What’s a girl to do when her home gym closes for month?! Learn to surf, of course! Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration…I didn’t actually learn to surf, per se, but I did learn to workout on a surfboard! It’s called Surfset and it’s awesome! If you’re like me, you may have seen this innovative fitness company on Shark Tank years ago. Well, lucky for us, we can hang ten (have to use the surf lingo obviously, get used to it) at Well Within Studio in East Hampton.

Surfset allows you to ride the wave without getting wet! Inspired by the art of surfing, Surfset is designed to strengthen the core, improve balance, burn fat, and be fun! Combining high-intensity interval training with Pilates, resistance training, and constant stabilization, it’s a full-body workout that will get your heart pumping, your arms paddling, your core tight, and your entire body working!

Class begins with a warm-up (‘on shore,’ aka the floor) and immediately transitions into intervals of cardio and head-to-toe conditioning. Anything’s game, from ‘starfish crunches,’ to ‘duck-dive burpees’ (you think burpees are hard? Try doing ’em on a moving surface!) to ‘wave runner’ (aka mountain climbers.) The unsteady surfboard acts as an obstacle to jump over, a surface to squat on, a mat for Pilates and yoga, and even a place for standing arm-work with the built-in resistance band. The board is created to mimic the instability of an actual surf board on the water. In order to stay balanced or perform even the simplest movement on the board, the mid-section is engaged and working hard. By the end of the 45 minute class, (which flies by thanks to the thrill of the surf and hoppin’ music) the glutes, arms, abs, and back have all gotten a full workout!

It’s safe to say that these surfers thought of everything. Emma Field, owner of Well Within and Surfset instructor, explains what made her first fall for this unique fitness program:

“I stumbled upon Surfset a couple of years ago at a fitness convention in Germany and immediately liked what I saw. I kept in touch with the owners and as soon as a space became available, I opened up a studio to accommodate Surfset as well as various other fitness and yoga classes. I’ve worked with personal trainers and done pretty much everything out there, but nothing compared to Surfset. You get cardio, strength-building, muscle-lengthening and, of course, your core whipped into shape in no time! Personally, I love that there are no props, (besides the board, of course), so you get toned, but not bulky. I started my fitness journey as a Pilates instructor, so I appreciate a great workout using just your own body weight!”

So, how do you workout…on a surf board?! It takes a strong mind-body connection, an engaged core, and a balance of concentration and trust to complete the class without shaking profusely or falling off-board. Emma makes it look so damn easy and natural, you may wonder what’s wrong with you, but don’t fret. Emma says not to get discouraged at the first class. “If you keep coming back, your balance will improve and you will instantly start to see the results. I mean…who doesn’t want a toned surfer body?”

One Healthy Breakdown: Join the party wave at Well Within Studio! See you at the pipeline?!