Crazy-Good Workout or Just Plain Crazy: ViPR

Oh good, I can finally walk today. Rewind three days to my ViPR workout with fitness expert Mike Donavanik. But first, “Where’s Meredith?” you ask. She’s probably busy icing her calves right now, so I subbed in for her on this one. I’m usually behind the scenes at Glamour.com (we call it the “back end,” if you’re not up on the lingo), and I figured it couldn’t hurt to work on my–wait for it–back end.

I’ll start by saying I’m not an athlete, and I’m not totally out of shape. I make a point to exercise on a regular basis—wait, dancing around in my apartment doesn’t count? (EDITOR’S NOTE: It. Totally. Does.) So, when choosing a new workout, I usually go for something that is a healthy combination of fun and slightly torturous. Enter ViPR.

The Workout: ViPR (pronounced “viper”) is a workout that incorporates weighted rubber cylinders into strength training and cardio. The acronym stands for Vitality, Performance, and Reconditioning. Mike’s ViPR class integrates the rubber tube into every circuit to create a full body workout that’s incredibly challenging without the monotony I’ve experienced in some strength training sessions. Abs, legs, arms, balance, cardio: all on the menu. (You know, the kind of menu that you wish included fries, but you know in the long run is better without. Le sigh.)

The tube itself is something of a chameleon in its role in your circuit training. Jump over it, on top of it, push it forward during sit-ups, grip the handles during bicep curls, lift it high while jumping jacks, or even throw up inside of it if you just can’t take it anymore. I almost did.

We’re having so much fun.

Intensity Factor: 9/10. I had to ask for help putting on boots the next morning because I was too sore to reach the zippers.

Crazy-good or just plain crazy? Crazy-good! If you don’t mind a workout that’ll have you channeling The Little Mermaid and praying for a new set of legs, try Mike’s ViPR class at Equinox in West Hollywood. If you’re not into rubber (or don’t live in Los Angeles) try his DVD, Extreme Burn: Total Body Interval Training.

After my workout, I thought about adding some alternate name ideas to the suggestion box: Vicious Pooch Reduction, Vigorous Pudge Removal, Victorious Pant Refitting. OK, those are terrible. Help me out in the comments!

Would you try it? Have any of you out on the west coast (represent!) been to a class with Mike?

Photos: Kim Le