Drums Alive: drumming and prancing

Drummed: Editor Nicole (middle) after her first hour Drums Alive

Hoping and hitting at the same time - in the beginning the coordination of legs and arms bounces, as I dance with two drumsticks in my hands around the gym ball sitting on a bucket. It reminds me a little of the practice of tapping one hand on the head while the other circles on its stomach. Looks easier than it is.

But perfection is not what Drums Alive is all about. Also my ball neighbors partly falter in their movements. From the boxes in the wall unit drone driving basses. Coach Silke Warncke from VfL Lohbrügge throws the step announcements in between in a strong voice. Unfortunately, your feet are often covered by the gym ball - and because of the lack of a mirror wall, they can not be seen from behind either. Because the course takes place in a room of the community college, not in the gym.

At the same time, many other people around the globe are probably drumming on their exercise balls because the full-body workout from Drums Alive is just as suitable for children as it is for adults or seniors. It combines classic aerobic steps with a pulsating drum rhythm - training both body and mind. Blood circulation and sensorimotor functions are promoted, stress and aggression reduced.

Necessity is the mother of invention

Carrie Ekins is the name of the woman who started Drums Alive out of frustration. After all, the fitness and wellness trainer was not allowed to do sports for weeks after a hip operation. To at least be able to live out her urge to move, she drummed on cardboard boxes with drumsticks sitting on an exercise ball. The boxes became a second, fixed ball; Ekins changed from sitting to standing. And she had already developed a new fitness program: Drums Alive.

The fun of creative expression in the group is in the foreground. But you also have to get involved with that. If you prefer classic strength and conditioning training - but still everybody in your class - you probably will not make friends with Drums Alive. The participants around me, however, the group dynamics seems to please: Despite some knotted legs finish the course with a smile on his face.