By Lisa Morgan –
Ever say to yourself, “I wish there was a way to get in shape without having to work so hard?” Or worse, have you ever said it out loud? As soon as I think it or say it, the voice in my head or coming out of my friend’s face screams, “Just do it!”, “No pain, no gain”, “Pain is just weakness leaving the body” or “Yeah, let’s go get a bacon cheeseburger”. Well, apparently, thanks to Dangerous Curves on El Paseo in Palm Desert, my lofty dream CAN be realized. I can “Just do it” without the pain, sweat and panting of a standard, joint-jarring workout.
Owner Shannon Phillipson has brought Italy’s most sought after fitness program to the Coachella Valley. Through the science of whole body vibration, you can increase muscle tone and strength, improve circulation, enhance flexibility, increase bone density and intensify fat burning literally without sweating or getting breathless. The Proellixe machine has been developed based on technology from NASA. Instead of spending 2 hours in the gym, you can get the same effect in just 10 minutes in the same clothes you wear during your busy day.
Shannon explains, “When a muscle fiber is stretched, it contracts by reflex (known as stretch reflex). While standing barefoot on the machine, vibration is generated and sent through the body, passively stretching the muscles. Millions of muscle contractions occur, increasing muscle tone and size. As muscle density increases the metabolic rate goes up, due to the increase in muscle mass requiring more energy. Whole body vibration is considered a passive exercise, so neither perspiration nor lactic acid is generated. This means no increase in heart rate, no need for a shower, and no achy muscles the next day.”
Now this is NOT your grandma’s jelly belly shaker, if you know what I mean. Remember those old school machines they used to stand on with a belt around their backside shaking everything that would? That is definitely NOT what we are talking about here. With these high tech machines, you step up and onto a steel plate, place your bare feet evenly on the marked areas as a smart card is inserted for your specific workout routine. You rest your arms on an oval Lucite bar as a digital screen displays your program information including minutes elapsed in the warm up, main workout and cool down sessions. Your feet begin moving up and down alternately, pushed by the vibrating metal plates moving side-to-side with a see-saw motion which replicates the natural motion of walking. Muscles from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head are actually working to maintain alignment. Shannon explains, “You are moving toxins out of the lymph system as well as ammonia and lactic acid out of the muscles. That is the reason you will not feel the soreness associated with standard workouts.”
Whole body vibration has been used as a legitimate therapeutic tool since the late 1800s, but only seriously researched since the late 1970s. Dr. Vladimir Nazarov, one of Russia’s key sports scientists, was an active sportsman, a member of the Soviet gymnastics team and chairman for sports biomechanics at the state college in Minsk. He first introduced this technology to competitive sports, ballet and medicine in the former USSR. The Russian Space Program and NASA now use the technology with astronauts suffering from considerable bone loss and poor muscle tone due to weightlessness. Thanks to this low impact, passive workout, everyone from the elderly and people with physical disabilities, to the person just looking to get toned, can use this form of exercise. Due to its many benefits, the technology is quickly gaining acceptance by universities, professional sports teams and health professionals in the rehabilitation and medical fields. “Proellixe Vibration is perfect for our deserts many avid golfers who want to play at their best, have a correct athletic preparation and avoid troubles and injuries while taking care of their health,” shares Shannon.
CV Weekly readers are invited to come into Dangerous Curves and take the 10 minute challenge. Come in on your coffee or lunch break and reap the benefits of muscle strengthening and endurance. Increase your metabolism and blood circulation and enhance flexibility and bone density without having to dress for a workout. Call Shannon about her 3 free introductory sessions for qualified prospective clients. Dangerous Curves is also running a special right now: 3 months for $350 (a regular one month membership is $150).
Dangerous Curves is located in the Starbucks shopping center at 73-020 El Paseo, Palm Desert. You can call them at (760) 776-7983. This is the fitness program of your dreams!
