Dorm Room Workouts: Insanity — 6 Things They Don’t Tell You
CampusTap Blog
1. IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE INSANELY PHYSICALLY FIT!
My friends and I are of all shapes and body types. With words like “extreme” and “insanity” surrounding their marketing campaign, it is easy to get frightened and intimidated by this at-home workout (especially with Shaun T’s intense stare-down and hard-as-stone body on the cover). But in reality, Insanity is for anyone willing to put in the effort! And trust me… I love my bed, a cup of hot chocolate, and a movie, and even I could get up and do it. Which leads me to my other point…
2. WAIT…IT’S FUN?
Yes! And groups are better. I would never be able to do this myself. I’m too likely to take a longer than necessary water break and maybe even eat a snack or two while watching the end of the workout. That’s participating right? SO these workouts are MUCH easier with friends. You are more motivated and if you’re anything like my group of friends… you’re going to blast your own playlist, turn off the lights, and sing along. It becomes a party.
3. THEY GIVE YOU WATER BREAKS!
Who knew? My first impression of Insanity was a straight through, zero break, all cardio exercise routine where I imagined people dying and collapsing to the floor post-workout — really dramatic stuff. This is totally not true. They give you many, many water breaks where you get a chance to catch your breath, and you can take longer breaks if necessary, which I have done many times!
4. YOU WILL OCCASIONALLY YELL AT YOUR TV
You wouldn’t expect it, but after a while, you’ll find yourself fully yelling in the workout videos… even though Shaun T can’t hear you. It’s a heat of the moment kind of thing, so when Shaun T yells at you, you’re going to yell back! It becomes this strange (but awesome) adrenaline filled give and take. You’ll scream, you’ll motivate each other, and probably give the occasional “WOO!” When Shaun T is yelling motivational words at you it is actually… well motivational.
5. SHAUN T IS SECRETLY JUST TRYING TO SHOW YOU HIS BODY.
He will often say things like: “You want abs like these?” and then he’ll lift up his shirt and show you. Then he’ll say more motivational slurs telling you to push through it. My personal favorite move of his is the sly backside show-off: “Look at my squat” *turns backside to you* “look at what I’m not doing.” Okay Shaun T. We see you.
6. YOU FORM A STRANGE BOND WITH THE WORKOUT PARTICIPANTS ON THE SCREEN.
In a bizarre sort of way, you will begin to feel like you know and understand the volunteers working out on the screen. Maybe you feel a bond due to the intense workout you are both experiencing together. They cannot hear or see you nor do they even know you exist, but you feel like you’re doing this together. Or you might feel an overwhelming sense of pride when you’re better at one of the workouts than that guy in the back corner taking many more water breaks than you and also getting paid for it. And then there is Talia. She is a fitness queen. We love Talia. Talia is fierce. You go Talia.
Just remember…
When it comes to Insanity, it is not only meant for the insanely physically fit or the physical trainers of the world. Like I said, groups are far more fun than pushing through it on your own. When doing it alone, it’s easier to convince yourself out of the workout. Having friends there with you makes it an absolute party! And you won’t feel insecure because everyone there is with you with the lights off, music up, and the adrenaline through the roof! Now go pick up a copy of Shaun T’s Insanity and go get that cutie down the hall with your healthy, new approach to this “extreme” home workout!
Written by: Janelle Yull
Seen on: CampusTap’s Blog
