My Fitness Instructor is Out for Blood

Those of you who know me, know I love Turbo Kickboxing. It's a program created by Chalene Johnson, out of California, who also has programs called Hip Hop Hustle, PiYo, Turbo Fire, etc.  You may have seen her infomercials on Saturday morning TV.  It's my absolute favorite workout! You burn between 700-800 calories in an hour. It's fast-paced, high-energy and set to fun music. The hour literally flies by. But this isn't a commercial for Turbo.

This is a blog about how my newer instructor just about kills me every time. I've been going to a turbo class now for at least two years at The Workout Company in Oakville. Much to my dismay, the class is only offered three times a week, once in the morning and twice in the evenings. Due to my schedule, I can only make one of those times consistently and I really try to do that. Last year, I even passed up volunteering during my son's library time because I would've had to miss the class and I just wasn't willing to do that. I volunteer in many other ways at school, so that eased my guilt a little!

I love my regular instructor. She calls the routines clearly and efficiently. She has a razor-sharp memory. She hardly ever misses a step. She transitions carefully and easily between rounds, and she makes sure everyone knows how to modify the program. She's a huge part of why I am so consistent in my desire to be at class each week.

Not too long ago, a friend told me that she'd been going to another session of turbo and how much she loved it too. She went on and on about how hard it was and how the first time she tried it, she barely made it through 30 minutes. She stuck with it and was able to add more each week. She really emphasized how hard it was to the point that I started wondering if I was really just that used to it now and didn't remember the beginning or if there was something different about her class.

I do remember some times when my regular instructor subbed for the other class. She talked about how they liked the music so much louder, were a little bit more "intense," and how they incorporated weights. So when my schedule changed a little bit for a few weeks, I thought I'd go see what this other turbo kick was like.

Wow! I was slapped in the face by this class! I recognized the routine—at least some of it—from my other class. (The two instructors share the workouts since you have to be certified to teach it and purchase it. They go together for workshops and they go in on the cost of the rounds.) But even though I knew the basic moves and even some of the routine, I literally was breathless by the time 10 minutes had passed. Whereas my regular instructor incrementally builds each week until all the pieces of the routine are put in, this new instructor goes full out from week one. She doesn't give little breather breaks in between songs either. You go nonstop from one song to the next, with each one as hard or harder than the one before.  

The first time I went, not only did I think I would pass out, a new student next to me actually left the class. I'd never seen that happen before.  She was beet red, sweating and literally whooped. I couldn't go again for a few months, but I've been able to go again these past two weeks. The first one was hard, but not quite as hard as I'd remembered. This last one though...I think was harder than the first time I tried it. She incorporated weights throughout the routine, and I honestly thought my legs were going to fall off if I picked them up to kick again.  

When I hobbled into my house, I no longer wanted dinner (this could be great for weight loss), and I wasn't sure I could get my legs to climb the stairs so I could shower. I was so sore that night that I was certain I wouldn't be able to get out of bed the next morning. My worst day for being sore from a hard workout is usually 2 days after the workout, the outlook for me was bleak to say the least!

However, I was pleasantly surprised that not only could I walk in the morning, I really felt fine. I loved the incorporation of the weights. That's an area I really need to spend more time in. And though I still think the new instructor is out for blood, I appreciate her pushing me to another level. I wish I could consistently go to both instructor's classes, but soon I'll be back to just the one a week.  

One of these days I'm going to get myself certified so that I can sub for these ladies (if they'd have me) and maybe talk the Workout Company into letting me add another morning class. That's how much I love this workout. I hope you go give it a try sometime! I promise you won't die. You'll just think you will. Just drink some water and bring a towel. You'll be fine! These instructors will take good care of you!