Lots of my friends are taking fitness classes and it's all they talk about. From barre to pilates to turbo kickboxing, I can't keep up. I finally found it in myself to join the craze and try one of these fitness classes, and it is safe to say I have never felt more embarrassed in my life. I was dripping in sweat and could barely keep up with the trainer or anyone around me. I felt so uncomfortable doing workouts next to people way more advanced than me. For a long time, I haven't been able to bring myself to get on a steady exercise routine. I thought signing up for a class would help, but I was way too intimidated to go back. What I was really looking for was a guided class that I can do at my own pace, while getting some instruction and not feeling lost. While Googling a way to take some classes at home, I came across this fitness app called Aaptiv, and I knew I had to try it out.
Aaptiv offers guided audio fitness classes through their app for every experience level, taught by certified personal trainers. You can choose classes by workout type, trainer, music genre, class length, or level of difficulty. After I signed up for Aaptiv, I was excited to find a lot of beginner level classes to pick and choose from. For my first class, I chose "BYOBody Weight" with Rochelle—no equipment needed, only 8 minutes long, and something I could do in my living room—no pressure! My goal was to take classes regularly, but I was afraid I might overdo it, so this felt like a perfect place to start. I put on my earbuds, hit "Start Workout", and got to work.
As I listened, Rochelle guided me through quick intervals of high knees, squats and lunges. She had my legs and butt burning by the end. I loved how easy it was to follow along to her instructions, and the music she picked out was fun and kept me focused during each exercise. I was surprised at how fast I picked everything up, especially with no distractions. Even though the first class was just under 10 minutes, my heart rate was up and the workout was intense. Having Rochelle cheer me on throughout the class was so encouraging, and I was motivated to stick with each set. I decided to do another short class after that, and before I knew it, by the end of the week I had tried three other beginner classes and was feeling more and more confident in my ability with each completed session.
When I work out with Aaptiv, I don't have to worry anymore about going to an in-person studio where I feel out of my element. Instead, I can take a class with a trainer guiding me the whole way, and avoid that feeling totally lost in a group class. Now, before I start a workout, I browse the options and trainers to find classes that best fit my level and my mood. Thanks to Aaptiv, I don't feel like such a fitness newbie anymore and I've never felt more confident about working out.
