Welcome to Fit and Fun!
WCPO editors Max Alter and Meghan Wesley love to work out. But, like anyone else, they get bored with the traditional gym workout. So they decided to start #fitandfun, an Instagram series where they will try different workouts throughout the area and take you along for the ride. They'll tell you the basics and give each workout a fun rating out of 10 every two weeks on Instagram. Follow along at @9OnYourSide and with the hashtag #fitandfun. Last time, we tried a Pure Empower class at Pure Barre Fort Wright. Find out more about it here.
This week: Vibe Dance Fitness in Newport
It is not possible for me to adequately describe how fun this class was. I drove up to an older building in Newport (located at 3 W 6th Street), not quite sure what I was getting myself into. Marquita Lonaker's studio is on the second floor, with huge floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
I seriously love this space. especially the chandeliers!
It's got definite moxie. The large room quickly filled up, the main lights were turned down, and the black lights were turned up. Then we started dancing. And, as the least-coordinated person ever, I can tell you it was probably quite comical to watch me try to twerk (I say try because, well, I have no idea how to get my body to move that way. But I tried! And it was SO much fun!)
The sign on the door leading to the second-floor studio
How it works
Lonaker hops on stage and gets right to it. The class is structured similarly to an aerobic class, with the students facing the instructor. We squatted, lunged, twerked and did all sorts of other things I don't know the names of for the next 60 minutes. Lonaker can dance, let me tell you! She told me ahead of the class that she couldn't really get into the typical gym thing (which, of course, is why we launched Fit and Fun to begin with!), so she started doing youtube dance fitness videos. She shed a lot of weight and realized this was a great opportunity to help others do the same while having fun.
Lonaker is a fantastic instructor (and amazing dancer!)
When can I try?
Hours are generally Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evenings and Saturdays and Sundays in the mornings. But you can check out the full schedule here.
What's the cost?
Your first class is free.
Vibe doesn't use contracts and Lonaker works hard to make her classes affordable for any budget.
One class costs $6.75 (you can purchase passes here). You can buy a pass for five classes for $26.25, 10 classes for $46.75 or 15 classes for $67.50.
This is definitely one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) class we have featured so far on Fit and Fun.
Most of the photos we took are blurry because we literally didn't stop moving.
Was it fun?
Oh. My. Goodness. As I previously stated, I cannot dance to save my life. In fact, it's quite embarrassing to think about other people watching me attempt to do so. Even knowing all of that, I had the best time ever in this class. Lonaker has amazing energy (how she can dance like that and still manage to speak throughout the class is beyond me) and is just plain fun to be around. We gave this one a 10/10 on the fun scale.
Give us ideas!
Know of any workouts we should try? Email Meghan at meghan.wesley@wcpo.com. Or use the hashtag #fitandfun and tag @9onyourside if you try one!
