Making New Year's Resolutions fun

While the “I’m going to lose weight” New Year’s Resolution is seemingly cliché, many people still use the beginning of the calendar as motivation to start living a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, some (alright, probably most) have discarded their ambitions by St. Patty’s Day, especially when the walk to the gym can seem too brutal to face in New York winters. A great way to stick to your resolution is to add some variety to your routine, and a great way to stick to your routine is to make a schedule, so we’ve rounded up classes around Williamsburg that are fun and outside the standard gym fare.

Triskelion Arts Intermediate/Advance Modern Dance Classes
Location: 118 North 11th Street, 4th Floor
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Details:
Triskelion Arts and Dance Pants NYC present modern dance classes meant to get you moving and put your minor in dance to use. The classes are structured to be open and supportive and promise not to be overcrowded.

España-Streb Trapeze Academy
Location: 51 North 1st Street
Cost: 10 weeks of 2 hour workshops, $425 (drop in classes also available, email to check openings)
Details:
Great for those who have always envied trapeze artists, or for those trying to overcome a fear of heights, these trapeze classes require no experience, and most students will complete their first knee-hang catch** by the end of the first class. Great for couples, groups of friends, families or those flying solo, these classes will give your core a workout you don’t feel till the next day. Also great for increasing flexibility.

** Don’t’ know what a knee-hang catch is? Take the class and impress your friends with your new circus lingo.

Greenhouse Holistic Belly Dance Classes
Location: 88 Roebling Street, 783 Driggs Avenue, 445 Grand Street
Cost: $15 for drop in classes, $79 & $69 memberships (additional packages available)
Details:
Although pole-dancing workshops have become the girls’ night out go-to, belly dancing is another great alternative to a traditional fitness class. The art form itself well predates the modern exotic dance and is derived from the traditional dances of the Middle East and North Africa. These classes offer a fun and low-impact, high-energy workout that is great for those looking to begin a fitness regime as well as the already toned. With three locations in Williamsburg, Greenhouse is a perfect solution to winter workout blues.

Greenhouse is currently offering an Intro Special that provides a great incentive for new students who maybe want to try out a few classes before committing to a larger package: 3 classes for $25.

Unnata® Aerial Yoga
Locations: 241 Bedford Avenue, Buzzer 7
Cost: $20 drop-in, 5 classes for $85, 10 classes for $150
Details:
Unnata Aerial Yoga is a new type of yoga that combines traditional practices with the physical training of an aerial acrobat. Aerial Yoga promises to strengthen the body while increasing flexibility and avoiding strain on the back. Most importantly, it's a fun, meaning you'll want to come back.

(c) January 2009, Elizabeth Sorrell

Lead McEnroe

I’ve always been a fan of improv, and while I would never consider myself a connoisseur, I have attended enough performances to have a favorite part. I always eagerly await that magical moment when the performers ask the audience members for a suggestion. I normally dwell a second too long and come up with the perfect idea right after someone else has already called one out. When I attended a recent performance of Lead McEnroe, I did not make the hesitation mistake. I shouted out the very first thing that came to mind: pickles.

And so began Lead McEnroe’s performance. The group is comprised of skilled comedians who play off each other well, knowing when to take the spotlight and when to let their fellow cast member shine. The skits flowed together seamlessly, and on more than one occasion the audience actually roared with laughter, an impressive feet to pull off in the small, black box style Magnet Theater. They have mastered the art of long-improv, leaving no dull moments and making uncomfortable pauses hilarious.

I left the performance with an overall felling of satisfaction. I had been thoroughly amused, and was able enjoy a glass of wine at my seat during the show.What more can one ask for? My only complaint is that the routine never once mentioned pickles, nor did it use the tasty snack as a theme, or even reference the vinegar-soaked vegetable in a non-PG sense. I found myself enjoying the show so much, that this realization didn’t hit me till towards the end, but once it did, it gave the show an almost too-polished feel. It made me momentarily wonder if the routines I’d seen were too well rehearsed for the suggestion to fit in at any point, but I also realize that it could have been a genuine oversight by a group of performers caught in a moment. Either way, the show definitely left me satisfied and was well worth the $5 admission.

Lead McEnroe performs Friday evenings at 8:30 PM at the Magnet Theater. For more info, www.leadmcenroe.com.

(c) January 2010, Elizabeth Sorrell