My Love Letter to [solidcore]

Hello. My name is Lauren and I’m a [solidcore] addict.

Okay, so this isn’t much of a revelation for those who know me IRL or who follow me on Instagram (@laurendeweytarr), since I talk/post about it frequently weekly near-daily. Basically, I’m obsessed with [solidcore], and for good reason … It’s been my one saving grace during COVID and pandemic living.

What is [solidcore], you ask?

Think pilates reformer on crack: Intense, low impact moves performed on an unstable, movable carriage (affectionately called sweatlana), but with no rest between moves, lots of holds and pulses, and insane resistance trying to pull you back. Oh, and it’s done in the dark with loud, bumping music. It’s simultaneously heaven and hell under those dim [blue lights].

In the words of Biggie Smalls, “If you don’t know, now you know.”

Juicy, the Notorious B.I.G.

What started out as a nice add-on to my already crazed workout routine a year ago has become my sole reason for leaving the house these days — other than trips to Whole Foods, Wegmans, and occasionally Trader Joe’s. For real. 

I used to be a real gym rat. Up at 4:30, at the gym by 5 for a 30-45-minute HIIT boot camp or spin class, followed by an hour and a half of weightlifting. Six, sometimes seven, days a week — no excuses. I was in the best shape of my life: lean and muscular and full of energy. When I took my first [solidcore] class last January, I had no idea what to expect, but I went because my spin instructor/friend was coaching the class. After I recovered from having sore abs for three days (no joke!), I was hooked and added 2-3 weekly sessions to my already full workout regime. But then COVID hit and everything shut down. Like everyone else in the world, I was relegated to at-home workouts and the occasional outdoor, hilly country run (which I did not enjoy most days) for months. I lost strength, muscle definition, motivation, and drive. I lost myself.

Then after three very long months, [solidcore] re-opened (with a slew of pandemic-friendly protocols in place) and I may or may not have been the first one back. I needed the routine and accountability, so I upped my game to 5 days a week, then 6, and now 7 most weeks. On my one year anniversary (January 7 of this year), I completed my 215th class and now I’m gunning for 500 before the end of this year (notwithstanding illness, injury, or more coronavirus closings).

Having a gym or boutique fitness studio to go to sounds trivial in the grand scheme of life right now, and it is. It’s also a privilege — this shit ain’t cheap! But while some people splurge on shoes or makeup or their daily vanilla chai latte from Starbucks, I splurge on [solidcore]. 

The thing is, my love affair with those blue lights isn’t just a simple indulgence. It goes way beyond a good workout. [solidcore] has given me things the things I was missing during quarantine, like:

• Accountability
• Camaraderie
• Connection
• Encouragement
• Strength
• Confidence
• Acceptance

I talk a big game on this blog about being a grown-ass woman who does what she wants with confidence and self-assuredness, and some days that really is me. But other days, my socially anxious, introverted, insecure self shines through and I struggle. With all of it. Pre-pandemic, I was in a groove, feeling strong and powerful, but as pandemic fatigue set in, I fumbled and floundered. [solidcore] has given me back a sense of normalcy and has put me back on solid ground. It’s given me back strength, confidence, and connection. It’s given me back ME.

[solidcore] is a bit of an oxymoronic workout: It’s low impact but intense, quiet but loud, dark but light. Paradoxically, it’s a place to both hide from the world and really be seen. It’s a place to both push your limits and give yourself grace on days when your body’s not having it. It’s a place to both work on yourself for yourself and be part of a like-minded team. It’s a place that feels like both heaven and hell because a 12-second-hold feels like an eternity, but 50 minutes flies by.

But the best part? The coaches and my [squad]. They keep me coming back. They encourage and push, but not in an annoying way. The perfect blend of cheerleader and drill sergeant. As a writer, word selection is everything to me. Words have meaning. Words have impact. At [solicore], challenges are called opportunities, goals are intentions, and other members are your squad. Words affect mindset.

Today, I am mentally stronger, more in-tune with my body, and more trusting of my abilities, thanks to my ‘healthy obsession” with [solidcore]. As an added bonus, I’m also able to run again without peeing my pants quite as much, thanks to a more solid pelvic floor, tighter ass, and firmer obliques. #winning 

– LJDT