For several years I taught an early morning yoga class on Wednesdays. What a great way to start the day!! Unfortunately, very few people felt the same way–and my class was cancelled. (Death to change!)
But NOW my boss has me teaching a Cardio Blast, high-intensity interval class at 5:45 on Wednesday mornings that involves jumping around until my lungs leak out my nose.
Here are the main differences between a power yoga workout and cardio blast:
Heart Rate: While a good power yoga class gets the ol’ heart pumpin’, a Cardio Blast heartbeat is more like a hummingbird on meth. Get the heart rate up, stop. Get the heart rate up, stop. When you can’t feel your heart beating anymore, take a break.
Absence of Zen: Yoga is all about living in the moment. High-intensity intervals is more about making it THROUGH the moment–without the help of a defibrillator. (Although I keep one close.)
(I’ll be fine. Just let me finish that last interval . . .)
Breathing: Yoga uses breath to support, lift and focus. Cardio Blast uses breath by making short, steady gasping and wheezing noises. And since I’m wearing a microphone, my dying Darth Vader breath is sent through the speakers at high volumes. Plus, when my heart rates spikes, my face turns bright red. I look like a freakin’ thermometer.
Finale: The last minutes of yoga are spent in deep relaxation with a quiet mind and focused breath. The last minutes of Cardio Blast are spent trying not to die. I leave yoga feeling composed and ready to face the day. I leave my interval class–usually in a wheelchair sucking on oxygen through a tube in my nose.
Benefits: Yoga builds strength, increases flexibility and teaches patience. Intervals are supposed to increase oxygen capacity, create strength and melt fat. I haven’t seen evidence of that yet, but I have noticed it causes me to swear a lot more during class.
Music: Yoga tunes are inherently relaxing, zen-like tones, usually Peruvians playing pipes, or sounds of nature–like seagulls or whales. Cardio Blast music is a mash-up between techno, pop, dance and a drummer taking Red Bull shots. If you leave the class with your hearing intact, the music wasn’t loud enough.
Now, get out there and get your heart pumping. Well, I hope it’s already pumping.
Life and Laughter 
“(I’ll be fine. Just let me finish that last interval . . .)” That totally cracked me up!
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It will go down in the eternities like this:
“Death to change!” ~Peri Kinder
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I have adopted Mark Twain’s attitude towards exercise – “when the urge to do so hits me, I lie down until it passes.” Just as relaxing as yoga and definitely more enjoyable than cardio blasts!
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Love it! I’m sure that’s why he lived so long.
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“A hummingbird on meth”… I feel you on that one after my early morning runs. FML
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You are wonderful. Your posts make me smile (and remind me that I need to start getting active, as distasteful as it sounds…)
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Oh, Peri. I love your posts. But be thankful that your shape lends itself to you looking like a THERMOMETER in your red-faced state. Whereas MY shape along with the red face creates more of an over-fed tick look.
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So funny! I just started P90X so I have to do plyometrics and yoga each once a week. You nailed the differences. Haha
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OMGoodness! I’m crying from laughing…I love this post, Peri! It’s really inappropriate for a librarian to laugh out loud and cry out “Ohhhhhhhhh my Ghad!” in front of students, but some things cannot be helped. Thank you for making my morning! If I start wheezing while on my training walk today, I will laugh, think of you and be grateful I’m not mic’d. Have a wonderful day!!! *wiping tears away*
-Marianne ^_~.
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I think librarians should be inappropriate more often. Maybe kids would read more.
Thanks for the fun comment!! Enjoy your walk!
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