When we conceptualized the blog, one of the many uses
discussed was sharing reviews of new, different fitness classes. In this blog,
I will dip a toe into that water. There is one BRF who inspires me as she has
written email reviews of different workouts and does such a great job of
sharing the details I want to know. Not
going to out her because she may not want to review on the blog but try to
channel her and her style. One other set up point, my intent here is to share with
my BRFs as it might be interesting and prompt a future shared review. For ease-of-use, our blog site public and that
makes me hesitant to share thoughts, as I would not want unintended
consequences on a business in our community. With this in mind, I will not
identify the studio. If my BRFs cannot figure it out & want to know, just
ping me off blog.
VARIETY. I do like
variety in my workout and fitness quest. FLEXIBILITY. Another key factor in my
fitness planning..rainy day => book myself indoors to gain strength,
flexibility, cardio or just assuage guilt from the previous day’s calorie
consumption. I blame my VARIETY AND FLEXIBITY needs, coupled with the JOY of a
good financial DEAL, that causes me to acquire lots of class packages with
varying expiration dates (30 days, six months, year). The looming expiration
date for a 10 class package at this studio has me visiting a few different
classes. This studio is not new to many of us but I think it has been awhile.
During my rush to beat expiration, I have tried three different classes offered
in the early week day morning hour: Cardio Strength, Athletic Yoga and TRX
Strength & Mobility. I will do
detail on each class but let me give the studio overview details first.
CLASS SIGN UP – is on mind body online. Any studio that offers this gets bonus points to use the app and get it automatically on my calendar. I have not had to cancel a class so I’m afraid I cannot accurately tell you what that policy is.
PACKAGES – A single class is $ 20 but the 10 class package I
bought a year ago puts the classes at about $16/ class. Studio offers a 3 class
deal for newbies at $20. Also this studio is on Class Pass.
PARKING – If attending a class prior to 7am, generally you
can park within inches of the door. There are several front door spaces that
have a sign that says no parking there after 7am as those spaces designated for
Physical Therapy practice next door. You will be able to get out before 7am if
attending 5:45am or 6am class. If the class is popular though (which I only
encountered with Cardio Strength), you might have to park around back. Driveway
to the left of studio.
RECEPTION/CHECK IN – The studio owner or other receptionist will
pretty much recognize you after your 2nd visit. Members seem to have a card/tab
that they scan for check in. I just state my name and they click me on the
computer.
STOWING YOUR STUFF & OTHER AMMENTIES – As part of the
reception lobby, they have a row of cubbies, a bench/chairs and hooks. There is
a clean restroom in the next alcove but it is interesting that the sink is
outside the actual toilet room meaning that no one can really wash their hands
until they exit the toilet room. There is also a water bubbler to fill your
water bottle.
ATTIRE – Of course you all could figure out what to wear to
a TRX, Yoga or other class but the interesting detail here is that the studio
now allows you to wear athletic shoes in the studio. Not that you would want to
wear this for yoga but I did wear shoes for TRX and CardioStrength. It is
actually recommended for CardioStrength as I heard the instructor tell another
newbie. I personally am thrilled with this development is that is probably my
biggest issue here in the past.
STUDIO SIZE & EQUIPMENT-This is a smaller studio but
they do a really good job of maximizing the space. They provide EVERYTHING
including your yoga mat, straps, blocks. Just bring yourself and your water bottle.
Now I will get into a bit of information about each class.
ATHLETIC YOGA – It should be noted that I am a yoga novice
and a reluctant yoga attendee. I am not zen, do not strive to be zen and the
thought of meditating quietly sends me up a wall. When they say things like “Put
your hands in the prayer position and set your intention” what runs through my
mind is “I cannot wait to get to Starbucks” or in the case of this morning “My
intention is to have no snow, I do not want to spend the night at the hospital”.
This has been a long time favorite class of Zelda and she knows her yoga.
Actually I saw they quoted her on their website so I share:
"I have
tried yoga classes at several studios around Brookhaven and R's class is by far
the best! The yoga classes focus on stretching and flexibility and are great
for all levels. As a runner, I never get enough stretching and I love how I
feel after this class. The vibe at the studio is very comforting and the
instructors are amazing and very talented. I can't get enough!
Plus yoga is supposed to be a great thing for runners. This is probably the very best yoga class for
my personality type. It is challenging but goes along at a good pace to keep me
from wigging out. I feel like I am working my muscles and stretching often at
the same time. When you arrive at class, you pick up your mat, strap and block.
Typically this class has about 15 attendees, the majority females but there are
about 2-4 regular male attendees. Another big plus is this class starts at
5:45am. Earliest yoga class I know of on this side of Atlanta. The class, in
the past, has been taught by R, studio owner. A and J have subbed when R was unavailable. R,
in my opinion, is a master instructor but does get a little ethereal for me at
times. But the movements are good and hard. Actually the first class I ever
attended of R’s had me sore for days. I also
like both A and J. A has a nice accent (I don’t know from where) and this
accent just adds a little something exotic to the flavor of the session and another
layer of mental challenge in discerning that when she says “Ty” she means “thigh”.
Not at all poking fun at her, just saying it makes me focus even more. Only one experience with J, she moves fast. Which
although good for the anti-zen me, really hard for the me that barely knows
yoga. (today I learned a dolphin and a camel..so proud). This class has a real
following and same folks there each week. At the end of the class, the lights
are lowered and you are told to assume the corpse position and do some
visioning/ imagining of this and that. The instructor comes around and offers
lavender scented wet warm washcloths to place over your eyes/on your forehead.
This part drives me crazy and takes all within my being to sit still.
TRX STRENGTH & MOBILITY – This was a Thursday morning
class. Nice TRX equipment and you get to wear shoes but it can be close
quarters. Newthing here is a digital screen that the instructor uses to guide
the work out. For those of you who have been to OT..just like the one in the
weight section. Even the warm up is on the screen and here is a made up example
of what it looks like:
|
Each set 1 min/3x
|
BASIC
|
EXPERT
|
PRO
|
|
CHEST PRESS
|
Feet Apart
|
Feet Together
|
One Leg up
|
|
SCORPION
|
Off Side Plank
|
One Leg In/Leg over body
|
One leg In, touch ground
|
Instructor would flip screen for each new set, explain each
exercise and the three different approaches (Basic, Expert, Pro) and then you
could choose your own difficulty level. On the third round, she would push us
all up a level in difficulty. Each set contained three exercises and we
probably went through 5 screens. The screen has a timer which is nice because she
did not do the counting thing. And you know how some instructors counting can
bug you. Their version of 10 seconds….Anyway, you could clearly see the
countdown and the program has transition timer. Time flew by, I enjoyed it but
I was not really sweaty… Remind myself it is called strength &
mobility..not cardio & sweaty.
CARDIO STRENGTH- shoes recommended. Full house with 60%
female/40% male attendees. Each attendee
had large inflated ball (what are those called?), set of weights. K, the male
instructor, used that same digital screen in the same method to lead our work
out. Exercises, number of sets, 3 rounds, transition timer. Exercise examples:
Planks/pushups on the ball, Sits up with the ball, Bicep curls with weights. Basic
and advanced approaches demonstrated for each exercise. Instructor corrected form.
Halfway through, instructor declared our
strength portion complete and put us into groups of 4. Each group was assigned one
of four stations. Spent time at each station and then rotated for 3 sets, mini bootcamp
style: 1) Spider Pushups, 2) Plank to Squat, 3) Bose Ball Run, 4) mini high
steps in ladder station. My heart rate
was up, was more sweaty and able to do every exercise but had more in the tank.
IN SUMMARY, although I was kicking myself for having this
package, I actually am enjoying the experience. Enough to buy another large
package?..Probably not. I have two more
classes booked and (one yoga and one TRX Circuit-this one has cardio) before
the expiration. Yoga is starting to grow on me so I hazard to say I will end up
here occasionally for some yoga. Certain
sole sisters keep pushing the Class Pass so maybe that will be the vehicle.
BY THE WAY, my yoga intention failed because it is snowing and
I am bunking in at the hospital. Maybe I don’t quite have that tree position
down yet?
