“I’m never going back to that class”, were the first words I uttered after I tried my first Bodystep class at Universal Athletic Club. I felt so lost and disoriented, and I felt like I had no hope in achieving fitness potential. However I stuck it out a few more times, and the rest is history. I was one of those people who were looking for a new activity to try, and I wasn’t sure how I ended up at that Bodystep class five years ago. Perhaps it was my Dad who had convinced me to go with him, which to this day I am glad I went with him that Wednesday night.
What is Bodystep?
Bodystep is a program created by Les Mills, which is one of the largest makers of group fitness classes. If you ever heard of Les Mills, you may be familiar with their famous Bodypump class, but we’ll talk about that in the future. Bodystep is a step class that incorporates a mix of cardiovascular and strength training, using a height adjustable step that can be set to any comfortable level. During the class, you will experience times where the heart rate is trained to a maximum level, and other times the focus on the work is on the legs, thighs and other areas.
Because Bodystep is a licensed Les Mills program, you will find consistency in the classes that you take. Any class that you take in Lancaster, Pa will have the same structure as a class in Orlando, Florida, or anywhere in the world. Bodystep has two variations, classic and athletic. The classic format is the original class structure with a focus on more cardio training, while the athletic version of the class has more interval training style tracks. The classic format is my favorite because I enjoy the fun essence that the program provides, and it is a fun way to get an amazing workout.
What can I expect during class?
This is the kind of step you will use during class. The instructor will always advise newer students to try the class on one pair of risers, or the flat step itself. This is recommended because it takes several classes to become familiar with the routine, and it will be very intimidating the first few classes. Another thing that has been more recently incorporated is using weight plates during class. It is normally advised that you stay with a small sized plate, focusing on the movement before working on intensity.
The first three tracks are intended to increase your heart rate gradually, while also slowly building up intensity. Then track four is designed to train your heart rate at a peak level. Track five has a focus on the legs and building strength in the lower half of the body. Next, track six is another peak cardio track, focusing on intensity and endurance. At this point of the class, we have reached the half way point, which is a great time to depart the class if you are brand new.
The next track is designed to recover the heart rate, while continuing to work the legs. Then track eight and nine are the party and speed tracks, which have a fun essence to it, while building the heart rate back up. In the “Athletic” version of the class, these two tracks are replaced by a circuit training track, which incorporates functional moves like burpees and extra plate work. Then, track ten is the final cardio peak track, focusing on maximum intensity. Next, the conditioning track gives you an opportunity to work the upper body muscles, and allows you to recover the heart rate. Finally, the cool down track is designed to stretch the muscles and to feel a senseof accomplishment.
I hope you have a better understanding about what Bodystep is about. It takes about four to five classes to feel comfortable with the moves. Its like riding a bike, you have to keep practicing in order to be accustomed to the choreography. It took me several classes to know the choreography, but once I was comfortable, I never looked back.
To find out where a class is near your area, visit www.lesmills.com/find-a-class for more information.
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