January workout highlights

Workouts: Month in review

13 runs for 61 miles

4 yoga classes

3 BodyPump class

3 pilates classes

2 gymnastics classes

2 home workouts

6 off days 

January highlights

The month started off a little slow with me in holiday mode—but with some double workouts in, I'm definitely back to gym rat status. I'm doing the same classes that I like. I haven't tried any new classes, but a few highlights for the month.

• Signing up for races Will race in 2017. At least twice as much as 2016 ;) 

I know I'm doing 6.6 miles in the Chick-Fil-A half in April and a trail race March 19 I have a bunch of others I'm thinking about including a 10k in February. 

• Completing the Lululemon Strava challenge for a free Swiftly shirtsleeve (and guacamole!)

• Increasing my weight in Bodypump. Woot! 

• Increasing my distance! I have been gradually increasing the distance I run. This time last year I was running 3-4 miles. I don't see a run over 4 miles until July. I've increased from 4 to 5 and change. I finally got to 6 miles this month and can do a 10k. Which is awesome.

(Running longer distances = blood blisters on my feet. I'm between shoes. Retiring old and breaking in new) 

Blood blisters

Just leave them if they're under a callus. They're fine.

• Finally running at Sandy Creek Park. I should make a list of area trails to try.

• Also, I was pretty good with meal prep. Definitely makes a difference!

Goals for next month: 

1) Mileage up to 7 miles

2)  Run better at Sandy Creek (less walking! less falling) 

3) Try a new trail if the weather (maybe make a list of trails in the area to try. Can you tell I love lists?)

4) Stay healthy! 

Ramsey Free Week Recap

It's free week at my university's student gym. That means any gym member can take any class they want for free. The only caveat is you have to get a space in the class—meaning there has to be enough space or equipment for you. Some of the classes have lines to get in. So it's always good to get there early to ensure you have spot. These classes are way busier than later on in the semester. Most of the classes are PACKED. They try not to turn people away. They try to squeeze as many people in as possible. So that might mean the late comers have to share equipment. Or for some classes they'll cut the line off. Usually if you're there 10 minutes earlier you'll be fine. It's also a tryout phase—meaning there will be lots of newbies in the class so you don't have to worry about not knowing the workout. Probably half the class won't know the workout so you won't stick out.

Day 1: TRX Yoga
I miss TRX and I liked yoga so I decided to try this class. I got there good and early and got equipment. This class had spots for 23. A few girls came in about 10 minutes late and there wasn't equipment for them.

The first half of the class was yoga. We started out with breathing and mindfulness and moved on to downward dog and other poses. So an average yoga class.

The second half of the class was TRX. It was yoga on TRX so you got a better stretch. We did Y holds and T holds. We did floor work with hamstrings, glute bridges, planks and pikes (so hard! I used to be better at these!). By the end only a few people were left. I was trying to #beastmode through it, but I couldn't do as many pikes as I used to.

Overall, I LOVED the class. It was such an amazing stretch for my shoulders. Because of the TRX you can really stretch deeper than you would when pushing against the floor. (I'm pretty flexible so this was exactly what I needed.)I felt really good leaving the class. Like I'd just had a massage or a chiropractic adjustment. I went in with an achey back and left feeling awesome.

Overseen in this class: International student working out in jean shorts.

Day 2: Yoga
I did Friday yoga and this class was packed. They probably packed 40 people into the tiny studio. I don't think they had to turn anyone away.

This was your average yoga class, not my beloved power yoga.I think the instructor was taking it easy for all the newbies. I like my yoga on caffeine, so I'd really like a more difficult class. The instructor said we'd do headstands and crane later in the semester. So there is hope for it.

We did the usual poses. We did some variations of tree pose—harder versions, arms out, arms swaying etc.  She said to try it with your eyes closed. WHY IS IT SO MUCH HARDER WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED!?! This blew my mind and I must get better at this immediately.

I like the time this class is offered. If I do take it again, I'll count it as an off day.

Overseen in class: Girl in front of me working on in a cotton onesie sleeper that was so short I could see her 80s satin underwear. I didn't even think they made underwear like that anymore.

Day 3: Bodypump

I've always been intimidated by this class. It's always packed to the gills full of girls and giant barbells. 60 minutes of weights!? Sounds awful.
But I do need to add strength training to my regimen and it's free week so I should try classes and see what I like.

I'm not sure if I've picked a barbell since freshman year of college, so I didn't know what to expect.

Equipment for this class: a mat, a platform, a barbell and plates.

I got a barbell (which was surprisingly light. NOT 40 pounds) and a set of small (2.2), medium (5.5) and large (11 pound) plates.

I put the small and medium on each side for the warm-up (deadlifts and upright rows). I survived! I thought I maybe could have added weight.

There were squats and overhead lifts. It was kind of what I was expecting. I didn't die really until the third or so exercise about 10 minutes in when my arms started to shake. I persevered.

The second half of the class was leg day. It was squats. I DIED on the lunges, which was weird because I run and can do lunges. I was just so tired at that point. We did some work lying back on the bench (like a weight bench)

We changed weights throughout the class. I did most of the class with the small and medium or just the medium on the bar. I watched what the one instructor was doing and that was a good weight for me. We also used the plates as free weights—for tricep extensions and then the small plates for some exercise that killed my shoulders (out of the side and back like you're pulling a bow and arrow.) We also did pushups after my arms were tired.

The next day my quads were sore as well as my shoulders. Good sore. I knew I'd be sore.

I'm thinking about adding the class to my routine. I just don't know what fits yet.

I'd wanted to take the 7 p.m. yoga too, but the gym early for a training so it wasn't offered anyway.

Day 4: Power Yoga
I went to the usual room for yoga. But the yoga class was actually upstairs. So at 12 minutes till I went upstairs and was about #20 in line. Then the fire alarm went off for the gym and the entire gym had to evacuate. There were about 2,000 people shuttled out of the building: lots of people working out, waiting to take classes and about 500 people in a lecture (maybe a mandatory club sports meeting). So we all waited outside in the grass. About 20 minutes in—they decided to cancel the classes and I went home and walked my dog.

I ran this morning so it was okay. Maybe I needed the rest? Apparently the fire alarm had been going off all week.

Fire alarm crowd. About 30 minutes in. A ton had left. 

Day 5: More TRX Yoga
Maybe I should have tried a different class, but I wanted to do this class again. This class had a lot of people come in late (after it was full) and there wasn't equipment for them. And I found that extremely distracting. The teacher was having to teach two groups. I'll look forward to smaller classes later in the semester.

On Tuesdays, there are barre classes that I might do later. There's an Insanity class, which I might be too chicken to try. I die just doing 10 minutes of Insanity abs. 60 minutes!? I'm scared. Today I was too tired to do the class. Maybe on a week I've been a slug and really need to torch some calories.

I didn't do the last day of free week. I have a standing Wednesday class that I try my hardest not to miss.

So that's it I'll buy an all access pass soon.

Closing thoughts:
1. Don't be afraid to go to the student gym. Yes, it's super busy. But if you show up early and pay attention you will be fine.(Also classes tend to be more popular during the school day and slightly less packed the closer you get to 8 p.m.)
2. Maybe I should have tried more classes. I still haven't tried Total Body Tone or spinning with the instructor I liked this summer. But I guess I have all semester.
3. Glad I survived free week: early closings, fire alarms and all.

Handstand progress

I've been working on a handstand for forever. (A year and a half.)

I started doing handstands at the trampoline gym and circuit training class. That progressed to wall handstands and gymnastics classes and finally taking a handstand class.

Progress is slow but I'm getting there.

My husband snapped this one of my at gymnastics tonight.
1. Straight up and down. (I tend to tilt my hips and not form a line. Or arch my back)
2. Toes pointed
3. My hands might be a tad wide, but it's okay
4. My head might be a tad out.
5.. Fingers are tented.
I'll take it. I can tell the difference between my handstand now and last summer. 

The goal is a 10 second hold. This picture was like a 2 second hold. I have more 5 second holds now.
I've got a better idea where my balance point is and more holds and fewer junk handstands. (Still plenty of those.)

I still need to work on
• Really squeezing my quads and butt to straighten my handstand out
• Entries. Getting me head between my arms and not out.
• Holding longer. Finding that balance point and holding it—instead of kicking up too hard and falling over.

Super happy about my progress on handstands and hope to be able to hold it longer each month.

Goal: Practice at home.
I don't have a lot of space to practice in my townhouse, so I take a Sunday handstand class and Wednesday gymnastics. That's twice a week. If I can get a few handstands in at my house or at the student gym, I think I'll make more progress. I've really just been doing them once a week and that's not enough.

(What I wore: Glyder Mosiac crop and Athleta PR tank. I like tanks with built in bras that won't come up like a loose tank might for gymnastics. )

Bonus: My husband came with me to my adult tumbling class tonight  :) It was awesome. He had a blast. He said "that was a lot of fun for $10. They have all the toys. You can pick want you want to do. And there are coaches around to help you do it." He wanted to play on the bars. So Robert worked with him on basic bar work. I think he wants to do a kip.

We walked on the balance beams. I showed him the cheese wheel for back handsprings. We played on the tumble track. He played on the parallel bars and had a bar set up for him on the floor.

Lesson: You're never too old for gymnastics. (My husband is 35.) And it is fun!

Above Barre Groupon

I'm gymless for about two weeks in December, so I bought a steal of a Groupon to Above Barre.

I'd been eying it for awhile—and was waiting for am extra percentage off. Between the extra percentage off and knowing I'd need some fitness classes over the holidays (when everything including my usually gyms and studios are closed) I decided it was worth the money.

I knew I liked barre classes. They're low impact (which is great for all the over-use injuries I get from running.) And the deal averaged out to about $5 a class. Awesome.

A few days before Christmas I went to redeem my Groupon.

There was a pretty hard sell to get me to a one-month contract. Which honestly, didn't make sense to me. I just stared at the girl. I bought 10 classes to use over the holidays. Why would a one-month plan be any better? I don't need an Omni membership. I don't plan on taking unlimited barre in January.

I explained to the girl that I was looking for a once-a-week option, that I had other classes I regularly took. She told me about their $59 once a week plan. So I'd change my $50 10-class Groupon for a 4-class Groupon? I continued staring at the girl—and said I was sure they'd have New Year's deals when I was done with my Groupon.

After that unpleasantness, the class was good. The instructor had a kind, fun energy. It was much better than the class I took back in January of last year. There were less ballet terms. There was more equipment and variety in the exercises. The clientele had also changed (in part to the college students going home for break) and it was more moms, grandmas, and grad school aged women. There were less co-eds. And there are also more class times, including more evening times when I can make it. (So good changes from my last visit.)

I had told the teacher it was my first class there—and she was pretty impressed with my form. (Thanks Pure Barre).

I went back a few more times. (I haven't used all 10 visits yet. Because the weather's been nice enough to run outside on a few days and I've picked up some free classes here and there.) And I've enjoyed the classes. There's less work on pointe, less barre holds (which I don't really like).

The class works your core. There's an abs series they do, that involves scissors and bicycles. There's arm work. They have weights and they use bands for exercises at the barre (Almost like Pure Barre's velcro band classes). I've done curls, back flies, pullups and more with the bands. There's the usual leg work—on pointe, lots of calf, hip flexor work. And the class ends with stretching and some yoga poses.

Above Barre also offers more variety in classes.

They have a Core Express class, which focuses more on abs and is 45 minutes. I really liked this class and hope to go again.

There's also a HIIT class, which is barre with more cardio and harder options. Really liked this class too.

And some of the instructors teach harder classes than others. I feel like I need to take another one of Hillary's classes. I remember really liking the toughness of her class.

 I've liked all of the teachers and all of the classes. I haven't had a bad experience.

The classes were smaller—in part because it was holiday break.

The difference between this and Pure Barre?
1. Not as much Lululemon at Above Barre. Girls were wearing Under Armour, Fila and regular—not luxe activewear.
2. There's a larger variety in equipment. More bands etc at Above Barre.
3. The classes all vary as do Pure Barre. A class with one of AB's veteran instructors is going to be similar to a class with a veteran Pure Barre teacher. There's a set formula of warmup, barre work, arms, abs, cool down etc for classes at each studio—with slightly different variations depending on the instructor and day.
4. Pure Barre keeps their studio slightly warmer.
5. Pure Barre's classes are more crowded (and have a younger, Greeker clientele.) PB has a larger studio and can accommodate 29-34 people.
—In January, most of Pure Barre's classes are waitlisted. I've never had that problem at Above Barre. This might only be a problem for January and Platform classes.
6. The Pure Barre instructors look like they hopped out of magazine. AB has normal looking instructors—beauties, moms, fitness enthusiasts.

Both are barre workouts. I'm not sure who has the edge, really. I like classes at both places. Classes at Above Barre have improved a lot since my last visit. Pure Barre is an established chain. And Above Barre is a barre method studio—they're popping up everywhere.

If you want a membership to a big gym (Omni) or childcare, Above Barre probably has the advantage.

Pure Barre was the first barre studio in Athens—and now there are also classes at UGA (on my list to try) and I did try a mini barre class at Above Body studio. I should do a full class and give you a review.

But taking any fitness class is a step in the right direction.

Happy tucking!

(Update: I liked their HIIT barre class so much I purchased a 5 pack of classes. It burns the same amount of calories as Pure Barre Platform, without Platforms choreography that I suck at, and without two week wait lists.)

16 Fitness goals for 2016

Classes to try.
1. Try a class at Blast.  (Interval training with treadmills)
2. Take a yoga class.
3. Try a barre class at Ramsey.
4. Try a SUP yoga class. (or just rent a paddle board one day when it's warm.)

Running goals
5. Run a 5k.
6. 7 minute mile

Tumbling goals
7. Connect fly springs
8. Walk overs
9. Touch my feet to my head
10. 10 second handstand
11. Practice handstands at home. (Daily?)

General goals
12. Conquer the Ninja course at Rush
13. Try another flying trapeze place. Bonus: Get my cutaway!
14. Get a body composition test done
15. Stay on budget with fitness clothes. (Spend less money at Lululemon)
16. Active wear brands to try: Goldsheep, Alala, Sweaty Betty, Heroine Sport, Michi, Koral Activewear, Albion Fit

What are your goals? Any goals I should add?

What I learned in my flying trapeze workshop

I took my last workshop class. It was six classes on Sunday or Wednesday night. I think my big takeaway is that I have so much more to learn.

I started learning my one-handed take-off. I started learning my swing. I'm still working on both. But a swing does usually take a while to learn. Everyone told me this.

I didn't learn as many tricks as I thought I would over the 6 classes, because I had to learn so many of the foundation skills. And because after the front end tricks—the tricks get harder. They're not one-class tricks anymore. And towards the end of the workshop, I worked on perfecting my two tricks for the end of workshop show, so I could throw them even when nervous.

I did catch both of my show tricks at class tonight ;) (Woot! Only person with two catches tonight. Bonus: Two catches for two tricks)

Backend Straddle. 

Seat roll. Wonky catch. I need to straighten out after coming off the bar. 

Also, I got to swing with Kaz on the bar. I didn't think he was serious when he said we were both going to swing on the bar. But we did, so I could feel/see what my swing should be. Forward, backward, forward, extend, etc. Once I got over the extreme embarrassment of it, it was actually helpful. But it took at least five minutes to stop being embarrassed. (I still need to be smoother, one fluid motion, maybe more relaxed than I am now.)

It starts off okay and then my timing gets off

It was my first class with a rain delay.  The weather has been gross all week. The forecast for today was rainy but I was confident it would clear up for the class. The morning started out cold and rainy and then cleared up and got up to 75 by the afternoon. So it was beautiful at the rig. But about 30 minutes into class, I hadn't even had my second swing, it started sprinkling gradually. And then it was a light rain. (My iPhone weather app said CLEAR even though the phone was wet. It's in an Otterbox so it's fine.) But it's looking like the weather might not be great for the show Sunday. The forecast is currently 100% chance of thunderstorms.

Since it was the last workshop class ever, I did end up buying a T-shirt. And then since it was $5, another T-shirt. So I can look legit when I go to other rigs.

Here's what I learned in the workshop:

1. I started working on my swing. So I learned most of this. (Still on forward, backward forward, not Seven, Hollow and Sweep)
2. I learned how to take off my safety lines. And I got a lot better at unhooking them and walking them to the board. (This got noticeably better!)
3. Trick: Backend straddle
4. Trick: Backend split
5. Started to learn trick: Straight jump
6. That I'm still a belt hold. I can work towards not being a belt hold, but for now, I am.
7. The importance on filing down your calluses so your hands don't rip. (I don't need grips yet, but do make sure to chalk your hands before your swings.)
8. That going to the trapeze rig once or twice a week really helps. It's amazing how fast your muscles forget a trick.
9. If you take a night class, wear white or neon to show up in videos.

I think I am better than when I started the workshop. The safety lines might be the biggest difference.

I'm very glad I got the opportunity to do this workshop and to take trapeze classes this fall. I love it.

What next?

I'm itching for my next gym challenge, though I'm not sure what it is yet. Here are a few things I've thought of.

1. Flying Trapeze

This is definitely on my to try list. It looks amazing.

It is kind of pricey and I'm not in that much of a hurry to try it.

2. Spinning classes

I've wanted to try a spinning class for years. I have an exercise bike at home, and I worry my left knee doesn't like cycling.

It could be intense.

3. Vertical Pole classes

Also on my to try list. I need to save up the courage to take this. I am so uncoordinated! But all the girls who do this have killer abs.

4. Kickboxing

I could be pretty bad at this, but if someone taught me how to do it, then maybe?

(There are two groupons for this right now.)

5) Blast 900

I've driven by this place on Baxter St. A million times. They offer you a free first class, but I don't know what it is.

(Note: I looked it up. It's interval training with treadmills. I'm not sure I like treadmills. Classes are $20 each or $195 for an unlimited month. Not sure I can afford to like this one.) 

Description from their website:

BLASTClasses

BLAST is a fat shredding, muscle toning, personalized group exercise class in which people of every fitness level alternate between cardio on a treadmill and strength training on the floor, each working at their own pace to reach THEIR maximum effort.

Other ideas

6) Running

I could take up running again. 

7) Canopy Trapeze classes

I've wanted to take trapeze classes at Canopy for a year now, but have had no luck. Despite emailing the owner a few times and knowing two instructors, there is NEVER an opening in their beginner classes and there's no drop-in classes. 

8) A friend suggested belly dancing.

I cannot dance. I'm not sure about this idea, but it is on the list of possibilities. 

9) Zumba

A coworker lost a ton of weight doing zumba. I can't move my hips so I think I'd be tragic at this one. 

10) There seem to be a lot of bootcamp classes in Athens. I could look into this.

I'm not sure what's next. What should I do?