By Chris Hinova

Inevitably the New Year brings along resolutions of getting in shape and almost just as inevitably most of those resolutions don’t live long enough to see February.

One of the reasons for this is because let’s face it exercise is work.  Hey there’s a reason its called a “work-out” and not “fun-out”, though eventually as you get hooked on the endorphin rush you do begin to have fun doing it.

One way to lessen the “work” part of working-out is to find something fun to do as you get yourself in shape. And one of the best ways to have fun while getting is shape is swimming.  We all know what a great exercise swimming is and we all know how fast you can get in shape once you know how to do it right and yes you can even do it in January!

The immediate issue  is finding a place to swim and in Hoboken we are limited to just two places,  Stevens Aquatics and Sky Club Fitness.  The second problem is learning to do it right. Swim classes aren’t cheap  and really good instructors are hard to come by.  Lucky for you  in this article I’ll show a very nice solution to all those obstacles.

Sky Club Fitness head swim instructor Francisco Martinez,  when you see him  call him “Frankie “,  has just launched  a new group swim class for adults.  Now the word “group” might be a bit of a misnomer because the classes are really small and this allows you to get lots  and lots of one on one time with your instructor.  I’ve been swimming at Sky Club for about four months now and I watched Frankie  train swimmers of all levels.  I saw him take beginners who just  six or so weeks ago were flailing uncontrollably and were barely able to do a couple of laps  and turn them into competent swimmers with a very passable freestyle stroke, doing flip turns as they pound out lap after lap  – some of them are on their way to their first triathlon.

Hoboken Gym, Sky Club Fitness Swimming Class

The classes’ , Frank likes to call them “workshops,” goal is  to train swimmers of all levels to attain proficiency in the most popular swimming styles, butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke and of course freestyle.

The fitness benefits of swimming as an exercise are legendary. Once you get to a level where you can do a few laps in a row you’ll work your core, back, legs, chest,  arms and other muscles which you might not have activated  in quite some time and you get a great “cardio” workout as well.  To quote Frank  “swimming works every part of your body” – Well, there you go!

I am convinced that this is probably one of the best deals in Hoboken. Hiring a private swim coach can run you  a few hundred bucks  at the very least and if you do it in the City probably double that and there is no guarantee that the training will be any good. Frank’s class is free with your membership to Sky Club Gym. If you want to just come and try a class the daily admission for the gym is $25 and you can take whatever other classes are available and use the rest of the facilities as well.

So put those visions of “Robot Chicken” out of your mind – hey if you don’t call it ” Adult Swim”  I sure won’t either -  and come up  and check out the  Sky Club Fitness Swimming Class with Frank.  Maybe a little swimming is  just what you need to help this year’s resolution to survive past February!

Classes meet Monday and Wednesday at 8Am and on Saturday and Sunday at 3 Pm. If  there is enough demand it’s possible that they will schedule additional classes.  See you there!

For additional information contact info@skyclubfitness.com or call them at (201) 222-2582

Thank you for reading Hoboken Gym, Sky Club Fitness Swimming Class

I was reading trough the Hoboken Patch, as I often do,  and came across yet another story of sacrifice and compassion in a place where maybe you might not expect to find it.

Hurricane Sandy could never dampen the joy and love of dance that these young students experience every time they came to rehearse.

“”When they walk in they are all smiles. They are ready to dance” said Artistic Director Bethany Marc-Aurele .”

Join Clara on Christmas Eve as she journeys to the Land of Sweets with her Nutcracker Prince and meets the Sugarplum Fairy and all her friends. Beautiful sets, gorgeous costumes, magical dancing and Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking score will inspire and transport you and your family.”
All Proceeds will be donated to the Hoboken Relief Fund

Still, Marc-Aurele can see the stress that continues to underline everyday life post Sandy, reflected in her young dancers, and knows that at least two of her student’s families have been displaced by the hurricane and have to move from hotel room to hotel room.

At considerable personal financial cost Artistic Director Bethany Marc-Aurele turned the performance into a fundraiser!

Marc-Aurele said that she is receiving a great deal of support from the local companies. “The  prop company is giving them a discount and local tech and lighting crews are donating their time. ” Still this is an expensive undertaking and she is taking a financial hit.

Come and see  Tchaikovsky’ great classic Christmas tale of a young girl whisked away by a gallant prince to a magical land of dancing sweets.

You’ll enjoy the performance and you’ll feel great knowing that your money will go to help those who so badly need our help.

Hudson Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” debuts Saturday, December 8 at 1 p.m. at Hoboken High School. It will be preceded 12:30 p.m. by a bake sale and light refreshments.

All proceeds will benefit the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund. For more information, visit hudsonballet.org.

Source Hoboken Patch

Read the entire article here

Garden Street School of the Performing Arts Offering Free Classes

Local artist Mey Veral, a PRATT graduate, will be teaching the classes starting on October 17 .

There are there courses offered,  “Exploring art Through Music” for students ages 4-6   from 3:30pm to 4:15 pm, “Watercolors and Pastels “from 4:15pm to 5:15pm  for students ages 7-10 and “Adults Still Life and Figure Drawing”  from 7:30pm-8:30opm.

It looks like Mey Veral is in for a marathon session of teaching every Wednesday and we wish her the very best of luck. Why not bring the kids and check out her classes- sure you an come back and post your findings

Fro more information contact the Garden Street School of the Performing

Garden Street School of the Performing Arts
1018 Washington St, 2nd Floor
www.gardenstreetmusic.com
201-683-9100
dance@gardenstreetmusic.com

To read the full article on Hoboken Happenings  Facebook pageclick here

Thank you for reading

Garden Street School of the Performing Arts Offering Free Classes

It would be cool to have a B&B in Hoboken. What do you think?

Should Hoboken have a B&B?

Hoboken Patch correspondent and general bon-vivant about town Rory Chadwick poses the question – don’t ask me why , I have no idea-  and discusses the possibility of having a Bed and Breakfast in Hoboken. Here is an excerpt,  “ In  Hoboken, the Yankee Ferry, the vintage, nostalgic ship that rests uptown on the Hudson is charging as little as $127 for a nightly stay for the night of September 25th, the W is charging $369 for the same night.   The Yankee Clipper offers an experience where one can reside in rooms fancied to resemble the early 1900′s, with fresh quilted handmade linens, of the period furniture and decor and a grand dining room that almost resembles royalty.  In addition to the Yankee Clipper, websites like bedandbreakfast.com and airbnb.com offer Hoboken homes and rooms to rent by the night for a fraction of the cost of major hotels.  Historically Bed and Breakfasts attract a mature middle aged crowd, typically tourist and business people who prefer a home-like feel rather than be a statistic in a sardine can styled hotel.  Bed and Breakfasts, as far as research can prove does not attract the rowdy types, party animals.  In fact most bed and breakfast’s mention on their applications that any type of bad behavior will result in immediate departure.”

Read the entire article here

Should Hoboken have a B&B?

The festival is one of my favorites and for culinary adventurists it’s a veritable amusement park! LAst year the  grilled delicacies included Abalone, many kinds of octopus and fish and there was a wide variety of deserts. The carnival atmosphere is further enhanced by troupe  of Taiko drummers  and the traditional Japanese garb donned by dancers and by  many others  in attendance.

Getting there is very easy if you come from Hoboken or Jersey City just follow River Road as it snakes it’s way trough Weehawken, West New York, Gutenberg,  North Bergen,  and finally Edgewater.  Once you get to the driving range- you can’t miss it- you are almost there. The address is 595 River Road  Edgewater NJ and this is their phone number (201) 941-9113. See you there