Graffiti

It’s that time again and as spring takes hold that special day of April 3 arrives on Sunday. It’s Evil Woman’s birthday, and some of us got to share some moments with her this past Wednesday night at Graffiti’s. Most of the attendees at the soiree were familiar faces from KSC, however this writer did not readily recognize the countenances of some of my spin mates. I attributed that to the fact that none of the women had their hair up or pulled back. Some said it was the makeup and I refused to believe that was the reason because they are all gorgeous makeup or not.  And speaking of gorgeous, the statuesque Kristen was resplendent in a off the shoulder gown, long blonde tresses down not up and platform high heels. 

Some of my favorites were there Mary (Sanctifying Grace) McCann, Cindy, Cheryl, Nancy (I am not always shopping) Kaplan, Lisa, Elizabeth Cho and one of the nicest men in KSC; Arthur. Not to mention a spectacled Don Berman who leads the miscreants in the back row, looking dapper as per usual.  

It was a great night and to be with you all in the relaxed atmosphere made me feel just how close we all are.  Thank you so much.

We missed our PQ, Debbie Jensen and I was informed she would back among us by weeks end. 

The Southpaw That’s Right Handed

It’s not often that I might find myself in the CS at 6:30 PM on a Monday. I am usually attending The Evil Woman’s morning toxic purge from the weekend. However, I was so depressed this morning that I could not shake the Leviathan at the foot of my bed and so I missed both chances for an AM spin. Soon the depression passed and as the day progressed I could feel the energy rising once again and knew that CSI or the Corso Spin Inspiration would give me the night sweats.  

Here was the Empress of Fitness dressed in a bright yellow top and black tights, her beautiful thick brown tresses tied at the back, looking rested back from her trip to Florida with one difference; she was not on the bike as is her wont. She managed her complete choreography standing and with great deftness conducted our every move painting the road ahead as if she was a graphic designer from a century prior. As I watched and listened, Michelle’s power side, her left brought me clarity and an effort that was my best to date from this superior artist. 

I asked Michelle at the end of the session if she was indeed left-handed and I was surprised to hear her say no. But she did say that with four babies it was her custom to carry them all on her left side and managed her dexterous chores with her right. Her power side was her left but this southpaw was right handed. 

Michelle Corso, you know I love CSI as one of the most challenging cycles of my continued training. Thank you Michelle.  

15 Seconds on Earth

I love scribing about guest instructors and this one Robert Sherman was no exception. Except for the fact that he was extraordinarily exceptional!  I almost cannot resist (and so I won’t) in thanking Kristen, Peter and Jared for stepping outside the box and inviting this National talent Robert Sherman, to our club. We have great group instructors here in Woodbury, but they don’t sit on that, they go beyond what’s expected and deliver what we don’t expect. 

Having said that what was this morning like? First impression was that this man has the science of spin down as if he wrote the book. The second cascade was that he might have taken a lesson or three from the Zen Master Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) because at the open of his ride he set the tone, mood and the virtual trance of why we ride.  

His technique was beautifully orchestrated and totally extemporaneous. Public speaking must be in his repertoire as well because he was absolutely masterful in changing his voice inflection so that we did not miss a word especially when he lowered his voice. And the eye contact was off the charts. I have always loved eye contact because to me it shows the highest level of commitment.   This was a fully associated ride visually, auditory and of course kinesthetically.  I watched, listened and heard every moment of Robert’s choreography, which sounded like the backup singers for Elvis. It never took over the ride it was like the soundtrack in a movie, never the star. He was the star and he did it without over acting.  Although I could not name one song he played, it played just perfectly.   

15 Seconds on Earth is just the right amount of clock time to describe this morning in the Lavender Palace, because although we live by the clock it is psychological clock time that keeps us out of the present moment. When we think of the past and what might be ahead we are someplace else and not in the now.  But when we truly spend 15 seconds on earth it governs in our heart our felt sense of the present moment, and that can last until we walk out those glass doors and beyond.  This is truly the portal for our inner body awareness of our heart rate, breathing and the pathway for us to increase our strength for the next ride, which for me can’t come soon enough.  

I could see Kristen beaming for most of the hour and you could tell that our Queen was inspired as well. And this is as it should be, because if you motivate others you have to be able to be inspired as well. Kristen continues to inspire us because she is inspired by us every time she looks out from her Schwinn.  That’s what makes her who she is and why we love her. 

Thank you Robert Sherman. We learned, we worked and we were enthralled and please come back and visit us soon. 

A View From Afar

After getting quite comfortable in #3 where Kristen never looks, I found myself of all places in the back row, where all the miscreants reside. The culprits are in no particular order: Randi, Nancy K., Don, and Harold. I have noticed that Kristen does admonish them fairly regularly like a school marm, but I could never figure out exactly what they were up to.  Today I found out. And for the sake of not broadcasting so that others who might engage in copycat behavior I will refrain like the cameras do when a fan runs out on the field. 

 They are all skylarkers, each and every one of them. I recused myself from any association with  these offenders because my behavior is of course beyond reproach. I am always a good student because I keep my mouth shut.  But these individuals who think that just because they are in the back row they can act up and horse around. It’s amazing what adults will do when given even half a chance. I expected it from Harold and Don of course but when I saw Nancy Kaplan and the otherwise sweet and reserved Randi Meislas cutting up I was truly disappointed and yes I will say it hurt. Well there is just a limit to what I will report and I will resist mentioning this ever again unless I can produce more laughter. 

Regardless my position, I give it the same effort, although I did at first think I could lollygag in #53, but my spirit is irrepressible.  What am I in here for anyway? I love busting my ass; there is such great satisfaction at the end of the hour being soaking wet knowing that I gave it everything this ‘old man’ is capable of. 

Heart's On Fire

Have I inadvertently discovered a way to end an atrial fibrillation event? I just might have but I guess I have to accede to the expertise of my cardiologist and ask him if my lay theory has a heart beat so to say. Today in the Evil Woman’s class I was faced with a problem; give up my bike because I was having an ‘event’ or continue with the ride hoping that my heart rate would return to normal.  I couldn’t hide my discomfort as some of my friends expressed their concern as to my state. I lovingly brushed them aside and got on the bike. Kristen asked me if I was ready and as I nodded a half hearted yes, I hoped that I was making the right decision lest you find me slumped over the handlebars. 

What ensued was a major revelatory occurrence. About 15 minutes into Kristen’s choreography, my HR returned to normal. I was happily shocked and afterwards I thought to myself that what must have happened was that my premature ventricular contractions or PVC’s was  outgunned by my regular heart beat that needed to pump the blood supply to my body in order to take on the class in my normal fashion. I thought of Carolyn Mellace as this ‘theory’ in my head took hold and in tomorrow’s class, you will find me looking for her expertise. 

The class went on without another event and my strength returned to normal and for the rest of the day as of this writing I am feeling pretty damn good. I just wonder if instead of lying down  the next time as I usually do,  I get on a spin bike or take to the streets and raise my HR as nature intended. It might be a wild metaphor, but I thought of how a nightmare magically disappears when we  open our eyes, maybe I am on to something or maybe it’s a quick way to my ultimate dirt nap. (Just kidding my friends)

Wasn’t Saturday’s class absolutely FORGET YOU fantastic? I thought the intensity was there as usual but what made the experience really a treat was that we are on the verge of spring  and it just gave me such a serene feeling.  

The Seven Deadly Sins Part II

I never thought I could put them to such good use until Kristen gave me the idea in the Friday class. Normally we are looking to avoid these seemingly egregious moral evils. But let’s talk reality, they live inside us and around us everyday and a self-inflicted battle embroils our psyche from time to time. What the inspiration KG gave me was, is that some of the negative emotions we feel versus other people, places and things can take up space in our head. And they don’t even knock at the door they just come in and You know what I’m talking about, it could be the job, the boss, the spouse, the kids a co-worker or even ourselves. 

 I try to avoid anyone living rent free in my head especially if they are wrecking the furniture. Every once in awhile a thought takes hold, most often it has to do with something in the past that we may not have dealt with the way we would have wanted given the benefit of hindsight. And so we ruminate often when we are alone and we start to get angry with nowhere to go with it. Here is the place to let it all burn, the CS.  I tried it and as my ire grew I used it as kindling for the fire that is KSC. Fuel is fuel and the seven deadly sins make excellent food for the pedalstroke, even though they are filled with poisonous lead. 

As an alcoholic I have dreaded anger whenever it reared it’s ugly head because I don’t do well with it, and I am not always successful in avoiding it or suppressing it, now I know where to take it, what a major revelation. And so when anyone asks you isn’t spin boring? You can look at him or her with a confused look like the one they give you.  

Oh the seven deadly sins in case you may not know are: Anger, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy and Gluttony. Every one of them has gotten me in trouble at one time or another, I won’t single any of them out, but I know that I am not alone. 

Today’s class was the first one that I actually felt like giving up. Yes I said it I felt like giving up. It was so challenging and truth be told I forgot most of my lesson plan and I was in oxygen debt virtually the whole ride. Maybe it was the choreography, like Cee Lo Green and Pat Benatar but in truth it’s the Evil Woman who picks us up and drops us off feeling spent but always gratified. Deadly Sins just don’t have a chance. 

CSI: The Gazelle

CSI: Michelle Corso in the 6 AM edition Wednesday morning. I arrived a little late but it mattered little in the scheme of things because I knew I would never catch the gazelle but I could mimic her pedal stroke. And with the lesson I learned from John Victor last week I quickly adapted the resistance wheel to the whirring cadence that is Michelle.   It is very hard not to notice the magnificence of the Corso machinery mostly because you simply get transfixed at her sinewy form that pulses like an open heart beating, beating. 

I am finally starting to  listen to her science as well. She has tremendous specificity in her sessions and nothing; nothing is done without purpose or in perfunctory fashion. She has a plan but she takes the pulse of the room on the fly. She pays attention to what and how we are doing in the Lavender Palace.  I never thought that an instructor would adapt their plan based on what she saw in our energy but Corso does and that is why her professionalism never ceases to amaze me. 

As I looked into the Main Studio I saw my friend PC and he was on the elliptical and I thought to myself, why? He is a devotee of the pre-dawn spins with Tripper and I started to ruminate why he isn’t in here? I caught up with him in the locker room and he explained that there were no breaks in CSI.  I took that to mean the reason why he chose not to attend. I had that perception at first as well.  I could see his point, but you have to take your own breaks in spin no one gives us breaks there is only the illusion that we are getting one. With Michelle there is no obfuscation it’s full tilt all the way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take water or pull up for a few moments. It’s all about perception, but generalizations can leave us out of some of the great experiences and the Corso Zone is one of them. Just my opinion Peter, but give it a fresh look you will begin to love CSI for its intensity as well as its design which with your brain you can easily appreciate. 

The Gazelle: It’s a thing of beauty standing still but when it moves its art in motion. 

Spring is Nigh

Can you hear it? Spring is nigh. At least the harbingers of the change of season are there. Those winged creatures are in full chorus at least outside my open window as dawn breaks. This is the one sure sign that the winter of 2010-11 is history. This white season was a most debilitating one from a health point of view for me and for those friends around me.   I never experienced the strain of bacteria like the one we just had. Good riddance. This writer had 3 battles with asthmatic bronchitis the likes of which I have never experienced. But spring is but a week away and the literally tons of snow and incessant hacking have abated. 

Nearly three weeks have passed since my last KSC with the Evil Woman and as per usual it was worth the wait. She was in rare form in her usual Monday morning 8:30 AM slot sporting a Bahamian tan from her well-deserved respite. She had a sanguine demeanor and was as loquacious as ever. It’s talent sure but the singular trait that brings her devotees each morning is her personality that speaks to our hearts as well as our minds. When she is happy it is written all over her countenance and even on those rare days when her spirits are below heavens gate she always delivers a fine performance and she never lets her ‘outside’ disturb the hour in the Lavender Palace. Welcome back Evil Woman.  

The White Angel

Lori Salti. Here we have another diminutive star in the making and without the fanfare of a morning slot, Lori is breaking into the spin lineup on Thursdays at 4:30 PM. One might say that is not exactly a propitious time to make a name for herself but Lori has done that already in exemplary fashion in-group exercise in the Main Studio in her Core Sculpt classes and as a P.T.  It’s just a matter of time in this writer’s opinion that her workload might find her more often in the Lavender Palace. I realize this is up to the Evil Woman, but there is no better judge of talent at Woodbury than her and she knows raw talent.  

If I was to characterize The White Angel it would be that she is more ethereal  than anyone I have taken classes with and merely by her ambrosial nature you feel compelled to nail the pedal stroke just the same as if you were taking a high energy class with Svengali or with The Evil Woman.  Lori has a deep understanding of the human psyche and from a confab I had with her at the end of last night’s ride I also know she understands what people want and need. They want attention and to be entertained and The White Angel delivers on both counts. Oh and she is a mother of twins 8 years old and I have to tell you that Lori is another instructor in phenomenal shape.  

Da Bomb

He was being billed as “da bomb” and being a skeptic I wanted to reserve the superlatives to my own experience. John Victor Self. In the words of Darth Vader: Most Impressive.  His physiology was beyond athletic and his tats gave me the impression that they were chevrons bestowed on him by his aficionados during his travels about the state of Equinox. A riveting presence that captivated a full studio and by rides end a spirited applause had broke out, which was unusual for our Lavender Palace. We just don’t give it up that easily as this man had us hanging on his every word. 

He told us that it would seem we would be always out of the saddle and always in the saddle and although that seemed like an oxymoron I got it, because that’s exactly what it felt like. I think I attribute it to the fact that I was so fully associated with the cadence throughout the ride that I simply forgot what position I was in. One thing about spin that has bedeviled me is that damn red dial. I could never figure out just how much of it I should have on at any point in time. But today I think that all changed. JVS said that he would rather us favor keeping the cadence over resistance. In other words if we couldn’t keep the pace then the resistance was too great and we should go left. I liked that because I never fake it when I ride, as I usually have too much resistance on and now I think I have yet another mystery, demystified. 

It was so great to be back after a two-week absence, first with bronchitis and then with my trip to Florida. It seemed an eternity.  And I knew that I had a double spin in store today because Svengali (Tripper) was slotted in the 1215 and it just has been too long away from the Trance Inducer. The faces of my friends Debbie (FAB) Jensen and Mary McCann gave me a sense of comfort making reentry a soft landing. I asked Debbie not to reveal what FAB meant lest Sister Bertrille admonish me. 

John Victor Self. A truly gifted and charismatic entertainer with a skill set that played even keel to the devotion he has to his craft. 

Latin Fandango

Hello from Aventura Florida my friends and as is my wont I just had to take in Equinox and see what the talent down south had to offer.  As you will read I was duly impressed. Their CS cannot compare to our Lavender Palace nor compete with our state of the art sound system, but other than that there was nothing to disappoint and I mean no-thing. 

 I was made so at home by everyone from the front desk to several of the trainers. It’s like the club must do a personality check before they hire anyone because there are just no gaps.  I did get to try out the Power Plate and it reminded me of Vic Tanny but this machine might just do as advertised. If you haven’t tried this piece of equipment yet I know you will soon enough.  And here’s a rumor I overheard. There appears to be yet another Schwinn in our future as they seem to be testing it in Los Angeles. Why Los Angeles I wonder what do they know? It takes 6 people out there to screw in a light bulb. One to screw it in, the other five to share the experience. As I said it was just a rumor but let’s wait and see, because Equinox Holdings Inc. never seems to be at a standstill when it comes to new equipment. 

Christina Leon. Here was a dark striking Latina woman enhanced by a décolleté befitting her extraordinary physique. I was so impressed by her technique that immediately I went the easier softer way of comparing her to some of my favorite talent up North. So to make it easy; picture the physiology of Michelle Corso, the magnetic charisma of Kristen Gagne and the fandango of Tripp Doherty and voila, you have Christina Leon. She like our Carolyn Mellace (The Blue Sapphire) is only in one day a week and as was my luck I caught her act and she did put on quite a show. When she said: You can’t keep a good woman down and with a bad one it’s even harder. I thought to myself, feisty and sexy just like the Evil Woman.  

Greetings From Aventura

I cannot wait to post Christina Leon is our instructor today! Story at 11

Missing You

It’s pre-dawn on Tuesday and I just wanted to wish you all a great week absent my bellowing and exhortations. I took my doctor’s advice and stayed away from spin for (gulp) 4 days. That was even hard to write let alone think.  I will be in Florida for a half and half with ½ a sugar. No I will be on business and I will visit my sisters and vanishing father. I will however take at least 2 classes in Equinox Aventura, where as fate would have it The Evil Woman once inhabited. I go with no expectations except  that with each pedal stroke I will think of my friends in the Lavender Palace. And I know you won’t comment but if you do please do.

Jack