High heels are bad for the posture and give you bunions — right? How surprising, then, to learn that in America spikes are the latest fitness accessory, with the launch earlier this month by the Crunch Fitness chain of Stiletto Strength classes.
“Many of our clients wear flat shoes all summer,” says Donna Cyrus, an instructor for Crunch in New York. “Then all of a sudden it’s autumn and they think: ‘Oh, my, I’m back in high heels and I have to adjust myself to walk around the city’.”
In the 45-minute class, developed with the help of professional dancers and podiatrists, the focus is on strengthening feet, ankles, calf and core stability muscles to ensure perfect alignment when walking in stilettos.
“Most people lean forward in heels because heels bring you forward,” says Cyrus. “What we want to do is address that posturing and pull up your abs and really tuck under so that you can feel taller, you look better and you’re protecting your lower spine and back.” Although one strengthening section of the class, called “leg-work”, can be done in trainers, the rest of the class requires strapping on your highest heels.
It is not just your posture that will benefit, Cyrus claims. Sashaying in your stilettos can also boost your self-esteem: “We’re also teaching a little bit of attitude so you’re not just feeling long and lean, but you’re feeling a little feisty when you’re walking down the street,” she says. For more information see www.crunch.com
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Eat less and you may be more inclined to exercise. So suggest researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who studied the effects of calorie restriction on mice. They found that mice with the gene Sirt1 that had their calorie intake cut by 40 per cent spent more time scurrying, jumping and hanging from the bars of their cages. The activity levels of those without the gene remained the same.
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Fish oil supplements could help those with exercise-induced asthma. A study at Indiana University looked at the effects of daily supplementation (400mg) on 16 patients and found that it improved factors including pulmonary function and airway inflammation, and lead to less frequent use of inhalers. The study was published in Chest, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.
IF YOUR dog is more prone to taking you for a walk than vice versa, consider taking up Cani-Cross — six-legged cross-country races for you and your best friend. It’s a sport that is growing in popularity and is endorsed by many pet charities. The only rule is that Fido must stay ahead of you on his lead. For details see www.cani-cross.co.uk
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Perfect your John Travolta moves and you are more likely to sweep a woman off her feet. A study at Rutgers University, New Jersey, found that men who dance well tend to have better body symmetry, a factor thought to be an indicator of good genes and something that a woman may unconsciously seek in a partner.
Researchers measured the elbows, ears, arms and wrists of subjects to determine whether were differences in their right and left sides. Each was then filmed dancing and the videos were played to the opposite sex. The dancers considered most attractive were those with good body symmetry.
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TRAINING TIP: If your resolve to get fit is already floundering, it could be that your mind needs a kick-start, too. Dearbhla McCullough, a sports psychologist at Roehampton University in Surrey, says that many people struggle to stick to their workout plans simply because they fail to set themselves realistic goals.
“Don’t start from scratch and plan to complete a triathlon in the spring. Instead, set smaller goals en route to your main aim. Keep a workout diary so that you can see how far you have progressed since starting, and if you struggle with motivation, arrange to meet people with whom you can exercise.
Try to avoid solace in the biscuit tin if you have to skip a workout — simply get back on track as soon as possible. Remember that getting fit is a long haul, not a short sprint, but the results are worth it.”