Fotografía de 247 CM | Kristina Thomason
Fotografía de 247 CM | Kristina Thomason
'I don't think I've ever sweat this much in my life,' I think as I watch beads of perspiration rain down on the wood floor in front of my mat. I'm in the middle of the second Tracy Anderson Method class I've taken in a week, and let me tell you, it is no cada vez más fácil.
si el Método Tracy Anderson (también conocido como TAM) suena familiar, es probable que se deba a los videos del estudio, con sus vibrantes techos llenos de bandas de resistencia y su clientela de celebridades (Jennifer López, Gwyneth Paltrow y Tracee Ellis Ross son todos leales) - puede haber aparecido en sus redes sociales.
El método de fitness, que ahora cuenta con estudios en Nueva York, Los Ángeles, Madrid, Londres y los Hamptons, fue creado por Anderson hace más de 25 años y rápidamente se hizo popular a principios de la década de 2000 después de que Anderson se asociara con Gwyneth Paltrow.
En esencia, la modalidad de acondicionamiento físico se trata de crear equilibrio en todo el cuerpo, lo que incluye su yo mental, emocional, físico y espiritual, dice Olivia Elías , instructor and training manager at Tracy Anderson Method Studio City. It centers around low-weight, high-rep exercises, and each class is designed to strengthen the whole body. The mission, Elias adds, is to help people continue to feel good while moving their bodies, throughout every stage of life.
Aunque TAM ha existido por un tiempo, últimamente ha recibido más publicidad, con una nueva generación descubriendo el método (gracias, redes sociales). Entonces, naturalmente, tuvimos que comprobarlo por nosotros mismos.
¿Cómo es el método Tracy Anderson?
When I walk into my first class at TAM Studio City, it feels like I've somehow teleported from winter in Los Angeles to mid-August in New York City — that is to say, it's wildly hot and humid. And no, the AC wasn't broken. The mugginess is by design. 'Our studio environment is a little bit different than other spaces,' Elias says. 'We have heat and humidity to make the body feel more flexible , more mobile, and encouraged to move.'
I'm here to take the MultiTAsk Band class, and the studio manager explains to me that all I need to do is follow along with the instructor, ideally using the same color/level of resistance bands as her. As a longtime health and fitness writer, I've taken a lot (and I mean mucho ) de clases de fitness, por lo que me siento bastante seguro; sin embargo, rápidamente me doy cuenta de que este es un tipo de entrenamiento único.
Encuentro un lugar en el medio del suelo, equipado con mi esterilla, una toalla, pequeñas pesas de mano, pesas para los tobillos , y . . . una gran varilla de metal con un gancho al final. Me toma una cantidad vergonzosa de tiempo darme cuenta de que dicha varilla está ahí para ayudarme a tirar de las bandas de resistencia hacia abajo desde donde están estiradas en el techo, para poder usarlas (aprenda de mi confusión).
Fotografía de 247 CM | Kristina Thomason
The instructor cranks the music and, without saying a word , begins moving through a series of movements with the resistance bands pulled to her sides. Everyone in the class follows suit, mimicking her every move. 'We call it tracking the movement,' Elias says. This taps into our natural instincts, she says, because 'as babies we learn by tracking or mimicking.'
Al principio, me siento torpe manejando las bandas y, admito, un poco como si fuera una marioneta en el video musical 'Bye Bye Bye' de NSYNC (IYKYK). Pero pronto me doy cuenta de que para sentirme en control, necesito concentrarme realmente en involucrar mi núcleo y estabilizando mi baúl . Y, según Elias, ese es el punto.
Once I get the hang of the bands, the class is actually a lot of fun. It reminds me a lot of a dance class (which, admittedly, is not my forte), but it definitely forces me to engage my brain just as much as my body. By the end of this class, I am dripping (truly, goteo ) in sweat — so much so that my light-blue activewear set is now an entire shade darker and I realize why most of the women in class are decked out in all-black ropa de entrenamiento .
So, when I return to the studio to try out their Intermediate Muscular Design class a few days later, I come prepared in an all-black ensemble (seemingly the unofficial uniform of TAM members).
This class skips the bands entirely and instead begins with a dance warmup sequence, which they call the 'arm-opening ceremony' at TAM, Elias says, 'because it introduces the dialogue with your body, so you can check in with how you're feeling that day.' This sequence begins with bodyweight only, and then we add small free weights to the mix for a little extra arm challenge.
A continuación nos ponemos nuestra pesas para los tobillos and move down to the mat. This is where, for me, things feel a bit more tricky. Similar to the band class, there are no verbal cues or instruction, and I find it's challenging to keep up with the choreography while maintaining proper form. That's especially true for the moves on all-fours, since I need to crane my neck in order to watch the instructor.
For other TAM beginners like me, Elias recommends first trying the online 30-minute beginner class, which is guided with verbal and visual instructions, similar to a more traditional fitness class. This class serves as an introduction to the types of movements you'll do in class, which can help build a bit of base knowledge and confidence before jumping into the more challenging routines. 'Once that 30-minute zone feels good and manageable for your body, then moving to the intermediate muscular design class online is going to be the best place,' Elias says.
Dicho esto, es importante tener en cuenta que no importa cuánto tiempo hayas tomado clases de TAM, no podrás seguir la rutina sin esfuerzo. La programación cambia semanalmente, por lo que la mente y el cuerpo se estimulan y desafían constantemente, dice Elias. A Tracy le gusta utilizar tantos músculos como sea posible, en todo momento, todos los días, y eso también se aplica a nuestro cerebro.
After a challenging lower-body- and core-focused sequence on the mat, the class wraps the way we started: with a lively dance sesh. At this point, I am (yet again) drenched in sweat and thoroughly exhausted — but I also feel really proud of myself for sticking it out through the tough spots and giving it my best effort.
¿Funciona realmente el método Tracy Anderson?
I won't sugarcoat it, this workout class did feel a bit intimidating during my first (and second) try, but I genuinely felt supported and welcomed by the instructors and TAM community.
It's also important to keep in mind that even if you feel awkward or silly as you acclimate to the movements, no one else in the class is noticing you, because everyone is just as focused on learning the moves.
Recuerden que fue la primera vez para todos, dice Elías. Por eso recomiendo participar con franqueza, curiosidad y aceptar el hecho de que el contenido cambia constantemente.
Kristine Thomason es una escritora y editora de estilo de vida que vive en el sur de California. Anteriormente, fue directora de salud y fitness en Mindbodygreen y editora de fitness y bienestar en Women's Health. El trabajo de Kristine también ha aparecido en 247CM, Travel Leisure, Men's Health, Health y Refinery29, entre otros.
