February/March 2015 69 rest of the country. The Dailey Method, created by Jill Dailey McIntosh, was founded right here in the Bay Area. Many Barre programs today combine traditional barre moves with elements of Pilates, yoga and toning, using light hand weights and the body’s own resistance. The movements are usually very small, sometimes no more than an inch, but those small actions can be challenging, and by the end of a session, all the muscle groups get a workout. One reason why Barre is growing in popularity is that the exercises can be adapted for bodies of all shapes, sizes and conditions, so even aging bodies nursing injuries and chronic conditions like arthritis can receive big fitness benefits. “I love Barre workouts; I love the low impact that I can do every day,” says Emily Pearl, who enjoys Barre so much she became a Pure Barre instructor and opened a franchise in Palo Alto five years ago, followed by one in Los Gatos two years later. “I have knee injuries, and I can’t run anymore, so Barre is something I can do daily, and it doesn’t hurt my body.” Every Barre program emphasizes something different, so it’s worth checking out each website or calling local studios to find out which approach appeals most to you. Some programs, like Barre3, focus on nutrition in addition to fitness, offering recipes and even shopping lists from a convenient app. All programs emphasize building community among students. Classes range from a few students to a few dozen, depending on the size of the studio. FIT TIP Equipment and props used in Barre workouts include squishy balls, light hand weights and mats. Find out in advance if bare feet are OK or if socks that grip the floor are required. You don’t have to wear form-fitting yoga pants and tops, but Barre instructors prefer you don’t wear anything too baggy, since they need to keep track of, and correct, your body’s alignment during exercises. BOLLYWOOD Inspired by the fun, entertaining, big and brash musicals from India, Bollywood fitness programs are springing up all over, especially in the South Bay, where a large Indo-American community thrives. The appeal, however, is not limited to those whose roots are in South Asia, as people from a variety of cultures, walks of life and ages are joining in. And just like in Bollywood films, the moves are not necessarily based on traditional Indian dances. With influences from all over the world, it’s not uncommon to see hip hop, salsa and other dance forms in a Bollywood class. “Bollywood is always this amalgamation of so many different dance styles, and there’s no one style we can say, ‘That’s Bollywood,’” explains Bombay Jam’s Janani Chalaka. The program she teaches combines many different styles of music and dance, creating a “party” atmosphere that people are drawn to. Bombay Jam began in the South Bay, emerging from the Mona Khan Company, which teaches children and adults more formal performance Bollywood dance routines. Formerly known as the Mona Sampath Dance Company, fans of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” might remember a team of children and young adults from the studio that competed on the show in 2010 until the quarterfinals. A few years ago, the company explored the idea of combining Bollywood dance with certified fitness standards. After consulting with fitness experts and about a year of testing, Bombay Jam was born. A typical class addresses the entire body, with a cardio component to get heart rates up and a warm-up and cool-down on either side. At another studio, BollyBeatz, Mallika Thoppay teaches a class called BollywoodArobix, which combines elements of Bollywood with dances called Bhangra from the Punjab region of India, along with a cardio fitness routine and abdominal muscle exercises for a full-body workout. “For someone brand-new coming in, I would say it’s pretty similar to Zumba, and I keep it challenging for people who have been coming for a long time, but I don’t want to make it overwhelming for people who are new,” Thoppay says. FIT TIP Bollywood classes do not use equipment, but check to see if you need to bring your own mat; some locations have mats available. Wear comfortable workout clothing and shoes, and bring a water bottle and a small towel to dab the sweat. HIP HOP What started as an underground cultural street movement in New York City in the ’70s is now embraced in urban and suburban areas throughout the world, so it’s not surprising that hip hop dance moves have made their way into the fitness industry. Dozens of South Bay studios, private gyms, Y’s and community centers include some sort of hip hop fitness class on their schedules. “The beat is so hot; that’s what I think the craze is all about,”
South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2015
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