Core Fusion Sport at Exhale Spa: A Review

One of the ways that the team behind Core Fusion at Exhale Spa has distinguished themselves from other barre studios is by the sheer number of different class options. There is, ofcourse, their signature Core Fusion class. For those craving a faster pace there is Core Fusion Cardio. For those desiring an improvement in their sports performance there is Core Fusion Sport. Their latest offering is Core Fusion Bootcamp, an amalgam of the Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Sport and Core Fusion Yoga. Over the past few days I have sampled each of the three classes, courtesy my two-week unlimited class certificate purchased from Gilt, and will be writing my reviews over the course of the next week or so. The studio also offers a host of yoga classes, including Core Fusion Yoga and Music Yoga Flow, which I also hope I get to take during my two-week period.

After trying and enjoying the signature Core Fusion class I took with Fred DeVito a few weeks ago I decided that I wanted to try Core Fusion Sport next. It is described as:

"a total body workout that is designed to help you improve your performance in sports while reducing your risk of sports related injuries.

Using a combination of lateral and twisting movements, this barreless one-hour class will chisel and firm your arms, shoulders, legs and butt while focusing on your core - the center of your strength. This calorie-burning cardio class works with resistance bands, core balls, and mat abdominals with periodic jump backs for cardio and stamina benefits. Balanced flexibility exercises at the end will cool you down and increase your range of movement for sports. We hold this class in a slightly elevated temperature room with motivating music, so be prepared to sweat and work out with a passion!"

The class is done in bare-feet on a yoga mat with a double-handed medicine ball (I used a 6lbs ball) and a Theraband resistance band as your props. The mainstay move in this class is the 6-step "Jumpback" which is done while holding the medicine ball.

Step 1: Raise the medicine ball above your head. Step 2: Squat and bring the ball to your chest. Step 3: Place the ball on the floor. Step 4: Jump into a plank while holding onto the ball on the floor (See Picture above). Step 5: Jump forwards while still holding onto the ball on the floor. Step 6: Squat and bring the ball to your chest. Repeat.

The medicine ball is also used in the one-handed push-up where one hand firmly grips the ball while doing a push-up. We did diagonal lunges holding the ball, lunge twists while swinging the ball and diagonal lunges with leg lifts. We also held the chair pose while holding the ball out in front of us, after which we pulsed in this position and then held the pose with both heels lifted. While the class moved slowly I did notice my heart rate elevating, more so in the chair pose sequences. Balances were also done where our instructor emphasized keeping our core engaged. The jumpback sequence was repeated many times throughout the class as a divider between the other exercise sequences.

In the last fifteen minutes we picked up the resistance band, and used it for outer thigh/seat work and abdominal work. I loved this part of the class and wished it were longer. For the outer thigh/seat section we lay down on our side and looped the band around the foot of the leg on top and then did moves like making a circle with the leg or pushing the leg back. The movements were tiny but the added resistance made a difference. The abdominal  work was performed lying down, with shoulders slightly raised off the floor, in the "curl" position.

The Good:
1. The class: I liked the props. The medicine balls helped to give me a great upper body workout, and the resistance bands allowed me to feel a different sensation in the outer thigh/seat section which I thought was very unique.

2.The instructor: I thought our instructor, Tyler, was excellent. He was motivational, made postural adjustments and even provided more challenging variations if he felt you could go a step further.

3. The music: I loved the music. This is something I have noticed in all the Core Fusion classes. It's understated but it works. Honestly, I don't even remember what was played. I just remember that I enjoyed it. I'm sure a lot of it was pop but somehow it did not sound quite so blaring!

4. The space: I took class at the Upper East side studio. It's spacious and the studio windows look out onto Madison Avenue. Pretty swanky.


The Not-so-Good:
1. The pace: This class moved too slowly for me. I did not find the jumpbacks to be challenging enough because I felt they moved way too slowly. Even the lunges were performed too slowly for my preference. While I did break a sweat it was more from poses that we held for long, such as the chair pose, rather than the more 'cardio'-based movements.


Overall:
While I appreciate the 'Strength in Stillness" philosophy behind Core Fusion, this class was not my favorite. It was too slow for me and I did not feel like I was challenged enough. I did like the use of the medicine balls, especially when we used them for the chair pose squat. As I mentioned before, I loved the outer thigh work using the resistance band and wished that that section had been longer. Classes are a personal preference and I did meet girls in this class who said that Sport was their absolute favorite of the Core Fusion classes. It just was not for me. Core Fusion Cardio, however (to be reviewed next!), is another story!