Hopped onto the L train one stop to Bedford to get rowing, which is all the rage right now.

Brooklyn Crew’s studio is modern and sleek though small, in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge.

The workout is centered around “dynamic ergs” (indoor rowers) that simulate the movement of rowing on water. They’re streamlined and deliver a smoother stroke than what I remember from past indoor rowing (hello, college P.E.) These even have a handy hook in back for a towel. Grab two at the front desk…you’re going to need them.

Classes are led by real crew coaches instead of fitness instructors. Mine was Michael Aiken, a collegiate rower, himself, and high school & university coach since then. This makes for a more intense experience (little slacking, lots of sweating) vs. your average group fitness class. Michael takes his rowing very seriously, and, for those of us who have participated in team sports, you know–you do not want to disappoint the coach.

The introductory Novice class focuses mostly on proper form for the perfect stroke. After 2-3 of these, you move on to the Signature class, which I’ll get to experience soon. Today, my all-over soreness confirms that, yes, it’s definitely a full body workout.

Having just burned up to 800 calories (dependent on body weight, of course), the post-workout meal at Marlow & Sons was much-needed.

Love the artsy view on Brooklyn’s Broadway.

And, this morning, I headed downtown to brunch on the Bowery at DBGB with a great group of girls. There’s nothing like a quality catch-up over coffee and french toast.

As I write this, I’m slowly coming out of my caffeine-fueled food coma.

Next steps for me? Back on the erg ASAP.

Ropes courses are measured from 5.1 to 5.15 (mine is a 5.6).

It’s around here where I start to feel totally freaked out.  I yell down to Pieter that this is as high as I can go.  Uh uh, I’m almost at the top.  Gotta keep going, he says.

And, so, I do!

Um, yeah.

What goes up…must come down.  Did it!  It was awesome.

And, yeah…I’ll be back.

Brooklyn Boulders: 575 Degraw Street / brooklynboulders.com

Images by Shante Carlan Photography.

So, I decided to go indoor rock climbing.

Why?  You only go around once.  And, I believe that there is something to confronting your fears, whatever they are, from silly to serious.

Brooklyn Boulders was founded by 3 guys who were frat brothers at Babson.  Their gym is a huge, brightly-lit industrial space (22,000 square feet) a few blocks away from the new Barclay’s Center (the guys were here 3+ years before Jay-Z made the Atlantic-Pacific stop cool, just fyi).  They also offer slacklining (you know, it looks like you’re balancing on a tightrope) and yoga.

I sign my life away, with a few clicks on an iPad.  And, start off bouldering, which is essentially climbing without a harness or ropes, usually a shorter climb over a blue mat called a “crash pad.”  Awesome.

The level of difficulty in bouldering is rated using the V Scale (V0-V14)–each level marked with a particular color, becoming more challenging as the numbers increase.  I start on V0, marked with bright green tape.

Touching the top of the wall means that you’ve successfully completed the climb (technically, with both hands…).

Next, on to an incline wall, this one is 30%.  MUCH harder than the first.  My fingers start to feel a little numb.

It requires much more thought and calculation, trying to keep my grip on the last hold while reaching for the next.

And, then, once I’ve got that down, my climbing pro instructor Pieter tells me that it’s time to get the harness on and chalk up for the ropes course on the other side of the gym.

Um, I start to sweat.

Brooklyn Boulders: 575 Degraw Street / brooklynboulders.com

Tank: New Balance (similar here).  Leggings: Adidas by Stella McCartney.

Images by Shante Carlan Photography.

By now, it has been more than an hour and I’ve just finished several rounds on the punching bag.

I’m taking a (much-needed) breather.

Boxing is seriously challenging, on a cardiovascular level, in comparison with cycling or running.  I feel winded.

Moving onto the speed bag…

“The Heat” (aka: Heather Hardy) shows me how it’s done.  Rhythm is a quick 1-2-3, 1-2-3 with your fists in constant motion, no pause, as if they’re pedals on a bike.

I give it a try, first with one hand, then, with two…it’s much harder than it looks (concentration required).

But, I finally get it.

And, another half hour later…workout complete.  I feel BEYOND AMAZING.

Okay, so: who’s coming with me to Gleason’s for round 2?!
Email now to reserve a spot in my class, led by The Heat: strengthandsolenyc@gmail.com.

Top: Lululemon.  Leggings: Lululemon (similar here).  Sneakers: New Balance.

Gleason’s Gym: 77 Front Street, Brooklyn / gleasonsgym.net
Heather Hardy: heathertheheathardy.com

Images by: Mariana Zenteno Photography

Gleason’s Gym sits in the shadow of the iconic bridge, at 77 Front Street in Brooklyn Heights.

Took one one look around and know that they’re not kidding.  This is completely true.

And, then, there’s Heather Hardy–whom I came to meet.  A 31-year-old pro boxer who made her debut just two years ago.  She took up boxing by chance and needed only 3 weeks of training to win her first fight.  She’s both hard (intensely muscular and street smart with a thick Brooklyn accent) and soft (blue eyed and blonde with the sweetest voice, especially when talking about things fiercely important: her daughter, winning her next match and the definitive inequity between men and women in nearly every aspect of the sport).

Over the course of an hour and a half in the ring, I learned that I give a decent left-right punch, boxing is my new sure-fire way to break a sweat, fast.  And, Heather–with her incredible life story, endless optimism, unbreakable confidence and a noticeable scar over her left eyebrow, is, literally, my new hero–in fitness and in life.

The warm-up: jump rope…3 rounds, 3 minutes each.  Felt very Rocky Balboa–and, already sweaty afterward.

Learning the boxer’s stance: one foot in front of the other–not too far, not too close–completely centered, so as to not lose balance after being hit; hands up, closely guarding your face and elbows tight against your body.  Always jabbing forward, never pulling back, so as to give your opponent more time to react.

Having my hands wrapped, before putting on the boxing gloves.  This is so cool.  I kinda felt superhuman.

Make a fist inside the glove.  Punch quickly, directly in front of you, keeping the other glove close to your face.  Hit your opponent with your first two knuckles–hard.

Really getting into it.

Break for water (and accessory shot).

Top: Lululemon.  Leggings: Lululemon (similar here).  Sneakers: New Balance.

Gleason’s Gym: 77 Front Street, Brooklyn / gleasonsgym.net
Heather Hardy: heathertheheathardy.com

Images by: Mariana Zenteno Photography

CrossFit combines sprinting, rowing and weightlifting with the use of barbells, dumbbells, gymnastics rings, pull-up bars, kettlebells and medicine balls to prepare athletes for, as gymnast and founder Greg Glassman says, “combat, survival, many sports and life.”

I spent the day training at CrossFit Virtuosity, just a stop into Brooklyn off the L train, with my friend and fashion PR guru-turned-“it” coach Will Lanier.  Read on for 3 essential CrossFit moves to know before you step inside the box (aka: CrossFit gym).

For toned biceps, flat abs and a booty that got back, your days of slogging away on the elliptical, reading a magazine, are done.

The “before” shot.

1) Banded Pull-Up: Think that you can’t do a single pull-up?  You can.  One of the coolest things about CrossFit is that each move is totally scale-able, making it accessible for anyone–regardless of your current fitness level.  Colored bands of varying widths can help you get all the way to a full pull-up (or 50) on your own.  So, while the WOD (“Workout of the Day”) may be “Rx’d” (“prescribed,” aka: written) in a certain way, with a set number of reps for both men and women, each move can be adjusted based on exactly where you are now.

2) Burpee: One of the core CrossFit moves.  Six steps that lead into the next to create a fluid motion.

How to do it: Starting from a standing position, 1) bend down and plant your hands on the ground, 2) kick back into a plank position and 3) lower yourself into a push-up (your chest should always touch the ground).  4) Bring yourself back up to a plank, 5) pull your legs back in under your chest and 6) standing up,  do a slight jump up, clapping your hands overhead.

3) Squat:  That’s a 33-pound barbell!  This move works both your upper and lower body at the same time.  The key is “hip crease below knee crease,” meaning that the crease in your hip (where your hip flexor is located) should be closer to the ground than your knees.  And, if you’re doing it it right…it hurts.  Repeat 50-100 times.

The “after” shot.

More about CrossFit with Will to come!

Tank: New Balance.  Leggings: Adidas by Stella McCartney.  Sneakers: New Balance.
Shot at CrossFit Virtuosity: 221 North 8th Street, Brooklyn / crossfitvirtuosity.com

Images by Shante Carlan Photography.