That's not a dumbbell. It's a Trigger Point Performance Cold Roller ($87) designed to help you treat muscle soreness and tightness. It's an ice bath and foam roller in 1 sleek instrument (made of stainless steel with a gel core). Just pop the cold roller in the freezer before your next long run (or crossfit class or kick-in-the-arse bootcamp session...whatever workout "tears you up") and it will be ready for a-rollin’ when you return.

The gel core on the roller delivers cold compression to your muscles as you experience a myofascial release from rolling them out slowly with pressure. No need to sit in a freezing tub of ice or suffer through the annoyance of leaking ice-baggies. Instead, let this cold roller inspire you to do more with your freezer, like make healthy popsicles! Considering the pain you're in, you could use a treat!

This is a great injury prevention and recovery tool for extreme sport enthusiasts like marathoners and triathletes!!! Pricey but you won't be sorry.

I marvel at the physically challenging nature of drumming.

Phil Collins circa 1980's was my first drummer crush of many. (Just for reference, here's an epic 1982 video of him performing In The Air Tonight). And since then, drumming was always something I was dying to try, so I was thrilled to learn about the POUND workout, created by 2 drumming girls out of Los Angeles. Their names are Kirsten Potenza and Cristina Perenboom. It's because of them that this girl's dreams of drumming like a rock star came true.

Below you'll find my POUND review ('cause it's a fitness class offered at Crunch Gyms), you'll meet the POUND girls, and you'll see how a professional drummer (who's a dude) reacts to this musically inspired workout. His name is Pete Kaufman and he's not a groupie gym-girl but that's exactly why his opinion intrigued me!

POUND and the girls who masterminded it.

I got to speak to Kirsten Potenza and Cristina Perenboom...

Mizz Kira Stokes!!! Enough said. Actually, I'm gonna say a bit more...

We chose to interview Kira by asking her a question while doing her own Stoked Primal moves because we wanted you to see how strong and smart she is. She doesn't turn her brain off when she's working out, and when she's training she's always looking at AND out for you. This woman walks her talk as Brett Hoebel would say, and that's why we love her.

Kira has helped countless women transform their body and mind. She guides women through fit pregnancies (like our very own Laura from Baby Bump Fit Tips) and cares immensely for her clients and class regulars. Personally, I've never experienced this kind of dedication from a fitness trainer, which is why I think Kira should be a role model to others in the industry. I'm sure there are more amazing fit pro's like Kira that I have yet to meet or work out with...which makes me happy because fitness is all about LOVE, right? Self-love and community.

I'm beyond...

When shoes come off, workouts get interesting!

Barefoot exercise classes remove your feet from the familiar environment of your shoes to move in more natural, unsupported ways (i.e. making your workout so much harder). For most fitness lovers, this is great news (as long as you've gotten a pedicure). If you're a spray tanner like me, you might want to go "light" on your feet (brown toes look dirty--not tan--in a fitness studio).

But not everyone likes the concept of shoeless exercise. If it's not a fear of germs, it's the potential for injury that keeps some fitness enthusiasts laced and locked into their sneakers. The truth is, germs, injury and BOREDOM can happen in your shoes too. I asked a fitness expert (with really nice feet) to weigh in. SLT studio owner Amanda Freeman works out every day in her fleshy soles. Notice the pedicure?

Here's what Amanda has to say about the advantages of going bare in response to my questions.

Amanda, what's this barefoot...

I'm writing this as I sit on the stationary bike at the gym listening to my Zen-out playlist. Under my breathe I'm repeating my mantra "be patient be patient be patient". You guessed it: I'm injured! It comes with the territory of frequent exercises and running but it's always such a challenge to stay patient and fully heal. 

I've been running and working out since I was 14 years old. I've coped with injuries due to my athletic and active lifestyle but for the most part I've been lucky. However, whenever I get an injury one of the hardest parts of the recovery process is staying just as disciplined with healing as I do with working out. I often get off the wagon too soon and reinjure myself. I find that it is important to have a support team and good music to see you through your injury. I like to make myself playlists with songs that force me to slow down and stretch while also motivating me to look forward to full recovery and making my comeback!...

Holly RIllinger Dance Party Fit Event