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).

Simple, powerful, booty-full quickie class.

Quick, effective, perfect with 5 lb. weights for me. These classes are such wonderful add-ons but could be wonderful as a quickie stand alone class.

Ugh, so good! Heart rate accelerated, lungs inhaling deeply, warm and glistening skin, and our flow of warm up and cool down included, everything still purposeful but shortened to roughly 10 minutes. Modification options still identified by Marnie. This workout did not include equipment, but when I return I can pick up hand weights for the punches. 

So lovely to return to, with 5 lb. hand weights and the Movement ball for under our feet at the barre (including facing away from the barre, standing in releve on the ball, with one leg dancing and a focus on strong posture, so doing this in front of the mirror helps me). Sweaty 30 minutes!

I tend to crave a grounded sweat class around Earth Day, and on this rainy April morning I welcomed the quiet intensity of this class. If your wrists are not sore, please bring yourself close to Momma Earth and feel the shared power. 

Another class added to my Favorites list in the M/BODY app! During standing arm work my arm muscles were shaking. During standing barre work my legs were shaking. As class was closing I was feeling so powerful, strong, and calm. The barre choreography with one dancing leg and one stabilizing leg (with movement ball under foot and then working to movement ball squeezed behind one knee) did some SERIOUS hamstring and calf and booty work! I enjoyed picking up weights while laying tummy skyward on the mat for weighted crunches and arm movements while keeping hips still. This 45 felt super full body and I look forward to doing this again in the catalog as the changes came quickly and I forgot to add the movement ball in between my thighs for the brief P&P set (also push-ups with fingers facing away from body while elbows hug inward was new and different for me!).

Happy almost Marnieversary, Becca!

I am partial to all of the knockout sweat classes and the homage to kickboxing, but I think this first one is my all-time favorite. Every time I revisit it, I am greeted with such strong cardio activation, strength, power, and calm afterward with a tomato-red face. I pick up hand weights but just for quick moments, everything moves so quickly I need to pause and rewind to catch up when I take 2 beats to pick them up or drop them down. Love revisiting favorites again and again!

Caroline's comment before me is wonderfully said! This class has us standing, squatting, in all fours on our knees, extending a leg behind us while other leg is in kneeling position (or progress to both legs behind in plank) with a one-arm lift. We have some up and down in ending stretch as well. Not jumpy or bouncy, beautiful and purposeful use of breath and follow Marnie's words for the guidance we need to activate all of the muscles. I felt my core and glutes in class too!