UNDERCOVER: A workout thatʼs like cycling in a nightclub?! Boom! Cycle

Saturday 19th May 2012 at 2pm - FREE for members of Boutique Sport website at BOOM! Cycle Studio, Shoreditch. 

Check out Boutique Sport and Boom Cycle for more details. I found out about the event by subscribing the Boutique Sport mailing list & responded as quickly as possible to secure a spot! (But as an undercover agent, I gave a fake name and wore a disguise!). Apparently, they were inundated with responses so had to put on two events in the same day!

If you havenʼt been to a spin class, you havenʼt lived. Itʼs one of my favorite ways of working out, and as someone who has struggled with creaky knees over the years, I know that cycling is a sure-fire way to build up the muscles that support your knee joint. Boutique Sport, the sports events company run lots of free events in London and they teamed up with Boom!Cycle in Shoreditch to run special Saturday classes recently, and you got a goodie bag with lots of lovely makeup, magazine, shower stuff & some Vita Coco as a reward too! 

As with all good spin classes, the music was pumping, the room was dark like a nightclub, and you hop on, pedal away furiously and burn a gazillion calories. The difference with BOOM! Cycle is that you donʼt waste your time working only your lower body; you also use weights to exercise your upper body whilst pedaling on the static bike. You kill two birds with one stone, hurrah! The class could have been tougher, but thereʼs also no reason why I couldn't have cranked the resistance up on my bike, or used heavier weights, if I wanted to make it more challenging. 

 

The instructor was really enthusiastic and encouraging, and looked the part. I actually overheard a girl say afterwards, that the instructorʼs perfect biceps kept her going when the class was tough! Iʼd say thatʼs a good point. I know some people find the constant pedaling tedious, but I love it. And, the addition of the arm and core exercises mean that itʼs not monotonous as all. The studio was perfect for spin - dark! The event was really well organised too.

You want a nice warm shower after a sweaty workout like that, but the changing rooms were packed (and the showers were almost communal) so I decided to get freshened up at home instead. 

Best bit - getting more out of a spin class than usual (and the freebies).
Worst bit - not being able to get into the changing rooms/shower so leaving very sweaty
Good for - exercising with a nightclub vibe. 
Score - 8/10

UNDERCOVER: Spread your legs in the City(!) - Blue Cow Yoga

Wednesday night approaches, mid week drinks are tempting to relieve the stress of the week so far....but this time I opt for a Blue Cow. Not a new cocktail though, Iʼm afraid...its better. Blue Cow Yoga is a yoga studio set in the heart of the city, yet when you walk in, you couldnʼt feel further away.

The reception is open-plan with a minimalist feel. Remove your shoes on arrival and place them in their shoe- rack wall before registering. The registration was quick and the staff were extremely friendly. Each class is £14 which sounds a bit steep but you do get provided with towels (you know how I love a free towel), good changing room facilities, and an endless supply of fruit/herbal teas. The studios themselves are spacious and all equipment from yoga mats to blocks are provided.

Sitting in my best guru position, we wait for the teacher to arrive - and she was brilliant fun from the start. She was so calm and yogi like that her vibe just rubbed off on you. The group was a mix of men and women but I didnʼt feel at all intimated or self-conscious, especially as the teacher was brilliant at putting everyone at ease. I think the class would suit all levels; she was very good at showing the basics and also adapting them for the more advanced in the group.

I would have to say my highlight was lying on my back, legs spread as wide as they would go, staring up at Gresham Street while busy professionals rushed around oblivious to my legs akimbo pose just below them. This teacher called that particular move...the dead fly! Ha ha.

I really did enjoy the class, the atmosphere and studio was great and the people who work there are very warm and friendly. Would definitely recommend this to the city folk among you if you want to find some much needed calm and relaxation, but want to do it in style!

Best bit - the calm oasis in the city 
Worst bit - getting on the tube after enjoying the calm!!
Good for - relaxation
Score - 8/10 

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Vivo bare foot running shoes

Running for free...with a bit of toe-ga thrown in!
 6.30pm on Tuesday nights in Hyde Park - meet just north of the Serpentine Bridge Free!
 For more details head to the VIVOBAREFOOT website http://www.vivobarefoot.com.

The VIVOBAREFOOT running theory states that “70% of your brainʼs information for movement comes from the nerves on the soles of your feet”. Basically, if you can feel the ground better, you will run better. Having spent a small fortune on all sorts of chunky, fancy, gel-cushioning runners in the past, to protect my poor knees and ankles as I pound the pavements, I thought it would be good to test their theory, and try out these training shoes.

I guess the best thing to do is go and buy the shoes first! They can tell you all the details in the Covent Garden store; they stick you on a treadmill, and watch how you run on a camera. All very high tech when you consider that many of us have run around since we learned to walk, with no lessons whatsoever! But the team will suggest that doesnʼt mean weʼre doing it right, does it? The shoes will set you back a minimum of fifty quid.

Thatʼs just the beginning though. The VIVOBAREFOOT team run a group exercise session every Monday night in Hyde Park. Itʼs still pretty new (I think itʼs only been going a month or so), and Iʼm sure you can still attend if you donʼt have the shoes, but that would be rather pointless, as itʼs all about making the most of your barefoot running style.

Just one word about the facilities before I start...errr, there are none. If you want to get changed for the session, be sure to do that before you leave the office...otherwise youʼll be putting your sports bra on in a bush. There is always someone from the team to keep an eye on your valuables in a dry spot, but there are no changing rooms nearby.

The instructor was really fun (and funny, in a dad-joke sort of way) and very clear about what he wanted from us. We started with a round of toe-ga....yes, toe-ga...thatʼs yoga for your toes. Despite the fact that it was a soggy April evening, and only around 15 degrees, we took our shoes and socks off and stood in the middle of Hyde Park with bare tootsies, doing toe-strengthening exercises! Once the silliness was over and done with and the shoes were back on, we did some warm ups and then started our drills. Proper barefoot running means keeping a really steady pace, so we worked on our style and pace as a group and played a few games, before doing a few laps of our area of the park. I felt like the instructor and the team from VIVOBAREFOOT were watching our every move (in a nice way) and were always on hand to offer tips about how to improve our running styles on both grass and concrete. The whole session was just over an hour, and allowed everyone to push themselves hard if they wanted to, or take it a bit easier if youʼre not a crazy running junkie.

If you donʼt like jogging, and need pumping music to get through a session, this is not the class for you. But if you want to feel motivated about running, meet some lovely people and enjoy the great (wet, windy) outdoors in London, this is worth making the effort.

And although I canʼt promise heʼll be at one of the sessions, Eddie Izzard was seen in the VIVOBAREFOOT store last week, and is a big fan of barefoot running. Heʼs soon set to do 27 marathons in 27 days. I think Iʼll just stick to Tuesday nights in Hyde Park.

Best bit - itʼs a great workout and really good fun, all for free.

Worst bit - running in the rain, with nowhere to get changed afterwards

Good for - improving your fitness and running style
Score - 8/10

CHALLENGE: The Reading Half Marathon

Iʼm going to unveil a big secret here....I ran a half marathon a few weeks ago! The reason I kept this one under wraps was...well, my ego, actually. I was really worried I wouldnʼt be able to do it, so didnʼt want to tell anyone until Iʼd done it!

The reason for my level of self-doubt was not humility. Nope. It was the fact that I had adopted the worst kind of training regime ever. The ʻdonʼt train until the last minuteʼ regime. This is not advice I would wish to pass on to anyone else. 


Please do train very hard! Iʼm a keen runner anyway so I knew it was possible, but it was tough, as I donʼt normally run more than about 4 or 5 miles, and this was a whopping 13 miles! Iʼd been running twice a week as part of my regular fitness regime until a couple of weeks before the half- marathon. But if youʼre taking this seriously, youʼd be running every other day or so and doing one long run every week, as well as some swimming and cycling to up your cardio fitness level. I ran a half marathon a year ago and trained in a sustained and sensible fashion. This time, I most definitely ran it on a wing and a prayer. 


 The race in question was the Reading Half Marathon, and it is a great course. There are a few hills, but nothing too demanding. You start and finish at the Madejski stadium, and run a pretty route through the town centre, past houses, parks and lots of supportive locals with flags and cheers. Although the chap I saw drinking a can of special brew at 11am as I hit mile 6 was a little off-putting! The facilities are great at the beginning and end, but you are one of 18,000 people trying to prep for a race at the same time, so go to the loo early. 


I ended up having to take a wee behind a bush with about 40 other women near the start line, and then use a petrol station toilet along the route (I slightly over-did the hydration, for fear of being dehydrated, so took water at every opportunity). I normally rate how good the workout is as part of these reviews. I think itʼs pretty obvious that 21kilometers is demanding! The blisters and thigh pain made me a little wobbly the next day, but overall, the more training youʼve done, the less it burns after the race. 


Something that made me laugh...

Best bit - The sense of camaraderie amongst the runners. And the finish line, because you get to do a lap of Reading football stadium....and itʼs over.

Worst bit - Pretty much everything up to the halfway point, because you feel like there is still such a long way to go! 
Good for - Proving you can do it, raising some money for charity, and achieving something 
Score - 7/10 


Main bits of advice for anyone considering doing a half marathon. . 


1) Train! I did a half marathon about a year ago, and itʼs much easier if you follow a proper training schedule of a few shorter runs and one long one every week, building on the distance and varying the type of course as you get closer to the race. . 


2) Get yourself a rocking playlist and pump up the volume. In the tough bits, itʼs all youʼve got. . 


3) Invest in good trainers and run in them for all your long runs before the race. NEVER WEAR NEW GEAR ON THE BIG DAY. .

4) Buy cool running gear - youʼre more likely to train if you donʼt look like youʼre wearing your dadʼs old pajamas. Sport is not an excuse to look scruffy and ridiculous. .


5) Experiment with what to eat before a run, so you know how much fuel you need to get through it. I prefer to run on an empty stomach, but 13 miles is a long way, so I have a smoothie and carry the running gel food with me for when I flag halfway. . 


6) Hydrate (and this includes your skin - chafing is not a good look) but not too much, then youʼll need to pee the whole time. . 


7) Get a good buddy to train with. You donʼt have to actually run together, as some people prefer to go it alone, but it does help to have someone to get psyched with at the start line, and discuss your training with as you get closer to the big day.

UNDERCOVER: I wanna make you sweat! Bikram Yoga.

As the weekend kicks off, you might be more likely to work up a sweat on a nightclub dancefloor, but I chose my ‘zen goddess’ over my ‘dancing queen’ and spent last Friday night doing Bikram yoga. That’s yoga in 40 degree heat!

It being a Friday, I assumed the class would be pretty quiet as everyone else would be getting the weekend underway. After getting a bit lost I managed to find the studio and buzzed to be let in. I made my way down to a small reception area and joined the long queue of people who had also decided to give Friday night’s drinking session a miss.

Once I reached the till, I filled out a registration form (as I was a first- timer) and was asked whether I had enough water and towels. A friend of mine had (with a knowing look) advised me to take two towels and a big two litre bottle of water.  I thought that seemed a tad excessive, but ended up being VERY glad I had stocked up.

The reception area started to get very crowded by around half past six, but soon enough, they opened the studio doors and let us in. I took a deep breath as I was dreading entering the studio. I expected to be hit with an overwhelming stench of sweat but I smelt nothing! It was incredibly hot in there, but you would never have known forty people had just spent the last hour and a half sweating like lunatics!

I’m not much of a prude (as I’m sure you will all know about me by now) but as I entered the changing rooms I was not prepared for the level of nakedness that faced me! Communal showers and small changing spaces led to a lot of up close and personal moments. But it didn’t seem to bother anyone, so I decided that if you can’t beat them, you just have to join them!

Lisa, our teacher for the session, was really friendly and made sure she knew who the first timers were before we began. She explained to us that staying in the room for the full 90minutes should be our aim for the session and that if we felt faint or a little light headed at any time it was normal, so we should lie down. The lights were turned off except for a few fairy lights that ran along the top of the mirror (it was a twilight class) and the class began.

For those of you who have never done a class, Bikram is made up of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, one at the start of the class and one at the end. Two sets of each posture are performed with a 20 second ‘Savasana’ (laying flat on your back to return body to its normal state…that’s the best bit) between each set.

After 90 minutes of stretching in 40+ degree heat, my heart was pumping and the sweat was pouring off me. The class ended with a short prayer and we were allowed to lay in ‘Savasana’ until we were ready to leave.  It was a pretty exhausting class, so I had a lovely rest to round the class off!

Best bit – the positive feeling you have after the class all that stretching is good for the mind! And the fact that you burn waaaaaay more calories than a normal yoga class.

Worst bit – the communal showers and THE SWEAT!!!!!

Time – all ‘proper’ Bikram classes are 90minutes long.

Location – Vestry Street (near Old Street tube) but also locations in West London, North London and Primrose Hill