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.

Today’s Class: Best Arms Ever with Richard Guptill

Class length: 15 minutes

Description from the Equinox: Sculpt eye-catching arms in 15 minutes flat with a trial of constant tension involving dumbbells, resistance bands, and your own willpower.

What Class Was Like

A fantastic 15 minute fix for those of us who know we should be strength training our arms, but aren’t sure what we should be doing. This quickie can be easily added onto another workout, which is great for when you’d rather not take a full-length strength training class.

This class used resistance paired with constant movement to strengthen arm muscles. The resistance bands were either around the wrists so that holding our arms apart was a large part of the workout, or using the longer resistance band so that extending to a full range of motion required strength. Very light dumbbells were used, but the idea seemed to be that more of the workout came from the resistance of the bands. Most exercises would go for about a minute and a half before switching to the next, and the entire sequence was done twice.

Equipment Used

• mat
• light weight dumbbells
• resistance bands

Sample Exercises

• dumbbell tricep extensions and rows with resistance bands around the wrists
• opening of the arms with long resistance band wrapped around torso while lying down
• overhead dumbbell extensions from a bridge position on the mat with resistance bands around the wrist
• mobility exercises like shoulder cuff rotation and light stretching of fingers

Who would love it?

Anyone looking to add a beginner friendly arm workout onto their regular fitness routine. An experienced weight lifter might find the resistance band / dumbbell combination unsatisfying, but as someone who has neglected strength training all summer, I found it easy to get to the “just right” level of discomfort with the bands. Since it’s only a 15 minute class, anyone interested should try it and see if it works well for them. Even experienced strength trainers may benefit from mixing up their routine and adding mobility and shoulder work.

Know before you go

• Class is in the barre studio, not the main studio
• Shoes are optional but might be helpful for times when you step on the resistance band to create tension for arm extensions

And…. here’s a picture of the salad I had for lunch afterwards. Because it was delicious. And I’m trying to eat more leafy greens after a summer of eating, well, not so many leafy greens. (OK IT WAS FRENCH FRIES. I ATE FRENCH FRIES FOR SUMMER.)

And here’s a picture of my lunch date. He has been doing his hair “like Dad’s” for kindergarten (with Dad’s help) and today one of his best buddies came in with a cool hairstyle also. Does this mean my husband is trendsetting for kindergarten?! Be still my beating heart.

  

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.

Today’s Class: Barefoot Body Conditioning with Paula Fonseca

Class length: 45 minutes

Description from the Equinox: High intensity, mixed with balance challenges to strengthen the body from the ground up. Take your body out of its comfort zone, reap the benefits.

What Class Was Like

A challenging class that moved quickly from one exercise to the next, keeping the heart a bit elevated. It had elements of barre, yoga, weights, and pilates all mixed together for a difficult yet low impact workout. Balance work was included. Cardio was a byproduct of strength work.

All major muscle groups were targeted but after class my legs and glutes felt it the most.

FYI Chestnut Hill Equinox members, Paula is a great instructor; she’s the favorite of many Equinox goers for her friendliness, clear instructions, cheerful and contagious energy, and the way she proactively helps people get set-up or modify if needed. Her class The Cut is also super fun.

Non-Parallel Movements

The class incorporated quite a few non-parallel movements, a concept I first heard Cheryl Bentsen explain in Pilates Fusion. Many exercises (running, cycling, traditional squats) work on the body’s strength and agility when it’s moving forward and backward, or in parallel. But in real life we need to strengthen the muscles that help us move on the diagonal and other directions as well. Those muscles help us stand up more easily from a seated position and move naturally throughout our day.

Picture a chef in a busy restaurant kitchen only able to move forward or backward. How insane would that be? You may not be diagonally lunging for a sizzling frying pan on the regular, but many of your daily motions aren’t forward or backward. Incorporating “curtsy” like exercises and a wider range of movements is a good idea and this class does that.

Equipment Used

• yoga mat
• exercise ball
• resistance band
• lightweight dumbbells

Sample Exercises

• squats and lunges, with and without weights
• balance exercises like standing on one leg and extending the other one in front and then behind while lowering the chest
• downward dog to plank and back
• stepping side to side with the resistance bands just below the knee
• abdominal mat exercises incorporating weights

Who would love it?

A great class for someone who enjoys strength training but with lighter weights and the addition of some balance work.

Modifications / Beginner Friendly?

It was somewhat easy to modify difficulty. The number of reps are hard to modify in a group setting, but there were two sets of weights to choose from, two levels of resistance bands, and optional final steps to some exercises like adding a jump.

The use of resistance bands, type of exercises, and number of reps made this class challenging. Just when I thought I’d nailed something because we’d gotten to the end of eight counts, the next instruction would be to hold it for 8 and pulse. Hello, muscle burn.

Somewhat beginner friendly but it helps to be able to do modified pushups and hold a plank prior to arriving.

Also Try: The following Equinox classes are also low impact, work a large number of muscle groups, and any weights used are limited to 2 lb or 5 lb dumbbells.

Core Synergy

Pilates Fusion

True Barre

Trilogy Barre

Know before you go

• Take your shoes off before entering the yoga studio
• The green resistance bands are easier than the blue

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.

Here I am, back in my happy place!

Ok, one of my happy places. It’s hard to leave the beach and Maine behind, but it’s wonderful to walk back into The Equinox for a structured workout followed by the steam room and a peaceful shower while the kids happily built forts in the play space.

I’m excited to take some new classes and check off that New Year’s Resolution to take every class at the Equinox!

Today’s Class: Trilogy Barre with Megan Baxter

Class length: 55 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: The pinnacle of Barre at Equinox. Prepare to elevate ballet-inspired techniques with our signature triple-barre system and exclusive resistance bands. Wrap bands to barres, then work, sculpt and shape against resistance for the ultimate tone. Switching anchor points from barre to barre opens up a new world of movement, challenging your entire body and igniting muscles in tandem. An intense, total-body workout in a class beyond Barre as you know it.

What Class Was Like

Ok, not a bad description from the Equinox. It did ignite some muscles! I enjoyed using the resistance bands to isolate different muscles and I feel like this is a class that could continue to be challenging with improved technique and stepping away from the barre for more resistance.

This barre class used resistance bands combined with traditional barre exercises to isolate core, leg and arm muscles. No weights or ball were used.

I needed to stay focused because exercises change frequently, were sometimes quick paced, and form is important for getting the best workout. That said, I don’t feel that this class would be unfriendly to beginners. You just need to pay attention, and the workout will become even more effective with increased familiarity.

Sample Exercises

• Standing next to the barre with resistance bands in one hand and bringing hands into center, then out to second position
• Lunges facing the barre with resistance bands in each hand to do tricep curls
• Facing the barre on all fours and then extending one leg backward with resistance bands on the foot
• Sit-ups with legs in the V position using the resistance bands on each hand just to guide the sit-up

Who would love it?

Anyone who likes Pilates or barre classes should give this a try.

Resistance Bands vs. Weights

While weights can be nice because you can track your progress based on how heavy a weight you can use comfortably, resistance bands are nice because you can modify the resistance instantly by moving closer to the barre. So rather than needing a variety of weights to nail the sweet spot in terms of difficulty, you can just move closer or further at any point in any exercise, without as much interruption as you’d need to switch weights.

Know before you go

One wall has a mirror, the other doesn’t. It’s really helpful to arrive a few minutes early so you can grab a spot on the mirrored wall. That way you can see reflections of the instructor and other people to follow along, and check your alignment in the mirror.

Most people did the class barefoot. Socks are also acceptable but they might be too slippery.

You’ll need to make sure you have two resistance bands to hook through the metal loop on the strap on the barre using the carabiners. Those straps then need little cloth loops to go through the bottom rings, which are removed and washed after each class (take them off as you leave and place them in the green laundry bag, but leave the resistance bands on the barre).

And in other news… The Equinox in Chestnut Hill has a new juice bar vendor! Hello Juice Society. Does that say Avocado toast with vegan mayo?!?!

Excited to try them out!

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.

Class length: 50 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: Challenge your entire body with this innovative circuit class that tests your strength, endurance, core and more.

What Class Was Like

TRX MAX was a circuit workout with Tabata style increments of minute long work reps followed by 10 seconds of rest. There were three stations, all with two different exercises to be done for a minute each before progressing to the next station. After the entire class had done all of the stations, there was a break for Tabata style cardio. Then the 3 strength circuits were repeated followed by a different set of cardio, and finally the three circuits again in briefer intervals before ending with some core work on the mat and a little stretching.

Sample Exercises 

These change from class to class depending on the instructor and the day. Examples are from the day I attended class.

• Side and back single leg squats using a medicine ball weight
• Single leg squats combined with dumbbell extensions and overhead presses
• Push ups with one hand on the medicine ball then rolling ball to the other hand to switch sides while remaining in plank position
• TRX Y and T pulls
• TRX single arm side extensions
• Dumbbell weight work from a bridge pose
• Jumping jacks, star jumps, high knees etc. for cardio increments

Who would love it?

Good for someone who wants a strength and cardio combination class and is looking to mix things up a bit. Similar feel to Tabata Circuit, Damage Control and Stacked! with perhaps a little less cardio than Tabata Circuit.

I felt great after class, like I’d worked a variety of muscle groups and definitely kept my heart rate up.

A great class to get a good workout, not the best place to learn about TRX

I was excited to check this class out to see if taking it would help me learn to use my TRX comfortably at home. While this class did incorporate TRX training, it was only for a few exercises. I think the best way to learn to use one at home would probably be private instruction geared towards your ability level. If that’s not realistic, watching videos that demonstrate correct form and reading about which exercises are recommended based on your strength training goals might be a good step. This class was a great cardio and strength workout, but not the best place to master a variety of TRX exercises. Though perhaps regularly incorporating the class would gradually expand your repertoire of movements with the benefit of an instructor on hand for questions and corrections.

Know before you go

Pay attention to the instructor demo! The circuit style class means you’ll have only 1/3 of the class to follow if you don’t remember what you’re doing and a floating instructor rather than one modeling the exercise in real time.

Music was at a heart-pumping volume – it never hurts to bring ear plugs in case.

If you’re newer to strength training, I recommend starting with Barre, Core Synergy, or a Pilates class instead. Ability to do squats with weights, push-ups, and jumping style cardio will help you get the most out of class.