What do dolphin shorts, glitter tops, and a whole lot of sweat have in common…well I’ve got 2 words for you…Richard Simmons. Richard Simmons runs one of the most successful studios in Los Angeles. And he’s been teaching at his famed “Slimmons” studio for over 38 years. I had to include this studio in my list, but truth be told, this is not a new class for me. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for almost 9 years, but it took me 5 years to make it to his class. And I’ve been hooked ever since.
This class is not just a novelty. You WILL sweat your butt off. You do cardio for 45 minutes, weights for 15 minutes, and sit ups and pushups for 15 minutes. It’s a total body workout. But it’s more than just a workout. It’s a comedy show, a therapy session, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see some hot men with their shirts off. I don’t want to tell you too much about this class because it’s something everyone should experience in person.
Here are my recommendations when you go to your first class. If you’ve already experienced Richard’s class and want to try one of the other instructors, I highly recommend Anne’s sweat plus class. She teaches during the day and her class is the same format as Richard’s class. Richard only teaches 3 classes a week and if you decide to go to his Saturday class, you have to go at least a half an hour early. There is usually a line out the door, but they hardly ever turn anyone away. It’s best to go with a friend or a group of friends. This is not a class you can just slink in and out of without anyone making eye contact with you. Expect a party…a party where you’ll meet Richard Simmons and 100 of his friends.
I’ve been going to Richard’s studio regularly for over 3 years. And I love dance aerobics. I love looking at myself in the mirror and acting as if I’m in one of Richard’s workout videos. He plays great music and the class is only 12 dollars. The problem I have now is that there are not enough classes for me. I take classes when I can, but I need options people. This is a long class and recently, I can’t seem to fit it into my schedule. So now I have to suck it up and try other classes. Please put this class on your bucket list. You will not regret it.
You can see me strut my stuff in Richard’s latest workout DVD called “Project Hope”. If you want information about Richard Simmons go to www.slimmons.com.