Getting enough exercise is not only an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but it can help you feel great, too! One of the biggest problems with starting an exercise habit is finding the right kind of workout. It has to be fun for you, but, unfortunately, changing the TV channel doesn’t count as exercise. Your workout has to get you sweating and your pulse racing in order to do any real good. As someone who usually hates to exercise, I can tell you that PiYo is one of the greatest ways to have fun while getting in shape!
What is PiYo, anyway? It is an exercise program created by Chalene Johnson, founder of the Turbo Kick program. It incorporates elements of pilates and yoga into a series of rhythm-based workouts. It is taught either through a group fitness class or an at-home DVD series, each of which gives a unique kind of workout experience. On her website, Johnson says, “I wanted to create a workout that would work for every age and fitness level.”
I was able to speak with my PiYo class instructor, Aimee Huto, about this form of exercise and what makes it so great. She described it as a workout that “incorporates different training modalities to incorporate different body systems with each section of the class.” Huto also mentioned that PiYo is a low-impact workout, “so you don't feel as though you've totally beaten yourself up by the end of it.” The different sections of the class, such as Stretch & Strength, Power, and Full Body Fusion are each set to a different song, all of which are upbeat and feature a clear, strong rhythm. The different movements are set in time with this rhythm, making PiYo workouts almost like a high-intensity dance class.
In order to get the best results with PiYo, consistency is key. Sticking with similar routines each time will help with this although different live-class instructors may change more or less frequently than others. Try to go to classes or use the DVD workouts regularly to make exercising become a habit. Neither the live classes nor the DVD is especially better than the other; they simply have different purposes. As Huto says in regards to PiYo, “The DVD workout is set up so that you are working something different each day. The workouts are more focused on different sections of the body… The live classes are formatted to bring it all in one hour's time.” Each section of the class is its own full-length workout in the home program, so in a sense, the class is a “preview” of the DVD. However, the live class is no less intense. In fact, one could argue that it is more intense due to the shorter time span. It is meant to work all of the body systems in one hour rather than separately over a period of several days.
For those that struggle to find an enjoyable form of exercise, I definitely recommend giving PiYo a try. This type of workout might be just what you’ve been looking for!
