Tag Archives: group fitness classes

Balletone is a Fusion of Dance and Fitness for the Mind and Body

If you are wanting to find a fun low-impact fitness class that includes ballet, and yoga, you may want to try Balletone®.

Balletone® is a program that combines low-impact dance and fitness. Currently it offers three different formats that work off the same theme. Sole Synthesis combines ballet, fitness and yoga fusion. Standing Flow is the more traditional ballet inspired conditioning class and Center Moves is a cardio/strength format that is also inspired from ballet.

Created around 10 years ago, it has spanned several genres appealing to a wider audience. Shannon Fables, the owner of Balletone®, currently resides in Boulder, Colorado where she travels all over the world to teach and instruct the program. Even though Boulder is the hot spot for Balletone, there are hundreds of qualified instructors all over the United States and the world. Using Balletone, they are “fast-forwarding the mind-body & fitness.”  (more…)

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Kristina

Yufit’s Gym in the Cloud Brings Your Favorite Fitness Class to You

Sometimes going to the gym seems to be too much of a hassle. You have to get dressed, drive to the gym, sign in, put away your things, and then, depending on how busy the gym is, you might have to wait for your favorite class to start.

In the end, you might leave the gym completely frustrated because you did not get in as good of a workout as you had hoped. Unfortunately, the video workouts that you can buy at a store get boring after you do them too many times and they can also get too expensive if you want to keep your collection fresh. However, you can now take as many gym classes as you want, from home, or anywhere really, with Yufit’s new Gym in the Cloud.

Gym in the Cloud allows users to access workout videos that are streaming in high definition from anywhere in the world. These videos allow users to follow along with gym-quality fitness classes from the comfort of their own homes. The videos are updated weekly, which means you are much less likely to get bored from doing the same workout video week after week. As one of the trainers, Ken Scott, says, “if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing,” and this program definitely offers variety and fun.

So what type of classes can you expect to find in Yufit’s Gym in the Cloud? The classes range in level from beginner to advanced and include popular classes such as Yoga Flow, Cardio Kickboxing, Core Burn, Balletone, Street Jazz, and Power Body. The classes are either 30 minutes or 60 minutes long, and while these aren’t exactly short workouts, you will still be able to squeeze them into your busy days because you do not have to deal with commuting to and from the gym.

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Posted on January 11, 2024 by Health Buzz

Give Pole Dancing Fitness Classes a Whirl

Lisa Johnson is a fitness blogger at LisaJohnsonFitness.com. She has been teaching Pilates since 1998 and owns Modern Pilates in Brookline, MA. She can frequently be found on Twitter @LisaJohnson.

I’m standing between an adorable blonde wearing red, sparkly boy shorts and a lanky brunette with a gorgeous, flowing ponytail and a tank top that says “Survivor.” I’m feeling the very awkward duckling.

I grab the tall, shiny pole with my hand and yank my t-shirt sleeve up over my shoulder so I can show more skin. This isn’t to be sexy; skin is stickier than cotton and it will help me to stay up longer. I take two big steps, my other hand grabs the pole, feet go in the air, and I whiz around once, twice, and then land my two feet almost gracefully. Success! I give out a little squeal because I finally did it on the tenth try.

“Good,” smiles Star, my instructor/torturer, as she nods approvingly. “Next time, step bigger.”

I’m bruised, I’m sweaty, my hands hurt from gripping the pole so hard, and I know my shoulders and legs are going to feel it tomorrow. And I’m only halfway through my first Pole Fitness class not sure I’m going to make it.

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Posted on January 6, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Drums Alive: Burn Calories to the Beat

When former professional dancer Carrie Ekins’ body was sidelined to due hip surgery and a wheel chair, her creativity kept flowing. Being restricted to arm and hand exercises only, Ekins randomly began hitting boxes in her basement. This odd development has lead to a new workout trend, Drums Alive.

Eventually Ekins grew strong enough to stand once more and moved from basement boxes to exercise balls, drum sticks, and a variety of upbeat music. Drums Alive was created and found to be more than just a a workout for fitness. Hitting the exercise balls produces immediate stress relief for starters. However, the seemingly primitive routines can also improve coordination. As drumming engages both the left and the right hemispheres of the brain, coordination can be boosted. And finally, current studies have noted that drumming can contribute to increased immune functions along with improved moods and creativity. That’s a lot of punch for one workout session.

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Posted on October 27, 2023 by Lacy

Take Off the Weight With a Hoopnotica Hula-Hooping Class

By Tish Merritt for FitBottomedGirls.com

Hula hooping may seem more like playtime than a workout, but if we know anything, it’s that you’re more likely to stick to a workout when it’s actually, you know, fun! And don’t get it twisted — working out with a hula hoop isn’t a walk (or a swivel) in the park…

I met up with Jackie Hesley, hoop dancer extraordinaire and Hoopnotica instructor, on a beautiful Saturday morning in the Santa Monica, Cali., area and basically got a nice slice of humble pie served to me on a hoop for breakfast. My boyfriend scoffed the hula hoop, stating it wasn’t the kind of workout a guy could get sweat to. Hmph. He came back from running around the park and saw his girl, hula hoopin’ and sweating like I do in his boot-camp classes (he’s a personal trainer and tortures me regularly in class) and his mouth fell open. Score one for the hula hoop.

Don’t get me wrong, the class is totally fun. Jackie plugs up her iPhone to a small speaker system, and we party like it’s 1999.  Plus she’s hilarious and nice to boot. She teaches a hodge podge of folks (men and women), so she’s used to different levels of hula-hoop hossness being in her mix, thankfully. I personally hadn’t hooped since probably kindergarten when my boy crush hula-hooped up to me and said he’d marry me if I could hoop for longer than him. I tried. I really did! But, alas, no love connection. (more…)

Posted on July 20, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Yoga vs. Pilates: What is the Difference?

As a teacher of yoga and Pilates, I am aware that some people stick with either one method or the other as part of their exercise program. Even in our modern era of fitness, where crossover classes such as Yogilates are the latest rage, some choose to be loyal to their preferred modality.

While there are many similarities between yoga and Pilates, the differences that exist may be enough to tip the scale of favoritism.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a 5000-year-old discipline steeped in spirituality. The practice of yoga- however diluted by modern culture- still involves a whisper of self-reflection and divine connection. Good for the mind and the body, yoga rises above the realm of exercise because of its intention to elevate the consciousness of those who practice.

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Posted on July 20, 2023 by Jill

Exercising in Heels is More for Fashion than Fitness

We’ve all seen it, the little girl (let’s say she’s four) clomping around the house in her mother’s high heels. For some women, an obsession with shoes starts young and for others, it doesn’t emerge until the teen years, if ever. Personally, I always saw my mother in her high heels and the clicking sound they made as she walked across the floor made me think she was the most beautiful and powerful woman in the world. I love that sound even now and regardless of how irrational it seems to you, it makes me feel gorgeous.

When I first heard about high heeled workouts, my initial reaction was “heck yes!” and then reality set in. The fact is, working out in high heels adds an entirely new level of possible injuries to your regimen. Consistently struttin’ your stuff in heels has been linked to weak muscles in the calves and ankles. Back and knee injuries also seem to be more common in women who regularly wear heels. Besides the more complicated physiological dangers, something as simple as your balance can be compromised when raised up on high heels. So then why the sudden surge in heel-based exercise classes?

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Posted on July 10, 2023 by Theresa

What a Beginner Should Know About Zumba

Dana Walsh is a licensed Zumba instructor, who has been teaching Zumba for four years. She is also a certified group fitness instructor who shares her passion about living a healthy lifestyle through her blog FitCeleb.com.

Don’t be afraid to step into a Zumba class and step out of your comfort zone. Zumba is made to have fun while working up a sweat. Use these helpful tips to get you comfortable in a Zumba class.

Zumba is a fitness program that is made for everyone to have fun and burn some calories. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just starting to get your feet wet in the workout scene, Zumba is a great combination of both fitness and basic dance moves based on latin rhythms ranging from salsa, merengue, cha cha, samba, to calypso, Bhangra, hip-hop and more!

Zumba is based on a specific formula that in simple terms uses about 3-4 moves a song. Again these moves will be a combination of both fitness and dance, but the moves are made to be repetitive and kept simple so that the participants can follow along at ease and not feel frustrated. However, I want to stress that every Zumba instructor has a different style of teaching. This means that some instructors may use more dance moves, or fitness moves, or tend to stick to a certain latin rhythm more than others. Therefore, I feel it’s important to sample the Zumba instructors in your area and find one that fits your preferred style.

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Posted on June 20, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Picking the Perfect Pair of Shoes for Zumba

Zumba Wear Gym Shoes on Amazon.com, $108.99

Zumba is taking over the world. It’s cheap, fun, easy and you don’t need much to join in on the Latin dance fitness craze except your body, whatever sense of rhythm you have, and the right shoes.

You don’t need those fancy high heels you may be picturing, however. Your regular gym shoes are just fine, but if you really want proper Zumba foot attire, there are a few things you should consider when picking out a new pair of kicks.

There are three basic elements to look at when purchasing any type of shoe: shock absorption, ankle support, and material and sole flexibility. Well, four, cause they have to look good, too, but that’s a given. These three elements become even more important when looking for shoes for a specific activity, which today is a kick-butt Zumba class.

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Posted on May 11, 2023 by Kelly

Celebrities Who Love Zumba

Zumba, the Latin dance-inspired cardio class, is more popular than ever. Millions of Zumba DVDs have been sold and classes are filled with people having a blast while they work to burn calories.

Zumba is a great and fun way to work your core, arms and legs, and to burn hundreds of calories a session, all while having fun. It’s no wonder that this craze has also gotten popular in celebrity circles.

Jennifer Lopez

This Latin beauty has dancing in her blood, so it’s a perfectly logical fit that Jennifer Lopez would be drawn to the Latin rhythms of Zumba. Recently she was quoted as saying in an interview with Redbook magazine that “As women, we tend to give away a lot. We take care of a lot of people, and we can’t forget to take care of ourselves. If that means once a week you’re going to go off without the kids or without anybody… get a facial even if your sister thinks that’s selfish, or join a Zumba class, or take a painting class, or whatever, you’ve just got to do it.”

Madonna

The ageless Material Girl has been linked to various fitness and spiritual movements. Another entertainer known for her dance moves, Zumba classes are offered at Madonna’s Hard Candy gyms. (more…)

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Jason

Try a Group Fitness Class to Avoid Workout Boredom

Christina is a mom, registered nurse, and blogger. She fully admits to both a love of too much food and a love of the couch, two vices she struggles to overcome on a daily basis. In the past two years, she’s lost nearly 50 pounds through diet and exercise, some of it chronicled on her blog, Losing My Hind.

Before this year, I was devoted to fitness DVDs. I felt too self-conscious to consider joining a group class or even wear anything tight-fitting in public. Looking ridiculous in the privacy of my own home suited me just fine.

But in January, I was tempted by an incredible Groupon deal for a 6-week boot camp class at a local fitness studio and made the decision to try something new. At the time my progress had stalled using my workout DVDs so I was willing to try nearly anything to jump start my weight loss, even if it meant a group class.

Now, twelve weeks after starting those classes, I’ll confess that I’m addicted! If you’ve never taken a fitness class, consider these benefits of joining a class:

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Posted on April 24, 2023 by GuestBlogger