Stretched For Love

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[stretchedforlove]

Number 4- We blame Lulu

Class number 4 was supposed to be Pound. Per their website, Pound is a full-body cardio jam session, combining light resistance with constant simulated drumming. Lululemon was holding a free class at the Natick Mall. Free and fun, game on. Well thanks a lot Lululemon, besides selling sheer overpriced leggings (that I worship anyway), you cancelled the class the day before, leaving Rachel and I scrambling for a class. Now anything worth going to is hard to get into, well at least that’s what everyone wants you to think. And so Rachel found a class. A TRX Power Barre class that seemed promising, even if it was all the way in Medfield. A hop skip and jump for her, a solid 30 minute drive for me. But being the forever optimist that I am, ahem, we headed off to HYP Studio, a studio with several locations that I have actually heard is wonderful for yoga.

I had dabbled in TRX back in my gym days and always loved the workout it gave me. HYP described the class as combining the power of a heart pumping, cardio TRX work~out with the lengthening, toning & stretching benefits of a barre-oriented sculpting class. We weren’t psyched but thought that it would be a good workout. We were also excited to try out the TRX component of class. The studio was easy to get to, even if the icy sidewalks were a bit of a challenge to overcome. The receptionist was far from welcoming especially since Rachel and I bounced all, heyyyyyyy we are here, its our first time, isn’t that so exciting? Apparently to her it was not. She gestured to the back and briefly told us where to find things. The locker room was a little worn (none of the lockers worked) and the bathroom was a little ripe, but the studio itself was bright and sunny. Though crazy hot, apparently the a/c was not working and the sun was roasting the room. The TRX contraption consisted of two strap like devices held together and hung from the ceiling. You use your own body weight and resistance from the straps to complete the exercises. It was hard, it hurt, and I liked it. I knew I was tapping into muscles I don’t normally use. But then the TRX was over and we moved to the barre.Now bless the teacher’s heart, she was newly trained in some new techniques and was so excited to challenge the class. And here were two newbies to the class, unimpressed and clearly killing it at the barre.  Rachel and I gave each other knowing glances at each other like, we are so good at this and she has no idea that we are Barre-bies! You see between the two of us we have probably done at least 500 Pure Barre classes, clearly the cadillac of barre classes. She did a sprinkling of the same exercises we do in class, but to be honest I totally checked out once we got to the barre. To me, and to Rachel (if I can put words in her mouth) if we are going to do barre its going to be Pure Barre, there is simply nothing that compares to their workout. Which as a devoted barre studio, makes sense, it should be the best. We finished up, thanked the instructor and walked out, knowing we wouldn’t be back for that class anytime soon.

Over the next few days I was sore in places I hadn’t been in a awhile, my traps and my obliques were burning. I knew it was from the TRX. Rachel and I agreed to try a devoted TRX class again sometime soon, and also agreed that we would leave the barre classes to the experts. Not a total waste of a class, but we still blame Lulu for screwing us up!

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Number 3- Flywheel

There are a few workouts we have discussed adding to our challenge that I am dreading. Mostly they are ones that involve a lot of sweat, cardio, and well effort. Flywheel was one of those dreaded classes. But as much as I dreaded it I was actually excited to get a really great sweaty workout. Since the polar vortex and well since winter started my running has completely stopped. I longed for that adrenaline rush of pushing my body past the breaking point and sweating long past the finish line. I took spinning almost a decade ago at a musty Boston Sports Club. I wore baggy sweatpants, a big t-shirt and my gym shoes. I wasn't a spinner, but I threw it in every so often when I felt like I should get a good workout. But that was a decade ago when I could lose 5 pounds by not eating dessert at one meal. Flywheel is not that spin class. Not even close. Its fancy. Maybe we are late to the whole boutique spin studio movement that has taken over the country, but this was really impressive. We arrived, Lulu clad all naive, like heyyyyyyy its our first time now baby us. Upon checking in we quickly discovered that first timers didn't get special treatment, everybody does. We checked in with our reserved bikes and grabbed our borrowed clip in cleats already placed (in our correct size) in our assigned cubbies. We filled up our water bottles with a choice of filtered cold or room temp water. A kind usher (?) showed us to our reserved bikes and adjusted it to our height and comfort level. This was a fancy bike, again nothing like the creaky spin bikes of years past. This one had a computer dial, no guess work, no cheating, you are fully accountable for your workout. Our instructor popped on his bike and quickly began our 45 minute ride into hell..........the music was pumping, the lights were low and immediately I was out of breath. I tried making oh my god faces to the woman next to me, but she was all business and clearly not looking to make any new friends. Rachel was pedaling hard and probably trying to ignore my what did you get me into face. I was trying my darnest to pedal as hard as I could and not throw up, seriously. I had that is this a burp or throw up moment a few times. I shockingly regretted not signing up for the torque board, a tv screen that shows where you rank in class or how hard you are working compared to the other "competitors". A little competition, I could get onboard with that. But the torque board would have to wait until the next class. I knew even as I grew woozy that there would be another class. FINALLY, a class that made me sweat, like dripping on the floor sweat. It felt good, it felt hard, it felt queasy but I loved it. It flew by quickly. Of course once the class ended and it was time to stretch I was stuck. I was actually stuck. I could not get off the bike. Rachel kindly helped to pry my feet out of the clips. We wobbled out of class, smiling. We both knew that we would be back. The next class was waiting outside ready to take their spots. It was definitely much busier now that it was later in the day. I can see how because of its location and its national reputation there would be quite the scene here at times. Even so the people seemed passionate about their workouts. Even the instructor pedaled with us the entire time and you can tell he genuinely liked (was obsessed with) it.

By the way do you think Flywheel is named because Rachel and I look so Fly here??? I think so. I think so. (PS this was AFTER class)

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2 down and up we go!

To pee or not to pee that is the question and the reality for women of a certain age, who have had children and who, well jump up and down, among other activities. Quite an interesting question to ponder as we walked into SkyZone today. Now I brought my dear daughter with an alleged fever, during a snowstorm, with a flat tire, to jump a few weeks back. I was dead set against jumping but decided to give it a go. It was fun. Like really fun. A few care free leaps and my heart was pumping. So when I saw that SkyRobics was an adult fitness class at SkyZone I was in. Rachel and I added it to the list of classes to try and today was the day. I was both nervous and excited. We entered the "zone" with about 10 other men and women suited up in our SkyZone supplied orange grippy socks. There was a mix of new and old students. The instructor seemed perky, but a little off from the usual aerobic instructor type. We started by each taking a square and well jumping.  The class was an hour long with each set lasting a little under 20 minutes. We jumped, we did seat drops, knee drops and spun round and round. We smiled, we laughed, we fell and we ran out to, pee!!!! Yes pee, alot. The high jumps and split jumps may have did us in, but we made it, sweat soaked but not pee soaked!!!! I don't know whether we burned 1000 calories like their website advertises, but I know that my back and legs ached the next day, and even more the day after that. It reinforced how important variety in our exercise routine is, and how fun it is to sometimes just let go and jump......

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1 down 51 to go

Today was the day, the day we decided to step out of our usual fitness routine and into the mysterious unknown world that lies beyond that familiar red and black studio. Our mission today, The Studio Empower. As I (Eden) am typing this I wonder, where is the emphasis here, is it on THE STUDIO or EMPOWER or is simply THE STUDIO EMPOWER, which is a little startling. Either way we were showing up and ready to be empowered or something inspiring like that. Located in Newton Centre on a popular drag parking was scarce. Finding a spot and the all illusive quarter roll in my glove compartment was the first challenge of the morning. Rachel, running behind, got in some bonus cardio by running from her parking spot about a .25 mile away. But we made it. The studio is simple. About 10-15 machines lined up in one row in front of a mirrored wall. Florescent lighting and Ikea Expedit shelving to store purses and belongings. The aforementioned machine is called a megaformer, imagine a Pilates reformer (torture contraption) on steroids. It was a solid intimidating piece of equipment. The workout itself is promised to sculpt, tone and transform. According to their website “The Studio Empower offers an innovative and dynamic workout, designed by LA Celebrity trainer and fitness guru, Sebastien Lagree. Lagree Fitness™ (aka SPX Fitness or Pilates Plus) transforms traditional reformer Pilates classes, into high-intensity, low-impact strength training workouts, allowing people of all fitness levels to achieve sculpted and toned physiques effectively and safely!.” When I told the perfectly toned and perky instructor that it was my first time but I had done Pilates reformer classes in the past, she smiled and said that this would be so much different. 

It was time to get started. With little instruction we mounted the machines and began a series of exercises. The theory was to exhaust one muscle area at a time. Abs, legs, arms, stretch. The class flew by. Rachel and I both almost flew off the machine a few (me) times. Seriously I almost bit it more than once. Perhaps the fear of falling face first kept my core engaged and my legs planted. Overall the class was challenging, but our previous barre classes and my Pilates background were definitely advantageous. The instructor had little to correct and didn’t give us much direction, but let us know that we were doing great and she didn’t hold back during class. Thank goodness for the other women in the class or else I would have been very lost. But the previous exercise experience helped make the class a deeper more focused session and we got a lot out of it.

I liked the way the machine made me feel like I was stretching the entire time while toning. I liked how even during abs and legs I was still always working my arms. It was definitely a consistent whole body exercise. Because the workout is contained primarily to the megaformer, class size is limited but personal space is clearly defined, something that is sometimes lacking in other studio classes I have been in.  I definitely didn’t sweat, even Rachel, who may or may not be a sweaty kind of exercise person, seriously I am totally making that up, didn’t seem to glisten in the slightest. I also wasn’t out of breath, ever. I felt the need to go for a run or do something in addition to the class. Also, and maybe this isn’t a bad thing, but the fluorescent lighting was kind of harsh, I mean when I am squatting down and pushing my butt back and my leg out, well let’s just say soft lighting would be nice. 

It was nice to change things up, but I don’t know I didn’t fall in love. 

By the way I am totally digging this exercise with friends thing, people should really try it. 

UPDATE: a day later and I'm sore!! In the best of ways. That oh there is that muscle sore. Still not head over heels but I would consider it again, maybe

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Day One

Day One

Mission Statement- Try one new fitness class, anything goes, once a week for a year. That’s 52 fads/crazes/trends. Let’s see which ones stick and which ones stink. 

Why- Why not? Also Rachel and I think it would be a hoot. Aerial Pole Dancing, definitely? Pilates tap-dancing fusion, bring it. But truly, maybe its because we are getting old, or because our little ones have irretrievably changed our bodies, but it seems like everywhere we look, every Facebook status update, friends are competing in races, classes, challenges. Friends who in college I saw eat an entire pizza after drinking a keg are now triathletes. What is it about this age, this decade that has gotten all of “us” off our stretch marked asses and into the gym, at the barre, on the courts, in the pools, bikes etc. Sure this will begin as a fun project to check out all the latest and greatest fitness trends out there, but I suspect we will find much more. At the very least we will have fun doing it and maybe maybe ditch the momkini this summer!