Teaching water fitness in the middle of the afternoon in Florida is like stepping into a sauna and then jumping around for 55 minutes.
Since I teach water fitness from the pool deck so class participants can see my movements, Iām baking in the sun the entire time which means I sweat like crazy. Sweat was burning my eyes today!
The best part of the whole sweaty experience is that I have a blast and donāt even realize how hot I am or how much I am sweating until sweat stings my eyes. I think Iām still so wrapped up in teaching and making sure the class is moving along at a decent pace that I donāt have time to think about how hot I am. (I do make sure to drink lots of water throughout the class, though!)
During Tuesdayās class, my phone actually overheated twice and stopped playing my oldies but goodies playlist. I had it tucked away, but since the sun moves throughout the class, my phone ended up in the sun and overheated like a champ. Today I placed my phone inside the door so it was chillinā in the air conditioning and we didnāt have any music problems. Woo!
The class went by very fast and I even had one woman come up to me afterwards to tell me that this was the first water fitness class she has taken that actually got her heart rate up which made me happy! I make sure to offer modifications for some of the more challenging exercises, but I really want people to leave my class feeling like their workout was worthwhile. As a group exercise lover for many years, I always feel like itās easier to take the intensity down a notch, but itās difficult to motivate yourself to make the class harder. Offering lots of modifications is key!
Lunch
Before I taught my class, I made myself lunch that included a super thick protein smoothie and a slice of this morningās broccoli cheese frittata.
It hit the spot and did a great job of fueling me through the class without weighing me down.
Now Iām blogging from the gym (hooray for free wifi!) and am waiting for another personal training client to arrive at 4 p.m. Tonight will be spent doing laundry and packing for this weekendās wedding festivities!
Question of the Afternoon
- What group exercise class makes you sweat the most?
Spinning makes me sweat like crazy!
Ashley @ Life and Fitness says
Like you spinning makes me sweat tons! Also rebounding classes are a close second.
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Definitely spinning! Leaves me dripping in sweat! Well done on the classes, sounds like your doing awesome at it!
Jennifer says
I really don’t sweat too much when I exercise. However, when I took my first spin class, I thought something was wrong with me! I looked like I just got out of a sauna! I guess I haven’t been working hard enough with previos exercise routines. š
Emma says
I’ve actually never tried group exercise – I’ve always been too nervous to! I don’t know what exactly I’m afraid of – maybe it’s feeling like a total beginner in a room full of experts? Anyway, you’ve pretty much convinced me that it’s something I need to try. What do you recommend I take for my first class? š
Charlotte @ Commitness to Fitness says
I’m jealous of your heat and sunshine! Its been cold and cloudy in boston all week. spin class makes me sweat a lot but bikram yoga makes me sweat BUCKETS.
Nicole says
Spin is the ultimate sweat-fest!
Dawn says
Spinning definitely also makes me sweat a lot! That and bootcamp style classes with circuits and minimal rest.
Sky @ The Blonde In Black says
The bootcamp style class I go to always makes me sweat a lot! Also, some yoga classes if they’re pretty intense and fast then sweat is pouring off my face. It’s just lovely š
heather @ run eat play says
For me it isn’t a certain class that makes me sweat, it’s s certain instructor! There’s one instructor whose classes at my gym always leave me sweating no matter what the class! I love it!
Beth Sheridan says
I was about to write that very same thing. I’ve had the same types of classes with different instructors and it always makes a big difference.
I think it’s great to offer modifications because that one lady probably didn’t know she even could do what you have her doing now š
Liz says
Question: Is there another way to make the frittata without a cast iron skillet? Sadly, I don’t have one but I really want to make one tonight! Any suggestions would be helpful
julie @ peanut butter fingers says
You could try turning the heat to low at the end and placing a lid on top of your skillet until the top of the eggs are cooked. That might work?
Brie @ Eat Books says
Liz – I don’t own a cast iron skillet either, but I’ve made frittata’s before without it. You just need a frying pan (or skillet) that is oven safe…usually it’s the handle that makes a pan NOT oven safe. If you don’t own such a pan (or aren’t sure if you do – cause I sure wasn’t lol!), you can find one for pretty cheap at stores like TJ Maxx (or Winners if you’re Canadian like me :))
Lori @ www.ffglobetrotter.com says
I sweat the most in the Indoor Cycle classes I teach. It always starts off cool w/ the A/C pumping, but within a few minutes sweat is pouring!
Angela says
So fun to hear about your new adventures at the gym!
Tara@PNWRunner says
I agree when I take a Flywheel class, I sweat buckets. I’ve actually seen a small pool around my bike before. TMI. haha! I wish we had outdoor water aerobics in Seattle. But it wouldn’t make much sense!
Katie says
Spinning for sure, but there was one Zumba instructor that used to make me drenched in sweat. She was awesome. š
Lisa @ Live and Be Awesome says
In my opinion, hot yoga wins the prize for sweatiest classes!!
Ang @ Nutty for Life says
Oh my gosh yes, spinning can be so insane (I like it that way!). When I don’t leave a class sweaty I don’t feel accomplished. Your teaching style sounds right up my alley.
Maureen says
I LOVE when I work up a good sweat in TRX!
Michelle says
NOTHING compares to the sweaty experience of teaching Kickboxing (fusion of various martial arts). I look like a drowned rat when I’m done teaching that 60-minute class…but have SO much fun! Good luck with your ventures! š
Jan @ Sprouts n Squats says
Probably spinning for sure for me as well but as some others have said it depends on the instructor taking the class š
Sounds like they loved your class which is great!
Chels R. says
I love that you are loving teaching! It’s so much fun!!
Heather @fitncookies says
Bootcamp’s leave me sweating like a champ! I love it!!
tangier says
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Patty T says
Trampoline aerobics really makes me sweat! The first time I went I thought to my self, “How hard can this really be?” I got the answer and barely made it through the whole class. Glad your class is going so well! I’m sure all of the attendees love you!
Jan Klein says
I tried spin for the first time the other night. I made through 22 1/2 minutes before calling it quits. I’ll go back, but man that was hard. I haven’t been on a bike in ages so it was even more difficult for me.
Taryn says
I wish you taught a class at my gym!
lawrence says
Spinning makes me look like I jumped into the shower WITH my clothes on lol
Marissa says
I took my first Turbo kick (they described it similar to kickboxing) class yesterday and was a sweaty mess afterwards!
Annette@FitnessPerks says
So fun! I’m glad you’re loving it–I knew you would though š Teaching fitness is THE best!
I sweat the most when I teach Zumba–I’m always drenched. But teaching any class in the summer time, for some reason, I get sooo sweaty. Like last’ night’s BP class I taught: so gross at the end. When in winter, it’s not as bad.
Avery @ SBLW says
I can imagine it’s so much fun to watch the “everyday-ers” in the gym slowly transform their bodies. Being a personal trainer sounds fun!
Rachel @ Undercover Diva: A Sitcom says
I’ve just started taking a Total Body Lift class and I’ve been SO SWEATY and I LOVE it! Spinning definitely gets me really really disgusting, too!
Makenzie says
I have to admit that cycling class makes me sweat the mostest. But a good Oula dance class is also sure to make me pretty sweaty and that I am happy for because I enjoy dancing way more than biking!! Glad to hear you are having fun š
Jodea @ chillichocolatelove.com says
I once did a class called Fit Kick. I’ve never been so red and sweaty!
Katie H. says
What a great compliment! I love when people give comments after class–it’s so good to know what people appreciate so you can be sure to keep doing it.
Erika says
Spinning definitely makes me sweat. Another class that makes me sweat, Cardio Dance Party…I take it once a week and I love it!
I want to try and make that frittata…looks delicious!
Aurora@Fitness is Sweat says
Spin when the heater is broken and it becomes hot spin…oof.
julie @ peanut butter fingers says
that happened to me once in college. it was INTENSE.
Shannon says
I normally do not do group exercises, however, tonight I will be attending water Zumba and then right afterwards I’ll stay for their water aerobics class š So glad you are having fun at the gym!
Nicole says
I’ve never done a water fitness class….now I am intrigued!!
OMG – I’m a BodyPump instructor and last night, I think I poured out a half-gallon of sweat. One of my girlfriends is a BP instructor too – she teaches that and Step class right afterwards and she’ll wring the water out of her shirt on the really hot days!
julie @ peanut butter fingers says
yayyyy for bodypump! it’s the BEST!
Nancy says
I must be dyslexic when I’m tired. I thought it said “Water Filter Julie” and I’m like – huh? That’s a weird thing to put on your schedule. Then I re-read it.
What makes me sweat the most? CrossFit, especially when it’s humid. There’s no air conditioning!!
Julianna @ Julianna Bananna says
the group exercise class that makes me sweat the most is probably my intense functional training barbell class (similar to crossfit)! i love it so much because the workouts aren’t super long, they’re just really intense and i always have a blast.
Ellie@Fit for the soul says
Your class sounds like it would be so fun! I’m not sure if you mentioned this somewhere else, but do you have to come up with the routine, or how does that work? I’ve always wondered how group instructors come up with the material. And I haven’t tried group fitness classes, but whenever I see the bodycombat women I feel like I’m sweating along WITH THEM! It looks so fun and insanely energetic.
julie @ peanut butter fingers says
I create the routines myself. š
Irina S. says
CrossFit makes me sweat the most, with spinning coming in second. š
Amy H. @ Run with Perseverance says
Spin and Step! I love both classes, but boy are they sweaty!
Christina says
Dont be afraid to get in the water with your group! I taught water aerobics for 3 years and I only taught from the deck 4 times!! I always felt more connected to the group that way! I got to know everyone so well and had a blast!!
Kellee says
I’m a hot yoga fan. Sure the heat makes you sweat anyways, but I seriously am drenched by the end of class!!
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
I do really need to try a water fitness class. It sounds like so much fun!
I go to Zumba classes and they make me sweat like crazy! In fact, I just got home from Zumba, and I was sweating so much it was embarrassing, but at least I know I got a good workout, right? š
Victoria @ Reluctantly Skinny says
I take a step/cardio interval workout and I swear I’ve never sweat more! Glad you’re enjoying the gym..it’s great to love what you do for work =)
Samantha @ Sweetly Striving says
I’ve only tried one group exercise class – Zumba. But I have always wanted to try hot yoga, that would definitely be sweaty!
Meredith says
I’m with you on spinning, and also body attack! I’m always super sweaty after those, but I love it! I wish my gym offered a water fitness class. I took a few water aerobics classes on vacation in Mexico a couple years ago(our resort offered it) and I loved it!
PluvK says
I’ve never tried spinning (I’ll be honest… I’m a little intimidated!), but kickboxing makes me sweat. I also noticed that I start getting really heated when I do cardio strength type of workouts!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Wow, that sounds rough. I can only imagine how much you will sweat when it gets into the heart of Summer. Sound brutal!