Boot Camp Las Vegas Julie Johnston began this rigorous exercise regimen when she found herself more than 60 pounds overweight. Her hardcore, military-style boot camp will have you shedding pounds (and maybe a few tears — you little crybaby!). 767-8797, www.bootcamplasvegas.com Carol Dickman Vegas-based yoga guru Carol Dickman teaches yoga and produces gentle, accessible yoga DVDs for seniors, beginners and those looking to explore the yogatistical lifestyle. In other words, this stuff won’t snap you in half like a stick of stale Doublemint. 735-3922, www.stretch.com
Chi kung
Red Rock Climbing Center features climbs for every skill level, and is free from the terrifying wild animals commonly found around real cliffs.
Chuck Minker Sports Complex Named after a former boxing judge, this gym offers a wide variety of programs including martial arts. The best part is memberships start as low as $3 a day, and $12 a month for senior citizens. You know what that means: buff grandmas. 275 N. Mojave Road, 229-6563 Fitness in the Square Sure, shopping is great exercise, but you can actually exercise for real at Town Square. Yogis Unite presents this free fitness program in Town Square Sundays at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., and 10 a.m. Dr. Randa Bascharon acts as the sports medical director to ensure participants exercise properly. Town Square, 6505 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Live-In Fitness Welcome to Debra Stefan’s house — now drop and give her 20! Stefan borrows techniques from “The Biggest Loser” reality show, opening her home to those who are serious about getting fit. Participants stay at Stefan’s Henderson home for a weekend or a strict 30 to 90 day program. Think twice about that midnight snack — the fridge is electrified. 898-4622, www.live-in-fitness.com Pole Fitness Studio How do strippers stay in such good shape? Lots of pole. Owner Fawnia Dietrich began pole fitness trend when the former exotic dancer decided to share the secrets of sensual exercise. She also teaches belly dancing, yoga and cardio kickboxing. Guys: Some classes are co-ed! 46 D e s e r t C o m pa n i o n J a n u a r y 2 0 1 1
Upstairs Studio: 4265 S. Arville St. Ste. A, Downstairs Studio: 4275 S. Arville St. Ste. E, 878-7653, www.poledancinglasvegas.net Red Rock Climbing Center Rock-climbing is great, until you fall off a cliff and land in a bear’s mouth. Avoid such untidy fates at the Red Rock Climbing Center. The center offers both top-rope and lead climbing, and routes change weekly to challenge your skills. 8201 W. Charleston Blvd. Ste. 150, 2545604, www.redrockclimbingcenter.com Sherry Goldstein’s Yoga Sanctuary Sherry Goldstein has contorted with the best of them. She’s trained cast members from Siegfried and Roy, and dancers from the Nevada Ballet Company and The Rockettes. 7915 W. Sahara #101, 240-7666; 9480 S. Eastern #252, 407-0043, www.lasvegasyoga.com Student Recreation and Wellness Center at UNLV If you graduated from UNLV between 2004 and 2007, you can work out free for every semester you attended UNLV. Not an alumni? Don’t fret. A daily pass costs $10; a monthly pass is $30. The center also features a café and juice bar. Now, about those overdue library books … 4505 S. Maryland, 774-7100, www.srwc.unlv.edu Studio 222 Former Muay Thai trainer James M. Wong opened this 3,300 square foot exercise studio to teach things such as boxing and cardio strength training. Give those love handles a
About 15 minutes in to the Lohan School of Shaolin’s chi gung class (www.lvlohans. org), I’m doing pretty good, proud of myself for keeping up with the 70-year old man in front of me. Then the instructor says we’re done stretching and will now begin the actual chi kung. Today’s practice is baduanjin, or the “Eight Section Brocade.” It’s eight simple exercises meant to improve general health. We’re breathing deeply, extending our hands over our heads or touching our toes. We do a posture called “Drawing the Bow,” which requires standing in “horse” stance. (Mime sitting on an invisible chair while carefully aiming an invisible bow and arrow, and you’ve got it.) I go into a low horse stance to show I’m no newbie. I can feel the burn in my thighs but, otherwise, this is easy stuff. Suddenly, about the fifth stance in, I start sweating. Soon, it’s like someone opened a faucet on my head. I am dripping sweat onto the hardwood floor. I pull the instructor aside. “Look,” I say. “I’m a writer. I’m not really supposed to sweat.” He says this particular stance is good for people who spend too much time sitting, and gently pushes me back into position. When it’s all done, I feel great. My body is stretched and relaxed. I’m calm from the breathing exercises. I feel a sense of balance and equanimity, and things seem in perspective. The next day, my thighs are so sore that it hurts to move. Chi kung is subtle, but its effects are very real. I tried it. Verdict: I like it. (Ouch. My thighs.) — John Hardin
KO! Now taunt them as they lie there in an unconscious heap! 8645 W. Flamingo Road #104, 769-2991, www.studio222lasvegas.com Vegas Hot! Yoga and Pilates From Hot Pockets to hot messes, everything’s better with a higher temperature thrown in. Same goes for yoga and pilates. This studio specializes in hot pilates, hot yoga as well as core power, endurance and more. 5875 S. Rainbow Blvd. #206, 257-8171, www.bikramyogalasvegas.com