Dancinerate posterI’ve been exploring fitness options while healing from my back injury.  When I was invited to attend a Dancinerate class at Equinox Sports Club in West LA with dance and fitness expert Ilyse Baker, I decided to be daring and try it.

I love to exercise and I love music but I can’t dance.  Long ago I used to go to clubs – and do the New Wave step and rock – but I am very uncoordinated.  Hence, being injured numerous times.

The extent of my dancing is more “Popcorn” by Hot Butter (as a child) and the “Electric Slide” (during the drunk college years) than anything requiring ability.  I’m lucky that I had Carolyn from ThisTalkAintCheap.com with me.  Together, we won a contest at the #HATES event in January. I knew she’d be good support if I literally broke a leg in class.

Ilyse didn’t look like the typical tall and breakably thin dancer – she was short (like me!) and muscular and I found that inspiring.

Dancinerate studio

Ilyse was a fun and a skilled teacher – she made the routine easy enough for a klutz like me to follow (most of the time) by breaking down the routines and repeating the moves multiple times.  She also named the moves catchy things like “put on your jacket” or “drive the car” to make the workout fun and accessible.

I loved that my recent earworm “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (I’m slow on current music) was one of the songs in class as well.

At the end of an hour, I was a happy, sweaty mess.  I laughed a lot and felt sufficiently challenged.  As a lover of  hot vinyasa yoga and spin, I was surprised that “Dancinerate” was nearly equivalent in difficulty and sweat factor to my favorite intense exercise class activities.

As a cool-down treat, class participants were treated to a lovely post-class brunch by Paleta Catering.  Healthy food displayed gorgeously always makes this dietitian smile…and eat well!

dancinerate food

Carolyn and I got the chance to meet up with another local blogger, Keiunta and her daughter.  As someone still new to LA and the blogging world, it makes me happy to see familiar faces at events.

Ilyse came by and thanked us all for coming to her event.  It was funny to find out that she is also a transplanted East Coaster (her proud parents had event flown in for the event) and she assured me the 75 minutes in traffic it took me to travel 22 miles is something that I’d get used to…eventually.

I wish I lived closer to West LA because the Equinox Sports Club was one of the most gorgeous gyms I’ve EVER seen.  The club even had my favorite Kiehl’s Creme De Corps lotion in the restroom (I almost took a picture but thought pictures in the bathroom might be pushing the limit).

Dancinerate, FitnessGloOverall, I had a great time at the event and look forward to trying out more of Ilyse’s classes via the FitnessGlo gift certificate given to attendees in our gift bags.

If I’ve inspired you to take your own fitness adventure, you can catch Ilyse for in person classes or you can purchase the “Dancinerate” DVD.  NYC friends, let your local Equinox that you want to try this class – if you love to have fun while you sweat, this is for you!

Disclaimer:  The “Dancinerate” class, brunch and gift bag were all complimentary.  I have no business relationships with any of the brands named above.  All opinions stated are my own.