BodyPump Class Is Tough

With almost 100 classes weekly to choose from at Spectrum Athletic Club, I basically pointed a finger and selected BodyPump, described as “a workout that challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls.”

I later learned that the class was developed in New Zealand through a gym owned by Les Mills, an international athlete who competed in discus and shot put in the Olympics. He and his son, Phillip, trademarked the workout and offered it worldwide.

About 20 of us were in the class, ranging in age from early 20s to late 60s. I’ve taken many group classes over the years, from step to aerobics to dance, and this was the first class where the male/female ratio was almost equal.

Our instructor, a welcoming Marianne Danilovic, reminded us to select a dumbbell and weights to add to or subtract from the bar (depending on the exercise), a step, a mat and several additional handheld weights.

After a brief warm-up, we started doing weightlifting repetitions for different body muscle groups. We began with squats, and Danilovic was good about correcting postures and ensuring that each participant was doing the exercise correctly.

After watching the clean-and-jerk at the London Olympics, I found myself actually performing that weightlifting procedure, which uses almost every muscle in the body, starting with the legs, then moved on to the chest press, deadrow, reverse curls and a press pullover combo.

Although I use some weights sporadically in the gym to help stave off osteoporosis (which can be prevented with weight-bearing exercise), I tend to rely on the same basic exercises. This class helped me explore new dumbbell exercises for chest and back.

I thought my arm muscles were in reasonable shape, but my triceps were quivering before Danilovic finally told us to put down the weights. I also enjoyed learning where I need to “up” my exercise.

At the end of the hour-long class we did a series of lunges, which I had no trouble completing, but the next day, I could feel the soreness in my muscles every time I stood up. On the plus side, one class has been estimated to burn up to 560 calories.