Equinox Class Review: The Cut

This post is part of my 2017 New Year’s Resolution to try every group fitness class offered at my gym, The Equinox in Chestnut Hill. See the full list of reviews here.

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and after class… pizza.

Heart Rate!

I borrowed Greg’s Garmin watch that has heart rate for class. My max heart rate reached 174 during class and was always over 100. My “recommended target range” which is a somewhat subjective calculation but a good place to start is 102-158. (You can calculate yours at active.com using their calculator.)

I would have expected based on how I felt during class that I was getting a good workout. Looks like the heart rate monitor I wore agrees.

Today’s Class: The Cut with Paula Fonseca

Class length: 50 Minutes

Description from the Equinox: A cardio-forward boxing workout with no bags, no wraps and no ring. It’s just you, light hand weights and your own killer instinct, set to an explosive playlist that powers you through five rhythmic, relentless rounds. This one-of-a-kind class will train you to move, look and feel like a champion.

What Class Was Like

Fun fun fun fun fun. Most of the class used 2 pound weights and kickboxing sequences with about a 5:1 punch to kick ratio. Sequences would be demonstrated and we’d walk through them slowly for a bit, and then the music would accelerate and we’d go into the sequence full-speed. Most sequences were about 4-6 moves. Jab, cross, upper cut, hook, kick, turn.

If you got lost in a punching sequence and were throwing hooks instead of jabs or doing four straight jabs instead of the cross and upper cut… well you weren’t alone and it was so quick it was hard to notice unless you were following someone directly. Someone in the locker room told me when I complimented her on her precision that it got much easier after the third class because you’ve learned good form for each move and are familiar with common sequences.

Even missing a couple punches, I felt like I could nail most of the sequences by the end and my heart rate was pretty elevated the entire time.

The music was perfectly paired. I’m wondering if it was kick-boxing specific because it had slower sections for the demonstration and learning mode and then sped up, and there were no lyrics.  Great for looking in the mirror and pretending you’re a mortal combat character.

Would I go back?

Yes, yes yes. This was so much fun. The two pound weights worked my arms, there were plenty of squats and kicks for lower body, and we did some ab workouts in the middle. It was a wonderful combination of strength, cardio and pure enjoyment.

It was incredibly fun to get into the zone of a sequence. Paula is also a very fun instructor with a great positive energy vibe.

Who would love it?

Anyone looking to sweat in a cardio workout and have some fun.  Also a good introduction to light strength work, thanks to the use of 2 lb weights, squats and a little plank and ab work.

Not great if you’re hoping to just zone out or get lost in your thoughts; you need to bring mental focus to master these sequences if it’s your first time.

PERFECT stress relief. Not only are you upper-cutting, but the music and focus on what you’re doing are a great distraction from life’s stress. For 50 minutes you are in the zone or you are going to fall behind.

Know before you go

Wear sneakers and definitely bring a water bottle but stash it to the side of the room where you won’t kick it over. I totally kicked mine over and didn’t even notice until I saw the person next to me picking it up. (Thank you, kind person whom I couldn’t thank during class without getting kicked in the face.)

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