I'm taking you along for the ride on my 7 days as an Equinox member. Check out my other posts:
Ropes & Rowers
PURSUIT Cycling + A Swim
METCON3
30/60/90
Day 5 & 6: Sorry, Equinox
I had planned on taking some yoga or pilates classes at Equinox over the weekend, but that didn't end up happening. Instead, I took the day off on Saturday and ran a 4 mile race in Central Park on Sunday.
Day 7: Athletica
It seems that I unintentionally ended up saving the best for last in my 7 day free-trial at Equinox.
I had planned on starting the week on the right foot with a morning gym class on Monday. But when I found myself at Game 6 of the Islander's playoff series against the Florida Panthers - a game that ended in double overtime - and not in my bed until well past midnight, I knew that wasn't in the cards.
Instead, I used my lunch break to go to a class called Athletica on my lunch break.
The Equinox website describes Athletica as, "Sculpt and train your body like an athlete for an hour. Ilaria’s new class burns fat and delivers a strong athletic body. High intensity exercises based on power endurance and progressive strength training and strong emphasis on a strong core. Be prepared to sweat and test your willpower!"
I also realized that on the Equinox website, it gives you a chart explaining the focus of each class as it relates to strength, cardio, flexibility and regeneration. This is a great feature that I wish I had used earlier in my trial!
THE SET UP
For this class all you need is your body and a few different sets of dumbbells. I picked up 10, 12, 8 and 5 lb dumbbells and ended up using them all at different points in the class.
CIRCUIT ONE
- 16 Dumbbell Clean & Presses
- 8 Weighted Squat Thrusts
- 24 Double-Dumbbell Swings (Wide or Narrow Stance)
- 24 Renegade Rows
- :60 4 Jumping Lunges + Burpee
CIRCUIT TWO
- Repeat
CIRCUIT THREE
- Repeat
- We changed up the :60 of cardio to 2 Jumps Squats + Burpee
"REST" - DELT STRENGTH WORK
- :60 Alternating Front Raises
- :60 Alternating Single Arm/Double Arm Lateral Raises
- :60 Flys
- :60 Alternating Hammer Curl and Press with palms facing in
CIRCUIT 4
For this round, each exercise got an added +8 reps. The cardio portioned remained :60 long.
- 24 Dumbbell Clean & Presses
- 16 Weighted Squat Thrusts
- 32 Double-Dumbbell Swings (Wide or Narrow Stance)
- 32 Renegade Rows
- :60 4 Jumping Lunges + Burpee
CIRCUIT 5
- Repeat
"REST" - DELT STRENGTH WORK
- :60 Alternating Front Raises
- :60 Alternating Single Arm/Double Arm Lateral Raises
- :60 Flys
- :60 Alternating Hammer Curl and Press with palms facing in
"LETS REST A LITTLE MORE BEFORE WE FINISH WITH ONE MORE CIRCUIT"
- 10 Pushups
- :10 Rest
- 8 Rounds.
CIRCUIT 6
- 24 Dumbbell Clean & Presses
- 16 Weighted Squat Thrusts
- 32 Double-Dumbbell Swings (Wide or Narrow Stance)
- 32 Renegade Rows
- :60 4 Jumping Lunges + Burpee
Holy SMOKES.
By far one of the best gym classes I've taken.
WHAT I LIKED
The fact that this was a circuit-style class obviously appealed to me, since that's my favorite way to strength train.
Each move within the circuit was a compound exercise which means we were working more than one muscle group at a time. But then, when we did the sets of delt exercises, we were focusing on isolation exercises.
Even though there was no real "rest" the isolation exercises were the perfect time for your heart rate to settle down before ramping it back up again with more circuits. HIIT at it's finest.
I was dripping sweat, the moves weren't requiring me to jump up and down (aside from the burpees) and I was using my ENTIRE body throughout the class.
Plus, I loved the fact that this was a true strength training class - I felt strong and used 10 or 12 lb. dumbbells - not 5 pounders (except for those front and lateral raises - woooof!)
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
The only real complain I have is that the studio was FRRRREEEZING cold. The weights hurt to hold because the metal was so cold. But honestly, after one circuit the sweat had started to drip and I forgot I had ever been chilly.
This was quite the way to wrap up my classes at Equinox.
I wish I had fit in more during my 7 days - I planned on some two-a-days with a strength class + yoga or abs/Pilates but it didn't end up happening. C'est la vie.
Next post, I'll wrap up my final thoughts about the experience - did I end up so enamored that I joined? Stay tuned.
CLIFFHANGER!
YOUR TURN:
O YOU HAVE A FAVORITE GROUP FITNESS CLASS?
WHY IS IT YOUR FAVORITE?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
