Caring For Your Clothing

Alyssa recommended that I write a post on how to care for your high-end workout apparel because apparently she didn't know how to care for hers. We were in the sauna testing our shared ability to withstand high temperatures when she complained to me that her Athleta pants were pilling. I asked if she had put them in the dryer and when she told me that she had, I began to feel a little faint and it had nothing to do with the sauna. You don't put your fancy pants in the dryer. Period.

I separate my workout clothing into two camps - expensive stuff that needs to be babied and intelligently made items that can be tossed in the wash like anything else. If you only have enough laundry for one load, you can treat the normal stuff with tender loving care, but not vice versa.

Speaking of camps, what the hell was going on between Brandi and Adrienne last night on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?

Make sure that you never wash something new, especially something new and black/navy/red, with the rest of your clothing. Do you want your $64 light grey, exceptionally flattering Back On Track Tank covered tinged with colored splotches? Wash that stuff with your real sweats and make sure the colors don't run.

I wash my laundry in cold water. I prefer to use Woolite on my workout gear and run it through the delicate cycle. I think that's the best way to keep these items safe. However, if Woolite is unavailable or I am washing all my C9 by Champion for Target gear and a bunch of leggings, I will use Tide in the regular cycle. Do not use fabric softener.

DO NOT go near the dryer until you sort your clothes.

Take everything lululemon and put it aside. Take anything that has tech in the name and put it aside. Take anything that has odor-blocking technology and put it aside. You should only have leggings, your middle-end sports bras and shorts, and maybe your Under Armour depending on how old it is and how long you've been abusing it. These items can be put in the dryer with or without a dryer sheet.

The remaining items should be hung up or laid flat to dry. If you would like to expedite this process, you can set the dryer to air dry or fluff but never ever use fabric softener or dryer sheets as these will break down tech materials and the treatment used to make odor-blocking fabric.

Working From Home

One of the nicest things about my job is the ability to work from home. Since my desk was given away last week and I have been exiled to the third floor until the massive reorganization of the eighth floor, I have decided to work from home as much as possible. Mostly I am annoyed that I had to pack boxes at 5:30 PM instead of getting to happy hour on time, and I am now postponing unpacking these boxes for as long as possible. I have a home office (in my tiny ass studio!) and I like using it.

Yesterday I went for a nice run along the East River before heading into the other office for meetings. Today I fit a lunchtime yoga class in at 74th and 2nd. I've been to Adrian Molina's Warrior Flow Yoga before and I remembered liking it. Good class, but God am I out of shape. However, I was able to get some of my flexibility back by the end of class. I think I've been in a rut lately, really disinterested in working out or taking care of myself. Maybe yoga should be my new thing?

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I've been eyeing Atheta's Kickbooty™ Bermuda shorts. At $46, they're not incredibly expensive, but I can't really justify buying a bunch of pairs unless I take up yoga regularly. They come in black, asphalt, and heather black. I've heard some great things about Athleta, and there's a store right near my apartment, but unfortunately these shorts are not in stock. I'd like to try a pair on before I commit.

I know I've been MIA for a while, but I do have marathon tales and some gym class reviews I could be persuaded to write. If you send me your requests, I'll get out of this funk and post these thoughts that have been swirling in my head (and the photos clogging my iPhone.) Speaking of funk, I left the gym without showering because I figured I could do it later at home after I took some calls, only to find out that the hot water has been turned off.

Cardio Kickboxing at Athleta

Athleta at 85th and 3rd

I saw a sign for cardio kickboxing when I stopped into Athleta yesterday. Although I ran 7 miles this morning, I was dead set on attending this free class. I love cardio kickboxing. The day Yves Maco left Equinox was one of the most disappointing of my life, and I've never really gotten back into it. I've been meaning to find a new kickboxing instructor whom I really like, although no one can compare with Yves. Nedra Lopez, owner and master trainer of DNA Fitness, taught this introduction to cardio kickboxing tonight.

I really want to get some new yoga pants from Athleta.

The class was okay. It's pretty difficult to have a full scale kickboxing class in a store, but I could tell that a normal class with Nedra would be awesome. She taught us the basics and alternated the kickboxing moves with a circuit of burpees, push-ups, planks, and mountain-climbers. I already knew the basics, but my ass is sore from running that a real kickboxing class would've paralyzed me for this weekend.

Athleta carries a lot of running gear.
Unfortunately a lot of it has flowery patterns I'm just not into.

Nedra teaches a boot camp every Wednesday at a studio over on 74th and Park. I'm not too keen on spending even more money on gym memberships than I already do, but I feel motivated to return to Equinox kickboxing on a regular basis.

HINT Water was provided for us.

I went to the 34 year-old's after class. We've become a regular item. I was starving so I ordered dinner from Yuko Sushi. I have been in the mood for sushi for a while. I ordered the side of rice because I have carte blanche to eat carbohydrates because the Marathon is on Sunday! I am freaking out very excited.

Carbo Loading starts NOW.

To see all of the FREE classes offered at Athleta, click here.