Hills for Sledding

If and when this first snowfall comes to fruition, you may need to know where and when you can hit the hills, not to ski, but to sled!  I have to say sledding is fun no matter what age you are, (especially when paired with a hot chocolate or a hot toddy!)  There are several sledding hot spots in the area with the option to “bring your own” equipment or rent.

Check out:

Milwaukee County Sledding Hills (16 in all), which even features a toboggan run (and $7 rental) at Whitnall Park’s Winter Sports Area.

Waukesha County Sledding Hills

And don’t forget about sledding down St. Mary’s Hill downtown or snow tubing at Sunburst in Kewaskum!

Reiki

As the new year is beginning, many of us are hitting it hard back at work, yet still recovering from all of the holiday hoopla.  If you are in need of some spiritual healing to ease your mind, (as your ki (pronounced chi) is rebalanced) Reiki may be the right therapy for you.  Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.  The purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it.  If this is of any interest, there are many practitioners throughout the city that are trained in performing this special technique.

• Health and Power Yoga Studio
• Rouge
• Milwaukee Reiki
• Loving Light Healing
• One Healing Heart

TRX Training

When I’ve been in the BEST shape of my life it involved TRX training (and Kate Gigstad from the WAC).  TRX suspension training was originally developed by the Navy Seals to prepare them for combat.  The TRX straps that you use, leverage gravity and your body weight to enable a variety of exercises that develop strength, balance, flexibility, and core.  Check out this video of quarterback Drew Brees using the TRX to get ready for the season!  YUM.

Here’s where you can try it for yourself:

• Drench
• Ramp Up Fitness
• The Fitness Asylum
• Elite

 

Wham, Bam, Pow!

The benefits from practicing in any of the many disciplines of martial arts are reflected both physically and psychologically.  Martial arts improves balance, flexibility, stamina, posture, and most importantly, self-confidence!  Many of us enjoy changing up our workouts now and again, so why don’t you try one of the oldest teachings on the planet, right here in Milwaukee!

• Roufusport
• Milwaukee Aikido Club
• T’ai Chi Ch’uan Center of Milwaukee
• Futen Dojo
• Matamoros Jiu Jitsu

 

Boot Camps…not just for the Armed Forces!

Almost every gym you go to these days are starting to offer boot camps for their members, many times with a fee, but let me tell you, they work you out!  If you have the cash and can commit the time, the pounds will literally melt off.  I tried Milwaukee Adventure Boot Camp a few summers ago after I heard about some of their stunning results (from several clients).  Although I was pushed to my limit every time I stepped in that Glendale gym, I felt fantastic after every workout.  I was supported mentally and every technique was directly instructed (no injuries here)!  I will recommend that program to anyone old or young, in shape or not!

Here are some others to check out:

• Monkey Bar Gymnasium
• BCOR
• BrewCity CrossFit

Click here to see how boot camps stack up to other everyday workouts!

Yoga is for Everyone!

Alright, now that the Rose Bowl is over, the lavish eating and drinking can officially come to an end!  Thus, I am going to dedicate the next couple of days of introducing you to some great work out options that the city has to offer.  Although I’ve been living downtown for over a decade, during the last few years, the health scene has definitely improved tremendously (as much as boutiques!!!)  One of my favorite workouts  happens to be a block away from my home,  in a hot box called Bikram Yoga Milwaukee (which has an earlier post all to itself).  This 90 minute cardio heavy workout is as invigorating as it is cleansing.

Other great studios to check out include:

• Yama Yoga in the Third Ward
• Invivo on the Eastside
• Core Concepts in the Third Ward
• Yoga Ward in Walker’s Point

 

If you feel inclined, click on the 77 Health Benefits of Yoga for a great article!

Rose Bowl Parties

If you have to work tomorrow, hopefully your boss will be kind enough to let you scoot out early to watch the upcoming Rose Bowl and cheer “On-Wisconsin.”  For those of you that are lucky enough to have off on the observed holiday, the UW Alumni Association is hosting two huge parties to help cheer on red at Friday’s Front Row at Miller Park and at Karma Bar & Grilldowntown.  (All profits benefit scholarships given out by the association.)  Before you go, make sure you teach yourself how to Bucky!

Local Fall Run/Walks

Active.com is always a great resource if you’re looking for a fun, athletic activity to get the adrenaline pumping and your inner urge for a challenge, met!

Here are come current events to attend that are just in time for the holiday eating season to begin:

Madison Mud Run-Fall Halloween Challenge, October 29th:  This event features a 4.6 mile course with hills, water crossing, obstacles, wall climbs and tunnel crawls.  Registration is $45 ($50 day of) and begins at 7:30am the day of the race.

Stump Farm Trail Race and Duathlon, October 30th:   The Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team is hosting a 10-mile and 5K trail run, in addition to a 5K run/20 mile mountain bike duathlon.  This event will be held at Brown County Reforestation Camp.  Registration is $35 for the duathlon, $25 for 10-mile, $15 for 5K trail run and $50 for team duathlon.

Bergkonig Trail Run, November 5th:  This 3rd annual event is being held at Lapham Peak State Park in Delafield, Wisconsin.   Numerous hill climbs, technical sections, and flights of stairs will be part of the 10 and 5K runs and walks.  The fee for this event is $25.

Tyranena Beer Run, November 5th:  This event is being held at the Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills.  Both the 1/6 barrel route (4.4 miles) and the 1/2 barrel run (13.1 miles) begins at 11:30 am and is $45/$65 to enter.

Jingle Bell Run/Walk, November 6th:  The Arthritis Foundation is encouraging its participants to tie jingle bells to your shoelaces to complete a 5 kilometer route.  Held at the Milwaukee County Zoo, starting at 8:30am, registration fees are $32 for adults and $22 for children 12 and younger.  And the best part is, the money raised, benefits charity!

 

Brady Street Pet Parade

One of the most enjoying parades Milwaukee has to offer is marching tomorrow, as pets of all shapes and sizes hit the pavement on Brady Street for its 10th annual affair.  From 11am-4pm, there will be a number of spectacular sidewalk sales from local businesses, as well as, great raffles, prizes, canine obedience demonstrations, vendors and pet readings.  This is a family event that hosts several contests including a pet costume contest, a tail wagging contest, and a pet/owner look-alike contest.  The Brady Street Pet Parade is another example of a neighborhood coming together to honor loved ones, this time they’re just furry!

 

 

Tomato Romp

This Saturday marks the 5th annual Tomato Romp hosted by Milwaukee’s Eastside Association.  Festivities start off at 11am, as some of our favorite Eastside bars (I’m voting for Hooligans) participate in “the best bloody mary” competition.  $15 gets you a ballot, and 5 oz. samples (including 3 oz. beer chasers) at 13 participating locations.  Ballots may be picked up in front of Beans and Barley, starting at 10:30am.  The main attraction, AKA, the “tomato fight” begins promptly at 4pm on the corner of North and Oakland.  The first 250 lucky participants to donate $5 will be alloted a T-shirt and enough tomatoes to get a little saucy!  (All proceeds will be donated to organizations that help combat hunger in our community.)