LIFT Magazine

Canada: 5 Great Reasons to Visit

Tanya Ryno — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:18:57 +0000

Experience one of the world's greatest countries. Any season of the year Canada has some fantastic adventures, and I should know, my family's roots are there. Here are five things you might find yourself doing if you go:

1. If you want to get a taste of real Canadian life outside of the usual tourist things, try catching a Toronto Maple Leafs game. And, if you want to get a real taste of the bite hockey fans can deliver at a game, try to see the Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadians. This is one of the fiercest rivalries in all of professional sports with true animosity between the players and especially the fans of each team.

2. Mountain Biking in Whistler, whether you are an enthusiastic beginner or a gnarly chute-junkie, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada is your premiere destination for high-speed fun. .

3. Shopping, for 100 percent ecofriendly organic fitness gear. Or an Inuit-inspired faux fur-lined aviator hat and matching boots.

4. Dining on celebrated Canadian gourmet cuisine like fresh PEI mussels, delicate Arctic char, velvety caribou braised in cabernet, precious Dungeness crab, tender local lamb, AAA Alberta beef, and lavender ice cream — all washed down with artisan apple ice wine.

5. Catching good vibrations from sea to sea in the vibrant nightlife scenes of Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, Winnipeg, Calgary, Jasper, Ottawa and Montreal.

Want more great reasons to visit Canada, like Kissing the cod with thousands of Canadian revelers during the annual Halifax Pub Crawl or watching the extreme Canoe Race (it's on ice and I've witnessed it) on the St. Lawrence river at the Carnaval de Quebec? Keep exploring online at The Canada Travel Guide.

BTW - Don't let the Canadian winter scare you. Yes, temperatures can be sub-zero, and yes, there is snow, but that's half the fun.

5 Tips to Summon Your Inner Athlete

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:15:37 +0000

Maybe it’s the smelly locker rooms or the requisite killer instinct, but the term jock has just never really fit you.

But strong? Now you’re talking. And fit? Jackpot.

So maybe it’s time you merged all of the above — minus any real (or really obsessive) competition.

Joe Wuebben (over at Muscle & Fitness) and Jim Ryno (my husband) give you some workout tips, to add to your athletic routine. They are designed to get you in shape as if you were training for a specific sport.

For all you real jocks, you can use these and find more tips on building greater athleticism, by reading "Athletic Support" in the October issue, on newsstands now.

Hey, you’ll not only look better on the court, field, or at the net, you’ll look better in real life.

Surf's up: EXPN gives us 10 reasons to ride the wave

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:04:51 +0000

We know you investment-banker types like to get all bad-ass on us.

You’re taking yoga.

You just went shark-hunting with your buddies.

You’re letting it all hang loose in those crazy new flip-flops.

Man, you are fierce!

What you need, dear I’m-breaking-the-mold, I’m-doing-my-thang hipsters, is to go surfing. Oh you say, been there, done that? Well, fine. And it was at the Ritz Carlton in Nevis—with instructor. But have you really surfed, have you really lived, have you really owned up to your true self? The very act of suring is good for your heart and your ribolfavin levels ... but if that's not enough, EXPN gives us 10 reasons to get out there and off our ass and into the water!

A perfect combo: The ultimate home gym design team

Tanya Ryno — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:49:29 +0000

Gin and tonic. Top hat and tails. LIFT and Harigian. It's another perfect pairing. LIFT Design (yes, part of my husband's business) entered into a joint venture with Harigian Fitness owned by Mark Harigian and together they have set out on a mission: To design, engineer and build a new series of luxury custom hand-made gyms to lead all others into the next century. This partnership offers beautiful styling, unique interiors, one-of-a-kind custom manufactured fitness equipment and groundbreaking fitness technology custom designed specifically for each client.

Destiny? Perhaps. The ultimate team to build your next dream gym? Definitely.

The 13th Paralympic summer games

Tanya Ryno — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:38:51 +0000

Christiaan Kotze / Camera Press / RetnaNo matter which country racks up the most medals at the Paralympics (Sept. 6 -17), Iceland will be celebrating. It's home to Ossur, the prosthetics titan behind the Cheetah Flex-Foot. Amputee athletes wearing the J-shaped carbon-fiber feet won every sprinting medal in Athens in 2004. Ossur expects another bumper haul in Beijing. About 90% of amputee sprinters in the Paralympics use Cheetahs, including South African runner and defending champ Oscar Pistorius (pictured), who also competes against able-bodied athletes and successfully fought a ruling by the international track federation that the Cheetahs were performance enhancing. "Ossur is not in the business of enhancement," says CEO Jon Sigurdsson, who argues the athletes are improving prosthetics -- testing technology that will eventually aid nonathletes -- not the other way around. "These athletes are the equivalent of racing drivers for car manufacturers."

A league of their own: Forbes 100 most powerful women

Tanya Ryno — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:17:20 +0000

For the third year in a row, Angela Merkel, the first woman to become chancellor of Germany, ranks No. 1 on the Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (overall rank: 28) is the woman with the highest public profile, resulting from the intense media scrutiny of her failed presidential bid.

The top 10:

1. Angela Merkel
2. Sheila C. Bair
3. Indra K. Nooyi
4. Angela Braly
5. Cynthia Carroll
6. Irene Rosenfeld
7. Condoleezza Rice
8. Ho Ching
9. Anne Lauvergeon
10. Anne M. Mulcahy

The complete list

So how can you get on the list?

Their ranking system starts with a list of women who have crossed certain thresholds. Most of them run companies, governments or nonprofits, or are very close to the top. A handful have established power bases in other ways (an entertainment entrepreneur, a judge and an author have been on the list). The power ranking score is based on a composite of visibility (measured by press citations) and economic impact.

The latter, in turn, reflects three things: résumé (career achievements and titles, so a prime minister counts as more powerful than a senator); the size of the economic sphere over which a leader holds sway; and a multiplier that aims to make different financial yardsticks comparable. For example, a chief executive is assigned the company's sales in the economic impact calculation, while a foundation executive is assigned the foundation's assets. The assets get a higher multiplier than sales.

The best part: The women on this list control $26 trillion worldwide.

Fit Tip: Top 10 mistakes people make in the gym

Tanya Ryno — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:13:11 +0000

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) recently polled 2,500 certified fitness professionals to find out what they consider to be the top 10 mistakes made by health club members today.

Here are the surprising (and not-so-surprising) results of that study:

10. Exercising too hard: Moderate exercise is the most effective. Many people believe that they can "make up" for missed workouts.

9. Not exercising intensely enough: Picking up the pace will help members achieve changes they may not be experiencing. If their workout isn't challenging, then the lack of results can be discouraging.

8. Bad posture: People should never slouch or slump when either using machines or participating in a group exercise class. Proper posture can prevent back injuries.

7. Using momentum, rather than muscles, to lift weights: Slow, controlled movements are what builds muscle strength.

6. Lifting too much weight: If complete range of motion is not possible, then most likely the weight is too heavy. As my husband always says ... more is not necessarily better!

5. Not stretching: Stretching helps reduce injuries and increases muscle length and mobility, if done properly.

4. Skipping a cool down: Cooling down after a workout will lower the heart rate and prevent dizziness.

3. Not warming up properly: People who start their workouts full-force are likely candidates for injury and/or exhaustion. Warming up gets the blood flowing and gives muscles time to adapt.

2. Not drinking enough water: In exercise, the key is hydration, hydration, hydration! Please ensure that water is readily available in your club at all times.

1. Not consuming a nutritious "meal" within one hour of workout: The optimal time for consuming a combination of protein and carbohydrates is immediately following an intense workout session. This "window of opportunity" is imperative to the recovery of the body. A good choice is a fruit smoothie containing at least 23 grams of protein.

Infrared sauna burns up to 600 calories in 30 minutes

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:35:36 +0000

The gym is crowded, your shoulders are sore, and all you want to do is hide in the sauna and relax. But, surprise, surprise, surprise, looks like everyone else has the same idea as you.

Do you ....

a. Get down with the other naked strangers (yes, you).
b. Forget you need to relax and head back to the treadmill.
c. Escape to your own personal retreat.

If you picked c, you're one smart cookie, and a Sunlight Sauna is just what you need. It’s like the anti-sauna. Meaning no attitudes, no unwanted strangers, and no traveling to get to it. Just total relaxation in the comfort of your own home, available whenever you want it. This unique infrared sauna not only promotes detoxification of metals and toxins, but it also boosts immune and cardiovascular systems as well as relieves pain.

The best part: It burns 200 to 600 calories in 30 minutes.

Fit for one person, and starting at $3000, this luxurious sauna can compliment just about any home.

Don't like to be completely alone? Get a larger one and invite over your friends.

Clothing optional.

Metromint continues to connect the dots (and I'm now a Metromint All-Star)

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:22:29 +0000

There is something special in the water at Metromint. And this time it's cherry essense.

The original mintwater has just gotten one variety longer by creating their newest flavor: Cherrymint. Following its Chocolatemint launch earlier this year, Metromint is now seeing red, as the Cherrymint launch adds yet another new color to its familiar dot-inspired packaging design. The new variety is the combination of cherry essense, pure water and real mint and will carry a -5 chill factor rating (the numerical scale that measures each varieties range of mint refreshment.)

As cool trends go, Metromint is one hot water, since launching (just four years ago) it has deeply connected with a fan base that includes Hollywood A-listers, fitness fanatics and on-the-go parents seeking unsweetened alternatives to keep kids hydrated.

Engineered for refreshment, Metromint combines pure water and real mint, it's the brand's signature ingredient and the cornerstone to its unique and extraordinary taste. If I sound excited about this water ... well, that's because I am!

There's more: Metromint supports people who promote active, healthy lifestyles. This includes individuals, team athletes, and professionals who demonstrate good sportsmanship in any field or category. What does that mean for me? Well, it means that they've chosen me as one of their Metromint All-Stars ... check it out! Over the next six (6) months, Metromint will be sponsoring me to enter and compete in several athletic events!!!

LIFT included in Squarespace examples

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:54:02 +0000

Squarespace: The platform behind exceptional ideas. I love them!

I'm in good company on Squarespace and have been lucky enough to be included on their examples page. Not bad considering the tens of thousands of sites using the same platform!

Eco-friendly workout wear

Tanya Ryno — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:52:35 +0000

Looking for a way to combine your love for clothes, exercise and the environment? Organic cotton’s got company with these lesser known green fabrics that are as good for your workout as they are for the planet:

Hemp: Not only is this super-green plant easily renewable, but its fibers are extremely strong and can be very soft as well. Try a hemp/cotton blend, like this sporty tank.

Bamboo: Grown easily without pesticides, bamboo is abundant, harmless, and surprisingly comfortable when used in clothes like these pants and ribbed tank. Bonus: It also helps fight odors!

MicroModal: This newcomer, derived from beech tree cellulose, is completely biodegradable and luxuriously soft, resulting in pants and camis you won’t want to take off.

Soy: A little harder to come by than the others, super-soft soy-based clothes are actually made from food industry byproducts, which means you can wear pants like these comfortably, and guilt-free.

LIFT included in 50 great exercise blogs that will get you motivated

Tanya Ryno — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:49:11 +0000

Lift. This blog is an elite adventure magazine all about physical fitness for those who can enjoy the better things in life. The motivation in this blog is not only to get off the couch, but to enjoy the journey.

Yes, I was excited to find out that LIFT was recognized as one of only 10 blogs listed in the Exercise and Fitness category of a list that includes 50 Great Exercise Blogs That Will Get You Motivated.

The list, compiled by Alisa Miller, also recognizes Walking, Hiking, Climbing, Running, Cycling and Video Game Categories. Check it out, as you might just find some other great sites that you didn't know about.

Thanks Alisa!

Join the club: Stand out from the crowd with a Louis Vuitton golf bag

Tanya Ryno — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:21:24 +0000

You’ve got the Chanel snowboard. The Dior ski boots. You’re even on the wait list for the 2010 Versace Extreme treadmill.

Yet you still can’t bluff your way into A Small World (the social network for the elite)? It probably has something to do with that ratty nylon number you’re toting across the green, along with your mother's hand-knit club cozies.

Enter: The Damier Geante Golf Bag. Forget that cheap golf bag you’ve been using. Instead, why not go for the most expensive golf bag in the world. Created by Louis Vuitton, its named after the canvas used in its creation. The bag features a zip-up hood, a number of pockets, a rolling travel cover and even an umbrella to be used in case of unexpected rain. The bag goes perfectly with a Louis Vuitton luxury iPhone case. If all that doesn’t convince you, consider the real treasure —- this luxurious bag already has four Louis Vuitton tees in it!

One word of advice though: If you really want to be accepted by 'Diamond Lounge' ... then you might want to put your new golf bag into a custom Cadillac Escalade Golf Cart first.

Via: [Most Expensive]

In a nation where your supersized car is your castle, is the Smart too mini for a man?

Tanya Ryno — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:34:13 +0000

That's the question that Men's Vogue set out to answer, and their findings might surprise the overtly-masculine among you.

What they found: Well, it takes a big man to drive a tiny car ... but it's worth it!

Let's hope they're right: As, unbenounced to my husband, I just reserved one for him!!!

Their claim: As might be expected, driving a smart fortwo in an urban setting, such as in New York (where we are), proved to be fun and relaxing, despite the smart's cute and perky demeanor. Perhaps driving a smart in a more rural setting would prove less appropriate, but, that's not what it was designed for. It's great on gas mileage (and my husband is always on the road) and it's easy to park.

Still not convinced? For you single guys, the car could prove to be useful for picking up girls ... and nothing's more manly than that.

Striking it rich: Organic olive oil

Tanya Ryno — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:30:43 +0000

The energy crisis is no joke. Even for those of you who never drive.

Which has me thinking about alternative fuels. Even though I don’t really mean gas.

I mean Sorelle Paradiso, a California company that has struck oil — the extra virgin, dipping, and cooking kind. Made solely from Sevillano olives grown on their ranch in California's Central Valley, this particular oil won "Best of Show" at the International Las Vegas Restaurant Show 2008 (and deservedly so). NO IMPORTS HERE — just primo California olive oil.

Also taking credit -- for such honors -- is Frantoio Ristorante & Olive Oil Company in Mill Valley where the oil was pressed. Frantoio Ristorante is the only restaurant in the U.S. with an in-house state of the art Certified Organic olive oil production facility, which is visible from the restaurant's dining room.

It seems that the Sorelle Paradiso and Frantoio Ristorante partnership (so-to-speak) is a good one. It enables them to practice sound farming, support local agriculture, compensate workers fairly, provide the best quality around, and keep oil prices reasonable.

Making it the latest news in sustainable resources.