The first week we went it was - I have to say - really good. My lower back was tired (the day before was deadlift, so this was slap bang in my recovery time), but my abs and obliques were hit as well and I left feeling good. Everything was done on several levels, so the class worked for people of differing abilities; unfortunately that was the last day with the old instructor and this week was all change.
Well the start was NOT good, we started with "wood choppers" these seem to be squats only waving a giant inflatable ball around. We then continued with fast paced side lunges - again with a big silly ball. Now fast paced lunges, mean lunges with poor technique and these are a surefire way to fuck up your joints - my wife and I went away with one knee hurting in a bad way! We then did a whole series of other exercises that didn't hit your core and all involved waving or balancing a giant inflatable ball around. I don't want to sound like I hate exercise balls, but use then where you need them, don't just find silly ways to include them in exercises where you really don't.
In short it this class reaffirmed my negative opinion of classes. The exercises were pathetic and to make matters worse didn't even hit the areas they were suppose to. Where the week before I had seen the previous instructor discreetly correcting people technique, this one just went around been a bitch. I know this motivates some people but it just pisses me off; particularly when it comes form an idiot who tells you to train your core you should walk around consciously flattening out you back rather than arching it?!?!?!?
