bonnie tsui


July 2006
Trainers on Demand
You don't have to join a gym, schlep to a class, or even get out of your pj's. If you've got a DVD player, a computer, or cable TV, you've just run out of excuses—because star coaches are available onscreen right now to give you a private workout. Bonnie Tsui tunes in.

In the eighties, when fitness videos entered the scene, suddenly you could get Jane Fonda (big hair and leg warmers included) on your TV. But working out to the same routine every day can get pretty boring. The latest revolution is in having your fitness piped into your livingn room in a made-to-order, progressive way. Here's a list of new options that will keep you on your toes.

PUSH.tv
Created by Crunch Fitness founder Doug Levine, this program offers users customized personal training via DVD. Fill out a questionnaire online, and based on yoru data (weight loss goals, equipment, injuries), you'll receive a new DVD every 30 days with three tailored workouts—one cardio and two strength training. Attention, electronic dance fiends and pop-rock aficionados: You can choose soundtracks to suit your taste. To adjust your workout, each month before you receive your new DVD, you can go online and input changes to your profile, and trainers like Bob Harper of NBC's The Biggest Loser will tinker accordingly. Membership costs $25 a month. Sign up at PUSH.tv, or call 800-503-PUSH.

Sportskool
Got game? This new video-on-demand (VOD) cable network offers sports coaching from pros and Olympic athletes. You can learn a new yoga pose or a sport like snowboarding, brush up on your rusty tennis serve with Anna Kournikova, dribble a basketball with Bill Walton, or practice soccer conditioning with Mia Hamm. And you work out at your own pace because VOD lets you pause, fast-forward, or rewind whenever you need to. Instructional sessions change regularly, but you can always access archived shows online. Go to sportskool.com or call 212-324-8598 for more info on how to get the service through your local cable provider.

Exercisetv
Launched this January in partnership with New Balance and Jake Steinfeld of Body by Jake fame, this is the first comprehensive on-demand network specifically dedicated to fitness. More than 90 programs rotate regularly, 24 hours a day. Classes include everything from cardio dance and body sculpting to aerobics for new mothers and tai chi. The channel is available for no additional charge to Comcast and Time Warner digital cable customers who have VOD service. Find out more at exercisetv.tv.

Carmichael Training Systems
If you've got the biking bug, Lance Armstrong's coach, Chris Carmichael, has developed a tool to help you achieve your own tour de victory. Through online diaries and interactive questionnaires, a team of elite world-class trainers and exercise physiologists will design a cycling, swimming, or multisport workout just for you. Experts are available at the site every weekday, and workouts are updated according to your monthly reviews. The basic service is $39 a month after a $19 initiation fee. Advanced packages that cater to specific needs—for example, training for the Ironman competition, working more closely with coaches, or getting nutrition analyses and personalized meal planning -- are available at an additional cost. Call 866-355-0645, or visit trainright.com.