welcome to elaney!

We’ve been checking out pretty much anything in that new shopping center beside the St. Regis.  Dry Bar, Headed to STG Trattoria tonight, even the new B. Braithwaite (this version of the chic baby store actually didn’t make us feel as claustrophobic as the last – it’s a bit more spacious).

And, of course, we’ve been dying to try Flywheel!  Not only because we love trendy spots and not only because we love to spin, but also because Flywheel has stolen all of the best spin teachers from LA Fitness (where we slum it typically work out).

So did Flywheel knock us off our feet?  Was it out of this world?  (Sorry, for the bad pun…and the post title).  Honestly, yes.  Sigh.  When are we going to learn to listen to Say Yes to the Dress and not try on things out of our budget??  The space is what you’d imagine: the really clean, industrial look we often see with boutique work out spots.  The bikes are awesome, and the teachers are legit.  They even have a big board on the wall where you can race the other members of the class (great for those of us with a healthy competitive spirit).  The cost is $25 a ride or $400 a month.  So it’s not going to be the everyday work out for this girl, but it’s definitely worth a spin!

Few things here.  So, to start, the title of the post has nothing to do with what we’re about to write about, but “Ev’ry Thug Needs a Lady” came on in spin class yesterday, and we thought to ourselves, as we often ponder blog posts while exercising, that there had to be a blog post that this song / concept could be worked into.  So while we are not working in this concept, we are working in spin class.  The real title for this should probably be “Pushing Through.”

Confession.  Lately, we’ve sort of struggled to write elaney.  In the past, it seemed like ideas were coming out of our ears, but lately we haven’t felt inspired / have been busy with other things / have really gotten sick of the design / are starting to worry that people think we’re shallow…etc.  In all fairness, elaney has been in existence for 2 and 1/2 years.  Longer than we wore braces.  Longer than driving years in high school.  Longer than My So-Called Life was on the air.  And with anything, you just get tired of stuff.

But, also as with anything, it’s the pushing through the hard times that makes for the glory at the end of the day.  That lesson just becomes more clear to us the longer we work.  The longer we have friendships that go through rocky times.  The longer you go through anything.  And yesterday, as Reader Kenny and elaney sang along to the final song at class “I Can’t Wait to See You Again,” we were once again reminded, as we learned from A League of Their Own, “the hard parts are is what makes it good.”

“If you’re not first, you’re last.”  – Carter Woolfolk, On marathons

The first marathoner was a Greek messenger named Pheidippidies who ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the victory over the Persians.  The story goes that Pheidippidies called out, “Rejoice!  We conquered!”  Then he keeled over and died.

Fast forward to the present, marathon running is a pasttime for many Americans.  Even celebs are doing it.  Marathon running has a crazy subculture that goes along with it and is just one of the many things that make it entertaining.  Why do we like it?  It’s cool to have so many facets tested in a span of 4 hours: physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional.  And it’s just fun…so if you want to track elaney and Reader Grace in Philly:  check us out here!  Here’s to hoping we see Katie Holmes!

While perusing the latest Gap brand, Athleta, we stumbled across a new innovation in the realm of running / walking ladies fashion.  In the past, we’ve experienced severe jealousy of “the tennis skirt,” so we were delighted to discover the running skirt!  However, this may be taking it to a whole new level.  Fair maiden atheletes, do tell:  what do you think about the running dress?

Dear elaney,  As part of streamlining in ’09 my workout routine, I am trying to decide between yoga and pilates.  Which do you recommend?  With Love, Complicated in Columbus, GA

Dear Complicated, 

We commend you for deciding to streamline.  Let us start by saying, both have great qualities.  But we’re guessing (just assuming you’re the same as every girl we’ve ever met ever), you’re looking for which one is going to whip you into bathing suit season, and that is probably pilates.

Detailed info from Pilates Insight:

• The Pilates method is a complicated system of effective but gentle, whole-body conditioning and corrective exercises. It was first practiced by dancers and gained mass attention in recent years because of its largely aesthetic body sculpting effects. Yoga is a lifestyle, rather then simply an exercise. Its known as the path to both physical and mental well-being. It includes everything from physical postures and healthy diet to breathing, relaxation and meditation skills.
• Pilates mainly concentrates on cultivating core strength in the body and lengthening the spine. Also, Pilates is a valuable tool for increasing strength, definition and proper posture. Yoga aims to work the body equally and unite the body with mind and spirit. Yoga is often considered therapeutic, when compared to Pilates, as it helps people find harmony and release stress.
• Yoga has many different styles, but all are generally performed in a group setting on a yoga mat with the aid of a yoga instructor. Pilates has a full complement of mat work, but it also incorporates work on Pilates machines which help build a longer, leaner, dancer-like physique.

Bottom Line:

• Yoga can be therapeutic, will increase flexibility, and will elongate and lengthen the muscles.  Pilates can lead to that uber-toned dancer like body everyone wants.