Hey, GVL. Chloe here. Aside from a ton of quarantine walks, I haven’t done a full workout since COVID-19 hit and my workout studio closed. So I decided I needed to get back on my game and worked with the YMCA of Greenville to take a virtual Beast Mode class demo – a special offering made just for us at GVLtoday since I’m working + quarantining from home. 💪

Beast Mode is the Y’s high-intensity training class that’s scalable for all fitness levels. Classes are currently being offered in-person at their branches (with extra cleaning measures and safety procedures in place, per the recommendations of the CDC + SCDHEC). Beast Mode is free for Y members.

Here’s how my class went (😅) and how you can #TryThis at the Y.

Experience:

Beast Mode class at the YMCA of Greenville

What we tried (with pricing):

I took a pre-recorded demo of the Y’s Beast Mode class, led by coach Rebecca (she typically teaches at the Eastside Family YMCA in Taylors).

Me and my dog Scout getting mentally prepared for our Beast Mode class demo (one of us was more excited than the other)

The class demo was ~25 mins total, starting with an overview and a demo of how to do some of the workouts, then moving into a warmup of jumping jacks, stretching, squats + burpees.

Next was the self-paced 8-minute AMRAP (as many rounds and reps as possible in 8 minutes) of the following:

50 dumbbell thrusters
12 lunge steps
12 lateral burpees

We finished out with some breathwork + stretching.

As expected, this was intense. But it did give me some endorphins to finish out the work day + some needed motivation to get back on my workout game.

See a video recap of the demo class on GVLtoday’s #TryThis Instagram Story Highlight.

Don't miss:

Customizing your class. There are four types of Beast Mode classes, all geared toward different goals + taught by experienced coaches.

And if you have kids, definitely don’t miss the Y’s on-site childcare program, Child Watch – free with a household membership. Pro-tip: The Y is currently waiving all joining fees.

What we’re still talking about:

How hard it was. 😅 But really, the coolest part was the fact that it was self-paced and customized. The coach gave me lots of modification options to best fit my fitness level – like doing step-up burpees instead of jump-ups.

Bonus: Regular exercise helps boost your immunity.

A S’well bottle full of water, a.k.a. my DIY dumbbell for the 50 dumbbell thrusters in our AMRAP workout

How you can experience this:

See the class schedule and sign up online or on the YMCA of Greenville app. If you’re interested in joining the Y, you can also do that online or in-person at your local branch. Have specific questions about Beast Mode? Email rhamrick@ymcagreenville.org.

Beast Mode FAQ on YMCA of Greenville’s website

Beast Mode FAQ on YMCA of Greenville’s website

See all Beast Mode classes offered on YMCA of Greenville’s Group Exercise class schedule (you can even filter classes by date, branch location, type of class and instructor)

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Beast Mode class at the YMCA of Greenville
Price: Free for Y members (and you can currently join the Y for free)
Website: https://www.ymcagreenville.org/classes/beast-mode
Address: Branch locations vary; see them here
Hours: Branch hours vary; see them here
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