Exercise Fads…Fails or Fabulous?
Everyone is looking for the NEXT thing in exercise…remember Zumba? Here’s what I think of the latest trends in the fitness world.
Reformer Pilates
I chose to go to Club Pilates, the national chain one. I Absolutely loved everything about this workout. Pilates is a functional workout, it makes you not only more flexible, but also strengthens and tones your body.
Class Structure
They have different class levels which starts at level 1, basically that is beginner. Then it would step up to 1.5, which is your intermediate, and finally finishing up at level 2, that is your experienced or advanced level classes. There are also other types of classes that include: cardio - which includes a jump board, and TRX band classes - including bands. You have to take a free introduction class before you sign up for a membership just so they can see where you are at, and if you will enjoy the challenges of class. I committed to about a year of Pilates and never got past the 1.5 level. I can only imagine how long and committed you would need to be to participate in level 2, and beyond. It takes quite some time to build up the strength to complete the 1.5 level classes, let alone some of the exercises presented in level 2.
I didn’t find the cardio class to be overly challenging. My Apple watch actually said I burned less calories doing the cardio classes than regular classes. Cardio classes were on the reformer ( you know that thing that slides with the cables attached to it) as well. You installed, essentially a piece of padded plywood, to the end of your reformer and jumped using different props and feet positions (super hi-tech). It was fun but a good cardio endurance workout??? Twas not.
I never tried the TRX classes, mostly because my balance is so poor I wasn’t interested in them.
The class itself was relatively small, 12 or so people could join. The instructor very rarely performed the exercises with you while teaching. She walked around and adjusted forms, springs, etc. I don’t know why, but I didn’t like that. But with only 12 people in the room…I guess I understand.
Clothing
The only special clothing you need are grippy socks. The unfortunate part is that if you didn’t bring them then you “had” to buy them, and let me tell you, they were serious about these socks. You can’t do the workout without them. I ended up buying several pairs throughout my Pilates journey, I recommend keeping several pairs in your car. All this being said I am sure it is due to insurance reasons for slipping without them, but they sure are proud of them at $10 a pair.
Price
The only draw back to this is definitely the price. $179/month for unlimited classes. This is actually a ridiculous amount of money to pay for a one style workout. I still kick myself a bit for paying this for a year. I kinda told my husband it was less maybe, just a little.
Beachbody
Probably the most comprehensive home workout program I have ever seen. They basically have anything you could ever want to do, plus more.
Class Structure
This obviously varies depending on what program you are doing. The classes vary from 20-60 minutes with most falling around 45 minutes. I personally enjoy the yoga classes, and mat Pilates. They really have something for everyone, from: running programs, yoga, Pilates, weight lifting, Barre, and really intense cross training programs. I have never ventured to the cross training side, but I can almost guarantee they will give you results. Remember P90x from those late night insomnia ridden infomercials? They’ve got it!
Clothing
Nothing special needed. But you will need tennis shoes for most programs.
Price
I paid $100 for the year. You can do month-to-month payments as well. The $100 for the year was the best bang for your buck.
Club Style Cycling
I joined CycleBar, because my best friend went there as well. Again, this is a chain not a local studio.
Class Structure
The studio itself was set up stadium style, three rows of bikes on risers with the instructor riding a bike facing you. There was a large mirror covering the whole wall behind the instructor, along with screens that shared stats on the wall. Important to note: You don’t have to share your stats if you don’t want to. Really no one during my stent there did. The atmosphere was contagious and great! Everyone was just, “IN IT!'“ ready to rock it. That was really motivating for me.
When I started they were only filling every other bike due to COVID precautions. By the time my membership was up for renewal they were filling the whole studio. This was really uncomfortable for me, not for anything to do with COVID. People were so close you actually ran into each other when we did some arm sequences… and you could smell those who were opposed to deodorant…which I did…on several occasions. It is basically like a Allegiant flight, not to but, back home from Vegas, you know basically lapped up with people. However instead of flying in a metal tube through the air, you were pedaling a stationary bike together.
Each workout was essentially the same. Very rarely was there any deviation from the routine, and I got the feeling that if the instructors did deviate, they got in trouble. It is a rhythm based ride, which means every beat of the music should match your downward pedal stroke. If the music was popping it definitely helped you get through the workout. Each song was either a speed or resistance test. You controlled all of changes in the workout: resistance - using a knob on the center of the bike and speed - obviously by pedaling faster. Due to the class basically focusing on your legs, as it is a bike. At the end of every class was a small arm circuit that lasted the length of a song. I do remember I really struggled with the end, trying to pedal and complete the arm workout. Based on that I could tell it was worth it, which made me feel good about the close contact, and what I was paying.
As a side note, you obviously adjust the bike to your height, arm span, etc, but I really didn’t fit well on the bike. I don’t know if I am oddly proportioned or what, but I was always uncomfortable. To all my 5’3” people that try this, send me an email, and possibly tips, if you get a comfortable ride.
Clothing
You will need special shoes to clip into the bikes. And of course your membership only comes with a shoe rental not purchase, but you can buy your own. The rental shoes are not cute or comfortable, but I never spent the $100 for my own. Maybe subconsciously I knew I wouldn’t stick with it. Definitely was a drawback having to rent shoes though, reminded me of old school bowling shoe rentals.
Price
I paid $100/month for unlimited rides, though I have heard it is now more than that.
Kayla Itsine’s - Sweat & Bikini Body Guide
Everyone who is involved in the fitness world in someway knows about Kayla Itsines. And if you have never heard of her, she is a tiny woman from Australia with an addiction to fitness. Her workout app is called, ‘Sweat.’ It is basically a central location for workout programs tailored for women by women. The reason this app is cool is that it is dynamically based on the equipment you have available, you create an account, then you select all the equipment items you have available to you. So from the items you have available it will create a dynamic workout tailored to you based on the program you select. The program Kayla Itsine developed is Bikini Body Guide (BBG) which is one of many of the programs you can select on Sweat.
Class Structure
All of her workouts are home based circuit training style sessions. The best part is, as stated above it is all predetermined for you. You put in that list of what you have available at home and it creates workouts for your. Just log in and it generates today’s workout for you. Let me tell you, this was great… not having to develop your own schedule, or keep track of arm versus leg day. The app just keeps track of it for you.
I did find the classes to be a bit too similar every week though, and I got bored. This may be because of the limited amount of gym equipment I got to enter from what we had at home, which was only a small amount of free weights and resistance bands.
Clothing
Again, nothing special but you will need tennis shoes.
Price
It was $20/month. They did offer a $120/year rate, but I knew I wasn’t going to commit to this for a year.
Conclusion?
You will definitely find that you spend more money to go to a class at a studio. But it will also be less comprehensive than anything you could find online or with an at home app. However, if you are looking for comradery or a feeling of being apart of a fitness community, then a studio style workout may be worth the extra money for you.
My favorite and recommendation? Beachbody by a mile!! Cardio - check! Strength training - check! Yoga/Stretching - check! They’ve really got everything you need for less then $10/month.
What Am I Doing Now?
I am actually training for a half marathon so my exercise routine is a mixture of running, light weight training, and yoga. Stay tuned for progress updates and whether I actually make it through the running!
