Nelia Mojdehi doesn’t have much in common with superstar drummer Travis Barker.
Although the West Vancouver mom of two teens does sport a small collection of inspirational tattoos and has a passion for music. And lately, she has also been dabbling in the use of drumsticks, with a twist.
Twice a week, Mojdehi leads a unique cardio and conditioning class known as a Pound class.
Making its way up from Los Angeles, the full-body workout borrows movement from yoga, Pilates, and aerobics while allowing participants to access their inner rock star.
That’s because the Pound class features lightly weighted drumsticks incorporated into sequences set to a catchy playlist. Stretch, squat, lunge, reach, warrior pose, and drum solo across the mat.
“The volume should be up,” reports Mojdehi with a laugh, noting she likes the music loud when class is in session. That’s part of the fun.
A certified yoga instructor, Mojdehi has also been a student of martial arts and kickboxing for a number of years. She first heard about Pound classes on Facebook two years ago and was immediately drawn to it.
“It was like drumming but at the same time everyone was sweating and having fun,” she recalls, adding she was planning to attend a class in Los Angeles when she read about an instructor training course being held in Kamloops and signed up. She completed the three-day course last year.
“Working out is hard,” admits Mojdehi, explaining that the drumming helps distract from counting reps and watching the clock, habits all too familiar to many whose workouts have stalled.
“It’s like dancing. Same feeling,” says Mojdehi of the Pound class. “The thing I love about it when we all come to the class: it’s the music, it’s the focus, the co-ordination. It makes everyone happier.”
According to the official Pound website, the fitness trend was started in 2011 by two recreational drummers and former college athletes who decided to inject a taste of their musical side-interest into a fresh routine.
The drum-based workout is easy to modify so adjusts to any fitness level, notes Mojdehi, who leads two classes a week in West Vancouver and one in Coquitlam. She also offers corporate demos and has worked with a wide range of ages, including kids.
She says the class is “for anybody who wants to do a workout and also have fun.”
No musical talent is required and no instrument training is necessary. Before she started her class, Mojdehi admits she could play a little piano but had no interest in playing the drums. Now, “I love playing the drums,” she jokes.
Although it’s not quite the same as rocking out on stage with Blink 182 in front of you, Mojdehi says pounding drumsticks on the ground or in the air while working out to a solid beat is a great way to build strength and firm up muscles.
“Without realizing that you’re doing hard work, you’re doing it,” she says.
Mojdehi leads a Pound class at West Vancouver Martial Arts, 1559 Marine Dr., Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Cost: $15 drop-in, or a four-pack of classes for $40. One free trial class is also offered. For more information email neliaam@shaw.ca or call 604-760-0664.
