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i.d. news
all in one. all for you.
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everything you need to know about Fly Yoga®
it's fun -- and it's good for you!
At i.d. gym, we're proud of our group-fitness classes -- we think they are what sets us apart from other gyms in Chicago. We're especially proud of Fly Yoga®, one of our signature classes that is a unique blend of traditional yoga, acrobatics, gymnastics and dance.
"In Fly Yoga, you use silk hammocks that enable you to move deeper into yoga postures, improve your balance and strength, practice advanced inversions with ease, and even learn circus-style tricks," group-fitness instructor DeeDee Knoche says. "You're able to stretch your muscles in ways that you couldn't do in a regular yoga class -- and it can be a lot of fun!"
As our exclusive style of aerial yoga, we always knew that Fly Yoga -- named "Best New Yoga" by
Chicago Magazine -- was a good time. And now we can tell you that it's not only fun, it's good for you.
A new study commissioned by t
he
American Council on Exercise (ACE)
examined the health benefits of aerial yoga classes like Fly Yoga. Researchers wanted to determine if the classes had any cardiovascular and metabolic impact, following 16 healthy adult women who took aerial yoga classes over a six-week period.
"We are pleased to announce that even though aerial yoga does not include traditional cardio exercises, a single session of aerial yoga offered participants many of the benefits associated with low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise like brisk walking or leisurely cycling," says ACE Chief Science Officer Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D. "After the six-week program, participants displayed measurable reductions in some common risk factors for cardiovascular heart disease."
Anecdotally, the participants reported that the intensity of the aerial yoga session fell somewhere near the midpoint on an intensity spectrum ranging from stress-relieving, restorative yoga sessions (at the low end) to high-intensity, hot yoga classes.
The results of this study were impressive. Without any additional cardio exercise, the women:
- Lost weight and body fat
- Improved their cholesterol scores
- Lowered their blood pressure
- Reduced their risk of heart disease by more than 10%!
"This study indicates that aerial yoga offers people another effective option for achieving enhanced health and wellness," Bryant added. "The more forms of exercise we can validate through research, the better the chances that people can find an effective form of exercise they enjoy, which improves adherence and leads to improved overall health." Plus, since participants have so much fun in class, they're much more likely to stick to a regular exercise program.
Sounds like i.d.'s Fly Yoga to us! Read on for more news about Fly Yoga and i.d.'s other yoga classes. Register for a Fly Yoga class
here.
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i.d. profile: meet Brent Holten
Get to know the president of i.d. gym and Fly Yoga's creator
We've been producing "i.d. news" since shortly after i.d. gym opened for business in 2009. It's hard to believe that we've never shined the spotlight on Brent Holten, who serves as president of i.d. gym and created Fly Yoga®, one of the gym's signature group-fitness classes. We caught up with Brent so that you can learn more about his take on yoga.
i.d.: How did you get interested in yoga, and how did that interest lead to teaching yoga?
B.H.:
I was first introduced to yoga as a kid. I had insomnia quite a bit, and one of my teachers showed me how yoga breathing could help me relax and sleep better.
Years later, I went with a friend to a yoga class when I was dealing with an injury. It felt so good and so right for my body that I was hooked from the first class.
There weren't a lot of yoga teachers in Chicago at that time, and the demand was increasing. Since I was already teaching other fitness classes, it wasn't long before I was drafted to teach yoga. It's been wonderful to see how yoga has entered the mainstream, seeing so many people carrying their mats on the way to class. I think our lives are so chaotic now it's no surprise that there's a yoga studio on every corner.
i.d.: Where did you get the idea for Fly Yoga?
B.H.: I had done some Iyengar-style yoga classes -- where you use a lot of props and hanging straps -- and enjoyed working on poses like handstands and backbends with those props. Then, I took an aerial arts class (which I was terrible at!). I loved the feel of the silks on the body, and thought it would be wonderful to incorporate them into a traditional yoga class.
i.d. What's your favorite part of teaching a Fly Yoga class?
B.H.: There are many favorites, to be honest. I do really love watching someone experience the sensation of hanging in the hammocks for the first time. There is a combination of joy and fear that is pretty intense. I never get tired of seeing it.
i.d.: What's your favorite Fly Yoga pose?
B.H.: Pigeon pose and inverted pigeon pose. One of my all-time favorite hip-opening poses taken to the next level when you do it in the Fly Yoga hammock.
i.d.: How do you incorporate yoga into your own workout routine?
B.H.: Honestly, it's essential. I've been teaching fitness for 25 years, and my body wouldn't be in one piece without yoga. Even if I only have time for 15 minutes or so, I get some kind of yoga practice in most every day.
when to find Brent:
-
Sundays: Spinning and Power Yoga
- Mondays: Express Spin, Spinning and Fly Yoga
- Tuesdays: Body i.deology, Spinning and Yoga Basics
- Wednesdays: Fly Yoga
- Thursdays: Spinning, Dancer's Body and Express Yoga (coming soon!)
- Saturdays: Dancer's Body and Fly Yoga
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what others say about Fly Yoga...
Hear from i.d.'s members and guests on one of our most popular classes
We talked to some of Fly Yoga's regular participants about what they like about our unique style of aerial yoga.
"I love that it's a unique exercise because I don't like normal exercise. I feel like Fly Yoga has a purpose, it's not just someone telling me to do 50 pushups! It's also so much fun. So, even if you're doing something hard, you know there's something fun coming up! That's what I love most about it."
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Bethany S.
"The best part about i.d. gym... far and away is Fly Yoga! Such an amazing concept in which you feel like a butterfly in a cocoon. You'll feel one part Cirque Du Soleil performer, and another part relaxed and centered with Fly Yoga. Truly, Fly Yoga is the wave of the future, and it's so cool that i.d. gym offers it!"
-
Jennifer H.
"
I have really grown to love this place. I am not a member of the regular gym, but I do regularly attend the
Fly
Yoga
classes, so my review is based on this experience. As somewhat of a novice to
yoga
in general, I absolutely felt comfortable in this class. Its such a unique style that lends itself well to restorative practices
."
- Julian T.
"Our teacher was fabulous, she was professional, calm and inspiring. I loved her because she kept a solid flow throughout the class and, although a few sillly moments broke out, we still had a very spiritual experience."
- Morgan M.
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i.d. on YouTube: Fly Yoga®
subscribe to our channel and check out our cool vids!
i.d. gym has our very YouTube channel where you'll find very cool videos of our group-fitness classes. Be sure to watch our latest video, showing our Dancer's Body group-fitness class.
i.d.'s YouTube channel is stocked with videos showing our popular Fly Yoga class plus Dancer's Body, Insanity Workout and more.
The channel also includes a special playlist called "fun at i.d. gym" -- videos that our instructors, personal trainers and members have posted on YouTube to showcase their workouts. In another playlist -- called "i.d. gym in the news" -- you'll see media segments that spotlight i.d. and our great classes. Over time, we'll build up our catalog of videos that we think will inspire your workouts.
To stay up to date on the latest i.d. videos, all you have to do is visit YouTube and subscribe to our channel -- and our newest videos will come right to you. Visit us right now!
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Fly Yoga® and ...
A "mashup" is a term that started in the music industry to describe the blending of two songs that you wouldn't imagine going together, but end up sounding great once they're mixed into one. We designed the Workout Mashup series to provide you with tips on some winning combinations to intensify your workout.
You enjoy Fly Yoga® every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday as a fun way to combine traditional yoga techniques with acrobatics, gymnastics and dance. How do you workout when you're not hanging in one of Fly Yoga's suspended silk hammocks. Here are a few ideas.
Mashup #1 - Fly Yoga and Spinning:
Fly Yoga provides you with a great way to improve your posture, balance and strength. While classes typically include cardio-based movements, you should consider a group-fitness class like Spinning, where cardio, endurance and power are the focus.
Mashup #2 - Fly Yoga and Yoga:
While it may seem redundant, combining Fly Yoga with traditional classes like Power Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga or Yoga Basics is a terrific way to take your yoga practice to an all-new level.
By using Fly Yoga's suspended hammocks, you'll find that you are able to go deeper into certain yoga postures that stretch your shoulders, hips and hamstrings.
And if you take a traditional class a day or so after Fly Yoga, you may quickly discover improvements in your form, function and range of motion.
Mashuup #3 - Fly Yoga and CrossFit:
At the end of each Fly Yoga class, when you're floating in the cocoon of your silk hammock, there is no other feeling that's so comforting and liberating. But sometimes you just want to cut loose with a rush of adrenalin, and you can do that through our rough, tough CrossFit program, brought to you by Lincoln Park CrossFit. Through CrossFit, you'll focus on your overall fitness through a variety of drills that incorporate cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination and accuracy.
There's no better way to put your Fly Yoga moves to the test!
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want more yoga? i.d.'s got it!
people come in all shapes and sizes, and so does yoga
It's OK if you think Fly Yoga® isn't right for you. At i.d. gym, we are firm believers in the power of yoga, so we offer other types of yoga classes that may be the perfect fit for you and your body.
Here's a rundown of our offerings beyond Fly Yoga:
Yoga Basics:
An introduction to Power Yoga, this class illustrates basic yoga movements and breathing, enabling you to energize your body and relax your inner soul. Perfect for beginners or as a refresher for all students.
Power Yoga:
Energize your body and relax your inner soul with Power Yoga, which blends together strength and flexibility training with athletic yoga movements and breathing.
Buff Yoga:
Body sculpting with a hint of yoga? It's the perfect way to make muscles strong, lean and long. Chisel your bod and then stretch it out. Shoes recommended. (See our class profile below for more information.)
Vinyasa Yoga:
Based on the classical yoga series developed by Pattabhi Jois, this class keeps you moving and sweating. Build your strength and flexibility while relieving stress and detoxifying your body.
and now we've got even more yoga...
NEW CLASS! Express Yoga: Starting
Thursday, March 3 at 7 pm, you can add this 30-minute class to your workout schedule. Whether you're already at i.d. for CrossFit or Dancer's Body, Express Yoga gives you the perfect opportunity to stretch those muscles and clear your mind. Great for beginners too!
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class profile: Buff Yoga
when yoga is more than just a yoga class
You won't quite find another yoga class like i.d.'s Buff Yoga. This group-fitness class takes traditional yoga movements and combines them with elements of a sculpting class to give you one fabulous workout.
"While Buff Yoga is available for all fitness levels, it's ideal for those of you who want to amp up your yoga practice without having to go into the weight room," instructor Suzanne Day says. "Buff Yoga also provides a great workout for athletes who are looking for a new challenge."
Throughout a Buff Yoga class, you'll flow through a variety of yoga poses using hand weights that will help you get tone, firm and blissed out. This powerful combination will help you work on flexibility and strength -- all at the same time.
By fusing strength training and core abdominal work with traditional yoga poses, you'll be able to focus on different muscle groups to build strength and stamina, which will help you through those challenging yoga postures
.
when to find it:
- Thursdays at 9 am, with Suzanne Day
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function junction: side plank
tips for incorporating functional training into your workout routine
The idea behind functional training is that each exercise should be natural and carry over into your daily life. These multi-dimensional exercises tend to activate more muscles, consume more energy and improve mobility. So, how do you perform functional exercises? Here's our training tip of the month.
Let's do a
side plank
.
"A side plank is a traditional yoga pose that you can do every day to build strength and endurance in the core," personal trainer and group-fitness instructor George Deoudes says. "This will help keep your lower back protected and stable during activities that require movement in the hips or back."
Here's how to do it:
1. Lie on your right side, in a straight line from head to feet, resting on your forearm. Your elbow should be directly under your shoulder.
2. With your abdominals gently contracted, lift your hips off the floor, maintaining the line.
3. Keep your hips square and your neck in line with your spine.
4. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds and lower. Repeat two to three times, alternating sides.
Alternative workout: If this sounds too challenging, start with one bent knee on the floor.
Need help? Ask one of our knowledgeable personal trainers for tips on how to get started.
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the perfect workout: Saturdays
How to get the most out of everything i.d. gym has to offer!
The Perfect Workout series is designed to help you get the most out of i.d.'s group-fitness program, weight room and cardio equipment.
With this series, we provide workouts for each day of the week.
We've covered Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, so now we move on to Saturdays. To say the least, Saturdays can be busy. We have errands to run, we have sports and school events for the kids, we get together with friends and family, and we want to squeeze in some down time. With all of that on our "to do" list, it can be hard to find time for the gym, but i.d. has just what you need to start your Saturday on the right note!
The perfect early morning workout
- If you're an early-riser, arrive at i.d. gym at 8 am, stretch out your muscles in our training area and jog for few a few minutes on one of our 12 Star Trac treadmills.
- Head to Spinning at 8:15 am. Here, group-fitness instructor Laurie Gold leads up to 30 i.d. members through jumps, climbs, jogs and sprints on stationary bikes to the hottest hits of today and yesterday.
- If you're up for more, head to Body Sculpt at 9 am. Instructor Lillian Vasquez leads the ultimate class that's designed to strengthen and tone every muscle, from head to toe.
- Stretch and cool down, hit the showers and get on with your day.
The perfect late morning workout
- If you start your Saturdays at a leisurely pace, get to i.d. at 10:45 am for a stretch and a few minutes on one of our Star Trec stair mills.
- Join us at 11 am for Fly Yoga®, where instructors Brent Holten and DeeDee Knoche turn your yoga practice upside down for 60 minutes with our unique blend of traditional yoga, acrobatics, gymnastics and dance.
- If you're ambitious, get to Kettlebell Conditioning with instructor Kyle Boerema. Here, short periods of all-out effort are followed are followed by rest periods that help you reach "afterburn," a state where your body burns more fat and calories.
- Breathe, relax and get to your day!
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stay in touch with i.d. gym
there's more than one way to connect with us
We know you're busy, and there are weeks where you don't have time to hit the gym. But that doesn't mean you can't stay connected to the latest news and information about i.d. gym.
on social networks: Like us on i.d. gym's Facebook page at
facebook.com/idgym if you haven't done so already. You'll join the conversation with more than 1,300 other fans of i.d. gym and keep on top with current events at i.d. gym. You can even keep tabs on our weekly group-fitness class schedule. And if you love Fly Yoga®, be sure to "like" our Facebook page at
facebook.com/idgymflyyoga. You also can follow us on
Twitter, review us on
Yelp, see us on
Instagram and watch us on
YouTube.
on the web: Visit our website at
id-gym.com for the latest in group fitness and personal training. You also can learn about our programs, partners and instructors. Our group-fitness schedule is updated weekly, and you can reserve your spot for Fly Yoga® and premium Lincoln Park CrossFit classes. You also can join the conversation in t
he workout planner blog.
there's an app for that! Through our partner MindBody, you can connect to i.d. gym when you're on the go through your iPhone or Android phone. These free MindBody Connect apps, available through iPhone App Store and the Android Marketplace, enable you keep track of i.d. gym's group-fitness schedules -- you can even reserve a space for Fly Yoga® and Lincoln Park CrossFit.
Learn more.
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the i.d. mission: personalize your workout
At i.d. gym, we believe that helping you reach your fitness goals requires an approach as unique as you are.
 We know that one program does not fit all, so i.d. gym has everything you need to personalize your workout. In today's fitness world, people go to yoga studios for yoga classes, cycling studios for indoor cycling classes or personal training gyms for one-on-one workouts. At i.d. gym, we've got all of that -- and more -- for a great value under just one roof. That's why Chicago Magazine named us one of the Best in Chicago.
Even something as simple as knowing your name when you come in the door can make your experience at i.d. gym something special. Unlike the big chain gyms, we want your fitness program to have a personal touch. Creating a friendly environment keeps things fun, helps you stay on track and may even push you to achieve goals you never thought you could.
i.d. gym. all in one. all for you.
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