All standing, no bounce (except for optional in starting warm up, which can become a gentle shake instead), working of the leg muscles that support the muscles that help us bounce in other classes. Inner leg work, felt my dancer's dent in the glutes, saw the lines of muscles from upper thighs down to calves in class. Wonderful foot stretches involved. I felt the burn, but it was not too sweaty and not too intense, but wonderful for form and stretch and strengthening. I try not to wistfully think about alternatives to the past, but I did think during class: Wow, what would it have been like if my young childhood recreational dance instructor taught as invitingly and warmly as Marnie- would I have stuck with it and felt my power more than what I wasn't capturing back then? What I do know is I am super grateful for this kind of instruction now as a grown up. 

PS: the written synopsis of this class in the M/BODY catalog is phenomenal.

Beautiful alignment, some choreography utilizing both sides of our body together, but in general we have our starting side and give focus to each side, one at a time. Three rounds a-plenty here as well as 16 counts. I was feeling more tired and chose to use 3 lbs. in this class rather than 5 lbs, and that worked well for my energy level. Monique when you return: try your 5s and see how that feels. The mat work was straight fire with Marnie's warmth and support. I echo Lindsey before me about the mini ball - woo, what a different sensation! Happy International Women's Day (I did this on playback on Sunday, March 8th).

Happy Birthday to Katelyn, our M/BODY Queen Behind the Scenes!

Beautiful, warming way to begin the day. I forgot how challenging it is for me to be sitting upright with my straight legs in front of me and navigating arm and waist movements and bends. 

Quick 45 minutes with Marnie’s joyful mood, honoring our Queen Behind the Scene Katelyn, fun music, and a quick experience of all Signature areas. Arm dance offers more one-at-a-time movements (micro theme in class of one side then the other), Movement ball in between legs for standing barre then down on our knees for some wild hip, glute, and core engagement, then behind our backs for mat abs. Twists especially with floor core (shoulder toward opposite knee action and our upper body following an elbow to the side). Small but mighty movements especially for core but felt throughout class.

IRL meet ups are the best!! I love this for you both 🩵✨

Primarily standing with squatting up and down, and ending on the floor in a side plank and then on our backs for roughly 2 minutes of abs to end. I was able to keep my hips centered this time around with the upper body twists, woo hoo! Still sweaty in a short amount of time.

Wonderful class to do after a Power Sculpt class or a push-ups and planks class for that lovely stretch and blood flow to the shoulders and pecs. Still such a wiggly one for me! And still using a long, thin towel as my strap.

The comments before me helped me prepare for the slow sculpt fire and knowing we would be fueled by it rather than burned by it. We build on in class and incorporate hand weights for more than half of the class - at times with one weight in each hand but some times of optionally holding both weights in one hand. I used my 5 lbs but when we moved arms further away from us I knew to ignore ego and switch to 3 lbs so my shoulders and neck would be along for the ride instead of some backseat drivers stealing my focus. The ups and downs are gentle on knees and are so helpful for our future older selves.

HBD class to Yvonne and Ilana and Katelyn! Sorry if my spelling is incorrect, birthday beauties!

Wowza! Insert 5 seconds of silence for our pals who did this class with 15 pounds or whatever weight felt challenging to them. I went with 12s and holy moly! We begin w/ one weight, with a focus on one side at a time (and some options to hold one weight with both hands) and work to holding both weights simultaneously. Bracing core (standing core and pelvic floor engagement), purposeful exhales with lifts, following Marnie’s guidance for form are all the ways to make this class accessible and safe. It is low impact (no jumps or bounces) but leg lifts (side extension standing and in side plank, forward, back leg lift, and a forward lift from lowered lunge position). Via squat position or down in a one knee lunge we continue the soft strength of moving our bodies up and down. As Marnie says in class, “You got this, darlin’”.