But beyond the high-energy overtones, POUND classes breed vulnerability, emotion and meaningful human connection. Grass Lake’s Crystal Scott is proof of that.
“When I started POUND – I would just go with a friend, just as something to do – I fell in love with it. And it really saved me, actually, it was a really dark part of my life,” Scott said. “It’s so much more about your mental health than it is physical. I mean, it’s a killer workout, I’ve gotten into great shape doing it. But the mental health component is big. It’s communal, so you bond with the people in your class.”
Before she became a certified POUND instructor in 2022, Scott experienced these mental health benefits firsthand as a class member. Now she watches relationships cultivate and bonds build among her class members every day.
“I’ve become friends with my whole class. So, I had a class last night and I walked in with a really bad day, some of the women in there were kind of down, too,” Scott said of a recent class. “And when I left, I just remember thinking of appreciative I am of these women. We all care for each other so much.”
What to expect in a POUND class
Scott likes to refer to POUND as a mixture of Zumba and cardio drumming.
“It’s really fast paced,” she said. “And it’s kind of cheesy to say, but it’s a rock-out workout,” she said. “We got really good music, really loud music. It gets your heart rate up, big time. After the first warmup song, we’re panting.”
POUND is a cardio-based workout that incorporates Pilates, core strengthening and arm and leg movements.
“The positions we’re in, we do so many squats and lunges,” Scott said. “We have a routine we do in the bridge position. And so, it does strengthen a lot of your muscles in a lot of areas. We do a lot of twisting to help the core. I’ve lost a lot of back fat. And just overall, our heart rate is through the roof, so the cardio aspect is what’s most beneficial.”
In the past year and a half, Scott has noticed two women in particular who have gotten into noticeably better shape.
“You can see it, you can see it in pictures and see it in person,” Scott said. “I’ve physically seen them slim down.”
Come to burn calories, stay for the camaraderie
It’s not unusual for Scott and her longtime class members to come into the Grass Lake Senior Center where they work out in a bad mood. But rarely does that bad mood survive the hour-long class.
“I always walk out of class thinking how appreciative I am of these women, we all care for each other so much,” Scott said. “When I first started attending classes, my original instructor, Melissa, was so bright and fiery. She was just one of those souls that suck you in. I made an instant connection with some of the women there. And now I’m seeing it with my own classes, forcing yourself into that physical exertion snaps you out of any negative mindset you might have had when you started. It brings all your emotions out. So yeah, the physical exertion side of it and the camaraderie, I fell in love with both sides of it.”
Photo credit: Crystal Scott/Facebook
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