Ballroom Dancing
Who is that couple commanding the dance floor, gliding effortlessly around the room and leaving a trail of stardust in their wake? No, they’re not the hired entertainment. They are another couple reaping the benefits of their ballroom dancing classes.

“Ballroom dancing is a great idea for couples who want to do something a little different with their evenings. It’s becoming a very trendy thing for couple to do on a night out,” says Gioia Covo, a ballroom dancing instructor with the New York Health and Racquet Club.

Cast members of “Swing,” ballroom dancing at the New York Health & Racquet Club. Photo: Frank Ross

Ballroom dancing ranges in style from traditional dances like the waltz, the tango, the cha cha, fox trot and the quickstep, to the Latin-inspired dances, or “hot rhythms.” Those are most commonly the rumba, samba, mambo, salsa and swing dances.

The basic steps are easy to learn and simply require practice. “We teach about three basic steps of one or two dance styles to the wedding couple. If they come in with a specific first dance request, we work through the steps for their song with them.”

The most important thing to understand, however, is leading and being led. “The woman must always be led by her partner. For some couples, this is out of character and even awkward, but overcoming the challenge is part of the experience. The truth is, however that it takes two to make a great dancing team.
“The man doesn’t do all the work. If the woman knows the steps and allows her partner to lead her, then her partner will look good as well.”

For couples who are preparing for their first dance as husband and wife, Gioia recommends beginner classes in ballroom dancing. These classes teach swing, fox trot and cha cha, because they coincide best with the wedding band music, and can be danced to current music.

“I provide you with a basic step pattern, so you always have something to fall back on,” says Gioia. “You’d be surprised, but almost everything on the radio, from Ricky Martin to Tom Jones, can be used in ballroom dancing.”

She also recommends you become familiar with the floor plan of the venue. “Bring your music into the lesson, to become comfortable with the timing.
“I often have the bride wear her heals to class, and sometimes even a dress of similar length to her gown, because what the bride wears affects the way both she and her partner move.”

Ballroom dancing is about compromise and cooperation. Gioia warns that the couple must be prepared for initial disagreements. “When couples become dancing partners, they tend to fight a bit in the beginning, about who is leading who. Usually women pick up the steps faster, and then want to lead and become frustrated as the man is still catching up. It brings out a lot of issues inherent to their roles in the relationship.

“But once you learn to dance well together,” says Gioia, “in addition to the aerobic benefits, it’s something you can take with you for the rest of your lives.”

New York Health & Racquet Club 56th Street, NYC, 212.541.7200

Personal Training
While some couples want to Fred and Ginger their way through a complicated series of steps, others prefer a more direct, thought-free workout with a personal trainer.

“You know you’re going to get a good workout every time and that it will be cutting edge and new,” says Tierney Vaughan, a personal trainer at Chelsea Piers.
Working out with a personal trainer allows you to set limits for yourself and accomplish realistic goals. “It’s a really great shared experience because someone else sets the guidelines and the two of you support each other throughout the process. As a couple, you can save money by incorporating a personal trainer into your joint athletic regimen.”

Personal Trainer Tierney Vaughan at Chelsea Piers: stretching, Pilates, aerobic exercises ...

Tierney recommends that “the best way to do it is to alternate time with the trainer. While one is running the treadmill or using the step machine, the other is being monitored by a trainer, doing resistance work such as chest presses or jumping rope. Then switch off. This way each person can focus on themselves without getting caught up in what the other person is doing.

“I don’t encourage competitive couples to work on the same exercises together. If one is trying to outdo the other, then they are not concerned with their own safety.” Each of you should have your own personal regimen. At the same time it’s nice to know your partner is working out alongside you.

“A lot of trainers have degrees received in week-long classes. Tierney advises finding a trainer with references and a degree in the field. “I’ve been in the field for 13 years. I have my masters in clinical nutrition and my undergraduate degree in nutrition and exercise physiology.”

212.336.6000, www.chelseapiers.com

Tai Chi
Although a solid workout in a gym can be invigorating, sometimes you want to take your time, bray in the sun, and strengthen your more abstract muscles.
“The basic principle involves bending and stretching to increase body alignment,” says Ed Ware, instructor at Crunch. “The movement is based on the Taoist philosophy of returning to the natural way of functioning. The spiral motion in which you move your body in Tai Chi mirrors the shape of your DNA and the spiral flow of energy in your body.”

A Tai Chi session starts with basic warm up exercises and stretches. “Joints are loosened with rotations focusing on the ankles, knees, hips, lower back, neck, shoulders and wrists. Basic punches and kicks are next to warm up the body and raise the heart rate. Once the body is warm, leg raises loosen up the big muscles in the thighs.”

Tai Chi contains elements of self-defense as well. “You are taught how to deflect and absorb attacks through proper stance and simple footwork as well as the corresponding psychic conditions necessary to successfully deploy such techniques.”

One such exercise is the “yin/yang hands exercise,” Ed explains. “You push your hands together in order to learn how to “sink your Qi,” a useful balancing skill for defending against attacks.

“Basic punches and kicks are practiced on foam shields. This builds strength and balance and gives you a means of gauging your power.”
You end with gentle stretching and relaxation techniques “which teach you how to release tension in your body and quiet your mind, essential skills for stress management.

“Tai Chi increases energy levels, tones muscle, and improves digestion, posture and breathing. It bolsters the immune system and helps bring about emotional balance through its combination of physical exercise and mental attitudes.”

It can be practiced in class, at home or in the park, and is an excellent complement to other disciplines such as boxing, kickboxing and yoga.

“Practicing Tai Chi not only strengthens communication and understanding between you and your partner, but can also enhance your sexual life,” adds Ed. “Such patience and control when applied to sexuality can enhance the pleasure of both partners.”

Crunch, 212.869.7788, www.crunch.com