Monday, January 29, 2018

Strength

Over the past few months, I've been focusing on getting my body stronger.  I take Body Pump classes, Hot Yoga classes, Pound, Cycle and am always happy to try something new!  I am a self-admitted cardio junkie.  Give me a cardio class and I'll happily do it forever!

Strength classes do not come easy to me.  My abs are weak.  I have diastasis-recti which makes building my abs stronger a challenge.  Not impossible, mind you...  just a challenge.  So when I first took my first Body Pump class I was excited that I liked it.  I like to know what's coming next in a class.  I like that I'm able to control the weights on the bar and that the tracks vary.

Some people are going to differ from me with this...  I take Yoga classes for Strength.  I've never been in a yoga class where my mind goes completely blank and I can breathe and be zen and one with God.  That's not yoga for me and it's not what I want yoga to be.  You'll likely never find me in a Yin Yoga class or a meditation focused class.  I'm not slighting it, it's just not what I'm looking to get from a class.

I've been thinking recently about trying Cross-Fit.  It is expensive though and I do not have the money right now to shell out for a gym membership.  Part of the wonderful things about being a Fitness Instructor is getting free memberships to different clubs and studios.  Do you do Cross-Fit?  I'd like to hear your feedback on it!

I attend classes at Aim High Studio a lot.  It's a cute little studio not far from my house.  The owner and some of the instructors there have become friends.  They give back to the community with different events during the month which speaks to my heart.  In September I did a strength test to get a baseline for my strength.  Yesterday, I did my second.  To say I exceeded my goals is an understatement.  In September I was not able to do any sit-ups.  Yesterday I crushed 20 sit-ups in a minute.  I held my high plank for 20 seconds higher yesterday than I did in September and I almost tripled my push-ups!  I was so insanely proud of myself!

Getting stronger takes time.  It's not going to come overnight.  Just like everything, it is a work in progress and I'm making it happen!

What kind of exercise do you like to do?  What is your weak spot that you need to work on?