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By smartworkoutmidtown, on March 23rd, 2012 
Stability balls are a great tool to incorporate into your workout. They can provide a challenge or be used as a modification to help proper form during an exercise. Either way, they are a toy that should be utilized!
Here are 3 great strength and toning exercises that can be done using a stability ball:
- Stability Ball Pushup- This is a great way to modify a pushup or make it more challenging on the core and chest. Lay down with your stomach or pelvis on the ball and place your hands below your shoulders when the body is fully extended. Bend and extend the elbows, as your upper body lowers and lifts. For a more challenging version, place the ball underneath the ankles or shins and try the pushup there!
- Pelvic Lift and Squeeze- Lying down on your back, place the stability ball inbetween your shins. Slowly squeeze in on the ball with the legs as you simultaneously lift your pelvis up off of the mat. Hold the elevated pelvis for 10 seconds and then relax down to the mat.
- Crunches-Lying down on your back on the stability ball with your shoulders slightly off of the top of the ball, slowly lift and lower your upper back off of the ball, while isolating the rest of your body. This exercise challenges the abdominals and core by allowing a larger range of motion, as well as the increased difficulty in stabilizing the ball beneath your body.
By smartworkoutmidtown, on March 13th, 2012  The owner of Smart Workout, Elaine Platt, is constantly saying that, “the best workout is the one that you do!” This rings true to many of us who are often bored doing the same type of cardio, for the same duration of time and the same weight training exercises day after day. Boredom and a perceived lack of time are the two main reasons that exercisers fall off of the wagon.
There are many things that you can do to combat this boredom at the gym. Get out of your regular routine and try some or all of these suggestions:
1.) Interval Training
o Focus on different muscle groups each day, never working the same muscles consecutive days (with the exception of abs)
o Add short bursts of cardio 2-3 minutes, into your strength training to break up the repetition
2.) Incorporate Different Equipment
o Utilize various apparatus and equipment. Don’t only use the circuit machines or free weights. Begin to experiment with resistance bands, medicine balls, physioballs, hand and ankle weights.
3.) Try New Things
o Take some classes and start to integrate that into your weekly routine. Participate in a variety of classes to allow both mental and physical engagement. Try not to take only one type of class, experiement and challenge your body with a total body class one day and yoga the next.
4.) Switch It Up
o Try to avoid routine at the gym. Although similarity works for some people, most are bored doing the same thing each day. Take a class one day; the next day do strength training with cardio intervals; try pilates the following day; and take a step or spin class the day after that! This type of variation will prevent boredom and keep both your mind and body on its toes!
-written by Gillian Rinaldo, Senior Fitness Assistant
By smartworkoutmidtown, on March 2nd, 2012 Just one quick google search will prove that Fitness Vacations- or Fitness and Spa excursions- are slowly gaining speed and popularity in the fitness world. These types of vacations are usually in an exotic area or a desolate and quite area. You focus on healthy eating, exercise, and rest and relaxation. Well, who wouldn’t want that?
 However, for those of us that don’t feel like shlepping on an airplane and traveling to a resort in the middle of no-where, maybe we want to stay a little closer to home. Smart Workout now has your answer!
Since Spring is slowly sneaking in, Smart Workout’s Fitness Vacation will now feature our Spring activity line up- including the Orchid Show at the NYC Botanical Gardens, walks along the Cloisters, and a full excursion of the newly designed Highline Park.
The best part of OUR Fitness Vacation- you can choose how YOU want to vacation- a week, a weekend, whether you are close to the city and want to stay for the weekend, want to visit family and make it a healthy trip where you can see new parts of the city and learn healthy eating habits, or live in Manhattan and just want to take a little time for yourself, we’ve got you covered!
Ready to really immerse in a healthy habit and indulge in the city full of culture and fun? Our next vacation begins on March 25th, so registration is open now! Learn more here.
I don’t know about you, but I’m REALLY looking forward to the Spring!
By smartworkoutmidtown, on February 24th, 2012  When we work out without a script, sometimes we forget to include important body parts in our routine. Some of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint, often referred to as the rotator cuff, may be among these forgotten body parts.
The purpose of rotator cuff exercises is to strengthen the muscles which rotate the upper arm within the shoulder joint. These muscles do not lift the arm, but they turn it. A great way to work your rotator cuff is to do an exercise lying on your side. Lie on your left side with your legs slightly bent and stacked one on top of the other. Extend your left arm away from your body along the floor and rest your left ear on it to support your neck and head. Using a LIGHT weight in your right hand, keeping the upper part of your right arm pinned to your side, and keeping your right elbow at a ninety degree angle, lift the weight in an arc, then lower it. The forearm of your right arm should move from parallel to the floor to an almost vertical position, and then back. This is one repetition. Repeat for a set and then repeat for the left shoulder lying on your right side.
The rotator cuff muscles are important for the strength and stability of the shoulder joint. Strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff can improve that stability in a healthy shoulder, and may also be recommended for those recovering from shoulder injury.
By smartworkoutmidtown, on February 17th, 2012  In recent years, exercise has been recognized as not only a way to stay toned and in shape, but also to boost general health and overall well-being. Cardiovascular exercise promotes the release of endorphins, or our bodies very own “feel good” receptors. Endorphins are known to promote a number of benefits, including controlling feelings of stress and frustration, and regulating production of growth and sex hormones. Along with giving you a general sense of well being, improving appetite and sleep, and making the heart and lungs work more efficiently, regular exercise is also known to give a positive glow to your skin. By allowing the skin to breathe when sweat is released, exercise rejuvinates your pores. Rosiness of complexion, or a natural “glow,” is a sign of good health.
There are no specific exercises for obtaining this natural “glow”. Basically, doing any kind of exercise, that gets your heart pumping, for at least thirty minutes a day will do the trick of getting you that super fit glow. An extra bonus in trying to obtain that much sought after glow is to workout outdoors running, jogging, or cycling. Simply being outside in nature, even if you reside in a city, is an amazing way to feel energized and connected to your surroundings. A trick to finding out if you are getting the best workout possible, and making sure your heart rate is elevated, is if you are sweating. Sweating is the body’s way of naturally detoxifying certain chemicals that our bodies are exposed to. Sweat also purges our bodies of toxins that can clog the pores and plaque skin with pimples and blemishes. Just make sure to cleanse and moisturize skin right after your workout, so that this plaque and bacteria doesn’t get clogged in the pores.
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What is Smart Workout? Smart Workout is a gym in midtown Manhattan, NYC, specializing in personal training, small group exercise classes, and Weight Loss programs. Smart Workout also offers all-inclusive vacations for fitness and weight loss, set against the rich cultural background of New York City.
FREE PASS OFFER
Enjoy a FREE Personal Training or 3 small group classes, (must all be taken on the same day). Simply fill in your name and email below, and we will send a free pass to you.
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