Bendiful

** CuseFIT2013 is a series of posts created to highlight fitness classes and offerings in and around Syracuse, NY. It is designed to give you my impressions and tips as a first timer at various classes. My hope is that by removing the unknowns about new classes you will feel more comfortable and confident moving classes from your “want to try list” to your “completed list”.  Get BOLD and try something new! Did you miss Part 1-6? You can catch up here: Hot Yoga, Barre Class, Group Power, TRX,Bootcamp, Spin, Crossfit**

My sister-in-law is in ROCKING shape, and the last time I saw her we were chatting about what she was doing. She told me about a class called Chizzle she had been taking at the Auburn Y. I was intrigued. Her arms are amazing and honestly in the nine years I’ve known her I would say she is currently looking the best I’ve ever seen her! I’m jealous! So when she talked about this class I KNEW I had to try it out.

I arrived a few minutes later than I had planned on to the Y on Williams Street. So I’m lacking a street shot.  I will admit I don’t get to the Auburn location as often as I used to, since our community center became a Y. As a mom the best part of the Y is the child watch program! Bring your children and they will be watched in a specific play area while you workout. YES it is the most amazing program ever and is instrumental in helping me reach my fitness goals. I dropped my little guy off in the child watch area and headed down to class.

I was escorted down to the exercise room by Laurie who was the filling in instructor for the usual instructor Melissa. She was super sweet and I was shocked later on in class when she told us her age I would have guessed at least 10 years younger! Chizzle WORKS!

I nervously walked into the class and asked the first friendly face if she had taken the class before she was also new! As more folks came in it was apparent there were some VERY serious regulars. Fantastic! When there are regulars in the class even when there is a sub you know it’s a good class!

We started with picking out  heavy hand weights and a medicine ball.  The warm up consisted of some kickboxing moves. I have never truely taken a kickboxing class unless you count some Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVD’s from wayyyy back in the day! But I’m going to say in this case those didn’t count.

I learned I’m terrible at kicking and maybe that’s something I should work on…or at least try out a kickboxing class. After the warm up I was WARM.

The instructor lead us through a sequence of squats, weighted walking lunges and various wall balls. It was tough I can see how people get results. I think back to backing this class with my arm day P90X yesterday was a bad call. No worries though I was a rockstar.

This was a mid way through I’m scared face:

Speaking of what I looked like! I didn’t tell you what I was wearing! I went with a simple pink Reebok top, old navy capris and some NEON Saucony’s. It was a good choice. 

I could move comfortably and didn’t have to make any adjustments. I would suggest this as a good option. Although shorts and a t-shirt would work as well for this class.

At this point I was feeling strong. Then we got into some weights for arms. THREE SETS of weights were needed. We worked through a pyramid of different arm movements at which point it became clean that CHIZZLE doesn’t mess around!

The pyramids were great and I can see where the regulars of this class have worked their way up through the weights. I used 8#, 10#, and 12#. Regulars had much different light weights than I did. After the pyramid we moved into another sequence of moves.

This time we did tripod push-ups, slow movement push ups, side planks, and mountain climbers. We did these movements for 3 rounds. All I could think of while doing tripod push ups was in the behind the scenes interviews for the movie Warrior when Tom Hardy is explaining how many of these push ups he did to get ready for the movie! For a hot second while completing this class I thought to myself I could be in that movie too haha!

This group of movements were killer for me. But a killer in a good way. I knew it was a challenge but it wasn’t impossible. I like when you get done with a class and know you gave it your all and it pushed you outside of your comfort zone.

The class ended with a sequence of ab work and stretches.

I really liked this class and am looking forward to going more regularly. My son had a great time at the “new” child watch as he called it and Fridays at 9:20 is a good time for me to take a class.

My takeaways:

Auburn Family YMCA, Auburn NY

• Memberships: Various visit their website for information.
  
• They offer a variety of class types and  times.
  

What to Bring

• Bottle of water
• A towel
• A yoga mat if you wish. They are provided for you to use but you can bring your own.

What to Wear

• I would suggest shorts, pants or capris and a comfortable shirt or tank. 

 What to expect

• A challenging class that works your entire body. 
• Tabata style intervals and circuits with some cardio. 

So would I suggest this? 

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