A new local park with miles of excellent hiking trails opened last month; it’s only 10 minutes from my house, so I plan to spend a lot of time there this spring. Here’s what I’ll have with me:

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Back before I had a kid, I used to take weekly Pilates classes at a local studio. While many of the moves bore passing resemblance to those we do in my yoga class, it was unabashedly a workout—a sweat-inducing, core-honing, fast-paced workout. I loved it (and so did my abs). But then my daughter came along and something had to give, so I said goodbye to Pilates, but I missed it! Read More

By Alyssa Sparacino

I hit the gym four times a week, take spinning classes regularly, and use work-outs as my go-to stress reliever, so you could say I’ve got my exercise routine down.

But knowing my way around a gym didn’t make it any less intimidating to try out a Pilates reformer, a device originally invented by Joseph Pilates in the 1900s to help hospital patients strengthen their muscles.

The exercise studio Pilates ProWorks recently opened their first location on the East Coast, in New York City, and invited me to try a class using their reformer, a modified version they call a FitFormer. Read More

I love to dance, though I rarely get to do it. This is likely why, even though I have rhythm, it can take me a while to catch on to the steps. So when the newest Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) DVD, Cardio Dance for Weight Loss, came across my desk proclaiming “Perfect for beginners! No partner needed!” I couldn’t wait to get home, pull the rug back in the den, and bust a move. Read More