off. I mean, we here at WLDC yo-yo for you! You think all those cocktails don’t add up? That’s a lot of sugar, baby!

But, I admit, regular conventional gyms bore the hell out of me. Judging from the masses who influx in the late winter only to disappear after a month, I’m not the only one. People sweating away on an elliptical for hours with no life-changing results… sigh. So I and my fellow WLDC authors are on a mission to find some of the best outside-the-box fitness solutions and preview them for you as we hone in on the perfect spring and summer body. Go ahead and read full article about the best testosterone supplements for your diet.

Yes, it can be done! And we’re willing to completely humiliate ourselves for you in the process! Well, maybe. Read on for a sample of what we’re going to be testing out, and please leave more suggestions in the comments. And oh yes, this experiment will include some swinging around a pole…

Pilates

I know many of you go to Pilates mat classes, but how many have subjected yourselves to such medieval torture devices like The Reformer and The Cadillac? I have, and I’m going to tell you all about it soon. Joe Pilates developed a system of physical therapy that develops long, lean musculature – basically, the much-coveted ballet body. Here in DC we’ve got two great studios, Pure Joe and Quantam – that offer one-on-one training sessions with certified instructors using the machines that make your glutes look glamtastic. We’ll find out what it takes to conquer The Electric Chair.

Aerial Arts

I’m terrified of falling from a great height. But I also love the illusion of flying. Aerial work combines balletic artistry and physical strength while learning technique on static trapeze, the hoop, and fabric. It also just looks breathtakingly beautiful and seriously bad-ass. Acrobatics were never my forte, but it’s necessary to challenge your body to get results. Arachne Aerial Arts (love the name) offers classes at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, where I’m be heading to conquer my fears. WLDC author Donna has flown before so I hope to get some tips from her!

World Dance

Tiff shakes Bollywood booty, I shimmy with Bellydance, Sam gets Barre graceful. Dance is an amazingly effective way to get your body out of a rut. It’s also just plain fun. With DC’s melting pot of cultures, there are countless dance studios to explore and we’ll sample some of the best. That will include the one you’ve all been waiting for, a chance to totally humiliate ourselves with a pole dancing class. Or, will we discover our true calling? Not likely, but we’ll still do it.

That’s just a sampling of what we’re brewing to get fit and challenge our assumptions about what our bodies can do.

Please shout out on your favorite trainers, studios, classes, or techniques – from isometrics to acro-yoga, from boxing to rowing, and hey how about some capoeira? Yes, we’re willing to explore it all!

Jenn Larsen

As one of the founding editors of We Love DC, Jenn’s passions are theater and cocktails. After two decades in the city, she’s loved every quirky, mundane, elegant, rude minute of her DC life. A proud advocate for DC’s talented drinks scene, she’s judged the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ARTINI contest, the DC Rickey Month contest, the Jefferson Hotel’s Quill Cocktail competition, and is a founding member of LUPEC DC. A graduate of Catholic University’s drama program, she toured the country as a member of National Players, and has been both an actor and a costume designer before jumping the aisle to theater criticism. Writing for We Love DC restored her happiness after a life-threatening illness, and she’s grateful to you, dear readers. Send your suggestions to jenn (at) welovedc (dot) com and follow her on Twitter.