Toronto: 5 great spots for your wedding shape-up

Source: Adapted from ourfaves.com, July 2009

Planning a wedding while juggling life can be exhausting. Luckily, Toronto has some great places that make it easy to get into shape, even for the busiest bride-to-be. From body sculpting to brow shaping, these spots are bound to help you look and feel great before (and after) your big day.

Freshii

140 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5V 2L4

Freshii is a hungry dieter’s dream. Formerly Lettuce Eatery (same management, just an enhanced menu and marketing strategy), Freshii is my absolute favourite spot to grab a healthy and hearty lunch-on-the-go. You can custom-build your own salad, wrap, burrito, soup or rice bowl by choosing from their colourful assortment of fresh ingredients. At Freshii, it’s all about control. You control exactly what’s going into your meal, how much you want of it, how much you spend, and, conveniently, exactly how many calories you want to consume. Freshii dishes the nutritional value of every menu item on its website, where you can re-create your order with a calorie counter by your side. Quite the eye-opening activity for anyone who appreciates a creamy salad dressing. I recommend ordering Freshii’s chicken teriyaki bowl: a large serving of brown rice, mushrooms, carrots, bean sprouts, broccoli, and chicken smothered in warm and sweet teriyaki sauce that comes out to 2.2 grams of fat and about 400 calories. Freshii prides itself on delivering fast, fresh, custom-built food and so far has done an excellent job at catering to different palates and dietary preferences. Tip: Follow Freshii on Twitter and be privy to daily deals and special giveaways.

TRACK Fitness

417 Spadina Road, Suite 301, Toronto, ON, M5P 2W3

Larry Track and the team at Track Fitness teach the importance of working out and working through your busy schedule to make room for a healthy lifestyle. The two-storey Forest Hill studio offers the works: weights, training, cardio, boxing equipment, boot camp and a spinning studio. If you’re looking for a challenge and a good sweat, book yourself a series of private or semi-private training sessions with Larry Track himself. He will tailor your workout routine to meet your personal goals and needs, while still pushing you to go that extra mile (and you’ll love and hate him for it). He’s taught me some valuable techniques for toning my arms and abs that can be used beyond the classroom. And they allow you to stay "on track" with their own line of energy bars that are high in fibre and rich in nutrients. I’m a big fan of their protein shake, which is sold in bulk on premises. It tastes like a banana split and is a great pre or post-workout snack.

Spynga

1415 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 3H8

Spynga brilliantly allows you kill two birds with one stone. Like the name suggest, it`s an innovative studio that combines the benefits of spinning and yoga into one total body workout. Spynga opened its doors in 2007 to a welcoming Toronto press and an eager athletic community that was up for a new challenge. The studio has since gained a large following and has introduced a series of "flow" classes that offer different levels of cardio and body-sculpting techniques. It’s no place for slackers. The instructors are dedicated to giving you a full mind and body workout, and you’re going to get your money’s worth. A single "flow" class is $18, or you can purchase a month’s worth of unlimited classes for $140. I recommend buying two sessions for $20, so you can test the waters and see if it’s the kind of workout you’d enjoy. Spynga offers a funky vibe (they use black chandeliers as opposed to typical fluorescent gym lighting) and an inviting setting, and plays host to creative events like a recent hip-hop infused Jivamukti yoga class.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

1053 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2

Trinity Bellwoods is the easiest way to escape the commotion of the city without ever having to leave. For those who prefer exercising outdoors as opposed to in a gym or yoga class, this downtown park has all of the amenities you need to keep active. Trinity’s near-40 acres is dotted with tennis courts, baseball diamonds, running and bike trails, a dog park, and tons of open space that’s prime for post-workout napping or picnicking. For me, the best part about Trinity is its location. For those who work in downtown Toronto, the park offers a free and easy way to stay fit without confining yourself to a workout class schedule. Trinity also plays home to several sports leagues, including a women’s softball league, making it as much a social environment as it is a healthy one.

Gee Beauty

2 Roxborough Street, Toronto, ON, M4W 3V7

An upcoming wedding is the perfect excuse to whip your eyebrows into shape at Gee Beauty. Leave everything to Natalie, Gee’s eyebrow expert, who will shape your brows with perfect precision using her fast and relatively pain-free threading technique that targets each individual hair. Unlike waxing, eyebrow threading allows for more accuracy in shaping’and it’s just as quick. Gee also offers a pre-wedding beauty package, fittingly called "The Works," which includes a series of skin treatments, makeup applications, brow boosts, and eye treatments. Once you’re there, take some time to browse through Gee’s carefully selected stock of hair products, perfumes, makeup, accessories, and scented candles.

Wendy Goldman is the Web and Community Editor for Ourfaves.com and contributes under the name wendyg. You can also follow her on Twitter.

Did we miss your favourite healthy spots, or do you have more to share? Create a list on ourfaves.com and we may feature it on besthealthmag.ca, or submit your top picks in our forums.

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