Grab your mat and get ready for a full-body cardio, flexibility, and strength-training workout at our POP Pilates® classes. Adventure Fitness Athletic Club members can pop by our Thornton gym twice a week to develop a rock-solid core to the music on the following days:
POP Pilates®
Taught by Jamie McGehee
Wednesdays – from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm
Fridays – 12 noon to 12:45 pm
What is POP Pilates?
Inspired by regular Pilates, POP Pilates is a full-body workout that keeps you on your mat and using nothing but your own bodyweight as resistance. The “pop” comes in the form of faster movements, the addition of pop music, and a dance-like vibe throughout the class.
While both Pilates and POP Pilates are based on breathing control, core engagement, and precision, POP Pilates will have you exercising to the beat and rhythmically flowing from one highly focused movement to the next. Like regular Pilates, POP Pilates will leave no muscle untouched. Expect to feel the burn and be sore the next day!
Where did POP Pilates come from?
POP Pilates® was invented by Cassey Ho, an award-winning fitness instructor from Los Angeles, CA. She is the creator of Blogilates, the #1 YouTube female fitness channel. A certified Pilates mat and Reformer teacher, Cassey posted her first pop music-infused Pilates video on YouTube in 2009 as a farewell gift to her 40 students because she was moving cross-country. This one video, originally intended for her small class to watch anytime they missed her, became the inspiration for what Cassey decided to call POP Pilates, a fitness craze that’s now practiced by more than 7 million people worldwide.
What can I expect at a POP Pilates class?
The typical POP Pilates class is about 55 minutes long, although there are also 30- and 45-minute versions. Each POP Pilates class is accompanied by tracks of 3-4 minute songs in a specific format, with about a 20-second break in between tracks. You will be on your mat during the entire class and the workout is mostly centered on the core (glutes, abs, back, and shoulders). Expect to feel the burn and even have moments of shaking, but that’s what makes the class effective! The good news is, POP Pilates is a low- to no-impact workout, so you won’t be jumping or jogging in place. Your joints will thank you.
While keeping with the flow of the music, you will transition from one movement to the next fairly quickly, but you’ll also have enough time to switch gears. A full 55-minute POP Pilates class will take you through 13 tracks, which always follow this order:
- Warm-up
- Total-body opener
- The Hundreds
- Butt challenge
- Ab challenge
- Crazy cardio
- Abs and thighs
- Upper body
- Obliques
- Back work
- Kick-butt cardio
- Hard core
- Flexibility
Each track includes three to four moves that you will repeat throughout the track, allowing you the chance to learn them and master good form. There are 33 core moves that frequently appear in POP Pilates classes, with new moves released regularly. A few core moves include:
- Downward dog
- Squats
- Leg lifts
- Planks
- Bridge pulses
- Scissors
What are the benefits of POP Pilates?
The top benefits of POP Pilates are that it can be done in bare feet with no equipment but a mat, and it’s very welcoming to beginners because there’s an easier version of every move. There’s also an instructor present to give clear direction, watch for new participants who might need help, and offer more or less challenging options for each movement. The instructor will also make sure your form is correct so that you can get the most out of your workout.
Other benefits of POP Pilates include:
- The pace of the class is slow enough to give you time to catch on, while also being fast enough to keep you moving.
- As the name suggests, all the music is pop and top 40. Expect to hear familiar favorites like Ariana Grande, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, and Rihanna.
- There are plenty of breaks in between tracks, allowing you a few seconds to recover.
- There’s lots of stretching, which feels good and increases your flexibility.
- Your posture will improve.
- You’ll notice a stronger and more defined abdomen, core, glutes, and legs.
Are you ready to become a POPster?
Anyone who wants to join our POP Pilates classes at Adventure Fitness Athletic Club should contact us or stop by for a visit. You can also call Susan at 720-849-0245 or email her at susan@adventurefitness.club. Club members can register for POP Pilates on MINDBODY and non-members can join for a $10 per-class fee..
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