Plaza Fitness at Stuyvesant Plaza E-Newsletter

May/June 2009

Closed for Memorial Day on Monday May 25th

You're Simply the Best!

For voting Plaza Fitness at Stuyvesant Plaza the #1 locally owned fitness center in the Capital Region Living Magazine "Best of 2009" survey, we say a heartfelt, "Thank You!" We will continue to work hard to give you the best, because you deserve what works!

Personal Training Success Story

Annie is very dedicated to her martial arts training, so much so that she is ready to pursue her black belt. She knew when she joined Plaza Fitness last July that meeting her goal of slimming down her midsection and arms would require a similar level of discipline. Sometimes, when you are starting with a good fitness level, change can come in smaller increments and seem harder to accomplish.

After 4 months of weekly training sessions, Annie's performance on her VO2max went from good to excellent, an indication that her metabolism was getting as strong as it could. Her muscular endurance assessment results doubled in each category! But her weight still fluctuated within a few pounds of her starting weight. Then in February, Delphine suggested training together twice a week and also meeting with Brianna Harrington for nutritional counseling to meet her weight loss goal by mid-May. On April 11th, one month ahead of schedule, Annie met her goal weight!

You can create positive change in your body and your health, with a little expert help from our team of professionals. Call 482-2266 to set up an appointment today.

Let's Climb That Mountain Together

Talk about a great analogy for guidance and support to meet your personal goals! Join our fun fitness excursion up either Cascade Mountain or Giant Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks on Saturday, June 13.

This is just the kind of thing we train for -- to be able to hike the beautiful mountains right in our backyard! The mountains differ in the challenge of the terrain, but the trailheads are very close together and each group will be fully supported by our staff. The trip includes the chartered bus ride, lunch, and snacks. Sign up at the front desk or by e-mail to info@PlazaFitness.net.

Food Prep Series Tuesdays in May and June

Healthy Recipes and SuperFoods Coaching

Are you looking for optimal health and nutrition, but struggling to do it on your own? Are you looking to connect with others on your wellness journey? Join us and bring a friend every Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM for the Food Prep Series at Plaza Fitness at Stuyvesant Plaza.

Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor Brianna Harrington started the Food Prep Series by demonstrating Thai Spring Rolls With Cashew Butter Dipping Sauce, and also Cauliflower Couscous. These fun, healthy and flavorful alternatives to salad are also a great dinner option when entertaining friends and family.

All are welcome, $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Please call 482-2266 to register.

News on New Staff

Meet Troy Valberg and Brendan Mahar

We bid a fond and bittersweet farewell to Jason Berner, a long-time member of our team of fitness professionals who has left Plaza Fitness to pursue a career in construction project management. Good Luck Jason!

Join us in welcoming Troy Valberg as our newest Fitness-Professional-In-Training. Troy will receive his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education this month from SUNY College at Brockport (congratulations grad!). Though his career is just getting started, Troy already has extensive experience assisting strength and conditioning coaches at the high school and collegiate levels, training athletes for optimal performance. He is also a kettlebell training specialist. If you haven't met Troy yet, you can expect him to introduce himself at the first opportunity!

Also coming aboard as a valued member of our team is Brendan Mahar, a student at the University at Albany. Everyone can appreciate Brendan's responsibility in our facility: Maintenance. He is already doing a great job keeping the facility, equipment, and locker rooms spotless. Please thank Brendan the next time you see him applying the elbow grease all around!

Nanotech Center Welcomes Plaza Fitness

Providing On-site Fitness for Researchers and Staff

The $4.5 billion Albany NanoTech Complex at Fuller Road and Washington Avenue totals 800,000 square feet of cutting-edge facilities with 80,000 square feet of 300mm wafer, class 1 capable cleanrooms, and with more than 2,500 R&D jobs on site by the mid-2009. Plaza Fitness is delighted to announce that we have been chosen to provide on-site fitness and wellness services for the staff at the NanoTech Complex.

Starting in late April, Plaza Fitness professionals brought in pilates, massage therapy, and qigong programs, to a group of participants who appreciate that wellness in the workplace promotes productivity and lowers healthcare costs.

If you are interested in on-site wellness programs for your workplace, call Korey at 482-2266 or email Korey@PlazaFitness.net.

Health and Nutrition Phone Coaching Program

Brianna Harrington, Certified Health and Nutrition Counselor

Can't find time to sit down face to face with someone for support and guidance with gaining healthy eating habits? Is your busy schedule preventing you from taking the first steps toward a healthy lifestyle?

Plaza Fitness at Stuyvesant Plaza understands our clients' needs, which is why we are offering The Health and Nutrition Phone Coaching Program. It is the same as our in-house health and nutrition counseling, only your sessions are conducted over the phone. You can gain the information and support you need without leaving your home or office... or wherever you can safely conduct a phone consultation.

The Health and Nutrition Phone Coaching Program includes:

A 25 or a 50 minute phone session with Brianna, a certified Health and Nutrition Counselor
A full set of notes sent via e-mail after each session
Health related handouts sent via e-mail after each session
A variety of quick and easy, nutritious recipes sent via e-mail after each session

You and Brianna will work together to create the right health and nutrition gameplan to fit your individual needs. If you are interested in this convenient new option, call 482-2266 or e-mail info@PlazaFitness.net to schedule a complimentary phone consultation with Brianna.

Massage for Old Injuries
Ancient Injuries Don't Have to Make You Feel Old
Art Riggs

Injuries such as chronic back pain, trick knees, and sticky shoulders are not necessarily something you just have to live with. Massage techniques might hold the key to unlocking this old pain.

Will Massage Help? The benefits of massage will depend on the extent of the injury, how long ago it occurred, and on the skill of the therapist. Chronic and old injuries often require deeper and more precise treatments with less emphasis on general relaxation or work on the whole body. Massage works best for soft tissue injuries to muscles and tendons, and is most effective in releasing adhesions and lengthening muscles that have shortened due to compensatory reactions to the injury. Therapists often have specialized names for their work--such as orthopedic massage, neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, medical massage, etc.--but many massage therapists utilize an eclectic approach combining the best of the specialties.

It Works! A recent Consumer Reports article ran the results of a reader survey and reported that massage was equal to chiropractic care in many areas, including back and neck pain. Massage also ranked significantly higher than some other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy or drugs.

If that nagging injury persists, consider booking a massage with Jeff Carr at Plaza Fitness. Sometimes talking about injuries can play a significant role in the healing process, so be sure to discuss it with him: How did you receive the injury? Have you reinjured it? What exactly are your symptoms? Together, the two of you can work to determine a treatment plan. Call 482-2266 to make your appointment.

More Staff News

Help Us Bid Jane a Fond Farewell

It is with more than a hint of sadness that we say goodbye and good luck as one of our original fitness professionals and our good friend, Jane Hawksley Ogle, relocates from the Capital Region to Savannah, Georgia. She and her husband have decided to leave cold winters behind them, and are planning to move in late June.

At Provence Restaurant in Stuyvesant Plaza on Sunday, June 7th from 6-9 pm, we invite the entire Plaza Fitness family to join us to celebrate all that "Trainer Jane" has helped us accomplish. We'll share a toast, great food, a few laughs (and maybe a song or two!), and give her a proper send-off!

Please come as you are, park at Plaza Fitness, and walk into Provence through the back entrance in order to access the banquet area.

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