Nike Women Blog

Goals For Summer

DevanCook — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:30:21 GMT

At the beginning of every summer, right after school ends, I make a list of goals that I want to accomplish before I resume my academics in the fall. Mid-June is sort of like my new year. It’s when I start fresh, make my resolutions. Along with my typical goals of “read lots of books,” “learn an instrument”(somehow this goal has gone unaccomplished seven years in a row), and “eat more vegetables/drink more water”, I had a lot of brand new goals this year that centered around sports and physical activity. I decided that since I wouldn’t have access to my university gym since I’m not enrolled in school during the summer, I would try to keep up on my exercise and training by playing tennis twice a week, hitting the basketball court as many times as possible, making a trip to the beach for a surfing lesson--something I’ve been dying to do my whole life, and last but not least, learn how to “Jerk.”

Yes, 100 percent serious, I wanted to learn the internet sensation called “Jerkin’”, a style of dance that originated in Los Angeles and has since blown up across the nation. Now, anyone that knows me can verify that I am the least likely candidate to be a “jerk”, as the dancers are called. I am uncoordinated and have no rhythm. But I do have the heart. So that was a start.

Now, I’ll admit I was half joking about this idea at first. But the more I talked to people about it, the more interested I actually became in learning it. I started watching every YouTube video I could find by a variety of “jerkin’ crews” (that’s what the dancing groups are called), including some by all-female Jerks.

The Jerks typically wear brightly colored skinny jeans, often accompanied with a fly pair of Nike Dunks. My closet just so happens to be full of both of those items, so I knew I could at least look the part, even if I couldn’t act it yet. And this pretty much brings us up to date. Right now I’m talking the talk, but I’ve got to start walking the walk. I’m starting to get the hang of the Running Man, but to be a Jerk I’ve got to learn to do it in reverse. And the spin-move they do, the crouch-then-turn motion, so far that’s resulted in me getting down to the ground but never making it back up again. I’ve got a lot more practicing to do! I’ve got another month before school starts, stay tuned to see if I can transform into a Jerk, or, if my uncoordinated attempts leave me looking like, a jerk.

-Devo

Ballroom Extroadinaire

RosaMillan — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:00:25 GMT

Not too long ago, learning to ballroom dance seemed like a thing of the past. Perhaps you thought of it as an ancient dance that was no longer hip, and even less attractive to us young people. Well, just like fashion styles can make a comeback, ballroom is also reintroducing itself as a fun pastime and becoming a sensation everywhere. I don’t know if it’s the television shows or movies that mesmerized me with their eye-catching dance moves, but I finally gave into the hype around it and decided to take a ballroom class.

Turns out I totally loved it! There were dances from around the world that I had vaguely heard of, but never realized how entertaining they were. I was learning to waltz, cha cha, fox trot, tango, samba, and swing dance to name a few. Each dance has its own personality, and the music that accompanies it allows you to assume that dancer persona. I can be energetic and upbeat in a cha cha, or powerful and subtle in a tango. Ballroom was quite an undertaking at first, and I was not worthy of admiration, but I was determined to stick with it.

It might be that I’m learning, intriguing and complex dances from around the world, or that I’m dancing with a partner that makes ballroom a new and challenging activity. It’s not only a physical challenge, but a mental one as well. Aside from not stepping on your partner’s toes, you have to handle a room full of dancers without knocking each other over. It really helps in developing your concentration, as you have to be mentally focused on the steps, the rhythm, and looking good while doing it.

I’ve become quickly addicted to ballroom and I get excited about teaching my friends, or practicing my “triple step” while strolling down the street. I’ve discovered it’s not just a trend from the past or your mom’s dancing. It’s a cool and fun way to learn new moves and get your body moving. You just start by putting your best foot forward.

-Rosa Millan

The Elements of Sisterhood

JonieSouvannarith — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:45:59 GMT

I’ve recently discovered that blogging about all aspects of teen athleticism is a bit more challenging than I thought. I’ve written about working out, hiking, horseback riding, ice skating and you get to a point where you want to write about something else; something exciting, creative and you have to be able to tie it into the culture of a teen athlete! Thinking outside the box, I came across something more profound, something every typical female athlete experiences ,sisterhood.

Syrenz, a B-girl crew from Los Angeles, embodies the elements of sisterhood through dance. B-girling has been their way of life for several years. Break dancing is a highly explosive and expressive dance form; it definitely requires skill, agility, flexibility and endurance.

Just like any sport, break dancing requires conditioning your muscles and your mind. Syrenz, however, trains their muscles through Bikram yoga, which also helps them clear their minds of all aggression and to stay focused. Eating right is another important aspect in staying fit, to optimize their digestion by the conversion of food to proper energy, Syrenz have broke it down to eating right for their blood type.

These women inspire one another on a whole different level, not just through dance but also through each other. Through battling, auditioning, teaching workshops, giving back to their community and just being there for each other in all aspects is what makes them thrive as a team. I was with these ladies for less than two hours and I could already see the deep connection and passion they have for one another. What’s great about sisterhood is you feel a powerful sense of togetherness and you use that energy and distribute it to the world in hopes that others will find it inspiring.

-Jonie Souvannarith

The Key to Success: Freak The Dream

SarinaMorales — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:00:53 GMT

They are like puzzle pieces. None of them are the same, but they all fit together just right. Although it’s not puzzling how these ladies cease to amaze audiences, I went out to Los Angeles to experience some of their dance moves and find out how the lovely ladies of the dance troupe, The Beat Freaks, fit together.

Their secret, they all freak the dream. It’s a mantra popular amongst these ladies who put dancing above all. Whatever you think is most important, whatever you love, that’s what you work on and excel at. All of them have the dream of dancing and making dancing all they ever do. One of the group members Teresa said, dancing is all she thinks about. For many athletes in competitive sports, it takes a whole team to win. These ladies all bring something special to the team to make this group better than the rest.

Although BGirl Shorty, hated dancing growing up, her b-girl spins are ridiculous. Lindsey “Out There” started late at age 15, but did everything in her will to make dancing her life today. Maryss from Paris and Rino both bring international flavor to the team. Lady Jules brings a fresh b-girl spin to the mix with her intense athletic background. Keeley “Lock N Key” brings a purpose to their dances with her strong spiritual background. I still can’t get over the fact that Teresa learned a difficult 10-minute dance routine in an hour. Alison “Al Star” comes from a jazz background and adds a nice spin on their hip-hop moves.

The Beat Freaks are the dream team of dance. They are each all-star individual dancers who joined forces to bring together not only crazy dance moves, but inspiration and energy to everyone that watches them. They want to make people excited about dancing. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to jump into their dance video the day of my interview with the girls. I was thinking to myself, “I could totally bust into the robot.”

It’s like any team in sports; you have a number of players that are assets to the whole team. I don’t care what anyone says, dancing is a sport. These women don’t make dancing any different from any other competitive sport out there. They compete, they practice daily, the need to train just as other athletes do, they all bring something to the overall team and they love it. I guess it helps that they each have a style unlike anyone else.

This female empowered dance troupe will knock your socks off! Thanks for the hook up ladies! I got an exclusive pair of shoe jewelry from the girls. When you’re looking good, you’re dancing better! Go figure, they also rock Nike’s to their dance competitions.

-Sarina

EXERCISE AND PARTY…OXYMORON?

SuziTheodory — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:35:40 GMT

Exercise for me can sometimes be a drag. With my busy schedule if I had the choice between doing something fun like going dancing or hitting the treadmill for some cardio, guess what I would choose? Well, yes it would have been dancing. But that’s before I was introduced to five letters...Z-U-M-B-A!

Exercise has forever changed in my eyes. When I go to the gym now, I’m actually getting ready to party! That’s exactly what Zumba is, a party! For those who haven’t tried it, you are truly missing out!

Zumba is the kind of exercise you’ll want to do everyday, while feeling good about doing it. The aerobic workout is a blast! You definitely burn lots of calories from dancing to some of your favorite songs...but I wonder if you lose any from singing your heart away. That I would have to say is my biggest problem with Zumba. I get lost in the words of my favorite tunes which can be pretty embarrassing when those around you catch you singing the wrong words. Oh well!

By the way my Zumba instructor is the best and his moves are amazing. He says this workout targets areas such as the abs, legs, arms, glutes and of course the heart. We dance to salsa, merengue, samba, mambo, and flamenco...but my favorite days are when we “get zumba” to hip hop. Sometimes we even do some belly dancing! Fun right?

This method of exercise might sound too good to be true. So you might ask what the requirements are to Zumba. Well the answer is easy...the only requirement is to HAVE FUN and PARTY!

So start exercising with Zumba...the best part is you won’t even feel like you’re exercising!

-Suzi Theodory

How Delicious Is Your Training?

GevrinaSeferaj — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:30:03 GMT

Timing.

Balance.

Focus.

Speed.

All are elements that attribute to the success of an athlete. The thirst for competition, and the desire for improvement can at times make training very difficult. Despite the long hours at a pool or at a court, a workout/practice can be tough to push through. So, how do you turn your training regiment around and make it “Delicious?”

The answer lies within you! Seeing the Nike slogan “Delicious Training” made me think about what it meant. It also provoked not only a fascination out of me but it also made me want to change my workout to something that I could in fact refer to it as “Delicious.”

Everyone’s training routine is of course unique, so I decided to interview four girls that are involved in different sports. I interviewed a tennis player, dancer, basketball player and a swimmer. Each girl found her training to be both delicious and satisfying.

Alex, 22, plays tennis and is an overall athlete. Having played tennis since the age of five, Alex also picked up an interest in competing for a volleyball high school team as well as rowing for a Division I university. I asked what her interpretation of Delicious Training and she responded, “delicious training is the idea of training without knowing your training. When your addiction kicks in and all you want to do is be playing that sport. When nothing else matters besides the next point and everything else in your life drifts away except for that moment.”

The key phrase, “training without knowing that you’re actually training,” is so true. When I’m at the yoga studio or at lyrical jazz class, I give myself that one hour out of my busy schedule to relax and do something I love. When I’m dancing, regardless of how sore I might feel from the previous dance class, I become so enthralled in what I’m doing that the pain seems to go away.

I was able to relate to Kaylee, 20, who has danced for 17 years and at such an early age has earned the title of head coach for her alma mater this year. Her passion and love for her dance, has fueled her career to an early success. Kaylee describes dancing as her “get away from the real world even if it is for an hour. It keeps me in shape, happy and positive, and I couldn’t ask for more in something I love to do.”

The moment something you do becomes a routine is the moment that the passion and fire terminates. All four of these young ladies are zealous about their training, and all consider themselves to be passionate about their sport. It is important to realize however, that there is a distinction between playing a sport and the training that follows it.

Regardless, I still found myself asking, how can we break through, or manage the hard parts of a workout?

I asked Lara a swimmer, 21, if she thought her training was delicious? And all I got was, “Duh Gevvy, not only am I in a bathing suit, but I’m swimming under the sunny California weather.”

Her response was rather comical; of course she thinks her training is delicious. Why you might ask? Well, anyone can design their training to be delicious as long as they love what they do. Lara is proof of this theory as she not only loves swimming and the training that goes with it, but she loves to represent her sport. So much so, that she is training to reach her goal of getting a sectional time in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

Each one of these active women is passionate about what they do and are willingly to put in the time and discipline to train. Many times, and I’m definitely guilty of this, we forget how important training really is in our daily life. Whether you’re training for performance, or training to stay in shape, training should always be fun. This correlates with Beverly’s thoughts on her definition of Delicious Training. Beverly a 19-year-old basketball player said “the term, I think is mainly relevant to true athletes who have a passion for their sports; the delicious part of their training spuds from their passion, making their sport fun!”

Although Beverly is swamped with school work and playing both basketball and volleyball, she still keeps her training fun. Fun is the main component of her workout as she continues to excel in her performance among her teammates. Beverly attributes her eight years of basketball success to her training—“the reward comes from the endurance and agility.”

Alex, Kaylee, Lara and Beverly all understand that some days training can be tiring, but they all strive to make the hard spots of workouts fun—resulting in a more effective workout that benefits them in all aspects. Training is rewarding and gratifying.

After reading these experiences, how delicious is your training? Are you passionate about your training? All are valid questions to jump start the success of your workout regiment. I know I’m going to start to make my Delicious Training my own and truly make those cardio workouts yummy!

Start now! Making YOUR training delicious and make it your own! Be passionate about what you’re doing because in the long run, success will immediately follow after the time and effort is put forth.

-Gevrina Seferaj

Drop Like Confetti!

SarinaMorales — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:00:18 GMT

They are bright. You can decorate them with glitter, but usually, they come already decorated. Find them in a variety of colors; sometimes with painted designs on. And I’m most positive; they are found at parties and other social gatherings. They seem to decorate our everyday lives. Yay for Vistoso Bosses! Wait you thought I was describing confetti?

The ladies of Vistoso Bosses are all over the place and landing in some spots in the music industry, I don’t think confetti could reach...for obvious reasons. As the girls dance their way to the top, you should note there’s no stopping them. They are literally, dropping like confetti. Can you tell “Confetti” is my favorite song of theirs? The single, “Confetti” is fun and upbeat, much like the girls themselves.

I’m not sure if it’s the music or maybe their style. They have one of the most unique styles because they are not scared to push the limit. In fact, “There are no limits,” the girls say. They believe, “Fashion should be fun. Save an hour of scrambling for clothes to go out, and just put on whatever you pick up.”

You want freckles, put them on yourself! What was makeup created for? Stickers, go for it! Sounds wild? Check their website, they have tons of fans who are already following their style.

They dance, they sing, they rap, they dress...they’ve got nothing but good things going for them and they’ve covered all the holes. Bright with style and energy, decorated with glitter, colorfully designed and spicing up your next dance party… pop on some Vistoso Bosses! I think we can all add some Vistoso to our lives.

-Sarina

So You Think You Can Dance?

TanyaLopez — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:09:41 GMT

So do you think you can dance? Most people would respond with, “I think so” but those that have been trained in the art of dancing know they can dance.

I enjoy dancing like most people and do it as a pastime, but there are those who have spent years developing their specific craft and plan on making it a career.

In my first years of college I met a dancer who blew me away. I had many classes with Gabi Rojas but it wasn’t until I took a summer hip hop class that I learned she was amazing.

Rojas had an non-traditional upbringing. While most kids were playing in the mud and running around, she was raised in the circus and learned how to do anything from juggling to walking on her hands. Her mother was teaching her how to be an athlete and she would already have the flexibility it took to be a dancer.

I have witnessed Rojas perform hip hop pieces as well as partner pieces with various props.

Rojas does have a setback to her dancing which makes for some hard days. She has Rheumatoid Arthritis that has spread through most of her body so some days it can be extremely painful to dance and others she is fine. A good stretch goes a long way.

Rojas graduated last year in the spring from the University and she has been following her passion for dance ever since.

She gives the credit for motivation to her mother who has helped her grow and has been there for her.

You can see Rojas on season five of a popular dance television show, where the judges expect her to make it into the top 20. Good luck to Gabi in pursuing her passion for dance.

-Tanya Lopez

Nike's End Of Season Bash!

BrittanyJonesCooper — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:00:41 GMT

Where can a person see the latest Nike gear, talk to superstar athletes and learn to dance like a robot? It's Nike and Seventeen Magazine's End of Season Bash: The coolest place for teen girls!

I got to the event early to watch the all-girl dance crew, Beat Freaks, warm-up. They are seriously amazing! After practice, they sat down with me to talk about their amazing rise to fame. The crew shared how excited they felt every week performing in front of millions of fans on television. They are "Freaking their dream!" and want young fans to do the same! I fulfilled a dream of mine a little later, when I danced with the Beat Freaks! They taught me a really cool robot move, and for a brief moment, I felt like a part of the crew!

At 7 on the dot, hundreds of girls filed into the Montalban Theatre. Singer/Songwriter Anya Marina kicked off the night with a show stopping performance for the excited crowd. Meanwhile, I snagged a moment with each of the all-star athletes attending the event. Kara Lawson and Candace Wiggins are both professional basketball players who are passionate about encouraging girls to perform on the court and in the classroom. My interview with Dawn Harper was also a lot fun. We laughed the whole time. She won a gold medal for hurdles in Beijing and during our interview; she pulled it out and let me wear it! Those medals are way heavier than they look.
After the fashion show, the crowd participated in a Q&A with all of the athletes. Soccer star Stephanie Cox and softball powerhouse Lisa Fernandez gave the girls really great tips on overcoming obstacles.

As the night sped to a close, it was time for the grand finale. The Beat Freaks exploded onto the stage gave a jaw-dropping performance for their fans! It was the perfect way to end a perfect event!

-Brittany Jones-Cooper

Hula

ElizabethNguyen — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:49:02 GMT

One of my many passions is Polynesian dance. I bet when many of you think of Polynesian dance you think of Tahitian dance, but there is another type of Polynesian dance, and it is called Hula. Many people don't really understand Hula. But Hula is graceful, elegant, strong, and powerful in its own unique way; and it is a completely different culture.

I am proud to say that I know how to dance Hula. Hula is a lot like yoga because you have to be very strong in your "powerhouse," and in the thighs, yet graceful with all movements of the body. I wanted to write about Hula because I think it is also a great workout and way to stay fit. While it is similar to yoga, it is a dance and art form, as well as, a great to way to release stress and express oneself.

Way different than just running on a tread mill. Hula tells a story and it is very different from many types of dances that one will see out there. I am a very well rounded dancer and I am totally into Hip Hop, however what I love about Hula is how you have to be really strong in all your body, yet graceful at the same time and at all times. It is truly beautiful. Especially when you get to advance Hula! I recommend anyone to try it, whether you are looking to build upon a dance talent, get a good workout and/or find another outlet for expression, Hula is the way to go!

-Elizabeth Nguyen

Everyone Loves To Dance

NFReporter_Team — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:18:30 GMT

Whether you do it locked in your room or out on the dance floor, everyone loves to dance. People may get embarrassed or not like to admit it, but there is some free euphoria about moving to your favorite song. Whatever your excuse, it is a great feeling, and a great workout. I know after a night out dancing, I can feel it in my legs. The best part about it is that I enjoy every minute, unlike those scheduled weekly workouts you try to make up reasons to put off until tomorrow.

I signed up for a Street Dance class at the local university. I absolutely love it. The moves we have learned so far are simple, but when done at speed with the music they create such a show. We start with good stretching and some push ups and sit ups. Once we start learning some of the break dance moves we will need that upper body strength.

I am taking the class with a teammate of mine and we are so impressed with the footwork. It helps us with agility training and quick feet, which is great preparation for the soccer pitch. The class is done at a high pace and gets the heart rate going. It is an hour of non-stop combinations of hopping, kicking, punching and head throwing all done with such a flow that makes it fun to even watch.

The class is only once a week, which is killing me. I wish it was every night! When you find something you love to do, you don't even think about the hard work put in or the sweat dripping down your back.

-Brianna Oeser

Less is More

Suzi.Theodory — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:41:19 GMT

As you may know from reading my other blogs, I'm always looking for innovative work outs to mix up my routine. So my latest find is a class called the Bar Method, the website boasts to be the most targeted body-shaping workout. With 23 locations nationwide dedicated solely to the Bar Method classes, I had to see what the hype was all about.

While I sat waiting for my class to begin a slew of women had just come out of a previous class and I took note that no one looked particularly sweaty or exhausted so I was a little doubtful from the get go. At the start of class each person has a set of 2 pound and 3 pound dumbbells. For a person that can bench 135 pounds I figured this was money in the bag. By the time the warm up was over I had been holding up the two pound doubles doing small movements above my shoulders for a few minutes and it started to hurt just to hold my arm up. By the time we upgraded to the 3 pound dumbbells I could really feel my muscles starting to shake and I understood the element of body shaping.

"The Bar Method integrates the fat burning format of interval training, the muscle shaping technique of isometrics, the elongating principles of dance conditioning, and the science of physical therapy to create a revolutionary new workout that quickly and safely reshapes your entire body." (www.barmethod.com) All the exercises we did were very small movements, but when done repetitively really targeted the smaller muscle groups. A few times my body was shaking so hard it looked like I was seizing. The greatest part about this work out is that it's so low impact that it works great for people with injuries and back problems.

I work out every day in multiple routines and settings and I can honestly say the Bar Method kicked my butt. I woke up the next day so sore I could barely straighten my legs. My instructor Anna McEntee said people go through incredible transformations as a result of this class. It's a complete body tightening and toning work out. To find a studio near you check out www.barmethod.com.

-Mina Mortezaie

My First Ballet Lesson

DanaFine — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:00:11 GMT

Most young girls take ballet and prance around in their pink tutus and tights. When I was little I was too busy rolling around in the dirt, wearing jerseys and playing contact sports to be bothered by pliès. Lately I have been wondering if I made a mistake not taking a ballet class. It could have helped me be lighter on my feet and be a little more graceful. I decided to see what I missed out as a little girl and take a ballet class.

I went to the North Shore School of Dance in Highland Park, IL to take my first dance class, which ironically is where all my friends took dance when I was a young girl. Based on my skill level and my availability the only class that I could attend was a class with five-year-old girls. Not only was dancing with five year olds super fun it allowed me to really see what I was missing as a little girl.

My teacher, Laura Upin, had us start off the class with leg stretches. It was a little embarrassing how much more flexible these little girls were than me. I justified it by thinking my legs were longer so it was harder, which I know doesn't make sense. We did some moves in first and second position and then worked on walking on our toes. It was only about 10 minutes into the class but my feet were already hurting. As class went on we plièd, which worked my quads. We also chassèd, which worked my quads and hip flexors. Upin had us play games incorporating all these moves while also walking on our toes. My calf's and feet were ready for my legs to relax but I didn't really want to stop because I felt as graceful as a ballerina.

Ballet was a great leg workout and with all the moving around my heart definitely got a workout as well. It was fun to leap and prance freely and I recommend it for all ages and genders because it really works your body. Ballet is a great sport for every athlete because it helps with your agility and flexibility. Maybe if I liked pink a little more when I was younger I would be able to touch my toes now.

-Dana Fine