The Fitness Class you HAVE to experience!

Smoked

Stoked

Released

Relaxed

Joyful

Blissed Out

Ecstatic

Excited

Open Hearted

Occasionally, in tears

These are a few of the words that come to mind when I think how I felt after my my virgin journey into The Class by Taryn Toomey last Sunday.

The Class isn’t well known in my area, but it does have a small cult following. In New York it’s apparently the thing that cool people looking to trade their mental head trash and sweat for bliss and a body sculpt have known about for a few years.

The vibe when I entered The Class was super uplifting. I got a hug and a smile from Erin Ward, their gorgeous greeter and there was a beautiful space with candles and alters along uplifting music blasting. We were encouraged to move our mats to the front and sit close to our neighbors.

Our heart rates were ramped up fast but we did an equal amount of hands over heart, centering, breathing, focusing on what we were grateful for. Somehow our instructor, Natalie Kuhn, made the G word new and meaningful again. We did burpees. Lots of burpees! There were old ladies and young ladies, straight men and gay men. We were SWEATING! I cried three times and I never cry during workouts. Some deep stuff was being released. The not good enoughs, the negative thoughts and the self doubt!

 I was pulsing, feeling the burn, making every excuse in my head why my postpartum body wasn’t strong enough to do this workout. Up, down, out, in I kept hearing from the raspy voice of  Natalie.  “Let go of your fucking excuses!” Up, down, out, in. Up, down, out, in. My inner thighs burned. I wanted to stop. I finished the sequence. Aren’t our limits always in our head? Then we did about a thousand jumping jacks, speed skaters and core work to die for and we laid out in sivasana. An angel appeared to adjust me and went right to that knot under my shoulder blade caused form carrying around babies. She just knew. Her touch was magic.

Why did I love it? For one, anything that can make me sweat and cry simultaneously makes me a junkie. Two, the class is led by women of feminine power and poise. They know their strength and use it for good. I felt awesome after. I”ll be back very soon. I think I found a new home.