A Few Words on What We Do from the Owner

Bill Barba, owner of Silhouette urban mind~body fitness has a long history in the fitness industry. He started working out in gyms when he was only 13. It became an obsession for him to find the right way to do things, which meant extensive reading and trying every exercise he could find.

"People need to know that the human body is the most complicated thing in the world," Barba explains, "People think they can just alter it without the knowledge of how it works." He believes that is the reason people fail to reach their fitness goals. They do not have the knowledge of how to do it and they don't know how to get that information. "Come into Silhouette and get an education," he implores.

Eventually Bill worked his way up from floor trainer to managing and owning local gyms here in Brooklyn. However, he was not satisfied with the culture in these gyms. He would watch the way people were treated and the way they experienced the gym. In particular he would notice women fall into what he calls, "the 30 day trap."

"They didn't have a shot. Most gyms are completely male dominated. Women need weights to stave off osteoporosis but the weight room can be very intimidating to women." He explains they would show up a few times in that first 30 days, get discouraged and then you would never see them again.

Bill felt it was really horrific the way women were being treated in gyms so he decided to create an environment that catered to them. After visiting existing female-only gyms in the area he became even more outraged. He recounts, "The women's health clubs are more prejudiced towards women than the co ed ones!" The equipment was bottom of the line, the locker rooms were dirty and they didn't offer everything needed for a complete fitness experience. Bill saw it as an act of disrespect toward women.

When developing the idea Bill went into and studied every gym he could find. In his travels he managed to see gyms around the country as well. "Gyms in L.A. are fantastic, they have everything." This guided his vision toward using equipment that was top of the line which meant shipping the Freemotion machines in from California.

Overall, the gym is catered toward to women with a great aesthetic, great equipment and great training. When asked why put a women's only health club in Bay Ridge he responds, "Gyms like this are needed everywhere. This is where I'm from so it's a blessing for me to bring it to my neighborhood."

As a final thought Bill proudly states, "Not only is this the best gym for women, it's the best gym in town period."

Breath, That Helps

Lately I've been posting articles for Silhouette's Facebook page and, as you may have noticed, a theme is emerging for the time of year. I try to choose articles that appeal to me because I figure they will also appeal to our members. Then as I look back over them I see a clear message that I have been sending to myself. "It's the holiday season and you are stressed!"

Here are the most useful articles I've found for identifying what's going on inside us between Thanksgiving and New Years and how to deal with it. Rather than let Holiday stress and eating ruin your work at the health club all year, use your work outs to moderate the stress.

I know from past experience that this is my "gaining" time of year, which is to be expected. I also know I'll be working it off again in the spring.

Still, you can't get carried away. It turns out as we get older there is still one net pound that will hang on if we let it. Over the course of a lifetime this could add up to 50-60 pounds! That is one good reason to keep chipping away at your gym goals through the holidays.

However, that is only part of the story. For me, the biggest reason to keep at it is mental. An article from WebMD put it best with their subheading "Food and Feelings: The Holiday Double Whammy." They make the argument that really it's emotional cues that make us overeat around this time of year. There are the positive and the negative. On the positive side, you want to go out with your friends, coworkers, and spend time spoiling your family. On the negative, old feelings can get stirred up with people you only see once a year. Also, there is the stress associated with holiday shopping and planning in a year when many of us are feeling pinched financially.

The Holiday Stress Survival Kit from about.com quotes Lucy Gilles-Khouri, Director of Dean/St. Mary's Healthworks at St. Mary's Hospital saying, "The holidays can play havoc with our health. In winter we tend to crave fats and sweets, but ironically, the more fat and sugar we eat, the less energy we have, and the more stressed and run down we feel." So, even though they may feel comforting going into your mouth, the effects of sugar and fat actually have the opposite effect on your body. The about.com article makes the point that Holiday stress is something that is real and should not be ignored.

The consensus on holiday stress and stress in general is first to be conscious of it and then take active steps to ease it. Women in particular feel pressure to please everyone to the extent that they feel guilty spending quality time on themselves. Recognize the things that get you stressed about and remind yourself that it is temporary and not worth ruining your health over. Make it a priority to give yourself a little time to decompress and don't make that time passive, sitting in front of the television eating macaroons. Make it something where you are actively stopping and focusing. Meditation and yoga are great for this. Of course a quick 20 minutes on the treadmill could also do the trick!

Here are some ideas from the Holiday Survival Kit:

• Have a positive attitude.
• Try not to worry about things out of your control.
• Problem solve with people around you. Ask them to help you alleviate stress.
• Exercise. A few extra minutes of exercise a day can benefit your overall health.
• Eat Nutritional food. Decrease the amount of fat and sugar you eat.
• Meditate, or take a class in relaxation and stretching techniques --like Tai Chi or Yoga.
• Avoid drinking caffeinated beverages.
• Rest. Try to get eight hours of sleep each day.
• Get a massage. A massage can be beneficial for the mind and body.

Another idea from Divine Caroline's Julia Allison is to make a list of all the things that really make you happy. I really like this one because it's not about what could make you happy, it's all the specific little things that you do everyday that you enjoy.

A condensed version of my list:

• Listening to NPR podcasts like This American Life while cooking dinner
• The reaction of my boyfriend when he eats the dinner I made
• Putting the dryer sheets in the wastebasket and being able to smell them all week like air freshener
• Meeting friends to go running
• Playing and singing songs with my acoustic guitar
• Hearing people's stories about how exercise has changed their lives

It's actually those silly little things that I add to my routine that make them interesting to me. It may not look glamorous but it does make me feel more content just looking at it.

So back to my original point. I have been feeling a bit frustrated feeling like the work I've done with running this year is taking a back seat with all the extra things I have to do and eat. Also, I'm definitely feeling stressed thinking about Christmas shopping and figuring out how to do it within my means. That's why I think it's important to recognize that it is not my imagination. These are real stressors. Also it is O.K. to make something like running a real priority even if it happens a bit less. At least when I'm running I am limiting some of the effects of my mother's delicious cookies. Also, it's time spent breathing deep and not stressing. Really, I am doing it for the people around me because they will like dealing with me a lot better after I've been running and decompressing than when I'm wound up with shopping anxiety.

For those of you who are not gym junkies by nature, exercise will give you the same de-stressing side effects and as an added benefit you'll know that if you can make it in now it will be smooth sailing come swimsuit season!

Don't forget to take advantage of our specials if you need extra incentive. This is the only time of year we offer this many discounts.

Give the Gift of Health for the Holidays

O.K., we know you're busy. You have so much shopping to do, meals to cook, parties to go to and people to entertain. The last thing you want is to try to fit one more thing into your schedule. Then again, a trip to the gym might be just what you need! It's a fact that most people gain weight over the holidays and that weight could add up obesity later in life. One study found that people gain around a pound a year that they never lose, which adds up to 50 to 60 extra pounds if you live to a ripe old age!

So here's our idea at Silhouette. Why not do some holiday multi-tasking and save yourself and your friends the extra pounds as well as extra cash? Instead of inviting them to a holiday feast set-up a gym date on us!

We have created cards that you can give as gifts to your best girlfriends (stop by the front desk to pick them up.) They will get 2 week all access passes to our gym as well as a chance at some holiday offers for trying us out.

Of course, we want to give gifts to you too as our loyal members. If your friends like what they see and decide to join we have an array of presents for you too!

Bring in One Friend Who Joins & Receive a Gift Bag With:
* 1 Complimentary Personal Training Session
* 1 Complimentary Month
* $10 Gift Certificate
* & Many Other Surprises!

Bring in Two Friends Who Join & Receive a Gift Basket With:
* 2 Complimentary Personal Training Sessions
* 2 Complimentary Months
* $25 Gift Certificate
* & Many Other Surprises!

Bring in Three Friends Who Join & Receive a Gift Basket With:
* 3 Complimentary Personal Training Sessions
* 3 Complimentary Months
* $100 Gift Certificate
* & Many Other Surprises!

But that is not all, oh no, that is not all!

Our personal trainers want to pass on the gift of good health to you too.

$100 off Any Personal Training Package of Your Choice
+ 1 Complimentary Personal Training Session

OR

Partner Up & Split a Personal Training Package!

Stop by the front desk to sign up for the package split and we'll find your partner for you.

Let the gift giving season begin!

Black Friday Sales Alert!

Black Friday is approaching and we wanted to let you know about some neighboring sales here in Bay Ridge!

First, our partners in the running world Tri & Run For Your Life is having a One Day Sale for the athletes on your shopping list. Big items like Garmin and Wetsuits are on the list as well as sporting nutrition stocking stuffers. If some one got me the Chocolate Outrage GU (with real Belgian chocolate) I would love them forever and I'm sure the runner in your life would too!

Then all the girls at the gym are in a frenzy about their fave boutique's Black Friday offerings. Lola's Boutique is kicking off a season of sales with chocolate martinis and truffles! Check out their blog and stop by the store to take advantage of the savings that range from 5%-45% off!

Where Health meets Hedonism

Health often comes out sounding like a dirty word. When something on a restaurant menu is labeled as a "healthy option" the taste of cardboard may come to mind. The assumption is, if it is healthy it is boring.

Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary defines it this way:

health
noun (/helθ/ n [U] )

1. the condition of the body and the degree to which it is
   free from illness, or the state of being well to be in good/poor health
   Regular exercise is good for your health.
   I had to give up drinking for health reasons.
   He gave up work because of
   ill-health.
   


2. the condition of something that changes or develops, such
   as an organization or system
   the financial health of the
   business

(Definition of health noun from the Cambridge
Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

Essentially health is strength and the freedom to move as we desire because there are no physical constraints due to illness or injury. Unfortunately, health takes on the conotation of being a buzzkill when it means having to give up things that you may enjoy like drinking. As is noted in the definition exercise is also often given the same wrap. The idea of leaving the cozy couch to run around, cause your heart to race and sweat to pour sounds like the furthest thing from enjoyable.

On the other hand we have hedonism:

hedonism
noun
/ˈhed.ən.ɪ.zəm/ n [U]
living and
behaving in ways that mean you get as much pleasure out of life as possible, according to the belief that the most important thing in life is to enjoy yourself

(Definition of hedonism noun from the Cambridge
Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

When you think of hedonism, you may get an image of some one running full force at life. Some one doing things he or she enjoys at the moment the impulse occurs. Contrary to giving up drinking you would expect a person to engage in a lot of drinking.

Perhaps it is partly these conceptions that make it so hard for some people to truly lead a happy and balanced life. Then everything that is healthy sounds like the antithesis of fun and pleasure is taking fun things to the extreme.

From the front desk of our gym I see people at different stages of physical fitness and happiness everyday. Honestly, I think the biggest thing that separates some one who is successful in their fitness goals with some one who is miserable and not getting results is a basic mental shift. If you can make a switch in your brain that working out feels good because it releases endorphins, that it's time you can clear your head, that it makes you feel alive and that you can't wait to work yourself out; it's going to have a very different impact. If you enjoy exercising it becomes pure pleasure. Also, when you are done you can enjoy a kind of relaxation that you won't appreciate if you are relaxed all the time.

Also, a fit is often someone who experiences feelings from excessive eating or drinking as being distinctly un-pleasurable. It becomes easier to stop eating when the idea of being full sounds more uncomfortable than soothing.

Drinking and eating in themselves are pleasurable things, which is why some one with a healthy attitude is not some one who is trying to restrict those things entirely. It is more about the recognizing when something pleasurable becomes excessive. It is also knowing when something that seems difficult in the beginning will make it more rewarding with a little work.

Everyone has good days and bad days at the gym. A commitment to fitness is not easy and you often have to chip away at it for years to get to that sense of physical freedom. Still, an attitude that exercising is indulging in something that is extremely pleasurable and empowering is a big ally. Along with the notion that constant consumption to the point of excess and lack of motion will lead to weakness, lethargia and lack of control. In that state of mind it is the latter that becomes dull and boring.

The thing to strive for is a state of well-being:

well-being
noun
/ˌwelˈbiː.ɪŋ/ n [U]
(also wellbeing)
the state of feeling healthy and happy
People doing yoga benefit from an increased feeling of well-being.
(Definition of well-being noun from the Cambridge
Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

Apparently this Thursday afternoon I'm feeling philosophical. Next week I'll have to take on something more practical like a description of one our classes here at Silhouette.

Introducing The New Silhouette Gym Blog

Let’s face it: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is a fabulous place to live. We have tons of restaurants, great shopping, an amazing view and a richly diverse community. The city is at our fingertips with a cozy neighborhood to call home.

This blog is written from the view from the front desk of our private women’s health club in Bay Ridge, Silhouette Urban Mind-Body Fitness. It is for the benefit of our gym members and any of our community members interested in learning more about fitness, nutrition, culture and our health club. We want to help you make the most of your experience at the club and learn how to apply it to your environment here in the heart of Brooklyn.

At the gym these opportunities come in the form of the feng shui designed workout space, a smoothie/juice bar, top notch trainers, a sauna and the attentive staff.

If you have ever been curious about:

• our different trainers, their backgrounds, areas of expertise and how that can apply to your goals
• how nutrition can affect you
• recipes that are healthy and delicious
• workout ideas to suit your goals
• trends in fashion and culture worth paying attention to
• events here in Bay Ridge to complement all the great work you’ve been putting in at the gym

Well, look no further. I am here to dissect all those things as I learn about them myself. I am a fitness enthusiast who likes to sift through the trends and find the things that work. So be on the look out for updates and don’t be afraid to add your two cents!

Also connect with us on twitter and facebook to get the full scoop.