The Fit Parade
50 ways to have fun and stay fit
By Roger Brooks, Courtney Nash, Jim Gullo, Meri-Jo Borzilleri, and Jessica VoelkerWith contribution from Jena Vuylsteke, Erin Pursell, Laura Peach, Lee Fehrenbacher, Stefan Durham, and Bill Thorness
At a certain point in every Northwest winter, we bunker down, use only the muscles required to flip channels, and eat our way through the doldrums until spring. But we have a rep to protect: Our city consistently ranks as one of the most fit in the nation, and we didn’t get there by watching episodes of The Amazing Race. Here are 50 Seattle-centric ways to transform your flab into fab or turn your guns into bazookas. And if that isn’t inspiring enough, we caught up with some of the fittest bodies in Washington State as they prepared for this summer’s 2008 Olympic Games. Just start with the basics: get out, breathe deep, get moving. Pick up the pace at your own speed, powering through activities that will make you faster, stronger, and more flexible. By the time you get to number 50—biking straight up Mount Rainier—you’ll have explored the city’s most spectacular sites, made a host of fitness-minded friends, and earned a killer bod along the way.
Learn from the pros —5 Northwest Olympic hopefuls and how they stay fit
1 | Free Your Mind
Meditation Sessions
Gear required Exercise mat and warm, comfortable clothes.
Vanity value Meditators lead the laid-back pack.
Devotees say that one hour of Laura DeFreitas’s “art of relaxation” sessions is equivalent to four hours of sleep. If that doesn’t entice you to Yoga Nidra, perhaps the prospect improving your performance in more strenuous activities will get you to roll out a mat. After some gentle yoga postures, DeFreitas guides her class into a state of “conscious sleep” through breathing and visualization exercises that help participants unwind mentally, emotionally, and physically. Friday-night classes provide a serene start to the weekend.
Yoga Nidra, lauranidra.com
“Meditating gives you a definite sense of inner peace and calm that lasts for quite a while. a lot of things in my life have changed since I’ve envisioned them
during the sessions.”
—Nathan Bawden, Greenwood
2 | Get a Bird’s-Eye View
Bird-Watching
Gear required Binoculars, pencil and paper, and rain gear.
Vanity value Prove to yourself there’s more to Seattle’s bird population than crows.
Ease your way toward toned calf muscles and develop the oxygen-pumping lungs of a bird by strolling along with the Seattle Audubon Society on its weekly field trips. Experienced group leaders will have you crisscrossing some of the best birding locales in the country in search of common Steller’s jays and bald eagles one month and migratory water birds and Seattle-loving barred owls the next.
Seattle Audubon Society, 8050 35th Ave NE, Wedgwood, 206-545-2197; seattleaudubon.org
3 | Cast Away
Fly-Fishing
Gear required Camera to record your catch (outfitter provides fishing gear).
Vanity value Learn to catch a fish that wasn’t thrown by a Pike Place Market vendor.
Fly-fishing is great for the soul and provides hours of gentle outdoor exercise to lead you into fitness. Book a guided tour with Dave McCoy’s fishing service, the Emerald Water Anglers, and you’ll soon find yourself standing in water (in waders, of course) and casting for silver salmon off Whidbey Island, bass in Lake Sammamish, or trophy cutthroat trout in Puget Sound.
Emerald Water Anglers, 206-545-2197; emeraldwateranglers.com
4 | Give It a Whirl
WhirlyBall
Gear required None.
Vanity value Show that you play well with others.
WhirlyBall is for anyone looking to play a little basketball, a little hockey, and a little lacrosse—all from the comfort of their very own WhirlyBug (better known as an electric bumper car). Two teams of five face off armed with plastic scoops for passing and shooting a whiffle ball across the court. While there is a strict “no bumping” policy, keep an eye out for crazy drivers—even a few taps can mean serious postmatch back pain.
WhirlyBall, 23401 Hwy 99, Edmonds, 425-672-3332; whirlyball.net
“Anyone can do whirlyball. you don’t have
to be Bo Jackson to play well.”
—Paul Peck, lake forest park
5 | Strike a Pose
Anusara Yoga
Gear required Loose clothing (studio provides all props).
Vanity value Inner peace looks good on everyone.
Everybody fits right in at the gentle Anusara classes—Hatha-style lessons sprinkled with meditations on leading an “open-hearted” lifestyle—at Seattle Yoga Arts. This Capitol Hill stretch spot has none of that competitive “I can do a full handstand and my Lululemon pants are cuter than yours” spirit that has invaded so many gyms and studios. Instead students introduce themselves to their neighbors and often work in pairs—regardless of ability—to assist each other with poses.
Seattle Yoga Arts, 109 15th Ave E, Capitol Hill, 206-440-3191; seattleyogaarts.com
6 | Strike Out
Bowling
Gear required None.
Vanity value It’s real-world cross-training for your Wii.
The occasional night out at the lanes will do little for your waistline, especially if you’re constantly guzzling beers and downing nachos. Skip the accoutrements and reap the benefits—serious bowlers have excellent balance and flexibility, and surprisingly strong arms, shoulders, and wrists. (Think of that 10-pound ball as a dumbbell.) For a challenge beyond a 7-10 split, head to Tech City Xbowl nights in Kirkland, where classic bowling shirts mingle with disco lights, dance music, and a different costume theme each week.
Tech City Xbowl, 13033 NE 70th Pl, Kirkland, 425-827-0785 techcitybowl.com
“Bowling is a great equalizer.
Once you step on that lane,
it’s just you and the ball
against those pins.”
—Dustan Gourlie, Redmond
7 | Pound the Pavement
Walking Club
Gear required Sturdy walking shoes, map.
Vanity value Card-carrying Volkssport members get instant international street cred.
Walking Seattle’s hills is a great way to get in shape without trainers, treadmills, or gym dues. Set your own pace on the Emerald City Wanderers’ five-and-a-half mile, self-guided walk around Lake Union for a workout that features lake views, houseboats, and all the South Lake Union district has to offer. Word to the wise: Gas Works Park is home to the walk’s only public restroom. Register to earn award points with the American Volkssport Association, which offers self—guided walks all over the country.
Emerald City Wanderers, 425-576-0380; walkingwithecw.org
8 | Grow Your Garden
Working in the P-Patches
Gear required Seeds, a spade, and a good pair of
gardening gloves.
Vanity value Build up nimble limbs as you plant and prune.
Kneel and bend and stretch your way to cultivating bright blossoms or leafy lettuce with your very own hands: Since the 1970s, Seattleites have been spreading seeds in the more than 50 community—garden plots known as P-Patches. The plots of soil are free, but you might spend a few months on a waiting list before you can dig in. Don’t let inexperience stop you; there’s almost always a gardening guru nearby who will graciously point out when to plant and pick.
P-Patches, City of Seattle, 206-684-0264; seattle.gov
9 | Soap Your Ride
Wash Your Car
Gear required A dirty vehicle, rags, and quarters for the machines.
Vanity value Bask in the knowledge that your water runoff, detergent, and oil will drip into the sewer system, not the Sound.
“The favorite car wash of local salmon,” reads Brown Bear Car Wash’s banner ads, and it’s also a fine place to work yourself into a lather by scrubbing the city’s goo from your ride. The company’s headquarters on Leary Way provides six bays with sprayers along with a foaming brush—your new personal—training device, one that works your arms and pecs relentlessly. And unlike washing your car at home, this wastewater gets treated and captured. Somewhere, a salmon is saying, “I like your style.”
Brown Bear Car Wash, 3977 Leary Way NW, Ballard, 206-789-3700; brownbear.com
“Fast, convenient, and the vacuums get
all of the Cheerio bits and candy from
behind my kids’ booster seats.”
—Heidi Nicolls, Wedgwood
10 | Learn a Spin Serve
Ping-Pong
Gear required Ping-Pong balls and paddles.
Vanity value Everyone needs to be a ringer at something.
Few have the cardiovascular endurance to play Ping-Pong at the frenetic pace set by Yiyong Fan of the Washington Table Tennis Center. One of the youngest players ever named to the Chinese National Team, Fan doesn’t lose (undefeated since 2002) and doesn’t know what it’s like to be second best: He’s been the top-rated player in the United States since 1998. Better still, Fan offers private lessons for those in need of a killer serve and a game that can show off superior hand-eye coordination.
Washington Table Tennis Center, 1454 127th Pl NE, Bellevue, 425-462-5030; yiyongfan.com
Published: March 2008
