With the addition of new instructors Natalie Sales and Irma Nate, our class schedule is as robust as it has ever been.
Natalie teaches Boot Camp and a Strength and Stretch Class for the Club. Irma Nate is a Zumba instructor and teaches a Step Zumba and Aquatic Zumba class for the Club. These classes have seen great success since their start up, and our members have been excited with our new class schedule that offers classes six days a week. These classes have offered some well-rounded diversity to our schedule that includes classes by Ann-Kristin Allen, Martha Miehe-Renard and Jewell Bowers.
How do group exercise classes benefit our members?
Group exercise classes can be of benefit in a number of ways. Group exercise classes are fun, and when you have fun you are more likely to stick with an exercise program. Group exercise classes are also a great place to get support. You may find that a group fitness program puts you in contact with people at the same fitness level as you, with similar fitness goals. A group fitness class may also help you stay accountable to your exercise program. Once you start working out with a group of people you may develop relationships that keep you coming back so as not to let the group down. Group exercise classes are also a great way to get exposure to new kinds of exercises.
A group approach to weight loss typically benefits everyone involved. Studies have found that support from people sharing the same experience and struggles with the difficult task of losing weight (and keeping it off) can enhance weight loss outcomes. A group environment can provide a sense of belonging, social support and accountability which is beneficial in promoting exercise.
A variety of group classes also helps make achieving your fitness goals easier and not so boring. What’s great about doing group classes is that you don’t have to think at all. You can just listen and follow whatever the teacher is instructing you to do. One point of caution with classes that involve resistance training: Some people have no business lifting weights, thus do it poorly and get injured. Just because you lift weights doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt or cause pain. Be mindful of the quantity of weight you lift and the exercises you are going to be asked to perform.
ZUMBA
Latin rhythms pulse from the Club’s group exercise studio twice a week, where Irma Nate leads a Zumba class packed with the glistening bodies of our members seeking to swivel, pivot, and shake their way to fitness.
Irma coaches her students to feel the music, be it salsa, meringue, or flamenco. “I don’t talk much,” she says. “I let the music move them and inspire them.”
Zumba, an aerobic dance class set to South American beats, is hot in health clubs and exercise studios.
“Latin music just tends to make you feel happy and good,” says Irma. “I can have the bluest day, be depressed, hormones ranging, whatever, and get in front of that class, turn on the music and I recharge my life, my soul.”
Adds Irma: “When I put on Traigo Una Pena, a cha cha, my class just screams. They’re somewhere else; they’re not in Cordillera Ranch when they take a Zumba class.”
YOGA
The benefits of yoga provide both instant gratification and lasting transformation. In the fitness world, both are extremely important. Too much time with too few results can be incredibly discouraging, and monotonous routines week after week can lead to stagnation. Yoga can change your physical and mental capacity quickly, while preparing the mind and body for long-term health. Yoga is something that anyone can do regardless of age or physical shape.
Yoga is not just about working out, it’s about a healthy lifestyle. The practice of yoga allows students to be still in a world consumed with chaos. Peace and tranquility achieved through focused training appeals to everyone.
Yoga’s deep breathing and meditation practices help foster an inner shift from to-do lists, kids’ and spouse’s needs, financial concerns and relational struggles to something a little bit bigger than the issues you face. Yoga helps relieve stress and unclutter the mind, and helps you get more focused.
You’ve probably heard that yoga is good for you. Maybe you have even tried it and discovered that it makes you feel better. A regular practice can offer all kinds of mental and physical health benefits. Some, like improved flexibility, are clearly evident. Others, including mental clarity and stress reduction, may be more subtle but are just as powerful. When put together, all the benefits below contribute to an increased feeling of well-being, which helps explain why so many people find yoga so addictive.
Our group exercise schedule changes slightly each month, so we encourage you to give a class a try and see the wonderful benefits that working out in a group setting can be.
