Funk, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and other dance workouts
What it is: An aerobic routine with choreography borrowed from dance
moves. Classes range from simple moves with a little attitude thrown in, to
what seems like a tryout for an MTV funk-a-thon or the New York City Ballet.
At many urban clubs, you’ll find funk aerobics, hip-hop step, and even salsa
hip-hop, a funky class spiced up with salsa dance moves.
What it does for you:Develops heart and lung power and really improves
your coordination and agility. You teach your body to move in complex ways
and use muscles you didn’t know you had.
The exhaustion factor: Depends on the difficulty level of the class. Some
hip-hop classes are geared toward beginners. Others expect you to be in
awesome shape.
The coordination factor: High. If you’re a complete rhythm dysfunctional,
you’ll have a tough time keeping up. Aerobically, you may not be all that chal-
lenged, but you’ll spend a good deal of the class untangling your feet.
Who digs it:Anyone with a dance background or anyone who likes dance
music. If you’re a Fleetwood Mac fan, you may want to pass.
What to wear:You can wear your typical sweats and t-shirt, but don’t be
surprised if you’re the only one. Funk classes tend to have their own style of
dressing: high-top sneakers, off-the-shoulder tops, baggy shorts, sexy bras,
oversized socks.
Signs of a sharp instructor: Good instructors break down complicated
moves into a series of smaller ones before putting them all together. They
also show you a variety of interpretations to each move and do the moves
more slowly and with less attitude when the class is first learning.
Tips for first-timers: If your parents didn’t give you the funk gene, definitely
take a beginner class and scope out the class first. More than in any other
class, novices tend to get left in the dust. But a really good instructor will give
enough instruction so everyone can stay together.
High/low-impact aerobics and stripper aerobics
What it is: A traditional dance-inspired routine. With low-impact, you always
have one foot on the floor — you don’t do any jumping or hopping. High-
impact moves at a slower pace, but you jump around a lot. High/low com-
bines the two types of routines. Cardio-striptease is a low-impact workout
that combines aerobics with strip-club moves — you’ve gotta see it to
believe it.
Chapter 19: Choosing an Exercise Class or DVD 291