The Practice Studios whole life concept

Since moving to Vancouver I have been pretty fortunate when it comes to my career. I was nervous to take the leap into the world of freelancing, but I am lucky to be working with some amazing companies that are keeping me busy. On the flip side, with a busy work life has also meant little down time and little focus for my personal life. It meant not a lot of social time, alone time, and fitness time. The last one being extremely important coming from an athletic background.

 

If you follow my social media, you know how important fitness is to me. Not only does it help me feel physically fit, but emotional fit as well. It also really helps me feel more energized and happy. When I first moved I had gone a few weeks without any fitness, and it was really starting to take its toll physically, emotionally, and mentally.

 

In walks the Practice Studio. I tried my first class about a month ago after I was invited by a friend, and I have been going back regularly. I try to fit in at least two classes a week at the studio because it just offers so much. Not only are the classes challenging both mentally and physically, but they are also unique. In fact the who Practice Studio is extremely unique in the sense that their focus isn’t just on fitness, but rather on overall well-being.

“Making your whole life work”

Think about that for a minute. Making your whole life work. That is the motto at the Practice Studio. Instead of having to go  to different places for your cardio, your yoga and meditation, and your nutrition, they create an environment that offers it all to you in one setting. Everything you need right at your fingertip.

The concept of the studio is that there are different pillars, the first being fitness and then nutrition, life design, and finally meditation. The don’t just focus on one aspect of your life, but rather becoming the best you.

At this point in my journey I have been able to focus on some of their unique fitness classes and I wanted to share some of my favourite classes so far so you can know what to expect and just how they differ from other studios.

 

 

Hang Tight: This was the first class that I tried and the first class I fell in love with. I had never done TRX before and so I was a little nervous, but the great thing about this class is that as challenging as it is, you can go at your own pace. The class incorporates TRX band moves that work arms, legs, and abs, as well as sprint intervals on an assault bike. After an hour of the interval training I was drenched in sweat and feeling the workout from head to toe. The focus of the class is to increase strength, conditioning, and cardio while also being in control. You decide how hard you are going to go on the bike and how difficult you’re going to make it for yourself on the TRX. It is about understanding you body and pushing yourself. This has quickly become one of my favourite classes.

Bells and Bikes: Similar to Hang Tight, this also uses the assault bike but instead of TRX, you are working out with a kettle bell. I have always enjoyed kettle bell training from my days playing tennis because it really works the muscles. The class focuses on athletic strength and improving overall body conditioning.

Elevate: I love Elevate because it is so different from anything I have tried before. Your workout is jumping on a trampoline for an hour. It is kind of like a trampoline dance party.  You are having so much fun and the time passes so quickly. However, you are indeed working out by going through different movements and intervals while working on strength training. You also use some lightweights to work on upper body strength. The class is amazing if you are looking for low impact but high intensity workout.

The Practice: This is a super fun and upbeat class and I recommend it for anyone that wants a full body workout but gets board easily (like me). The community class uses the entire studio and incorporates about 30 different exercise that you do for around 40 seconds each. You basically do a little bit of everything for a full body circuit workout.

Release: This class is a must do, especially for people like me who are always on the go and sometimes forget to take the time to relax and rejuvenate. This class really forces you to take the time out of your day and focus on you. It consists of foam rolling, stretching, and yoga. It is a much slower class where you release all the tension from the day and a way to relax the muscles you have worked throughout the week.

 

Float and Sting: Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee in this high intensity workout combining boxing, conditioning, and air bikes. I loved this class because you actually get to learn boxing combinations with a focus on not just punches but also footwork. Since you constantly have to think about technique it keeps you not just physically active but mental as well.

As I have mentioned, the classes at The Practice Studio are so unique and different, but what also makes these classes special are the community feel. At the beginning of the class they ask everyone a question of the day. You then connect with someone who you have never met before and discuss the question. It really makes you feel like a unit, which is extremely nice still being new to the city. This studio offers incredible cardio workouts, a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, and a place where you can really focus on a better you. I cannot wait to continue my journey at the Practice Studio.

 

If you want to give one of the classes a go they are available on ClassPass or you can get one of two unlimited month options for under $50, trust me you will get your money’s worth!

Happy workouts my friends,

xo

Mia