workout // burn pilates.
I’m on a mission to mix up my fitness routine and wanted to give you the scoop on some of the new workouts I’m trying and would love to hear about some of your favorites as well. Expect the full rundown on my latest sweat-fests with information on what to expect, what to wear and what you might feel like afterward.
The Workout: Burn Pilates “Total Body Burn” class ($21/class)
Burn Pilates combines pilates, cardio and strength training to create a body sculpting, heart-pumping 55-minute workout. Classes are based in circuit training to keep participants challenged, motivated, and focused (plus it makes the class fly by!). Burn Pilates classes aim to lengthen and tone the entire body, increase flexibility, energy and endurance.
What to Expect: Pilates isn’t a workout I typically gravitate toward but I was expecting something similar to my last barre experience – focused movements, core work and generally not a lot of sweating. And I was completely wrong! Each Burn Pilates class is totally different but I loved the bursts of cardio within the workout and the board and springs was a really unique way to do strength training.
During my class with Burn’s founder, Lisa Corsello, we moved quickly through a wide variety of exercises, each focused on a specific area of the body – this gave us just enough time to really feel it, but never long enough on one movement to be bored or strained. Expect to get sweaty thanks to cardio bursts and leave feeling the effects of the workout throughout your entire body! Modifications were available for each exercise which made Burn’s class really accessible for all fitness levels and those with any prior injuries and I really liked that Lisa pushed us, but the class’ environment wasn’t at all intimidating or competitive.
What to Wear: Stick with form fitting clothes as you’ll be moving around quite a bit, including wearing a waist belt to attach yourself to the springs. Wear leggings (cropped or full length), a tank, medium to high-impact sports bra (there will be running and jumping involved!) and a pair of socks, preferably the grippy bottom kind if you have ’em. Be sure to bring water, and grab one of the towels they provide.
Final Verdict: I was a bit skeptical going into Burn based on my past experience with pilates and barre but after one class, I am a believer. I really liked the variety and fast pace of the class; it went by very quickly yet packed a lot into a 55-minute time frame. I’d definitely recommend Burn as an awesome cross-training option for anyone in the Bay Area (they have 6 locations!) who wants to get their butt kicked in the best way possible – I’ll definitely be back!
