My business school had fitness classes three times a week. It consisted of three different classes: a core workout, a circuit training session and Body Balance. There were about eight of us who took part in these classes in the evening. Although I lived on the campus, it was quite challenging to walk to the lounge where the classes took place during winter because of the cold weather. It sounds ridiculous because the walk was around 250 meters but trust me, getting out of my warm bedroom and facing the cold (even for a few seconds!) was sometimes a matter of mental strength! That said, whenever I left the fitness classes I felt rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to take on the winter cold and the stresses of academia.
The Body Balance classes stood out for me and always proved to be the highlight of the fitness sessions. It is a combination of yoga moves with Tai Chi and Pilates and it is taught by certified instructors, who always gave the necessary guidance and motivation. The mesh of different styles and movements makes Body Balance interesting and keeps you excited about what could come next.
I improved my flexibility and could feels my muscles becoming more supple every week. The focus on controlling the breath and concentrating made me feel relaxed after the workout, especially after a hard day. Doing it 3 times a week improved my ability to respond to stressful moments .
Now that I am no longer in Ireland due to the lockdown, I am still doing a range of Body Balance classes almost every day through the Les Mills On Demand. I miss the social contact that I enjoyed when I was working out with my fellow students, but doing the online classes feels just like a normal class. Here is a link to one of the 55-minute classes: https://watch.lesmillsondemand.com/at-home-workouts/season:1/videos/bodybalance-85-55-min
Trust me, the soundtrack alone will get you addicted!
