When Nedra of Adventure Mom asked if I wanted to go to a fitness festival, I looked at the schedule and seeing TRX, I said OF COURSE! I was also tempted by something called Kick Azz.

Our Fitness Adventure began at Better Bodies with TRX, which is suspension training. Your gym may have these yellow and black straps hanging from a high bar, but you’re not sure what it is…that’s TRX. I’ve done it as part of circuit training, but not a whole class. It is on my list and I have spied a few local places to try…

This gym has enough for 6 people and is trying to gauge the interest so they can decide on classes. It isn’t a gym I will frequent, but I hope they decide to offer it. It is different and any body type and ability can do it since you’re not using weights, just body weight supported by the straps to go through movements like squats, lunges, angled pull ups, crunches, triceps, biceps and more.

Since there was a little time between classes, I asked for some extra exercises that can be done on the floor (half the battle is getting your feet in the handles and positioning the straps correctly). We worked on outer thigh in bridge (see my shoes match TRX) and then pull ins to work the hamstrings. Flipped over and did some push ups (ugh killer if you’re not keeping the core stable and your straps are high (think back to being a kid and your tall brother had you in wheelbarrow and you want to swayback-oof!)

After that we wandered by some tables for running and nutrition stores and then instead of Kick Azz, which looked like aerobic, we hit spin. This instructor is either a former cheerleader or wants to be a drill sergeant either way, he loved looked at himself in the mirrors. I’m not used to instructors who don’t take the time at the start of class to ask if anyone needs bike set-up, doesn’t go through the hand positions or explains how to add resistance. Without that instruction, it makes for a tough experience, but maybe he assumed everyone was a regular.

Later that day, Yelp had an 80s event at Yoga Alive! I was excited when this event was announced, because hot yoga and hot spinning are right up my alley plus it was one of the few non-alcoholic events hosted by Yelp. The last one I remember was laser tag and trampoline dodgeball.

You have to squint, but I’m in that photo above. I didn’t wear an 80s costumes like most because my workout clothing isn’t neon, I wanted to workout and I’m not the type to buy costumes for a single event and not use them again.

Amelia our spinning instructor was great, she helped everyone get set-up, walked us through how the Real Ryder bikes work (hint: more resistance, less wobble) and was constantly encouraging people although that didn’t help a handful who crapped out after 10 or 15 minutes, but at least they showed up and tried!

My favorite yoga instructor, Cheryl, led everyone through something similar to what she does in Friday night Yoga Jamz. She said she might have an 80s yoga jamz and yes this kind of news excites me! Click to see a photo of Amelia (spinning) and Cheryl (yoga) and their 80s workout gear.

While I jammed four classes into one day, it was nice to be able to share them with friends. Yoga Alive is opening two new studios in the Cincinnati area and I’ll be writing a separate post about that so if you’re interested in joining me for hot yoga, you can get the lowdown!