Recently, I took a class called Madness at Madabolic, Inc., which in spite of its name, was incredibly structured. It was an interval class, which isn't necessarily different, but still a good workout. There were a few notable...quirks.We started the class with a warm-up (typical). Usually, a warm-up is done to up-tempo music; however, the Madness warm-up sounded like an acoustic session with Mumford and Sons. It was a high intensity training warm-up, but if you closed your eyes, you would have assumed you were at a folk music festival. In fact, it was so mellow that one of the people in the class burst out laughing at the absurdity of the musical selection.
When the warm-up ended and the actual workout began, one would assume that the music would get more fast paced. It did not. In fact, it took additional individuals in the class making comments to the instructor before the instructor put on something slightly more upbeat. The instructor told us that the theme of the class was "durability," which implies something slow and steady (I will return to this "theme"). Trust me, I am all about themes of any kind. Be they in exercise classes, or taco Tuesday in my work cafeteria, but the theme has to fit the event. Music can only be so slow when it is meant to inspire people to get amped up to throw punches, or row at a fast pace.
In addition to the musical choices, another thing that was a bit curious was what appeared to be the gym mascot. Now, let me back track. This gym has all the toys you could ever want for a workout. Apparently, it opened about a month and a half ago, and they definitely spared no expense with quality and variety of equipment. That said, some of the equipment had an odd mascot, (emblem or picture, whatever) on the front. The mascot appeared to be a very sad, but fit, woman. Her head was down and she was wearing boxing gloves. See the picture of the punching bags. It felt weird to punch a stencil of a sad cartoon woman. I don't think anyone really wants to punch a sad-looking cartoon in the face. Maybe a ferocious cartoon? Or one of those blow-up clowns that pops back after you hit it?Other than the music and décor creating an interesting ambience, the workout was quite good. It was simple, but incredibly challenging. You went to five stations and maxed out repetitions of an exercise for two-minutes and thirty-seconds at each station. Not reinventing the wheel, but highly effective.
The five exercises included: walking lunges while holding a weight plate over your head; throwing a medicine ball over your back (I will get back to that); box steps holding a kettle bell; punching bags; and, the rowing machine. We went through all five exercises twice.
Back to throwing a heavy medicine ball over your shoulder. I had never done such an exercise, and I don't think that I was alone. The girl next me muttered "this is terrifying." She was right. I thought the medicine ball was going to land on my shoulder and crush me. It did not, and it did turn out to be a good work out for my lower body. Win.
Another thing the gym had that I had never seen before was called a SkiErg. A girl in the class who was next to me on the rowers explained to me that the machine was hell and awesome at the same time. No other details.Each workout at Madabolic, Inc. has a theme. The theme of the workout that I participated in was "durability." Like tires. Perhaps, I was supposed to feel like the Michelin man? I could see something being called endurance, but durability was different. Regardless, it was a good workout.
When I was leaving, I was walking out with the same girl that told me about the SkiErg. She was very nice and incredibly encouraging because she knew was my first time that class. I often find that when people realize it's your first time in a workout class they are especially kind and attentive. It actually reinforces my faith in humanity in a weird way. People just want to help you and make you feel comfortable.
When she saw the license plate on my car, she asked if I went to JMU. I said yes, and I asked her what year she graduated (because she did look familiar). She said you tell me first. This is how I immediately knew that she must've been my age because when you are 26 you don't really care when people you meet graduated, but when you are in your 30s, you are more cautious about divulging the information or asking for that matter because the person you are speaking with very well may have graduated a decade after you. And that makes you feel about as old as learning that Luke Perry is a card carrying AARP member.
It was a good workout. I don't often do exercises that make me "durable." By that, I mean I do not lift weights, particularly heavy weights, unless I am forced. The gym was immaculate and had more toys than you could possibly imagine. I will go back, but mostly to figure out the deal with the SkiErg. I highly recommend anyone to try it out if you're more inclined to do those types of workouts because the gym is just opened and they are running new member specials.
