I love the idea of working out. Until half way through my workout it dawns on me that there is literally anything in the world I would rather be doing than holding this plank position for any longer. Sure, after the workout is over, the feeling of pride returns and my body does feel amazing, but clearly, working out does not come naturally to me.
Thus, I’ve joined ClassPass with the full intention of using it — but choosing a workout can be daunting for beginners. Assuming there are other newbies out there who are interested in starting an exercise regimen but might not know where to start, I polled my more fitness-minded coworkers and asked them to share some of the workouts they would classify as “beginner friendly.”
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The Workout: PlateFit
What It Is: PlateFit is the workout that has the potential to be the next SoulCycle, without the repetition and the life-affirming mantras. It uses something called a Power Plate, which is a giant plate with a patented vibration technology that literally shakes you up as you work out. An instructor will lead you in a series of moves, from planks and jumping jacks to lunges and yoga moves on this vibrating plate, which has the power to spur 900 muscle contractions in just 30 seconds — in other words, it promises amplified results.
The classes have a variety of themes, from yoga to cellulite-busting, and the best part is they’re only 27 minutes long. I tried this workout and got through the whole thing without swearing off working out forever. I can’t recommend this class more, and look forward to going back.
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The Workout: Hatha yoga
What It Is: If you’re not quite ready for scorpion pose (or tree pose, for that matter), ease yourself into the yogi life with Hatha yoga before diving into Vinyasa. It’s perfect for yoga newbies, anyone who may be recovering from an injury, or someone with a condition like arthritis. Sure, the majority of people in most of my classes are on the older end of the spectrum, but even the beginner classes still challenge me when it comes to strength and balance, and I leave every class feeling refreshed and zen.
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The Workout: Pilates
What It Is: This suggestion comes from my coworkers, who suggested Pop Pilates — created by vlogger Cassey Ho — specifically as an easy yet effective workout for beginners. For the unschooled, Pilates emphasizes your body’s core and helps develop strength, flexibility and muscle endurance. You’ll be engaged with your body the whole time, and many of the movements are repetitive.
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The workout: Barre (some of them)
I say some because only some barre classes are good for beginners, while others are a bit more advanced. The Bar Method was recommended as a barre class for workout newbies; Cardio Barre is another one (I can attest). Once you get the hang of it (and start getting used to the fact that your legs will shake uncontrollably), you can graduate onto more intense barre classes, like Physique 57 and Pop Physique — both of which I have tried and somehow managed to survive.
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The Workout: TRX
What It Is: This is another suggestion from a coworker who describes this workout as “body weight training.” Upon further investigation, I’ve found that it involves using two suspended straps to build muscle while combining cardio and strength training. It was also created by a Navy SEAL. Supposedly, it’s great for both beginners and fitness junkies, and offers a total-body workout center on your core and reliant on your own body weight.
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