RateYourBurn | Class review of Gerren Liles at Whipped!

I look forward to Gerren Whipping me every Sunday!

I have taken several group fitness classes with Gerren, including 30/60/90 and VIPR.  Gerren is a really creative instructor and Whipped is a class that allows him to showcase his creativity.  Part of me is reluctant to review this class because it is already so popular and I am selfishly afraid that too many great reviews will make it even more difficult to squeeze into the class.  So with that-- you may want to get to class early-- there have been times it has maxed out.  Trust me once you get Whipped by Gerren, you will want to come back weekly for the same punishment!

The Whipped format may slightly vary with instructor, but with Gerren you go through 8 stations, with each station having 2 exercises.  You do exercise 1 for 30 seconds, get a 10 second break, then do exercise 2 for 30 seconds, followed by a 10 second break before repeating exercises 1 and 2.  After doing two sets of each exercise at the station you rotate to the next station where you do two different exercises.  You go through every station once and then get to the “lightning round.”  For the lightning round, you do each exercise once (as opposed to two sets of each exercise at each station) but instead of 30 seconds, the exercises are now 40 seconds with 10 seconds in between.  So, at the end of the class you have done 3 sets of every exercise.

Gerren structures the class so that your muscles may get a break in between stations, but you will work every muscle group in your body.  For example, if you work your arms and back in station 1, your arms will get a break at station 2 as you work your legs and chest.  This allows you to go balls to the wall in station 1 and not worry about not being able to push it to the max again in station 2. The fact that every muscle group will be worked throughout the hour long class is what makes me love this class.  It is a full body workout, but because each body part gets worked with a small break before working it again, you can always go to your maximum in the set.

Every week Gerren mixes up the stations so that you're doing new exercises that challenge you.  This class is INSANE.  I mean that in the very best way as I pride myself on only doing insane group fitness classes.  There are some staples that you can come to expect with Gerren's Whipped class-- #1 as in every Whipped class-- the ropes.  At Tribeca, the ropes seem to be heavier than at some other gyms.  #2-- the pull up station.  Gerren sets up a pull-up station approximately 10 risers high with body bars pulled across them.  I LOVE this station, but then again, I am slightly sadistic in my workouts.  Where else do you get to do pull ups in a group fitness class?!  #3-- there is also typically a cardio station where Gerren has you running sprints across the gym floor or doing agility drills on the ladder.  You will also always have the abs station and you will find yourself doing lots of crazy pushups at another station.

Gerren's class also has a good number of guys in the class, which indicates that this is not seen as a girlie class--not that girls are weak because let's be serious there are many girls in the class who can put the boys to shame!  Also, as you rotate through each station you are in groups of 4.  I always try to find the people who look like they are the most bad-ass and team up with them because I am competitive.  Sometimes Gerren has stations that require teamwork such as the station where everyone in the group holds a plank as the first person does 10 squat jumps. Once that person is done, person 1 holds a plank with the rest of the group, as person 2 does 10 squat jumps, etc.  So the class includes team work, while also allowing you to be competitive.

Gerren also yells out during the class providing encouragement while also gently poking fun at the regulars in his class.  It is clear that Gerren is a friendly guy who wants to push his students to the max.  He recognizes the regulars and makes a point of cheering them on throughout the class.  He will do the same with the newbies.  He will provide one-on-one instruction and support if a student is struggling, while also providing modifications for those who need it.

The exercises are always varied, creative, and fun.  Sometimes they are outrageous and you have to wonder how he came up with the crazy exercises.  The crazy ones are my favorite though.  They are always tough and fun! 

Gerren is cognizant of injuries, pregnancies, emergencies, and any other -ies (as he starts each class asking about these various "-ies."

I would recommend Gerren's Whipped class for anyone looking for a fun, creative, and challenging workout.  I never walk out of his class disappointed.  You will also not get bored!  The class goes back way too quickly and it's an hour long class.  Also, Gerren has great music selection.  There are some playlists that I want to hear over and over again.