Exercise class question

[Huskerchick]

I'm curious if any of my fellow exercise enthusiast have taken any of the spin or Pilates classes offered on the ship and do you find them comparable to those classes at a regular gym?

 

 

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[POA1]

Perhaps you need to work in a dress code angle to your question about exercise classes, dear. You'll get pages upon pages of answers in no time.

[cruz chic]

Behave:D. I do exercise quite a bit but I do the eliptical, bike or walk. I hope someone will come around to help.

Edited October 2, 2014 by cruz chic

[Homosassa]

I have always found the classes to be too early or too late to fit into my schedule.

[Vict0riann]

I'm interested, too. I think I will need some exercise to work off explore4 for 42 days! Usually we just walk the promenade deck (DH laps me regularly:D), or use the treadmill in the gym. This is going to require more!

[sail7seas]

Do they have Yoga classes?

[HALrunner]

I have participated in several of the yoga and pilates classes offered on various HAL ships. To be honest, I have found them disappointing. The first thing to look at is who the gym staff is for that particular sailing. In many cases they *appear* to be....I'm trying to be nice and not judge, but.....weightlifter types. Unfortunately, these will be your pilates/yoga instructors. It is clear that they know very little about yoga and pilates and therefore are not very good teachers.

 

On one sailing, the gym attendant (what is there title, anyway?) was a young man from India who practiced yoga regularly and was pretty good. I was the only participant, practice yoga and pilates regularly and am in my 30's. When I asked him to make it a little challenging (which it definitely was not) he gave some blanket excuse of HAL dictates what program he is supposed to do so that is accessible to all participants ages 30-70, emphasizing the older end of the range.

 

One other thing that is always a bummer: they automatically add a gratuity onto the overpriced fee for the class. Your best bet is to get one of those glorified coaster coupon books and at least get the BOGO fitness class coupon out of it before you let too many fruity cocktails sit on it!

 

Why do I keep doing it? I don't always, but it is better than nothing especially considering how many calories the average person consumes onboard;)

[sail7seas]

Thanks. Appreciate your help. :)

[Huskerchick]

Thanks! Kind of what I thought. I'll just stick to my normal gym routine while on the ship

 

 

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[mame42]

I'm interested, too. I think I will need some exercise to work off explore4 for 42 days! Usually we just walk the promenade deck (DH laps me regularly:D), or use the treadmill in the gym. This is going to require more!

 

Ann: I plan to pack a couple of low impact aerobic DVD's to use in my cabin to go along with the treadmill when time allows, promenade laps, and using the stairs as much as my body will allow. A sturdy bench on the promenade will suffice for chair squats.

 

A rotation consisting of promenade laps, stairs, and chair squats will probably give me a fairly good lower body workout.

[TiogaCruiser]

I think it really depends both on the instructor and who shows up.

 

I practice both mat Pilates and vinyosa flow yoga at a studio. The instructors we had on amsterdam and Veendam were really good and we worked up quite the sweat. There was not the same focus on meditation or prana and a brief shavasna. We had plenty of sun salutations and intermediate poses ( including half moon). Remember this is at the bow end of a lively ship.

[cantravel1]

I normally sign up for the spin classes on board (as I do spinning classes at home on a regular basis). Again, I think it depends on the instructor. So far, I have found the classes pretty good - you definitely get a good workout - and the instructors have been fine. The classes are about 40 minutes long - taking you through a warm up, spinning and cool down. The bikes aren't the greatest - but they are in pretty good shape. To me, it's a nice change from the Treadmill, etc.

 

Hope this helps!

[Huskerchick]

I normally sign up for the spin classes on board (as I do spinning classes at home on a regular basis). Again, I think it depends on the instructor. So far, I have found the classes pretty good - you definitely get a good workout - and the instructors have been fine. The classes are about 40 minutes long - taking you through a warm up, spinning and cool down. The bikes aren't the greatest - but they are in pretty good shape. To me, it's a nice change from the Treadmill, etc.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks it was really the spin class I was interested in. I'm sure like with any class some instructors are better then others and to be honest the good thing about spin class is you can always do your own thing if they aren't doing it for you. I can only spend so much time on the dreadmill so was looking for a little variety :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

I knew that the classes were $12 per session.

But I didn't know that they automatically added the 15% gratuity.

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH has never bothered with the classes -- he just works out on the treadmills and the machines for back, shoulder, legs and arms.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have always found the classes to be too early or too late to fit into my schedule.

 

You are right.

Most of the ships we have been on the classes were either at 7 or 8 AM and then around 4 PM.

[Vict0riann]

Ann: I plan to pack a couple of low impact aerobic DVD's to use in my cabin to go along with the treadmill when time allows, promenade laps, and using the stairs as much as my body will allow. A sturdy bench on the promenade will suffice for chair squats.

 

A rotation consisting of promenade laps, stairs, and chair squats will probably give me a fairly good lower body workout.

 

Good idea about the DVD. Do you have a recommendation?

 

I have also used the circuit in the gym, which is pretty good.

 

What's "spinning"?

[mame42]

Good idea about the DVD. Do you have a recommendation?

 

I have also used the circuit in the gym, which is pretty good.

 

What's "spinning"?

 

On a stationary bike.

[POA1]

On a stationary bike.

With varying levels of resistance to simulate hills or at least make it harder to pedal.

[kakalina]

To keep up my normal gym routine on board I head there three times a week. I hit the treadmill for 30 minutes and then 30 minutes of free weights. With that and the normal amount of walking on board I generally have no problem not gaining - even on a 30 day or longer cruise.

 

I've tried the yoga classes on board and did enjoy them as I am not familiar with it. The tai chi is also fun and a bit limbering but not at all challenging.

Edited October 2, 2014 by kakalina

[Vict0riann]

To keep up my normal gym routine on board I head there three times a week. I hit the treadmill for 30 minutes and then 30 minutes of free weights. With that and the normal amount of walking on board I generally have no problem not gaining - even on a 30 day or longer cruise.

 

I find I usually lose a little weight on a cruise, especially the longer ones:), but I'm really nervous about this explore4 thing.:eek: We're not big drinkers, and as others have said - we'll come home needing to join AA! And think of all those calories. Oh, well, we all have to make sacrifices!

[kakalina]

I find I usually lose a little weight on a cruise, especially the longer ones:), but I'm really nervous about this explore4 thing.:eek: We're not big drinkers, and as others have said - we'll come home needing to join AA! And think of all those calories. Oh, well, we all have to make sacrifices!

 

Remember most of those calories are in the mixers! :eek: Go for rum and diet cola. Or vodka and fruit juice. Then again you are on vacation; and those chocolate martinis are so very, very good.

[Vict0riann]

Remember most of those calories are in the mixers! :eek: Go for rum and diet cola. Or vodka and fruit juice. Then again you are on vacation; and those chocolate martinis are so very, very good.

 

Thanks for the encouragement!:D

[cruz chic]

If you are going to drink fruit juice I'd use a splash with club soda. Lots of calories in juice.

[Nanner]

On our last cruise my spouse tried the spin class and I tried the yoga. As one previous poster noted, the instructors on our ship were weight lifter sorts.

 

One major issue was that they would only run a class if at least 4 people committed to it. So if you plan on the spin class and only 2 people show, as happened with my DH, the class may be cancelled.

 

As for yoga, I went once. The muscular young man offered NO stretching at the beginning, The guy was doing more of a power yoga thing when only 1 of the 4 women who showed up was capable of the shoulder stands and heels over head positions he tried to put us through. It was definitely not for 60+ year olds who have not done daily yoga for decades. I'm sure that class also disappeared.

 

The yoga instructor, before we even started class, went around and asked us how many times we planned to attend. Of course, we were billed for that many classes. Good thing we check our bill halfway through each cruise, as I had all but the one class I had attended (I had hoped for 3) removed.

 

I miss the free Tai Chi they used to offer twice(!) a day. I attended better yoga on other HAL ships, but this last experience left a bad taste for the pay classes.