As an exercise enthusiasts I love to try new places and new types of workouts, as you are well aware from this past post here and here. It is so important to me to live a healthy, active lifestyle and by doing so I enjoy all different forms of exercise. Changing your workout keeps exercise fresh, fun, and exciting! It is good for your body to target different muscle groups and most importantly keep yourself from getting bored. When I lived in New York it seemed like one of the biggest questions asked was “where do you work out?.” Everyone seemed to be part of some cult and obsessed with a certain workout. My obsession was with Soul Cycle (tears are falling right now as I no longer live near one). Now that I am currently living back in Ohio I have to find new ways to workout and fall in love with new places. Luckily I have done so and am happy to share with you my experience so far!
I drank the cool-aid and I am officially addicted!! Not surprising since I love to lift weights. System of Strength is exactly what it says, it’s about your strength. Each time I go to a class I feel so motivated and am pushed way beyond my limits physically and mentally. When it’s the end of class and the instructor yells to do one more set of burpees and I think there is no way my hurting body is capable of doing it, I somehow manage to push through them. I always leave SOS feeling proud of what I just accomplished! The best part of SOS is there are 7 different classes you can choose from. As I said before it is important to change up your routine so you target different areas, this is a great way to do so! Here are the classes broken down:
High and Tight: One of my favorites! It focuses on smaller muscle groups of your body to tighten and tone. This is done by using smaller weights with higher repetitions. Do not let the small weights fool you, you will leave the class feeling like jello and in a good way!
Flex and Flow: Just like yoga but with weights. You are stretching and strengthening your muscle groups at the same time. It is so important to stretch your muscles if you are lifting lots of weights. The class is done in 90 degree heat.
Control: This class gives you strength like you’ve never thought you had! Using higher weights, Control targets your bigger muscle groups while doing eccentric and isometric movements.
Control Course: Focuses the same muscle groups as the Control class but within a course. Whether you are using sandbags, ropes, plyo box or weights, each station is set up to target different areas.
Clocked: All about cardio intervals! Using different weights and equipment, this class is designed to really get your heart pumping and burn lots of calories.
Asphalt Kickin: Taking SOS to another location and outdoors! Enjoy your workout at a track or field using mother nature or stairs to get your body moving.
In The Mix: This has become one of my favorites! Combining all of the classes into one, In The Mix is a great well-rounded workout. Using small and big weights while incorporating cardio, movements are done in intervals.
Since I have started going to System of Strength I have really seen a difference in my body. I am a lot stronger and leaner and have more energy throughout my day. As a new favorite of mine (also my sister and cousin love it too), I can not say enough amazing things about SOS!
A perk of being a part of funemployment is I get to spend all day long working out! I call it my two-a-days. In the morning I either go to SOS, Yoga, or some other form of exercise, and my evenings are spent riding bikes with my dad. This August we are riding 50 miles in the
Pelotonia, a race to help raise money for cancer research. We train 4 to 5 times a week for about an hour or so. It has been a great way to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with my dad, get a new form of exercise in, and pretend I am still taking Soul Cycle classes. Side note: do not try to show off and use Soul Cycle movements on a non-stationary bike, it does not end well….. Anyway, biking has been a great and healthy way for me to end my day!
I have talked before about how much I think yoga is so important in everyones workout routine. It really will strengthen you physically, emotionally, and mentally. There has been plenty of times I go to yoga strictly to reset my mentality. I have been practicing for many years and am pretty flexible, so some yoga classes can become mundane. Going to Thank Yoga has been a different experience for me in my practice. Each class I have tried something I never thought my body was capable of, including a forearm handstand! The reason Thank Yoga is different from other classes I have taken is because of the physicality and the positive atmosphere all incorporated into one class. The music is pretty great as well!
Wonder what I look like while I exercise? Here is a little video I made of myself at the gym…
Saved By The Bell: Jesse & The Sundaes from Good Kids. on Vimeo.
All jokes aside I actually do know all of the movements to this video!
