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Centergy

Group Centergy is fitness class offered by Body Training Systems, and is available at a number of gyms.  It seems to be based on a combination of Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates principles.  Being a commercial class, it has a more definite structure than some of your typical yoga classes.  Instructors are certified by BTS.  There are eight distinct sections in a given class, each set to a song with an appropriate tempo.  The sections include a dance-style warmup, a folding track, a twisting track, abs, strength tracks based around sun salutations, warriors, and lunges, a balance track, and a rest track.

I’ve been really pleased with my Centergy classes.  I typically show up for the class  Saturday midmorning.  It turns out that this is a perfect time for me to sweat out any toxins from my Friday night ritual abuse, as well as work through any kinks, and get a good sweat in.  It also helps me avoid a huge breakfast, lately I’ve just been having a hard-boiled egg.

Because they are designed for mass consumption, the positions and motions used in Centergy are available to most anyone, though it could take you a few sessions to learn them and get used to the choreography.  There are some modifications available, but the real focus in these classes is going deeper.  Deeper lunge, deeper chair, deeper folds.

While these classes are great, you’re not going to find the creativity you find in a good yoga class.  It’s a routine, or a few routines.  This class is a great complement to a regular yoga program, but it’s not a replacement.

Today was a special day because they released the new Winter 09 choreography (in the video above).  My local gym (I actually belong to two) had a big release party and we got to invite a friend, so we brought Leah along. They did a fun but goofy superbowl theme to it, complete with the instructors running around playing football.  The previous night I’d experimented with making martinis, so I definitely needed to get my sweat on this morning, and I succeeded, following Centergy with a nice extended sauna.

Weighed in at 224.5 lbs.

Namaste
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January 31st, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Category: the practice | 8 comments

Viewing 4 Comments

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    @pilates_colleen...feel free. Links back are appreciated where appropriate. cheers!
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    As a certified Centergy instructor, I often teach classes on Sunday mornings - I hope you don't mind if I borrow some quotes from you!
    (sweating out toxins from ritual abuse, etc....) I also borrow quotes from Jimmy Buffet: "It's a thin line between Saturday Night and Sunday morning!"
    We recognize that "Centergy" might not be "true" yoga, but it sure is an appealing exercise regimen for me and lots of "regular folk" like me.
    This week in 2010 we're releasing more "new stuff" -speaking of "it's a routine" - it's changed up every calendar quarter, and then "mixed up" in the next month or so.
    Thank you for the link - I hope that others will find out about "Centergy" and enjoy its benefits as much as I have.
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    i LOVE centergy classes!! at my local fitness club they offer group centergy, and at first i was skeptacle as to what it was, but i tried it, and now its my stress reliever! it makes me feel so relaxed and refreshed after i take it. basically it makes working out easy for me because when im doing it, im having fun! which is a key part to loosing weight and getting in shape. centergy is a great alternative to any other work out.
    Namaste, leah
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    it nice to know what exactly a "Centergy" class is and how it's made up - the different sections according to song. I think it helps that the instructors add their own flair and arrangement of songs to make it a unique class every time. I enjoy this class because it gets me moving in a way a Hatha Yoga class doesn't and I have more heat/warmth in my body as well, which in the dead of winter is super important!
 

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