#personally curated from my good mood playlists bestie
Note
music meme ask: either meredactyl or meredith, whichever gets the better Content™ :3
Moonshadow – Cat Stevens
Emergency – Paramore
Rainbow Connection – Kermit the Frog (lol)
Eddie My Love – The Chordettes
Daydream – The Lovin' Spoonful
I'm Fine – Daisy the Great
Talk It Up – Sammy Rae and the Friends
Homeward Bound – Simon and Garfunkel
send your name and I will make you a mini playlist with the letters :)
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30 Unique Personalized Gifts For Your Bridesmaids
I recently sent off packages in the mail to my bridesmaids filled with goodies and special surprise gifts. I’m a believer in personalizing everything as much as possible (I even made them their own exclusive Spotify playlists!) and love finding the “perfect” presents.
For anyone struggling with what to buy your bridesmaids as a token of your love, we’ve found the most unique and one-of-a-kind gifts, all from Etsy! These are handmade, cool, and cultivated as a collection of gifts we’d love to give, and know they’d love to receive.
Photo by Sara Lynn via Bridal Musings
These bridesmaid or bridesman gifts are non-traditional in the best way – because they aren’t wedding themed! These are specific to their personalities, their hobbies, and what brings them joy. Maybe your bestie spends all their time baking at home and hosting small get-togethers. Or maybe they are an animal-obsessed pet owner in need of these amazing crystal pet tags! This is a list of the most artsy and unique gifts to give your special crew, whether bridesmaid, family, or friend, these items are unlike anything we’ve seen elsewhere.
Starry Eyed State-of-Mind
Here’s some astrology-themed art for the gal pal who’s daydreaming and analytical of the daily happenings in life. Select some funky art for her wall, an adorable “catch-all” bowl for her jewelry and gems, or even an accurately curated scent. It shows that not only do you listen to her weekly analysis of her horoscope, but you also feel the effects of Mercury in retrograde. Let your friend know all of the little details of their personality matter.
1. Constellation Watercolor Art
2. Constellation Embroidery Hoop
3. Matted Zodiac Print
4. Zodiac Ring Dish
5. Astrology Soy Candle
6. Zodiac Oil Perfume
Botanical Babe
This babe loves a little luxury and treating themselves to all the goodness that nature offers. Whether bath, room cleansing, or calming, any of these goodies are sure to clear a space and give the gift of sweet-smelling moods. She’s fond of flora (like me!) and appreciates anything with a vintage and old world charm. She’ll love these sweet notebooks to jot down her endless lofty goals and dreams.
7. Facial Tonic & Hair Mist
8. Botanical Bath Soak
9. Pressed Fern Terrarium Earrings
10. Fern Terrarium Ring
11. Botanical Notebook
12. Bird Notebook
13. Botanical Wooden Coptic Journal
Pet Obsessed
You know how much our furry friends matter. They’re basically family! All of these quirky gifts are playful and fun, just like your bestie. These colorful gifts are seriously perfect for your bridesmaid out to adopt every kitty she sees or your best man with a heart bursting for all animal kind. Surprise them with a treat for their little furry one too! And a serious shoutout to the creator of these baguette shaped catnip toys! Or these incredible quartz collar name tags – we love a glamorous pooch!
14. Guinea Pig Pin
15. Pug Bee Pin
16. Cat Paintbrush & Chopstick Rest
17. Llama Succulent Planter
18. Cat Succulent Planter
19. Quartz Pet Tags
20. Baguette Catnip Cat Toy
Foodie Friend
They always know the best places for a happy hour, a breakfast patisserie, or a hidden hole-in-the-wall spot for a steaming bowl of ramen. They know all moments are meant to be shared, and fully appreciate the hand-crafted nature of anything bespoke. From fancy salts to stylish kitchen-wear, spoil your favorite chef with some luxurious accessories you know they’ll put to use right away.
21. Jalapeno Citrus Margarita Rimming Salt
22. Five Piece Gourmet Salts
23. Handcrafted Wooden Bowls
24. Olive Wood Serving Utensils
25. Japanese Cross Back Linen Apron
26. Striped Linen Apron
Party Time Pal
For your friend always down to hang in a moment’s notice, sing along with you at karaoke, and meet for late night dessert endeavors. They are the harbinger of a good time, maybe a little bold, and always colorful. This is a lovely collection of accessories to add to her fashion rotation. Her personality is absolutely electric – all that glitters is gold!
27. Holographic Card Holder
28. White & Black Geometric Earrings
29. Splatter Brass Earrings
30. Emerald Bath Bomb
Need more inspiration to spoil your bridesmaids? Pamper them with gifts from this cozy gift list & take a gander through our shop.
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We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
0 notes
Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
0 notes
Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
0 notes
Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
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Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
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Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
http://ift.tt/2qkXXeQ
0 notes
Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
> Men’s Workout Tops
> Men’s Workout Pants
> Women’s Workout Tops
> Women’s Workout Pants
The post We Tried It For You: PlyoJam appeared first on Under Armour.
from Under Armour http://ift.tt/2pOR2Y1
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Text
We Tried It For You: PlyoJam
If you’re still going through a “Big Little Lies” withdrawal, we’ve got a great way to help you feel closer to ringleader Madeline, aka Reese Witherspoon, until Season 2 arrives. The HBO starlet recently bonded with funnyman James Corden on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” over their mutual love for PlyoJam — the hot, high-energy cardio dance class that debuted in NYC this March. Witherspoon and Corden aren’t the only celebs who are obsessed with it and fitter for it. Kate Hudson, who’s also a huge fan, has partnered with PlyoJam’s co-founders Jason Layden and Stacey Beaman.
Just weeks after premiering at the New York Health & Racquet Club in Manhattan, where two instructors are now offering three sessions a week, we put on our best dancing shoes (i.e., sneaks) and joined the intense, yet easy-to-follow dance party, which initially launched in L.A. four years ago. After a fun and flirty sweat session that torched 415 calories in 45 minutes (no wonder co-founder Beaman lost more than 60 pounds with PlyoJam), we caught up the co-founders to get the full scoop on the workout they affectionately say “ain’t your mama’s Zumba class.”
THE BASICS
The 45–60-minute class (duration depends on the venue) claims to be the first of its kind to artfully combine hip-hop-style dance moves with plyometrics (short, fast, explosive movements) set to a curated playlist of top 40 radio tracks.
“At the time that I created this dance class, I was teaching at a country club where women were demanding something more difficult. They wanted to walk out of the workout sweating and not needing to hit the treadmill or bike afterward. So I decided to merge plyometrics with dancing, but I was careful not to make it a boot camp. We wanted to amp up the amount of calories people burned and still make it fun,” Layden says.
Since Layden first introduced PlyoJam in 2014 and lured friend Beaman to become his client and then co-founder, they have steadily grown the brand in L.A., where it’s offered in 13 fitness studios (approximately 35 classes a week are held) and across the U.S. and globe. PlyoJam is also available in Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Germany. PlyoJam’s master choreographers are constantly creating new routines, which all certified instructors can access, then mix and match as they please for their group sessions. In any given class, an instructor can show you between 7–15 routines.
Next up, the plan is to build a PlyoJam flagship studio in L.A., which they hope to open this fall. If a class isn’t offered near you, you can always sign up for a weekly online subscription ($9.99), which features four new workout classes (chockful of routines) that you can do anywhere, anytime. Routines are updated weekly if you’re considering a monthly subscription ($19.99).
MY EXPERIENCE
After a phone call had detained me at my desk longer than expected that Tuesday evening, I arrived at the New York Health & Racquet Club flustered and breathless with only 30 seconds to calm down before go-time. My bestie, Draga, who is my favorite dance partner ever, was quick to try and make me smile, but even her adorable silliness, which usually has me rolling, couldn’t wipe the grimace off my face. Our PlyoJam instructor, Ebonny Fowler, a Tracee Ellis Ross-lookalike in both her beauty and goofball humor, had her work cut out for her. Truth be told, I was prepared to dislike it. Don’t get me wrong, I love to get down, but you have to be in the mood to groove — and I simply wasn’t.
Though I had trouble hearing Ebonny in the back row (she wasn’t wearing a headset), I pieced together her pre-workout instructions, which were basically to jump around with her if you want, but honestly, just aim to do your best to have a great time. She also stressed that if she’s kicking with her right leg and you accidently lift your left leg, it’s all good. There’s no hard, fast rules here. Just do you. This encouraging message right off the bat immediately washed away some stress. It’s always good to dive into any new adventure knowing you can’t mess up.
From the first song, Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” we got right into it, body-rolling, jump-kicking, grapevining and squatting. Within 11 minutes, which is when I next looked at my sportswatch, I could feel my funk fading, despite being even more breathless than when I started. When I looked to my right during DJ Snake’s “Let Me Love You,” there was Draga beaming as she always does when she’s in her element. Her huge smile, along Ebonny’s, was so infectious that I slowly revealed my pearly whites, too, and began letting loose and putting more into each move. Suddenly, I was jumping higher, moving faster and really feeling the beat.
I have to note that not everyone chose to match Ebonny’s electric energy and that was cool. There was one particular young woman who took the “do you” message to heart, turning each and every single HIIT step into a low-intensity move (no jumping, no speed). And she was in the front row, too! It was really comforting to see her confidently dancing the way she wanted. It confirmed that we were in a judgement-free zone, which is exactly what you want when you’re twerking in unison with strangers.
With sweat dripping down my face and back, I soon stripped to my sports bra (something I rarely do) and black tights and began channeling my inner J-Lo from her backup dancer days. Feeling sexier and more confident with each song, I caught myself looking more in the mirror at my booty, which was rotating clockwise then counter-clockwise, than at my watch. At one point, during Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” I caught a guy on the row machine outside of our glass-encased studio looking up right at me as I wagged my finger in the air and stuck out my butt as if to say, “You can look, but caaan’t touch.” Normally, this would make me blush, but in that moment, I felt like a queen.
READ MORE > WE TRIED IT FOR YOU: BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
By the last song, I was definitely mailing in most of the moves while Ebonny was still going strong. I loved watching her crush each move as if she were on stage, performing her heart out. It inspired me to try to match her, but I had neither the talent nor the stamina. But seeing the other women in class — many of whom were probably repeat customers because they had a lot of the dance steps dialed in — gave me hope that if I kept coming back, I’d be grooving with the grit and grace as they had. I’m also set on convincing Draga to become a PlyoJam certified instructor, which would be awesome for both of us.
THE PLAYLIST
In addition to all the great tunes Ebonny played for us, here are a dozen more that are currently on rotation for all PlyoJam classes. Rock out with PlyoJam in-person, online or on your own to the following hit songs.
“Freaks” – French Montana
“Back It Up” – Prince Royce
“Cake” – Flo Rida and 99 Percent
“The Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
“Ain’t My Fault” – Zara Larsson
“HandClap” – Fitz and the Tantrums
“Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
“Faith” – Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“Chained to the Rhythm” – Katy Perry
“I’m a Lady” – Meghan Trainor
GEAR UP FOR YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
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