I Like to Move It Move It

You know how everyone tells you, “Exercise! You’ll feel SO much better!!” and you kind of nod along? When your days are filled with non-sensical YouTube videos, trips to the park, games, more games, “Mommy is mountain!,” all you want to do with those precious hours of not having to watch the same Bluey episode for the 20th time is…..relax. Maybe a walk…maybe. Still, I couldn’t escape the obvious, I just don’t feel…great. Energy is hard to come by, and so finally I decided to not just “nod along” and do something about it.

So I did and I wanted to write this while I’m still on the “moved my butt” high! I just finished my first workout class in 6+ years and let me tell ya, I’m feeling it. But I’m also feeling strong, energized and powerful and that is definitely worth the effort of getting there.

After dropping Sebastian at school, I headed to Dance Dimensions in Woodland Hills for Auna Simon’s Fitness/Dance class. Its a 9am class that mixes kickboxing, dance, and stretching. Auna has this calm but lively energy that is welcoming - I knew I was in good hands. As well, the ladies in the class were not only encouraging, but people that I will actually look forward to seeing every week.

The setting was perfect - the studio has low lights with multi-colored strobes and music that was perfectly timed to the moves. We started with a warm-up/stretch (which I desperately needed) and moved into some get your heart racing kickboxing. Never did I feel I needed to “keep up” or couldn’t take a break. In fact, taking breaks was encouraged. And yes, I took quite a few of them!

After the kickboxing, I thought, oh its time for a cool-down. Nope, its time for weight training! Since it was my first time back in a while, I opted to lift without weights and it was enough. I figured lifting 40-pounds of Sebastian several times a day would’ve prepared me, but my arms were jelly by the end. Then, thankfully, it was cool-down time. Lights off, focused on breathing and stretching. The quiet (even with music) was everything I didn’t know I needed.

The energy I felt leaving that class, I haven’t felt in a long time. Stopped by the Starbucks up the street on Mulholland for a strawberry lemonade afterwards. Mobile order for the win!

Auna teaches Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at this location, at 9am. Mondays and Fridays are currently more focused on Fitness/Dance and Wednesdays on Pilates-type Movement/Stretching. Classes are $20 per or $100 for the month. Bring a mat, some weights if you’re so inclined, and a towel to sop up all that sweat. I signed up for the month, because I, like most moms, need to commit to exploring these types of “me” time opportunities.

* I received no compensation for this review - just sharin’!