HIIT 40 with Alma starts a person’s day off with moving all their muscles and setting a good pace for the workout they want at 6:50 in the morning.
In a class full of regulars, Alma shows great enthusiasm for new members joining the group for the morning and is sure everyone is prepared for the movements being done in the next 40 minutes. She uses a full range of workout equipment from yoga mats, dumbbells, weighted poles to exercise balls as well as utilizing the empty basketball courts when available.
Starting with a quick warm-up on the basketball court, Alma does a “high-school gym class” styled warm-up with squat lunges, sprints to half court and the ever-beloved “karaoke.” There’s not an easier way to get out-of-shape bodies warmed up than by a circuit of movements built for younger, high school individuals. Nonetheless, it gets a person’s body ready for the exercises they’re about to do.
Back in the Group Fitness Studio, Alma goes through three to four circuits of two to four workouts about three times through. She gives about 30 seconds to each move, allowing participants to pace themselves as fast or slow as needed optimizing as many muscles groups as possible.
Moves such as standing long jump and shuffles are used to switch up from the basic HIIT workouts staples such as squats, push-ups, planks and other such exercises. Alma keeps it interesting and makes sure heart rates are pumping, but allows for the breaks when needed.
A good demonstration is first done of each move to make sure everyone does it the correct way. Alma also gives people other options on each exercise to increase or decrease intensity based on needs. She walks around the studio to help people as needed to make sure the exercise is being done correctly so there aren’t any muscular mishaps.
If the gym is open, Alma likes to sometimes bring her students in to do gym sprints to mix up the workout. She likes to make the participants do an old-fashion suicide run or switch it up to a smaller, more explosive line touching sprints.
Alma finishes with a long cool down stretch so bodies can recover. She makes sure all muscles used are stretched and people are cooling down properly and at a good pace.
Some of Alma’s HIIT 40 class reflects the conditioning of a sports practice, but is a fun and fast way to get a workout in before the weekend responsibilities start and classes begin. The same faces can be seen every week, giving the class a comfortable vibe. It’s a different speed from lifting weights or running on a treadmill and lets people utilize their body weight and other equipment Half Acre has to offer.
HIIT 40 with Alma is every Friday at 6:50 a.m., other HIIT 40 classes are also provided at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. To sign up for Half Acre classes, download the UW Campus Rec app and sign up through the app.
