Packing a Punch

My plan for Friday night had been to try Zumba.  Zumba's on my list of classes I want to try because they scare me.  (See also Intensati, Nia, Hip-Hop on the 1/2)  When work threw me an unexpected and frustrating curve ball Friday afternoon, however, I decided to hold off on Zumba and go hit things.  And kick them.

Omar Sandoval's Impact! class at the 85th street Equinox was exactly what I needed.  I'd never taken his class before, but Impact! classes are usually fun.  Friday night classes tend to be somewhat slow, so I was pleased to see an eager crowd of regulars waiting by the door for the previous class to end.

Impact! classes tend to have a smaller repertoire of moves than other kickboxing classes, and this was no different.  All of the combinations were based on jabs, cross-punches and roundhouse kicks.  Some of the combinations also incorporated squats.  After warming up, we did 5 5-minute non-stop rounds.  Each round had about three different combinations to it. 

Omar played fun dance remixes of cheesy pop songs, which was fun and set a good tone for the class.  He stayed mostly towards the center of the room, and I didn't notice him correcting anyone's form, but I don't think anyone in the class was really new to kickboxing.

I started out going postal on my punching bag because I was so wound up, but eventually I calmed down and paced myself.  Because class wasn't full, there was no one on the other side of my freestanding bag and I travelled around my area of the room a lot. 

Like many Impact! classes, we finished off with more push-ups than my arms could handle at that point. Omar's class totally saved my Friday night.  I left class wiped out, but also way more clear-headed.  In fact, I even remembered to use the foam rollers before I left the gym to stretch out my IT bands! 

-Gym Belle-

Physique Chez Moi

I purchased all three Physique 57 DVDs back in September.  I've been meaning to review them, but my first attempt at the Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout was thwarted by my lack of stuff.  I figured I had weights, so I'd be all set.  It turns out that I owned one five pound weight and one ten pound weight.  I didn't have sets.  Also, I thought I'd get by without a playground ball, but that didn't really work.  I gave up after about 10 minutes and decided to wait till I was full equipped.

I planned on going to Modell's to purchase the weights, but kept putting it off because I'd have to carry them back to my apartment.  I use eights and fives, so that would be 26 pounds of weights.  Finally, I decided to order them from Amazon with the free shipping option.  The weights arrived Thursday, so on my way home from work Friday, I stopped at Physique 57 to pick up a playground ball.

Walking home from midtown carrying a bright green playground ball was awesome; several people asked me where I was playing dodgeball. 

In any event, yesterday I was finally ready to give the DVDs a shot.  Classic is led by Tanya.  I've never taken her class in person, but on the video she is very funny and super high energy.  This is key because instead of the dance re-mixes of popular songs that you get in a live class, the DVD has generic excercise video type music.

If you've taken Physique 57 classes, you'll find the Classic sequence familiar: arms, thighs, seat, abs, back.  The main difference is that there is no "thigh intermission" between seat sides. 

If you don't have a ballet barre handy at home, Tanya invites you to use the back of chair or sofa to simulate one.  This is fine for seat work.  The thigh work on the chair just didn't do it for me, though.  I got nowhere near the burn I normally feel would in class.  I didn't work as low into the positions because I didn't trust the chair to stay put, and I felt like I was putting more strain on my knees.  In all fairness, I happened to be having a bad knee day yesterday because I ran a bit too much this week, so I'll let you know how it goes next time.

All in all, it's a good workout.  I got the DVDs because I thought they'd be nice on rainy days when I don't want to trek to class, or to add in an extra Physique class now and then without the added expense.  The Classic video should serve that purpose well, but, for me, it could never replace going to class entirely.

If you are a workout-at-home kind of person, you should know this is definitely an apartment-friendly workout.  I didn't have to move any furniture and was able to do everything in a small space.  That said, if you haven't tried Physique and you live in Manhattan, I say go in person even if you ultimately plan on using the DVDs.  It's worth having the instructors correct your form once or twice so that you get the most out of the workout. 

I'll be checking out the Express 30 Minute Full Body Workout and the Arm & Ab Booster soon.  I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-

Appology to the Very Tan Woman

It all started last Monday.  A co-worker was telling me all about her Sunday spin session at Equinox with a notoriously brutal instructor.  I've yet to take one of his classes, but he's known for being more than a little abrasive.  He will crank up your resistance regardless of what your heart rate monitor says and yell that you're responsible for your own body weight.  Apparently, he does all this without flirting, which may be what really distinguishes him.

In any case, last Sunday's session was over the top, even for he-whom-I-will-not-name-till-I-see-it-for-myself.  He lectured the class about being more conscious of the fact that they are participating in a group activity.  He does not want to see people in the saddle when they're supposed to be out, or visa versa.  If your a** hurts, he says, so does everyone else's.  Deal with it.  Stick with the cadence, too.  If you're stomach is bothering you, leave the room until you're ready to come back.  If you don't believe in deodorant, use that all natural rock product.  Finally, he wants everyone's "bits and pieces" covered.

Perhaps for that reason, when I took my Monday night Physique class, I was particularly aware of those around me.  Just before we started, this ridiculously tan but otherwise average looking woman walked in.  She didn't respond when the instructor asked if anyone was there for the first time or if anyone had taken less than 5 classes.  Still, the tan woman didn't know what "open level" meant, and when the instructor explained that it was a class that anyone could take and that she would give us options depending on our levels, the woman replied "well, I hope it's not too easy."

I judged.  In fact, I had two uncharitable thoughts.  First, who doesn't know what an open level class is?  How can you have scheduled more than 5 classes at Physique and not get that?  It's one of the most frequently offered classes.  Second, I wanted her to get her a** kicked.  Even if you're awesome at Physique, it always hurts.  Sure, some classes are harder than others, but who did the woman think she was? 

I kept my eye on her as we got started.  She used 8 lb weights as her heavy weights.  She did real push ups.  Her form wasn't fabulous, but she was doing it.  I respect that.  When she took a spot at the barre next to me, I wondered if she was going to totally show me up. 

She did not.  She actually really struggled through the barre work and didn't take any of the harder options.  The instructor, who happens to be a very nice person, couldn't resist commenting that class wasn't too easy after all.

For the next few days, I was really bothered by how much I had wanted this stranger to fail.  Sure, her comment had been annoying, but why did I care?  Normally, I'm very positive, particularly in Physique classes.  I grimace and shake my head after each set in solidarity with those around me.  I smile understandingly at the new people.  I'm competitive, but mostly with myself and I'm not mean spirited.  It bothered me that I let myself catch this other person's negative attitude.  I worried that I not only caught it, but spread it.  What if someone noticed me judging the tan woman and felt more self-conscious?

My co-worker's spin instructor may be a little intense, but he's not wrong.  Group classes are group activities, and how we each act individually impacts the group as a whole.  So, tan woman, I'm sorry I judged you.

-Gym Belle-