In an earlier post, I mentioned a workout that has become one of my favorites: willPower & grace. My usual fitness preference is to keep exercise in one of two categories: 1) short workouts performed at high intensity or 2) longer sessions done at a lower intensity. This class is the exception. Although it is very cardio-focused, I only do it once a week, and the benefits make it well worth including in my routine.
I discovered the class several years ago while looking through the group exercise schedule at the YMCA. The name willPower & grace caught my attention because it did not clearly explain what the workout involved. Unlike class names such as “Cardio Sculpt” or “Step Aerobics,” it sounded a little mysterious. Still, the time worked well for my schedule, so I decided to try it. From the moment I walked in, I realized this class was different from the many group fitness classes I had taken before. For one thing, it was a barefoot workout, which seemed unusual to me at the time. This was before I became interested in yoga, natural movement, and minimalist shoes. The instructor also wrote an inspirational “word of the week” on the mirror at the front of the room. At that stage, it felt a little too earthy for my taste, and I may have been skeptical. But the room was packed, and I wanted to understand why so many people were showing up for this workout.
The instructor explained that the class combined elements of yoga, Pilates, and boot camp. That description turned out to be very accurate. What followed was one of the most intense full-body workouts I had experienced at that point. The creator of willPower & grace®, Stacey Lei Krauss, has described the workout as having:
The toning benefits of cardio-sculpt; the intensity of boot camp; the self awareness of yoga; the discipline of Pilates; and the uplifting philosophy of a meditation session.
One thing I appreciated immediately was the way the instructor offered different levels for many of the movements. Students could choose Level 1, 2, or 3 depending on their experience, strength, and fitness level. That made the class approachable for beginners while still giving more advanced participants a serious challenge. Even though I chose Level 1 for much of that first session, I was completely exhausted by the end. I was also sore for days afterward. To be fair, I probably pushed myself too hard because I did not want to look weak in a room full of strong, toned women. Even so, there is no question that this is a challenging cardio and strength workout at any level. When the instructor treats deep, repeated sumo squats as the moment to “catch your breath,” you know the class is not going to be easy.
While willPower & grace® can certainly burn a lot of calories, that is not the main reason I value it. The workout offers much more than simple calorie burning. Stacey Lei Krauss was ahead of her time in emphasizing the importance of training barefoot. This class helped me understand how important it is to strengthen the entire body, including the feet and ankles. Those smaller muscles are often neglected because they spend so much time supported and restricted by traditional footwear, including many athletic shoes. The class also focuses on balance, functional movements, and body-weight exercises, all of which fit naturally with a primal or Paleo lifestyle. A typical session includes squats, plyometric movements, dynamic yoga poses, ballet-inspired exercises, planks, pushups, and Pilates-style core work.
As I have learned more about the Paleo lifestyle, I have also become more aware of the importance of managing cortisol and avoiding workouts that are both excessively long and overly intense. I discussed that concept in a previous post. The goal is not to avoid hard work altogether, but to choose exercise that strengthens the body without constantly overtaxing it. Although willPower & grace® is intense, it is also very efficient. In just one hour a week, I feel as if I get nearly all the lower-body training I need. It reaches muscles I did not even realize were weak. At the same time, it challenges my core, feet, ankles, posture, balance, mobility, and cardiovascular endurance.
When it comes to fitness, I am always looking for the greatest benefit in the most efficient amount of time. I prefer to call that efficiency rather than laziness. Either way, willPower & grace® fits that goal very well. It provides a demanding full-body workout, supports functional movement, improves balance, and complements my paleo lifestyle. Over time, I have also come to appreciate the philosophy behind the “word of the week” that originally made me hesitate. The mental side of the class is not just decoration; it adds focus and intention to the physical challenge. Stacey Lei Krauss explained the name of the class in an interview with www.realbeauty.com:
“Willpower” is strength. Have you ever tried to stick with a diet or not pick up the phone when an ex calls you? In class, we remind you of your willpower when you have four more push-ups to do. It revolves around the thought, “What if you HAD to?” “Grace” is how we land on our feet. It’s how we handle winning and losing, and it’s exhaling rather than screaming or grunting. Grace is elegance. In my opinion, as women, we need to cultivate both in order to be whole.
I like that idea. A good workout should build more than muscle. It should help develop strength, control, resilience, and awareness. For me, willPower & grace® brings all of those elements together in a way that feels challenging, purposeful, and surprisingly empowering.
If you are interested in trying a willPower & grace® workout, you can check the website here for instructors, locations, and DVDs.