Normally, my Saturday mornings consist of listening to music as I clean the house and prepare for the upcoming week. For some reason, this Saturday, my urge to feel active seemed a lot more compelling. 

If you are anything like me, then finding the right routine for the gym can become a bit overwhelming, especially if you do not work out as often. 

My initial thought for going to the RAC Saturday morning was to do a quick workout and come out feeling rejuvenated like I had done something really good for my body. Instead of leaving the gym feeling relaxed, I felt the exact opposite. 

I have never had a workout quite as intense as the HIIT class at the RAC. The High Intensity Interval Training is exactly what is sounds like. 

What makes the HIIT class so different than any other workout is that it is a cardio interval training that limits your usual recovery period to keep your heart rate up. Because you have a shorter recovery period, it makes your workout seem more extreme than usual. 

Don’t get me wrong, though. I know how it feels to go through a strenuous workout and to leave the gym feeling like you have strained every muscle in your body. My body’s post workout satisfaction was exhilarating and had me leaving the gym with a burst of energy. 

When I walked into the workout room, the atmosphere was very lively. I could see the sweat and seriousness on two other students faces who were already in the process of completing a previous workout the instructor had them do. 

The instructor greeted me with a very warm, “Hey” and told me to grab a weight ball and weights where we would begin working on upper body strength. 

As the class moved on, we went through various sets of exercises that were targeted to work out different parts of our bodies. The exercises consisted of star jumps, push-ups, planks, squats, weight lifting and lunges. 

It was interesting to see the looks on other students faces and hear their opinion about the class. I think everyone was in awe of how intense it was. 

“It’s a lot of fun, and it is really challenging,” Kate Verboom, a student at Southern, said. “Being pushed to do my very best by my fit instructor was the best part.”

“If I could describe the HIIT class in one word, I would definitely say it was intense,” said Alana Wright-Howard, another student here at Southern who attended the class. “I wouldn’t mind taking that class instead of working out on my own.”

Our fitness instructor for that day was Natalie Woodward. Woodward teaches HIIT class usually on Tuesdays at 5:30 and sometimes on Saturdays. 

“I like seeing regulars come in and getting stronger but love seeing new faces getting comfortable throughout the class,” said Woodward.

I never thought it would be possible to feel like you went through a day’s worth of workouts within 45 minutes before I tried HIIT. After this class, I don’t think it would ever be necessary for me to spend three consecutive days in the gym when I could just go to a HIIT class for a day at the RAC. 

My experience with HIIT class was a memorable one. I would encourage everyone to try the class at least once if they haven’t already.