Fitness Challenge: Day 94

One nice thing about trying out different gyms and boutique fitness studios is that you can sample places that specialize in different types of exercise. At the large gym I formerly belonged to, yoga classes were taught to large groups and unless you were an experienced yogini, you were left in the cold. Pilates was even worse. I recently joined Whole Foods Wellness Club, which offers Pilates, yoga, Zumba and other fitness classes. Pilates is taught by an instructor from Plank Pilates Studio, which limits classes to 5. Our instructor was able to help each person frequently, making small adjustments that could be the difference between correctly exercising, say, your lower abdominals and injuring your back. The class incorporated a few yoga poses: planks, or course, plus child's pose, cobra and down dog. It was also almost an hour of core work without any neck or back strain. The boutique Plank Pilates Studio offers a relaxation lounge with scented cold or hot towels and flavored water or tea. Whole Foods doesn't have these amenities, but it does have a huge selection of healthy food for lunch after class.