Fitness classes with a twist

If keeping fit feels like a chore, you’re unlikely to stick with it. But if you find an activity that you love, that you look forward to doing, and that you can progress and improve at, the chances are you’ll have no problem making time to fit it into your life.

By Natasha Were

There are endless ways to get fit and stay fit in the Cayman Islands, and it doesn’t need to involve pumping iron or pounding the pavement. What if getting fit were first and foremost fun? If it could involve spinning around poles, performing acrobatic-like moves, and hanging upside down from silks? What if getting stronger, fitter, and more flexible – and making new friends - were simply a by-product of doing something you love?

Fun ways to build strength and increase flexibility

Quinntessential Movement is a unique studio in Galleria Plaza, Seven Mile Beach, that offers a range of unusual classes focused around pole dance fitness and aerial arts: the former uses the same poles that were once associated with strip club performers, the latter involves long silks and aerial hoops suspended from the ceiling. Quinn also offers aerial fitness classes for kids, private lessons, coaching for wedding dances, as well as fun-filled bachelorette and birthday parties.

Although classes follow a standard format, in terms of a warm-up, followed by strength and conditioning, and then stretches to cool down, in these classes you are climbing and spinning around poles, or twisting yourself up in silks, hanging upside down and performing acrobatic moves.

The bulk of classes is spent practicing new tricks, moves or routines, and because there is always something new to learn or to work on, classes are never boring.

“Students are challenged each class and the sense of accomplishment when they get the moves, or when they notice their strength gains is a beautiful thing,” says Quinn McCrimmon, owner of Quinntessential Movement. The benefits go far beyond strength, flexibility, and coordination.

“Classes are an hour or two where students can switch-off from daily stresses. Their minds move to the task on hand - especially if they are inverted - and this allows for a positive shift that ultimately affects the body as a whole,” Quinn explains.

Classes are filled with smiles and laughter and students all help each other to master new moves. The Quinntessential studio is a safe and supportive space where bonds and friendships often carry over into daily life.

“We are a network of hugely diverse people coming to one place with a common interest,” Quinn says.

For those who want to, there is even a chance to perform. Each year the studio holds a showcase, which all students are welcome to participate in. It gives students something to work towards, and for many offers a rare chance to take to the stage and perform in front of an audience.

Getting started

According to Quinn, people often assume you need a certain degree of upper body strength to start, but the reality is that most women aren’t naturally strong in their upper bodies, so everyone is starting from a similar position.

“The strength necessary to achieve moves in the aerial world comes with practice and by doing,” Quinn says. “The only way you are going to get stronger at something is if you do it over and over.”

As impressive as the moves and routines look, classes are open to complete beginners. For those who

have never tried anything of the kind before, the studio runs introductory courses in pole, silk and aerial hoops to give newbies a solid grounding in technique and to start to build strength. After that, students progress at their own pace to more advanced classes.

A variety of complementary classes, including flexibility, conditioning and stretch, mobility and release, and yoga are offered that improve strength and flexibility for pole and aerial practice. The chair dance class is another fun dance-based class using a chair as a prop.

Indeed, because the classes are so enjoyable people keep going back. Quinntessential Movement is all about having fun and feeling good - inside and out.

“We aren’t just a studio,” Quinn says. “We change lives and bring happiness. We create a safe environment for growth and improve strength and confidence. We are a community and a tribe.”

To find out more about Quinntessential Movement, visit qmovement.dance