This was how my first Core Fusion Cardio class went:

Beginning of the class – instructor tells us to use 3 lb weights. I say to myself, “This is gonna be a breeze; I use up to 12 lbs at the gym”. We start with some planks and pushups, and I still think, “This is easy; I do these pretty regularly”.

At the end of the hour-long session – after seemingly endless mountain climbers, squats, leg lifts, and chest presses (with no breaks at all!!!), I am dripping with sweat and quivering with exhaustion. By then I was cursing thinking, “Why the hell did I sign up for this??” The next day, my lower body is so sore that it was a challenge to walk. I am hooked.

According to the Exhale website, “Core Fusion® Cardio is a calorie burning, sweat inducing, body sculpting, power-packed fitness experience, masterminded by the co-creators of Core Fusion®, Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito. Merging cardio with intense strength and flexibility moves, this 60-minute class generates maximum calorie burn, resulting in defined abs, sculpted legs, and high, rounded glutes.”

I’ve been reading a lot of awesome things about Core Fusion from some of my favorite blogs (special shout-out to Melissa Nibbles, Dori’s Shiny Blog, Rachel Wilkerson, and Healthy Chicks) and I really wanted to try out one of the classes at Exhale. Except it took me a long time to actually sign up for a class because 1) it’s pretty expensive ($24 a class) and 2) I was too lazy to commute to downtown Boston during the week.

So I was psyched when a few weeks ago, Ruelala offered a first-timer package for Core Fusion classes at just $50 for 5 sessions. My friend Barb and I immediately bought a package each and scheduled our first class. We both live in Cambridge and the location is not that convenient for us, so I’m glad there are a lot of weekend classes available. Also that way I’ll have an excuse to be in the Back Bay area on a weekend afternoon, then I can easily go shopping afterwards… But I digress.

It was my first time going to Exhale Spa and I sort of want to live there now. It is so serene and tranquil and just so inviting. I work out at a couple of pretty good facilities already (Bikram yoga studio and the gym at the Charles Hotel) but I would LOVE it if I can work out every single day at Exhale. Well maybe not every single day; I do love the treadmill and the weights room, but my point is that they have such a welcoming, clean, and spacious area there that each visit is a very pleasant experience. Of course, Exhale is primarily a spa, and not a gym, so I really shouldn’t compare it to a typical work out environment. However they are the only place that offers Core Fusion classes, and as I have experienced, those are definitely WORK OUTS.

There are actually different types of Core Fusion workouts (Core Fusion Open, Core Fusion Yoga, Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Sport, etc). All of them are based on the basic Core Fusion principles, which is a combination of the Lotte Berk Method and pilates for toning the body and increasing flexibility. I tried the Core Fusion Open already and was admittedly bored. It was definitely hard, but I was looking for a more vigorous work-out, especially with all the eating I do (yup, you’re reading a food blog) and since I wanted Core Fusion to “replace” a long run or some Cybex action. Obviously Core Fusion Cardio is the way to go.

There are also Core Fusion DVDs (which the bloggers I mentioned above, Melissa, Dori, Rachel W, and Rachel C, have all reviewed in their lovely blogs) but I’ve never actually tried any workout DVDs at home because um, my apartment is tiny. I did love Core Fusion Cardio so much though that I might just take the extra effort to move some furniture around and get the DVDs. Unless of course I somehow magically end up with enough cash to get a package at Exhale. (Dear friends and family, please keep this in mind if you’re feeling generous for Christmas or my birthday :) )

Core Fusion Cardio is a great replacement for (one of) the long, boring runs I usually do at the gym. I’m so glad I was finally able to try it. Tomorrow we’ll be trying Core Fusion Sport, and I’m very excited for it! Have you tried Core Fusion Cardio before? What about the Core Fusion DVDs?

PS – If you want to become a member of Ruelala, you can use my own personal invite link: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/biancag