Clubbercise – Day 62

Next up on my New Year’s list is Clubbercise, which I found out about whilst cruising Twitter looking to pick up hot new classes. Clubbercise is apparently taught to dance/club music, in low lighting with flashy lights and with the provided glow sticks, it seemed more reminiscent of attending a rave than a fitness class. Combining darkness with my well-rehearsed strategic placement at the back of a room, it sounded like a winner to me.

I arrived in Plymouth to meet Laura and Sara; twin sisters who actually founded Clubbercise with their sister-in-law just over a year ago. I was swept along with their enthusiasm as they told me the story of how they started up and how it is growing nationwide. I was completely in their thrall, as they told me their tales, whilst finishing each other’s sentences and barely pausing for oxygen!

I was handed my glow sticks as I entered the hall. This was the first fitness class of 2015 and it looked more like Noah’s Ark than a school hall, as friends of all shapes and sizes huddled two by two around the parameter of the hall. I shuffled to the back, marking out my territory, as the lights went off and the disco lights cranked up. I switched on my glow sticks as the music started.

The first track was slower, so we could warm-up and then boom, into some proper tunes. I didn’t get all of the moves but being in the back, alongside the other newbies (who had also staked their area) and being in the dark, it really didn’t matter. It seemed like the people in front were at a proper rave and knew all the moves and I had the sneaking feeling that I looked more like the person who waved in landing aircraft.

That all changed when “Rhythm is a Dancer” by Snap came on. I busted my moves to that tune. Those moves were tried and tested and have been in the locker for over two decades now. They weren’t actually coordinated with the moves everybody else was doing but I couldn’t help myself. When I finally abandoned my rusty teenage dance routine and synchronised myself with the rest of the class, it was quite a sight to behold as the glow sticks waved in unison and the lights danced around the room. Then N-Trance’s “Set You Free” came on. I was in musical heaven.

If I’m honest, I would have preferred to continue in that genre of music but I’m aware that the class cannot be solely catered for selfish ravers in their late 30s, as the class was attended by people in their teens, right up to people in their 50s. The subsequent music were all floor filling dance tunes, so I was more than happy going through the 90s to the present day.

The class was a lot of fun and I was sad to relinquish my glow sticks back to the girls. I felt like a dancing Darth Vadar toward the end, as I waved my mini light sabres about. The obligatory photo was taken and a few of the other class goers came up to me to ask about my challenge. The people I talked to absolutely love the class and were campaigning Laura and Sarah to offer more dates.

I really recommend the class if you are looking for something which is fun and doesn’t feel like a fitness class. If you feel conscious about exercising, the darkness really does give you that anonymity and if you worry you can’t dance, don’t because there were plenty of people shuffling along at their own pace and completely out of time – including me!

After a further chat with the sisters, I made my way home. The business woman in me really respected these two accidental entrepreneurs, who have a really inspiring story behind their business. I wish them all the luck in the world, as I really believe they are on to something.

Sofa Dodger; One Woman's Quest to Try 100 Different Sports and Fitness Classes in a Year is available on Amazon, please click here