High-intensity interval training is at the Purks YMCA in Vicksburg. The “3G” – guns, glutes, gut – group exercise class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

Kimberly Thomas substituted the workout session Tuesday and said the idea of the class is to work out each muscle group hard and quick.

“The way I structure the class is emphasis on pushing yourself aerobically, and then, while you’re in cool down and your heart rate is coming down, working on your muscle groups,” Thomas said.

Thomas started the class with warm up stretches, wall exercises and running laps around the hallway with a mixture of yoga. She created the workout plan for her class after being certified at Mississippi State University, and picked up ideas on teaching classes and choosing exercises.

The 3G workout targets the muscles areas most women feel need work: the arms, legs and stomach. However, the goal of the class is a total body workout.

“This class is specifically targeted for that,” Thomas said. “If this is the only thing a patron does, they get a total body workout. They’ll be strong all over their body, stabilize their muscles; they’ll have good aerobic conditioning and they’ll feel stretched.”

Amanda Brock has been a member of the YMCA for about three years. She enjoys the facilities and feels safe leaving her child with the on-site daycare. Brock said there’s always some exercise class starting around 9 a.m. everyday.

Different instructors teach a variety of exercises and all run their classes differently.

“They will never be the same thing in every class and it’ll never be redundant like running on a treadmill. Trainers are very encouraging,” Brock said.

Brock also enjoys the accountability and said having other people watching makes her feel like she has to do the exercises.

On the days Brock comes to class and gets back in her routine, she gets more done throughout the day. She said she gets an energy burst after her workout and it is worth the sweat.

Lindsay Gilliland recently joined the YMCA and enjoys the class. Gilliland likes the group setting of 3G opposed to individual exercise.

“I cannot just get up and do something on my own. I have to know I’m meeting someone there and I do much better in a group or a class,” Gilliland said. “It keeps it different and interesting.”

Brock and Gilliland sweated through 3G Tuesday morning and felt tired but rejuvenated after their workout.

They both enjoyed the variety of exercise and meeting other women in the class, and said the workouts can be as easy or as challenging as you make it.

“They mix it up and keep it different so you don’t get bored doing the same thing over and over. You feel like you’re working different muscles and keep it interesting,” Gilliland said.

“You end up making friends with everyone in the class,” Brock said. “Everybody yells, hollers and comments on each other.”