Architect Studios Part Two

Holy crap my legs hurt, I can barely walk up the stairs. Two days ago I went back to architect studios for another free class that I won in a raffle. I learned my lesson last time and didn't work out earlier in the day. I was surprised to see that the class attendance only included me and a man who was a newcomer to the studio.

First Round:

This class we had three rounds doing each move for 60 seconds. The first round we did this move called Manmakers. You hold two weights by your shoulders palms facing each other and squat down. Then you place the weights on the floor and jump your feet back. Next you bring your right elbow back into a row then go back to a push up. After you complete the row on the left side you do another push up. You then jump your feet back in and position yourself in the squat rising up to end in a shoulder press. Do as many sets as you can in 1 minute.

This move killed me from all the push ups. Until recently, I have been doing push ups with my elbows out to the side not behind me like the person shown in the picture below. In one minute I probably got two complete sets of the manmakers while trying to to half complete the third set.

Next move was reverse lunges with your weights on each side of you. Make sure to stay balanced and to keep your legs strong. Each leg gets 30 seconds and then you switch legs.

The third move in the first round was a simple squat with a curl when you come up. Make sure your knees aren't over your toes while squatting and try to get your butt as low as you go.

The final move in round one was a back row. You lean slightly forward with knees bent a little. You bring your shoulders back, squeezing those muscles holding your elbows close to your body. Don't forget abs tight.

The mapmakers tired me so much I was relieved to do the other simple three moves that I have practiced in workouts before.

Second Round:

The second round always seems to be the cardio round so I wasn't surprised when I saw our first move was jumping jacks. Basically you just try to bang out as many jacks as you can in those 60 seconds. It's one of my favorites because I love to go really fast.

The next move was burpees, which I hate because it takes so much out of me. Also I was absolutely tired of doing pushups.

The final move in the second round was lunge swings which is when you bring your left leg forward into a front lunge then bring it back to a back lunge. Each side gets 30 seconds then switch.

Third and Final Round: (yippee)

The first move was kettle bell swings. So place your feet shoulder width apart hold the kettle bell with two hands and use your pelvic muscles you swing the kettle bell not your arms. Make sure to raise the kettle bell up to you shoulders for this workouts purpose.

The second move was a reverse lunge (I know, too many lunges) with a overhead press with your kettle bell. Hold the kettle bell in your right arm like you would hold your purse in the crook of your elbow. Do a reverse lunge with your left leg and return to the starting position for an overhead press. Do 30 seconds on that side and then switch to your left arm right leg for the rest of the time.

The third move was mountain climbers. This is when you get into a plank position and bring one leg in at a time really fast. Even though I have done mountain climbers before this move was really difficult for me because I think I was so fatigued from all the weight I was lifted that I didn't want to do anymore cardio. I also have the tendency to keep my head down or to look downward but that's wrong because you should always be looking up.

The last move in the series was flutter kicks using the kettle bell. Hold the kettle bell with both hands, with your legs in the air. Feet should be flexed. Then you slowly drop one leg down at a time while keeping the kettle bell overhead arms straightened.

That's the end of the workout!! I was so happy that I didn't feel like I was having a heart attack and going to die before this workout. 45 minutes isn't that much time but I truly believe you get an amazing workout by using HIIT because you are constantly moving without breaks while doing intense exercises. But I still hope I can feel my legs before the weekend!!