Fun of a different kind!

[Sky King]

I am going to share this with my instructor. I would love a class for that age group. We do get pumped when we conquer a new exercise

Glad to hear that everyone is having a good time with your classes!! It definitely gives us all something to think about over the colder/dark months

I've been teaching a suspension straps class, and two different Boot Camp classes this winter. The first Boot Camp has students that are from 54-66, and truthfully I've had TONS of fun! It's been great to see all of them inprove so much, especially in strength. At times, they thought I was crazy, but the smiles on their faces when they accomplish something is incredible. LAst night and tomorrow we are doing a MARCH MADNESS challenge, so a couple of movements and doing long supersets. The first Boot Camp folks last night asked what else they could do after they completed the challenge. Although their upper bodies were tired.. they wanted to add something else. I guess it doesn't hurt that they are involved with a department challenge, and they are leading right now.

[Crankin]

Hey, Ridebikeme, I'd fit into that age group.... and here I am in class with people much younger! Actually, I think most of the people in my boot camp class are in their 40s to around 50. Occasionally, we get a newbie and the younger ones never stick it out .
What do you do differently in this class? Were the participants unfit when they started?

[Catrin]

I am the oldest in my training group and I certainly feel that at times. Our trainer gets frustrated with me sometimes but so do I so that is ok Sometimes my mind and body just has problems communicating.

[Irulan]

Hey, Ridebikeme, I'd fit into that age group.... and here I am in class with people much younger! Actually, I think most of the people in my boot camp class are in their 40s to around 50. Occasionally, we get a newbie and the younger ones never stick it out .
What do you do differently in this class? Were the participants unfit when they started?

That is my experience, too. The class I most regularly attend is myself ( 52) DH (53) and two other guys, one probably mid 40s and the I'm sure about my age.
We are all of the mind set of "we do this so we can do everything else". A fitness class from the U across the street comes in right after us. Nothing like hearing a 20-something girl start whining and I can say, "really, I'm 52 and I can do xxxx of that....".

[Catrin]

Yes, there is something about being able to do things that at one time I would have never considered even possible! I try not to compare myself with my younger teammates, but it does make me feel good when a much younger person says things to me about the things they see is doing.

[Crankin]

When I went to the step and sculpt class Wednesday, I saw the others eyeing me as a "newbie." I love to prove them wrong. It's a crowd that seems to trend older, like between 35 and 55, but it's hard to tell here. Even with a very overheated room, which is the only thing that does me in, I just think of all of the suffering I have done climbing on my bike and I wonder how the others would handle that . Or doing the boot camp class at 5:30 AM. But, I know I am the oldest in those classes. I just figured out that my 60th birthday will be on a boot camp day and you can be sure I will tell them my age then!

[ridebikeme]

I actually did NOT set up the Boot Camp for particular age groups; it simply worked out that way. There were more people originally, but as others have mentioned, some of the group dropped out. I would have to think that their fitness level was fairly decent, most partcipated in a walking program etc... but no strength classes for many years. I simply started with bodyweight types of movements and adjusted the movements/effort for each class. There is no doubt that they have been pushed, but honsetly, they work hard and are motivated to feel and 'see' the difference. I give them feedback, encouragement, adn I push, but the reality is that they do teh work. In fact, when popularity of the class took off, more people wanted to join but we were too far along for anyone to join unless they were very fit. When that didn't happen, one of the members convinced my supervisor to allow me to teach another Boot Camp. So now although they are at two different levels, there is some friendly banter back and forth between the two groups and people simply have worked hard.

In the end, I feel very fortunate for these folks and have truly enjoyed these classes!

[Catrin]

Today Tony worked with me on 1-legged balance drills. We learned yesterday that I cannot perform a single legged deadlift. I CAN do a single legged Romanian deadlift but not a regular one. Balance is the issue, so 30 minutes of a wide variety of balance drills, some core work, and a little strength. Who knew my balance was so bad?

[Crankin]

I bet your balance isn't as bad as mine!
Although it's definitely improved from these classes.
Yesterday we had a totally different kind of class. The only tools were a set of heavier and medium weights. Basically, it was 5 sets of eight minutes each. Each set was 2 minutes cardio, 2 min. strength X 2. Every set was different, some not so bad, some horribly hard! I could barely move yesterday, although I think it was more the cumulative effects of step class, my body conditioning DVD, and Nordic skiing.

[Catrin]

I bet your balance isn't as bad as mine!
Although it's definitely improved from these classes.
Yesterday we had a totally different kind of class. The only tools were a set of heavier and medium weights. Basically, it was 5 sets of eight minutes each. Each set was 2 minutes cardio, 2 min. strength X 2. Every set was different, some not so bad, some horribly hard! I could barely move yesterday, although I think it was more the cumulative effects of step class, my body conditioning DVD, and Nordic skiing.

That's one heck of a combination of activities Crankin, sounds like fun

I honestly had no idea how bad my balance was, it was embarrassing yesterday I can, however, see that my problem with step ups and box jumping above a certain height is at least as much about balance as anything else. Thankfully the one-legged drills he had me do today are things I can pretty much do anywhere so I've no excuse about not being able to practice!

[indysteel]

Catrin,

I've been practicing yoga for 7 years and work on a lot of balance poses. Some days, my balance is good. Some days, not so much. It takes a lot of practice for me to have consistently spot-on balance. So, don't feel bad.

Ack. The territorial woman in my total fit class is just awful. I set up in a spot yesterday that I was pretty sure wasn't "hers," but I asked just to be sure. In response she said, "No, it's not mine, but it's likely somebody elses. Our regulars can be pretty territorial." To which, I responded "You know; I'm trying to be mindful of that, but to be honest, you're the only one who's made a point of telling me that."

I did talk to a lovely woman after class who invited me to a group run on Saturday mornings. I doubt I'll do that any time soon, but it was nice to be asked. You take the good with the bad, right?

Class was very much like what Crankin described. We did step and BOSU intervals mixed with body bar intervals. Then we finished with some core exercises. Tonight is yoga--a class I've missed the last two weeks because of weather. My Tuesday night yoga class is always really humbling. No matter how strong I feel in my other classes, this particular yoga class really kicks my butt, and I can't figure out why it's so much harder. It's kind of bumming me out because when I finish my Sunday night class, I feel awesome and after Tuesday's class, I just feel spent.

[Catrin]

Thursday is normally a rest day for me, but I went in this morning to do one thing. Just one thing My gym is having a "Hover" challenge - just another name for a plank on elbows. Top three times for the month wins an impressive list of prizes, especially that top time. I was a contender...until someone managed to hold the position for 12 minutes! Now THAT is impressive, if heartbreaking. I was still number 2 at 5:01, and there is no way I can break that 12 minute mark (or even match it). We can re-do as often as we like during the month so I decided to try it again. My time this morning was 6:01 - which isn't a bad improvement! Still in solid #2 position, but I will take it.

My trainer has started introducing me to other plank-type challenges that are dynamic - THOSE are what I need to focus on. Fun that I was able to beat my own time by a full minute though

[Veronica]

Do they care about form for this challenge? I've watched some people do plank with their butts up in the air rather than being flat.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Do they care about form for this challenge? I've watched some people do plank with their butts up in the air rather than being flat.

Veronica

Oh yes, they focus more on form than I have ever seen - normally when I am tested on this I've a dowel rod right down the middle of my back and I must keep it there. I didn't have the rod this morning, but Thomas told me that my back/hips never budged out of correct form. Those taking the challenge must be witnessed and timed by one of a couple trainers. I could barely stand up after 6 minutes, for a few seconds. I can't imagine 12 minutes! We have professional athletes as members, I can't help but wonder if it was one of them.

[Catrin]

Today we played games dog sled pulling, carrying our partners on our backs, hopping over each other, all kinds of fun. For the first time I've been able to get an unweighted 45 pound Olympic bar over my head onto my shoulders unassisted - so that is sign of shoulder/strength improvement - that may not sound like much but it is the first real sign of strength gain for my arms. Yayyyy! I also managed to get 55 pounds in a fairly decent front-squat position - also a good sign AND a first!

I've NEVER done a partner carry before - and my partner out-weighs me by about 15-20 pounds - it really wasn't a problem. Granted, that is a different thing than a narrow bar across our backs, but I was cruising with her I think she weighs about what I've been back-squatting recently. After the workout I played on the leg press machine for a bit, got it up to 450 pounds (3 reps).