It was the best of classes, it was the worst of classes

I've put on some weight this past year, which is driving me crazy. Finally motivated by frustration, tight clothes, and the promise of a pretty new dress, I've been eating healthy the past few weeks. No more junk food, lots of fruits and veggies, the usual. The fact that it's Restaurant week (which is actually two weeks) has been counter-productive. Oh yeah, all the wine and sangria that one must indulge in to get thru New York's current heat wave is a major calorie-upper as well. Water, schmater - when it's 96 degrees and disgustingly humid, you have to drink sangria. So after three weeks of (semi) hard work, I weigh exactly the same. It's time to start moving.

So I decided to pick yoga back up.

I love yoga - it's relaxing and strenuous all at the same time. Your body loves it, and it's always nice to have a happy body. I haven't taken a class in about 6 months, even though I got this fabulous coupon book at the beginning of the year - basically like an Entertainment Guide - 2 classes at one studio, a week at another, etc. I decided it's time to make a dent in this book, besides the coupons I've given out to others.

Yesterday I looked online for a basic yoga class - something light to ease me back in. I looked at a number of websites, trying to find a class in the hour I had available between work and another Restaurant week reservation. Exhale had a class 5:30 -6:30 that mentioned pilates, and I signed right up.

Apparently I mixed up what I read on other websites with what I thought this class would entail.

I get there, take out my mat, and realize no one else has a mat. Sheepishly, I put it back away and get the equipment everyone else had - a 4 - 5" red rubber ball, hand weights, and a strap. Maybe it's yoga without mats? The instructor starts out with "Welcome to Core Fusion!"

Core Fusion is Pilates Aerobics ON CRACK. It's the most intense, strenuous class I've ever taken. EVER. We worked our legs, arms, butt & abs until they couldn't take anymore, until they were shaking so badly you were sure you couldn't last the 10 more reps the instructor just declared was next. The "break" between working each muscle group was 15 push-ups. At the end of the class I wobbled out like a big mound of Jello.

This is Exhale's description of the class: "Fusing the disciplines of core conditioning, Pilates, the Lotte Berk Method, interval cardio training, and yoga, this highly-acclaimed and publicized mind body experience incorporates 50 years of collective teacher expertise from co-founders Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp. Allowing you to work from the inside out, this transformational class consistently delivers results, including washboard abs, a tighter and higher backside, long, lean muscles, and an athletic, toned body."

A friend had taken this class for awhile, and told me it never gets easier. It's amazing how much they can squeeze in an hour. I hated and loved how it felt. While it was the complete opposite of the class I thought I had signed up for, I can't wait to go back. Once I stop feeling like Jello.