What is POUND^®? What interested you in the workout? How is it different than other exercise programs? Why would I want to try it?  These are just a few of the questions you might have when one of you friends energetically says to you, “You have got to come to my pound class next time!” I’ll do my best to answer some of these questions.

To quote the website, “Using Ripstix^®, lightly weighted drumsticks engineered specifically for exercising, POUND^® transforms drumming into an incredibly effective way of working out.” (Click here for more information) I would simply describe it as the absolute most fun that I have ever had while working my butt off! I have never attended any workout that goes by so quickly. There is so much energy that goes into having fun to a driving beat, that I really don’t notice how hard I am working. It all started about a year ago when my wife, Sherry, casually mentioned this new class.

“My friend Debbie Creekmore started teaching Pound in Grove.” Of course, I replied with, “What is Pound?” She explained it’s some kind of aerobic workout with drumming involved. I couldn’t quite picture that, and let my imagination percolate for a good six months or so when Sherry brought it up again. “Maybe we should go try Debbie’s class?” Hmmm, I like drumming, and I’m always looking for new and fun ways to work out, so I did what I usually did and Googled it. The website is www.poundfit.com, but I have to say it was the YouTube video below that really peaked my interest.

How cool is that? Now don’t get me wrong, I had little expectation that it would be as cool as this video, but it did make me want to check it out. We headed to our first class.

I’ll be honest, I don’t think I was quite prepared for how fast and how challenging some of the movements were. “Those were some deep lunges!”, ” Wow, how does she get the sticks all the way to the floor?” Those were my first thoughts, but as the class progressed, I warmed up, started catching on a bit, and just had a blast. I missed some cues, and turned the wrong direction many times, but it was awesome! Have you ever been fifteen minutes into a workout class and thought, “this is going to take forever”?  This was the opposite. At the end of the 45 minutes, I found myself asking, “that was 45 minutes?” I was pretty much sold and told Sherry at the end of class that I want to teach it. A few weeks later I was in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma completing Pound^® Pro training.

Last weekend, having taught Pound^® for several months now, I attended “Amplify” training in Los Angeles. It’s the next step in training where instructors get to connect with and learn from each other. I must say this was one of the most inspiring training programs I have ever attended. The course was led by Pound^® Master Trainer Michelle Opperman. Along with the support of the Pound HQ staff, she created an amazing environment that supported every one of us in taking our classes to the next level. There’s a saying that “nobody is louder than Pound^®”. So, picture what it’s like to have 30 or so highly trained, insanely energetic instructors all working together to thumping rock beats. It was off the hook! This is where I find it different than other exercise programs.

I left Pound^® Amplify training with a profound sense of family. During the entire event, I felt wholly supported. My original trainer Danielle O’Reilly was there and greeted me like an old friend. The CEO and co-creator of Pound^®, Kirsten Potenza, was also in attendance. Not only did she give us all amazing input, but spent the day supporting us by doing things like serving us lunch. What she has created is a philosophy that embraces every human being, focuses on connecting people, while releasing their inner rock star. I want to bring that same quality, that supportive interconnected foundation to my classes.

I leave you with the Pound^® Philosophy:

WE BELIEVE in the power of music and the freedom of rocking out.

WE SUPPORT unleashing aggression, discovering new talents, and awaking new senses.

WE ENCOURAGE sampling new forms of movement, uncovering new rhythms, and tapping into new ways of listening.

WE PROMOTE camaraderie, friendship and bonding.

WE BELIEVE in loving our bodies while improving them.

WE BELIEVE in handing you the permission to Rock!

Why would you want to try it? Why wouldn’t you? 
(Click here to find a class near you)

– Richard Reed – Amplified Pound^® Pro