A mix of dynamic core stabilizing exercises using planks, squats, standing side crunches, and Pike pushups with shoulder taps. A light weight is optional. Good for the beginner to intermediate.

Maintain and CHANGE your fitness in this workout by quickening the pace or slowing it down when you need to. All about the Speed! is a full-body, low impact class for all fitness levels, and will strengthen your muscles while burning fat! Feel free to use light hand weights (Betsy is using 3 lb dumbbells) to take this workout to the limit!

“Arms of Love” will get your heart pumping and your arms burning. In this 20-minute high-intensity interval training class, Betsy will energetically guide you through a variety of cardio exercises with a focus on the arms and shoulders. The upbeat instrumental music will help keep you going as you warm-up your arms for three minutes without letting them rest (three minutes may feel longer than you expect!) The workout portion of class includes shuffles in a pike-like position, one-armed push-ups, one-armed planks, modified push-ups, and tricep push-ups. You will repeat the warm-up series before winding down with a few short stretches and finishing in prayer. You may like to strengthen your arms to achieve a more defined look--but did you know that stronger arms also means safer joints? Your shoulders, elbows, and wrists are better protected by stronger muscles. Because this is not a traditional Pietra Fitness class, we encourage you to consider rounding out your workout today by enjoying a Gentle stretching and strengthening class, such as TOB Stress Relief or Your Rhythm.

Do you want to incorporate a cardio component into your Pietra Fitness workout? If so, try Cardio #6: January Jumpstart with Betsy. As a high-intensity-interval training class, “January Jumpstart” is fast-paced and upbeat. You will warm up by marching in place, skipping with a reach, cherry-pickers, jogging in place, and squats. The main section of the workout consists of a series of four exercises repeated four times (inchworms, mountain climbers, oblique crunches, and lunges with knee drives). This series will surely get your heart pumping and strengthen your whole body. Feel free to adjust the pace as you need to. The music will change to Gregorian Chant as you slow your heart-rate and your breath during the cool-down. Betsy will lead you in a few gentle stretches and encourage you to consider this quote by Saint Hilary “The chief service I owe you, O God, is that every thought and word of mine should speak of you.” Because this is not a traditional Pietra Fitness class, round out your workout today with a Gentle or Level 1 class.

Are you a weight-lover? (The kind of weights you hold in your hand, of course!) This 29-minute cardio, non-traditional Pietra Fitness class features weights, upbeat music reminiscent of the 80’s, and quick movements to raise your heart rate. You will work out your whole body as you move through exercises both standing and supine, including a variety of squats, lunges, hang cleans, bench presses, deadlifts, deadrows, crunches, hip-bridges, and more. You will cool down as you swiftly move through rock pose, a quad stretch, a bit of twisting, and some angel arms to lower the heart rate. For this workout, you will need a mat, water, weights of some sort (can use dumbbells, soup cans, filled water bottles/jugs, etc.), and shoes to protect your feet. This class begins and ends with a quick prayer and is dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila. Because this is not a traditional Pietra Fitness workout of stretching and strengthening, you may like to follow it up with a Gentle Pietra Fitness class to stretch and relax all those muscles you worked here!

Have a towel and water handy to begin Cardio #4: Fab Abs. It is a 22 min class that integrates interval training techniques with fabulous abdominal exercises. Whether you are Level 1 or Level 2, you can make this class work for you by modifying each exercise. The warm-up goes over the movements used in class, and the workout is 30 sec. on, 30 seconds off with the following exercises: Plank Jump, Elbow to knee Crunches (Do bicycles to intensify), Plank Running climbers, Supine Abs (Lower the legs to boost or make them vertical to ease up), and Standing Heel Taps (Jump to raise the heart rate even more). Take a one minute break and then start over again for 2 more rounds! WOW! You may want to wear shoes for this one!

Are you looking for a quick, heart-raising workout that focuses on your hips and glutes? Cardio #3: Banded Glutes and Hips may be just what you are looking for. You’ll warm up by marching in place along with glute kicks in a wide stance. In the workout, it is 45 seconds on/45 seconds off moving through squats, bridges, donkey kicks, clamshells, and fire hydrants. Think you are done? Not quite! You will repeat that circuit before cooling down and lowering the heart rate with quad stretches, wide-leg cherry pickers, and a hamstring stretch. Intensify the workout by using a resistance band. It's not your traditional Pietra Fitness class, but a great way to incorporate cardio into your well-rounded fitness regime.

Are you ready to rev up your exercise routine? This HIIT-style workout alternates intense activity with times of rest or less activity. The warm-up will be 30 seconds of each exercise with no off time. Betsy will take you through Standing Wide Stance toe touches, marching or jogging in place, hip circles, and arm circles. How much you pick up the pace in the workout is up to you, as you can modify the number of reps. It is 30 seconds on, 20 seconds off of core exercises, planks, lateral leg raises with squats, Pike pushups, side-stepping squats, skaters, more planks, and High Lunges. Your heart rate will be pumping by this time, and then you will cool down with some wonderful stretches. This is not your traditional Pietra Fitness class, but a great addition to your wellness practices. By the time you are done, you will be ready to get up and go!

If you like HIIT workouts, this fast-paced nontraditional Pietra Fitness class is for you. Right from the get-go, you'll raise your heart rate with mountain climbers, quick transitions, squats with lat pulldowns, and bicycles—and that's just the warm-up. Keep your heart pumping and engage every muscle in your body with standing side crunches; skaters; more mountain climbers, squats, and bicycles; and other compound exercises. Cool down with feel-good stretches that will relieve any soreness in your hips, hamstrings, and back before resting for a few breaths in rock pose. By the end of this 24-minute class, you'll feel energized, accomplished, and ready to take on the day.