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!



 

 




 

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

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!