Fotografia 247CM | Kristine Thomason
Fotografia 247CM | Kristine Thomason
'I don't think I've ever sweat this much in my life,' I think as I watch beads of perspiration rain down on the wood floor in front of my mat. I'm in the middle of the second Tracy Anderson Method class I've taken in a week, and let me tell you, it is não ficando mais fácil.
Se o Método Tracy Anderson (também conhecido como TAM) parece familiar, é provável que os vídeos do estúdio - com seus tetos vibrantes e revestidos de bandas de resistência e clientela de celebridades (Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow e Tracee Ellis Ross são todos leais) – podem ter aparecido em seu feed social.
O método de fitness, que agora possui estúdios em Nova York, Los Angeles, Madrid, Londres e Hamptons, foi criado por Anderson há mais de 25 anos e rapidamente se tornou popular no início dos anos 2000, depois que Anderson se uniu a Gwyneth Paltrow.
Basicamente, a modalidade de condicionamento físico tem tudo a ver com 'criar equilíbrio em todo o corpo, o que inclui seu eu mental, emocional, físico e espiritual', diz Olivia Elias , instructor and training manager at Tracy Anderson Method Studio City. It centers around low-weight, high-rep exercises, and each class is designed to strengthen the whole body. The mission, Elias adds, is to help people continue to feel good while moving their bodies, throughout every stage of life.
Embora o TAM já exista há algum tempo, ele vem ganhando destaque ultimamente, com uma nova geração descobrindo o método (obrigado, mídia social). Então, naturalmente, tivemos que verificar por nós mesmos.
Como é o método Tracy Anderson?
When I walk into my first class at TAM Studio City, it feels like I've somehow teleported from winter in Los Angeles to mid-August in New York City — that is to say, it's wildly hot and humid. And no, the AC wasn't broken. The mugginess is by design. 'Our studio environment is a little bit different than other spaces,' Elias says. 'We have heat and humidity to make the body feel more flexible , more mobile, and encouraged to move.'
I'm here to take the MultiTAsk Band class, and the studio manager explains to me that all I need to do is follow along with the instructor, ideally using the same color/level of resistance bands as her. As a longtime health and fitness writer, I've taken a lot (and I mean bastante ) de aulas de fitness, então estou me sentindo bastante confiante - no entanto, rapidamente percebo que este é um tipo de treino único.
Encontro um lugar no meio do chão, equipado com meu tapete, uma toalha, pequenos pesos de mão, pesos de tornozelo , e . . . uma grande haste de metal com um gancho na ponta. Demoro muito tempo para perceber que a referida haste está lá para me ajudar a puxar as faixas de resistência para baixo de onde estão esticadas no teto, para usá-las (por favor, aprenda com minha confusão).
Fotografia 247CM | Kristine Thomason
The instructor cranks the music and, without saying a word , begins moving through a series of movements with the resistance bands pulled to her sides. Everyone in the class follows suit, mimicking her every move. 'We call it tracking the movement,' Elias says. This taps into our natural instincts, she says, because 'as babies we learn by tracking or mimicking.'
No início, me sinto desajeitado ao manobrar as bandas - e, admito, um pouco como se eu fosse uma marionete no videoclipe 'Bye Bye Bye' do NSYNC (IYKYK). Mas logo percebo que, para me sentir no controle, preciso realmente me concentrar em envolver meu núcleo e estabilizando meu tronco . E, segundo Elias, esse é o ponto.
Once I get the hang of the bands, the class is actually a lot of fun. It reminds me a lot of a dance class (which, admittedly, is not my forte), but it definitely forces me to engage my brain just as much as my body. By the end of this class, I am dripping (truly, gotejamento ) in sweat — so much so that my light-blue activewear set is now an entire shade darker and I realize why most of the women in class are decked out in all-black roupas de treino .
So, when I return to the studio to try out their Intermediate Muscular Design class a few days later, I come prepared in an all-black ensemble (seemingly the unofficial uniform of TAM members).
This class skips the bands entirely and instead begins with a dance warmup sequence, which they call the 'arm-opening ceremony' at TAM, Elias says, 'because it introduces the dialogue with your body, so you can check in with how you're feeling that day.' This sequence begins with bodyweight only, and then we add small free weights to the mix for a little extra arm challenge.
A seguir, colocamos nosso pesos de tornozelo and move down to the mat. This is where, for me, things feel a bit more tricky. Similar to the band class, there are no verbal cues or instruction, and I find it's challenging to keep up with the choreography while maintaining proper form. That's especially true for the moves on all-fours, since I need to crane my neck in order to watch the instructor.
For other TAM beginners like me, Elias recommends first trying the online 30-minute beginner class, which is guided with verbal and visual instructions, similar to a more traditional fitness class. This class serves as an introduction to the types of movements you'll do in class, which can help build a bit of base knowledge and confidence before jumping into the more challenging routines. 'Once that 30-minute zone feels good and manageable for your body, then moving to the intermediate muscular design class online is going to be the best place,' Elias says.
Dito isso, é importante observar que não importa há quanto tempo você tenha feito aulas de TAM, você não será capaz de seguir a rotina sem esforço. A programação muda semanalmente, por isso a mente e o corpo são constantemente estimulados e desafiados, diz Elias. 'Tracy gosta de usar tantos músculos quanto possível, em todos os momentos, todos os dias - e isso vale também para o nosso cérebro.'
After a challenging lower-body- and core-focused sequence on the mat, the class wraps the way we started: with a lively dance sesh. At this point, I am (yet again) drenched in sweat and thoroughly exhausted — but I also feel really proud of myself for sticking it out through the tough spots and giving it my best effort.
O método Tracy Anderson realmente funciona?
I won't sugarcoat it, this workout class did feel a bit intimidating during my first (and second) try, but I genuinely felt supported and welcomed by the instructors and TAM community.
It's also important to keep in mind that even if you feel awkward or silly as you acclimate to the movements, no one else in the class is noticing you, because everyone is just as focused on learning the moves.
“Lembre-se que já foi a primeira vez de todo mundo”, diz Elias. 'Portanto, recomendo entrar com abertura, curiosidade e aceitar o fato de que o conteúdo está em constante mudança.'
Kristine Thomason é escritora e editora de estilo de vida que mora no sul da Califórnia. Anteriormente, ela foi diretora de saúde e condicionamento físico da Mindbodygreen e editora de condicionamento físico e bem-estar da Women's Health. O trabalho de Kristine também apareceu em 247CM, Travel Leisure, Men's Health, Health, and Refinery29, entre outros.
