Fitness From The Field: FitnessGlo, A Workout Via Internet
The Rural Intelligence region offers a plethora of fitness and healing modalities, but it can be hard to know which is the one that fits your needs, your body type and your schedule. Enter Paula Boyajian, a yoga instructor certified in Interdisciplinary Yoga and Yoga for the Special Child, who has taken on the role of RI’s fitness contributor to sleuth out the details of the many health and wellness options in our area.
With the holidays behind us and the new year just unfolding, there’s lots of news about upcoming trends and resolutions. Put the two together and you get stories about exercise trends. Put a few exercise trends together – like HIT, dancer-style workouts and online classes — and you get FitnessGlo.
What Is It?
FitnessGlo is a website offering a countless number of classes ranging from five minutes to one hour and covering exercise styles from Hi-intensity Interval Training (HIT) to Baby & Me Pilates and Yoga Fusion. You can choose different workouts each day based on duration, style, fitness level, teacher and necessary equipment (and there are plenty of “no-equipment" choices). Classes even get as specific as Busy Bride and Lower Body for Sensitive Knees. If you’re just not sure how to get started, you can use their pre-planned 8-week programs and even these can be filtered by level.
Activity Level
You'll find any and all levels here, from Getting Started for absolute beginners to Good to Glow for the very fit who want a challenge. With so many choices, I decided to make a 3-2-1 plan. I started with a Level 3 No Holds Barred HIT workout, a series of short intense cardio exercises followed by a short time for recovery. I followed this with a Level 2 Balance & Coordination strengthening class for 20 minutes and ended with a Level 1 Flow Stretch for 10 minutes.
The first class, with Alex McClean, was extremely challenging but doable because Alex gives options to hi-intensity moves and is extremely motivating and fun.
Denise Klatte presented an easy-to-follow, total-body strengthening class that called on some balancing skills as well. My final stretching class with Ilyse Baker was just what I needed: a relaxing stretching session that featured other students and soulful music that helped me decompress but left me alert and ready for the day.
Benefits
Whatever you need — cardio, strengthening, balancing, relaxation — there’s a class for you, and many that combine several benefits. Additionally, FitnessGlo is a convenient way to stay healthy and active throughout the unpredictable winter weather that can keep us from the gym, yoga studio or jogging path. With a weeklong free trial, it’s easy to give it a try without losing money or much time. And since laptops and iPads are omnipresent, it’s easy to work out wherever you go. (On a personal note, the guest room where my computer is has been occupied, so I actually worked out in my living room using my smart phone. Granted, the image is smaller, but since teachers give clear verbal instructions and cuing, it was a perfect solution for my cramped situation.)
Instructor Info
All teachers are experienced and certified; their particular credentials are listed on FitnessGlo’s website. But what I enjoyed was each instructor’s unique style. Alex made me laugh as he acknowledged “It’s not easy, my friend!" or asked “Are you taking as long to get down (to the floor) as I am?" Following Denise’s class was like having a good friend who is also a personal trainer; she was encouraging and very specific with her instructions. While stretching with Ilyse — who is a professional dancer — I found grace in my movements and walked away feeling a bit taller and lighter.
Facility/Ambience
I could be a smart aleck and say “Just perfect: a warm and beautiful environment; I felt right at home!" but that’s because I was. So needless to say, if you’re in your own space you’ll probably like the ambience. Regarding the production value of FitnessGlo, it’s simple, clean and bright, making it easy to focus and follow along. Some classes feature other students and lively music. It’s interesting to note that the classes are produced in a Santa Monica studio and if you find yourself in the area, you can take a class while they’re filming.
Cost
The first week is a free trial, then it’s $12/month. (It’s free to attend a filming.)
www.fitnessglo.com
You can even take your puppy to class. Angus loved it.
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