Media

March 2008

NY MAG Best of NY

Health & Self           

You Won’t Even Know You’re Sweating Classes that keep the mind occupied while the heart rate soars. FORZA Reebok Sports Club 160 Columbus Ave., at 67th St.(212)362-6800 Using a long wooden sword as a prop, Ilaria Montagnani (who looks like a cross between Gabrielle Reese and Arnold Schwarzenegger), teaches traditional samurai-sword-training moves. teaches traditional samurai-sword-training moves. Montagnani (who looks like a cross between Gabrielle Reese and Arnold Schwarzenegger) Class begins with “half cuts” (raise your sword over your head so the “blade” points behind you, then slice down to neck level) and “full cuts” (same thing, except the slice ends at the navel) then proceeds rapidly to combinations. Keeping step with Montagnani without maiming fellow fighters requires intense concentration and core stability.