Element Fitness

I finally decided I needed to get my butt up off the couch and get active in order to keep this weight-loss thing on a roll.  For quite awhile, I’ve been thinking about signing up for a Zumba class but wasn’t sure that I wanted to pay a couple of hundred bucks for a few months of class.  I recently discovered Element Fitness for Women in Okemos, MI (about 5 minutes from my house) and learned that they had Zumba classes that you could attend for $8 per class.  Then a few days later I actually got a postcard in the mail from Element offering me a 2 year membership (including the gym AND all classes) for only $12 a month.  Hmmm… Let me think about that… YES, PLEASE!

So far I have had two training sessions with a great trainer (these were free with the membership).  He taught me some new things about working out more effectively (I will share more about this later in another post) that were quite surprising.  The equipment at the gym is all brand spanking new, and fancy.  The machines are powered by air compression, so there are no actual weights on them just air-pressure.  And they are controlled by a touch-screen.  It’s pretty darn cool!

There are at least a down different classes offered during the week, and so far I’ve tried three.

Muscle Sculpt:  This is the first class I took, and it was KILLER!  I think I may have to work myself up to this one, as I could barely walk for about 5 days afterward.  It was an amazing workout though, and once I build up a little more endurance and get my body used to working, I’ll definitely check it out again.  This class used mostly hand-weights (ranging from 5 to 15 lbs) and we used a step.  I have never done so many squats and lunges before in my entire life!  The good thing is, it’s the first time I’ve ever been able to do them and not had my knees hurt!

Zumba:  Element offers several different Zumba classes that are on different levels.  I decided to start with the beginner class, since it was my first time.  I struggled with the steps a little (I have no rhythm or coordination for that matter) but could have handled a little more intensity.  I think I’ll keep going to this class until I get a little more comfortable with the steps and then move up to the next level.

Balance in Motion:  The purpose of this class is to help you develop your balance, and for anyone who knows me, YOU KNOW I NEED THIS!!!  I’ve only been to the class once, and I did terribly, but I had a fun time and felt like I got a decent workout from it.  Everyone promised me that it would get easier with practice.  The class is done entirely on either fitness balls or stability discs and we used medicine balls for weight.  I actually have a ball at home (that I’ve never used in the ways we used it in class), that I really need to start using more so that I don’t make a total fool of myself in the next class!

I’m going to my second Zumba class tonight and look forward to trying other new classes in the upcoming weeks!  I’ll keep you updated on how things go!