Beauty

Callanetics at Walk the Talk Studios, Edinburgh

The treatment

An hour long callanetics session, £11 for a drop-in, with Keira Thorley at Walk the Talk Studios, Edinburgh. Alternatively, take up their Body Blitz offer and you’ll get 20 per cent off a set of ten classes, taken over a fortnight, if you book before the end of February. They say you can drop one dress size (and you’ll be measured and photographed before and after as proof ). For a free hour long taster, you’ll also find Keira at lululemon (57 George Street, Edinburgh) tomorrow, from 10am.

Why go?

To experience (or revisit) the Eighties regime that is callanetics. It was originally developed based on ballet exercises and uses small repetitive movements to tighten up deep muscles. If you’re a fan of yoga, pilates or barre, you’ll probably enjoy this, and you don’t have to wear a leotard – normal gym kit will do.

Our spy says

I had a bit of trouble finding this place, which is tucked underneath an estate agents in the New Town. When I did, I was too scared to go in, since the front door opens onto an actual class, still taking place.

After hanging around outside, I latched onto another student and went in with her.

Once you’re through the threshold of the warm studio, with its mirrors surrounded by little light bulbs, there are no scowls. In fact, I’ve never experienced such a laid back, chatty and friendly vibe, not only from instructor Keira, but all the other people (mainly women, of all ages, but one man).

After we’ve procured yoga mats, the class kicks off with some, well, bent knee kicks, with our hands in the air.

Then we’re onto the exercises, which include lengthy stretches to the side and standing like skiers, with knees bent and arms behind us, palms up, pulsing, holding the position for as long as humanly possible. There’s already a lot of grunting and gurning from the back of the class (me included) and we’ve barely started.

Although I’m familiar with quite a few of the exercises, like the plank, which is taken down onto elbows, then up again, there are other routines that are a bit more alien to me. For example, on our knees, with arms woven together and above our heads, we have to do a sort of pelvic thrust from the ground up. It’s not the most flattering move, but it definitely engages muscles in the quads that have otherwise been dormant.

“Your muscles will try to skive, don’t let them,” says former gymnastics and yoga teacher, Keira, and she adjusts everyone so we can’t get away with cruising.

As well as the glutes, there’s loads of work done on abdominals, with crunches, sit-ups and pulses with the legs in the air, all held and repeated for much longer than I’ve done in other classes. Feel the burn.

The results

They say “shake don’t sweat” at this friendly class and, indeed, though I’m not red faced afterwards, my muscles have had a thorough work out, especially my aching abs. n