California church launches yearlong fitness boot camp

On Saturday, January 15, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Orange County, California launched its yearlong health and fitness campaign, sort of a church style boot camp.

Saddleback church

The church-wide fitness campaign is called "The Daniel Plan" – based on Daniel 1, in which the prophet Daniel opts for vegetables and water rather than "defile himself with the royal food and wine." It is a new health program written by leading medical professionals and New York Times bestselling authors on health and fitness, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

The effort is part of Saddleback's Decade of Destiny – a 10-year plan to expand the ministry. The plan includes an element of personal growth meant to equip parishioners to succeed in seven areas: spiritual, physical, financial, relational, vocational, emotional, and mental.  The plan includes a 52-week customized program, a curriculum for small groups, an interactive website with a meal menu, exercise and shopping tips. There will also be monthly conference calls for encouragement.

The event hosted by Pastor Rick Warren brought 6,000 people to the main campus of Saddleback Church. Thousands more watched at the mega-church's other campuses and online.

I can only imagine that the pastor, Rick Warren, must be in the shape of Good year blimp He said that over the past 30 years he has gained three pounds each year. Pastor Warren vowed to lose 90 pounds in 2011,

Go for it!

View the original article here

Lesbian fitness trainers sue David Barton Gyms in New York

David Barton Gyms New York

The management of David Barton Gyms, a high end gym chain in Manhattan, NY, is being sued by two lesbian fitness trainers. They are suing for an unspecified amount for "lost wages, lost benefits, other economic damages, shame, humiliation, embarrassment and mental distress.”

According to NYdailynews, trainers, Deborah Cooke and Christina Rodino, charge that their bosses at  the gym made them the butt of gay jokes and called each of them a "f---ing dyke." The bosses hounded them for sex and suggested that they, two trainers, should vacation on Lesbos Island.

The women were fired Dec. 2 after they complained about nasty locker talk and they were replaced by straight trainers with less experience. Apparently, at least one of the two women, Deobrah Cooke, was earning $100,000 a year.

The first gym was opened by Celebrity bodybuilder David Barton in Chelsea, in 1994. Apparently, the gym was sued previously in 2005 by a straight male member, claiming gay sex was rampant in the locker room and that other members gawked at him when he undressed.

See the original article here

Warrior workouts with fitness trainer Jennifer Cassetta in Los Angeles

”I work with over-stressed and over-worked people who have put their health on the side while trying to take care of everyone and everything else in their lives.”

               - Jennifer Cassetta, Fitness Trainer, Martial Artist, Los Angeles

Jennifer Cassetta www.healthandthecity.net

Well, that sounds like all of us can benefit from her expertise.

Jennifer Cassetta is a certified personal trainer, clinical nutritionist, and 3rd degree martial arts instructor  based in Los Angeles. Dedication to health and fitness runs in Jennifer’s family where her father and grandmother also practiced martial arts. Jennifer spent 10 years training and teaching HapKiDo, a holistic Korean martial art which combines mind, body, and spiritual training, at the World Martial Arts Center in NYC.

Jennifer started her fitness and nutrition business in New York and named it “Health and the City” . However, soon, she ran  into legal dispute with HBO. HBO, claiming her business name was similar to ‘Sex and the City’, asked her to drop the name. Jennifer stayed firm and eventually, after battling for a while, HBO backed down. Apparently, HBO found out that a real fight is not as easy as unilaterally hiking the cable fee.

Towards the end of 2009, Jennifer moved to California and, currently, operates her personal training and nutrition business from Brentwood area of West Los Angeles. Here is a summary of her exceptional abilities:

- Certified Personal Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine

- Third Degree Black Belt Instructor, HapKiDo

- Black belt in VSK Jujitsu
- Master's degree in nutrition

- Holistic health education from New York's Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

- Creator of the popular Stilettos and Self Defense™ workshop, which is designed for women of all ages to teach them basic self defense and help gain confidence.

- Creator of, 3 part DVD, self-defense series “About Homeland Defense”,

- In summary, this fitness instructor, Jennifer Cassetta, is a formidable package of beauty, brain and physical abilities.

How are the workouts?

This is one YELPER has to say:

“Jennifer's Warrior Boot Camp is not just a great workout opportunity. It is a lifestyle commitment that goes beyond sweating…I feel stronger and smarter about my health.”

Jennifer's unique whole-body approach to health is a blend of her extensive training in HapKiDo, fitness and nutrition. You will get an invigorating kickboxing cardio workout, yoga-like stretching, core strength training and you might even learn self defense techniques. It can improve your flexibility, alleviate stress, enhance your focus,  help you lose weight and develop a lean body. Additionally, you will also benefit from Ki training to support your life force energy.

Folks, you cannot get such a capable trainer and this kind of workout by only rolling your butt on top of a giant exercise balloon and, you can trust me on that because I have a big butt.

Jennifer’s Availability

*Note*: Please note, prices, where indicated, are subject to change.
Contact Jennifer for latest prices,

Personal Training: Jennifer is available for PRIVATE training in martial arts/ HapKiDo, self defense, kickboxing, weight training, cardio training, flexibility and ki breathing techniques/meditation.

Circuit Training Classes, on Tuesdays at 7:30pm, at Swerve Studio,

8250 W 3rd St, LA 90048, Tel (323) 782-0741

An intense one hour class, once a week,  has your heart rate up while toning and strengthening your arms, legs, butt, core, back and abs.

Urban Warrior™ workout at Swerve Studio,

8250 W 3rd St, LA 90048, Tel (323) 782-0741

Very popular, small size, class involves boxing, kickboxing, yoga, conditioning and meditation that will help you tone, tighten and slim down all while learning very cool self defense techniques Limited to 20 people.

Kickboxing Classes at Gerry Blanck's Martial Arts Center in the Palisades

881 Alma Real, T-14, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272   Tel 310-573-1985
Fridays at 10am AND Saturdays at 9am
Cost: $20 drop in, $80 for 5 classes

Nutritional counseling and workshops

Detox Nutrition Program designed by Jennifer to help you clean out and slim down in the new year

Stilettos and Self Defense™ workshops for women

One will be held on January 16, Los Angeles) 

www.stilettosandselfdefense.com

6 Week Urban Warrior™ OUTDOOR BOOTCAMP , Jan. 22 – Feb 26

$115 ($95 for bootcamp veterans, Yes, people keep coming back)
RSVP to jennifer (at) healthandthecity.net   

6 Consecutive Weeks of Bootcamp classes on Saturdays (at 10:45 AM). This is an intense hour of bootcamp style workout, followed by a 10 minute cool down, stretching and "homework" assignment for the following week. This includes nutrition challenges and lifestyle changes that maximize results, help you lose inches, get leaner and will have you looking lean and mean in no time. Location will be close to Rancho Park, West Los Angeles

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For more information, see:

http://www.healthandthecity.net/

Contact: jennifer (at) healthandthecity.net

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Stilettos and Self Defense™ workshop  by Jennifer Cassetta

Jennifer Cassetta, personal trainer, reviews in YELP

Jennifer Cassetta, HapKiDo Demonstration  video

Jennifer Cassetta , YOUTUBE, video search results

A Trademark Dispute & the City ((Wall Street Journal article)

Trademark Dispute & the City: HBO Backs Down (Wall Street Journal article)