Aspen Ascent: Your New Winter Workout

December 12, 2011 at 12:52 pm
by Lynya-Floyd

Sports Club/LA fitness instructor

Julie Bobek, Aspen Ascent fitness instructor.

By the time I checked the clock on the wall behind my instructor, I was more than half-way through Monday night’s “Aspen Ascent” class at The Reebok Sports Club/NY. Don’t get the wrong idea. I wasn’t bored. As the drops of sweat around me began to converge into a puddle, that was just my way of seeing if I would make it through all 45 minutes of this calorie-torching class. I did. And you could too.

“Aspen Ascent is a fun option for moms because it’s a fast, effective workout for all levels of participants,” says instructor Julie Bobek, who has more than ten years experience in group training, private instruction and downhill skiing. The class offers different difficulty levels for almost all of the moves (think: bunny slopes, blue square and black diamond). That’s probably because the class was developed in partnership with Aspen/Snowmass ski resort.

I was drawn to the new class for a particular reason: If there’s one thing I can rely on when I hit the slopes, it’s getting enough cardio in to cancel out whatever I have for dinner and some serious strength training for sexier legs. This workout got my heart and my legs pumping without me having to pile into a car and lug a bunch of gear a hundred miles to the nearest mountain. It’s also great conditioning before you do make that journey to the hills.

Try these two moves from the class to get yourself slope-ready—or just tone up your legs and abs:

“Icy Abductor” (Defines Your Thighs) 
Stand in “ski tuck” position (deep squat with elbows tucked to waistline. Instead of pretending to hold ski poles, put some light (2 to 5 pound) weights in each hand. Step on to Gliding discs one foot at a time (or do this move in socks on a smooth surface if you don’t own any discs). Now slide your right leg out to the side and back 15 times. Repeat on the left. Next Level: As you push the disc out to the side, move your arms forward and back in a rowing motion. (The arm move works your biceps and helps condition you for any falls you may take on the slopes.)

“Shaky Mountain” (Strengthens Your Core) While wearing sneakers, get into downward dog position, with your hands and feet on the floor and body in an upside down “V.” Take 5 deep breaths. Keeping your weight evenly distributed, lift one leg off the ground. Balance for 5 counts and then lift the opposite hand off the ground for 5 counts. Return to start and repeat with the other leg and opposite hand. Take your time and focus on your breath.

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