REVIEW: Zumba @ Studio 64 in West L.A.

Don’t let the pretty lights fool you, the front two rows WILL get sweat.

I came upon the Zumba class at Studio 64 via my cousin Pamela who happened to have tried it once and finds herself privy to their barre classes. When you first walk into this inconspicuous storefront off of Pico Blvd., it looks like a boutique. You would expect someone to sell you a pretty couture dress versus working out. However, this is most likely due to the patrons and it being primarily geared towards barre and ballet classes.

Their Zumba classes are currently featured three times a week: Tuesday nights at 8pm, Friday mid-day and Saturday mid-day. The most popular classes are taught by a gentleman named Carlos… “Really?!” I thought…

While the class was getting filled up, Carlos makes a grand entrance out of nowhere and yells a very colorful, “HELLOOOOOOO!!!” to the crowd. These are a mix of ladies on the Westside, not really the kind of rowdy crowd for cheering for an aerobics class. Carlos was relentless to get some cheers and thus the tone was set. “This is a PARTY!” he’d say.

The choreography was fairly easy to follow. He incorporated a lot more hopping, jumping and arm movement than I am used to and was heavier on the Salsa/Cumbia side with a dash of Flamenco and African moves. Needless to say, 30-45 minutes into it, I already wanted to die. My arms were tired, I was slow on the uptake for hitting the notes and next thing I know – a fan of crowd participation, Carlos pulls myself and my cousin to the front of the class during the hardest choreography… high intensity shuffling to Party Rock Anthem!

At the end of the class, I already felt the soreness sink in. Good sign! I’d definitely recommend this as a great first timer Zumba class to anyone in West Los Angeles. First timers get a free week’s worth of classes as well!

Studio 64
10587-B West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 446-8888

http://studio64fitness.com/

Zumba Classes are Tuesday @ 8:00P
Friday & Saturday Classes @ 12:30P

Chocolate Milkshake: A Good After-Workout Drink?

Chocolate Milkshakes Yield the Same After Workout Benefits as the More Expensive Fitness Drinks

Everyone feels the burn of workout in the end; that’s why many athletes and body builders consume protein shakes or strange concoctions to help speed up muscle recovery so that they can continue their regimen. But, what is the most efficient drink? It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. However, for your typical muscle recovery drink, it seems like the best choice is chocolate milk. Apparently, tests have shown that regular chocolate milk has the same, if not better, recovery effects than the pricier after workout drinks. Your simple low-fat chocolate milkshake is actually packed with some pretty important nutrients for your muscles. A lot of expensive products pump in a ton of carbs, fats, and protein for a high price, but a low costing chocolate milkshake does practically the same.

Studies have shown that when you drink a chocolate milkshake after your workout, the protein and carbs in the milk help your muscles refuel to heal more quickly. The protein in milk has shown to assist in building the lean muscle made during workout and also help quickly repaired exhausted muscles. Also there have been studies that show that the milk in the milkshake helps provide the body with rehydration and minerals that help athletes recover quicker such as calcium and potassium.

It’s very simple to prepare too, you simply need some good milk and chocolate milk powder (I suggest that more so than the syrup because the syrup tends to have less of the bad stuff you don’t want). You could also enhance your chocolate milk with some chocolate milkshake protein mix, though that’s only if you have the cash to burn on it.

Kinesio Tape: Not Just the Athlete’s Fashion Statement

Remember Seeing this Around in the Olympics this Year?

 

So a while ago during the 2012 Olympic events in London, I realized that some of the athletes had some crazy looking tape around their body. Initially I thought it was just some aesthetic tape to look cool, but after doing some research I found out that the tape has a name and it might actually be useful for athletes. The stuff is called Kinesio tape and it supposedly works by sticking to your skin adhesively to help regulate your lymphatic flow, consequently helping reduce inflammation. This essentially assists in reducing pain and swelling in the affected area. Dr. Kenzo Kase, creator of the Kinesio tape, says that this is a good alternative to traditional tapes and straps, which he says reduces the flow of the inflammatory fluids and prevents proper healing. However, does this stuff actually work? Dr. Kase isn’t the first person to implement such an idea; this stuff has been around since the 70’s. However, his specific variant and society, known as the International Kinesio Taping Association has only been around for a few years, so there’s only been a few studies to prove the effects of this tape. So does the tape actually work? The functionality of the Kinesio tape has been varied with those who use it claiming it does and others who are skeptical. Some believe that it could all just be another “Placebo Effect” treatment.  Regardless of its growing popularity, we can’t really know for sure if it works or not until there are enough studies. I don’t think it will be a big loss to try it as the tape is on sale for a 5.99$ on the official website.

Vibrams: Are they Safe?

Following their Recent Lawsuit, Do You Think These Shoes are Safe?

 

Do the Vibram brand “Five Fingered Toe” shoes work? With their recent lawsuit against them for supposedly making fraudulent health claims, you’ll have to wonder whether these barefoot simulating shoes really work. People like myself typically look up reviews for product to make sure we’re not burning on money on things that don’t work. On first view, you’ll see a lot of positive reviews on how the Vibrams are a great product. Some people state that it helped their postures. Athletes who use this for running claim that the Vibram shoes helped them increase their leg and feet strength. This is popularly believed because Vibram shoes simulate barefoot running, which initial studies claim is beneficial for improved mobility and strength. However, in the current lawsuit against Vibram, there have been studies that claim that there are insufficient studies to properly prove that the claims that Vibrams make are true. The evidence suggests that there is less shock absorbency for runners who are rear foot strikers, opposite of the accompanying evidence showing that forefoot striking runners benefit from this. Also, there are several health risks that must be considered when considering the benefits of barefoot running or running with Vibram shoes or similar. That is not to say that Vibrams do not deliver. In this end, this is all a matter of opinion, which involves some intensive research to get to your preference. In retrospect, it could be that those reviewers of Vibrams do truly benefit them and can be a good asset for runners. In the end, it’s up to you to decide.

Acai Fruit: A Miracle Fruit?

Does This Miracle Fruit Do What Many Claim it Does?

 

If you been to your local health store, you probably have seen some health and diet supplements with acai berry in it. Acai berries are small, berry-like fruits from South Africa and it’s been subjugated to a lot of  “weight Loss Miracle” claims. Does this little fruit actually have the potential health and weight loss benefits that many claim? The answer is both yes and no.  There have been a TON of claims for the benefits of acai berry, including but not limited to improving digestion and immunity, improves cardiovascular health, and enhancement of mental clarity and vision. These claims are what make the acai berry sound like a super fruit, however most of these claims are pure speculation. The main “plus” to the acai berry is its weight loss capabilities. This is true to a certain extent and unfortunately acai promoters tend to overinflate this property. In reality, acai does indeed help the body with its high antioxidant content. This actually helps reduce diseases that increase in likelihood through aging such as hear disease and cancer. Also, the antioxidant helps with athletes and fitness enthusiasts as it helps you rid your body of free radicals. Free radicals in your system are bad because it can contribute to the health diseases that occur with aging and with prolonged sun exposure. Free radicals affect live cells in the body, which has many potentially harmful affects to anyone, which is how these debilitating effects occur. In regards to dieting, there have been many who have reported a reduced appetite, but these are not fully supported with much research. For all we know, this can just be a placebo effect that people go through thinking they will lose weight. In the end, it does seem that the acai berry has potential benefits for those who need dieting or are in training, but there are many alternatives that yield the same effect. When it comes to the weight loss, acai has been shown to assist this, but it is best to stick to a strict diet and regular exercise. This makes it more cost efficient, as you don’t need to throw money away on potential fraud distributors.

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