In the next segment of my Gym Class Challenge, I went to “BodyART” last night.

I was pretty excited after reading the description:

BodyART: “Ying meets Yang in this class that blends cardio, yoga, and dance based principles.  This workout is therapy for over-exercises and perfect for anyone looking to improve the functionality of the body from head to toe.  Use deep work training to release tension in the body and return it to the roots of what makes it one efficient and functional unit.” 

Dance, yoga, and make my body an efficient unit?  Yes, please!

So here we go: BodyART:

If you’ve ever tried discretely taking photos in a class, you know it’s not easy one bit!  I took two, but they’re terrible quality, so no judgements please

And what was it like?

The class was just what it said– a lot of yoga moves (lunges, downward dogs), a lot of ballet-style dance movements (plie, dance-like arm movements).

The first part of the class was more yoga inspired but with very flowing movements.  Cat & Cow, warrior positions, squats– all with a more dance-like quality to them.

We did 5 minutes of cardio in the middle.  Only 5 minutes?  Yep and it was great to push yourself because you knew it wouldn’t last long.  One of the fun cardio moves–  in plank position and then start running with your legs.  It was pretty cool, def gets your heart beating, and actually fun.

After every segment throughout the class, we came back to child’s pose, which was really nice and relaxing.

Child's Pose. Though looks like everyone in the mirror is doing something different- ha

We ended with stretches, some ab moves, and some dance-like moves.  I’m not a dancer so I have no idea what to call the moves.

Verdict:  It was different.  It felt good to stretch, I liked the music, and it’s fun to dance and get away from “normal” yoga.  My friend who I went with loved the class and plans to go regularly now.

Would I do it again?:  Probably not.  It was fun to try, but I got bored and felt like I could have stretched better on my own.  Also, I’m not into all the classes where they try to strengthen your thighs lately (aka, chair pose and squats) because let me tell you, my thighs are plenty large and muscular…..I want them thinner and those positions don’t seem to be a good fit for my body.

But once again, it was so fun to try something new.  Gym Class Challenge success for a Monday night!

Want to read about my other Challenge Classes?
Cardio Tai Box ,  Spinning ,  Aerial Yoga

Have you tried any new classes or workouts lately?

Ummm,  Anti-Gravity Yoga– what the heck does that mean?  With Wings?  No clue.

Whatever it is, sounded perfect for my “Gym Class Challenge.”

This class is immediately following my regular yoga class and I always see them bringing in these white hammocks.  I have been sooo curious what it’s all about, so I decided to try it this past weekend.

Of course, I looked it up before I went. 

Here’s the gym’s official description ”Anti-gravity yoga wings combines traditional yoga principles with elements from aerial acrobatics, dance, Pilates and calisthenics. …..using a flowing fabric hammock as a soft trapeze, you’ll learn simple suspension techniques to move into seemingly impossible inverted poses to relieve compressed joints and align the body from head to toe.”

I took some pics, but was trying to be sneaky and they didn’t come out amazing, so in case you’re having some trouble picturing what it looks like, here you go:

Cool, huh?!

I walked in and everyone was already ”expertly” hanging up their own hammocks and floating in them.

The room set-up was pretty neat.  The instructor (there were two of them– one to lead class and the other to walk around and help people.  The second one also went around with incense so the room smelled very zen).

Sneaky in-class photo while we were setting up the hammocks

The first half of class was more athletic.  We sat in the hammocks pushing our bodies in different ways, using the hammock as a guide.  We did lunges with one leg resting on the hammock.  We flipped into a “mission impossible” type pose low to the ground.

The second half was more restorative.  We swung on the hammock like a swing.  We did modified downward dogs.  We sat with our legs stretched out.

Another shot of the room

The flips were really fun and I felt a little like I was in cirque de soleil or in my childhood gymnastics class.

It was also really hard.  They say it takes a few times before you get the hang of it, but learning the postures and finding the right balance with the hammock was a challenge.   The hammock allows your body to work muscles (especially some stomach and arms ones) that you can’t reach in regular yoga.  I am sooo sore today!  It’s a good feeling though and so this is definitely a good workout.

Conclusion:

My verdict?  It’s very unique, a good workout, and if you are bored with yoga, it’s a great way to try something new.  The instructors were great and very helpful.  I’m so glad I tried it!  Was a really neat, new experience.

Will I do it again?  I’m not sure.  I like my normal yoga class.  This was different, but I don’t think I liked it enough to go every week.

I’m so happy that my gym offers this class– I’ve said a few times that I’m not a big fan of my gym, but way to go!   I’m def going to tell all my friends to try the class– everyone should do it once.

Do they offer Anti-Gravity Yoga at your gym?  I know it’s taking off in NY and LA, but not sure if classes are offered in other cities yet.  And regardless if they do or not– think you’d try it?

Gym Class Challenge Update—  Remember how I was going to try all those new gym classes to get out of my rut?

Believe it or not, this past weekend, I finally tried the one class I was dreading the most— SPINNING!

This isn't my class, found this online

This was actually sorta  big deal for me.  As I mentioned before, I had a weird fear around Spinning class.  It always seemed so hard core and intense.

When I’ve been at the gym, doing my thing on the treadmill, I can often hear the music blasting through the walls of the spin room and the instructor yelling at everyone.  The people in the class always looked like they were frowning intensely.  And  when they finished, the spinning door would finally burst open amd every single person seemed to be dripping in sweat.

I wasn’t sure that was for me.  I was happy on my treadmill.

Sure, I like to ride a bike.  But I like to do it more leisurely, like in the form of let’s say take a ride to the ice cream store, not while being yelled at.

But people seem to love spinning, so maybe it’s not so bad?  And besides, trying something new was the whole point of my glass class challenge.  I decided it was time that I gathered my courage and actually tried it.  It also helped to keep telling myself, “it’s only an hour…..”

So, enter- Gym Class Challenge: Spinning

And the result?

It was fun!  I actually kinda liked it. 

I got there a little late so there was only one bike left.  The seat was high and I tried to move it, but it wouldn’t budge before the instructor started blasting music and yelling at us, so I just got on anyways and started pedaling.

And pedaled and pedaled.  Hanging in at 100 mph.

The hour flew by!

My attempt at taking a photo without anyone noticing

The music made it so fun and high energy.  The class started at 7:30 am on a Saturday– but even though I came in still sleepy, it only took a few minutes I was wide awake.

I don’t think I put enough resistance on the bike when we were “riding up a big hill,” but it was still challenging.  I could feel the burn (especially in my butt).

Afterward, I was surprised not to be dripping in sweat, but I’ think that’s mainly because the room was freezing cold.  I was sorta happy about that.  And I left the gym ready to tackle my day and feeling energized.

My verdict?  This was a great example of why this challenge is good for me.  I tried something I had been intimidated about and it was actually fun!   It was also a good confidence booster to do something I was unnecessarily afraid of (though now I can’t understand why I would be afraid of the spin room?).

Will I do it again?  Maybe.
I’d still rather go on a leisurely bike ride, but if I feel like doing something different and high-energy, yes, spinning class can do the trick.

Yay, I FINALLY tried spinning!!!!

What’s your take on spinning?  What were your thoughts after your first class?  Any classes or workouts you’re sort of intimidated to try?

Last night, I decided to change things up in my gym routine and went to “Cardio Thai Box,” which is really just a fancy name for kickboxing.

We kicked, punched, jabbed, and uppercutted our way through the hour and I was dripping in sweat.  I felt great after.  It was so much fun and a great workout.  I used to do kickboxing a lot in college, but haven’t really been since.  Can’t believe I had never gone to this one at my gym before!

Random story– in my college kickboxing class, we were doing punches and the girl standing next to me punched her arm out of the socket!!! It was just hanging there and she was screaming!  Always makes me cringe when I think about it. 

Anyways, I’m usually big into my normal routines at the gym and like to workout on my own.  Plus, I’m admittedly a little intimidated by some of the classes.  I don’t know what to expect, I’m not the most coordinated nor can I catch on to a routine that quickly, and truthfully, I probably also have some laziness (hey, I love the elliptical so I’ll just stick with that).  I’m that weird person who loves to workout, but has never been to a spinning class, never done a boot camp, etc.  But since my gym offers a bunch of great “unique” classes (ummm, there’s even a Pole Dancing class), this brings me to……

Blueberry Smiles Gym Challenge!
I need to change up my routine a bit, SO I’m challenging myself to try EVERY class in my gym.  That includes spinning, “Strip Bar,” and the “Buff Girl Workout.”

There are 15 classes, all at varying times (hopefully most I can make work with my work schedule) so I’ll have to be creative to fit them in.

I’m giving myself 6 weeks (until the end of Feb)– I’m house-sitting for the next week, so might not be able to go to any classes, but we shall see.  I’m super excited!

I’ll write reviews of the classes, I’ll prob mess up a bunch in them, but hopefully I’ll find a class that I unexpectedly love (I’m guessing I’ll find a few that I really don’t love either- ha).

Here are some of the classes:

• Vinyasa Heat- (I love yoga, but have weirdly never done a Bikram class)
• Antigravity Yoga with Wings- using a fabric hammock as your prop and as a “soft trapeze.”
• Body Web Bootcamp with TRX- “not only push, pull, hang, and suspend your way to a better body with the TRX, but add a strength training element.”
• Buff Girl Workout- Combo of pilates, ballet, bootcamp, and vintage aerobics
• S.T.A.R. Treatment- Spinning, Toning, Abs and Relaxation
• Strip Bar- Happy hour of sexy, hot cardio.  “This class takes striptease to the next level with the body bar as your prop.  Oh yeah, we’ll make you sweat.”

Thoughts?

QUESTION:
Want to do the challenge with me?

Are there any classes you’re intimidated to try (or just plain, think you won’t like) at your gym?

What’s your favorite class?