A workout that’s fun and delivers results may sound preposterous but it does, in fact, exist. Vv Magazine’s Ama Scriver has all the details on your new favourite workout.
Can we all be honest with ourselves for a moment – who genuinely likes going to the gym? While I’m sure there are some of you out there, if you’re like me, regular appointments with a personal trainer or running on the treadmill just become boring, real quick. So when I heard about a new fitness craze taking over Hong Kong and that a studio opened up offering the classes in Toronto, I was obviously all over that.
Surfset Toronto is an indoor surf lesson, sans water. Alongside the instructors, the 45-minute classes look to incorporate ways to improve your full body balance and toning techniques, while addressing core things like strength, endurance, stability, flexibility, joint mobility, and more. Andrzej Misiak, co-owner of the space explains to me, “You can expect a full-body workout that’s super-fun in a small group environment. Expect to sweat and expect to be challenged.” So with that, I decided to take up his challenge and see what these classes were all about.
The studio (located at Yonge and Eglinton) has various rates including $20 for a drop-in, $25 for a regular drop-in and $45 for a two-week unlimited class pass. With anywhere from three to four classes per day, Misiak explains that the classes ‘cater to both beginners and elite athletes’ so if you’re entirely inexperienced – you should be fine.
I went in bright and early on a Monday morning to ‘ride the wave’ so to speak. As promised, the class size was small with only four others in attendance for their “blend” class. The workout is described as being an interval-based core session. While you may not actually be surfing, when the instructor calls out to get up onto the board to do squats, the amount of energy and balance it takes is extraordinary. The board is entirely unstable and you have to work out muscles you didn’t even know you had to stay on top of your game.
Perhaps I was shocked about how much of a workout this class actually was but I was sweating in no time and oddly enough, having a lot of fun doing so. Misiak explains to me, “our workouts will improve your balance, strength, and endurance. The byproduct of having a well-balanced, stronger more coordinated body, is rapid skill improvement in any physical endeavor.” Well, I’m a natural born klutz, it would be interesting to track over time if something like Surfset would help me to become a better-coordinated person.
While I never thought that I would hanging 10 and working out at the same time, I can now fully understand and realize why this workout is so popular. It’s different, unique and a full body workout. So if you’re like me and hate the gym, perhaps you should be incorporating a Surfset Toronto class into your daily regiment. You can thank me later for the pro-tip!
RELATED LINK: 10 Unique Gym Classes You Can Take in Toronto
Have you tried a class at Surfset Toronto? How did you like it? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.