Upbeat class where 45 minutes fly by to a great playlist. Choreography includes a lot of crossing center line (in front of course but also crossing our center behind us, such as the kneeling curtsy move), and our posture feels like a focus (soft and open heart/strong back). Cardio dance is bouncy, arm dance is strengthening with weights, and Movement ball can be squeezed in between thighs at the barre, support our knees in some kneeling moves, and is under foot/calf while laying down on the mat tummy skyward. The barre choreography combos were fun and required brain engagement for me. Have space for wide second facing your barre (feet mat width or wider) and further to each side for a tabletop side kick. Felt full-body engagement with front abdominal muscle work included. No P&Ps in this class (unless you consider tabletop position with one leg dancing to be plank-adjacent, but my lack of quiet cussing means I do not).

Happy Birthday, Molly G!

So exciting! Post a sweatpant pic, momma!

Alyssa, thank you for sharing and how awful to go through this physical pain journey and process of healing. I hope your chosen path works for you, but perhaps it’s good to know surgery is a backup plan IF necessary. We are here with you, so making things known helps us know when to rally around and lift each other up. Whether you need an organ to go (appendixes are overrated, right?) or whether you need community and reminders to soften your heart and strengthen your back as you recover from spinal/nerve injuries, speak up and we show up. This community is a living, breathing, pulsing realm of safety and support and I am so grateful to be here with you and with others. I know I don’t always check/keep up with the Community Board or group chats, but when I do it’s this awe-inspiring reminder of what is here to tap into and give and receive. Sending you all the love and healing and being seen and supported, whether that’s comfortable or not, to you!

Class can use both the traditional and mini size movement ball (the smaller ball for behind the knee down on the mat). Next time I’ll try this with ankle weights; I bet that adds a lot of power (and cuss words?) with kicks and pulses in lunge and leg dancing in forms of tabletop on the mat. When in doubt, tuck to align posture/form again and again (every single spoken reminder from Marnie had me shifting this). 

HBD to mama of Marnie & Spagz!! Happy 5 year Marnieversary to Julia H!

PS: I deleted “correcting” and typed “shifting” b/c doing frequent M/BODY classes each week helps make different shapes with your thoughts too. 🫶

jennyg ohhh I love this! I’m glad it was most awesome so far and I hope you like the option of picking up hand weights or adding light ankle weights!

Sooo good after a technical 9 mile hike yesterday! My hip flexors and legs have been sore and this helped heal them in the recovery.

Absolute perfection to revisit this evening. I did not feel lopsided but I felt the burns-SO-good all over. The 5 lb. hand weight behind the knee in table top for dancing leg work is a fun challenge to maintain posture throughout. The messages of Marnie and the wellness activity of that Fall 2022 Challenge (“wish upon a star”) reminded me it was some of our inspiration for a small gift for Marnie months later. Revisit (or try) this class if you have decision fatigue.