I took Sue's 930pm class (beginners) and after reading all of the other Yelpers reviews I think…read morewhat is truly missing is a clear picture of what actually HAPPENS in class rather than reviews of personal injuries and emotional platitudes that honestly are inspiring but will not help the wider community of individuals who just want to know what they're getting into.
For one, this class really should NOT be labeled h2o YOGA. But rather better served as a water MOVEMENT and stretch class. As no traditional Yoga poses instructions (Asanas) such as Warrior, Half Moon, etc. are used. Instead she has uses her own vocabulary like Frogs pose that you must decipher. These instructions can be difficult to hear because of the splashing and swimming noise from the lap pool 8 feet away. This was at "quiet time" so I cannot imagine how awful this would be during peak hours with an entire swim team practicing next to you.
The heated pool is shallow so you are at most neck deep at times. Each person is given two pool noodles and leg and wrist weights. However these aren't actual weights that you see in the gym but rather they are more like miniature life jackets wrapped around your limbs.
The arm sequence was incredibly uncomfortable and did not resemble Yoga poses unfortunately. For example, you are told to hold the noodles apart, then overlap the noodles, then push the noodles underwater. If you have ever tried shoving pool noodles underwater for several minutes at a time, you know annoying it is, even if it a slight workout. Especially when Sue keeps telling you to "stop relying" on your arms, even though she is telling you to hold flotation noodles underwater...with...your arms.
Though I did see in the promo photos of people doing tree pose underwater (which is what I was absolutely hoping for, the same wonderful Asanas but with less weight) That was not the case during my class. Instead it was the repetitious noodle sequence of: hold noodles apart, push noodles together, push noodles underwater. Again hold noodles apart, push noodles together, push noodles underwater. We did this sequence ad nauseam throughout the entire class.
And though you could argue some of the same muscles may be used, so many poses execute best when you are at least in contact with a solid surface with some light gravity and resistance. For example, her "child's pose" was basically you bending your knees at your chest while holding the pool noodles. Some poses did not translate or were unrecognizable and labeled with her own vocabulary. And to be frank, I feel I did not get any sort of cardio, stretch or strengthening workout.
If you are hoping to utilize this as an alternative, less weight bearing preparation for a regular yoga class, this is not it. This was more a water movement and stretch class for those who truly cannot do other forms of exercise and just want to rediscover movement again without the fear of going to a traditional gym.
So why the two stars? This is where I felt there was severe lack of attunement. I have extremely low blood pressure (genetics) which means I get cold VERY quickly. I was forced to stand outside of the 90 degree therapy pool with my teeth chattering and shivering violently at the beginning of class while she gives me instructions. I tell her, "I am freezing may I at least stand in 3 feet of water while you give me instructions because my teeth are chattering so loudly I literally cannot hear you." She denies me flat out and says, "You can get in after I give you the instructions" and then continues on as if it was nothing. These lower back instructions could have easily been given while my legs are in water.
So I am standing there in a dripping wet bathing suit, teeth chattering, lips blue while she herself was dressed in winter clothing: long pants, a long sleeved zip up, a beanie (ski hat), and UGG boots. Even though I am visibly distraught and verbally told her so. She denies me once again from entering the pool because I was still not doing the lower back movement right. At this point, I do not care what I am doing "right", I am just trying to avoid catching a cold!! And this is my first time, I may not catch on from your 5 minute speech. And no, this was not a question of safety if I didn't get this right away.
As a first timer she tells me to follow other classmates as my guide. Great! However, I was placed in the front row with all of the other classmates behind me and no one next to me. So unless I had eyes on the back of my head, this was not impossible. Even when I was able to see the other classmates, you are chest deep in water so you cannot actually "see" clearly what movements they are doing unless your head is underwater with goggles.
The lack of attunement, poor class set up and no resemblance to Yoga made me pass on this. But I encourage others to check it out and see for yourself. Prenatal sounds like it'd be great.
