Friday Giveaway: $120 Gift Card to Run On!

These could put a little pep in your step, no? (photography courtesy of New Balance, carried at Run On)

Yeah, I see you out there, getting your sweat on, panting around the Katy Trail, working on your bikini body. I’m doing it too. (But you’re more likely to find me taking a break with a mimosa on the patio at Company Cafe.) Run On knows you need a new pair of kicks to help you keep up the motivation and keep your, well, run on. That’s why they’re offering one lucky ShopTalk reader a glorious $120 gift card to spend at their new Murphy store. And if you’re going to spend it, why not take it to the grand opening party on June 1, where they’ll be highlighting some “pretty sweet shoes,” hosting venders, and sizing people? But they had us at “pretty sweet shoes.” To redeem this gift card, you’ll need to use it at the Murphy location. If you’re good with that, enter here.

Working Up a Sweat: A Review of Sunstone Yoga’s Hot Pilates

photography courtesy of Sunstone Yoga

With 12 studios conveniently located all over the DFW area (and one in Austin), I’m sure you’ve heard of Sunstone Yoga by now. If you haven’t given them a try, I believe it is an experience that everyone should have at least once. After learning that they recently added hot Pilates to their catalog, I hit the Uptown studio to give the new “Metal” class a whirl.

First Five Minutes of Class: With the studio set to 90 degrees and 60 percent humidity hanging in the air, I had the obvious moment of panic when I first entered the room. The instructor talked us through the goal of “Metal” and bestowed a yellow “Focus Wristband” to a student that had reached her 75th class. We began class belly-up for some guided breathing that calmed me down just in time for a hairy, older, shirtless gentleman to spread his mat out inches from mine. My hair stood on end as my personal space issues began to get the better of me.

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Kamit Slenderizing Fitness Apparel Hits D: The Broadcast

Remember we talked about KaMIT Sport workout clothing back in January? The locally designed fitness apparel collection aims to be figure flattering and versatile, doubling as gym gear and lifestyle apparel. Designer Dorris Bogus made an appearance on D: The Broadcast today. Take a look:

Working Up a Sweat: A D Staffer Hits Up Flywheel Sports

Warm weather is here. Yay! Time to bare our thunder thighs. Boo. So, now we’re on the hunt for the ideal fitness program to seatbelt us into the workout wagon and keep us both working hard entertained. If you’re in the same rut, you’re in luck. On top of our last year’s 5 Favorite Workouts in Dallas and Chelsey Plumlee’s Bodybar review, more workout news is coming soon. Next up, a review of Flywheel Sports spin studio. Could the cycling shop be for you? Check out Chelsey’s take:

Flywheel Sports, New York’s stadium cycle studio, has finally made its way to Dallas. Founder and esteemed fitness instructor, Ruth Zuckerman, designed a spin experience that incorporates music, weights, and a custom stationary bike. After hearing rave reviews at the office, I decided to check it out. I talked my bike-loving brother into joining me for some male perspective before signing each of us up for the complimentary intro class that Saturday morning.

The friendly staff helped us check in at the laptop station while we grabbed the provided shoes that were waiting for us in numbered cubbies. We locked our gear in the complimentary lockers then waited anxiously for the previous class to wrap up. The studio doors opened and we both tried to play it cool as Troy Aikman strolled past us.

First Five Minutes of Class: We made our way into the dark, chilly studio and a uniformed gentleman toting an iPad escorted us to our bikes. He assisted us with the settings, told us a little bit about the bikes, and made sure we were comfortable before class began. Our cheerful instructor, Mark Shipman, gave the group a rundown of the class before saying, “Hope you like 80s music!” And we were off.

Middle of Class: I was totally regretting my Friday night happy hour with the girls, and my hypercompetitive brother was only making things worse. As I struggled to keep my legs spinning, he shot me a sarcastic smirk before cranking up the resistance on his “Torqboard” and leaving me in the dust. As Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” started to play, I found my second wind and pushed through the last few hills and even some unexpected weight training.

Class is Over: We unlocked our shoes from the pedals and slowly made our way off of the bikes for some much-needed stretching. We were both a bit wobbly, but totally exhilarated and starving for lunch.

Next Day: Our legs and arms weren’t as sore as we expected them to be, but we still felt that we had done some major calorie-burning. There was also some discussion about wearing padded shorts or buying padded seats for future classes. Consider your bum warned.

What I Love Most: The high-tech space keeps things clean and simple. I appreciated the way every moment of class flowed with the great music. My brother raved about the bike and the instructor’s killer attitude. (Our instructor, Mark, had taught the class before ours and, as we left, we overheard him talking about teaching the next one!)

What I Love Least: The Dallas studio is located off of Oak Lawn at The Shops of Highland Park so busy nights and weekends could create a parking challenge. The locker area is just a big common space outside the studio so if you need to change you will have to wait for a shower or restroom stall.

Cost: Flywheel falls comfortably in the middle when compared to other local studios. Both locations are offering 30-day month-to-month memberships for $180 without a sign-up fee or commitment.

The Takeaway: This concept takes all of the work out of working out so you can relax and focus on the experience. The shoes, water, towels, locker, and equipment are all there waiting for you when you arrive and the “Torqboard” records your progress for online review. We will be back for more.

Dallas Residents Launch New Activewear Line

Rozik's The Analyzer trousers with tabs to roll up pant legs, reflective pocket flap for safe riding, and raised back coverage to keep rearends undercover. (photography courtesy of Rozik)

Designed with bicycle commuters in mind, Rozik is a new Dallas-based line of “every wear” clothing that allows you to bike to work, or hurry to happy hour afterward, without the annoying wardrobe change. Launched in 2012 by locals Anne Clarrissimeaux and Anthony Rosich, Rozik sells what appear to be classic men’s khakis–except they’re made out of comfortable, breathable material, making it easy to transition from work to play–and everything in between. (And since the owners are cycling enthusiasts, the pant legs even have tabs that make them easy to roll up to keep clear of bicycle chains, and there’s a hidden reflective flap for extra visibility when riding at night.)

Not only is the line owned by Dallas residents, but all of the clothing is produced right here in North Texas. Clarrissimeaux and Rosich say they are working hard to re-establish the clothing manufacturing industry in Dallas, and they’re helping local charities along the way. The company has partnered with Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind’s Sewing Center, which helps with the final stages of manufacturing the clothing, and in return, a portion of the profits from t-shirt sales go to benefit the organization.

Rozik currently sells only men’s clothing, but a women’s line is in production and should be hitting stores sometime this summer. Until then, you can purchase the men’s merchandise from Transit Bicycle Company and Richardson Bike Mart.

Jessica Mitzner is a ShopTalk intern.

Update: The clothing is not created exclusively as a workout pant, but as a pant that allows lots of activity.

Spin Your Way to a Better Body: A Q&A with Beyond Studios’ Director of Pedaling

photography courtesy of Beyond Pedaling

John Terlingo (photography courtesy of John Terlingo)

While on D Moms they’re talking about meaningful, family-friendly New Year’s resolutions, I’d like to bring up the clichéd, single person, I-want-to-get-healthy version again. And no one is more adept in helping us figure out what really works than a person who teaches fitness for a living. So, a round of applause for John Terlingo, the pedaling director at Beyond Pedaling (one of our five favorite workouts in Dallas), who’s helping us tackle this timely matter.

Q: How do we make reasonable New Year’s fitness resolutions that we’ll actually keep?
A: Keep moderation in your goals for the new year. If you want to, let’s say, give up drinking and you love margaritas, cut the intake by half. Keep your goals realistic! Once you start to see and feel the results, usually I find it keeps one motivated to keep going. Also, switch it up! Truth is, exercise is a way of life, not quick fix.

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Spin for a $15 Donation to North Texas Food Bank at New Flywheel Sports

Just how I like to ride: in a huge stadium so no one can pay attention to me. (photography courtesy of Flywheel)

If you’ve been thinking about hitting up that new spin gym in the Shops at Highland Park, today’s the day to reserve a seat at Flywheel Sports. Take a trial class on Monday for a half-priced $16.82 ($15 plus a fee) and not only do you get to check out a potential new gym, all the proceeds from the class go straight to North Texas Food Bank. This class is a one-time offer for Monday, January 21 at 7 pm. Lots of seats are still available and waiting for your hiney to come grab a good workout. Buy your ticket here.

New Year, New You, and Obviously, New Workout Gear

photography courtesy of KaMIT

New year = getting healthy = more workouts = shopping for new workout gear. Check this out: KaMIT Sport is a local sportswear line packing comfortable athletic-meets-lifestyle wear that is fashioned to slenderize.

Dorris Bogus, the brand’s designer, ACE-certified group fitness trainer, and finalist in 2011′s Texas Next Top Designer competition, uses eco-friendly fabrics (like organic cotton and bamboo) that wick away moisture along with slimming details like dark panels and feel-good roominess for hiding muffin tops and other embarrassing lumps, bumps, and unsightly spots. Highlights of the collection include sexy open-back tees, waist-producing tanks, tribal-trimmed pants, and yoga wraps so buttery soft you’ll want to wear them everywhere. I had the good fortune to be sent a handful of samples, which I dispersed among a few family members for the full perpective of all ages. Though a couple designs have superfluous details like belled, fitted sleeves and cowl collars (which my mom loved), I can fully vouch for the slimming, comfy-coziness of Bogus’ KaMIT collection. I’m also a firm believer that a good workout outfit can inspire you to kick-off your best fitness regimen yet. It always works for me. Shop the collection online.

Only Overweight Clients Allowed at This Dallas Gym

Liz forwarded over a press release this morning with this tidbit:

Downsize Fitness is a Dallas gym that caters to those 50 pounds or more overweight until they ‘graduate’ to a goal weight of 220 lbs. It is a revolutionary concept that is capturing local and national attention… Each Downsize Fitness member has a coach that helps them each step of the way, with exercises and nutrition programs geared towards their members.

I don’t mean to sound out of the fitness loop–okay, I’m out of the fitness loop–but, I didn’t know this existed. I know there are gyms exclusively for ladies, but overweight-only fitness studios are news to me. I like the concept. The Dallas location of Downsize Fitness on Inwood Road is one of three, and it emphasizes three components: fitness, nutrition, and support. I wish more gyms offered a comprehensive program. (Having a juice bar doesn’t count.)

A D Staffer Works Up a Sweat at the New Bodybar in Highland Park

Summer is over. Our mission to procure a few visible ab muscles for poolside soirees has been replaced by hunting down the perfect boots. But we’re not letting ourselves go, altogether. No, we’re just waiting for the perfect fitness class to fall in our laps and make exercise during our chaotic holiday season convenient. Could Highland Park’s new Bodybar be the ticket? Chelsey Plumlee reports on her experience:

A fit and savvy coworker recently invited me to join her for a class at the new Bodybar studio in Uptown’s Travis Walk. Business developer Laurie Gatlin and Pilates master Kristin Moses have collaborated to bring Bodybar’s “Beautiful. Athletic. Real.” concept to life. The studio offers workouts that mix traditional Pilates, barre, yoga, and their signature “Burst” cardio segments between sets. A boutique entrance instantly drew me in with an earthy collection of jewelry, cozy active wear by Saint Grace, and a raw juice bar, but around the corner stood twelve of the most intimidating exercise machines I had ever seen. I spent the next fifty minutes jamming to pop music and following along while our instructor walked us through the “Reformer Jump!” class.

First Five Minutes of Class: Leaping up and down off of the “Jump” board was really disorienting at first, so naturally I laughed at how ridiculous everyone looked rather than focusing on the first few sets. Imagine jumping as high as you can then being pulled back down by weighted springs, all while lying flat on your back. Weird.

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Get This in Your Calendar: Free Dallas Yoga Day, September 3

New to yoga? Test it out. Veteran yogi? Try a new class. That’s what DFW’s Free Day of Yoga is good for. Happening September 3, tons of local yoga studios are offering complimentary classes from morning until sundown around the city. See here for a list of all the studios and classes available. You can search by zip code, start time, and class level. RSVP info, if necessary, is provided.

Shape Shifting Time: Our 5 Favorite Workouts in Dallas

A reader writes:

I need a need a new workout class for summer. Bored of the gym, but gotta get rid of these not-so-lovely love handles. I know you try out different classes. What are your favorites? –Candace

I won’t lie. A perk of the job is “testing” different fitness programs around town. Most are good. Some, meh, but then there are the greats. Five of those, coming up. (Warning: You will not find yoga on this list.)

Class: Beyond Pedaling
What It Is: An indoor cycling studio in Snider Plaza. We love the Barre Blast + Bike class, a combination of 25 minutes of spin class and 25 minutes of ballet-inspired barre work that equals 50 minutes of pure, head-to-toe toning.
Why We Like It: The classroom is hip, lit up like a nightclub with colorful LED lights. A big screen at the front of the room plays music videos (nothing makes me pedal faster than Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter”), and instructors are all sorts of energetic. The time flies by (as it does when you’re having fun) and our bodies were sore for days in all the right places. (Buns, abs, shoulders, and thighs.)
Cost: $15 for your first ever class, followed by $3o a pop in singles, and packages ranging from $80-$300
Schedule: Click here.

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Freshly Squeezed Juice + No Cleanup = Dallas Roots Juices Delivery

photography courtesy of Roots Juices

Most of us have heard the juicing hype. Maybe you’ve even bought a juicer of your own. However, if you’re anything like me, getting a juicer and actually using it are two totally different things.(Mine’s been sitting on the counter collecting dust for six months.)

When it comes to the juice-craze, it seems like the majority of us have good intentions but are too busy to take action. Thankfully, Roots Juices, a Dallas-based juice company, has just launched online. Log on, order fresh-pressed goodness, and it’ll arrive at your doorstep. Plus, Roots uses fruits and vegetables from local farmers.

When it takes about three pounds of the stuff to create one juice, it’s a relief to forgo the shopping and horrible clean-up and to take Roots up on its offer. In addition to a variety of nutritious concoctions, Roots supplies specialty juice kits. These range from their 5-day Detox and Cleanse Kit (a smart way to jumpstart a diet) to their Rehab Hangover Recovery Kit (perfect after a wild night out). Interested? Get all the details here.

Kelly Belter is a shopping intern.

New Cozy De Rigueur Sweaters at Equinox

De Rigueur spring summer 2012

I know. It’s 90-something degrees outside. But it’s -20 degrees inside, so there’s no reason to snub your nose at incoming sweater news. After all, you should have a beautiful collection of office/movie theater/cold restaurant summer sweaters. Start with the new, seasonal knits from De Rigueur, Equinox gym’s private clothing line, now available at the locations in Highland Park and Preston Hollow. In photo from left, Go To Pullover for $110; Beach Cardy for $98; and Gauzy Cowl for $110.

For Every Dallas Girl’s Summer Beauty List: Rae Climate Control Mineral Tint

photography courtesy of Rae Cosmetics

Remember when I told you how obsessed I was Revision’s Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer? Well, I still am.

But I’m also liking a similar product from Austin-based Rae Cosmetics, the Climate Control tinted moisturizer for $39 in eight shades. The mineral-based brand, created for exercisers, travelers, and all around busy people, consists of eyeshadows, lip sticks, glosses, and liners, tools, powder, blush, concealer, an more. According to Rae, products are made of “micro-crushed minerals, pigments, and potent anti-oxidants” that protect the skin from daily damage without suffocating it. After playing with them, I agree: they feel light but stay put. Plus, I’m thrilled having a bit of color on my face that doesn’t need to be washed off before I work out. The tinted moisturizer is a water-based formula with a chemical-free sunscreen and a shimmer. Wear it alone for a glow or dust some quick powder on top to tone it down. I’m wearing it tomorrow for Genesis Women’s Shelter’s Make the Break from Domestic Violence race. (Don’t judge. I have to speak, and I don’t want to look like a vampire that hasn’t fed in a long time.) For now, shop the line online.