Thoughts On Plana Forma

So I wanted to create a post that will chronicle in what ways did it work and not work for me.

How does Plana Forma work? 

Forma ASANA was very relaxing, and despite it being heavy on yoga, I was able to execute most moves asked by the instructor even though I’m severely inflexible. Forma MOVE was something I enjoyed more than the others as there were plenty of dance breaks injected into the pilates segments. I don’t get tired easily and look for high intensity cardio workouts in general, so I liked Forma MOVE. Forma Endurance is something that I would not see myself doing all the time, but for people with unwanted flabs, I think it is a class that will help to tone your body to shape.

So let’s break down what work and what didn’t work for me!

What worked for me:

• The exercise format was music based in general, and the instructors always had a freshly curated Spotify playlist of the latest bops. I always looked forward to what music the instructors would use! 
• I found the exercise system every efficient, as I was able to do cardio, strength, and endurance training all within an hour. The pacing of the class is fast, so you really do not waste any time at all. 
• I liked that I was able to work on my whole body in an hour. There are ab, leg, and arm exercises in each and every class, so it’s nice to be able to work on your body holistically. 
• The use of the bar, ball, and thick mat helps to add variety to the tasks. If you will do the tasks alone in a traditional gym setting with no implements, it does get boring. The use of the bar made the exercises interesting. And if you are a frustrated ballerina, you will love the bar exercises. 
• The instructors were very accommodating. Each and every time I attended a class, the instructor would ask if there were any first-timers, and they would then pace their expectations. I felt reassured that I did not need to perform everything properly on the first try. To add, the general clientele of classmates is also on the considerate and understanding side. I felt welcomed each time I attended a class. 

What didn’t work for me:

• There is a lockdown period of like 15 or 20 minutes–they will close class doors and not permit latecomers to exercise anymore. I get that it’s for safety and class dynamics and all, but for a recovering insomniac, it was working against me. It took me several weeks of being 20 minutes late to the other fitness classes I attended (in other places) before I slowly was able to get my body back to a normal sleep rhythm and start becoming more and more on time. I also could not exercise at night given that my insomnia was a very bad state at the time, so I only had the morning classes as an option… 
• It is an exercise format that I found to be mentally tiring, as you have to constantly listen to instructions and obey with the correct side. The instructor does not demonstrate every single move, as the instructor goes around the classroom often and monitors how everyone is doing. So if the teacher says you need to lift your left leg, you have to consciously listen to that instruction and lift your left leg, because they will finish off all the exercises in a segment for one side of the body, then move on to the other side. But on the flipside, if you are the type who likes to have a sense of direction during your workouts, this will work for you.  
• I personally am not a very big fan of pilates nor yoga, so while the Forma system is good, it really boils down to preference as well. I do attend pilates and yoga classes to be well rounded, but usually, it’s like twice a month, or once a week at a maximum. I just do not have the innate interest to do pilates nor yoga every day.