by Deborah Rogers –
I like the idea of a strong healthy body that will allow me to keep active into old age, and the New Year always brings the desire to try to be a bit fitter. For this month’s “Day Out” I’m letting Panorama Recreation show me some of their new fitness classes and I’m sampling them all in one week. Will I find something unusual and exciting, or will the new classes prove too much for my old body?
Monday: 6 p.m., Circuit Training, Greenglade. There were only four attendees, which meant excellent attention from our instructor, Liam, and of course nowhere to hide! The class consisted of a simple circuit of exercises, 15 in total, hitting all parts of the body. Using the weight room equipment we worked legs, glutes, shoulders, biceps, triceps and our core – oh how we worked our cores! It’s a great class for sustained elevated heart rate – and really you can stand a minute of almost anything (though when circuit two came round I couldn’t suppress my groan). There’s nothing relaxing about this workout – it’s hard (especially at the end of a work day) and it’s supposed to be.
Tuesday: 5.30 p.m., Spin Glow, Panorama. How did I feel after Monday? Sore arms and abs especially, and tired after a day at work. I didn’t feel like pushing myself but that’s the thing with spin: it’s just you and the bike. The “glow” idea is what’s new for 2018 – the class format is the same but in the dark with fun coloured lights spinning across the floor. Did it make a difference? Well, yes, I liked not being able to see the sweaty people around me (or maybe it was them not being able to see me that appealed) and it was certainly a change of atmosphere after a day in the office. Spin class is hard though, no mistake. Take it song by song and you’ll get through, but it’s a leg-burning, heart pumping sort of workout. It’s loud in there, and hot. I was a puddle at the end of it.
Wednesday: Ouch, my hamstrings! But I have slept like a baby, which feels incredibly refreshing. A gentle run and very thorough stretch helped ease the legs a bit, but to be honest I’m slightly dreading tomorrow’s class.
Thursday: Noon, Tri-circuit, Panorama. I felt full of energy this morning! The prospect of a lunchtime workout kept me on my toes and before I knew it I was flying out the door. Midday doesn’t work for everyone, so I was surprised to find nine of us ready on the mezzanine for Angela’s class. The idea is a quick, efficient workout that almost anyone can do, and scale up or down to suit their fitness level. The tri refers to three sets of equipment (rather than my triceps thankfully, which have still not recovered from Liam’s brutal sets of dips on the bar on Monday!). There are spin bikes (again) kettlebells and floor mats and at each station you spend a block of time working on alternate sets of exercises. I loved the energy of the class and that there wasn’t too much to think about with only three pieces of equipment. Time flew and before I knew it I was stretching it out and back to the office. Certainly my favourite class so far, but that may have had a lot to do with the time of day, which seemed to suit my body much better than the afterwork slot.
Friday: Noon, TGIF Yoga, Greenglade. The old classrooms have been converted to great yoga studios, with fresh clean flooring and large wall mirrors. Lighting was low as we were encouraged to view it as restorative rather than a workout. That suited me! It was a very gentle stretch and relax, kind to my body after the punishment of the week, but really too relaxing for a workday lunch hour. I was ready for my PJ’s rather than the meeting I had to attend, but my hips and back felt much better.
Sunday: a long run. It took a while to warm up my tired legs, but I felt energized. A solid week of exercise feels good for the body and soul, and I love knowing that I’ve worked every part of me this week. Thanks to Panorama for offering such a variety of classes and times. There are many other activities offered at both venues; I may well try something else new, now that I have the taste for it!
What do you want to see Deb do next? Send your ideas or invitations to news@seasidemagazine.ca.
