Class Review

Go With The Flo

Flomotion at Clear Spring Studio offers that perfect “something different” for a worn-out fitness routine

Most fitness buffs love gadgets. From home stair-steppers to yoga blocks, somehow the use of an external contraption helps keep exercise interesting and challenging. This is certainly true of the Flo, an oblong-shaped polyurethane bag filled with one to three pounds of water and used in conjunction with t’ai chi and yoga-style moves for a unique, and surprisingly vigorous, workout.
During a recent Flomotion class offered in Austin at Clear Spring Studio in Northwest Hills, I spend an hour moving the Flo from side to side, front to back and overhead. The instructor, Seasha McKay, explains that the gliding water acts as weight resistance to help build muscle and to allow for greater range of motion. In addition, she says the water provides instant feedback on whether or not the student is moving correctly.
It was McKay’s stepfather, Victor Blome, who invented the Flo based on his experience as a martial arts master and his memory of seining for bloodworms in New Jersey rivers as a teenager. This makes sense as many of the moves remind me of a fisherman slowly and smoothly pulling a net through muddy water, or a tae kwon do expert gently moving in three dimensions.
McKay says her stepfather was particularly interested in harnessing the energy of water and gravity to create better awareness of how the body moves.
The class I attend on a Thursday morning has only four students, which allows for ample one-on-one instruction from McKay. Meditational music plays in the background as the instructor describes each position in detail.
We start off with the front flow movement. Students are told to grab the handles of the Flo with a band around each wrist, palms facing each other.
“Like a pendulum, rock the Flo from side to side,” explains McKay. “Now add the wrists and swing from side to side but with the full arms. We’ll work the lower body by moving the feet apart and lunging to each side.” About 30 minutes into the class I feel the workout in my shoulders. And, although I lift weights, I’m beginning to think this innocuous-looking device may be harder than the bench press.
Next, we advance to the back flow and transition movements. With feet shoulder-width apart, the students hold the Flo behind their backs and gently sway from side to side. The transition is more difficult because you swing the Flo over your head while continuing the circular arm movements and ensuring the water flows from end to end. While watching the more advanced students, I think about those large taffy-making machines that pull the candy every which way. However, for us beginners, less-assured motions make the fluid choppy and hard to control, hence the reason we are standing so far apart from each other. I find I must really concentrate to stay balanced. The weight of the water feels like I am being pulled to one side and may fall down. Yet I notice the veterans seem to have no problems standing still.
“It gives me an awareness of the space around me,” says Dixie Barrett, who has taken Flomotion classes for about five years. “Also, I feel more toned and relaxed. I work in front of a computer all day trading stocks so these classes have really opened up my shoulders.”
As an added bonus, Barbara Allen, the co-developer of FloMovement, performs what looks like some sort of ancient Asian dance routine. Because her movements are so smooth, the Flo makes a soothing and almost hypnotic swooshing sound. Her graceful movements are beautiful to watch.
“Before I started this, the left side of my body was completely out of shape,” admits Allen. “But the Flo taught me to use both sides of my body equally.” Allen says that even the New York Giants have tried Flomotion as part of their exercise regime.
Newcomer Stewart Cochran feels the same way.
“I’m surprised it was such a good workout, especially for my shoulders,” says Cochran. “But some of the coordination on one side of my body was difficult, meaning I should probably keep doing this. I can see adding a class once a week to my current fitness regime of running, weight training and yoga.”
Students are encouraged to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Because Flomotion classes are no- to low-impact, participants usually are barefoot.
Allen says that all ages can participate and especially emphasizes that it is suitable for seniors and kids. In addition, she points out that the Flo is good for travelers because it can be easily packed.
Flowmotion classes are offered at Clear Spring Studio, located at 3918-C Far West Blvd., in the same center as Northwest Hills Pharmacy and Papa John’s Pizza. The classes are held three days a week: Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The first class is free and subsequent walk-in sessions are $12. For students who purchase a series of 15 to 20 classes, the cost drops to $8 per class. For more information, call (512) 231-9644 or visit www.clearspringstudio.com.