Cut down on your plastic cutlery

City Fitness Gym has been working on ways to cut down waste and our carbon footprint. This process will continue well into the future as it will for many of us working on "environmental friendliness." One pet peeve (maybe more of mine than the gym) is the disposal of plastic cutlery. Check out the link on the title bar above if you have the same issue. It will lead you to Uncommon Goods where you can buy a portable cutlery set on a lanyard. Keep it at work for when you need utensils instead of the old use and toss method.

City Fitness Gym chooses Clean Currents

Clean Currents supplies energy for homes and businesses from green sources at lower cost than the standard utilities. City Fitness is using them - click on the above title bar to learn more and to switch yourself over. Purchase clean power and renewable energy credits!

Green DC Week April 21-27

It's Green DC Week! The official kick off is April 21, 2008, 10 a.m. at Freedom Plaza, 13th Street and Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. The event showcases environmental and energy exhibits about energy consumption, improving the quality of our air, water, and land and many other environmental topics. The week will includes hands-on fun activities for all ages.

Celebrate Earth Day on the National Mall - April 20!

(Click the above title bar for the official site.) Walk, bike, hike or take public transportation down to the mall on Sunday to celebrate Earth Day! There are all kinds of activities schedule from 12:00-6:30 p.m. including music, green displays and exhibits...not to mention shows all around town all weekend. Check it out!

National Zoo Cleanup April 19 - Celebrate Earth Day!

From the Zoo's web site:

The Zoo and FONZ invite you to celebrate Year of the Frog and Earth Day at a clean-up of Rock Creek. Help us remove debris from Rock Creek’s banks and keep the surrounding ecosystem healthy.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the grassy picnic area across from Amazonia. We encourage you to save natural resources and take Metro to the Zoo. If you drive, park in Lot D.

Wear durable shoes (sandals are not recommended) and be prepared for uneven terrain during the clean up. Protect yourself against insects, plants, and the sun with long sleeves and pants. Also, be sure to bring work gloves, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The minimum age is six years old. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The clean-up will be held rain or shine."

Click on the Title Bar to visit the Zoo's website. They also collect old cell phones and batteries for recycling and have tips on other environmentally friendly things. Check it out!

City Fitness' Outdoor Deck

City Fitness Gym takes pride in our outdoor deck. This is the time of year that the plants are reorganized and that we add a few new pieces. It is also maintenance time. This afternoon our rooftop deck was repaired, sanded and refinished. It looks great so far, but needs to dry for 24 hours...so, although this evening and tomorrow are going to be really nice days, we have to be patient until tomorrow evening before we use it. Enjoy!

Tidal Basin 3K

The Tidal Basin 3K is held the third Wednesday of each month. The run is informal and free, but they do record the results.

Meet at Tourmobile stand on Ohio Drive at West Basin Drive (West Potomac Park, the starting area used by many races), run east on West Basin Drive to Independence Avenue to 15th Street to West Basin Drive to Ohio Drive back to the start -- which is still 3 kilometers.

INTERACTIVE map

DIRECTIONS: From Independence Avenue, follow Ohio Drive south to the Tourmobile stand at the first cross street, West Basin Drive

REGISTRATION: Free, starting at 11:50 am, 10 minutes before the 12 noon race

BATHROOMS: Available at Lincoln, FDR, and Jefferson Memorials

PARKING: is free along the river in West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park, but not the Memorials themselves.

Improve Your Yoga Asana

Improved Yoga Asana through IntegrationBy James Foulkes

Alignment is a principle often emphasized in Yoga classes, but what does it really mean? Alignment moves way beyond straightness of limbs and the holding of tense rigid postures for the sake of a perceived “correct” external shape. When elements of the physical structure align with each other (for example knees, ankles and hips) physical integration is encouraged, reducing unnecessary strain on bones, joints and tendons during asanas. Practitioners of other movement disciplines, such as dance, are also required to consider the alignment of their bodies, not to mention their breathing and body awareness. Martha Graham, one of the worlds most creative dance teachers states that:

“Any movements should enable alignment of the skin, muscles, and bones so that the internal rivers of energy and fluids can flow unobstructed, creating wholesome functionality and fluid movement.” - Graham (1989)

The other aspect to alignment which is less commonly focused upon is with the natural forces of the planet. Esther Myers, who trained with Vanda Scaravelli, states that:

“Through continued focus on the force of gravity we bring ourselves into alignment with it. Our emphasis on alignment… is partly to prevent injuries and improve our functioning on the bio-mechanical level but also to bring us into optimal alignment with this universal energy field (gravity.)” - Myers (1996)

Yoga can be used as an approach to injury recovery and prevention, such as in the field of Structural Yoga Therapy. It includes alignment of structure, effectively relating to gravity, and a holistic understanding of the nature of the bones and tissues of our body (the focus of the forthcoming workshop at City Fitness on April 12^th 2008.) These combine to make Structural Yoga Therapy effective, which helps the practitioner to maintain a safe practise, whilst promoting a sense of wholeness.

Yelp on City Fitness Gym

Yelp is a website that allows readers to review businesses including restaurants, shops, nightlife, beauty salons and spas, gyms, etc. Sadly, many businesses are only given feedback when someone has a bone to pick, not always when people are happy with it. For any of you wordsmiths out there that LOVE City Fitness Gym, please log on and tell the world how you belong to DC's favorite neighborhood gym! http://www.yelp.com/biz/city-fitness-gym-washington

Cancer Control Month

In addition to celebrating the earth this month, also note it is Cancer Control Month. There are several organizations promoting cancer prevention including http://www.preventcancer.org. Good at cards? Join their Bad Beat on Cancer Annual Texas Hold'em Tournament May 6. Check out that page and http://www.cancer.org and join a golf tournament or walk. This site also has lots of resource information available.

Reduce DC's Carbon Footprint

City Fitness Gym member Mary F. posted this and we thought it important and so we are highlighting it - "Sign up for the Cool Capital Challenge (coolcapitalchallenge.org) You can sign up your company or do it with a group of friends and help reduce DC's carbon footprint."

Cherry Blossoms by Bike!

Burn some calories and enjoy the Cherry Blossoms!

Date(s): through Apr 13, 2008 Time: 3-5 pm Daily - Additional Weekend Tours from 9:30 - 11:30 AM & 12:00 - 2:00 PM Location: Bike the Sites Kiosk, rear of Old Post Office Pavilion - 12th Street between Pennsylvania & Constitution Ave., NW Map

Cost: $32/adults and $22/children under 12

Description: Celebrate the arrival of spring with this two-hour guided bike ride designed specifically for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The trip takes cyclists past the Potomac park blossoms and highlights the Jefferson Memorial, Haines Point, Japanese Lantern and more!

Spread the City Fitness word!

Click on the above title to be directed to our widget - add it to your own website or blog and let us know you did! We'll give you a mention too.

Reusable Water Bottles

Lots of people have a goal of consuming more water (the basic recommended amount being 64 oz. per day). It seems that every time a new product comes on the market to help make this easier (various plastic water bottles) studies come out that show they have potentially harmful side effects. SIGG water bottles are the "new thing." They are made of metal and are said to not leech harmful materials into the water you are drinking. How about setting a goal of reducing your own footprint on the earth by ditching the tossable plastics and going to a SIGG or other brand of reusable? I know, I know, next we need to figure out the whole "what's in our water" issue too...demand more from the water providers on that. I wish it was as easy as clicking on a link like the water bottle thing is.

The Cherry Blossoms Secret Stroll

From the official website: The annual cherry blossom display is guaranteed to dazzle your senses. But have you ever wondered why the trees are planted along the Tidal Basin? Why cherry trees? Whose idea were they anyway? Hear the stories and secrets behind the delicate blossoms during a walking tour featuring not only cherry trees, but also noteworthy arboreal cousins. Learn about the woman whose cherry tree vision lives on today, a Japanese lantern older than the United States itself, and where you can discover even more pink and white blooms.

Secrets Stroll: Apr 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13

Mondays & Fridays at 10:00 am; Saturdays & Sundays at 2:00 pm - Tours last two hours Meet the guide outside the Smithsonian Metro station's Independence Avenue, SW exit - 12th St NW & Independence Ave SW Map

Cost: $10 per person; Free under age 3

Related Information http://www.washingtonwalks.com

April's theme is GREEN!

Our April blog posts and featured events will focus on "being green." Please do feel free to add your own comments and ideas as we go....and bookmark the blog and check back often!

The Annual Manna Fun Run 5K

Another City Fitness Gym "get outside" recommendation:

Date and Time Saturday, April 12, 2008 8:15 AM Program Starts 8:30 Race Starts! Post-run activities begin at 9:45

Rock Creek Park - Fitzgerald Tennis Center 16th Street at Colorado Avenue, NW Ample parking is available at the Fitzgerald Tennis Center. Enter the parking area off Colorado Ave, NW. Please do not use the Kennedy Street NW entrance.

This family, stroller and pet-friendly event is held at Rock Creek Park. Please call Jennifer McAllister at 202-832-1845 if you’re interested in volunteering for the event. Volunteers who sign up early can volunteer and run the race for free!