COLIN KIM isn't the type of teacher who takes offense when students fall asleep in his class. In fact, that's the effect he's after.
By the time Kim's aptly named "Naptime" class comes to a close at 10 on Thursday nights in Hollywood, the occasional snore rises from a gym floor strewn with students all assuming the corpse pose -- that's yoga-speak for lying flat on your back, limbs comfortably extended.
Effective? No doubt. Afterward, with all the stretching, deep breathing and relaxation exercises, it's hard not to feel like a wet noodle, or a rug that's gotten a good shaking out. Most sleepy-eyed students can be seen stifling yawns as they make a beeline for the door -- and their pillows at home.
But could this possibly count as a workout?
Absolutely, said Kim. "This isn't a typical workout, but it is a workout. Sometimes you've gotta give your body a break."
Move over Xtreme step, Xtreme spinning and Xtreme strength-training classes -- fitness clubs such as Crunch, where Kim teaches, are making room in the lineup for classes that don't require at least two towels to mop up all the sweat. The counterprogramming might seem counterintuitive amid all the concern about obesity and sedentary lifestyles.
But, fitness experts say, sometimes less is more.
Gyms have long served as an active person's sanctuary from a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle. Yet working out can sometimes be a source of stress itself. In a world that puts so much emphasis on picture-perfect bodies, it's not a far-fetched notion. Even yoga classes can take on their own brand of extreme competitiveness. (Power yoga, anyone?)
When men and women feel anxious about not working out hard enough to get the results they want, or just can't keep up with the new, high-energy classes, it can lead to burnout and injury. It can also leave gymgoers feeling overwhelmed, as if they just want to give up, said Walter Thompson, a professor in the department of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
"The extreme classes are great, but they are targeted to a specific group, and not everyone can do that," Thompson said. He pointed to the highly structured workout routines of performance athletes: Although most work out daily, they rely on easy and moderate workouts to recuperate and prepare their body for more rigorous workloads. "It's absolutely beneficial."
