The Dailey Method Is Making Me Weak In The Knees

I picked up an unlimited month of The Dailey Method on Groupon, so my runner’s thighs should be mistaken for dancer’s legs any day now.

I don’t really care for classes that don’t get my heart rate up, so I wasn’t expecting to like The Daily Method. To be honest, the first time I hit up the Pilates-ballet-yoga fusion class I was bored out of my mind, and I left wondering, “What’s the point?” Hours later, when the delayed onset muscle soreness emerged, I smiled—that’s more like it!

The Dailey Method is a series of movements that focus on core conditioning, muscle strengthening, and muscle lengthening. The aim is to sculpt your body while maintaining balance and alignment to protect the spine. The movements are tiny and restricted, and often feel repetitive (hence my boredom), but they’re also quite tough. During the pelvic-tilt-squat-combo move at the ballet bar, my calves and quads shake uncontrollably and my knees give out—it’s pretty intense.

Behind this unassuming store front in Los Gatos, CA, lycra-clad ladies are strengthening their muscles without breaking a sweat.

Still, I’m not completely satisfied with a workout unless I break a sweat, so to get my cardio fix before class I run to the studio. I’d like to tell you I’m such a badass that I run the three miles home again, but I usually hitch a ride back with my cousin Christy. (She loves The Dailey Method and hates running. Go figure.)

Have you ever tried The Dailey Method? What do you think of no-sweat workouts?