Look Hot/ Get Fabulous

december 2007/january 2008 OTTAWA 37

new ways to

LOOk HOTIt’s a new year, and with it come new ways to

get fit and fabulous. Forget the gym craze of the

premillennium. such mind-numbing step routines

are the old codger to the ahead-of-the-curve

activity-based routines of the young.

Here are seven sporty svengalis with kicks,

skates, and new moves to get you in gear

profiles by dayanti karunaratne

feature photography by david kawai

illustrations by li hewitt

JAM71002TA_ab_Ottawa_E.indd 1 8/27/07 11:51:10 AM

38 OTTAWA december 2007/january 2008

The Roots: Brazil, circa 1600. Slaves from western Africa developed capoeira to pro-tect themselves against violent owners. The characteristic roda—a circle formed around a sparring duo with percussion and call-back songs—helped disguise this martial art as a dance. Today’s acrobatic, rhythmic display maintains its back-alley history, giving nicknames to group members to help them hide from The Man.The Trailblazer: Brazilian expat Fabio Cuen-cas kick-started the scene when he came to Ottawa in 1999. Teaching at recreation cen-tres, studios, and gyms, he formally initiates 30 students at the baptizado every year. The Workout: The hour-long sessions are peppered with ritual, like the opening sau.

After running and stretching, it’s time to kick, cartwheel (aù), and escape (esquiva) to the beat of traditional music. Cuencas ends his sessions with a roda, so students get a chance to spar (play) and understand capoeira’s many customs.The Benefits: Increased cardiovascular health; improved flexibility and strength.An introduction to Portuguese is also part of the class. The mestre says, “In order to become a more well-rounded capoeirista, you have to learn the language.”Hit It Here: Dende do Recife. Takes place at various studios and community centres. Registration ranges from $80 (once a week) to $190 (twice a week) for a three-month session. 613-884-1161, www.dendedorecife.ca.

COOL-DOWN GROOVE take a post-kick shake off

with ottawa four-piece

antizario, whose latest disc,

It’s Great to be Fine

(ropeadope) matches

cool grooves with hot horns

and dope rhymes. $10.

compact music, 190 bank st.,

613-233-7626.

FamOus FOLLOWERs decypher cru b-girl and

activist Sabra Ripley; artist and

graphic designer Kenji toyooka.

Fabio Cuencas: kick up some culture with a brazilian mestre

CaPOEIRa


POsT-POOL WaRm-uPthis German-developed Vaude

sweater-coat is 100 per cent

windproof with a sandwich

construction—meaning thin

layers of insulating fabrics

keep you warm after a day

in the water. made with a

blend of polyester, wool,

and polyurethane. $239.

Bushtukah, 203 richmond rd.,

613-792-1170, www.bushtukah.com

The Roots: England, circa mid-1800s. Originally an aquatic version of rugby, water polo quickly attracted spectators to swim-ming events. Its crowd-pleasing quality led to water polo’s introduction to the second Olympiad in 1900, making it the longest-running Olympic team sport.The Trailblazer: David Hart, head coach of the Titans Water Polo Association. After eight years on the national team, Hart retired as a professional athlete, but he couldn’t stay away. He helped develop the competitive, recreational, and adult pro-grams and assisted the team that took gold at a 2003 national-level competition.

The Workout: First up: theory, followed by a quick stretch, then hop into the pool. Most of the workout is spent honing passing and shooting skills. Adult recreational-league participants should be able to swim 250 metres, then tread water for three minutes.The Benefits: Increased heart and lung health; social camaraderie. “Compared to going out and trying to run for an hour, you’re going to develop a much higher aero-bic capacity,” Hart says.Hit It Here: Titans Water Polo Association hosts games at the University of Ottawa pool, 125 University Ave. $120 for Jan.-April session. 613-741-1224, www.titanswaterpolo.ca.

FamOus FOLLOWERsFormer national team member

and dominican college

president Gabor csepregi; back

when he was finance minister,

former Pm Paul Martin

jumped into the pool to relive

his days with the university of

toronto varsity team.

David Hart: have fun at this fit-fab pool party

Product PHotoGraPHy: LuTHeR cAveRLy

WaTER POLO


TuB THumPINGclimb straight into the

bathtub with naturally made

winter bath therapy from

Hawkesbury family company

Green beaver. the 100 per

cent colloidal oatmeal helps

relieve itchy, dry winter skin

and soothes sore limbs. $9.99.

Pantry Plus, 2433 st. joseph

blvd., 613-830-5790,

www.greenbeaver.com.

The Roots: England, Germany, and Italy, circa 1890. Though Europeans previously trained for big mountain ascents on difficult patches of rock face, it wasn’t until well-publicized first-summit climbs brought out the weekend warriors that sport climbing really took off at indoor gyms.The Trailblazer: Peter Slivka. After he escaped communism in 1989, the former Slovakian national climbing team member brought his passion for the sport to Ottawa, opening the doors of Vertical Reality climb-ing gym in 1993.The Workout: Slivka offers one-hour introductory lessons, which vary depend-ing on the individual’s athletic background. A person’s sense of balance is especially important, Slivka says. First-timers always

have a chance to get on the wall, but Slivka demands patience from his students. “It’s like every other sport. It takes time.”The Benefits: Primarily upper-body strength (diehards hit the gym to cross-train). Despite the fact that women gener-ally are weaker than men in this area, some believe a woman’s ability to analyze gives her a leg up. Slivka stresses the psycho-logical benefits. “In my experience, fear of heights or climbing is almost 100 per cent learned.” Slivka says overcoming this leads to increased self-confidence.Hit It Here: Vertical Reality Climbing Gym, 161 Middle St., on Victoria Island. Optional private one-hour class costs $35; equipment costs range from $2.50 to $10, and a day pass is $10. 613-569-3903, www.verticalreal.com.

Peter Slivka: reach new heights at vertical reality

CLImBING


The Roots: Germany, circa 1900. Founder Joseph Pilates was bullied as a child, giving him a resolve to become stronger. Pilates taught the fitness method, first termed Contrology, to remind students to use their minds to control muscular movements, at a First World War camp. After he immigrated to the U.S. in 1926, his work caught the eye of dance maverick Martha Graham and has since been used by dancers to connect with their inner sense of flow. The Trailblazer: Jacqueline Ethier of The Pilates Space. A student for 15 years, Ethier trains with 86-year-old Ron Fletcher, who studied under Pilates himself, making her Ottawa’s closest link to the founder. The Workout: Leave outside thoughts at the

door—these hour-long sessions require an intense body-mind connection. Classes start with 10 minutes of centring, a slow stretch that gets students using their abdominal and back muscles to control their body. Then come sit-ups and torso curls, executed with an intense focus on breathing. Class ends with more centring.The Benefits: Core muscle strength, im-proved posture, and reduced risk of injury. The creation of a midsection “girdle of strength” gives a boost to both energy and confidence.Hit It Here: The Pilates Space, 208 Slater St., Suite 203. Beginner packages start at $150 for eight weeks, drop-in $20. 613-745-2837, www.pilatesspace.com.

musCuLaR mIXERsthe second-floor bar area at

the Ottawa Athletic club is

open tuesday to thursday

from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and

is especially packed on game

nights, when this licensed

lounge shows games onscreen.

2525 Lancaster rd., 613-523-

1540, www.ottawaathleticclub.

com. meanwhile, the deluxe

gym Soma Health & Fitness—

attached to the city’s loftiest

address, 700 sussex, hosts a

post-workout mixer. drop in for

a late session on wednesday

(it’s open until midnight on

weekdays), then head to

nearby milestone’s for wine

after nine. 613-244-0490,

www.soma.dynamass.com.

FamOus FOLLOWERsFormer governor general

Adrienne clarkson; figure

skater brian orser.

Jacqueline Ethier: get straight with the posture queen

PILaTEs


GRECO-aPPROVED CHEaTthe master motivator says

that during holiday temptation

time, the buffed-to-be should

opt for sorbets over other

treats, since they’re less

fattening. Greco’s favourite

sorbet flavour: lemon. by the

half-litre $6.95, litre $12.95.

Pure Gelato, 350 elgin st.,

613-237-3799.

The Roots: North America, circa 1980. As the fitness boom progressed, those with hectic schedules and disposable income demanded a more efficient workout. Enter the certified personal trainer, dedicated to sizing up bodies and calculating heart rates. Suddenly, hitting the gym became an ap-pointment instead of a to-do-list item.The Trailblazer: Tony Greco of Greco Lean and Fit Centre. After winning the light-heavyweight IAKSA World Kick Boxing Championship title in 1995, Greco wanted to share his knowledge. He has taken more than 1,000 students through the semi-private exercise regime since 2000.The Workout: The 10-week course combines goals, science, and a whole lot of blustery Greco-style motivation to keep students

returning. After a first-day body analysis and a nutrition pep talk, individual objec-tives are laid out. Students then sign up for three instructor-guided workout sessions in which they rotate through stations every week. When students are no-shows, the teachers come calling.The Benefits: Improved mental, emotional, and physical health. Greco tackles negative self-images with science and strategy, so students can “figure out who they are” and accept themselves.Hit It Here: Greco Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, locations in Manotick and Nepean; also available at the Ottawa Athletic Centre, 2525 Lancaster Rd. The 10-week Lean and Fit course costs $499. 613-825-LEAN, www.grecoleanandfit.com.

FamOus FOLLOWERsottawa senators centre

Mike Fisher; national team

snowboarder constance

boisvert.

Tony Greco: stay motivated with the lean-and-fit enforcer


TRaINING


The Roots: Europe, circa 1900. Though figure skating had been practised for years, the Olympics really gave the sport a lift.The Trailblazer: Elizabeth Manley-Theobald of the Gloucester Skating Club—better known as the silver medallist from the 1988 Calgary Olympics. After her win, the bubbly blonde from Trenton, Ontario, continued to skate professionally in Philadelphia, mak-ing the transition into coaching after she broke her foot in seven places (no dramatics here—she was getting out of a truck). Eager to be closer to her family, Manley-Theobald accepted a position with the GSC last summer.The Workout: After warm-up laps, students go through skill drills to work on jumps, spins, and fancy footwork. Classes are sub-divided according to skill level, and coach-

ing is done both one-on-one and in groups. Though most are there for the fitness and social aspects, Manley-Theobald says adult students can be very focused on their skill development. “It’s like they’re going to the Olympics!”The Benefits: As well as cardiovascular ex-ercise, Manley-Theobald says figure skating is “great for the mind,” because it requires a focus that our technology-obsessed society leaves little room for. “You can have two hours on the ice and get away from the telephone and the TV. It’s a very rejuvenat-ing sport.”Hit It Here: Gloucester Skating Club, 1490 Youville Dr. Sixteen 50-minute lessons for $477. 613-830-1610, www.gloucesterskating-club.ca.

RINKsIDE COmPaNIONthis satin-and-nylon quilted

jacket boasts a patented

breathable technology in its

layers, keeping you feeling

warm and looking hot. $350.

Geox, rideau centre, 50

rideau st., 613-567-4369.

Elizabeth Manley-Theobald: take a spin around the rink with an olympian

sKaTING


TÊTE CaREduring winter runs, keep your

head covered with a thin cap

that adds warmth without

weight. the striped molly hat

by arc’teryx is $39. the coral-

coloured Lolë breathable act

marries fashion and function.

$19. Bushtukah, 203 richmond

rd., 613-792-1170,

www.bushtukah.com.

FamOus FOLLOWERscriminal lawyer michael

edelson; managing director

of bridgehead coffee houses

Tracey clark.

The Roots: Boston, 1861. Extreme long-distance running can draw a line back to pedestrianism, started by Edward Payson Weston. Weston bet $10,000 that he could walk from Boston to Washington in 10 days, just in time for Abraham Lincoln’s inaugura-tion. Ultramarathons (any race over 50 km) push the limits with events characterized by feats of endurance, such as running without sleep or racing in remote areas.The Trailblazer: Ray Zahab, personal coach and motivational speaker. He brings wisdom gleaned from ambitious treks. This year alone he took on the Sahara desert and the three coasts of Canada. Only ever run to catch the bus? No problem. “Some people don’t want to start with the 10K and work

their way up,” Zahab says. He’ll help you change: as a former pack-a-day smoker, he’s a poster boy for the power of transformation.The Workout: Zahab creates the perfect training schedule and hashes nutrition plans and gear, sharing his own insights and mistakes. Speaking of his pre-running life, Zahab says: “I was tired of being unhappy. It’s that simple. So I thought, the one thing I could control was how I felt physically.”The Benefits: Increased cardiovascular health, heart efficiency, and lung capacity —not to mention happiness.Hit It Here: Connect with Zahab at 613-868-2888, www.rayzahab.com. Prices range from $99 for a one-hour consultation to $495 a month for a personalized program.

Ray Zahab: go the distance with the ultraman


uLTRaRuNNING

Look Hot/ Get Fabulous

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