Today was one of those days where I felt like I completed a marathon before even participating in the YMCA's Class Marathon tonight. Prior to the event I enjoyed training reformer clients, transporting the kids to the MD (good news, it was only dry skin...not the dreaded wrestling fungus), delivering Trey to the barber for his ring-bearer haircut, visiting the Y with the kids to prepare for evening classes, returning to the Pharmacy to pick up Auburn's inhalers, then psyching myself up (hot-rollers and mascara) to teach a gym-full of exercise enthusiasts.
The YMCA Marathon of Classes supports the Kids of the YMCA campaign to provide funding for families who might not otherwise be able to afford a membership. In addition, the marathon pulls together nearly 75 people who are compelled to exercise for 4 hours straight! This group was all genders, all ages, all sizes...from the novice to the semi-professional. In addition there was a great table of snack food to energize our workout...homemade breads, veges, sweets, fruit, granola bar...we all knew where to go in order to refuel.
I was delighted to have more than 35 participants attend the Pilates portion of our workout. We typically limit class size to 10 in order to thoroughly convey the tenets and principles of Pilates. Tonight however I simply entrusted the spirit of Joseph Pilates to lead us in finding our core and creating a well-aligned, strong, flexible body. Following Pilates I thought I would coast through a gentle spinning class....I was mistaken as this class was work. I pedaled fast and hard as the instructor guided us through a pseudo race and commanded us to sprint, attack, push, and and challenge our way to the finish line. Following spinning I attended an ab strengthening class...not any ab class...but Nicola's Hard Core class. If you like to feel "the burn" Nicola can turn up the temperature faster than I can reach for my Advil. Next, I hobbled into the aerobic studio for awesome Addy's Zumba Strength, a salsa aerobic class alternating with light weights for additional resistance training. Zumba is fun which makes you momentarily forget about the 3 hours of accumulated pain. Finally I concluded my marathon with "Functional Mayhem," a hodge podge workout of squats, pain, lunges, pain, plyometrics, pain, and strength training, and did I mention pain??
The program lasted until 10pm, I excused myself at 9:15p.m. Upon my arrival home I was greeted by a large Pizza hut sausage pizza, courtesy of my husband...all part of my post-workout recovery..and a verbal play by play of the Idaho versus Bowling Green Humanitarian Bowl--clearly a thriller! Now, I plan to relax and enjoy the next few days of ushering in the New Year with my family,a little football (10am New Years Day Auburn versus Northwestern!) take down Christmas decor and gear up for a big trip to Florida as my baby brother ties the knot with his beautiful bride Amy a week from Sunday. In addition I look forward to resuming my regular class schedule at the Rivershores YMCA. As much as I appreciate a break from our usual routine there is also something very comfortable about steady work and the company of great friends and clients.
The best to you as you enjoy the last day of 2009---Do something you enjoy with someone you love...even if it is simply yourself!:)
The YMCA Marathon of Classes supports the Kids of the YMCA campaign to provide funding for families who might not otherwise be able to afford a membership. In addition, the marathon pulls together nearly 75 people who are compelled to exercise for 4 hours straight! This group was all genders, all ages, all sizes...from the novice to the semi-professional. In addition there was a great table of snack food to energize our workout...homemade breads, veges, sweets, fruit, granola bar...we all knew where to go in order to refuel.
I was delighted to have more than 35 participants attend the Pilates portion of our workout. We typically limit class size to 10 in order to thoroughly convey the tenets and principles of Pilates. Tonight however I simply entrusted the spirit of Joseph Pilates to lead us in finding our core and creating a well-aligned, strong, flexible body. Following Pilates I thought I would coast through a gentle spinning class....I was mistaken as this class was work. I pedaled fast and hard as the instructor guided us through a pseudo race and commanded us to sprint, attack, push, and and challenge our way to the finish line. Following spinning I attended an ab strengthening class...not any ab class...but Nicola's Hard Core class. If you like to feel "the burn" Nicola can turn up the temperature faster than I can reach for my Advil. Next, I hobbled into the aerobic studio for awesome Addy's Zumba Strength, a salsa aerobic class alternating with light weights for additional resistance training. Zumba is fun which makes you momentarily forget about the 3 hours of accumulated pain. Finally I concluded my marathon with "Functional Mayhem," a hodge podge workout of squats, pain, lunges, pain, plyometrics, pain, and strength training, and did I mention pain??
The program lasted until 10pm, I excused myself at 9:15p.m. Upon my arrival home I was greeted by a large Pizza hut sausage pizza, courtesy of my husband...all part of my post-workout recovery..and a verbal play by play of the Idaho versus Bowling Green Humanitarian Bowl--clearly a thriller! Now, I plan to relax and enjoy the next few days of ushering in the New Year with my family,a little football (10am New Years Day Auburn versus Northwestern!) take down Christmas decor and gear up for a big trip to Florida as my baby brother ties the knot with his beautiful bride Amy a week from Sunday. In addition I look forward to resuming my regular class schedule at the Rivershores YMCA. As much as I appreciate a break from our usual routine there is also something very comfortable about steady work and the company of great friends and clients.
The best to you as you enjoy the last day of 2009---Do something you enjoy with someone you love...even if it is simply yourself!:)
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