Let's Get Lateral

There’s a rumor heating up around town about some trainer that makes your heart go pitter-patter, while giving your booty and thighs a big squeeze. Whew… hubba hubba!! Too bad I’m taken.

Fortunately, that doesn’t matter. Ladies and gents, meet Helix, a breakthrough in cardio and strength training that features lateral (side-to-side) movement.

Sometimes referred to as “the forgotten plane of motion,” training in the lateral (or frontal) plane is essential to develop a strong, well-balanced and functionally efficient body that’s needed to get you through the day. It also develops the power and agility you need to go for broke in popular sports like golf, tennis and skiing.

The Helix trainer is a 2-for-1 special. You get your heart rate up as you strengthen and tone your inner and outer thighs, and your glutes. Who doesn’t want to lift and tighten these hot spots? Celebrity and athletic trainers like Gunner Peterson gives the Helix two thumbs up. Chiropractors love the core strength, lower and upper back posture restoration benefits. And, physical therapists are using it to identify functional weaknesses and rehabilitate folks with low back, hip, knee and ankle injuries.

Currently, the Helix trainer is available in various gyms, chiropractic and PT centers, and even boutique hotels across Los Angeles, Boston, Colorado and Washington. And, it’s expanding. Soon enough, you may also take a Helix class, driven by high-energy music and motivational instruction. If you don’t have access to the Helix now, look for ways to incorporate some frontal plane training into your workout routine. (You’ll have to ask or look that one up, due to my limited word count!)

Learn more, watch the video at: www.helixco.com

I Scream! You Scream! We All Scream for The Coffee Bean???

As a connoisseur of frozen desserts, I’m in my glory with the explosion of frozen yogurt shops snowballing across the city these last few years. Clearly, we have a frozen fetish. Yet, our obsession with this chilly treat has transformed a delicious summer evening event into a soft serve stressor.

After you’ve searched for a parking spot for an hour… waited in a Disneyland-long line that wraps around the block… dealt with a teen copping attitude when asked a perfectly innocent question like, “Can you add more sprinkles, please?”… and paid a $50 fine for parking in a residential zone… you can finally relax and lick away. Sound familiar?

Look, kid. That’s just tough life in the big city (inhaling cigarette). Until now. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – yes, you heard me right -- is now serving frozen yogurt and the best part is, no one really knows because they're too busy ordering coffee!

With a long-time niche in beans and leaves, how good can this yogurt possibly be? The answer is very good, not to mention refreshing and waist-friendly. Choose from an array of “tart” flavors (light and tangy) or “sweet” flavors (creamy with delicate vanilla notes), such as Pomegranate, Acai, Espresso Crème, Malibu Dream, Lemon Crème, Caramel Latte and more. With just 80 calories for a small and 120 calories for a large, you can decorate with a topping of your choice or have it blended in without sabotaging your healthy intentions.

Currently limited to only four locations as a consumer test is fine-tuned (note: visit one and sample away), you can expect to see 15+ locations offering up their new Stir menu, which also includes fresh yogurt and oatmeal concoctions that will send your GI system sailing smooooth!

Where: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations in Beverly Hills (S. Beverly Drive), Los Angeles (Sunset & Fairfax), USC Campus and Manhattan Beach (Manhattan Village on Sepulveda Blvd.)

Why: Because fat-free fro-yo should be anxiety-free too.