52 Weeks of Wellness: Absolutely, Let’s Work on My Physique!
Monday, Mar 14, 2011
Absolutely, Let’s Work on My Physique!
52 Weeks of Wellness: Week Ten
Oh my. I just tried to walk down a flight of stairs – ouch, ouch, ouch. I can blame this class: Absolute Physique. It was super challenging and all about raw strength, yet it was hugely motivating to work that hard. Today my legs are speaking volumes on how hard I pushed myself. Beyond that, it is serving as a reminder that I will ABSOLUTELY be back so that I can strengthen those said sore legs.
This class is held in the Osher Weight Room, tucked under the stairs on the High Street side of the Greater Portland YMCA. There are ten of us in the room. As each person arrives, you can see the wheels turning in instructor Jesse Wall’s head as he reformulates his circuits. He settles on six rounds of kettlebell swings, dumbbell squat and shoulder presses, and anywhere from two to four minutes on a cardio machine, depending on which one we are assigned (treadmill, ergometer or climbing Treadwall).
If I sounded like I was speaking Greek just now, then allow me to say it like this – you use your core strength, your leg strength, and your heart strength. Your body will feel it. In our group there, we are a total of ten people, split into pairs (not so much to work together as to share equipment). As Jesse does best, he talks in a firm and reassuring voice to keeps us going strong. Additionally, I can feel a slight element of competition in the air among the group.
Hence the sore legs. I can be competitive when I want to be.
Although it sounds like Jesse changes the class each time depending on the makeup and number of class participants, the challenge for me is worth every ouch. I hope you’ll challenge yourself and give it a try too.
Class: Absolute Physique at the Greater Portland YMCA, Osher Weight Room
Instructors: Jesse Wall
Schedule: Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:00 am; Tuesdays & Thursdays; 12:00 – 12:45 pm, Tuesdays, 6:00 – 6:45 pm
For a full schedule of wellness classes, including other strength training classes, click here:
Click here to read John’s tips on preventing injury during the slippery winter.
Hildy
Hildy Ginsberg is Portland’s Executive Director. She feels that the YMCA is the greatest place on earth. Seriously. Don’t you?