Jessica Weiner- Second Day of Senior Projects

I have always been active because I either played a sport or constantly worked out after school. My workouts tended to consist of running or going on the elliptical for cardio and weight training. Never would I have expected to feel this out of shape after taking four group exercise classes today. I took a 20/20/20 class, a cycle and sculpt class, a tai chi class, and a zumba class.

My 20/20/20 class consisted of the first twenty minutes using a step that I had to step on and do various exercises around and on top of. It was very difficult for me because the instructor used lingo that I’ve never heard of, he told the class to do “The Charleston” and go “Around the World.” Needless to say, I often tripped over my feet while attempting these steps. After using the step, we began to lift free weights which, because of my after school work outs, I could comprehend. Following the weight training, the class worked on their abs by holding a position known as “The Banana.” One must hold their feet six inches above the ground and lift their arms above them to look like a banana. This seems easy, but trust me, it is quite contrary. Overall, the instructor created a great workout though I wish he would have explained how to do some of the moves.

I have done a few cycling classes before, but many of these classes centered around intervals where one would sprint in their bicycle seat at different times or would change from a seated to a standing position quickly and often. However, this class focused on hill climbing so there was much tension put on our bicycles to make it feel like we were climbing up an actual hill. After cycling, we used a Bosu ball, half an exercise ball, to work on balance and the abdomen. We had to stand on it to do squats, turn it upside down to do push ups, and hold planks on them. It was a very difficult but overall fun workout.

I thought tai chi would involve kicking and punching, but the class I took was comprised of predominately bending over to touch your toes and reaching up to the ceiling. It was not much of a workout, but the instructor had to cater to the class, where the majority of the people were at least over sixty five. At the end of tai chi, I was relaxed but rather bored because there was much more slow motion, which made the class seem longer, in comparison to the other classes.

Zumba is essentially a dance class where you move to latin hip hop and salsa. It was by far the most fun class because I love to dance and it didn’t really feel like a workout. This class is definitely is the class I’d like to voluntarily teach.

It was difficult to climb the stairs or lift up my water bottle at the end of the day, but even though it’s only been two days, I can already see a difference in myself. I can’t stop smiling and I feel genuinely good and happy despite the pain and hate throughout the arduous workouts. What I have learned in group exercise fitness classes thus far is that it is like a culture where every single role is important to make the class experience whole; the music and people’s relationship with it is crucial as well as the equipment, the instructor’s energy, the class’s response, and the workout itself. I’m extremely looking forward to the next month in seeing how my experience and workouts develop.