Day 9 ! (Sauceless) Aerobics

Let's have a recap. The challenge of these 80 days is to try a bunch of different ways to exercise in London (without needing to sign your life away year on year at a gym), review them, measure them and compare them. The aim is to find new fitivities and perhaps give inspiration to people and show that there is an enjoyable way for anyone and everyone to keep fit. So naturally the action plan was to try some semi-exciting classes in the first week at least.

And in the same way just saying reggae reggae sauce out loud in a Jamaican accent will make one smile, I figured reggae (reggae) aerobics was a good bet for a first-week class. I was looking forward to it! All way on the overground to Highbury and Islington, singing (in my head) with a Jamaican accent…until…I…got…to…the…reception.

“It’s just normal aerobics today darling.”

What a bombshell. It’s like getting a cupcake without icing, colourless cod or a book with the last page ripped out.

But I was there, I had braided my hair and above all, I had lunch plans so it was too late to find another class. So I paid my £7.70 and went on through. The Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre is part of the Aquaterra network, a not-for-profit charity that runs a number of leisure centres around Islington (and Bath and Somerset, a little oddly. Like opening a store that sells bathrobes, clear pencil cases and body cream. Illogical.). Anyway, there are swimming pools, tennis courts, climbing walls, basketball, squash and football pitches. And a diversity of fitness classes from pilates, martial arts, dance and of course, aerobics!

In the end, the class took more of a resistance theme – with instructor Sylvie leading us through one target area for a song. A whole song. Including the chorus’. That’s a long time to be squatting (with a bar!), to be curling (with a bar!) and a very, painfully long time to be pulsing. It was a good thing that Sylvie constantly reminded us to breathe in ‘n’ breath out because 2 minutes into non-stop sit-ups, one starts to stop thinking straight.

However, no pain, no gain and for a resistance, toning class, this was a goodie. Sylvie gives options for each exercise and whilst she will keep going for the song, people can (and did!) take a breather as and when they needed. Everyone can push themselves to their own limit. Do not be deceived by Sylvie’s small, bubbly self – she is a machine! But is testament to her methods – if the result are those abs, I’m in!

The Need To Know:

- Where: Highbury Pool and Fitness Centre

- Nearest Station: Highbury and Islington (1min)

- When: Various types of classes throughout the week

- How Much: Varies between venues, drop-in between £7-8 per class

- Special Note: The aquaterra website has an exercise class finder which lets you search classes across all their venues by day, venue, times and even for women-only classes

  

The Want to Know:

- Who’s it For: For those who want abs/buns of steel

- Sweat Scale: 6/10

- Strength / Cardio / Flexi / Tone: Toning all the way

- Complexity: 4/10 (Simple exercise, endurance needed)

- Fun Factor: 6/10 The music brings it up but it is a series of exercises

- Changing Facilities: Basic changing facilities provided. None of the fluffy extras (straighteners, body lotion etc.)

- Instructor Inspiration: 8/10. Look at those abs!

The Stats:

- Total Time: 54mins

- Calories Burnt: 181

- Average Heart Rate: 103bpm

- Max Heart Rate: 148bpm

A.b.s..of...S.t.e.e.l...Slyvie