Finally caught up with this class in the catalog and appreciated the comments left by others as that helped me have my "usual" 5 lb weights AND my 3 lb weights nearby - I started with 3s and kept that the entire class. A lot of triceps work, which for me could have been slightly heavier weights but I stuck with the lower ones for my shoulder comfort, given some arm extensions and how much we engage shoulders in grounded sweat classes with plank dances and table top positioning. I chose to be flat-handed on the mat more than gripping my weights on the mat. Class brings the sweat (dripping down my temple at one point), is anaerobic, and engages full body from shoulders to feet. Feels powerful to finish and I was acutely aware of so many muscle groups WORKING in class, which I'm sure I'll feel echoing over the next day or two.

Aww Kasey! Congratulations to you and your fam on the sweet addition!

Your storytelling art transcends beyond photography, Amanda. I loved reading it! 😊

Adding to my Favorites! Check out impromptu post-class Q&A about form guidance for this class first (begins minute 59:50) as it was super helpful! It goes into other live comment-related topics after form demonstrations and notes. Class itself felt like half the time. Quick cardio start which felt stretching and invigorating, (extended for a 45?) weighted arm series (I used my usual 5#s and was challenged; lower weights if in between the two could be a sweet spot). Beautiful barre work with a focus on gluteal work and leg sculpting and extending/stretching. Some choreo we don’t always visit and lots of parallel foot positioning when facing the barre. BRIEF plank dance into crouching w/ a detox twist releasing one wrist at a time (less clumsy for me this class). Finish w/ ab work on the ball: paced crunch series with leg and arm dances interwoven. Felt balanced, strong, calm, and awake/present after class.

All the love to you, Liisa.

Sending out all the love to surround you as you continue on the journey… the physical parts of going through belongings and shifting accounts and helping your dad (and hopefully adding adult children names to dad’s account with permission as that makes things easier for future you all). And through the emotional journey. Beautiful words shared on your post before me and no doubt more to follow after me, so in the depths of it all (especially the ones that feel like they shake you from the ground up), I hope you can feel the company and know you are not alone, even if your unique journey is your individual experience. I appreciate how much you have given and cultivated in YOUR role as mom, regardless of what experiences you had with your own mom. I imagine some beautiful ways of showing up are continued and you very intentionally approached other aspects differently to provide for your children something you didn’t receive first hand and yet had the courage to break a few cycles. You are loved. Your mom is loved. And all the parts and pieces in between are just as valid in the vast tapestry of complicated relationships with loved ones. You are loved, Liisa; thank you for being who you are and for caring for those around you. I hope you are caring for yourself too amidst the heaviness and fog of this time.

Happy Anniversary! That’s quite the adventure!! Way to climb a 14er! How many days was the trek altogether?

Truly perfect for low energy days! All standing so would also be great if you have sinus pressure or a headache. Finally caught up on this one and LOVE that my son joined me for this work out. As others commented before me, this class flies by- I think this class felt the shortest of any 20-minute ones in the catalog. In the evening after work I craved movement, stretch, some warmth but not lots of sweat. My energy level was low and I didn’t want cardio bursts or to fatigue muscles, so this was was PERFECT. I used my usual 5 lb. hand weights and that felt good to me; if I had something slightly heavier (like 7 lbs) that would be great but my next size up is 10 lbs and they would have felt too heavy for me during the straight arm lift weighted arm straight.

Wiggly, muscle-engaging, almost entirely on relevé during the standing portion (which is 3/4 ish of class as we are on our knee[s] the other 1/4 or so). Dolly Parton inspired playlist. Slower pace to tune in to it all, with moments of speeding up but this is a no impact class other than the very beginning warm up of bounces. Ball in our hands, ball under foot/feet. 

Soundtrack w/ a primarily country music vibe (hey Dolly! And Miley, Shania, Gretchen Wilson, etc.) with a signature flow of cardio dance with jump options, slightly longer hand weights (I’m back to my 5 lb weights and feeling good with them in this class), an extended barre series bringing that BURN, brief yet poetic-and-clumsy (speaking for myself only) plank dances moving us to a crouching plank but with breaks for wrist & shoulders built in as we land on the floor in a seated twist for detox every set as part of the choreography. Abs with the movement ball in hand while in variations of laying on our side then primarily on our back that was so simple yet again I felt the burn, and we end class in a slightly longer hip bridge choreography sequence. Class was not easy breezy but flew by and had me sweating. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been doing M/BODY; Marnie’s form guidance throughout class (no matter the name mentioned) is always so helpful for my form and maintaining it. I appreciate Marnie’s moments of fighting for those last reps and shakey legs in relevé because girl, same. I needed this class this week and glad I was able to make the Live.

Happy 6 year Marnieversary, Jessica!

Calling all Badass Ballerinas (and those of us in training to becoming one): this is the class where the challenge is to stay in, feel it, and let that slow burn deeply sizzle on the working side and a little on the standing side too. These 45 minutes will make you feel, if not see, those defined lines of muscle on your gorgeous legs. The ankle weights are a doozy of an add-on! I dropped my leg a few times, so future me can challenge myself and try to stay in it without a mini reset. Arms can add graceful movements and can release the barre for balance challenges, intentional form keeps our core activated, and there are some moments of aerobic lift but this felt like deep anaerobic, deeply muscular work to me. Marnie makes sure we have the choice to feel rather than numb out, and messages of moving through grief are embedded for an emotionally and physically connecting class.