Equinox Class Review: The Cut

• 1 • NYR 2017

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. See the full list of reviews here.

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and after class… pizza.

Heart Rate!

I borrowed Greg’s Garmin watch that has heart rate for class. My max heart rate reached 174 during class and was always over 100. My “recommended target range” which is a somewhat subjective calculation but a good place to start is 102-158. (You can calculate yours at active.com using their calculator.)

I would have expected based on how I felt during class that I was getting a good workout. Looks like the heart rate monitor I wore agrees.

Today’s Class: The Cut with Paula Fonseca

Class length: 50 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: A cardio-forward boxing workout with no bags, no wraps and no ring. It’s just you, light hand weights and your own killer instinct, set to an explosive playlist that powers you through five rhythmic, relentless rounds. This one-of-a-kind class will train you to move, look and feel like a champion.

What Class Was Like

Fun fun fun fun fun. Most of the class used 2 pound weights and kickboxing sequences with about a 5:1 punch to kick ratio. Sequences would be demonstrated and we’d walk through them slowly for a bit, and then the music would accelerate and we’d go into the sequence full-speed. Most sequences were about 4-6 moves. Jab, cross, upper cut, hook, kick, turn.

If you got lost in a punching sequence and were throwing hooks instead of jabs or doing four straight jabs instead of the cross and upper cut… well you weren’t alone and it was so quick it was hard to notice unless you were following someone directly. Someone in the locker room told me when I complimented her on her precision that it got much easier after the third class because you’ve learned good form for each move and are familiar with common sequences.

Even missing a couple punches, I felt like I could nail most of the sequences by the end and my heart rate was pretty elevated the entire time.

The music was perfectly paired. I’m wondering if it was kick-boxing specific because it had slower sections for the demonstration and learning mode and then sped up, and there were no lyrics.  Great for looking in the mirror and pretending you’re a mortal combat character.

Would I go back?

Yes, yes yes. This was so much fun. The two pound weights worked my arms, there were plenty of squats and kicks for lower body, and we did some ab workouts in the middle. It was a wonderful combination of strength, cardio and pure enjoyment.

It was incredibly fun to get into the zone of a sequence. Paula is also a very fun instructor with a great positive energy vibe.

Who would love it?

Anyone looking to sweat in a cardio workout and have some fun.  Also a good introduction to light strength work, thanks to the use of 2 lb weights, squats and a little plank and ab work.

Not great if you’re hoping to just zone out or get lost in your thoughts; you need to bring mental focus to master these sequences if it’s your first time.

PERFECT stress relief. Not only are you upper-cutting, but the music and focus on what you’re doing are a great distraction from life’s stress. For 50 minutes you are in the zone or you are going to fall behind.

Know before you go

Wear sneakers and definitely bring a water bottle but stash it to the side of the room where you won’t kick it over. I totally kicked mine over and didn’t even notice until I saw the person next to me picking it up. (Thank you, kind person whom I couldn’t thank during class without getting kicked in the face.)

Stacked! Class Review: Equinox Chestnut Hill

• 3 • NYR 2017

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. See the full list of reviews here.

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My issue with strength training

I’ve heard group fitness instructors reassure people in class that strength work isn’t going to make them bulky. “Don’t worry, don’t worry, this tones it does not build bulk.” Ok. That’s fine. I have no expectation of walking out of here looking like the Hulk.

That’s never been my fear.

My fear is that I won’t be able to walk tomorrow. Or the next day. Because every time I take a class with more than 3 pound weights I feel too sore to exercise again for a few days.

Stacked was no exception. If I’m going to keep taking these strength classes (which I clearly need to since I can’t handle them) then I need to do some actual strength training in between so I’m not just stressing my body every couple weeks with a random class. I also need to choose lighter weights and take suggested modifications until I know how I feel the next day.

If you haven’t tried a strength training class or done any lifting, I recommend contacting your gym for class recommendations because some classes are designed to be more challenging than others. You could also ask the instructor what a good starting weight might be.

Don’t be scared. I’ve exposed some weaknesses by discovering I’m really sore after any weight workouts. I can tackle this intelligently. Incorporating strength training will decrease my risk of injury long-term and is really important as we age.

Today’s Class: Stacked with Dimitra Moretto

Class length: 55 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: Hit the body with a healthy dose of high-density training incorporating short intervals with strategic recovery periods done pyramid-style. Transform your body with targeted movement complexes that are stacked together for an intense, challenging workout.

What Class Was Like

A fun and challenging pyramid workout. Exercises were done for 30 seconds each and each set built on itself. First, we did 30 seconds of diagonal lunges. Then we had the next step demoed and we did 30 seconds of diagonal lunges AND 30 seconds of jump rope. Then step 3 was demoed, and we did the three known exercises back to back. This built until we were doing 3 minutes of work without a break. Then we had a longer rest period (90 seconds) before moving to the next set.

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Class moved quickly despite being almost an hour. I liked doing only 30 seconds at a time of each exercise. By the time I was really struggling we were on to the next thing.

I felt amazing after leaving class. I could tell that I’d worked a whole variety of muscles. The next day I was too sore to work out, but I expect that if I did the class more regularly that would be quick to change.

Would I go back?

Absolutely. I felt like this class did the best out of any strength classes so far at working the most different muscles. The next day I could feel everything. My abs were sore when I tensed merging onto Route 9. Every part of my legs softly said “hello” when I walked up the stairs. My arms weren’t entirely sure how to most comfortably carry a bag of library books. It was impressive.

Who would love it?

Anyone who wants to isolate and work different muscles and get a solid full-body workout in just under an hour.

Know before you go

Some people wore weightlifting gloves to help protect the palms of their hands from barbells. Wear sneakers. Exercises change often so you may need different equipment based on the day.

Equinox Class Review: Vinyasa Yoga (& A Note on Good Instructors)

• 2 • NYR 2017

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.

Good instructors

The more classes I take the more I appreciate high-quality instructors. I’ve only taken 9 unique classes as part of this project but I’ve also taken repeat classes with different instructors, done indoor cycling at SoulCycle and CycleBar, taken Barre Classes and B-Tone and… well… I’ve taken classes from over two dozen group fitness instructors in the past few years.

Most instructors are fabulous. After all, these are people who want to motivate others for a living! They’re a good group.

But some are exceptional. Be on the lookout for these qualities, and take classes from different people. You’ll learn different things and you may find someone truly amazing.

My favorite instructors:

  • Give detailed instructions and form corrections for the class
  • Occasionally explain the reason behind exercises or drop some fitness knowledge you can take home with you
  • Are highly qualified in the field they’re teaching
  • Ask if there are injuries and provide modifications for beginners
  • Seek out new participants and keep an extra eye on them to offer corrections (don’t be embarrassed, it reduces your risk of injury and helps you get more out of class!)
  • Mix up their workouts or music and keep things fresh
  • Motivate / have good playlists / are friendly and approachable before or after class if you have a quick question

 

It sounds like a lot to ask, and it is, but there are great people out there nailing it. Find them and support their classes!

Now, onto my most recent class… which just so happens to have been with an exceptional instructor. 🙂

 

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Vinyasa Yoga with Cheryl Bentsen

Class length: 1 hour

Description from the Equinox: A vigorous, more athletic approach to yoga characterized by flowing poses and sequences that are linked to the breath. Sequencing will vary with instructor philosophy.

What Class Was Like

Some flowing yoga and also some holding of balances or positions. Cheryl explained that the “flow” of vinyasa actually refers to the breath which should always be flowing in and out during yoga.  Even when you are holding a pose, it is still vinyasa because of the flow of the breath. There was a lot of flow from one position to the next also, but there was slightly more holding and balancing integrated than in Iain Lemiuex’s class (also fantastic) which I took before I started writing these reviews.

I love Cheryl’s classes because she gives great detailed instructions for each pose and in her classes I always learn something new about correct form or the intent behind an exercise.

She began class with some wrist exercises designed to increase mobility prior to all those Downward-Facing Dogs. We tested the mobility of our wrists by rotating them and observing which one was less mobile, and then after an exercise where we held onto our forearm tightly with one hand while rotating the wrist we tested again and many in the class had increased mobility. This loosened up something… which I can’t remember the name of. But more importantly, her class is filled with thoughtful and purposeful instruction like this.

Who would love it?

Anyone who likes yoga! Absolute beginners might prefer a more restorative yoga class or a private introduction since it can be hard to flow through poses without knowledge of those poses, even with Cheryl’s detailed guidance. Challenging class, but in a good way.

Know before you go

Yoga mats are provided. Don’t wear shoes into the yoga studio, leave them outside in the cubbies. Equinox cleans mats after use, look for a pile to add them to on the floor on your way out (don’t roll and return them). Water bottles welcome, but not a lot of time to drink between poses.

Equinox Class Review: Aquasport

• 0 • NYR 2017

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.

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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

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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.

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Equinox Class Review: Studio Cycling

• 2 • NYR 2017

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.

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Class: Studio Cycling

Class length: 55 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: A cardio workout on a stationary bike based on cycling principles. Classes are technique based and/or real terrain based and focus on cadence, heart-rate zones, climbs & sprints that can make an unpredictable ride that is fun and challenging.

What Class Was Like

Classic studio cycling. Some intervals, a few longer efforts, good music. Like any indoor cycling class I’ve taken, a lot depends on the instructor. Finding an instructor you enjoy who plays music you like is key!

Studio Cycling had shorter efforts and more variety than The Pursuit. The times I’ve taken The Pursuit there have been three long games where you’re maximizing effort for a 9 or 10 minute period. It’s good for endurance, but it can be hard to motivate yourself to just keep riding strong for a 10 minute stretch. Especially if your team is solidly behind.

Verdict:

I love Studio Cycling. When I compare my average and maximum watts in Studio Cycling vs. The Pursuit, all my Studio Cycling classes come out ahead. I tend to ride more miles because of the additional interval work. I accomplish more mileage pushing hard and then backing off than I do maintaining a consistent effort. The interval approach is also more similar to outdoor cycling conditions, where I tend to push hard up a hill, recover and coast down the hill, pedal flat… the terrain is always changing. Rarely am I settling in for 10 minutes at the same ocadence and resistance. Both classes are fun, both have strengths, and variety itself is a training tool. I’m sure I’ll be back to both!

Know before you go

Cycling shoes really help you get more power for the full foot-stroke when you’re cycling indoors. Bikes at the Equinox are SPD clip compatible and Look/Delta compatible, but they also had cages so you can wear your normal shoes. (Don’t be afraid to do that before investing in cycling shoes.)

At the Equinox you reserve your specific bike in advance; look for the numbers on the front of each bike to find your spot when you get there.

Great for the day after you lift weights

I love cycling because similar to running it works mostly your lower body. It’s a great class to take the day after you lift weights (I took Pure Strength yesterday). One of the best parts about getting into triathlons is that I can always find something to do that works my muscles slightly differently than the workout I did the day before. One of the worst parts about triathlon is that I feel like I’m not consistent enough to improve in any of the three sports. But when I remember that health is the ultimate goal, I think it’s wonderful that I have so many activities I enjoy to choose from every day.