Any ever go to any workout classes? kick boxing, pilates, spinning, pi-yo...

[pg600rr]

There seems to be alot of places offering various workout classes (ie kick boxing, spinning, pilates, pi-yo, etc) and I was thinking about trying some out prob. starting with a kick boxing program and some sort of yoga (Bikram or Hatha) to account for my cardio.... runing on the mill and the eliptical is getting boring as ****!

Anyone tried any of these courses? would you reccomend one over another? basically looking to cut body fat and have some fun doing it.

 

[gdl203]

I used to go to a bag boxing class and thought it was a lot more fun than cardio (duh). The chicks/dudes ratio was VERY high though - so you have to be comfortable with that.

 

[globetrotter]

I do yoga classes twice a week, but only for a few weeks so far. I do boxing classes too, but they are not your average workout classes. I am not that big on the whole class thing, but it has its advantages.

 

[Illuminate07]

I started Bikrams yoga a month ago and I can say the fat loss benefit is incredible. I already have a 6 pack when I've never had them before. I do 2 classes a week on top of 4 gym sessions a week though

 

[pg600rr]

Originally Posted by gdl203

I used to go to a bag boxing class and thought it was a lot more fun than cardio (duh). The chicks/dudes ratio was VERY high though - so you have to be comfortable with that.

comfortable? that sounds like heaven, easy pickens

Originally Posted by Illuminate07

I started Bikrams yoga a month ago and I can say the fat loss benefit is incredible. I already have a 6 pack when I've never had them before. I do 2 classes a week on top of 4 gym sessions a week though

How different is Bikram from Hatha? I have never done yoga before but I am fairly good shape (played sports my whole life, I am 25, and have been going to the gym steady for about 1.5 years w/ out much cardio tho)... I am wondering if I would be able to just jump in and start with Bikram?

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by pg600rr

comfortable? that sounds like heaven, easy pickens
Well it's not a bar or a club, it's a room where you would be one of the only men who does what a lot of women do - probably not very different form getting a manicure, I guess. You've got to be comfortable with that.

 

[Illuminate07]

Originally Posted by pg600rr

How different is Bikram from Hatha? I have never done yoga before but I am fairly good shape (played sports my whole life, I am 25, and have been going to the gym steady for about 1.5 years w/ out much cardio tho)... I am wondering if I would be able to just jump in and start with Bikram?

I'm not too sure about Hatha, but one is heated and one is not. Your heart rate goes to the moon with the added heat so you will have to learn how to handle that. I just jumped into Bikram, it's no big deal if you are determined enough to learn and have an open mind, I had friends who are very experienced in Bikrams help me though.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Yoga is no joke, even if you are a good athlete. You have to hold your body in positions it is not used to being in. You will likely sweat buckets. I'm not sure how good yoga is for improving cardio, but it is definitely good for improving flexibility, which comes in handy for many sports.

 

[fredfred]

If you can find any type of a boxing class run by a *real* boxer, take it. That's by far the best class I've ever taken. The guy could literally kick anybody's ass... so he'd take everybody as far as they could.

The "cute" boxing classes are good cardio, but that's about it.

The vinyassa or "power yoga" classes are very tough. Several suposedly "in shape" guys couldn't handle the class I was in and they departed about 1/2 way through. They are good for serious "toning" as well as coordination.

If you've never taken yoga your coordination sucks. I don't care what you think. I have killer hand-eye coordination, but just trying moving slowly from one yoga pose to another... will teach you things you never ever thought about before. And it sucks when a bunch of chicks can do things you can't.

But then again, they look damn good doing it.

 

[pg600rr]

^thanks everyone for the advice, I think I am going to try a few different types of yoga via a single class to see what will be the best for me... and incorporate that with a boxing/kickboxing class

 

[bullethead]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

Yoga is no joke, even if you are a good athlete. You have to hold your body in positions it is not used to being in. You will likely sweat buckets. I'm not sure how good yoga is for improving cardio, but it is definitely good for improving flexibility, which comes in handy for many sports.

+1
Started doing vinyassa twice a week and it's kicking ******. I've noticed some positive results already, but the real benefit is using muscle groups in a way I've never done before.

last two weeks i've done (assisted) head and hand stands. really strange feeling-for me, at least-when i was in the finished positions. really, really feel the core muscles getting worked over.

I do two days of yoga, two days of weights/cardio.

Also, when in a class like yoga the time really flies between trying to keep up and the occasional glimpses of eye candy

 

[globetrotter]

I do hatha, its not "hard" in that it makes me sweat or runs my heart too much, but it does stretch me, and it makes me work hard with balance and so on. and, very frankly, there are things that I can't do and probrably will take months or more to get to be able to do. but I love the stretch

 

[greg_atlanta]

Yoga and pilates are good the first 10-15 times you go to class, but starts to get old after that. It's a good change of pace. Classes CAN be hard but they're usually easy... esp. if it's a free class at the gym. If you pay out of pocket at a yoga/pilates studio you're more likely to get your money's worth.

 

[Celotil]

I used to go to Ninjutsu classes once a week, years ago, initially for self-defence but there was just as much emphasis on exercising and conditioning the mind as there was on the body.

 

[P-K-L]

I do not visit those classes because they are overcrowded with big old ladies.
Like the rest of the gym actually