I Went To A Blogilates Class And Here’s What Cassey Ho Is Like
Cassey Ho, the founder and creator of Blogilates, a popular fitness Youtube channel, traveled across the United States and held a series of Pop Pilates classes at several universities. And I, a dedicated fan, sat for two hours under the hot California sun to assure my spot in the class. You might think that after sweating outside in the sun and burning through a decent amount of calories, the work out class that follows would be slightly unnecessary. But I have good memories tied to Blogilates and Cassey Ho! I am not the most devout gym-goer, but whenever I am trying to get back in shape or trying to reschedule regular gym session back into my routine, I will follow the trusty Blogilates Victoria Secret Model Ab Workout to kick my butt or more appropriately, my stomach back into shape. I’ve also made an entire New Year’s resolution with my friends in the previous year about following the Blogilates beginner calendar so we could all get fit together. We might have given up after a month but we still look back at the first month with fond memories. So in conclusion, I really wanted to meet Cassey herself. Here are a few things I learned about Cassey Ho.
She’s tiny but STRONG.
They say the big screen add five pounds so the screen can be a bit deceptive about everyone’s general figure. Do not be surprised that you might be surprised about how short Cassey Ho really is in real life. And do not underestimate her because of her height! In her Blogilates work out videos, you can see that she is doing burpees and crunches without panting or huffing while also carrying out a full one-sided conversation with you. Trust me, she was not doing a voice-over. While you might hear her pant a little as she breathes and guides you through your work out on stage, she can still carry on a full conversation. The girl has some serious stamina and breath control. She is impressive when she is within your small laptop screen but she is even more impressive when you work out with her in person.
She Knows You’ve Paused Her.
One of the perks about working out within your own home is that you can exercise at your own pace. Of course, it might not be the best way to maintain your heart rate or the most effective way to burn calories. But sometimes, you just need a break! Cassey Ho knows. And she is here to make sure you are getting the best work out you can get now that she can watch you in person. So while you are in the gym space with her, she is going to make sure that there is no stopping, there is no impromptu breaks, and there is no pause button. But you might not even notice the lack of a pause button when Cassey is in the room and cheering for you. When she is encouraging you from the stage to hold for another second or to push through to the next set, you just find the strength to keep going, especially when you watch the other girls in the room struggle as well and they are continuing regardless.
The Back Rows Are Not Safe.
You might have tried hiding in the back rows during your classes and you could get away with napping and eating and just chilling out while you’re back there. But don’t expect to get away with that kind of behavior when Cassey Ho is trying to whoop your butt back into shape. Mid-session, she got off the stage and inspected the rows. Next to any slackers, she will cheer and count and encourage. Next to any beginners, she will adjust form and correct stances. She is really fighting to make sure you get the best work out you can, even if you are the one holding yourself back and she has to help you fight against your natural instinct to relax. When Cassey Ho is leading your Pop Pilates class, she is your best friend, who wants the best for you, and your personal trainer, who will not let you take shortcuts to your fitness. Like she says, you will look like a beauty but need to train like a beast. She will definitely train you like a beast.
She will pause to make you feel the burn. But you can thank her later.
The Earthquake is an interesting exercise. So you are holding your arms in the air and leaning back to engage your abs. And they hurt. And you are shaking like a leaf. It is called the Earthquake for a reason. You can hear Cassey counting down the seconds and you are just waiting for the sweet relief that comes after she says down. Don’t hold your breathe because the word ‘down’ might not come immediately after she says 1. Cassey Ho will pause. You, like I and everyone else in the room, will stare at her as you realize she intends to torture your abs a little longer. Even when there are thirty eyes pleading with her to let down, she will hold strong and you like I and everyone else, might scream a little in pain. But when she finally lets you relax your muscles, the feeling is truly heavenly. You might truly hate her when she is working you to the core but you cannot help but thank her for pushing you a little more than you would push yourself.
I would definitely do it again.
When our work out class ended, I was honestly surprised by how well I did and how quickly the work out seemed to go by. I have not stepped into the gym for three months prior to her class and I thought I would crumble during the hard moves. But in that environment she created and with fellow fans, you truly feel like you are part of a community and you work even harder to match pace with everyone else. Meeting her in person and getting to thank her for posting her videos was one of the best parts of the entire class. You do not often meet a fitness blogger who is so encouraging and accepting of all the different stages of fitness. She really just wants you to be your best self in whatever form and stage that comes in.
