Those are all terms I learned tonight in my Step & Strength class. There was a VERY HIGH learning curve for the step portion. Mainly cause the teacher would just launch right into the step and then I would stumble about and after watching her do it a few times, I could pick it up. Then she would start a new step. Luckily, I used to to the Belvidere YMCA with my mother in the late 80's and watch her do Step Aerobics so I kinda knew what to expect.However, we started right into a warm-up and I immediately regretted attending. I wanted a workout buddy so bad at that point in time! So I could look at her for comfort or roll my eyes at her or laugh, something! I didn't move my arms as much as everyone else did cause I just felt silly. Our instructor had a bandanna wrapped around her forehead. I was waiting for Olivia Newton John to come out in a thong leotard with leg warmers.
We learned the easy basic stuff first and did a routine of that. Then after that routine all together, then we learned of other steps and put that into a routine and then we put those 2 routines together. Then we learned a few more steps and made a routine out of them. Added that to the other 2 routines. And finally did one more set of steps and a routine for a total of 4 routines all together. My head was spinning towards the end but I only missed out on a few steps mainly cause my mind wandered a bit thinking about other things.
I was the only one in the class in her 20's and probably near her 30's. I'm not kidding. The teacher herself was quite something else. She was in shape for her age, I'll give her that. She still had the "Mom" butt but her waist was kicking. And hell, she remembered all the moves. Doing this has got to help her memory (even though she had her set taped on the mirror).
Oh yea, that's right, the whole thing was in front of a mirror. However, I never glanced once in the mirror. I was watching the lady's feet the whole time. At the end of the step portion, she said that I caught on fast. It was OK, though a few of the steps I didn't quite get. Mainly those that straddled the step box.
I did have to admit that my right knee started to give me a little bit of pain. Which is why I didn't get the risers underneath the box itself. But not the normal under the knee thing, just the patella itself. I think it's still bruised from my time at the City Museum in St. Louis. I did notice that my forearms are still bruised and I do have one under my right knee.
We took 2 heart rate measures. Which is good since I was thinking during the first part, this is soooo NOT getting my heart rate up to where I want it to go. It's not like running where I have a constant high heart rate. At the first one, I had a heart rate of 144. Then the second time was 120 (which is weird since we were doing more complicated moves by that time). I did sweat a little but not drenching like a run would make me. I think that after the 15th, I'm gonna get me one of those Garmin Heart Rate Monitor thingies. I'll be interesting to see my heart rate even while running! I know when I'll have a horrible run because my heart rate will skyrocket even though I'll only go 3 miles or a TERRIFIC run cause I would have gone 10 miles and only crest 130 or so. I can feel it physically but I can't see it.
After the step portion was over, we took a mat and a stretch tube with handles and worked with that for a little bit on our legs and then we did sit-ups. Oh how I lurve sit-ups!!
I'll probably stick with it though. As much as I feel so totally silly, I have to remember that this still beats sitting at home and NOT doing anything. Plus, it's a "cross-training" day. Not a RUNNING day. I didn't stick around for the toning class at 6:15. I had a half hour to kill but my stomach was growling so I had to go home & eat.
I'm trying to decide what to do about tomorrow. I have a tempo run schedule which I can't wait to do. Been ages for one of those! However, I'm really looking forward to getting my new shoes. I have a $100 Nike shoe gift certificate for a local running store in Rockford. I have ordered the Nike Moto+. They supposedly have more cushioning which is what I hope I need. But the shoe store is only open until 5p so I have to kick some major butt to get up there on time immediately after work. I guess I could go up there, get my shoes and then take them out for a test run around 7p, hopefully when the Y will be less crowded. I think that's what I'll do! YAY!!
1 comments:
Step classes are something else, aren't they? I took one in college and, like I said, another one this past fall. I've also taken "kick-boxing" classes that incorporated a lot of step aerobics moves but without the step itself.
Definitely stick with it. As you start to feel less silly and the moves come easier, you can punch it up a notch and get an even better workout. And although you might feel ridiculous, the more you move your arms the higher your heart rate will go.
As for the mirror, I find it weird when I take a fitness class that isn't in front of a mirror. The point of the mirror is to help you ensure your form is correct. My last fitness class didn't have a mirror and it drove me crazy!
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