This post is part of my 2017 New Year’s Resolution to try every group fitness class offered at my gym, The Equinox in Chestnut Hill.
I felt some doubt about my “try every class at the gym” resolution this morning. Gwen Stefani was on the radio singing a few times I’ve been around this track so it’s not just going to happen like that and it made me think about how long it’s been since I went around the track a few times.
Should I really be trying every class at the gym when I haven’t run in months? Is this a wonderful exploration or a massive distraction? How am I going to feel when all the 5ks around town start in May and I’m the former half marathon runner who’s not even sure she can run 3 miles?
But as I grabbed my bathing suit from my gym bag to try Aquasport, I remembered to beware of false dichotomies. Running and trying every class at the gym aren’t mutually exclusive. I can run the kids to school and then go to “Stacked”. I can run a couple miles on the treadmill after yoga. I just need to remember my running shoes and make it happen. If I feel sad about not running but also don’t want to give up trying new classes, that’s a problem I can solve.
I didn’t have my running stuff today, but I did swim some laps before and after Aquasport. The “brick” element of triathlon training isn’t just to help your body transition from one sport to the next. It’s also an essential time management strategy for someone juggling multiple sports!
Today’s Class: Aquasport with Paula Fonseca
Class length: 45 Minutes
Description from the Equinox: Get out of the studio & into the Pool for this non-stop, total body workout that uses the resistance of the water to improve cardiovascular stamina and muscular endurance. You get a complete cardio and conditioning workout without the impact or stress on the body!
What Class Was Like
Not as easy as you’d think. I was ready for this to feel like I wasn’t getting a workout but I was pleasantly surprised. Many of the exercises involved moving barbell floats under water. It’s not overly easy keeping those things down and moving them in a controlled way. Those barbells really want to float.
This class was easy to modify; if you’re running through the water as fast as you can, it’s a great resistance workout. The level of difficulty could be increased by taking things faster, jumping higher, or really perfecting your form.
Sample Exercises:
- Standing with your back to the wall doing flys with the barbell weights, keeping them under water and bringing them up close to the surface then down next to your hips
- Holding your hands out to the side on the surface of the water and kicking each hand in alteration
- Running through the water to the pool deck, hoisting yourself up and then lowering down and running backward to the buoys and repeating
- Submerging the barbells and doing alternate lunges
- Holding the barbells extended in front of you for flotation and kicking underwater as fast as you can
Who would love it?
Anyone who wants a low-impact workout that combines light cardio and strength training. There were a lot of older people in class.
Know before you go
Wear a comfortable bathing suit and remember to shower before you hit the pool. Barbells were provided on the pool deck. There is a pool chair that lowers people into the pool if they’re not able to use the pool ladder. Music wasn’t too loud, it was easy to hear the instructor. Since you don’t submerge your head in class I was the only one in a swim cap. I looked awesome.
Class might make you hungry so plan to take your kiddo out for lunch afterward.
