Group Exercise, of course!
Beginning in early October, Midtown, in partnership with Body Training Systems (BTS), overhauled group fitness. For those of us who need the comfort of others sweating it out beside us, or just someone to keep us motivated, group exercise classes have always been the way to go.
Group exercise classes not only offer an amazing workout, but also a way to socialize with others striving for the same goal.
Our new BTS classes include some favorites, including Group Power and Group Step, but also some new classes perfect for taking your workout to the next level.
Group Centergy
This class combines exactly what it sounds like it does: center and energy. The 60-minute workout brings together the serenity and flexibility of yoga with the strength and balance of Pilates.
Combine this with music and you are sure to experience a workout you can both enjoy and feel. Don’t let the name intimidate you. Our instructors are there every step of the way to make sure you are comfortable. Those new to the program can make simple modifications to movements until you become a Centergy professional. You are guaranteed to leave this class feeling rejuvenated and revived.
Group Kick
Looking to channel your inner Rocky? If so, Group Kick is the perfect class for you. Group Kick consists of an hour of cardio fitness combining martial arts and boxing movements. Punch, kick and sweat your way to your ultimate fitness level.
Energizing music and an exciting group dynamic ensure you leave Group Kick wanting to come back. Think that Group Kick is too intense for you? Think again! Group Kick will give you the upper body you have always wanted (think Michelle Obama shoulders) and killer thighs to rock your high heels (mile high legs). The class is also great for stress relief.
Gentlemen, we didn’t forget about you. You will not only burn calories but feel like Stallone while you are doing it.
Group Ride
If you’re a fan of our cycling classes and looking to add something new to your workout routine, Group Ride is perfect for you. This 60-minute class allows you to compete against yourself and others as you feel the burn.
Pedal faster as you race over hills and mountains strengthening your lower body. Group Ride combines different speeds and resistance levels to maximize your workout. The group dynamic allows you to push yourself and provides the ultimate motivation to get the most out of your workout. Grab life by the handlebars!
Group Core
We all struggle with toning our core. However, a strong core is the cornerstone of a strong body. Struggle no more. Group Core is a 30-minute, action-packed workout that combines functional and integrated movements using your body weight, weight plates, a towel and a platform in a variety of exercises to maximize your workout. You will crunch, reach, push and sweat to the abs of your dreams. It’s never too early to get ready for bathing suit season.
So whether you are a group exercise veteran or a taking your first class, our new BTS classes are exactly what you are looking for.
Have you taken any of the new classes? Which is your favorite?
In 1528, King Henry VIII built his first tennis court.
Of course, there is no way to know what he wore to play tennis back then, but I would guess it looked something like the wardrobe room from “Shakespeare in Love.”
About 300 years passed and someone finally came up with the “croquet sandal,” featuring a laced canvas top with a rubber sole. The original sneaker offered players a solution to those unsightly grass stains. In the late 1800’s women playing tennis begin dressing in 
aristocratic style: ground-grazing skirts with voluminous bustles, corsets, high necklines, and floppy hats.
All of which sounds REALLY uncomfortable to me.
In 1919, Suzanne Lenglen won Wimbledon in a knee-length dress with three-quarter sleeves and a widely imitated bandeau. Women reportedly walked out, calling the display “shocking.” V-neck sweaters were a slam for the men and before we knew it, tennis was changed by the croc!
René Lacoste earns the nickname “the Crocodile” after he makes a pre-match bet over a crocodile-skin suitcase. He later has a croc emblem embroidered onto his shirts and blazers. Thus we have that amazing brand we know as Lacoste! Who knew it started as a tennis brand??
1949 is what changed it all for the women. “Gorgeous” Gussy Moran scandalizes Wimbledon by revealing lace-
trimmed panties beneath her skirt. Photographers were lying flat on the ground in order to shoot her bloomers. So, THANK YOU, Gussy! Who doesn’t love tennis skirts?
Now keep in mind, color had yet to make an appearance on the court. White-on-white was the fashion must and still is at certain clubs (including those great Wimby Whites). 1970 ended the no-color era and pastels were permitted at the US Open.
Since then, we have been introduced to headbands, hot pinks, liatards, bodysuits, leopard print, and even Swarovski crystals, inspired by the Manhattan skyline. As you can see, fashion is a very important part of tennis and it seems to be bigger than ever.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer both have collections with Nike. Nadal with the ever popular Courtballistic shoes and the Rafa Bull on the front of every shirt we see. And as far as Federer goes, if you don’t know what the RF on every hat, shirt and visor stands for, then you might have been asleep for the past few years. 
Don’t worry ladies, the women are making statements left and right too, and their statements are a little more bold. We have seen full-body cat suits (and NO Halle Berry is not taking up tennis), lace, leather and everything else that does not belong on the court.
However, Venus Williams is on the fashion move with her own line – EleVen. The collection covers a wide spectrum, from performance apparel to lounge wear, accessories and footwear.
An amazing forehand and killer overhead will get you a few notches in the Win Column, but how you look while doing it is just as important!
So, who are you wearing?
Each of you has likely seen the man who hikes Midtown.
He is often spotted climbing enough stairs to get him to the top of the Empire State Building with his sweet son Austin strapped to his back.
No, he is not trying to break a record for distance traveled with a toddler attached to one’s back, but he is training for a marathon.
One per month, actually.
Keith Clemens is running 26.2 miles a month for one year. Although Keith has been a Midtown member since 2000, his fitness passion started about 30 years ago.
When Keith was in his early 20s and graduating college, he promised himself that he would never become a “middle-aged fat guy.” So, 30 or so years later, he turned the big 5-0 and to celebrate the gift of life, he decided to train for and run one marathon per month.”
Most people who turn 50 celebrate the fact that they hit a significant milestone. Keith took it a step further.
Not only has he learned a great deal about himself, but he has also met some amazing people along the way, including cancer survivors, body warriors, charity runners, and formerly overweight folks), each of whom now have a special place in his heart.
One group, in particular, stuck out: The Marathon Maniacs. The minimum criterion for membership is two marathons within 16 days of one another, or 11 marathons within 12 months. That means Keith will be eligible by December.
The first marathon Keith ran was at Calloway Gardens, and it turned out to be his most enjoyable marathon. His trek has taken him all over the US, including Florida, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Utah, and it will continue over the next six months.
Keith is running for the love of the sport, but he’s also running for charity. He is asking for donations of either $26 (*wink wink*) or $52, and every penny will go to our club’s Junior Squash Program. Hop aboard this crazy train and follow Keith as he runs 312 miles.
For more information on this amazing Midtowner, or to contribute to his quest, check out his website.
Have you ever run a marathon?
The Seven Wonders of the World list was compiled over the ages to catalogue the most spectacular man-made constructions and natural landscapes in the world.
I have explored the club from top to bottom, talked to associates and members, and compiled our own little “Wonder List.” Whether you have been a member for 20 years or 20 minutes, here are some Midtown secrets that you need to know!MORE
