UNDERCOVER: Sport with Style!

Boutique Sport event in collaboration with Lulu Lemon and Barrecore in Chelsea!

When: Thursday July 5th 2012

Where: Chelsea, London

Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Three great brands together, one event. I’m in heaven. If you haven’t already, sign up to the Boutique Sport e-mail alerts….they run free (and fun) events across London every couple of months for women. 

Once you’re on the list, they send you emails about their events. You RSVP to an invite, and hey presto, you’ve got a free class and a goodie bag to boot! So, I replaced my usual Thursday evening cocktail hour with a yoga class in Lulu Lemon’s Chelsea showroom.  There was a choice between that, run club & a Barrecore class.  I like to run solo, and the Barreworks class filled up vey quickly, but I was more than happy with a yoga class instead. Especially because it was with one of Lulu Lemon's brand ambassador, Mercedes Ngoh.

The class was lovely and could be very challenging if you wanted it to be (you know my competitive streak comes out, even when I’m chanting ‘om’).  The class was exactly what I needed after a tough day at work. If I’m honest, it was a little more crowded than I had hoped, but I guess you have to put up with that when you attend a free event.

After the 45min class, the run club and Barrecore groups joined us in the showroom for nibbles, Vita Coco, mingling & shopping. Unfortunately, I was too busy chatting away with everyone (and it was a pretty packed) so I didn’t actually get around to doing any shopping,  but I’m sure I’ll be lured back again soon. It was lovely to meet other fitness enthusiasts, experts and ladies that love exercise.  I tend to feel much more enthusiastic about getting in to an exercise session when I have good company.

The best part was, we all left with a fab goodie bag (you know I love those) which included: mascara, sports sister magazine, some very tasty chocolate covered seeds, and the best part above all… a yoga passport. What the hell is that, I hear you asking? Well, Lulu Lemon have partnered with the best yoga studios across London and are encouraging people to ‘get into yoga’. So for two weeks, during the Olympics, I have 10 FREE class passes! Excited much?!

Best Bit: The free event and free goodie bag!

Worst Bit: A bit over-crowded

Good for: Networking - Meeting a fab group of like-minded women.

UNDERCOVER: Yoga in a loft = Yogaloft!

As soon as the team at Fitness Freak told me about this new studio opening, I knew I had to try it out...even if it meant hopping on the tube to North-West London (!)

Yogaloft is run and owned by Susannah. She is a trained instructor herself and always dreamed of one day owning a yoga studio, and thought it would take ages to make it all happen - but then she walked in to the space which is now Yogaloft, fell in love, and here we are. She says she immediately loved the open space and feel of the place, and I think she was right to take the plunge - it is very bright and airy with a lovely community feel and open, welcoming reception.

The class I did was Iyengar yoga - which is known for using props to make sure you can stretch deep into a pose. I guess the theory is that everyone can do the poses correctly, but some of us need lots of support from blocks and ropes to get it right! The class I did was taught by the lovely Claudia and before you can say ‘om’ I was bending over chairs backwards, stretching into muscles I didn’t know I had, and doing head stands! It was a very personal class and Claudia was an excellent teacher. I learnt so much about the strengths and weaknesses of my body which I have never been told before. I like it when instructors walk around and offer personal tips and help to everyone. I almost felt like it was a 1-on-1 session, but in a group environment. Perfect.

I know I say that I ache after most of the classes I do, but this took things to another level! I actually didn’t even attempt exercise the day after. But, we all need a day off every now and again! And I think sometimes with yoga, the pain just means you need to be doing more classes! It's a good job I write about fitness classes for a living then!


The studios here are stunning, and it’s friendly, welcoming, relaxing and everything you would look for in choosing a yoga class.

Best Bit... A personal yoga experience in a stunning location
Worst Bit... Not sure there is a point for here. I enjoyed every minute! Maybe the ‘ouch’ the next morning!
Good for... a chance for a bit more of a challenge for people who do a lot of yoga. 

UNDERCOVER: Kettlebells at Gymbox - youch!

6.45pm Gymbox Holborn, 100 High Holborn, WC1V 6RD
Gymbox can be difficult to get in to classes as a non-member, but that's because it's so brilliant. Classes are free to Gymbox members - just book in to ensure you get a place - and about £8 for non-members.

Going to Gymbox is more like hitting a nightclub than having a workout. The music is pumping, the lights are flashing, the place has an industrial look (metal tubes and pipes on show) and the people look waaaay too cool to be exercising.  It's a frenzy of funky hairdos, the latest fluro kit and trendy high-top trainers...but the classes are also great, and a break from the norm. Whatever the latest exercise trend is, you're likely to find a class at Gymbox. Kettlebells are basically dumbbells but with proper handles so you can have a bigger range of movement.  The Gymbox website promises that this is the "Russian Military way to improve your core strength and muscular endurance", and if that isn't enough to convince you that this is hardcore, they go on to say that "this class will work every major muscle, build power and shred body fat". Shred body fat!? Bring it on!

 The main aim of the class is to swing these weights about like a lunatic (and not let go) whilst keeping a good strong stance. By swinging the weights, you're using your core muscles as well as your arm muscles as you lift, and your leg muscles as you balance and squat. Essentially, you feel like you’re working every muscle in your body, all at once.  The group was quite small (about 6 of us), but I assume that's because you're flinging weights about and you need a bit of space to do that! The instructor of the class was really attentive to everyone, and made sure he kept his beady eye on us at all times. That was necessary, as I kept waiting for him to NOT look, so I could wimp out and have a break when my arms started to ache! He made sure we were lifting correctly, so we didn't hurt our backs, and pushed us on when we looked like we might flake out. It was a very mixed ability group - a few newbies and a few regulars - but the moves seem to work for everyone - you just lift heavier weights if you're more experienced. 

 

We didn’t do too many reps of anything, so it wasn't boring, and the class was only half an hour anyway.  It was mainly standing moves but there was also floorwork to crunch those sides and abs, and slim the muffin top. I'm not going to be running back to the class, as it wasn't as much fun as something like Zumba.  But I did really feel it the next morning, which is not something you can often say after a 30 minute workout. I also think that classes like this are really useful, as now when I pop to the gym for a solo workout and a run on the treadmill, I have a few new kettlebell moves to go through that really work.


Some recent advertising from Gymbox that I love...

(can't wait to try the Yummy Bummy class)


Best bit: Learning some new moves.
Worst bit: The fear that the bloke in front of me might let go of his weight at the wrong time!
Good for: A quick yet effective workout.
Score: 7/10