HAVING
A BALL takes on a new meaning at "Cardio Ball," an unusual class to find on a Pilates
studio schedule. But The Pilates Room in McLean goes beyond the usual
mat and equipment offerings to give its clients a well-rounded workout.
WHAT IT IS
The name of
the studio is a bit of a misnomer because there are, in fact, several rooms in the space. So, while quiet beginning Pilates
is happening in one and calming body treatments are being performed in another, instructor Susan Hess can
turn on the tunes to fire up her students for an hour of fast-paced strength and conditioning.
"Some women don't use weights, and we're trying to push them to do cardio," she explains.
"And I shake it up every week." Depending on the day, they may head over to the ellipticals or bikes for heart rate-raising
intervals, or they'll work in quick dance routines. The one constant is the use of inflated stability balls, because almost
every exercise you can do with them requires a stable core. "We're primarily a Pilates studio, so we want to keep with
that theme," Hess adds.
MOVES
Hess' brain holds a seemingly endless supply of ball exercises for her charges to complete. The warm-up might involve holding
the large spheres up while marching and activating the lower body through a series of lunges. She'll then sometimes have her
class sit on their balls — but not for a breather. Instead, they'll bounce their way through a set of "jumping
jacks."
Then there are basics such as
push-ups with legs elevated on the ball and crunches with backs supported by it. But even with fairly standard exercises,
Hess keeps up the level of interest by adding a twist, like a game of "Red Light, Green Light": Keep going in a
pattern until "red light," when you freeze in position and try to balance.
WORKOUT
"It gives
you a good sweat, but you don't dread it," says regular Sara Reges, 42. That's probably because the
mix of moves has something for everyone, and they're mostly scalable, so students can work at the level that makes them comfortable
by selecting different size weights or adjusting the angle of their bodies. But while it's a supportive atmosphere, Hess will
still call you out if you're slacking.
One woman, who was jokingly messing with an exercise
at a recent class, elicited calls of "Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater!" "She sets the tone to be fun, but she
works you," adds Michele Petersen, 51.
CROWD
The mid-morning time frame means "Cardio Ball" is a mom magnet. Although
men could technically crash, it's not really meant for them — and they might not be able to handle the vast amount of
pink clothing in the room. (It's not a required color, just a coincidence.) But it's hard to imagine this welcoming group
of ladies making anyone feel uncomfortable. As Marti Friedman, 44, promises, "Everybody leaves here
with a smile."
» Tue.
at 10 a.m. at the The Pilates Room, 1489 Chain Bridge Road, Ste. 100-102,
McLean, Va.; 703-749-1661.
