Right of reply for Stiletto Workout.

Remember a while ago I wrote piece about the 'Stiletto workout.' Where ladies went along to a gym and did their 45 minute work out in high heels. I bemoaned the stupidity of it, questioned the point, mentioned how bad it was for your spine, you know the drift. Well hold up, from the comments...


"zoe mcnulty said...
Hi Fatmammycat, this is Zoe McNulty, the instructor responsible for the Stiletto Workout. I was a bit concerned reading your blog as it seems you may have taken a look at Dulcie's article and assumed many things and quite rightly so.
As lovely as Dulcie was, there were many reasons as to why the article should have been scrapped and re-written. For a start she didn't actually come along to do the class, merely spent 10 mins in heels posing for photos, which is fine as I understand that she then had someone else to interview of a more urgent nature and a whole lot more newsworthy than an exercise class.
Had she had the time to come along and take part in the 45 minute class she'll have understood that the majority of the class is performed in trainers and only 10 minutes at the most is spent in the heels, so it will probably be difficult to form bunions and do damage to one's spine and postural alignment in my class- especially as at least half of the class is spent addressing postural issues and performing toning exercises for the core, strengthening techniques for joint stability and the muscles around the joints and lots of work goes into improving balance, something that all adults should think about focusing on as they grow older and bones become more brittle.
On another issue, you mention that men are obviously not a part of 'everyone' who is invited to take part. This isn't true. Although I'm not entirely sure (and it's non of my business) what their sexual persuasion has been, I've actaully taught quite a few guys in the Stiletto Workout. Part of me wishes I hadn't called it the Stiletto Workout as heels, although beneficial, are not essential. And I am well aware that the word "workout" suggests all sorts of images that could disuade people like yourself from trying it out.
Another thing that I think you wrongly assume is that as an instructor I am stick thin and bursting with confidence. THIS IS SOOO FAR FROM THE TRUTH! I'm a healthy, busty, completely insecure and wobbly size 16 working in an industry of stupidly slender and buff people and it is through learning how to disengage my brain from acknowledging this fact that I can actually appear to be bursting with confidence. And this is the whole point of my class. Yes, you're going to tone up, yes you're going to burn some calories but most of all you're going come out of the class feeling empowered!! You'd be amazed at the change that I see in people from the start of the class to the finish- they can completely come out of themselves and loosen up- how fantastic that they've relaxed and allowed their bodies to move more freely- all without the use of alcohol!!
It's not a striptease class, it's not pole dancing, there's no exposing of flesh, licking of lips or suggestive facial expressions- it's just a bloody good giggle! Now, Fatmammycat, Finn, Fat Sparrow, even you Kim Ayres, I urge you to give it a go cos I promise you, you'll have a good time. And hey, if we're going to exercise, and unfortunately we do have to- it may as well be fun. I wish you much health and hapiness in 2007."

"And I am well aware that the word "workout" suggests all sorts of images that could disuade people like yourself from trying it out.' Zoe, I'm a great believer in fitness, almost fanatical in fact, so it wasn't that I was raising an eyebrow at. I also hate the word 'empowered' but that's just me.

Now, never let it be said that I am not a woman who can doff a cap if I am mistaken. I will say in my defense that Mizz Dulcie of The Sun never mentioned trainers once and in fact said...' I actually started to enjoy myself. If it hadn’t been for the searing pain up my calf muscles, I would have forgotten all about the stupidly high heels I was prancing around in."

However this is The Sun and 'quality paper' such at it is I suppose one should expect it to be full of error and spin (total lies). So Zoe McNulty, mea culpa, I still feel high heels have absolutely no place in a gym, and no one will convince me other wise. I would question the point of spending any time dealing with core strengthening and stability if you are going to throw it all out the window two second later altering the core structure by putting on high heels and throwing the body completely out of alignment.
But then I am an absolutist. I am tying to imagine suggesting to Memnoch-my kick boxing master and all round bollocks- that we do a stiletto work out. I would be laughed clean out of the dojo, or firmly placed outside.
However, your class sounds like it is a bit of a laugh and as you say 'it may as well be fun.' so good luck with that.