I loved all of the punches and front and side kicks incorporated, and down on the mat the “ankles together” leg motions were a blend of Physical Therapy and muscle work. My quads felt like jello during the one leg standing work, so ending each side with the optional jump was wobbly. Ball is under feet/foot, held in our hands, in the crook of our hip and abdomen, and used down on the mat to support side work and behind our back. The final cardio flushes in class are enjoyable. Future me: maybe try some of the non-bouncy parts in class with light ankle weights and pick up light hand weights for the standing punches early on in class?

A few hours later I was keenly aware of my strengthened and stretched postural back muscles. Next morning: holy glutes!!

Class is great with gliders and a towel (or a fuzzy sock on slippery floor) - we are using one glider at a time with the other stable foot planted on the ground. I wasn't sweating in the very beginning and entertained a lot of complaining self-talk that has been with me most of the day, as I came to this class with an overwhelmed and frustrated mood. Then the sweat started, the burning of the muscles, and the negative commentary slowly shifted and eventually quieted. Gosh I love the power of a M/BODY class! I find towel dances and glider classes to be a serious challenge, so I am glad they keep occurring and it keeps inviting me.

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.