Last week, I booked Eileen’s Step Dance class, held every Tuesday at 7:30 PM. I recently bought a step platform for home practice, aiming to strengthen my knees and legs. However, I quickly realised that nothing compares to committing to around an hour of fitness outside the house.
Growing up, fitness classes were never my thing, but my experience at the modern fitness studio in Bush Hill Park has completely changed my perspective. At 49 years old, re-entering the fitness world felt intimidating, but this assumption was quickly dispelled when I joined Unite in Fitness! Last week, I booked my first Boxercise class with Andreas, which I highly recommend for a fun, (kinda) low-intensity workout. It definitely eased my initial skepticism and worries about fitting in.
When I arrived for my first Step Dance class, I was greeted warmly by a friendly group of regular students. Eileen, the chatty and exhuberant instructor, spotted me as the newbie and introduced herself. I explained my knee issues, and she kindly offered some valuable advice for the class, which I appreciated.
I had no expectations for this class; I just wanted to have fun, get my heart pumping, and break a sweat! This is new territory for me, as the past decade of my life has been dominated by remote work, home workouts, family responsibilities and raising a son.. oh and taking care of a dog! Going to the gym and swimming pool for myself became a thing of the past, and walking and cardio at home was what I was left with.
I followed the ladies to grab a step, noticing it was higher than the one I have at home. I believe the platform ranges from 4 to 10 inches, although the booking app mentions a ‘4-inch to 12-inch height platform’.
Eileen, a very experienced and energetic instructor, started the class with manageable steps that quickly got my heart pumping to some great dance music. About 10 minutes in, a kind lady informed me of a lower platform available in the other studio (she must have seen me struggle!). I appreciated her help and made the switch, which made a big difference for me! Much better. It is good to know that Unite in Fitness Studio is prepared with a variety of fitness equipment for each class they provide!
The class warmed up nicely before Eileen increased the intensity with more complex routines. My eyes were locked on her feet, trying to keep up with the taps, hops, and steps around the platform. The high-energy step sequences came together with the music, creating a lively workout.
It was challenging for me, and perhaps for some others too, but everyone gave their best effort. Eileen was fully engaged, providing energy and clear direction to her students.
As a newcomer, I could have done with an alternative set of basic steps to follow. However, I made the most of it by focusing on the new steps I learned and mastering moving on and off the step platform.
Overall, the class was fantastic and showed me the potential for a high-intensity workout that I could improve with each session. I recommend this class, especially if you have prior step class experience, and want high intensity, but tread with caution if you want to go slow. With a great instructor, excellent music, and a supportive group of ladies, it’s a perfect evening class to release pent-up energy and leave behind the hardships of the day.
Feeling Inspired to Start? 😉
