In which I relent on hating hippies, just a bit

Last night I finally tried out this Nia fitness class at my gym. I recently grabbed a calendar of classes, scowering for a few fun ones I could hit after the 5 o’clock chime rang at work. The description for the class read,

“Bring total well-being to your lifestyle through Nia, a unique workout that empowers physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health by blending dance, martial and healing arts to creatively move “your body’s way.”

So, I Googled it to wrap my head around the concept a little more, and found a Web site that explained that Nia is a combination of martial arts (T’ai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido), dance (Jazz, Modern and Duncan) and healing arts (Yoga, Feldenkrais method and Alexander technique), and Nia stands for neuromuscular integrative action.

It all sounded very hippie to me… I was reminded of the Sex and the City episode when Carrie and Miranda take the fitness class with scarves…and although I’ve previously stated that I dislike hippies, I decided to give it a try.

True to my preconceived ideas, the class was Earth-loving, good thoughts, auras and chakras. But it was also totally awesome. The music was upbeat and modern, and we were supposed to wave our arms, stretch or reach to the side in the “movement right for your body.” It was a lot of freeform, dancing around the floor, “reaching to the sky and pounding the Earth,” mixed in with some true martial arts kicks, punches and loud grunts. It was totally hilarious, and I tried to ignore the people, walking by the glass walls of the classroom. I don’t know if I would have been able to truly let go and follow along with the class if I’d been with someone I knew. But I gave it my all. I grunted, and flung my arms, and twirled around like a butterfly, and kicked and punched the air (while picturing my frustrations).

Afterward, when the lights were out, and we were sending out our good thoughts into the World, loving the whooollle human race and pushing all the bad thoughts out of our head, I thought, “I’m totally coming next week.”

Currently Feeling: Restless for the weekend.
Currently Anticipating: Staying in tonight with my BF, a bottle of wine and some cheesecake.
Currently Excited For: Larisa and Dave, who finally set a date!

Don’t be such a tease, ABC

Did anyone catch the premier of “Cashmere Mafia” on ABC last Sunday? I wouldn’t have glanced twice, or stayed up way past my Sunday bedtime, if I hadn’t of run across the large-and-in-
charge article in the Sunday Times. “New ‘Sex and the City’!” it boasted. SCREEECH. HAAAALT. New “Sex and the City”? Now you have my attention. After a little bit of research, it seems as if everyone this season is trying to replicate the women’s cult following seen with “Sex and the City.” Darren Star, the executive producer of SATC, is trying his hand a third time at creating an influential TV show. (Apparently, “The L Word” was his second attempt.) And, NBC will premiere their SATC-esque show in a month, “The Lipstick Jungle,” based on yet another novel by Candace Bushnell, the genius author who’s book started my increasing obsession with all-things SATC. Both shows feature four friends living in New York while balancing their high-power careers and men. Except this time, “Cashmere Mafia” and “The Lipstick Jungle” throw in the mommy factor. Will this be as relatable for young women and SATC has been?

After watching the first episode of “Cashmere Mafia,” I have to admit I’m not totally hooked. It felt sort of fake and forced. Even the theme music is practically the same! It was like it was trying to be the new “Sex and the City” a little too much. After a scene where the four ladies texted each other, “Usual place, 15 minutes,” the show and the women’s friendship seemed more contrived than the natural meeting up of my favorite SATC girls for breakfast or coffee at their café. And, I was less-than-impressed when one of the main characters (Lucy Liu! I’ll admit that’s kinda fun cause I like her!) beat out the love of her life and fiancé for a top position at her company, and then he left her. WHAT?! The whole “men need to be on top/the major breadwinner in a relationship” cliché of 1950 more than irked me. I’m a career woman! I think it’s appalling to think a guy would leave you just because you got the winning career move and he didn’t. Yikes.

Despite my lukewarm impression of the show, I’ll probably stick around for a few more episodes. Cause just the mere thought of a show coming close to the fuzzy feeling I get from watching SATC makes me frantic with excitement. It would be nice to have a reason to mix up watching SATC episodes for the 10th time through…

Currently Feeling: Annoyed. I would stab her in the eyeballs with my stilettos and rip out each of her eyelashes, one-by-one, if I could.
Currently Anticipating: A romantic dinner for two at Duke’s tonight. Their macadamia nut-encrusted halibut is DreAMy!
Currently Listening To: The Kings of Leon CDS James sent me all the way from London!

HELLO, Lover!: Sex and the City movie trailer

Swoon! I’m so ready to get Carried away… Yes. I will be camping out with Cosmos in hand and all my best girlfriends the night before.

Currently Feeling: Like a slacker.
Currently Anticipating: May 2008!!
Currently Hating: Christmas shopping without an income for it.