The Cardio-Tramp Rebounder

Stepped into the Reformer studio for a group class and blinked. Alamak, today's Masterclass is all about the Cardio-Tramp Rebounder! I haven't done the Cardio-Tramp for months because I actively avoid it. LOLOLOL Adjusted the settings on the Reformer and settled in. As people streamed in, I realized that it was a full class. 

It isn't the most fun aspect of Pilates. To be very honest, if it's this type of Reformer Athletic or Cardio-Tramp class (or it could be called the 'Jump Board'. The names and program are given by the gym, as with any studio), I might as well have attended any other group classes with a high aspect of sprints, intervals and whatever — those would be more helpful to up the heart rate. This Reformer class will, but only in the lightest manner.

Jumping on the Reformer isn't full plyometrics per se. It's scaled down, which works if the point is to get more people actively moving. The real intensity of such a method would be loads higher on the Lagree Megaformer. That's something I don't fully appreciate because I do Pilates for a reason, and a Megaformer doesn't meet what I want. Haizzzzz. I'm not a fan of cardio at all. At least I'm jumping lying on a carriage and not freely on my own. I'll take this over tuck jumps, box jumps or burpees.

I already said that a Reformer group class isn't Pilates. It's just an aspect of it. And group Reformer classes are very low on the Pilates element. The practice itself isn't only about a Reformer. The best aspects of Pilates come from the movements on the mat. That uses pure body weight and strength to leverage, and if your core isn't strong enough, Mat Pilates is possible the toughest of them all. And whenever I think my core is strong enough, Mat Pilates utterly humbles me.  

Pasta and More Pasta

The restaurant said that they had lobster that week. It complemented a night when we were rustling up some friends for dinner. They were like, 'we should get pizzas together soon!' Alriiiiight. We all could make it on this random week day night for a casual one. It has been a while since we saw one another. These friends aren't on social media much, and a face-to-face conversation with them is always much better. 

So we toddled over to D.O.P for some decent pizzas and pasta. The haze is lingering, but the PM2.5 ain't too bad for these few days. Sitting outdoors at D.O.P wasn't too big a problem tonight with the friends. 

Everyone wanted pasta. Lobster linguine it was. I could never say no to lobster pasta here. The kitchen split it into two portions for us. We also had a seafood linguine with bottarga. There were sides of grilled cold vegetables. Added a main of grilled seabass for everyone to share too. Protein! That's always welcome. Nobody wanted pizza at dinner, but we ordered three pizzas to go. Heh.  

Oddly, nobody wanted red wine tonight. White wines then. Two easy bottles. Conversation flowed easily, and we came away from the night very inspired. The friends have taken an early retirement (if it's defined it by our newly raised retirement age) from the corporate office hours, and we wanted to know what they've been up to, and how they now define what's fulfilling to them. 

Sushi & Highballs

The PM2.5 isn't any better over the weekend. It was hovering at 75, not too bad really. We went out for dinner anyway. How many days could we coop up at home? We went to Sen-ryo at Vivocity. That's always a tasty and convenient option. We took a 6pm slot so that we would have plenty of time to hang out. It wasn't terribly crowded outdoors, and our eyes felt okay. 

The dog went upstairs to the Level 3 skygarden do her toileting, and chilled out for a bit. She likes that area. I never want to rush her when she's happy watching the world go by. We must have stayed for some 15 minutes. Then we went down to join the table for drinks.

We didn't over-order. We had sushi, and cooked food. There were tenderloin and grilled squid. The table had the big botan ebi done in two ways. I skipped it. I couldn't resist and had to have a small bowl of cold udon. Mmmm. My carbs! 

There's always something comforting about having a hotpot to end the meal with. It was tori nabe (chicken hotpot) tonight. It wasn't too big, and it was perfect to share. Tofu was always welcomed. Nobody minded soup that wasn't overly salted. 

We had a few highballs each. Nothing heavier. None of us seem to be able to do much sake nowadays. It gives us a terrible headache and a hangover. We had things to talk about. Easy drinks were ideal. Catching up with one another and exchanging stories about life's curveballs inevitably made for heavy topics. To be able to talk about them, is testament to the two decades plus of genuine friendship we share.