Wednesday Reviews : Group Core
Hi everyone! If you'll remember in my fitness goals for the year, I want to try out four new workouts this year. Today I'm going to be talking about the first new class that I tried out- Group Core! This is a new class that's offered at my gym. It's described as a 30 minute workout that will work your entire core, so I had to try it out!
My gym offers group fitness classes by the company Body Training Systems. In the past, I've gone to Group Power and Group Centergy, so I was excited to give another class a try. On the website, the class has this description:
Let's get Hard Core! Train like an athlete in 30 action-packed minutes. A strong core, from your shoulders to your hips, will improve your athletic performance, help prevent back pain, and give you ripped abs! Expert coaching and motivating music will guide you through functional and integrated exercises using your body weight, weight plates, a towel, and a platform- all to challenge you like never before. Reach your Peak with Group Core!
I love the fact that this class is only 30 minutes long, and that half hour really flies by! The workout is divided into different sections of your core, and switches between high intensity and low intensity. Here's what a typical class looks like:
Warm-up : Dynamic stretches to warm up your body and muscles. Exercises use the step and towel.
Cardio Max : High impact exercises that really bring up that heart rate! Lots of burpees and dynamic core work. Full body is working during this track!
Core Integration : Low impact with balance. Small, slow movements that force you to engage entire core.
Core Stability : All about the planks - straight arm, forearm, and side. This one is a killer!
Core Mobility : High intensity track that targets the obliques. Lots of twisting using both a weighted plate and a towel. Track continues to speed up as you work, so while you get tired you have to keep up the pace!
Cool-down : Short cool-down that stretches out the core and brings back down the heart rate.
As you can tell, this class is short but really effective. It targets all of the areas of the core : abs, hamstrings, glutes, hips, lower and upper back, and obliques. For runners, it's really important to exercise these muscles to prevent injury and make us stronger and more stable!
I can tell a huge difference in my fitness when I focus on strengthening my core, but don't take my word for it. Here are a few posts that I find really informative about running and core exercises:
Why You Need A Strong Core
13 Essential Core Exercises for Runners
Core Work for Runners
Runner's Core Workout
What's your favorite area to workout?
Is there a core exercise that you love? Hate? I have a love/hate relationship with planks!
What new workout have you recently tried?
I've always worked on my core, but up until a couple years ago, I didn't know the glutes are considered core muscles too.
ReplyDeleteSame here!
DeleteI hate V-ups because my hamstrings just don't let me do it. I agree that a strong core makes such a difference in how I'm feeling in my workouts overall.
ReplyDeleteUgh those are awful!!
DeleteI HATE burpees. They are the absolute worst. I always skip them because I am so terrible at them. Which means I will always be terrible at them, because I never do them. It's a viscous cycle.
ReplyDeleteI actually really like burpees because they make me feel like a BAMF!
DeleteOh man I'm with you on planks! I feel like 1 "plank minute" is the longest minute in the world haha. I like leg raises and bicycles! I agree that a strong core is important yet it's usually the one thing I tend to put off while training for a race.
ReplyDeleteFor real! Planks are the worst!
DeleteCore work is my least favorite, but it's also my weakest muscle group. Yoga definitely helps, but I've fallen off the bandwagon with yoga a bit! :-/
ReplyDeleteYoga is great for core strength!
DeleteCome to OrangeTheory!!!
ReplyDeleteI swear one day I will!
DeleteI have been saying forever that I need to work on my core so I finally started after healing from that stupid back injury over Christmas. I've been doing planks and bridges and pushups about three or four times a week. I sweat like crazy when I do planks! Andrew is always surprised.
ReplyDeleteSo do I! Yuck. A strong core will help protect your back from future injuries so it might be worth it to add in exercises daily!
DeleteThanks for sharing my link! :) Core work is my favorite, especially Pilates or total body core focused moves like rotating lunges or bridges. That class sounds so fun although I'm pretty sure it would kick my butt!
ReplyDeleteIt's tough but over so quickly!
DeleteThanks for sharing this. To be honest, I've been super lazy with my core work lately. I really need to get back into it.
ReplyDeleteI think we all get lazy with that area because core work is TOUGH and not fun!
Deleteugh i am so lazy with my core. i really need to start doing something for it again. i really do like planks when i am do them a bunch because i get really good at them (if you can get 'good' at planks), but starting from scratch again will not be fun.
ReplyDeleteIs that your secret talent? Planking? Lol I don't know if I'm good or bad I just know I don't like em!
DeleteThat class sounds awesome! I love Group Power and would be excited to a try a class dedicated to the core. That being said, that sounds tough! Planks and plank variations (especially walking from full plank to forearm plank) are ones that I hate to do but am always glad I did afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI love power as well! I think this class is easier just because it's so short and goes by quickly!
DeleteI really need to workout my core more! I've heard it's great for good posture... which I don't have! So I need to up my game!
ReplyDelete