Sleek, sexy and powerful

Let's talk about the things that are sore. My trapezius (upper, middle and lower). My lattisimus dorsi. My triceps. And, very locally, my gluteus maximus.

I'd like to say that I made significant gains in the amount of weight I am lifting in BODYPUMP or I finally made it to a box to try CrossFit. Rather, the source of my pain is two half-pound gloves.

And one pretty amazing day.

On Sunday, I took another step toward Make Shit Happen 2013 and attended Piloxing instructor training at a local YMCA.

Piloxing is new-ish to the group fitness scene - the company has only been certifying instructors for about two years - and there are about 3,000 instructors (as compared with 90,000 Les Mills instructors). Created by Viveca Jensen, the format combines is an interval class that combines the cardio benefits of boxing with the resistance benefits of Pilates - with a little dance thrown in to keep it fun.

I took my first class a year ago and instantly fell in love. It was a fun workout that had me dripping in sweat and my muscles burning. It was also low impact - a welcome change from running. I've dropped in here and there, as my schedule and training allowed, but admittedly fell off the Piloxing bandwagon when my workout buddy got hurt.

A few weeks ago, though, I had a run-free morning and decided to revisit the studio. The class was just as fun as I remembered, and I recall thinking during the jabs and plies that if there was an upcoming training session, I might have to think about getting certified. And, if by serendipity, I was chatting with the instructor (who is also a Piloxing master trainer) and she told me about this weekend's class.

The training is one day - an entire day - and includes a master class, discussions about the training principles of Piloxing, choreography review and form drills (for lack of a better phrase). I was initially worried about the choreography - I'm never going to be putting together Zumba dance numbers - but my fears were quickly put to rest when I learned that there is a set structure to the class and a set sequence of moves.

While it was a bit intense, it was such a powerful and empowering experience - much different than my BODYPUMP training. I spent the entire day soaking things in with an enormous smile on my face, feeling so lucky to not only be surrounded by an amazing group of women but to have come so far in my group fitness journey in just a year. 

I'm hoping with my certification (there's no test or extensive video process like BODYPUMP) that we'll be able to add it at the gym - I have a feeling my Tuesday night BODYPUMP ladies will love feeling sleek, sexy and powerful.

And, you never know where those feelings might take you ...

Pumped up

It was just like any other BODYPUMP class over the past three months.

I got there 15 minutes early to help set up, passing out plates, bars and clips. I talked to my co-instructor Corey and said hi to C. I went to the bathroom, got a drink of water and took a deep breath. When the clock struck 6:15, Corey went through set stance and I hit play.

It was time to work.

And like the other classes, Corey led the warm-up and taught the back, bicep, shoulders and lunge tracks while I took on squats, chest, triceps, abs and cool down. My BIC Band still acted as a makeshift way to keep the microphone in place. I still dreaded the twisting mountain climbers. My old jokes abounded: I reminded participants that the third time's the charm for round three of tricep extensions, and I called super slow squats a gentle way to wake-up the legs as I always do.

But somethings were different.

♦ I lifted more weight. Three months of at least twice-weekly PUMP classes has left me stronger and more toned than ever. I still have to be mindful that a class is not my workout and my the bicep track is challenging but I can lift like the guys ... who are new to class.

♦ I didn't get lost in the choreography. You might think this is a given but it's been almost two weeks since I taught in front of people, and it's easy to forget things if you don't listen to the music regularly. I missed a couple of coaching cues but nothing that anyone would have noticed. The real gain is that I didn't let it flummox me.

♦ I had no fear. I used to have scripting sheets and my guide, which I would obsessively read before a class. I would listen to the music non-stop all day and talk myself through the class on the drive to the gym. I could feel the anxiety fill my body as I went through the preparation each day. Call it familiarity with the class or adaptation but I wasn't scared. Not even the slightest. I've taught by myself twice now (in addition to numerous team teachings), and those experiences really showed me that if I am confident and have fun, participants will have fun. They certainly aren't going to obsess over the fact that I missed a coaching cue or told a bad joke the way I did. Why should I?

♦ Perhaps the most important way this class differed from others is that it is, more than likely, the last one I have someone up there with me. This day could be the very last time I was teaching a class as a trainee.

On Saturday, I will attempt a second taping of a class and, assuming it goes well, the DVD will be shipped off to Les Mills for assessment. It takes up to eight weeks to find out whether I passed officially but beginning July 28, I will be taking over the Saturday class at the gym. At 8:45 a.m. each weekend, I will be in front of the studio guiding participants through all 10 tracks. I can tell corny jokes for an entire hour. I will be paid to work out.

And that, ladies and gents, is awesome.