Do you participate in group classes at your gym?

[Onlyparty]

Hi Ladies,

I am new around here and just wondering how many of you participate in group classes, eg. spin class, flex, body jam, pilates etc or do you prefer to stick with your own thing, cardio & weights?

Interested to hear your thoughts

[VampireChick]

I don't really bother with many of the classes, although I'm about to take up Yoga once a week at our Gym.

Otherwise I just stick to my own weights and cardio. I wouldn't discount Spin however.

[laurasaur]

negative, I'm too scared

[Sheta]

When I first started at the gym (bout 14 years ago... damn I feel old now) I was a class bunny I loved them and was a regular for about 18 months.

Now I stick to my own routine; its more specific to my goals and the times suit me better.

[Evie]

Nahh to un-co for all that. Prefer to pick stuff up and put it down again!

I tried a Pump class last year and it was good but I had no idea what weights to use, and it took me ages to swap weights around for different tracks.

I'd love to do a Spin class but the majority of people I see who do spin seem like they are in their own clique, (cult) :pfft: and they wear special indoor cycling outfits, and I've heard the seats are painful... maybe I'll get it together and try it out one day. Heard it's pretty good to cut down legs and butt.

[VampireChick]

I've only done Spin twice, but it was the best cardio session I had ever had.

[Evie]

Yeah I hear it's really good - but whats with real fanatics? They seem so into it, they wear their cycling tops, padded bike shorts, they even have cycling shoes to clip into the peddals - it's like a little club. I know like anything it's best to have the correct gear to get the most out of it, but to me it's just another form of cardio. Guess I'm just a chicken who doesn;t want to get her 'spandex on'. Would be good to have a beginers spin class where no-one wore the 'gear'.

[VampireChick]

Hmmmm yeah - are you at Les Mills? I found them a little intimidating too and never went.

Fortunately I changed to a Gym that didn't have these fanatics and other classmates seemed pretty 'normal'.

If you get in there early and grab a bike at the back it should be ok

[gmm]

No I do my own thing when it comes to cardio. Do weights 6 times a week and cardio 3-4 times a week. Years ago I was an aerobics instructor and ended up getting really bored so now stick to doing my own thing - cardio is kind of 'my time', I like that no one else is around when I go for my walk/run.

G

[rose]

I only do strength training at the gym. If I do cardio in an enclosed space on equipment that doesn't move I feel like a lab rat. At least outside you get fresh air and real world randomnesses. Rain/hail/shine, doesn't matter.

[Evie]

Hmmmm yeah - are you at Les Mills? I found them a little intimidating too and never went.

How'd you know? :nod: And the silly thing is, it's probably like anything, once you get into it, it's not at all intimidating, and just a case of people enjoying what they do.

But like gmm - I use cardio as 'my time' I use the time to think & plan my day, focus on my training & goals, as a stress release or just zone out.

[runveerun]

I've done spin at LM a few times, there are some people with all the gear, but there's more without! It's really full on, Cycle shorts make the seat alot more comfortable that's for sure, it's a really good cardio workout- they even having flashing lights!! :wink:

Pump I don't really understand I can do a better weight workout by myself. Kick boxing is good too they make you run around hard out!

[Debszie]

I guess it depends on what you're hoping to achieve. Not all exercise is about fat loss/muscle gain only.

For example, of you're wanting to be active and have a smile on your face, then those dance classes at the gym can be cool (bodyjam at les mills for example). Doesnt matter if you're unco, just go hard, get a sweat up, and have fun. If you're wanting strength and flexibility then the yoga/pilates class is great. Boxfit is great for stress release and cardio, as is that kicking and punching one (always forget the name of it!). Spin/RPM is a brilliant cardio class! Those cycle pants are the best because they have padding - and the seats are hard....and the shoes are good because of the toe clips. But hey, who gives a toss if they're wearing the flash stuff and you're not - no one actually cares ive decided. Sometimes i turn up to the gym in my boyfriends baggy tshirt, my trackies have wholes in them, and sometimes i have odd socks on! I just turn up, focus on myself, and realise that everyone is there to do their own thing

[VampireChick]

Hmmmm yeah - are you at Les Mills? I found them a little intimidating too and never went.

How'd you know? :nod: And the silly thing is, it's probably like anything, once you get into it, it's not at all intimidating, and just a case of people enjoying what they do.

But like gmm - I use cardio as 'my time' I use the time to think & plan my day, focus on my training & goals, as a stress release or just zone out.

Yep I'm like you. I'd definitely prefer to do my own weights and I like a couple of long cardio sessions per week as my 'me time'. Usually 60mins on a x-trainer.

I don't think I've been to a class for over a year and I probably wont go back any time soon (except for Yoga)

[Sportsgirl]

I love group classes!!! I prefer them to using machines.

[justy1]

I've tryed a few pump and combat classes didnt like it much, and went back to weights quickly. I do use a spin bike but only for 10 minutes a day and never sitting. But its not in the spin room,the owner of our gym brought some down to the weights area for us. Those spin guys are to clicky for me and the darkness and flashing lights would give me a headache. Anyone into vibra training?

[jameson]

I started doing 1 -2 spin classes a week at my gym a few months ago, and find them pretty good. I don't go to Les Mills, my gym is really laid back and there are no manics there.

I also do boxing classes sometimes but they're on in the evening and I'm such a morning person that I haven't persevered with them as much as I would like.

I love yoga, but we don't have it at our gym.

[tarn74]

Not being judgemental but i find i'm motivated enough without having to get someone to order me around in a group fitness session. :wink:

[VampireChick]

I don't think these ladies need motivation as such Tarn74, its just fun to throw something in the mix every now and then. :nod:

[Chillicat]

I was a Pump junkie for about 8 years before I started taking weights more seriously. For me it was because I couldn't afford a PT, and didn't really feel comfortable with the BB-types, as I really didn't know what I was doing. Pump for me was a good compromise, and at the time I felt like it was helping me achieve what I wanted then. But after a while (haha, a long while!) I realised that I just wasn't going to improve further just doing Pump classes a few times a week, and that since my goals changed that I needed to do my own thing.

I still do a class every now and then if I can fit it in - though increasingly I find that I just can't fit one in, as my priority is my own workout and I haven't done one now for over a month. Might do a class tomorrow though, as I will have worked all my muscle groups this week by then, and could do it instead of cardio - I find the class gives me a reasonable cardio workout, with all the long tracks and quick changes (I'm fairly crap with cardio generally, so a reasonable cardio workout for me might be pretty pathetic for others )

[poos_n_wees]

I'd love to do a Spin class but the majority of people I see who do spin seem like they are in their own clique, (cult) :pfft: and they wear special indoor cycling outfits, and I've heard the seats are painful... maybe I'll get it together and try it out one day. Heard it's pretty good to cut down legs and butt.

LOL this is why I don't do classes at the gym.

They look like fun though? If there was a boxing or Tae-bo type one (Go Billy Blanks :pfft: ) I'd pop in.

[Chillicat]

I'd love to do a Spin class but the majority of people I see who do spin seem like they are in their own clique, (cult) :pfft: and they wear special indoor cycling outfits, and I've heard the seats are painful... maybe I'll get it together and try it out one day. Heard it's pretty good to cut down legs and butt.

LOL this is why I don't do classes at the gym.

They look like fun though? If there was a boxing or Tae-bo type one (Go Billy Blanks :pfft: ) I'd pop in.

The spin classes at my gym aren't bad with cliquyness or people in too much pro looking gear. Some are pretty funny though, like the guy down the front who often puts his arms behind his back instead of on the handlebars, while he's leaning fully forward - cracks me up.

A colleague who used to go to another gym in Wellington (can't remember which) said that there was a guy in his spin class with full gear including helmet Priceless!

[teamfatboy]

I've never seen anyone wear a helmet to a spin class - have seen a guy wear cycling gloves....now THERE's someone who could use some Harden-Up .

Cycle shorts help with the hard seat - and need not be the lycra budgie-smugglers, NZO do some great baggies, f'rinstance.

If you're looking for a good combat class, try Fight-Do - at Contours, City Fitness, Exodus, Just Workout, Massey and Vic Uni and others. This class rocks - and WILL test you!

What gets me tho is the 'Cardio T Funk' that my gym ran... I could not see how that was a workout....

[biggurl27]

In conjuction with weights I do about 2-3 Pump classes per week (as my cardio) to mix things up as it is 100's more lunges and squats which is great. This Saturday I'm going to do the boxing circuit with a mate its some good shit :grin: I hate doing cardio so I find group classes fun

[pop-eye]

yeah im the same, try to do 3pump class's per week and the boxing on a saturday and then in all that i still do a pretty heavy weight work out.

pump is good but i got to hide at the back as the lunges and squats are a bit of a killer lol but yeah you feel dam good after pump. love to loud music too.

go LMHC