If anyone needs form guidance about the ball under the back extended leg while in lunge position, check out class /551 at minute mark 54:16 as Marnie demonstrates clarification on position and form.

Flowy 45 Signature with a warm up that brought some sweat, arms that were brief and less variation of moves resulting in a higher count (the first time I heard “16 more” when I was expecting 4 at most was greeted by my own words but it was doable!). Feet on the ball at the barre, then one foot on the ball with a dancing leg created serious fire in my inner thigh and front quads (sartorius muscle maybe?) and I loved feeling my upper thighs and booty muscles activated and a bit worn as class progressed (between following Marnie’s guidance about going lower, sticking booty further back, weight placement within our feet, etc.). This class has an incredibly brief P&P moment with a low count sequence (meaning this is a great class if you don’t want a lot of planks and push-ups) and we use the ball behind our back for abs which incorporate crunches and leg lifts as well as Pilates-esque single leg stretches with core muscles activated. Abs were also worked earlier while standing hip circulars and obliques engaged with knee-to-elbow cross body moves while standing. No hip bridges in this one, but hips were worked well during the standing series and barre series. Solid 45 full body class!

Fanni isn’t it amazing how a week or so off can make a difference, along with so many other factors? I’m also trying to get back into a rhythm of more frequent classes as I know it makes me feel better physically and mentally. We’ve got this! Let me know how the revisit goes for you when you return to this one. I think I’ll still need to give myself grace as this was a (good) challenge of a class.

I consider piking up better for me than dropping down, so go us! Progress not perfection.

Another added to my favorites list; the use of our Movement ball in between barre sets, where we engage in super familiar choreography but THIS time do it with a ball gripped behind our knee was the best fire. I was challenged to try moves in all-four with a dancing leg but hands on barre rather than on floor; I will keep working on stable and squared hips because I wasn’t quite there during this first attempt. The warmup had my attention and kept my focus to get it right, and I was also needing to keep my attention sliding the ball under the top of my foot of my back leg in lunge position at the barre. I used the regular movement ball under foot at the barre and behind my lower back for floor abs, and the smaller ball behind my knee. All of the form guidance and the generous sprinklings of “what if you did?” and “yes you can” were helpful and encouraging.

Agreed that this felt meditative and while it was steady and intentionally paced (not fast and furious) the intention of breath to brace my core and lift my leg (with ankle weights) without shifting my hips and having other muscles try to ‘group project’ the movement kept me present (and some deep exhales and cuss words but also yes felt so good to complete). The meditation words at the end were beautiful as well. We use one hand weight (I went with 5 lb) and optional ankle weights that can be there from warm up to cool down (not jumpy at all, just our bouncy wake-and-shakes at the beginning).