Fitness review: Sh’Bam
If you’re the kind of person who dances in their lounge room, does Shakira hips in front of the mirror, and prioritises fun over fitness, I’ve found your dream workout. It’s Sh’Bam.
And it’s one of the free fitness classes on now as part of the Medibank Feel Good Program that’s taken over the green lawns across from Little Stanley Street, at Southbank in Brisbane.
Because I’m a regular at Southbank – it’s where I work – and I love dance, I couldn’t resist checking out what this class had to offer.
The details:
Duration: 45 minutes
Style: Group class
Cost: Free at Southbank till 31 March
Who’s there: Mainly women, but all ages 20s through to 60s. A few toddlers bouncing along with mums in the back.
What to wear: ¾ tights or gym shorts, moisture wicking tee, towel and water bottle
What to expect:
As a free fitness class held in a public space, there is a general sense of awkwardness while we all sit/mill around waiting for the instructor to bounce onto the stage and put us at ease. But it doesn’t take long for that to happen, and once the music got going we all instinctively filed onto the piazza floor (wet weather back-up venue) ready to go.
What I didn’t know until after the class, is that Sh’Bam is one of the latest offerings of the Les Mills fitness empire. Like any Les Mills workout, the class followed a set number of tracks (11) with dance-inspired moves that got the cardio up, starting with a warm-up and finishing with a cool-down. With each track going for around 3-4 minutes, you have time to get the choreography down, and get exposure to some basic moves from hip hop to jazz and surprisingly ballet. Here are three moves you’ll be doing:
Step touch – start with your feet together, step one foot to the side and lightly tap the ground, and bring your foot back into the centre to meet your other foot that has remained stationery. Repeat on the other side. Add some bounce.
Mambo – like a step touch, but this time you’re moving your feet forward and back. Start with your feet together, step forward with one foot and tap the ground, lift your foot back into the centre to meet your foot that has remained stationery. Now take that stationery foot and step it back to tap the ground, then bring it back to the centre. Repeat, adding a swivel of (yes those Shikara) hips.
Hip jack – stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees so you’re in a semi squat position, then push (ahem, thrust) your right hip backwards, come back to centre, then your left backwards. Repeat, and add some sass.
Would I recommend this fitness workout to a friend?
This is definitely fun. You don’t need any dance experience whatsoever and I was surprised I sweated as much as I did. On the Les Mills website, they market Sh’Bam as an ego-free zone where all you need is a playful attitude and smile – and I 100% vouch for that.
What I liked: great soundtrack, easy enough moves to follow for dance newbies, fun
What I didn’t like: you do feel goofy as you try to learn the moves, then add sass! If you’re a perfectionist, you might get disheartened
What do I rate this fitness workout out of five?
Fitness: 4/5 Strength and toning: 2/5
Weight loss: 3/5 Wellness (mind, body, soul connection): 4/5
What was a track on this fitness workout’s playlist?
Holiday – Dizzee Rascal
Has my review inspired you to give Sh’Bam a go? Let me know in the comments box below!
Don’t forget to get in touch if there’s a workout you’d like me to review. Just post it on my Facebook page or email hello@askthatfitgirl.com
Until next time,
Maryanne K
*Photo credit: image courtesy of @VisitSouthBank via Facebook
