I recently came across the #UTrain NO BOUNDARIES! video series because of my roommate, who was doing one of the workout classes and loved it. I decided to do the same workout and try out the series.
U of T Fitness and Performance introduced the series at the beginning of lockdown to help students work out whenever and wherever they want. It has been a year since lockdown began, which means now is a good time to reflect on the progress we have made. This year has been challenging in ways we could have never imagined, but staying active has helped create a sense of progress when so much of our lives is on pause.
NO BOUNDARIES! Barre
I was excited to try out the barre class, which I loved last time, and see if the NO BOUNDARIES! version was different. The class was hosted by Rachel again and had a similar structure to the last class. This class required a set of dumbbells and a resistance band. I didn’t have a band, so I ended up doing the workouts with a pair of five-pound weights — I wish I had lighter ones — and no band.
Rachel introduced herself and led us through a stretch to get ready for class. This is one of the aspects of barre that I really like: it is a blend of cardio, strength training, and stretching, so while you’re burning during the class, you will feel strong but not tight the next day. After the last UTrain barre class, I have tried out more barre classes and have always been impressed at how much each class challenges my entire body.
Getting my sweat on
The first section of the class was a sequence of weighted lunges. I appreciated the dynamic nature of these movements as they kept me distracted from the fire burning in my thighs. We switched between reverse lunge pulses, curtsy lunge pulses, and Romanian deadlifts.
For our cardio push, we used the weights to do overhead presses while jumping and weighted jumping jacks. It was this part of the class that prompted me to add the note above to use lighter weights. My arms could not keep up with the fast movements and weights.
Next up was a plié squat sequence that included jump squats, overhead reaches, and the dreaded barre style heel-raised squats. Thankfully, we were done with the legs and moved to the mat to focus on the bum and abs. We finished the class with a side plank challenge, which was harder than it should have been given that my arms, abs, and legs were already shaking.
Finally, we ended with a stretch — the way we began.
Similar to the last class, Rachel had great choice in music, including Leon Bridges and Chloe x Halle. She also provided great instructions on the proper form and style of each movement so I could be confident that I was getting stronger with each move.
Overall, the UTrain barre classes are the hardest on the schedule but are still fun energy boosts.
