I’ve been running virtual power ballad workouts for the last 5 weeks and have put together some videos on my website. I’ve had really positive reception so far from all of the amazing people who have joined my class. It’s a fun, uplifting and therapeutic way to move with other people; a great workout; good for toning and if you do it often enough it’d be great for weight loss too!
I decided to put this class together because it combines 3 of my favourite things: exercise, power ballads and connecting with other people.
What are power ballads?
I would define a power ballad is defined as an emotional rock song, often with powerful and dramatic vocals. Power ballads often start slowly and build up into a powerful release which is why I think they can make some of us feel so good.
Some of my favourite classic songs are What’s love got to do with it by Tina Turner, Alone by Heart, I have nothing by Whitney Houston, Holding out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler. The list goes on. These might not be the most musically talented of songs, and of course won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but for lots of us they make us feel great and we need something uplifting in our lives more than ever right now.
Ultimate Power
One of my favourite ever nights out is called Ultimate Power. Described as “the best night of your life” – it literally never fails to make you feel good. It’s an uplifting club night filled to the rafters with feel good vibes, aerosmith wigs, inflatable instruments and amazing air guitar heroes dancing up on the stage. I spend the entire night singing my heart out, lunging with my inflatable guitar and air grabbing.
It is genuinely a night of feel good therapy and can easily transform your mood for an entire weekend. Sadly, being in a packed night club dancing shoulder to shoulder with strangers seems like a million miles away now so I decided now was the time to bring it home.
I decided ages ago I wanted to design an exercise class to power ballads, but I didn’t seem to ever get the space to plan or implement it. All I seem to have needed to make it happen was a global pandemic.
My power ballad classes
I love planning, designing and leading these classes. There’s nothing more uplifting than moving in synchrony with people who are all having the time of their lives. It’s even more poignant on Zoom when I can see all of the tiny thumbnails on my screen moving and smiling and singing along (they are on mute but I can see the lips moving!).
Everyone who does my class say it’s a great full body workout and they don’t even feel like they are exercising as they are having so much fun. As one of my regulars said: “Absolutely loved the Power Ballad workout with Louisa! Great for all over toning and brilliant 80s tracks so enjoyed a bit of a singalong session too”.
The class appeals to all ages – I’ve had kids and people well into their 70s join. I try to make sure it is as inclusive as possible and so don’t require any equipment other than a couple of cans out of the kitchen cupboard.
A friend of mine runs similar classes with more of a focus on dance called Kitchen Dancing. This is an awesome dance class to 80s and 90s music. I’ve been doing this every week since lockdown began and I laugh all the way through!
The science
There’s lots of cool neuroscience behind why moving together to music is so uplifting. As Kelly McGonigal talks about in her brilliant book The Joy of Movement (and one of my recent blog posts covered the topic here).
Collective joy is a “euphoric self-transcendence individuals feel when they move together”. Moving together in a group creates a sense of unity. Our brains receive feedback from our muscles, joints and inner ear internally and we simultaneously see others moving which the brain merges into a unified perception. Group trust is developed and we become invested in the wellbeing of the people we move with which creates feelings of compassion and good will.
Music, movement and unity produces powerful hits of adrenaline, dopamine and endorphins in the brain all of which energise and make us feel great. McGonigal says “when a piece of music that sounds happy makes us feel happy, so much so that we must move in ways that express happiness”. This creates “a positive feedback loop that accelerates and amplifies the joyous feelings induced by the song”.
All of this fits with my coaching philosophy that everyone can feel their bes selves through exercise and thrive in life as a result.
Want to join?
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me to rock and squat your heart out and get the feel good vibes you have been craving.
Where: Zoom
When: Thursdays 7pm
What do you need: two cans of veg – beans, chopped tomatoes, chickpeas or whatever you have to hand. A floor space with a mat if you prefer. A big dose of enthusiasm and a love for 80s power ballads.
Cost: whilst we are in lockdown my classes are free but I have a PayPal site for people to contribute to the cost of running the class if they wish: paypal.me/BeMotivatedLTD
How: Contact me louisa@bemotivatedcoaching.com or sign up to receive alerts at my website and get a free 20 minute coaching session too!
