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The Bar Method

“Nice shaking,” yells the tight-bodied instructor to the class of fifteen fit girls who are clutching on to a dance bar as their legs wobble in pain. Despite the presence of the bar, this is not a dance class; it’s the hottest workout in Hollywood, attracting an eclectic, mostly female clientele committed to sculpting and elongating their muscles for those strapless dresses and mini skirts.

The main focus in the Bar Method is building strength through arm, leg, butt, and abdominal exercises that often leave class-takers gasping for breath and wincing in pain. Over the course of the one-hour class, the well-trained instructors work students hard, encouraging them to push through those moments when leg muscles begin to shake in exhaustion. Aside from the use of some light two-to-five pound dumbbells for arm work, most of the movements incorporate only the body’s weight. While the class borrows some elements from Pilates and yoga, the Bar Method is it’s own animal with a devoted following who swear by the workout.

Created by Burr Leonard and Carl Diehl in the 1990s, the Bar Method has taken off in recent years, garnering significant press, and opening studios across the country, including the popular locations in West Hollywood and West Los Angeles. The website recommends going three times a week for optimal results, but at $20 a class, those chiseled abs and toned arms don’t come cheaply. New students can sign up for a first month special that allows them to take unlimited classes for $100, and other students can buy classes in bulk at a slightly discounted rate. As far as the stamina required to get through those gut-busting sessions? It’s going to take more than a Red Bull.

Russian Haven: Okeanos Spa

Not your typical spa, the Russian-flavored Okeanos has a regular clientele of ballerinas, athletes and celebrities. Its signature “platza” treatment is very common in Russia, but it is transformed into a more luxurious version in this spa. You are in a sauna, face down, for about ten minutes, and your skin is brushed with oak and birch leaves. After which you stand under an ice cold shower and repeat the process – face up.

The platza treatment opens pores and helps with circulation. Athletes love it, and for the layman – consider it your bottle of Echinacea, since it builds the immune system. Other signature treatments like the Caviar Wrap, Exfoliating Back Sea Scrub and Siberian Hot Stone massage complete the Cossack experience. And the lovely little café offers free vodka shots (compliments of ZYR) and sumptuous blinis. Geared towards men, Okeanos also has a cigar room.

I go to Okeanos because it’s so unusual, and for the exotic menu offerings. The staff is so friendly, and the co-owner, Andre Izrailov, will help you understand how you can make the most of your experience. It’s nice to come in not only for the standard platza, but also for the other treatments like the classic Russian Sports massage.

A word of advice: read about the treatments before you take one. Consult a staff member and have them completely explain what the process is. When I first took the platza I felt so hot initially – and the ice cold shower woke me up better than the best alarm clock.

Okeanos Spa
www.okeanosclubspa.com
211 East 51st Street (3rd Avenue)
New York, NY 10022
P: 212 223 6773

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