Why you need more than classes
29. Nov, 2011 
1 Comment
- Post-workout: Phew!
Classes are great, don’t get me wrong. For many women, they are the first step to fitness.
As a woman I just interviewed told me, “It’s easier to stay motivated when there’s an instructor pushing you.”
But, sometimes, instructors don’t notice you. Like when you’re in a class of 20 people.
And, sometimes, classes don’t allow for progression.
They are great at the beginning of a “get in shape” effort, for women who’ve never worked out before.
And they’re great when they are new to YOU. Because they force your body to work in new movement patterns, with different types of resistance.
But months and months of doing the same class may not allow you to progress.
And that’s not helpful.
Progression is what gets you results.
In terms of weights, progressing means…
Being able to lift heavier weight. Or get more reps. Or do more volume (more exercises or more sets or both). Or cutting down on your rest periods.
If you’re in a class…
It’s up to you to make sure you progress.
Whether it’s spinning, or a weight-training class or yoga, you can talk to your instructor about ways to make the time you spend there more challenging for yourself.
It might mean increasing the intensity on a spinning bike, using heavier dumbbells during a weight class, or performing more challenging poses, holding them longer or even taking a yoga class for more advanced students.
With weights, I don’t know. I think there’s more of an inclination to keep picking up heavier weights. And learning more exercises.
I could be wrong about that. Some people may pick up the same DBs week after week.
And that’s when the body adapts and the results stop showing up.
My main problem with classes?
Classes don’t let you get as strong as you’re capable of getting.
You can do that, though, when you move over to the free weights section of the gym.
Just don’t try to hit the weights right after a class. You won’t have enough energy left over to give 100%.
Go on a different day. Or do weights first, before your yoga class. That works.
And if you do a strength-training class, do your weights on a day when your muscles have recovered. (At least 2 days after a strength-training class.)
Better yet, do your own weight-training session a couple of days before you hit a class where you use weights.
Bottom line: Keep pushing yourself!
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I agree—I encourage people to take classes when they’re starting out, and when they’re bored or unmotivated with their self-directed workouts. Otherwise, using strategy is going to yield the best results!
This is especially hard to get across to the 5-a-week spinning class goers….
Lisa´s last [type] ..Donuts: The sugar free, low carb, high protein version (plus, they taste good!)