Sproing is hands down on of the strangest classes I have attended since I began ClassPass. It is designed to be a better workout for you all around – less impact on your knees, continually monitored heart rate, and a new running position for your body.

You are hooked up to the mechanism pictured below along with a heart monitor. A harness goes around your abdomen and connects to the back of the machine. The harness allows for you to lean forward when you run/move putting majority of your body weight on your toes. Beneath your feet is a padded surface that helps to cushion the blow to your knees and rest of the body.

Finally, you are also hooked up to a heart monitor. At the beginning of class you register the monitor to your email so it displays your heart rate on a screen throughout the entire class. It is strapped around your upper torso for maximum readings – girls it goes directly under your sports bra strap. The benefit of the monitor is that you can see the percentage you are working throughout the class. It is color coded so you can determine how hard you must work for maximum results. It is suggested that you spend 23 of the 30 minutes in the orange zone (usually 85% or more). I love this part because when I drop into the below the orange, I know I have to pick up the pace and push myself a little bit harder. And it also reassures me that I am capable of doing so!

It may feel weird at first, but I strongly suggest giving Sproing a try. It is like no other workout I have done, and I can actually see and feel a difference the minute I leave class!

**Below is a recap of the Sproing classes I have attended and my thoughts on each instructor (most recent class first).

❤ the fit bitch

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Sproing HIIT

March 25 – 9:30AM

Instructor: Stephanie Lee

 

 

Right before St. Patrick’s Day I did something to my knee while training and had to put off any really intense workouts for a bit. So getting back into things I decided Sproing would be a suitable match due to the soft landing pad for your feet. It was the first real cardio I had done wince the incident so I knew it would be a little trying.

This class only had 3 other participants and allowed me to get some extra attention from the instructor Stephanie. She could tell as we were going through the movements that I was experiencing pain and did a great job to give me variations when needed. She wasn’t overall the most demanding of the room, but she was sweet and almost nurturing – exactly what I needed for my current situation. I took class pretty easy as I didn’t want to cause further injury and pushed myself to the best of my ability. I hardly ever broke the 85% on the heart rate monitors

But the best part about this class, as mentioned before, was due to the size I was able to get direct attention. After class Stephanie came up to me and offered special stretches I could do for my knees and began talking to me about symptoms. It was here that I learned she was a sports physical therapist and proceeded to offer me a complimentary session to try and pinpoint what was happening with my knees. I love how these boutique classes open the door for a lot of one on one interaction and taking relationship with the instructors to a different level. I scheduled my appointment and couldn’t wait to meet with Stephanie!

 

March 11 – 11:45AM

Instructor: John Kinneman

This class was a bit rough for me. Instead of a completely filled studio I walked into (late, might I add) class of 4 other participants. That’s what I get for signing up for mid-weekday classes…I guess most normal people have jobs to do and sh*t.

So there were a few factors to my poor performance in this class. 1) Came in late just as John was getting things going, 2) Less bodies, meant less ummph in the atmosphere, 3) I was having personal issues in my life the day prior and last but not least 4) I somehow managed to forget my water… All of these factors set me up for a struggle.

I’m not going to lie, I didn’t push myself. I let me mental state take over and absolutely kill my endorphins buzz. I have assed my sprints and even went down to b*tch pushups on my knees when I know very well I am absolutely capable of 2-3 sets of real pushups. There was a 50 year old women 2 stations down from me who was just whopping my ass, but I didn’t seem to care. No matter how much John tried to motivate I just couldn’t do it – my apologies 😦

Funny thing is, after 45 minutes I had still burned class to 500 calories. This class had me hooked.

 

Feburary 28 – 3:00PM

Instructor: Caullen Hudson

My first Sproing class….I had no idea what to expect. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful in getting you situated for class. You needed to register your heart rate monitor for the screens in class and then get yourself situation on the machine. After strapping the harness around my abdomen  Caullen took us through a brief run down of the moves. He explained that it was a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) session and each move was meant to be completed to our absolute maximum potential – best way to ensure we were doing so was to remain above 85% on the monitor screen. Each maneuver was given a 20 second timer with a 10 second rest period in between, nothing too complicated… right?

Class started with some sprints and man was it an interesting adjustment. There is a current pull on your back that you are fighting with at all times. I never felt so stupid during a workout before. But there I was in a room of 15 other people running on some contraption beginning to sweat from every possible spot on my body. Not even 10 minutes in and I am feeling it. I never would have expected this kind of a workout when I walked into the studio.

To make everything more exciting, The screen in front of me not only displayed my heart rate, but my caloric burn as well. Time kept ticking away and so did the calories. Class ended 30 minutes later and I had burned over 450 calories….how is that even possible? Sproing had just jumped to top 5 workouts in my mind and I could not wait to go back.

Caullen was a great instructor who really knew how to motivate the group. He was energetic, cracked a few jokes, and had a powerful presence that could not be ignored. If I didn’t try hard enough for myself, I sure as hell wanted to prove to this instructor I was trying hard for him! I couldn’t wait to schedule my next class.

❤ the fit bitch