CuseFIT2013 – Part 4 TRX

** 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”.  Heck, let’s get daring, I dare you to try a new class this year! Did you miss part 1  part 2 or part 3. **

TRX for me was true fear.

Source

I found myself on Friday walking into the Pine Grove Health and Country Club in Camillus, NY for part four the CuseFIT2013 series. It was the first time I was legitimately scared. I have seen the TRX straps hanging in my gym and have always been too scared to try them. After all with moves like, the one above there was a very good chance I wouldn’t be able to complete workout. Upper body has never been my strong suit.

I took a deep breath and mentally prepared myself for TRX with Pam.

Let’s talk fashion!

This outfit might look familiar from my last post, it’s new! I wore my new purple capris from Old Navy Active and a black tank top I picked up at Marshall’s. This was a good outfit choice for a class like TRX. You want to be able to move but also be covered and comfortable.

Also don’t mind the hot mess  look…. this was taken after the class!

I got a chance to chat with some of the regular attendees before the class started and was excited to know they were all fairly new to the class.  I  was warned to be ready to be extremely sore for a few days after the class. I would also give everyone that same advice. My arms were burning in places I’m not sure I knew I had.

The class is intense and does a great job working the entire body. A quick warm up of the body and you are ready to get working. It takes a few minutes to get comfortable with the straps, be prepared to feel uncomfortable at first.

We started with 1 minute of squats using the straps. This is a great move to do if you ever start to think a minute is short.  35 seconds in and  you’re begging for time!  I have to say there were times when I wasn’t sure I could complete the moves. We did drop downs of push ups and the very bottom “lowest” push up was really hard for me.  PUSH THROUGH! If you have strength weaknesses this class is going to expose them. But it’s also the best class to train with to overcome them!

I’m a big fan of using your own body weight to workout,  and this class is really a test of pushing around your own body. There are tons of modifications and Pam the instructor was great about letting you know if the move was too much you can step out or on to lessen the intensity, she even gave tips for increasing the workout. For my sake, Pam stuck to the basics for the class. No crazy moves but lots of work on muscles that are often missed in traditional workouts. Including the biceps and hamstrings.

Also please note Pam’s ripped arms below, I would take this class forever to get those arms!

To break up some of the moves we  got to run around the indoor track. Obviously those were some of my favorite breaks.

One thing I didn’t expect at all was the floor work.  Yes I said floor work. This class isn’t just about hanging from your arms. We use the straps with our feet! HOLY CORE AND AB WORKOUT. We did some side planks near the end and I will be the first to admit they were SUPER tough. I couldn’t even get my body up off the mat kind of tough. For me it was again another kick in the tush, that I need to get working on my core. My overall fitness level will spike if I get my core back!

We worked on planks, pikes, crunches and side planks. The balance moves like this take when your feet are suspended is incredible. The whole movement forces your core to steady the body and is one of the most difficult movement sequence I’ve ever tried. And I loved every second of it. Pam the instructor was great she kept telling everyone that sitting a computer for hours a day makes our back muscles weak (so TRUE!) and TRX is a great way to get those muscles back.

This class was tough, not tough as in impossible but a good challenge. My sides three days later are still sore. If it burns it’s working and this class was a SERIOUS workout! I’m happy that I over came my fear of TRX and I think most of you would really enjoy this workout.  Pam the instructor knew it was tough and kept it light. She was funny at the same time as challenging. I’m trying another class she teaches later on this week and I’m really excited about it.

If you are looking for a new challenge to fitness level and conditioning I would suggest popping in to a TRX class!

My takeaways:

Pine Grove Health & Country Club  Camillus, NY

• Memberships: They offer a variety of memberships including group class passes and monthly memberships.
  
• A massive variety of workout classes and group offerings. 
• They specialize in programs of their own creation, utilizing different movements from popular fitness workouts and combining them into their own!  But they also have standard classes as well.
• They offer child watch for moms & dads! (heck yes, workout while your children are watched!)

What to Bring

• Bottle of water
• Towel
  
• Sneakers
• And a smile

What to Wear

• Wear what you feel most comfortable in. That covers your body since you will be moving.
• Bring your sneakers, you’ll need to wear them.

 What to expect

• Be prepped for a  challenging full body workout.
• It takes a few minutes to feel comfortable with the straps. 
• Friendly and helpful instructors and members.
• Have fun this class is a challenge, you will be feeling the burn. 
• Get a mantra and repeat it in your head when it gets tough. 

Would I recommend this class:

Question of the Day: Have you ever taken a TRX class? What move do you find most challenging?

Tagged as: #cusefit2013, Pine Grove Country Club Fitness Center, TRX, what to know about TRX, Workouts in Camillus NY