Renee Mitson

Picture this: a guy sits at a bar with his buddies waxing rhapsodic about his Pilates class and how great it makes him feel.  Or even better, a recreational male ballet dancer thrills his friends at a local dance performance.  They couldn’t be happier for him and how well he’s performed.  They are proudly sporting “Real Men Do Ballet” t-shirts.

Yeah, right.

For years I’ve battled the notion that Pilates is a “girly” activity.  I LOVE it when I get my hands on a boyfriend or husband who comes in to humor their significant other for a workout.  I gleefully crush them, leaving them gasping for breath and bloody sore the next day.  Meanwhile my female client and I look on knowingly, with her probably barely even breaking a sweat.  Ha!  ”Girly” my tushie, buddy.  Never mind that scads of pro athletes do Pilates …

But I digress.

Women are not, as a group, as strong as men.  But a strong, well-trained woman is probably stronger than a lot of guys she knows; those same guys sporting t-shirts with sports teams on them, stretched a little too tight over their beer guts.  She can probably take ‘em.  For you guys getting your dander up, anyone want to fight Leila Ali?

There’s a lot that guys can learn from women.  In general, fitness activities that women participate in have:

More side-to-side movement in them.  Men’s sports tend to focus more on forward and back.

An increased focus on flexibility and range of motion, two things that will help anyone perform in other sports such as football or tennis.

A need for increased stamina.  Try doing a one hour dance class and see how winded you are by the end of it.  It’s a lot of work!

So to the guys, I have a request.  The next time your gal suggests you join her at an exercise class, don’t roll your eyes and give a “no way, lady” response.  Get off the couch, ditch the remote, and go with her.  You might be pleasantly surprised at just how hard you work.

As for the girls, I have a similar request.  Don’t be afraid of a little flag football or shooting some hoops with your guy.  You might surprise yourself at how well you do and you might just learn something from him too.

What do you think?  Are some sports gender-specific with no crossover?  Or can an average Joe find acceptance in a pink tutu?  (okay, maybe not a pink tutu, but next to a ballet barre instead … sorry, I just had to say that!)

Thanks,

Lisa

By our calculations, Foursquare is now adding close to 20,000 users per day, up significantly from the estimated 15,500 per day rate near the time the startup hit 3 million members. This comes in spite of the startup’s much publicized service hiccups earlier in the month.

About Foursquare previously reported that, judging by user IDs, Foursquare has already signed up its 4 millionth member. The user ID measurement is a close approximation, but the achievement will officially happen within the next few days, we hear.

Foursquare’s impressive growth can be attributed to a number of things, most notably the release of version 2.0 for iPhone and Android, a Symbian release and celebrity attention from the likes of Conan O’Brien and hip-hop artist Big Boi.

Foursquare’s biggest competition of late is coming from the social network behemoth Facebook, which has yet to reveal any stats around Facebook Places adoption. Gowalla, once neck-and-neck with Foursquare, was teetering around 450,000 users at the beginning of September.

Image courtesy of MariSheibley, Flickr

More About: foursquare, trending

For more Social Media coverage:

• Follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Social Media channel
• Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Are Twitter Followers better than Facebook Fans was a topic discussed on emarketer recently. It’s a question I get asked all the time – relatively speaking – Which is the best social network to start social media marketing? The thing is you need to try them both at the same time.

The other day, I was reading another person boast about how many followers they had on Twitter, and I wondered:

Would you choose to have 80 followers who are completely engaged with what you do online, or 800 followers who are only partially engaged?

Spirit-breaking, gray cubicles and dismal staff lounges with bad asymmetrical wall art are thankfully starting to become a thing of the past as more companies are realizing that a little style can go a long way, both for productivity and company morale.

Whether it’s colorful decor, a unique venue, fun additions, or even an outdoor workspace, the companies included in our gallery understand that by creating an inspiring workplace, they are more likely to end up with an inspired staff.

Have a look through the images below and let us know which unusual workspace you wouldn’t mind commuting to.

1. Bahnhof's Underground Data Center

Swedish Internet service provider Bahnhof was looking for a secure facility, and boy did they find one. An old nuclear bomb shelter bunker, built 30 meters underground in the side of a mountain, did the trick.

The Pionen facility in Stockholm, accessed through foot-thick steel doors, looks like you've stepped on to the set of a James Bond flick, but is said to have been inspired by old sci-fi films.

2. Bahnhof's "Moon Room"

The building's stand-out feature is what Bahnhof calls the "moon room" - a glass-walled, circular room, suspended over the rock floor, which is said to be the "perfect conference room." You can see more of the Pionen complex on YouTube.

3. Threadless's Airstream Trailer Studio

You might have expected community-centered t-shirt company Threadless to have an interesting workspace, and you would be right. Above is the company's Airstream trailer studio where Kristen Studard and Bob Nanna broadcast a live show on Ustream every Thursday from its Chicago headquarters.

The cat head, you ask? Well that's "Mister Mittens," and he was part of the Threadless float created for the 2010 Chicago Pride Parade.

4. Threadless' "Crafty Lodge" Customer Service Area

What? Your office doesn't have a mounted, stuffed unicorn head on the wall? With a setup like this, it really shouldn't be too hard to keep a smile on your face, which is perfect for dealing with incoming customer service queries.

The design you see here is the result of an inter-office competition where each Threadless office area was given a budget and deadline to beautify their work environment.

5. The Candy Factory's Coworking Space

As more people enjoy greater flexibility in their worklife, coworking, or communal office space is becoming more popular.

Located in Lancaster, PA, The Candy Factory is a membership community of small business owners, freelancers, students and other professionals looking for a cool downtown location to work in the company of like-minded folks.

With the philosophy of "Come together, do good work, care about our community, love our earth, think local and grow as professionals," it's a spirited communal office space where no day is the same.

6. The Candy Factory's Fun Side

While the working space is light and open with high ceilings, wooden floors, great art and contemporary furniture, there's also space to take a break at The Candy Factory, with a foosball table offering a cathartic way to thrash a co-worker -- very therapeutic indeed.

7. Junk My Car's Mannequin Receptionist

His name is Sven, and he was rescued from a crash test facility, says Robert Bari, Junk My Car's director of marketing. "He is quite reserved and often keeps to himself, which may be due to a language barrier, but we're not sure," he says.

Seriously though, Bari says when the company moved into its new office in Shelton, CT over a year ago they thought a mannequin sitting at the reception desk would be an amusing way to deal with solicitors.

"Nothing is more hilarious than seeing the startled face of a sales person after they walk over and begin talking only to realize it's a dummy," he says.

And since the company doesn't have a formal receptionist, Sven has found a home, as the first face visitors see when arriving.

8. Professor Daddy-O's Digital Sound Cockpit

Music producer Professor Daddy-O, of Stetsasonic fame, spends his working days perched in front of this rather impressive setup. With a separate power source and 96 wheels, the "digital sound cockpit," as Daddy-O calls it, can be found at Studioplex Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

9. Raw Material at The Village Underground

Brand-building public relations company Raw Material set up shop in one of the old Tube carriages parked atop East London's Village Underground venue, an old Victorian warehouse that hosts art exhibitions, gigs, club nights and raves.

10. Raw Material's Tube Office

The train offices were the brainchild of designer Auro Foxcroft, who wanted to create low-cost studios for creatives. The setup is comprised of four old Tube carriages on top of two old sea containers, also converted into workspaces.

11. The brpr Group's Chalkboard Welcome Door

The office entrance of Miami-based brand management agency brpr Group is covered in chalkboard paint. The message changes periodically, courtesy of the company's resident artist, who creates signature welcome greetings for all client meetings and guests, along with a QR code.

12. Outdoor Conference Room at the brpr Group's Office in Miami

brpr also boasts an outdoor conference room wired for phone and Internet access, which is also complete with amenities like sunblock and Perrier to beat the Miami heat. The idea for the room comes from the agency's creators, who are not natives of Miami and therefore excited by the prospect of meetings in the sun. Apparently, the space is a big hit with brpr Group's NYC clients -- and come December, we can understand why.

13. Grip Limited's Big Orange Slide

The big orange slide is the focal point of Grip Limited's "open-concept work space," and is said to "embody the sense of play that’s at the heart of Grip’s creative process." It's certainly a fun way to get from one floor to another, but arguably not the Toronto-based company's most entertaining, as there is also a fireman's pole that provides another gravity-driven shortcut.

14. Grip Limited's Hot Tub

Grip Limited's playfulness does not stop with unusual methods of mobility. There's also a hot tub on the premises for what must make for some really outstanding staff meetings.

"The hot tub-inspired meeting space puts the face-to-face in face time," says copywriter Ian Mackenzie. "It's a great place for quick regroups or brainstorms. And while there's not always beer, there's always someone in a towel."

15. Hemingway's Outdoor Office

In the summer months, British design gurus Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway, of Red or Dead fame, work from an outdoor office in Middlesex, UK. The teepee is made from reclaimed wood (including old British Telecom telegraph poles) and features a communal desk on the ground floor with seating set into the decking.

16. Paul Coudamy's Cardboard Office

Parisian architect Paul Coudamy was challenged to convert a vast, empty industrial space for agency Elegangz on a minimal budget.

As the agency encompassed an advertising company, a web agency, an event team and a music label, they wanted to cheaply create different areas within the open space for the different activities. Coudamy's clever and somewhat unconventional solution was to use 4-centimeter thick water resistant honeycomb cardboard to separate the spaces.

(Photo by Benjamin Boccas)

17. Paul Coudamy's Cardboard Furniture

In Coudamy's office, shelves are made of stacked pieces of cardboard -- the cardboard partitions can be moved, and the "meeting cabin" is held together with glue and tape.

The lighting for the space is provided by old white lighting umbrellas, hung upside down to diffuse the light. It's an unusual and very affordable way to divide up the open space, and it provides a cool, industrial setting for a contemporary agency.

(Photo by Benjamin Boccas)

This series is supported by RingCentral. Power your business with a phone system designed to meet the needs of today’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and mobile professionals. With RingCentral, you can take control of your phone system anywhere — using your existing phones, smartphones, or PCs. Sign up today for a special 60-day free trial.

More Office Resources from Mashable

- HOW TO: Choose the Best Workspace for Your Business
- Top 10 Geekiest Decorations for Your Home or Office [PICS]
- 5 Energy Efficient Office Gadgets
- 5 Simple Tools for a Paperless Office
- 10 Cool Cable Management Solutions [PICS]

More About: business, coworking, galleries, gallery, interior design, Non-Traditional Workspaces Series, offices, Photos, small business, workplace, workplaces, workspaces

For more Business coverage:

• Follow Mashable Business on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Business channel
• Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Mashable and 92Y present a Summit of the most inspirational, promising and effective ways in which new media can help address the world’s challenges. As the world’s attention turns to New York for UN Week, this Summit showcases and celebrates the power and potential of digital media.

The Social Good Summit, one of the few public events being held during UN Week, is all about solutions. Every speaker will explain how digital media and innovative ideas can combine to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN’s framework for creating a safer and healthier world for us all. With a 900-strong live audience, global livestream and national media partners, we’ll share these solutions with the goal of encouraging even more.

For more coverage around the Social Good Summit/UN Week Digital Media Lounge, check out UNWeekMedia.com

AGENDA

12:00 p.m. – Registration
1:00 – 1:10 p.m. – Opening Remarks from Mashable, 92Y and the UN Foundation
1:10 – 1:35 p.m. – Opening Keynote from Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED)
1:35 – 1:50p.m. – Ray Chambers, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Malaria
1:50 – 2:05 p.m. – Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning actor and founder, See Jane in conversation with Soledad O’Brien, anchor and special correspondent, CNN/US.
2:05 – 2:15 p.m. – Adam Conner, Associate Manager, Public Policy, Facebook
2:15 – 2:20 p.m. – A conversation with Sherri Rollins Westin, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Sesame Workshop, and Kami from Takalani Sesame
2:20 – 2:40 p.m. – Judy McGrath, CEO of MTV Networks, overseeing MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and VH1 among other media brands, interviewed by Elizabeth Gore, Executive Director Global Partnerships, United Nations Foundation
2:40 – 2:55 p.m. – Howard W. Buffett, Policy Advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council
2:55 – 3:05 p.m. – Carrie James, Research Director, Project Zero, Harvard University
3:05 – 3:40 p.m. – Networking Break
3:40 – 3:55 p.m. – Oren Jacob, Executive Producer, “Ready, Set, Bag!” – Ensemble Pictures
3:55 – 4:05 p.m. – Jessica Jackley, Founder/CEO of ProFounder and Founder/Former CMO Kiva
4:05 – 4:20 p.m. – Dr. Lisa Masterson, co-host of “The Doctors” and founder of Maternal Fetal Care International, interviewed by Rachel Sklar, Editor-at-Large, Mediaite.com
4:20pm – 4:30 p.m. – CNN Hero Doc Hendley, founder and president of Wine to Water
4:30pm – 4:40 p.m. – A conversation with Jack Leslie, Chairman of United States African Development Foundation, and Bonin Bough, Global Director of Social Media, PepsiCo
4:40 – 5:00 p.m. – Chris Hughes, Founder, Jumo
5:00 – 5:10 p.m. – Tom Kaplan, President of the Board of Directors, 92Y
5:10 – 5:15 p.m. — Edward Norton, Award-winning actor and Founder of Crowdrise
5:15 – 5:50 p.m. – Keynote interview with Ted Turner, Chairman of Turner Enterprises, Inc. and Pete Cashmore, Founder/CEO, Mashable

In Partnership with

Livestream is the most powerful live broadcast platform on the Internet. Producers can use the Livestream browser-based Studio application to create LIVE, scheduled and on-demand internet television to broadcast anywhere on the web through a single player widget. Our service comes in two flavors Free (ad-supported) and Premium (white-label, no-ads, pay for usage). Unique features include the ability to mix multiple live cameras, imported videos clips, and overlay graphics. With Livestream, producers can broadcast live from a mobile phone; use a customizable flash player with integrated chat; and develop a branded channel page on www.Livestream.com that incorporates interactive chat.

Supporting Sponsors

Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations, enabling them to improve operational efficiency, build strong relationships, and raise more money to support their missions. Since 1981, Blackbaud’s sole focus and expertise has been partnering with nonprofits and providing them the solutions they need to make a difference in their local communities and worldwide. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to helping achieve the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health by applying innovative mobile technologies. The rapid proliferation of cell phones has made it possible to provide timely health information in even the most remote locations. In February 2010, Johnson & Johnson launched Text4Baby in the U.S. through its partnership with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB). In September 2010, we announced a five year initiative with our affiliate, BabyCenter, focusing on mobile health outreach to mothers in six countries starting with China, India and South Africa.

Ticketing Partner

At Eventbrite, we’re passionate about bringing people together around a live experience. Whether it’s a photography class or a sold-out concert, an inspiring conference or an air-guitar competition — we’re true believers in the magic of events and the power of connecting people. Our service allows everyone to discover events and experience the excitement of bringing them to life. We do this by making it incredibly easy to create, find or attend an event. We help you manage the hard stuff — such as registrations and selling tickets — and we set you up with the tools to help your event spread virally through social networks. It’s event management, search, and promotion all coming together for the first time. We call it social commerce.

More About: 92y, livestream, mashable, social good summit, trending, un foundation

For more Social Good coverage:

• Follow Mashable Social Good on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Social Good channel
• Download our free apps for iPhone and iPad