Exercise: Feel the Burn

One of the benefits of my rampant fitness-related GroupOn/LivingSocial purchases earlier this year is that I am getting the chance to try out workouts that I would otherwise never have experienced. Case in point, this week's TRX/Vibe class at Versa Fit Studio. A what kind of class? Yeah, exactly. Here's the official description:

TRX/Vibe A fun, intense workout combines two of the newest fitness crazes. You will use the force of gravity combined with your own body weight to devolop strength, flexibility, balance and joint stability. You will also decrease cellulite by increasing circulation and improve your range of motion in this half hour workout.

The class description intrigued me, and I really had no idea what I was in for. Let's just say that now, at two days after the 45-minute class, I am still feeling the burn. For the first part of the class, we warmed up using the TRX gear.  

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TRX training was developed by a U.S. Navy Seal, and can be used to create a very intense workout. Basically, the system consists of webbing straps with handles that are firmly anchored to the ceiling (though with home systems you could use a door frame or similar to anchor the straps). Using the straps and your own body weight, the TRX system is used to perform a variety of exercises, including bicep curls, shoulder raises, legwork, core work, and a variety of other exercises. (We ended the workout with our feet in the straps as in the image in the upper right-hand corner to do some core work. Yowzas!)

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Next up, the Power Plate. Now this is one interesting contraption. The Power Plate machine consists of a base that can vibrate at a variety of frequencies. According to the Power Plate folks, "Power Plate machines use the principles of Acceleration Training™ to stimulate the body’s natural response to vibration. These vibrations transmit waves of energy throughout the body, activating muscle contractions between 25 and 50 times per second, enhancing overall performance in sessions as short as 15 minutes a day, 3 times a week."

We performed a variety of exercises on the Power Plate, including lunges, squats, planks, pushups, and dips. The vibration totally adds an extra level of difficulty to each of the exercises -- and I could definitely feel my muscles working, particularly when we did some static holds (with free weights, no less!).

I've already signed up to take this class again, and I'm actually looking forward to the challenge of another class. I think if I kept at it, I would have legs and arms of steel in no time!