Cardio Classes at SELF Workout in the Park

On Saturday, a few That's Fit editors attended SELF magazine's annual Workout in the Park event in New York City. As a workout DVD enthusiast (and my third time at this particular annual event), I was excited to get moving before noon with a slew of 20-minute cardio workouts. In spite of the rain just before the event, Central Park's Rumsey Playfield was packed with women ready to get their bodies moving outdoors.

Once we picked up a few free samples of beauty products, soy milk and SOYJOY bars, we were ready to get started and staked out our (small) plot of workout real estate to get moving with Masala Bhangra.

While at first I felt a bit ridiculous moving my hips to the Indian dance routine, once I got the hang of the moves, it was a fun, moderately intense activity to get the day started.

Besides learning a few basic Bhangra moves and getting our Bollywood on, it was also a decent exercise for the core muscles. Next up on the park's main stage was Ab Attack, which unfortunately, I didn't think was as focused on the midriff as it could have been. Squats, sidekicks and grapevines were plentiful -- which was fine with me! -- but it felt like more of a lower body toning session than a routine devoted to the core muscles.

Retro-Robics, next on the agenda, was an aerobics class modeled after the classic '80s workouts we all know and love. And while I'm certainly a fan (and enjoyed the instructors' ability to rock out wearing Day-Glo sweat bands and gear), I was a bit underwhelmed by the workout. While the moves were creative, they were hardly heart-pumping.

Rock Bottom, the next exercise session, featured many of the moves from earlier in the day, but the session was framed as more of a boot camp, and really worked the glutes. There's no faking deep squats and kicks in a high-intensity routine, so I have to say that this full body workout certainly got everyone huffing and puffing.

A definite highlight of the day was the Fat Burning Pilates in the afternoon. Requiring an advance sign up, this session employed calorie-burning cardio and Pilates-based toning to maximize fat burning potential. I really liked the resistance band upper body work, especially because you could increase the intensity if you were up for the challenge (I did, and my shoulders are still sore today!)

Pluses:
A few of the classes -- Rock Bottom and Fat Burning Pilates specifically -- boosted energy and really made me push for the length of the session. I would have loved to take Fat Burning Pilates a few times during the course of Workout in the Park.

Minuses:
While the event had two main workout areas -- a main stage and a "quiet zone" -- I spent most of my time following instructors doing cardio on the main stage. Besides preferring cardio, the quiet zone sessions were only available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and from the looks of it the long lines to attend these sessions didn't let up for most of the day. If you're a Pilates/yoga fiend, advance sign up is a must.

In front of the main stage, exercise space was at a premium. Normally this wasn't a problem, but during some of the upper body moves, such as the Retro-Robics rendition of "YMCA," it was tough to get comfortable without feeling like you were going to hit the person next to you.

Also, I noticed that most of these cardio sessions touted the same moves. In the interest of time, space and the huge audience of women ready to work out, it makes sense to base routines around moves that need little, if any, explanation -- think lunges, squats, kicks and upper body toning. However, when you remember doing the exact same move in a session 20 minutes before, it can get a bit repetitive.

Takeaway: All in all, the event was certainly helpful in getting me moving on a Saturday. Add in good friends and nice weather, and you have a fitness-focused alternative (or at least precursor) to brunch and mimosas. If you like cardio routines and plan on attending these main stage session, it's definitely worth getting there a bit early to stake out a spot front and center.

If you're someone craving intense cardio and love working out outdoors, consider signing up for a race with friends or getting your own spring training group together for weekend workouts. Now see what That's Fit editor Amber Greviskes had to say about the event's Urban Rebounding session.