This is my third column reviewing the best workouts for busy moms, and it’s hard to believe that there still is no end to the variety of workout you can have in our great city.
I tried many, but picked only a few I thought were the most efficient, creative and dynamic for moms who don’t have time to waste.
Cheerobix, various locations, cheerobix.blogspot.com, $15-$16 per class depending on studio
What do you get when you mix pompoms and peppy music? Cheerobix, of course, the fitness craze that mixes dance routines with a sweaty end result. I jumped and swooshed to tunes like “Timber” by Ke$ha, songs that bring out the high school cheerleader in all of us. If only my knees would still bend like they did in the early ’90s.
Zen Yoga Garage, 1845 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, zenyogagarage.com, call for prices
Yoga is the one workout where I really feel at home, and so when I heard Zen Yoga Garage opened in Bucktown, I was there faster than you can say shivasana (also my favorite part of the practice). It helped that my favorite yoga teacher Betsy Seligman picked up a class there once a week (Fridays at 9). Her class, plus the wellness options the studio provides, makes this a must-visit.
Sweat on State, 1165 N. State St., Chicago, sweatonstate.com, classes start at $25 a session
This place is so new, that when I tried it out the floor mats were delivered that morning! It’s a good thing they were, because after doing five interval routines including one-minute sets of planks (that was after rowing, pull-ups, squats and box steps), I needed all the padding I could get. It’s 30 minutes of total body workout at a steep price-that is, for your quads. Worth every penny!
Animal Flow, Equinox, various locations, equinox.com, trial membership available
Unleash your inner tiger with this new class designed to work you out the way your body intended to-not with weights and lifting, but with lunges like alligators and crab shuffles. ROAR!
