Beyonce's Hot H&M Ad, Take a Pilates Class This Weekend for Charity and More!

Our fave lady Beyonce looks stunning in her new H&M beachwear ad, to say the least. Check it out to drool over the swimsuits and hear her summery new tune "Standing on the Sun." [People]

This Saturday, April 27, Pilates studios around the world are participating in Pilates Gives Back to raise money for charities. Get your stretch on while doing good -- it's the best of both worlds! [Mind Body Online]

If you've ever wondered how long a McDonald's burger can last, we've got the answer -- and it's pretty gross. David Whipple still has a McDonald's hamburger he bought in July 1999, and it looks almost as good as new. [Fox News]

A new study suggests that you may be able to "catch" depressive thoughts from your friends. The good news is that healthy thinking is also contagious, so surround yourself with positive people to give your brain a boost! [CNN]

Image Credit: Courtesy of H&M

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Pilatesology Brings the Best Pilates Classes and Instructors Straight to Your Home

We've been preaching the benefits of Pilates for years: Done correctly, the exercises can build strength, improve flexibility, speed up weight loss and tone muscle -- especially those in your arms, legs and abs. But it's not exactly something most of us can do on our own without some type of instruction, and it's not always easy to find a class nearby that works with our individual schedules and budgets. That's where Pilatesology can come in handy: The online video subscription network is literally all Pilates, all the time, for less than $20 a month.

I'm assuming not many of you have a Pilates reformer machine in your homes (cause, you know, it's not really practical), so it's a great thing that Pilatesology has hundreds of videos using just the mat alone, or small props like hand weights or the Magic Circle. (If you do happen to have the bigger equipment, they've got videos for that stuff, too.)

Another thing Pilatesology has is top-notch instructors -- really big names from all around the world (like Alycea Ungaro, Mari Winsor, and probably some others from your DVD collection), who are teach Pilates in its purest, most original form; you won't find any hybrid yoga or cardio classes here.

I love the Beginner's Guide feature, which includes a site tour and a self-assessment that will help you figure out what level you are and where you should get started. After that, you can search videos by length of time, body part, equipment, or instructor. Access is unlimited -- but with new classes being added every week, it's not like you'll run out of new ones to try.

After a 10-day free trial, Pilatesology is just $19 a month or $150 a year. A small price to pay for bringing the best and brightest in the field straight into your living room, don't you think?

Are you a Pilates devotee? Tweet us at@amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!

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Image Credit: Courtesy of Pilatesology

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The Slide Effect Is Kinda Like an Ab Roller, Pilates Reformer and Resistance Bands All in One

I know, that sounds like a lot, right? But it's true, and it all comes in one tiny little package! Let me back up for a second: My editor asked me to check out the Slide Effect home workout system (totally As Seen on TV-style), created by pro-figure-skater-turned-coach Brandon Larcom. The thing looks totally bizarre and pretty intimidating at first -- but I gave it a try with the enclosed 15-minute DVD (the company claims that's all the time you need in a day), and it's really pretty cool, to be honest. I guess I was a little surprised, you know, because these things can be gimmicky?

The Slide Effect, which costs $149, is essentially a small padded platform you kneel on, with elastic bands of adjustable length attached to either side. To each elastic band you hook a handles on wheels; the idea is that you slide/roll your hands out on the floor in front of you (Remember the Ab Roller?), and the elastic bands help pull you back up.

You can also stand on the platform, still holding onto those handles, and transition into bicep curls and other arm moves, with the elastic bands now pulling downward. It's definitely a little awkward doing curls with these weird wheeled handles, but it's nice how you can easily adjust the resistance at any time as well.

My favorite part is that The Slide Effect also comes with bands that slip around your feet, and can be swapped in for the handles. This way, the device becomes kind of like your own little Pilates Reformer -- yes, it's a stretch (no pun intended), but bear with me -- providing resistance as you do leg moves like Frog and Leg Circles. Look at the picture below -- see what I'm saying?!

One concern: The wheels seemed to dig into my old hardwood floor a bit, and I doubt they'd work too well on carpet. But if you've got a hard surface that can take a bit of wheeling around on -- and you're looking for a "home gym" that condenses to about the size of a baseball base -- this is a cool contraption to try.

What's the wackiest home gym equipment you've ever tried? Tweet us at @amandaemac and @SELFmagazine!

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Image Credit: Courtesy Photos

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