Gift guide, Part Deux

More gifts!....

Want cool workout clothes NOW?
Nau is a gorgeous new outdoor apparel company that makes good-looking, eco-conscious performance wear from organic or recycled materials (organic cotton, recycled polyester, cruelty-free wool, etc). Whether you ski, hike, bike, stretch or shvitz on a cardio machine, they’ve got stuff that’ll make you look cool and put-together…definitely an upgrade from, say, my orange cotton sports bra, 1994-era Gap shorts and tee shirt that reads “VARSITY CHEERLEADING - JESSICA!” (OK, so I’m living vicariously through my sister-in-law - you gotta problem with that?)

Nau (pronounced “now”) just opened a store in downtown Chicago and I love that they make cozy tops with thumb holes and pants that reach past my ankle. You can also buy non-workout apparel, like sexy-but-casual dresses and cute hoodie sweaters. The company uses the most sustainable methods available and 5% of every sale goes towards a humanitarian, environmental, or social charity that you, the buyer, determine (from among a pre-selected list, including Heifer International and Mercy Corps). I tried the Sequence Sleeveless Top, which has funky straps that highlight a toned back while providing good coverage in the front (I didn’t have to tug at it to cover my torso during a 90-minute Yoga class - a feat considering my torso is longer than Gary Coleman himself. The Sequence Pant is a treat to wear, too – the waistband has a subtle crossover V that dips below the belly button (not to worry – full coverage in back eliminates Downward Dog Plumber’s Crack).

(https://www.nau.com/, Top, $39, Pants, $60)

Bounce with me, bounce with me
OK, so we all know how obsessed I became this summer with adidas’s running skirt. I even dreamed of appearing in a commercial for them – a goal not yet achieved, but oh how I wish it were so.

My TV debut aside, adidas has a brand new running shoe out called the Supernova Cushion 7, an improved version of (you guessed it!) the Supernova Cushion 6. It has an antimicrobial step-in sockliner, is lightweight and breathable and comes in varying widths.

(http://www.adidas.com/campaigns/usrunning/content/, $90)



Lean and mean
The first (and, admittedly, only) time I’ve done Pilates in a studio, I was taking advantage of a free-session offer at a new neighborhood place. To be honest, it was just eh, but I think that’s because it was an intro class and the teacher was a) going way easy on us and b) trying to show us a zillion different moves in an hour. Plus, we didn’t get a chance to try the torture device-looking Reformer, which is really the only reason I’d want to take classes there. I do recall a core move called The Hundred, in which we lifted out legs in the air so they formed a V shape with our torso and then vigorously fluttered our arms up and down by our sides, quickly breathing as if in labor.
But I know people who absolutely swear by the exercise and have seen a good number of long, lean torsos which claim to owe their success to Pilates. So I gave it another shot with the Gaiam Pilates Body Sculpting Workout Kit. Hosted by certified Pilates instructor Ana Cabán, the half-hour DVD teaches you how to properly use the 8" lavender PVC sculpting ball which comes with the kit – moves target your hips, butt, abs and thighs. You could definitely bring the combo with you while traveling (the ball is virtually indestructible – my husband, who has a bad back, has lately taken to writhing around on the ground with the orb under his shoulder blade, alternatively shouting out expletives and “Oh, yeah, that’s the spot.” And frankly, anything that makes my guy do that is a welcome addition in our household.)

(www.anacaban.com, $20.00)



See the light
As luck would have it, the night my husband and I rented Waitress with Keri Russell, our DVD player was on the fritz. And by “on the fritz,” I mean we JUST had it fixed but I neglected to properly write down instructions on how to make it work and all I have is a random paper towel, on which I’ve cryptically written “Component 1, change ONKYO to DVD.”

So it was fate that I’d received a sample of the Coby DVD 7307 that day. It’s a lightweight, portable DVD player that you can take with you on long airplane trips so you needn’t be bored to tears by Jumanji or whatever family-friendly flick they’re playing. The 7-inch screen is small enough to keep your neighbor’s prying eyes away, and yet Dan and I were able to cuddle together in bed, prop the puppy on a pillow and watch The Actress Formerly Known As Felicity in all of her pie-making glory. (The screen also swivels 180 degrees so you can fold it flat, tablet style). This would be great to have if you’re stuck in a hotel room and wanted to do a yoga video or maybe even the Ana Cabán Pilates Body Sculpting Workout Kit!

(http://www.cobyusa.com/_en/prod_item.php?item=TFDVD7307&pcat=dvd&pscat=port_dvd&pscat2= ; $134.99)

Comments

Hey, Leslie!
I started taking Pilates on the Reformer a little over a year ago, and I'm hooked. (I'm actually training to be a Pilates teacher now.) If you have a chance to try it, you'll probably like it. The main drawback is the expense. Sometimes though, a studio will charge less for a class with student teachers. Or some YMCA type gyms have a lower, drop-in rate for their classes.

This workout gear looks great! Love the top!

Alyssa, thanks for the update! And congrats on pursuing teaching - that's awesome. You're right, I probably would like it...just need to give it another shot or two.