Lifestyle

Fit to be tried (on)!

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The spinner Sarah Mather, 28 Gym: Flywheel Gear: Stella McCartney cycling shorts, price upon request, available February 2011 at shopadidas.com; Zumbawear bra top, $34.95 at zumba.com; Divine Wear rouged top, $24 at Palma, 463 Broome St . Workout tip: Mather’s choice in music is one of the strong draws to her spin class, which often features tunes from the likes of U2, Nirvana, Bruno Mars and Drake. “I put a lot of work into my playlist,” says the singer, who sometimes belts out the tunes while teaching. It’s no wonder: She made it to the “American Idol” top 12 girls in 2005. For those interested in singing — or pedaling — along, Mathers says, “Your pedal stroke should feel like you are scraping gum off the bottom of your shoe — not leading with the heel or toe, but pedaling evenly across the foot. Also, keep your shoulders down and relaxed.”

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The weight lifter Bethany Pollack, 24 Gym: Reebok Sports Club NY Gear: Katrina Activewear tee, $28 at katrinawear.com; BodyRock Sport customizable bra, $140 at 347-839-1684; Bluefish Sport capri, $96 at bluefishactivewear.com Workout tip: Pollack uses free weights and a student’s own body weight to build power and agility. “The body adapts to whatever demands you place on it, so constantly changing those demands is the most efficient way to train,” says the redhead.

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The yogi Danya Merson, 33 Gym: Jivamukti Gear: Tanya-B tie-dye halter, $59 at Pure Yoga, 203 E. 86th St.; Splendid harem pants, $93 at Equinox, 817 Lexington Ave. Workout tip: “I like to encourage the devotional aspect of yoga,” says Merson, who was instantly hooked after stumbling upon the practice at a gym 10 years ago. “It’s important to link the body and mind with breath and attention.” She helps teach her students to calm down and control their minds “by focusing inward and creating a world from inside out.” The best way to do that, says Merson, is to sit quietly for 10 to 15 minutes every day, focusing only on the breath. That, she promises, will eventually lead to meditation.

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The dancer Jamila Holman, 28 Gym: Crunch Gear: Falke Racerback bra, $45, and Elisabetta Rogiani lace pants, $105, both at Equinox Workout tip: Let loose! When demonstrating moves to students, Holman, a former Knicks City Dancer, always wears her hair down, suggesting others do the same. “Let your hair wrap around and become part of the choreography,” she says. Her signature class — a mix of jazz, African and hip-hop dancing — is set to house music and upbeat songs from artists such as Usher, Rihanna and Janet Jackson. Curious how to keep up? “Clap out the beat first, to help keep it in your head and make it easier to keep your movements coordinated with the music.”

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The runner Monica Vazquez, 27 Gym: New York Sports Club Gear: Katrina Activewear “Vault Top,” $26 at katrinawear.com; Stella McCartney shorts, price upon request, available February 2011; James Perse for Equinox yoga capri with cuff, $95 at Equinox. Workout tip: “When you first start, run so you can have a conversation,” says Vazquez, who first took up the sport in 2005 after seeing a marathon runner — who had recently had heart surgery — cross the finish line. “If you start off by pacing yourself, you can more comfortably increase your mileage. And never try to focus on both speed and distance — either focus on getting faster within the distance you’re training for, or work on increasing mileage at a constant speed.”

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The martial artist Nadia Zaki, 37 Gym: Equinox Gear: Oscar Mimosa “Cue” singlet, $70.75 at oscarmimosa.com; Bluefish Sport “Peace” cargo, $99 at bluefish-activewear.com . Workout tip: Zaki, who grew up in Sweden, got into fitness at just 15 years old. “I was very restless and energetic, and martial arts and yoga calmed me down,” she recalls. After a stint in LA, she wound up in New York, where she developed her own “Inner Series” program that pushed people “to learn their bodies from the inside out.” Her “Inner Warrior” class, a combination of martial arts and yoga, stresses the importance of proper alignment, technique and breathing. “Explosive attacking moves in martial arts originate from your center core,” says Zaki. “Be sure to exhale on the execution to keep your core strong.”