Never On Sunday

Never on Sunday are we sitting home wolfing down bagels and cream cheese sitting in front of the television with our feet up. We are in the Lavender Palace pounding the pedal stroke sweating up a storm.  

Never on Sunday are we catching up on sleep time because we are busy adjusting our Schwinn’s and clipping in for a ride that will leave us breathless, wet and reaching for hydration every chance we get. 

Never on Sunday are we texting, talking on the cell phone or gossiping with our friends we are listening to the Blue Sapphire’s adroit instruction staying in time to the beat of the music and jumping saddle up and saddle down. 

It’s hard to imagine how many gifted spin instructors we have here at EQ and to bookend the weekend with Kristen James on Saturday and Carolyn Mellace on Sunday just tells me it just can’t get any better. 

The new studio is far from being finished but when it’s done with all its gadgetry late in the year we will have every tool imaginable to not only make our ride memorable but the satisfaction that we have taken our fitness to an even higher level.

Never on Sunday do we say let’s wait till Monday because The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace has other plans.  

The Lambster Chronicles

It’s Sunday and time for a ride with The Blue Sapphire Carolyn Mellace. I have to digress before I write here and I ask you have you taken a good look at her lately? I hope I don’t embarrass her but her physiology is killer. If there is one ounce of fat on this woman it’s hiding in under her big toe because when I use the word lithesome Carolyn’s picture is next to that word in the dictionary. Amazingly fit body on this lady.  

She’s an extreme motivator always has been in my opinion and she brings it every time. We all have our off days but not The Blue Sapphire she’s ON every class. And today was no exception the discography was rocking and her voice over matched the syncopated beat. 

Some of my favorite spin mates were in attendance like Stacy, Josh and Howard and Ferne to mention a few they just add to the convivial ambience I experience when I enter the Lavender Palace. I forget my troubles and soak in the energy of my friends they always seem to lift my spirits. 

Carolyn had the baton today and her orchestration was fabulous. Thanks Carolyn for a great start to a Sunday as our summer winds down.  

Above & Beyond

When I drive into that parking lot and gather my gym bag in my hand I know that I am starting my day off on the right foot. Even though I will be using both the time I spend is well worth my efforts. My fitness regimen will insure a longer life (God willing) and one that keeps my mind alert, friends in touch and my aching body full of complaints. The alternative is not one that I can ever foresee because an athlete’s life is my life. 

This Sunday had me at church first leading my “other life” reading scripture at the lectern before I could saddle up and saddle down in Carolyn’s 9:15. The times have changed a bit as an 8 o’clock has been added for those hearty souls that need to start their Sunday just a bit earlier. I caught 5 minutes of John Kocaj’s class just because well just because. John is an under the radar instructor in my opinion. He doesn’t make a big splash but every one of his classes is power packed, constructed with strong preparation and something else he has elegance in his delivery with a dialogue to match. 

Sunday’s with Carolyn is something I am glad to get back to as this diminutive wonder is an all pro that keeps on delivering just as if she worked at EQ full time. There is no fall off with the Lambster’s limited schedule and Carolyn rounds out the stellar lineup just perfectly. She drives me hard and I like it like that. Every session has me pressing myself just one pedal stroke stronger than the class before. And Carolyn recognizes that we are athletes and we don’t mail it in ever! We take it above and beyond.  There are times when I feel and pardon the self-aggrandizement that we in Woodbury are the Elite. When I looked at Ferne and Janet next to me and Yale and Ritchie during the session all reminded me that although we are there to have fun we take spin class very seriously and whether that’s crazy or not we love it. That’s why I dig the first row we are there as Carolyn said: The first row represents.   

She's No Plush Toy

What is it about Sunday’s with Carolyn? I seem to rally in her class. After 5 days in the saddle I should be for all intents tired and spent from a week of my new battle with the Watts indicator. By the way those new consoles are a blessing and a curse simultaneously. They raise the stakes in our quest for fitness but it can also be a yoke a heavy one at that especially if we get too caught up in what the readings are.  Back to Carolyn, as I was saying normally I don’t expect much out of my physiology being 63 but The Blue Sapphire ups my game her personality, her conviction or maybe it’s her lesson plan. Carolyn always has one of those and by the end of today’s session my calorie meter read 800, and every indicator on that damn screen was higher. It’s always a good time with the Lambster. Thanks Carolyn.   

Sunday With Carolyn

Carolyn was nothing short of spectacular this morning. She has embraced these new consoles without letting them take center stage.  I know that the power numbers are the true measure of our efforts but each bike’s calibrations might be slightly different than the next and what I have to keep in mind is that each day is different and just like a pitcher whose curve ball doesn’t curve or sinker that doesn’t sink one class doesn’t have to mirror the last.  I may have more energy than the day before or just be dragging my butt.  Carolyn knows that instinctively and unlike me to her numbers are merely a guide not a religion. 

What The Blue Sapphire has done is put the fun back into our beloved spin class and given me a sense that I don’t have to exceed yesterday’s numbers but rather see progress over time. The Watts and other indicators are a measuring stick and are not there to hold us hostage for higher numbers every time we saddle up.  

The crowd on Sunday’s always seems to be just a bit different than during the week or on Saturday’s but there’s a good sprinkling of some of my favorites like Howard, Ferne and Ivan to name but a few and the new faces were just as energetic just as enthralling to be with and for that I thank you.  And Carolyn I am so glad that I have made it back to your class with more regularity. There was one that was conspicuous by her absence but I am sure she will be there smiling tomorrow. 

Queen Bee

I know her as The Blue Sapphire and the Lambster but she was the Queen Bee today. Her flawless execution of workout and discography made for a lightning like session. She helped me cap off yet another week of higher watts and calories burned. Carolyn is a master motivator and with the new equipment we have the wings to fly strong in and out of the saddle.  The new Schwinn’s are not perfect but a vast improvement over their predecessors. They have amped up the workout immeasurably.  

And the Queen Bee had it all going on today and we were the worker bees buzzing up and down her hive.  The energy for the early Sunday session had us focused, driven and relentless. For this writer that front row can be daunting but I like it up there with the likes of the Stacy Tucker’s of the world. Women like her and guys like Michael and Roy add just the right pressure for me to give my level best every session.  

Sunday usually ends the weekend but MLK has us savoring Monday as well. Thanks Carolyn for making Sunday morning great and to my friends Kristen Finello and Cameron Bean for a most enjoyable brunch too!

Go Someplace I’ve Never Gone Before

That’s what it was this morning with The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace. I have been pushing harder than ever in class these days in search of who knows what. The closest woman in the world to me worries I am spinning myself to an early grave. Well maybe not that severe but even I know that I give my all to this group exercise. My all.  When I looked at the river of my toil beneath my bike today I realized that what I seek is inside my head not in the pedal stroke. 

Carolyn’s class today was by far the best ever in the 3 plus years I have taken her sessions. It was the energy, the discography and of course the authenticity of the lithesome one leading a packed house in the Lavender Palace. Carolyn gives her heart and soul to us every Sunday and we love her for it.  Today was just well even better. 

The 1015 was for me a metaphor of where I am headed now. A new road, a new direction and if I keep my head right size one that I will take with me when I am but ashes.  Thanks again Carolyn for a great Sunday. After lectoring today it capped the morning off perfectly. Going someplace I’ve never been never felt this good.  

Awesome Work

Carolyn Mellace: The Blue Sapphire 

She used to teach on Thursday nights and again on Sunday but now the treat of Carolyn Mellace is singular, Sunday.  Sundays with Carolyn is for me something I have missed until more recently and I am glad I am making it back to spinning with this lithesome jewel.  

 Sunday the traditional day of rest finds us all here working just like it was a weekday. And today with Stacy’s bike bedecked in balloons and tinsel we were set for a festive ride in the saddle. Once the congratulations were made to our celebrant the real work began. The Blue Sapphire’s ride is no walk in the park even though she delivers her ride with sparkling blue eyes and a knockout smile.  Carolyn was the first instructor that taught me “jumps” and how to do them with the least amount of shock to the body. These moves are the real burn to the ride and although it’s taken me awhile I have the movement down with fluidity.   I love when she says: “Saddle Down” I don’t know why but I do know that “jumps” get me to my anaerobic threshold faster than any other interval can.  

Sundays with Carolyn are pure joy and the workout is kick ass. I can still feel the fire in my legs. I’ll be back for The Blue Sapphire: Carolyn Mellace.  

Sundays With Carolyn

Carolyn Mellace, Good God what a talent. Don’t you just love her? She’s vivacious, charismatic, and energetic and she weaves a great spin class every Sunday not once but twice. Some of the same beautiful people I see every day were here today and each and every one says the same damn thing: How great is she? I am never surprised and although I haven’t been a strict devotee of The Blue Sapphire there’s no one that can beat her pound for pound. She like KJ has a plan, expects a ton from us and when she says she likes what she sees you can bet your bottom dollar she’s not just wagging her tongue to make us feel good. She expects a lot from us and for the most part we deliver on our end.  

You gotta love it and I am grateful for my health and the ability to spin with Carolyn. 

The Blue Sapphire

 The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace this Sunday gave EQ maybe our last spin for the next few days anyway on the approach of Hurricane Sandy. The woman is pound for pound one of the fit women I have ever met. I have waxed about Carolyn many times over these last 3 years and since she is just part time I don’t get to take her sessions as often as I would love to.  

Self described her music is eclectic. Well maybe not actually. It is of course not formulaic by any means because she draws on the full spectrum of music of current day, classic rock and even disco which helps I think make the ride so unique. One of the aspects of Carolyn’s road I particularly love is her “jumps” which always gets my HR up to the maximum zone in the shortest interval. And over the years I have been able to make the transitions from standing to the saddle a hell of a lot more gracefully and eliminated any chance of injury. It’s always a challenge and spices the hour.  

Carolyn Mellace as I have said before a true gem of the Sapphire variety.  

Woodbury Safari

It seems I have gotten away from my reports from one of my favorite Equinox professionals and that’s The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace. She was fresh from her first class on Sunday called Cardio Boot camp. A real killer diller I am told.  Ari sitting on the benches in the common area near the locker rooms was   looking quite beleaguered. He was all in from his experience and I for one was glad that I only had to fulfill one hour with the lithesome lambster. 

Although the day beckoned with a beautiful sunshine that has been so rare this spring, it was yet another chance to play with our new consoles Kristen had unveiled for us on Saturday. One of the drawbacks of our new toys at least initially was the fact that today I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes off the screen. With my glasses cascading sweat down my lenses, I was still able to see through my self-induced rain shower and get acclimated to my own pace.  I think these consoles will also help me take away some of the guesswork that I still am challenged with and that’s that red wheel. And secondly it really is keeping me from drifting too low after a breakaway as seems to be my wont as I described in my last entry. I even got to experiment and see what 120 RPM’s was like in the sitting position without bouncing too much off the seat.  I had a mental block about speeds over 100 RPM’s but maybe it’s not as daunting as I first had anticipated.   I do think that when the “watts” feature is added it will be the missing chess piece that will complete the full strategy Kristen and her staff to make our ride the most efficient ever.  

Carolyn was looking ferocious this morning and before she boarded for our safari she had the look of a hungry lioness with her full long blonde mane. I knew we were either going to get eaten or we would join her in the mission of destroying fat cells. 

HR: 212

Today I entered The Blue Sapphire’s class under my own imbecilic circumstances. After taking two beta-blockers this morning I remained in A-Fib as I ascended the stairs to the CS. Looking down at my HR monitor, it was jumping in the 160s a number I do not even reach during full out effort in any spin class. So my first inclination was to just sit for a bit and I found myself in repose next to Louis and Nancy Kaplan as they were deep in confab which I shut my ears to because it was well none of my business.  After a few minutes I got up and entered the studio from the back door into a bike I never ride and that’s #55 and I figured it was an unobtrusive way not to disturb the very professional Carolyn Mellace.

So much of the past week has been about being connected to the bike in terms of the pedal stroke and the resistance wheel and this morning, it could not have been more the complete opposite.  As I kept most of the resistance off, I watched the vigorous efforts in front of me and I was for all intents and purposes an onlooker. I decided to watch my monitor and as it danced never dipping below three digits, I hit a high of 212 which I didn’t think was possible given my age but as I am here to tell I guess it was, but my theory of being able to exercise myself out of my atrial fibrillation was in retrospect a childish notion. 

My HR monitor told me I burned 600 calories in the 40 or so minutes I hung in there and I knew that was erroneous as I probably never hit 50 in the new all important measurement of watts. We used to watch the money supply of M-1 and M-2, the 30 year Treasury and the CPI and now its watts and when we get our new bike monitors like the ones  we had in our Greenwich ride you can be sure I will be pushing to break 300. 

P.S. 

I apologize to Carolyn because she told me not to ride and if there is anyone that I would hate to have angry at me is The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace. 

Lamby Stories

Two Blue Sapphires in a row. Last Sunday and then this Thursday and I am ready for the funny farm. Not because of Carolyn but I am reeling just a bit from 3 spin classes with Svengali on Wednesday. I don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for me I just don’t think that I will do that again so that I can write a story entitled “Tripple Play”. 

Carolyn Mellace what can be said about her that hasn’t already been said? I won’t mention her lithe form, her sparkling blue eyes or just how skilled she is when she leads a class because we all know this about her already. So what is it that I can say that hasn’t been said? Is it her genuine concern for students? No we know that. Is it the fact that she always gives us more for our money? No that’ true but no that’s not it. Is it because her choreography is never the same? Well that’s true too but that’s not the reason. I will get to it relax. And let’s skip her stunning physiology and beauteous countenance and we might as well lump in her seemingly unending athleticism too but I still haven’t got to it. Still want to know I just thought of what it is and I bet I just bet you will agree but didn’t think of this. You’ll have to ask me if you care but even if you don’t the reasons given are reason enough to spin with The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace on Thursday nights at 6 or Sundays at 1030. 

P.S.

I never knew that lambs had belly buttons but I do now. 

Lithesome Lamb

It’s been several fortnights since I have had the distinct pleasure of spin class with The Blue Sapphire. I can attest that only scheduling kept me from her penetrating blue eyes and adroit call.  Carolyn is always Sunday entertrainment and it was great to be back in the Schwinn saddle with her at the microphone. 

She might be lithesome and she might be nicknamed the Lambster by her brother siblings, but this woman is more like a miniature mountain lion than a docile barnyard creature. I absolutely loved her choreography today as it had the yin yang of what goes up must come down. The oscillation between the heavy roads of peanut butter without oil to the hot knife through butter of the flats gave today’s ride the excitement I have always found she lends to the proceedings in the Lavender Palace. 

It’s been a great week in the CS between the Evil Woman, Tripper and now ending with The Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace. I thank you all for extending me your considerate expertise, enthusiasm and devotion to the craft of spin.  

S & M

I am discovering the lyrics to some of these songs we hear everyday in spin class that I never paid any attention to.  The latest is Rihanna’s S & M.  The Blue Sapphire informed us that the video was controversial. I watched and it was suggestive but nothing that we haven’t seen in the movies or on satellite or cable television. It would seem that we constantly have to push the envelope and that the more shocking our entertainers can be the more attention they garner. No judgment just some observation. “Stick and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me.”  Kinda catchy ain’t it?

No Kristen on Saturday, no problem. We have the Blue Sapphire, Carolyn Mellace on Sunday.  Carolyn has 20 plus years in the fitness industry and her knowledge in the health field is vast as well. She has tutored me on several topics closest to my heart, which I am so thankful for. Bright, entertaining and relentless would be just three adjectives I would use to describe this talented star of the Equinox staff. I have said many things about her before and she continues to deliver time and time again. 

Science Sapphire

The Blue Sapphire Sunday edition now moved back 15 minutes to 10:30 was superlative again today. Carolyn has the medical background that dovetails perfectly into her expertise as a spin instructor. She talked about the central nervous system and you just get the feeling that she knows what she is talking about. Never assuming, and always-in touch with her class as it is happening. She is what she calls “old school” and one of the techniques she uses is  “jumps” in every one of her classes. And what I found now that I have my HR monitor in class is that during these intervals my HR is flush up against my upper limits without having too have much resistance on. Spin always seems to amaze me because it’s not always what I  perceive to be true is true. It was a great lesson for my heart and me today.  

Next to me were two people and they weren’t married or boyfriend-girlfriend. They were mother and son. Lindsey and his mom, Ivy were working out together. Now what brought that home for me was that I never ever worked out with my mom, mainly because the opportunity never came up.  And so I say Lindsey treasure these days that you can look over in the next bike and see your mother. 

The Blue Sapphire loves feedback in her class, as it’s her way of gauging the pace and temperature of her riders.  If she asks: How are you Sunday? She wants to hear how we are. I am always vocal when I feel the urge and today we had a newbie, Cheryl who was particularly vociferous this morning. She was audible and it’s great when the female gender let’s everyone else know how they are feeling. So let’s not be shy because we are here to workout but also to have fun. Thanks Cheryl for not being self-conscious and whooping it up.  

Black & Purple

There are certain Carolyn-isms I love. BEAUTIFUL JOB! is one of them. 

 Another is and I am not sure how to spell it, but I will take a shot. Unh-unh-unh. It comes when she is posting up for a sprint. I get pumped up for those and there are not many instructors that get me in the anaerobic zone on a flat road, but she does.  

Today like all her classes time rockets by, and when I looked up for the first time at the clock, 45 minutes was gone. I was blown away; it was going to be over way too soon. I always take that to mean that I had a great time and when I think back on most of my workouts at Equinox prior to my spin career there’s not many that I can say I enjoyed as much as I do when I am in the CS, and The Blue Sapphire is an integral part of this bliss.  

I wanted to title this entry something like Black and Blue Sapphire. Our heroine had on a black top and I could have sworn she had on a pair of blue tights.  Sounds picturesque, but those hopes were dashed when Carolyn said what’s up those purple pants?  I was damn sure they were blue. I know that black and blue marks turn purple but that was not going to fit my story line. I am a little short on metaphors, but if something comes to me I will make sure I add it as an extra later tonight. 

It was a great week all around and Sunday was icing on the cupcake. 

Just Messin Around

The CS, which will soon become a closet of all things, had the ambience of a Hot Yoga class.  It was indeed warm, only to get hotter with 41 riders pumping our collective pedal stroke and heartbeats to.  The fact that The Blue Sapphire would be at the head of the class insured that fact as a foregone conclusion. But so what!  It meant that we had to finish our water bottles and maybe wipe our brows a few more times than normal.  It was Sunday with Carolyn, The Blue Sapphire and we weren’t going to let a little more sweat get in our way of having the ride we love to end the weekend with.

Carolyn, always has a well thought out choreography, and her music as she calls it, is eclectic but it’s always recognizable and never obscure. I love her ongoing commentary because she handles what we are thinking about out loud which gives us the feeling we are not alone. She knows the hour is challenging and she never messes around. It’s all-serious because she really cares but it’s always fun.   She throws her 100+ pounds into every nuance of her ride but it seems like it carries the weight of a Mack truck.  

This week was a challenging one, because I had taken 8 classes and I didn’t have the usual pizzazz because sexagenarians do have their limits. Or do they?  I had a blast being in Roslyn, Woodbury, and Scarsdale and back in Woodbury for The Blue Sapphire. I thought of cutting out but my heart just wouldn’t buy it.  

The Ringer

It’s not often that I am writing about The Blue Sapphire in a Thursday and a Sunday edition. It’s usually one or the other. This week however, had me lucky to catch the blazing blue star twice and she was three times as good. I had decided on her early ride subbing for Young Atlas, Damian and it made my Sunday decidedly different.  

In the front row, I spotted one rider that stuck out like a sore thumb.  He was what looked to be 6’7”, and with that strapping physiology he seemed almost to dwarf his bike. I knew he was an outdoor rider not merely by his size and presence but because when we were way up the resistance dial in position #3, he was sitting in the saddle.  Commanding an even pedal stroke with the resistance dial at 9 out of 10 while being in the saddle is a strenuous posture indeed. It just was my intuition that outside was his real home, not the safe confines of the CS.  I’m not saying the outside rider is better than we stationary aficionados, but the contrast of one to the other is decidedly a world apart. 

Carolyn is not merely a charismatic talent, but she is also a highly skilled technician. Always doling out precious information about breathing, posture and cadence, she gets under our ‘engine’ to make sure we are pedaling efficiently and not out of control. When we are gunning our motors, she can be found checking our flywheel and pedal stroke and when she signals okay with that smile and those striking sapphire eyes we are good to go.  

The next time I spot “The Ringer” I will look for clues and model his spinning choreography. 

The Electricity

This Thursday night with The Blue Sapphire topped the best rides list once again. There was something that gave it a conspicuous difference beyond the charisma of Carolyn Mellace.  It was how fully associated the whole CS had become. With each petition, The Blue Sapphire got enthusiastic backtalk cheering that resounded off the walls of the studio like Flubber,* with no sign of fatigue no matter how far up the resistance dial we traveled. And travel up we did. It just didn’t seem to matter and the fact that I wasn’t the only one being heard in the CS, told me we were riding the curl of a truly thrilling ride. 

Is there such a thing as too many adjectives when describing a person? Probably not, but I didn’t want to seem like I was overdoing it, because I strive to report what I see, and because this blog is experiential in nature, I have to be there to really capture the true feeling of the moment, the hour. As I watched the reflected image of our lithesome dynamo with the spectacular musculature pedaling with the speed of that Superman locomotive, I realized that I might   have run out of superlatives in describing Carolyn, The Blue Sapphire. (Until the next ride) She is another that is larger than life than she is in person.