Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Getting Back in the Groove

It’s no surprise that I’ve put on a few pounds since I’ve started my new job. I’m not boastful about it – it’s not exactly my proudest moment. But I’m pushing myself to get back in the habit of exercising and luckily I have a few coworkers that are willing to join me on my endeavor. We’ve begun to put aside one night a week to all exercise together, usually by taking classes. So far we’ve done a class of cardio barre (my doing of course :] ) and tonight we took a spin class.

My bottom is very sore already from sitting on my spin bike but it was nice to sweat it out in a dim room with pulsating music. It’s been a while since my last spin class. I used to take spin classes when I was on the dance team at Cal – it was part of our work out regime in the summer time while we prepared for football season. I knew what to expect but it never makes it any easier.

Tonight, we went to a studio named Fit On, a boutique studio based in Manhattan Beach. Elizabeth provided the Groupon and we got our fit on. The rom was initially pretty bright but as classes started, the lights were substantially dimmer. It took me a while to get adjusted but it’s probably better that I couldn’t see myself and watch myself in the mirror: a bad habit I tend to have. The music was your usual techno/pop but what surprised me the most was the second song of the class: the Survivor theme song!! At that point I knew I was going to love the class. Any fitness class that brings my favorite competitive reality show into the mix is a winner in my book.


The class was pretty standard: some hills, some flat roads, a lot of sweating. My knees were quivering at the end and it was a crapshoot as to whether I would be able to walk out of there, much less drive home. But I survived and had a lot of fun! I’m excited to go back next week, we were told that the instructor we had was the hardest and he got off his bike to walk around and give us corrections or turn up the resistance on our bikes. But I really enjoyed the class and can’t wait for the next. Spin tends to be one of those classes where you walk out really feeling like you’ve burned some calories. Tomorrow, if I’m not too sore, I’m going to try and take a dance class! I took one last week and I was unpleasantly surprised by how sore I was the next day. It’s time to get back in shape!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Cardio Barre Revisited

As of two nights ago, my Groupon for my cardio barre classes was used up and I've been dying to go back. I thought I could be sneaky and buy the 10 class Groupon but the lady at the desk said that you could only use the Groupon if you were a new client. So now I'll have to start paying the actual prices and let me tell you, cardio barre isn't exactly the most affordable class to take. Single classes at $16 each and you can save a bit if you stock up but it's a lot of money to forgo in one sitting.

So I'm stuck dealing with this dilemma of whether to keep paying for classes or not. I really do love it and I'm positive I'll be able to push myself through however many classes I buy, and I need to make a decision soon since class prices are going to go up next month. I'm thinking of maybe buying 20 classes and that'll last me at least two months if I go twice a week. Maybe even longer since I start tutoring soon, if I pass my teach back tomorrow, and that'll cut down on my times to go to cardio barre class.

I've already gone to class twice this week and I'm thinking of maybe trying and advanced class soon. Maybe not...But I do know I want to go to class this weekend if only to swoon at the adorable instructor. *sigh*
How many classes do I have to go to to look like this?

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Cardio Barre

I’ve been crossing things off my 22 Things List left and right! First a salsa class on Tuesday and today, I took my very first cardio barre class. It kicked my butt but I’m so happy I went and I can’t wait to go again!

Cardio barre is this new fad exercise class that’s taking over LA and it’s like ballet on speed. It’s fifty minutes of intense cardio that utilizes a free standing barre and incorporates some familiar ballet movies like plies, battements, and releves but done at a much faster pace. It’s one of those classes where you can really push yourself by lifting your leg a little bit higher, stretching a little bit further, just doing everything a little more.

I already know I’m going to be sore tomorrow but it was so worth it. It felt so good to sweat and doing something that was somewhat familiar to my body. I’m surprised I was able to do 50 minutes of cardio when running usually knocks the wind out of me after 20 minutes. I can’t wait to go again and maybe try out some of the other instructors, though I did love Sabrina. I wonder how hard it is to get cardio barre certified? I’d love to teach a class.

Cardio barre classes aren’t cheap either. I was lucky enough to find a Groupon where I bought five classes for $29. Usually, single classes are about $16 a piece. They give you a little keychain card that you scan and it keeps track of your classes for you. If you ever get the urge to do a little ballet while sweating like there’s no tomorrow, cardio barre is for you! Check out their website here!
This seems to be the default cardio barre picture everywhere...but this was one of the many things we did.