WOBBLE GOBBLE

One of the new “toys” at the gym is a wobble board. It’s that funny round wooden board atop an unbalanced ball-like base. Many of you have probably already worked with your trainer on stability drills and core training using unstable surfaces. The wobble board is another tool to add to your training and perhaps even rehab regimen.

Developing propriocepter reaction and ankle strength is key to decreasing the chances of turning an ankle. Athletes should be able to maintain balance on the wobble boards and rocker boards for at least 30 seconds. To increase difficulty athletes should try passing medicine balls back and forth.

Research has proven that regular use of a wobble board can help prevent ankle twists and sprains by strengthening muscles, tendons and ligaments of the lower leg while improving balance, stability and increasing R.O.M. (range of motion). Daily use of this simple and fun training device will pay great dividends down the road and is an invaluable tool in rehabbing ankle injuries. Balance board training can dramatically improve the strength and coordination of all the key muscles involved in running. This should help you avoid injuries - and make you a considerably more powerful runner”.
Running Research News, Vol.14, Vol. 10, Dec. 1998

PEOPLE NEWS

A familiar site around the gym is our Maintenance Associate, Erasmo Cervantes. Erasmo recently celebrated his 60th birthday on May 31st and we surprised him with a somewhat unhealthful but fully delectable strawberry layer birthday cake. We sang a hearty birthday ditty over our p.a. system and wished him many, many more birthdays to celebrate. I know this sounds self-serving but Erasmo truthfully says he has never looked or felt better and that he attributes his well-being to regular exercise! Way to go Erasmo! Keep pumping those heavy ell-bees!!!

IN THE NEWS

Jimmy Pierce, our Front Desk Associate, appears sporting the hottest Arnette Rage shades in Sunglass Hut’s website. TRAIN is one of the featured ‘hot places’ in West Hollywood in the chain’s new brand repositioning and web campaign.

Check Jimmy’s new ‘tude at www.sunglasshut.com

Los Angeles magazine’s June 2006 issue has Kyra Sedgwick bumming out that she missed Andrea Lawent’s 1030 SPIN class. “ ‘I thought the class was at 1030,’ she says pouting. The Saturday class, completely booked, began at 10. ‘I really wanted to go to this one,’ she says. ‘The instructor is awesome. She’s always saying “Aw, fuck it. Stop worrying about things you can’t do anything about.” She talks a lot to keep your mind off of the grueling workout.’” The article continues as she dials another gym we won’t mention here…suffice it to say that it was Kyra’s PLAN B!!!!

Andrea rocks!

SPIN UPDATE

Doug Blasdell, that hunk that keeps looking better as he gets older, has now added 2 more daytime classes. You can now enjoy Doug’s unique approach to SPIN on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1030am. Check it out!

Adam Malis, the hard-core, super-gung-ho, self-proclaimed “Michael Jordan of Spinning” is making his grand entrance to TRAIN. His much anticipated Master Class will begin Wednesday, June 21st, at 730pm. Get ready to run, run and run some more. Adam LOVES SPINNING and it shows in his unbridled enthusiasm in his class. If you have reached a plateau and are ready to enter new realms in your cardio workout, you HAVE to check Adam out…See you there (with your large towel!) on the 21st.

HEADS UP ON PARKING - June 15th

On Thursday, June 15th, Entourage will be filming next door at Prana Cafe. Production vehicles will be parked on the 2 north rows of our main parking lot from 5am - 6pm. An added valet, in addition to Claudio, will be provided for your convenience. We will do everything possible to minimize any hassles getting in and out of our lot. We apologize for this, hopefully minimal, inconvenience.