the fitness class experiment: PiYo

I'm a cardio junky. On my non-strength training days I ache for intense heart pumping sweat sessions. Needless to say, attending a 'mind-body' class sits on my farthest of far back burners. Little did I know what was in store for me when I attended PiYo for my latest test case in my fitness class experiment.

I have never done yoga and only done at-home Pilates DVDs, never taking them seriously (i.e., doing them while concurrently snacking on melba toasts). I went into this class with the expectation that it wouldn't raise my heart rate and I wouldn't get a 'real' workout. I was wrong.

When the instructor told me to take off my shoes I was immediately taken aback. A shoe-less workout? This I had to see...

Results. PiYo™ is a pre-choreographed class constructed to help participants gain strength, core stability, agility, and flexibility. This class uniquely blends not only pilates and yoga, but also sports training, core conditioning, dance, stretch, and athletic drills. Although this may sound daunting, PiYo is carefully designed with natural progressions and modifications to facilitate participation from people of all fitness/experience levels.

Here's what you can expect:

• Warm-up. A basic warm-up is the first section that introduces participants to the moves and flow of the class.
• Heat Building. The heat building section is just what it sounds like. A more intense warm-up that really starts working.
• Strength 1-3. The strengths sections are the core of the PiYo workout. This is where you really get your heart rate up and when the work happens. These sections seem to vary substantially, so check out these three links (1, 2, 3) for videos from different sections/seasons to get a flavor of the workout.
  
• Core.
• Stretch. 
• Final Relaxation. The class ends with an enlightening few moments of relaxation, where you simply lay and focus on your breathing.

This class requires energy, power, and rhythm. It smashed my pre-conceived notions about mind-body classes, got my heart rate up, and left my core remarkably sore the following day. For more insight into the moves involved check out this video. Remember, I had never done anything like this - and I was able to keep up with minimal faltering. You can do this, too.

Since PiYo is such a different class compared to the other group fitness classes in this experiment, its rankings deserve a little attention. In my opinion, PiYo requires coordination and balance - although this is a skill I'm sure you gain as you attend regularly. I was wobbling and falling, but again, no one cares about you - but you. My heart rate did get up and my muscles worked hard. In fact, my entire core was sore for the next two days - which is something that does not happen often.

As it turns out, PiYo, an intense mind-body inspired workout, has its place in the fitness world, after all. On days where you want a fantastically different workout mixed with a relaxing finish - this may be a new go-to option. Just be prepared for sore abs the next day.

(images 1, 2, 3)