I used to have such a love affair with going to LA Fitness. I could spend literally hours there just running and lifting and making the rotations. But that was also when I had a lot more time than I do now and I was able to go during non-peak hours. These days when I head to the gym, it's more of a "wait in line for a treadmill because it's 6:00 and everyone & their mother is here, run a 5k while getting evil eyes from every one waiting in line behind you, go use the leg press machine for longer than you want to because you're waiting for another machine to open & then go home because it's so crowded and you can't really breathe".
...And that sums up 90% of my gym visits in the last year.
So when one of my old neighbors opened up a fitness studio nearby to where I live, I was intrigued. Sure I had never done anything like this before, but I really needed to start crosstraining again & obviously the gym was not the place to do so. I decided to try a couple classes, but I really fell in love with piloxing.
One of our Saturday classes at Motion on Main
Piloxing is a non-stop cardio fusion of dance, boxing & pilates. I really enjoy fast paced workouts that not only challenge you, but are also fun at the same time. When I leave that class I am POURING (and I do mean POURING) sweat. It helps that Motion on Main's instructor, Amy, is an absolute firecracker who motivates us to push harder class after class and switches things up to keep us interested. After just over a month of taking her classes, I can see a noticeable difference in my muscle tone and strength. Even after going to the gym for years, this is fastest I have ever seen results. It's amazing.
I also really like that piloxing incorporates a lot of balance and ballet techniques into the workout, as well. Core strength is so important, and I feel like it can easily get overlooked in most cardio-based workouts. Piloxing seriously exercises your entire body, which is hard to do if you're just going through the rotations at the gym. I don't think I've ever cross trained this comprehensively, and it's apparent that it's making a difference when I can clearly notice my endurance and strength improving during my runs. If you're serious about running and you're not cross training... Dude. Start.
I also really like that piloxing incorporates a lot of balance and ballet techniques into the workout, as well. Core strength is so important, and I feel like it can easily get overlooked in most cardio-based workouts. Piloxing seriously exercises your entire body, which is hard to do if you're just going through the rotations at the gym. I don't think I've ever cross trained this comprehensively, and it's apparent that it's making a difference when I can clearly notice my endurance and strength improving during my runs. If you're serious about running and you're not cross training... Dude. Start.
You also have the option of wearing weighted gloves during class, which I decided to go for after the first few classes. They definitely make a difference and I have to admit, they do make you feel like you have a little bit more purpose behind your punches. I was never a boxing type, and I will admit I felt a little silly the first few classes, but I have definitely built up my confidence and actually feel like I'm starting to get the form down. It's also kind of cool to have upper body strength for the first time in what feels like forever.
So thanks to Amy & the crew at Motion on Main for helping this runner chick crosstrain successfully for the first time in a long time! Dancing and being a badass sure beats waiting in line for chest fly machine, I'll tell ya that much!
Keep running (er.. punching),
Kelli
