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: Bootcamp Pilates. Ouch!

Bootcamp Pilates! There are four studios - I went to the Hoxton one at 152-160 City Road, London, EC1V

The website says 'forget any other form of so-called full body work-out'. I'm pretty sure I'd be out of a job as booty blogger if that turns out to be true, so I thought it was a good idea to check.

(Not me...just a great pic!)

For those of you who have never done a reformer class, the workout beds are based on Joseph Pilatesʼ principles of 100 years ago. He was held in a camp during World War 1, and helped his bed-bound inmates to use their beds to exercise while they were lying down, by using bedsprings, cables, and pulleys. It makes it sound like a form of torture, I know, but bear with me.

I've done reformer classes before, and they are telling the truth when they add the word 'bootcamp' to the title here. It hurts, and it's hardcore. But in a good way! You basically lie on a bed made of comfy leather padding, wood and metal, and do a variety of exercises using your body as the weight, and springs and pulleys for resistance. Many of the exercises are simple planks, push-ups etc, but there were some hilarous bunny hops too, and a standing slide on the bed that vaguely resembles surfing.

The instructor was really attentive and sweet. She made sure we knew everyone was comfortable, and knew what we were doing. She also made a massive effort to make my friend and I feel at home, as we were newcomers to the class. But, she was an iron fist in a velvet glove - every pose was held for longer than other classes Iʼve done, and every move had more reps than Iʼm used to! Feel the burn!!!! As Iʼm a little competitive, I refuse to stop early, although our teacher did remind the class that we could rest whenever we wanted to.

The studios are really lovely, and just a quick hop from Old Street roundabout (grab a coffee at Shoreditch Grind on your way - yummy). The studio is light and airy with high ceilings, and loads of room. The changing rooms are small, but clean and tidy, and they provide complimentary towels. Can I just pause for a little rant here. I love a free towel. I actually get really excited when gyms give you a towel to use, free of charge; less washing for me, no damp heavy towel to drag around all day. So simple, but so satisfying. Happy days (rant over)!

Apparently Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston and Elizabeth Hurley all like Pilates reformer classes. Iʼm not sure I look more like any of them after one class, but I certainly felt the effects of my workout on my core muscles the next day. Sitting up in bed the next morning was rather painful, but I do like to feel the burn, and had pushed myself quite hard in the class.

Best bit - It felt like a proper workout that would strengthen and stabilise my muscles.

Worst bit - It wasnʼt all that much fun.


Good for - Getting stronger and leaner


Score - 7/10