Core Fusion with Meghann and Missy

Since Meghann got stuck in NYC for a few extra days because of this week’s snowstorm and was staying at the Gansevoort, it was a perfect opportunity to bring her to Core Fusion with me this morning! There is an exhale spa location in the Gansevoort, so all she had to do was come downstairs.

Of course, that meant I had to travel to the opposite corner of the city in the wee hours of the morning. I wasn’t willing to take the stress of not one but two subways arriving in a decent time at 6 am, so I forked up the cash to cab it over. This is something I rarely do and it was worth it. And this is the reason I don’t usually take class at the Gansevoort. It would be different if it were only one train ride away like the Central Park South, Upper East Side and SoHo locations are. But when there are two trains involved, nothing is certain!

I arrived at the Gansevoort at 6:40, nice and early the way I like to get places. I texted Meghann to let her know I was there and a few minutes later the locker room door opened. I looked up expecting Meghann but it was Missy! Meghann arrived a few minutes later and we took some photos, being the bloggers that we are:

I felt great since I gave myself time to get ready in the morning. Enough time to make coffee and order leggings online. Oops.

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I have discovered that coffee is they key to 7 am Core Fusion.

I brought my extra pair of Core Fusion grippy socks so Meghann could have the full experience, although I was considerate and I warned her they haven’t been washed recently. What can I say? I’m going to Queens to do laundry at my mom’s on Saturday. City living, kids!

We went into the studio and I helped Meghann get set up with 3 lb weights and a strap. I showed her how to hang from the stall bar, which is important to use before and after Core Fusion class for a nice back and full body stretch. Since this class was recently added to the schedule, there was only one other person there. It’s funny – if Meghann wasn’t in NYC, Missy and I would have gone to Central Park South and that person would have had a private lesson!

Stall bar:

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Diana introduced herself to us and I told her about my foot tendinitis. She asked what I’ve been doing during thighs and I told her the teachers have been having me do chair pose and wide V (second position for all you dancers) so I can keep my feet flat on the floor, since I can’t go up on my toes right now.

Class started and the plank was very good. I was very conscious of my form and Diana complimented the entire class on listening to her instructions on having the proper form. Pushups were good, reverse pushups were good. I can’t believe how much easier reverse pushups have become for me over the last month and a half. I used to barely be able to bend my elbows at all and now I can do it!

We did arms and I felt strong again with my 3 and 4 lb weights. It burned but I was able to keep up and do it all.

When we did thighs, Diana had us only do exercises I could participate in! In my other classes since being injured, if the class was doing something I couldn’t, like small V (first position) on their toes, the teacher would come to me and have me do something different. But Diana set the exercises today based on what I could do. I thought that was so nice of her. Of course, no teacher should ever have to do that or feel like they have to. The needs of the class are most important and I will be fine doing anything I can. That said, I thought it was a very nice thing of Diana to do.

We did chair pose, wide V and thigh dancing (there are usually three sets in thighs). During the first two sets, I felt like I’ve really gotten a better grasp on the correct positioning. I tried hard to keep my stomach pulled in and my back flat and straight. It’s not easy, but I’m hoping to make this second nature, or at the very least, as close to second nature as I can get it! Thigh dancing is pretty rare during Core Fusion classes because it is considered one of the most challenging moves. The last time I did it was a few weeks ago. But I was able to hold my own today! Diana even complimented my moves, as I got really into the “dancing” idea of this. Not that it didn’t burn, because it did. But I didn’t collapse out of the position, which is great.

Then we did pushups and after a couple I felt so strong I decided to try for straight legs. And I did it! It was very hard and I couldn’t get myself as low down, but I was able to do real pushups! About 7 in a row. It felt great.

For glutes we did the moves on all fours on the mat. I hadn’t done that in awhile so it was a nice change of pace. The core work we do sitting under the bar was great too, I really felt it in my abs with the way Diana had us move our legs. We did an alternating legs straight in and out and then bent in and out and back to straight. I’m able to lift my legs during bent legs so that really helps me feel the burn.

Instead of another plank at this point we did a movement I haven’t done before, keeping our feet together in front of us and lifting our butt off the floor and back on in a sitting position. Very nice change!

During the C curve (also called the Curl if I haven’t mentioned it) I also felt pretty able to keep up and take my hands off my legs at certain times. I’m definitely improving here. It was very hard though! I glanced over at Meghann to see how she was doing and I could tell it was tough for her as well. As it should be!

We did different leg stretches at the end which was also a nice change of pace. I enjoyed this.

And at the very end of class, the very last song was . . . the theme song from House. Again! Erin played it on Tuesday as the first Music Yoga Flow song and now Diana was playing it as the last song in Core Fusion when we rest in savasana and stretch. I loved hearing it! It felt like a big screen was going to emerge from the ceiling and an episode of House would play. Which, really, would be the perfect end to a Core Fusion class. . One hour of class followed by one hour of House. Fred, what do you think?? 😉

Since there was no big screen, class ended and we went up to Diana to chat a little. In my first post about class in this challenge, I wrote that I like taking Diana’s class because she reminds me of my friend who is a professional dancer. Diana’s hair and body both remind me of Emily. I told Diana about that and it turns out she knew exactly who I was talking about — she knows my friend! They just danced together recently. What a small world!

When class was over I felt so amazing! I feel like I overuse that word here but really, it is the most accurate term to describe how I feel after class. I was in such a great mood and I came to work happy (Maaaaaybe the upcoming 3 day weekend played a part as well). Missy and Meghann both loved the class too. I really wanted Missy to love it since she takes lots of classes and hasn’t had Diana before, and I wanted Meghann to love it since she has never taken class!

You can read Meghann’s review here and Missy’s review here.

I just love how a wonderful Core Fusion class sets the tone for the entire day.

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Updates:

Check out Rachel from Shed It and Get It’s results from her Core Fusion Challenge using the DVDs!

Mazel tov to my baby brother and Mallories on their engagement!!!!!