Spa spy Give it a fling

Change up your workout routine with a Highland Hustle class from Gillian Urquhart

The treatment

A 45 minute Highland Hustle class with its creator, Highland dancer and former PE teacher, Gillian Urquhart, £ 3.50. There are also free classes for those who are struggling financially.

Why try it?

If the skirl of the bagpipes always gets you attempting some semblance of a Highland fling, this might be the fitness class for you. It incorporates high intensity, low intensity, cardio and toning. There are usually physical classes and instructors in various locations ( see website) worldwide, but Gillian has been taking virtual sessions during lockdown. The three classes a week are all suitable for beginners, and Gillian can send out a Youtube demonstration of basic moves to get you started. At the class I attend, there are participants from all over the place, including the US and Canada. Just wear comfy workout gear, no kilts required.

Our spy says

“Highland Hustle will be with you very soon,” the screensaver says, alongside some little tartan hearts, when I log into my Zoom call.

There’s a bit of frantic fiddle music playing, which is already making me feel slightly hyper.

At the stroke of 6: 30pm, Gillian appears and our Monday class begins.

The fiddles are gone, and instead we’re skipping around to Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics, then Yazz’s The Only Way is Up.

There are heel- toe movements, takes on the slip step and pas- desbasques, all the steps that you would most obviously associate with Highland dancing.

At the time, I don’t know what they’re called, I just copy what Gillian’s doing the best I can.

She’s a professional, and was a soloist at the Edinburgh Tattoo. Anything I do is a pale imitation.

I enjoy our routine to The Killers, as the repetition means it sticks in my brain, with a squat, then a flick of the foot, before adding arm movements in.

The live bit segues into some recorded sequences. Gillian is boogying under a monkey puzzle tree, with a chocolate labrador in the background ( or did I dream that bit), then she’s in a sunny walled garden.

There are five variations when it comes to our dance to a KT Tunstall tune. Basically, it’s a jumping jack with a Highland Hustle twist. A jumping Jock, I suppose. I go full throttle, and launch myself into the air.

We’re back to Gillian live, in her white room, and there’s a bit more cardio, then we enter the toning section, with the rather effective arm twists, squats and lunges.

We end with some stretches, to the strains of The Skye Boat Song. My bonnie boat is back in the harbour.

The results

That was fun. Maybe it’s time to invest in some tartan leggings and those cute Argyle socks. Will see what lululemon have in stock.