Detoxify.  Cleanse.  Purify.  Restore.

These trendy words are all over the fitness and wellness industry, and never more so than when people are primed to get their New Year’s resolutions in order in less than a week.

So what on Earth do they all mean?  Why are some of the products ridiculously expensive?  And why should you want to “detox” anyway?  How can a girl on a budget who of course craves the clear skin, radiant eyes, and flat abs cleansing promises do it cheaply but safely?

I’m here to help.  Let me preface by saying that you should ALWAYS be in good health confirmed by a medical doctor before beginning any sort of cleanse.  This is especially important if you have any pre-existing conditions or if you are on any medications as some natural herbs in cleansing products can interact with medical drugs.  So get checked first!

Now, as the holiday drinks and cookies begin to pile on, a New Year’s cleanse can sound very appealing.  Think long and hard about how far you want to go.  You always want to set a goal that is reasonable for you, your occupation, and your prior experience with detoxifying routines.  Any goal, even if its just to give up your beloved diet soda (yes, personal experience with that one… sigh…) or if it’s to go whole-hog vegan (pardon the irony), is a great goal.  Do it for you and no one else.

For the budget diva, at-home kits versus spa treatments are the way to go (but be on the look for New Year’s specials in the Red Eye and such… spas have really suffered in the recession and prices are LOW!). Peruse your local Whole Foods (or try Life Spring on Clark & Belmont, a great family-owned place with good prices) and compare prices and ingredients if you are looking to do an actual cleanse.  Many of these kits are glorified laxatives, so be aware of that, and many have the same exact ingredients but range in price.  You could be better off just filling your fridge with fresh produce, Kombucha, and buying some organic teas on your own.  Another but pricier option could be enlisting the help of a place like Karyn’s Inner Beauty Center in Lincoln Park, a sort of go-between where you do thing on your own but with support.

I’m a true believer of Yoga as a great detoxifier.  Its twisting & compressing poses give all of your systems a good squeeze to keep things moving, literally.  This is ESPECIALLY important for your lymphatic (read: immune) system which has no pump and relies on body movement to keep things going & draining.  I’m running my 2nd annual Detoxification Yoga series at Infuse Yoga Spa this year beginning Sunday, January 3rd, from 10am -12 noon for 6 weeks.  Last year an amazing group of women signed up and this year the series is already almost full with returning clients and customers who heard of the amazing comraderie and results.  Think of it like Detox for Dummies… each week is a themed topic (i.e. Nutrition) and a complimenting Yoga practice with discussion, fruit, teas and handouts after.

Whatever way you go, cleaning your system by treating your body right is always a great thing to do after the holidays.  Your skin, eyes, energy levels, and mood will thank you for it.

Now that’s hot.

Yours in Fitness,

Christy

christylyonsyoga@gmail.com
www.christylyonsyoga.com

As the new Get Hot columnist, let me tell you that I firsthand understand how expensive keeping fit, kicking butt, and getting zen with Yoga or Pilates can be. I’ve been teaching Yoga for over 2 years now at big-name gyms, corporate private classes, and at Yoga studios…and you’re right, it’s expensive (and no, teachers don’t see that cash)! My love affair with fitness combined with my lifestyle as a PoorLittleRichGirl have led me here and I hope that my column can help you have the best of both worlds.

PLRG helps you score a deal on your downward dog.

As the new Get Hot columnist at PLRG, let me tell you that I understand firsthand how expensive keeping fit, kicking butt and getting zen with Yoga or Pilates can be. I’ve been teaching Yoga for over 2 years now at big-name gyms, in private, corporate classes and at Yoga studios…and you’re right- it’s expensive. But, don’t think that means I’m the one raking in the dough- teachers don’t see that cash! My love affair with fitness has also led me to convince myself, in the name of saving a buck, that I can keep up with irrational workout plans, like running on the lakefront in the winter (I thought, “I don’t need a gym membership and running in the snow will be refreshing and good for my glutes.”)

Yeah, right. I ended up caving in last January and buying a membership at peak season time. So much for saving a buck.

So what’s a girl on a budget to do?

Depending on your level of budget importance, here’s a few suggestions:

Firstly, ALWAYS check a gym or studio’s website. Some specials are online only and unless you have an informed and/or generous receptionist you might miss out on printing a one week free membership or first class free pass! If there is a place you are dead-set on becoming a member of, get on their email list and you will stay informed about when any specials are being offered. Fitness establishments have also recently taken up advertising in The Red Eye and in the neighborhood coupon books, including deals waiving joining fees (check out the LVAC/LPAC ads of late) or even the first month’s membership, so keep your peepers peeled! You can also try your shot at joining a friend who is already a member for a one-time free trial. Most gyms offer guest passes to their members specifically for that purpose.

Once you are at the gym or studio, ask what’s going on for the girl on a budget. If you’re a student, bring your school ID to see if there is a student rate. I’ve had gyms negotiate with me as a yoga instructor who is in the process of going back to grad school. Since I was genuine, I ended up with an amazing deal! I also then immediately went on Yelp and reviewed them with flying colors (being the polite budget diva that I am, plus good karma never hurts).

Do your homework, so you don't overpay for your gym.

Another negotiating idea is getting your roommate/boy toy involved. Most places give deals if two people sign up at once (or even a couples’ rate, like at Midtown Tennis Club) and it gives you negotiating power over the salesperson receiving commission on TWO memberships… plus, you can avoid those love handles griped about in Advice from a Jerrk’s last week!

For those of you addicted to Yoga, Pilates or other speciality classes, here are a few tips & tricks especially for you:

Sign up for Groupon.com! Studios have been offering class packages at ridiculously cheap rates, like Spring Pilates’ recent deal of 5 classes for $30! 900 Grouponers enjoyed this deal that includes Pilates, Yoga (including hot), kettlebells, BOSU and other classes in Wrigleyville. Not too shabby!

A few yoga studios have $5 first class specials… as well as the hot new idea of “Karma” or donation-based classes (pay what you can, usually suggested donation is $5-15 per class, cash only). To name a few, Infuse Yoga Spa in Lincoln Park offers two pay-what-you-can weekly classes (as well as a $5 first class deal). Moksha Yoga at Riverwest, Lakeview, and (recently opened) Logan Square has $7 Karma classes 2-3 times per week at each location. Other studios like YogaView have once-weekly community classes that are free. Get there early for a spot, they fill up FAST!

If even these deals seem just out of your reach, there’s a few final (and FREE) things a fit budget chick can do:

Get your company to sponsor a class, or find an instructor to come and teach one at your company. Instructors can charge less for these cash only/off the books style classes. All you need is some space, some tunes and a few coworker friends to join you for what usually can be a cheaper rate than at a studio!

If you have Comcast, they actually have some pretty great free fitness videos On Demand that include Yoga, Pilates, kickboxing and more. The videos tend to be short (under 20 minutes), but think of it like circuit training, you’ll be forced to pay attention and mix it up for your body, which burns more calories than doing the same thing over and over! And you’re already paying for it anyway- might as well use it!

Last, get ambitious with YouTube. Like Comcast, you’ll get short videos but it’s better than nothing! Now just make sure your neighbors don’t kill you for all that thumping racket!

I’ll be here every two weeks, so feel free to drop me an email with a question or column idea at christylyonsyoga@gmail.com!

Yours in Fitness,
Christy Lyons
www.christylyonsyoga.com