FITNESS | SurfSet Class Review

A few weeks ago I tried a new class with my good friend Sophie. Surfiest had caught my eye after my girl Kate, a Surfset instructor in Baltimore, MD, began posting on social media. Whilst in Greece I noticed that a gym near me was starting classes just as I got back! One of the very first in the UK. After watching some promo videos I knew I HAD to try it out.

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Try It Tuesday - Boxercise Class!

Hello! I'm in the midst of cooking my boyfriend's Valentines surprise but I'm taking a well deserved break (I've been cooking for four hours!!) to tell you how Boxercise was yesterday! As you may know I've called this week Try-It Week as I'm looking to try a ton of new stuff in order to switch up my routine. Yesterday's try it was Boxercise :)

Marisa Miller Boxing

I was really looking forward to it as around the time of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, all of the Angels posted about what they do to get in 'runway shape' and a frequent occurance was Kickboxing or Boxing or Boxercise and if it's good enough for the VS Angels then it's good enough for me!! I'd also hedge a bet to say I'm not the only one who feels like that hehe!

 

 

Erin Heatherton modelling the infamous boxing look for the 2010 VS Fashion Show

I got to the gym and sat in the lobby waiting for the class in the studio before us to exit so I  could go in and I was greeted by the instructor straight away. He was Scottish and I can really guiltily admit I have a problem understanding Scottish people so I thought "Oh no...this isn't a good sign". The next bad sign was that the lobby was filling up with men, not just any kind of men either; big, bulky, tattoed men. The next thought I had was "I'm going to die". 

As we got into the studio I was laughing a lot at the instructor. He was dancing in a typical Dad dancing style (or think Ross from 'Friends' drunk) and singing to Rizzle Kick's 'Mama Do the Hump' but totally out of time and tune and I found myself feeling a little bit more relaxed about the whole thing.

We launched into the warm up and as it was Valentines Day the instructor, James, had devised a semi-related workout to the holiday. It was actually really similair to a warm up I'd have during PE in High School. We were running around the space and when James shouted "1", we'd touch the floor with our left hand, "2" was our right, "3" was both and "4" was jumping up in the air as high as we could. Then there were the Valenties related commands which were "Barn Dance" and "Ballroom" - don't ask, it was manic. This went on for about 15 minutes and I'm a lot fitter than I used to be but I was definitely out of breath by the end! 

The main body of the class went really quickly. It worked by the whole class splitting into pairs. James had asked to work with me as it was my first class which I was more than happy to oblige to - if I was going to do it I wanted to do it right. I was taught how to 'jab', 'hook', 'cross' and 'body' which are all different style of hits. As I was with the instructor and everyone else was in pairs I had to do everything twice so I got a real workout. Inbetween each 'set' of cross, jab, left body, right body' or another sequence of hits, which each lasted two minutes, there would be a fitness element, for example a minute of squat jacks or a minute of tummy tucks. I was exhausted as I was doing double time! Towards the end we all came together and people with the pads formed a circle and all the people with the gloves were in the middle. We'd rotate one by one and be instructed to perform one move before moving on to the next person.

In the last 5 minutes of the main body of the class there were sprint intervals up and down the width of the studio. Each partner had 2 and a half minutes to run to their parter, do 4 quick jabs and run back and repeat. I however did this for the whole five minutes. Yes. Sprinted. For five minutes. I'm so proud of myself for getting through it! 

The class finished with a cool down and stretches. 

I had so much fun! There was something so empowering about wearing boxing gloves, hitting, and feeling in control. My body definitely ached this morning. The music was fun, the energy was fantastic and everyone in the class was really friendly and approachable. I think the way that James looked after me throughout the class really encouraged and helped me too and I'm really grateful for it. I'd thoroughly reccomend Boxercise and so long as I'm not working I'll be going along next week too! I'll be on the VS Runway before you know it!


Share, Love, Inspire, Sweat  ♥

Workout Class Funk: Aquarobics Review

Now I'm all one for retro; in fact I'm quite partial to some 80's music but on Wednesday I witnessed (as Sue Sylvester would say) "Pure Horror". 

I went swimming with my family to kick off the new weekly Edwards family Workout Wednesday and my mum had planned to go to an aquarobics class (aerobics in the pool for those of you who might not know) but during the week she threw her back out so she came swimming with us and decided to see if the workout class was for her, and this is where our story begins.

I can honestly say I have never been so shocked in my entire life.

The instructor looked like she'd come straight out of an 80s workout DVD. She had ginger permed hair which was down to her waist (even in a high pony) with a sweat band and a high fringe. She had matching tight workout apparel in (as in matching beige stripe going from her shoulder to her ankle) and bright red lipstick. I had never seen anything like it in my life.

Then came the music. I don't know about you but I think that music is one of the key parts of a workout. I know that if I've left my iPod at home my workout is generally much shorter and a lot less intense. This 80s instructor had one CD that she used for this class. This CD had only 4 songs on it. 4. I kid you not. 3 out of the 4 songs were Kylie Minogue songs from the 80s, the other was Celebration by Kool and the Gang. She played the whole CD on repeat for the poor victims in the aquarobics class whilst getting them to perform mediocre movements that really could have no benefit at all (jumping up and down on the water for 5 minutes no stop was a particular favourite - where are the toning moves)!

It's fair to say it was the worst class I've ever witnessed thus far and Mum said she'd rather stick hot needles in her eyes than attend it! 

Tell me - have you ever been to a shockingly bad class?