Get Your Sweat On!

So far I’ve talked quite a bit about how to make smart choices about supplements and groceries, but what about exercise? I tapped my fellow fitness friends and asked them: “Where do you get your fitness deals?” (Besides, of course, being an I Want to Walk the Talk-er!).  Here’s what I found:
 
Free Pilates Classes:
Pilates Chicago offers free community classes every Sunday taught by instructors in training go to www.pilateschicago.net for more information.
 
Healthy Results, Ltd will be offering free Pilates classes every other Wednesday starting April 6th at Lululemon in Lincoln Park on Halsted and Armitage. Contact Lululemon at (773) 883-8860 for info.
 
Free Yoga:
If you live in the area, the South Loop location of Core Power Yoga will let you try their yoga classes free for one week, no strings attached; just show up a half an hour before a class begins. Visit http://www.corepoweryoga.com/southloop for more info.
 
The Sun-Times did a comprehensive review of the yoga studios in Chicago and the suburbs.
 
More Free Fitness:
Millennium Park will be offering free fitness classes starting in June through September.
 
Go to www.gymticket.com and download passes to hundreds of local gyms that will allow you to work out for free for up to a week. (New clients only.)
 
Purchase the Chicago Fitness Pass for 325 free passes to 85 different clubs and studios in the area.
 
Call POW Kickboxing in the West Loop at (312) 829-7699 to sign up for a free class, or go to www.powkickboxing.com
 
Self Magazine’s Workout in the Park takes place on Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine.
 
Affordable Exercise Equipment:
To create your own home gym, all you need is a band, ball and two sets of free weights. Power Systems by far was the favorite vendor among the fitness professionals I spoke with.
 
Another great find is www.half.com, an eBay company where you can find fantastic deals on used and new fitness DVD’s and books!
 
Play it Again Sports ranked high for treadmills, bicycles and other exercise gear.
 
To purchase affordable yoga equipment, try Yoga Direct at www.yogadirect.com.
 
For those who are set on going green, Eco Wise Fitness offers fitness products without all the nasty chemicals – phalate- and BPA-free. Head to www.ecowisefitness.com.
 
Fit Bottomed Girls reviews fitness books, DVDs and conducts interviews with fitness celebs and trainers. They will also offer freebies, sales and deals! Sassy and fun, they are the real deal.
 
Of course you can always try out is always Amazon, eBay and Craigslist. I did find one especially cool thing on Craigslist – discounted spa deals. Go under Services, then Beauty; hairstylists getting ready to start in a salon are always looking for “hair models” as well as “ hand and foot” models for manis and pedis. Some ask for drastic changes, while others just want to do a cut, typically for the price of the product – around $10-$25. And yes, they look for both male and female models.
 
Summer begins, June 21st – will you be ready?
 
Healthy Regards,
 
Jasmine