Buns of Steal
Boing! Kangoo, I'm a Human Kangaroo
Today's free workout: Crunch Fitness, Union Square with a 2-week free pass courtesy of killercadoogan. Ok, seriously, Crunch? Ropes, I get. Poles, I can deal with. But making me bounce around, wearing evil ski boots strapped to pogo balls, like a drunk kangaroo, in front of a mohawked instructor who has excitement tatooed onto his face, for an hour? Really, Crunch? Really? Sigh... But boing I did. And honestly, I kinda liked it...except for the giant gashes the boots left on my legs.
Okay, let me explain. "Boing with Kangoo" is one of Crunch's endless "new and exciting" classes. It's a basic aerobics class with a catch: You're jumping, stepping and lunging on Kangoo Jumps, 6-inch high bouncy boots that look like Inspector Gadget's go-go gadget springs.
Our instructor, Mario Godiva Green... oh Mario. Why am I even trying to explain this? Just check him out on the CW 11 Morning News making the nervous anchor sweat.
And... since the news segment featured Mario wearing a shirt, I feel that for the benefit of all woman-kind it is only fair that I post this pic:
Lets be honest, M: I highly doubt you got that body by bouncing around in moon boots. But I digress. Ahem. The class....
The class consisted of about 25 of us, strapped into bounce boots, springing wildly around the glass studio, trying to get air without killing each other. To Lady Gaga, naturally.
Mario was up front, bouncing around, as happy as a... kangaroo? He was far more comfortable on these boots than any of us.
Despite how idiotic we looked (a drunk frat boy could do so much damage with these) the workout was pretty good. It was like a mix between rebounding and jumping rope, for an hour, with a few pounds of weight on each foot. The great benefit of this class — listen up geriatrics — is that the boots absorb the impact of the bounce (80%, Mario says), so it's easy on your joints.
However, a word of warning: Wear high/thick socks when you Boing, because the boots will f**k up your feet. I was left with a remarkably sexy gash on each ankle, as proof that I am a Boing newbie.

For the ongoing adventures of Buns of Steal, an impoverished but equally resourceful law student in New York City, hoping to make it through 2010 without ever paying for a gym membership, visit "Buns of Steal."
Comments
they usually give out high socks at the class! i'm surprised they didn't this time? also, this workout is surprisingly intense -- gets my HR higher than ANY other class. and i ADORE mario!
Submitted by msh258 on 05.04.10 at 09:31.
BEST CLASS EVER. NB: If you have a free pass, you can only sign up within in the last 15 mins, so there is a good chance you will not get into the class. I know many people shut out of it. Members get first crack.
I advise wearing ankle support if you have bony ankles like I do.
Submitted by sassletics82 on 05.04.10 at 09:48.
Sassletics - I think you're right, part of the problem was that by the time I signed up, they only had size Large boots left (and I'd technically be a medium), so the fit wasn't perfect. The gashes were so worth it though... such a fun class!
Submitted by Julia N. on 05.04.10 at 10:01.
ouch! when i took the class i didn't know i needed long socks and also got gashes, but not as bad as those.
Submitted by Fraidy on 05.04.10 at 02:40.