Adventures In Recoil

Bungee fitness?  Is that a real thing?  Turns out, it is!  I saw some YouTube videos and it looked like such fun that I put some classes on my Christmas list.  And my family got me three classes at the local studio.

I went to my first class yesterday.  I don’t know what I expected…except to have fun.  And I did have fun, but boy, is it a workout!  The studio in my area is called Recoil Gym and my first class for beginners was 1.5 hours long.  Now, not all of that was working out.  There was quite a bit of time at the beginning of class getting everyone weighed in, kitted out, and hooked up to the ceiling-attached bungee cords.

Once I was in the harness, I had plenty of time to bounce around and get a feel for the resistance and rebound while everyone else got hooked in.  Then the instructor, a cheerful (but thankfully not perky) lady named Krista, hooked herself in at the front and started to lead us through our paces.

She carefully helped us warm up a little and then talked us through some basic skills.  As soon as we’d learned a few and practiced several times, she cranked up the music, and we bungee-danced (if that’s not a real phrase, it should be!) our little hearts out.

Then more instruction, some more skills, and another dance.  There was a lot of emphasis on “Don’t overthink it!”, which of course was always going to be one of my main obstacles.  I overthink everything.  My best friend Jane frequently tells me, “You think too much.”  This from a woman I consider to be an intellectual.  Anyway, I did try to think my way through, with the result that I looked like I wasn’t having as much fun as the rest of the participants.  Because I had my thinking face on, which looks a lot like a frown-y unhappy face, judging by the pictures I got later.

But I still managed most every skill, with the beginning “flying” maneuver being my favorite.  By the end of the class, I was hot and sweaty and just plain worn out.  The instructor talked us through disconnecting from the harnesses and then worked us through a series of cool-down moves designed, among other things, to remind our bodies that we aren’t quite as light as we felt in the harness.

When I left, I felt muscle aches and fatigue, like you do with any hard workout, but I also felt incredibly relaxed and buoyant.  My body still felt light and my mood could best be described as “bubbly,” which I suspect was related to endorphins.  I don’t usually work out hard enough to hit endorphin stage, so I’d forgotten what a rush it is.

I don’t think I will be going to this studio every week, but I will definitely use my two other classes, and I think I will make it a once-a-month treat for myself.  If you have access to a bungee studio in your area, you should give it a try.  It’s great fun, a great workout, and you’ll feel great afterward.