fitness

Qatar, Russia Chosen To Host Future World Cup Events

Prince William and David Beckham weren't enough to persuade the FIFA executive committee to select England as the host of the World Cup. That honor will go to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. The choice of Qatar surprised many. The tiny nation is smaller than most U.S. states and often has temperatures that jump over 100 degrees. But as we first reported back in 2008, the nation has already been hard at work on open-air, air-conditioned stadium plans. Qatar's presentation focused on how the tournament would be a unifying force in the region. "Thank you for believing in change, thank you for believing in expanding the game, thank you for giving Qatar a chance," said Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar's bid chairman. "We will not let you down. You will be proud of us, you will be proud of the Middle East and I promise you this." The picture above shows FIFA President Joseph Blatter with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Russia was announced as host of the 2018 tournament over England and joint bids by Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium. It was a big blow for England's fierce soccer fans whose country has not hosted the World Cup since winning it for the only time in 1966. Former President Bill Clinton was on hand to plead the case for choosing the U.S. as a destination. Brazil will be the host of the 2014 World Cup. The World Cup was played in the United States for the first time in 1994 but will have to wait until at least 2026. By choosing Qatar, FIFA also excluded a 2026 bid from China because the same continent cannot host consecutive World Cups. Earlier this year it was reported that the World Cup in South Africa helped FIFA's revenues pass the billion dollar mark for the first time.

Tags: fitness, Qatar Airways, russian red, worldofwarcraft

Terranea's Luxury Boot Camp

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California isn't just a place to go visit for a getaway, it now also offers boot camp classes. The Terranea's Boot Camp Resort Package offers an hour-long, "military-style" workout that makes use of the resort's 102 coastal acres, followed by access to Terranea's luxurious oceanfront spa facilities for a relaxing post-workout cool down.

The workout begins at the fitness center at 6 a.m. where participants warm-up with traditional calisthenics by the pool deck. After that either a short jog to get to the next location or, on a particularly hard day, lunges up a steep coastal hill. The class eventually makes its way down to the beach cove to begin speed and agility drills in the sand. Along the way, the class stops at various points for a variety of exercises including tricep dips, push-ups and sprints. The class concludes back at the fitness center where participants are guided through mat work targeting abs and arms, followed by stretching.

After the workout, participants can grab a meal at the spa café or enjoy the steam, sauna, swimming pool, outdoor hot tub and cold plunge. For an additional fee, guests can order services including massage, body treatments and facials.

Terranea's Boot Camp is offered throughout the year in six-week intervals with the next session beginning July 26, 2010. The program is open to both resort guests and non-guests who can either drop by for a single workout or participate regularly throughout the session. Participants can purchase either the Basic Boot Camp which is workout only for $20 per session, $325- three days a week for six weeks and $395- five days a week for six weeks. The Resort Style Boot Camp with spa access cost $40 for a daily drop-in with $650 for three days a week for six weeks or $795- for five days a week for six weeks.

Tags: boot camp, extreme boot camp, fitness, palos verdes, terranea

Ten Good Reasons to Hire a Private Personal Trainer

by Kimberlyn Slagle (RSS feed) —

These days money is tight for almost everyone. Even those of us who haven't felt the direct hit of the economic recession are scrutinizing spending like never before. As a result, much of what we perceive to be "life's extras" are now facing the financial chopping block. Should the choice to hire (or keep) private personal trainers survive your personal budget cuts? Here are ten reasons the answer should be "Yes!"

Accountability. "Trainers come with built-in motivation," explains Judy Cassady (ACSM, AFFA certified). "Not only are you investing money in to your exercise program, but you're investing time as well." Jerome Davis (NASM, CPT, PES, CES certified) admits that even he, "the trainer, has a personal trainer for that very reason." Trainers can provide accountability because there is a human face that has expectations that you are showing up and working to your potential during your time together. For some, that accountability is what keeps them showing up and seeing results. "Some of my clients don't come in the gym unless they have an appointment," Davis says. "That is not what I like to hear, but quite often it can be the case. There's nothing like a standing appointment to get your butt in gear for a workout."

Education. Working with a good trainer provides you with the opportunity to learn something new after every interaction. Davis explains, "there are 168 hours in a week. Hopefully you get to see your client for 3 of them. What are they doing the other 165? Education is the key for the client." Jaye Evans ( BA, kinesiology, NASM, Cooper, AFFA, Yogafit and spinning certifications) agrees, "If you hire a good trainer they will have expertise in the areas or fields that you won't get from the internet; that you won't get from books; that you won't get from magazines. You will get that from the source."

Tags: diabetes, exercise, fitness, motivation, nutrition, personaltrainer, value, weightloss

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The Hotel at the LA Athletic Club Hotel Offers Role Play and Workouts in One Place

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Sports

In 1880 the Los Angeles Athletic Club became the first private club in the city. This was when Hollywood was little more than a farm and an adobe hut, and the phrase "Malibu Colony" referred to bats. As the city grew, and grew draped in tinsel, so did the club: if you were somebody, you were a member of the LAAC. The fact that any club has lasted 129 years in Los Angeles is incredible; what's more, after throwing a few million at it the owners look to be ready for the next thirteen decades.

The prize draw is the 80,000 square-foot fitness center, where an exhaustive fitness menu offers an indoor Olympic pool, court sports, yoga, squash, and of course a spa and personal training just for starters. After that would come the Trophy Room, where you can sup on a chef's tasting dinner while suffused in the glow of a 1,000 bottle wine cellar and mounted, golden chalices. Say you have a few too many bottles yourself, you can store some of your own collection there, too.

When the running and dining has worn you out you can retire to any of the 72 freshly remodeled rooms, each with custom furnishings, luxurious bedding, roman shades, and flat screen televisions. Nine of those rooms are themed, 1-bedroom suites, in the following flavors: Yacht Club, Country Club, Polo Club, Racquet Club, Beach Club, Athletic Club, Social Club, Bruin Club, and Trojan Club.

No matter which room you choose it will be found down a moody hallway -- the designer calls it "1920s French Moderne with some British Campaign and a touch of Americana," but it's easier imagined as The Shining meets the W meets the batcave. For the moment you can procure one for an introductory nightly rate of $149, which includes a complimentary American breakfast buffet for two in The Grill Room and WiFi. Naturally, you need to be a member to sample the premises, but once you've done the hard work of signing up, where you -- and your yeoman -- choose to get your workout is up to you. Anchors away, fearless voyagers...

Gallery: The Hotel at Los Angeles Athletic Club

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Tags: fitness, hotel, laac, los angeles, los angeles athletic club, LosAngeles, LosAngelesAthleticClub, resort

Meet Anderson Cooper's Secret Weapon

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Sports

CNN 360° host Anderson Cooper has been getting a lot of attention lately for his buff physique (check out this video on TMZ.com). While it may seem like a sudden transformation, in fact Cooper's muscles are the result of two years of workouts with a personal trainer, Thelonious "T.J." Johnson (right).

In addition to getting Cooper and other high-profile clients in shape, Johnson is also an actor and model, with appearances in Vogue Italia, Details, and the cover of Maximum Fitness. His acting credits include roles on Law & Order: Criminal Intent and All My Children.

Johnson, a New York native whose jazz musician father named him after the great Thelonious Monk, was also picked as one of 2008's Most Eligible Bachelors by Extra. He customizes his training sessions to fit the needs and goals of each individual client.

An extreme sports enthusiast, he also specializes in extreme outdoor training, providing fitness sessions that feature mountain-biking, hiking, "tough man" workouts and boot camps. Citing confidentiality he declines to say exactly how he got Cooper so cut, but the results speak for themselves.

Tags: Anderson Cooper, AndersonCooper, celebrity, fitness, model, personal trainer, PersonalTrainer, T.J. Johnson, T.j.Johnson, Thelonious Johnson, Thelonious T.J. Johnson, TheloniousJohnson, TheloniousT.j.Johnson

Loew's Santa Monica Eco-friendly Spa has Soothing Rewards for Guests and Locals

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The 7,000-square-foot Ocean Spa & Fitness has just reopened at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, and now provides a relaxing dose of eco-friendliness to go with its revamped facilities and salty air. Plus One Health Management oversaw the redesign and manages the spa, which means you're probably in good hands -- the same company has spent 13 years creating such oases for Merrill Lynch, Trump, and Google.

The greenness comes courtesy of the gym rebuilt with Ecoresin panels made from 40-percent post-industrial recycled resin, Armstrong sustainable ceiling tiles, Mondo recycled rubber floors, and Shaw carpet with Cradle to Cradle Certification. Even the furnishings do their part, coming from reclaimed wood.

As for the spa itself, the treatments have also gone into the revamp shop and come out more verdure. Essential oils from Red Flower are certified organic and come in numerous scents, from Indian jasmine to Icelandic moonflower. Skincare is provided by Pevonia Botanica, all of whose products are paraben- and chemical-free. Our favorite is the Beachcomber, with heated tiger clam shells used to knead away any ill you might have brought in with you. It's the best use of a clam since, well, chowder.

The extensive spa menu is filled out with the usual suspects: manicures, pedicures, a full-service hair salon with cutting, coloring and styling services, dry saunas, and eucalyptus steam rooms. But if you're committed to things of iron and muscles of steel, the gym's cardio equipment comes from Technogym, networked Expresso bikes allow for side-by-side "racing," and the group fitness studio is a playpen for adults that offers all of the c'est necessaire twisty-bendy classes.

And you don't need to be a hotel guest to take advantage; locals can join sign up for memberships, with terms as short as three months. Once you do, you'll get discounts on spa services and restaurant visits, and you can avail yourself of the guests-and-members-only pool deck whenever you wish. Put that all together -- a masseur's hands, poolside cocktails, and ocean air -- and it doesn't get more environmentally friendly than that, does it?

Gallery: Loews Santa Monica Ocean Spa & Fitness Spa

[Source: Loews]

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Tags: california, fitness, hotels, journeys, loews, loews santa monica, LoewsSantaMonica, resorts, santa monica, SantaMonica, spas

Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes -- Dorky Chic?

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

Last year I started seeing MBT shoes all over the place. I thought they were kind of dorky (I still do, a little) but they looked comfortable and I figured there must be a reason they were so popular. NYC women, and many women the world over, will forgo comfort for fashion when it comes to shoes. I learned that the MBT craze likely has something to do with the fact that, like the FitFlop, these shoes promise a boost in the wearer's fitness level. And just in time for spring, the line has some new styles. At Zappos, women's styles range from $390 for a boot to $150 for a Mary Jane. For the men, high price is $270 for a tie shoe to $150 for a fisherman's sandal. View women's styles and men's styles at Zappos. See the gallery for a few women's styles -- though it's hard to tell them apart from the men's.

Gallery: Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes -- Dorky Chic?

Tags: comfort, fitness, Masai, MBT, shoes, Zappos

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach Now Open

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Yachts & Sailing, Real Estate Developments

Canyon Ranch has long been known as one of the top spa and wellness centers anywhere. With two locations (Tucson, Ariz., and Lenox, Mass.) already established, we've been waiting since 2005 for the Miami Beach location to be ready. It finally opened earlier this month and now is accepting reservations. The historic Carillon Hotel, with ocean views, has been restored and now is "infused with the Canyon Ranch spirit of health, fitness, and personal attention." Choose from a selection of 150 one- and two-bedroom luxury suites that range from from 720 - 1,200 sq. ft., and from $300 - $1,800. All include

kitchenette, and washer and dryer;
400-thread-count linens;
luxury limestone-tiled bath with dual-head frameless glass shower, soaking tub, and exquisite vanity niche;
two flat screen HDTVs;
Bose Wave radio;
High-speed Ethernet and wireless Internet access; and
multi-line telephones, cordless phones, DID numbers and voicemail.

Download a brochure here to read more about the spa and wellness programs, or use the easy-to-navigate lefthand tabs on the home page to get all the details.

Tags: Canyon Ranch, CanyonRanch, fitness, Miami, spa, wellness

Fitness Boot Camp With Tracy Anderson

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

Ready or not, it's bathing suit season. If you haven't gotten yourself in perfect form and you have the money you can study with one of the toughest trainers around, the lovely Tracy Anderson, who works with Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. Anderson is holding a two week boot camp Monday – Friday, 6:30-9:30 starting on June 16th at the Reebok Sports Club in New York City. Anderson's Method workout is dance-based but there is also a strength-training component for creating those sculpted arms. Those who sign up also have to commit for two week's to Anderson's nutritional principles but when you are paying $3,000 ($2,500 for members) you may as well get the most out of it.

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Tags: boot camp, fitness, reebok, sports club, tracy anderson, TracyAnderson

D1 Aquatic Fitness System Spa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

The home spa is usually the place to chill out not to work out but Dimension One Spas has created the Aquatic Fitness System an underwater gym. The workout offers low impact exercises to tone, shape and enhance flexibility while suspended in water. It can be used for rehabilitation and for more hardcore athletes. It lets you swim, stretch and row while immersed in water and also has an area for just relaxing. The water is cleaned with ozone and UV light and the exteriors are made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs. There are three different models ranging from $29,995 to $44,995.

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Tags: fitness, spa, water

Aerospace Fitness Center

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Ever notice that some of the fittest people you know don't use the machines in the gym? At Aerospace, a fitness center in New York founded by Micahel Olahide, a former middleweight boxer and fitness consultant, and Leila Fazel, a former ballet dancer and a co-creator of Ian Schrager Hotels' Agua luxury spas, the emphasis is on the activities rather than the machines. There are a variety of Aero branded classes including Aerobox, Aerojump, and Aerosculpt which help create a sleek and healthy body. They call it the "most savage and serene workout experience on the planet."

The Aerospace facility is a two-story, 7,000 square-foot fitness center with studios, open space for personalized programs and sparring, an impact training center with boxing equipment, Aeropods that offer personal audio/video projection training and meditation rooms, relaxation suites for reflexology and massage.

Visitors to the city can get a version of the Aerospace experience at the gorgeous Julian Schnabel-designed Gramercy Park Hotel which has an Aerospace fitness center and an Aerospa facility.

Gallery: Aerospace Fitness Center

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Tags: aerospace, exercise, fitness, gramercy park hotel, GramercyParkHotel, gym, new york city, NewYorkCity

Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

With colder weather coming, many people are moving their fitness routines indoors. Pierce Mattie PR raves about the Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer. The machine is an elliptical trainer designed for home use. Features to love about this machine include a built-in fan and computer technology that communicates via infrared (IR) beam with Palm OS software so you can have your fitness info downloaded to your Palm device. The machine can be used with a pushing or pulling upper body motion or can be used to just offer a lower body workout. The console has a large message window, motivational track and can be programmed with eight user-specific workout programs. It sells for $4,595.

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Tags: cross trainer, elliptical trainer, exercise equipment, fitness, gym, startrac

Technogym Kinesis Gold Edition Home Gym

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

I've seen golden dumbells before but never an entire gold home gym. Technogym has unveiled a Gold Edition version of their Kinesis equipment, a home gym that is mounted to the wall and lets you do around 200 different exercises without taking up a lot of floor space. The machine helps strengthen the main muscle groups and improve flexibility and balance. The gold look is applied with gold foil. The machine costs around 10,000 euros and is also available in other finishes.

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Tags: fitness, health, home gym, kinesis, technogym

Vibrate Yourself Skinny

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

I once went to a gym that had those old machines where you would strap a vibrating belt around your waist to whittle your middle. It seemed so antiquated but the idea that you can vibrate your way to thinness is back in a big way. The new version is called Whole Body Vibration and promises all the benefits of real exercise in just 10 minutes a few times a week. You stand on a steel plate and receive strong vibrations which are supposed to do increase bone density and muscle tone as well as help reduce cellulite. The newest place to check this out is the Z Med Spa in Pasadena, California. The owner has a new blog documenting her success with the machine. The machine can also be found in some gyms and can be bought for home use. You can buy a personal one on eBay for $3,500.

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Tags: exercise, exercise equipment, fitness, health

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