Let’s face it. Many of us spend hours in the gym or pounding the pavement to build our muscles, improve cardio fitness and generally keep the bulge at bay. But if you are anything like moi and tend to forget about stretching and flexibility and focus more on torturous toning, the thought of touching our toes or participating in that occasional game of tipsy Twister (stop smirking, we’ve all been there!) can be cause for concern and more than a few cackles.

It’s one thing to build muscles but maintaining flexibility is also important and a balance between the two is vital. Yoga is an ideal way to develop strength as well as gaining flexibility along with a more holistic approach to a healthy body. Canggu Club offers two different yoga classes as part of its weekly fitness schedule: one on Monday and one on Wednesday, both at 10am for ninety minutes. It’s perfect timing really as you can still fit in an earlier Pump, TRX class or gym session and head straight into yoga to stretch and loosen those tortured limbs.

One of these sessions is led by local yoga guru, I Wayan Wistika or better known to many as Marcus. To those of us who have ever attended one of his classes, Marcus needs little introduction. With a friendly manner and easygoing style, he encourages a relaxed and calming ambience in his classes and any beginners’ concerns are immediately allayed as he emphasizes participants listen to their bodies and only do as much as they comfortably can. As only experienced instructors do, he suggests different options for each pose, allowing for every level of expertise within each class.

Marcus pays attention to form and style, ensuring an injury free experience and one that will leave you amazed at how you just managed to “kiss your knees” when only ninety minutes earlier you arrived, convinced that even your fingertips would struggle to greet your toes.

Balinese born and bred in Tabanan, Marcus’s yogic journey began during a period of employment at a local village yoga retreat as head of guest services. Participating in the yoga classes, he was introduced to a number of inspirational instructors who inspired him to pursue this journey towards health and wellbeing.

He went on to teach yoga at this retreat, has taken part in numerous international seminars, local courses, the annual Bali Spirit festival and has spent a number of years enhancing the health and wellbeing of hotel guests with yoga classes at the prestigious Comoshambala Hotel, The Chedi Clubs in Ubud and Jimbaran, as well as The Legian in Seminyak. Along with classes at Canggu club, he also teaches privately throughout Southern Bali and continues to hone his craft, broadening his teaching styles to include Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa Flow and of course, yoga for beginners.

With more than 17 years of yoga experience, Marcus has somewhat of a devoted following. “Yoga is my lifestyle – As you practise it more, it changes your life, from what you eat to how you live. And if you keep practising, it changes your soul.” Pop into The Canggu Club to experience yoga for yourself on either Mondays or Wednesdays @ 10am. I promise your hamstrings will thank you!

Splits and Giggles at Bounce Fit!

What a fun way to spend a morning! Just recently I was asked to accompany a friend to a different style of exercise class – BOUNCEFIT trampolining class at Bounce Bali located Canggu Club. Despite my initial anxieties and reservations regarding my unremarkable pelvic floor muscles (thanks kids!) and that I resemble a baby calf when attempting any type of gymnastic manoeuvre, my fears were allayed and I had a blast!

No need for any prior expertise in aerial activities, elite fitness training or trampolining experience. BOUNCEFIT is all about having fun, toning your core muscles and building confidence with a lot of laughs. For the first time in ages I didn’t spend half of the exercise class glancing repeatedly at the clock and wondering how much longer my triceps could endure the torture!

BOUNCEFIT classes are held at Canggu Club’s, Bounce Trampoline Centre and can accommodate up to 24 participants. Everybody gets their own tramp on which to frolic and flap about and the class is guided by experienced gymnastics coach, Patricia Kincaid. The fully supervised hour commences with the all important warm up exercises through to jumping styles such as pikes, splits, tucks and more to get your heart pumping. It’s just like cardio interval training as high octane jump sequences are followed by short sessions of stretching to ensure that you remain injury free. At one point I even got to pounce around from tramp to tramp, happy as a hippo, stopping only to collapse in a fit of giggles at my obvious lack of coordination.

The ‘hard work’ over, we made our way over to the elite mats (REALLY bouncy tramps) to learn a few tricks like seat drops and back drops. Nothing too risky as we are shown all the correct landing positions, but these moves are sure to keep your heart pumping and adrenalin streaming and I was rather chuffed that I was able to bust the moves my 11 year olds were learning. Ha!

BOUNCEFIT is on every Friday morning at 9am and is 100k for Canggu Club Gold & Platinum Members and 120k for non-members (water and towels included). Bounce socks are required for safety purposes and if you haven’t already acquired a pair, they are available for 20k at Bounce reception. One of those exercise classes where you can be as serious or silly as you like, trampolining has the potential to burn up to 1000 calories in an hour and all with a smile on your dial!

Music helps to maintain the momentum and there’s plenty of giggling, wiggling and aerial hi jinks to make for an hour of active fun. Join BOUNCEFIT to break the boredom of the same exercise routine week after week. With each session you will develop confidence, agility, core and (pelvic) floor strength as well as your sense of humour!

It’s ideal for any age and level of agility. Be part of the fun this Friday and join the rebound revolution that allows you to burn off brekkie and bounce to a beat.

For more information or Canggu Club Fitness schedule information go to: fitness@cangguclub.com
Book online at bouncebali.com.