Friday, June 21, 2013

Workout #18 Fit Body Boot Camp

http://www.fitbodybootcamp.com/ca/redlands-fitness-boot-camp/about

Workout #18 - Boot Camp 

Saturday morning's workout was a 30-minute boot camp class. From reading their blog, I found they are focused on the afterburn effect and tailor their exercises around that philosophy. They do higher intensity, shorter workouts with the idea that you go home and continue to burn calories for hours afterwards. 

The building was not impressive at all... when you walk in it's just a small open space with industrial carpeting that has snags and pieces lifting up everywhere. ** They really need workout flooring** They had some dumbbells along one wall and a couple of ropes. 

The trainer for the class was nice and in good shape, but not super motivating during the workout.

We started with a warm up of jumping jacks, push ups and burpees. Then we went through a circuit at our own pace for a set time - I think 30min. I can't remember all the exercises, but they were the type that if you push yourself and go at a good pace you can get your heart rate up quickly and get a good workout. I definitely felt like I got a good workout, but there was just something about the environment that I just wasn't feeling. 

I love to push myself and workout really hard, but I have to be interested and motivated with the workout... that's why running never works for me. Running is hard enough that I have to push myself, but so stinking boring that I'm grumpy the whole time. That is kinda how I felt with this workout.

I actually really like the boot camp classes at LA Fitness, but the energy level is way better and the instructor is much more motivating - the class is an hour but it goes by quickly.

So the nitty gritty:
You can get a good workout
Short classes
Low energy
The place needs flooring and fun paint
Need a more motivating instructor
Offer meal plans and nutrition

Would I recommend this gym? Na... for the money there are a lot of much better options.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Workout # 17 - Zumba

http://www.ynami.com/


Workout # 17 - Zumba at Studio Ynami

Friday night my friend, Megan, and I did a zumba class. This  studio has only  zumba classes and a newly added hip hop class and I think a stretching class. Normally you need a referral to try a class for free, but the instructor/owner was sweet and let us try a class without one. The place is fairly small with mirrors on one wall and lots of free-standing fans along the walls. The class was pretty full and lasted an hour. It was definitely more of a low impact style of class, so it moved a little slower. It would be a perfect workout for those needing something slower paced. I was glad to have a friend with me; otherwise the time would have gone really slowly :)  Other members came up and welcomed us and chatted at the end of class.  I think people enjoy the class; it's just at a different intensity level then I'm used to.




Jacob didn't take the class he just jumped in for the pic :)


So the nitty gritty:
Friendly people
Easy class - low intensity
All women - comfortable environment

Would I recommend this gym/studio? No, unless you are brand new to working out or need a fun way to lose a few pounds before starting a more intense workout. But for me... it was not enough of a workout and not as much fun as other zumba classes.

















Wednesday, June 12, 2013

2 reviews w/o the workout

The last week and a half has been super busy I managed to squeeze in workouts at LA Fitness but couldn't schedule any new workouts. My next workout will be Saturday and I'll have a new post for you then.

But for now here are two gyms in Redlands that I have been to in the past so they won't be on my rotation but I wanted to share them with you. Let's start with DK Kickboxing. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dk-Kick-Boxing/120071144671734  
 I did kickboxing with DK for a couple years back in the day... right after Jason and I got married. I loved it... it is a great workout... super tough. The gym is nothing fancy but it has what you need. DK the owner/instructor is friendly and in great shape. You learn real kickboxing here not cardio kickboxing. Everyone works on bags as well as sparing which is really fun. You need to have your own gloves and wraps plus other pads if you want. You can wear shoes or workout barefoot I preferred no shoes. 

So the nitty gritty:
The owner/instructor is great
You can get a tough workout here
The intensity level is pretty high
Class times are limited

Would I recommend this gym? Yes... if you like an aggressive workout without the frills this is a great place.



http://www.innerevolutionyoga.com/#
I went to inner evolution yoga back in the fall... they offered a groupon deal that lasted me 2 months. This is a nice little yoga studio where you workout upstairs in a cool brick building... nice curb appeal :) They have several windows so in the day time you get lots of outside light. The size of this place gives it a much cozier feel and you get more attention from the instructor. They have several instructors and some were awesome and I really enjoyed the workout. Other classes were much slower and I left feeling like I didn't get as great of a workout. The members were pretty friendly with a wide age range. In most classes you have some room around you so it's easier to work on handstands and other balance moves without falling on the person next to you. Most of the classes are heated.

So the nitty gritty:
Nice looking little studio
Pick the right instructor and you can get a great workout
Like most yoga studios you bring your own mat
Prices are high

Would I recommend this studio? Except for the higher prices yes... I liked working out there and my body liked that type of workout. 

** I don't think I could ever just do yoga - I know you can get crazy in shape by just doing yoga but I like jumping, squating, dancing etc. So I think it's an amazing supplement to any workout 1-2 times a week!
 










Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Workout #16 - Grove CrossFit

  
http://www.grovecrossfit.com/
 Workout #16

Tuesday's workout was crossfit at  8:00am at Grove crossfit in Redlands. This is a new gym in the area that the owner started in his garage and then outgrew and moved to a bigger location - but it's still a pretty small gym. The place could use some organization and sprucing up but I know they are still trying to get things settled also.

The owner was friendly and as soon as I walked in he got me right to work on the warm up. 500m row and then a lot of mobility warm up exercises. 

Then I did a short warm up workout:
10 thrusters
10 situps 
200m run
repeat 3X"s

There was another new girl there on her 2nd day so they did a WOD for us:

40 single unders (jump rope)
25 kettle bell swings 
25 squats 
40 calorie row
repeat 2X's 
I finished in 11min 7sec... I bet the other girl by 3min :) hehe

So rowing is tough!! I have never really done much of it before but it gets your heart rate up. It was a good workout and I was pretty sweaty at the end! 


One of these days I'll get another pic AT an actual gym
So the nitty gritty:
Owner was friendly and in shape
Gym was kind of small and needed sprucing up
You can get a great workout
None of the other members said "hi" 
Fees are lower then most crossfit gyms

Would I recommend this this gym? Price-wise yes you can get a good workout and pay less... however for me I'm really looking for a more established place with higher energy.



Thursday, May 23, 2013

Workout #15 - Crossfit South Redlands

  
http://crossfitsouthredlands.com/
Workout # 15

Today's 7:00am workout was at CrossFit South Redlands. For first timers you do day one of fundamentals, at this gym, and then if you become a member you continue on with learning fundamentals before you start the group classes.

This gym is big with lots of equipment and space and seemed pretty organized. The back of the gym has a row of roll-up garage doors so there is lots of light and air. I met the owner and he gave me a tour of the gym and explained who they are and what they are about... he is a talker but super nice. 

Today was their open box day where you can go in and work on anything you would like. There were a handful of people there and several trainers... everyone was very friendly! I can see how crossfit gyms, including this one, build a community within them - kinda cool.

The workout:

A trainer took me through a warm-up and then a series of exercises one on one. He walked me through kipping pull ups but, having only ever done dead hang pull ups, my coordination was way off. I've been meaning to build a pull up bar in our garage though so this reminded me. 

Oh BTW if you have been reading my blog you will remember that I have been working on double unders. Well I'm still working on them but my regular jump roping is really improving... if you want to get your heart rate up quick do a few hundred jump ropes!! On days when I can't get to the gym it's a great mini workout!

Back to the workout...

We did a bunch of different exercises and then a short workout.

5min - as many rounds as possible - I did 4

7 kettle bell swings
100 meter run (I think)
5 box jumps on a tire
5 burpees

Today's workout was a lot about learning so it wasn't super tough but I'm sure you can get a great workout here.

So the nitty gritty:
Owner and trainers were friendly and in shape
Members were friendly
The gym is big w/ lots of equipment
I'm sure you can get a great workout here
They have a kids room available
Fees are high but compared to other crossfit gyms pretty reasonable



Would I recommend this gym: Yes... they seemed to have it all and I think crossfit is a great workout!



 

 




 

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Zumba w/ Nicole Forbes #14

http://nfzumba.com/
Workout #14 - Zumba Glow Party w/ Nicole Forbes

Nicole is a zumba instructor who teaches zumba at Dance With Purpose Studios in Redlands. They do not offer a free first class but when I contacted her she was super friendly and told me about a glow party they were having that night. I'm always up for something new so I grabbed my sister, Heather and her friend and we got our "party" workout on! 


When we got to the studio it was packed - we met the instructor/owner Nicole and she was really nice. She painted us with glow paint and a lot of the girls were wearing glow sticks too :) The studio was dark w/ black lights and everyone was supposed to wear white or brite colors.

The workout: 1hr 15min of zumba - fitness dancing.

It was actually really fun but super crowded... like the girl next to me whacked me with her arm twice and it was really hard to see the instructor. This type of zumba is not for wimps! It is high energy and fast paced with loud music! The instructor is great because all the moves are high impact and she has enough energy for 10 people so it's super motivating.


We were definitely dripping sweat...

I honestly couldn't tell much about the actual studio because it was dark :) Oh and they had live bongo - I think that's what they are called - drummers in the far corner but the music was so loud, by me at least, that I couldn't hear them. 

So the nitty gritty:
The instructor was friendly and in shape
I think she needs a bigger place - I'll try a regular class and see how crowded it is
Fees are pretty reasonable  
Burn a LOT of calories while you have fun

Would I recommend this gym (workout)? Yes... I thought it was a lot of fun and you can get a great cardio/core workout. 


  
** If I try another regular class I'll write a update






Monday, May 20, 2013

YMCA - Workout #13

http://ymcaeastvalley.org/redlands/index.html#

Workout #13 - When I say 13 I'm counting each new place as a workout not individual classes - for example I did three classes at the Y and I'm calling it "workout #13" - ok got it? Cool, let's move on...

I've never set foot in the YMCA before but wow it has a pretty nice exterior and entrance. I was greeted by the front desk guy and given a 1 week pass to try out the place. It seems pretty big and was a bit confusing. I would have liked a tour but wasn't offered one. Before I get into the workouts - interesting things to note:

Although many parts of the gym are big and open the workout room with all the cardio machines and weights seemed really jammed together.

The group workout rooms are really small, long and narrow with low ceilings and a bad ventilation/air conditioning system.

The workout room on Sat. morning for zumba had a fireplace in it filled with weights... hmm... and people walking through it to get to another part of the gym.

Lots of "silver-haired" members and kids.

To get to the bathrooms, at least the only ones I found, you have to walk through a locker/dressing room and showers with wet floors and then there were only two stalls.

Super nice big indoor pool.

So the workouts:
Body Pump is a weight class with small barbells that you switch weights on and off all through the class. Each song is dedicated to a different muscle group and then there is a rest time in between. We did squats and lunges with weights, biceps triceps, etc. I would say the class was a moderate to easy intensity level and I was using more weight then the instructor. 
I did two zumba classes with the same instructor and it was fun and upbeat. The instructor was a young guy with a lot of energy so the class was more high impact which I like with zumba! For those of you who are wondering what zumba is... it's a fitness dance class - sort of Latin inspired. You can do the class at any level but it's easier to get a great workout when you know more moves.

So the nitty gritty:
LOTS of classes and times and amenities
Group class rooms - too small w/ low ceilings 
Members were really nice 
Big childcare room 
Average membership prices

Would I recommend this gym? Not for me... I like LA Fitness (Highland) as an over all gym a lot better - however for lap swimming the Y pool is WAY nicer/bigger so if your main workout is swimming then I would say the Y! 




Stay tuned my next post will be a Zumba glow party workout!