Three mornings a week at 8:30 am, the women (and occasional men) of Muscle Dance participate in a strength training ritual with Aruna. This is not a boot camp. It’s a more rarified form of weight lifting. It’s all about proper form and, frankly if it weren’t for the community of wonderful women, the jokes, and the music  (everything from chanting, to rock and roll, the blues and “drums of pain.”), it would be a lot harder to endure.

Muscle Dance combines the focus of martial arts, the placement of dance, the core integrity of Pilates, the meditative quality of yoga and a smart approach to bodybuilding that doesn’t rely on the number of reps—but how long the muscles stay in contraction. We can make 5 pound dumbbells feel like 15.

Just take a look at some of our regulars. Many had never lifted weights before taking this class and very few of them enjoy training alone in a gym. Together, however, we all get stronger!

If you feel too weak, have too much pain or not enough energy to lift weights, you may be the perfect candidate! If you can’t come in for class or a private session with Aruna, the “Dancer’s Body” DVD on this website is the next best thing. If you get tired, just imagine the women in the class encouraging you to go further!

The purpose of getting stronger is to enjoy more of life.