HIIT with Rashouna

Rashouna leads a HIIT session at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch on Tuesday, October 13, from 6 to 7 PM. It's part of NickiFit, a series of fitness classes the Kansas City Public Library puts on for adults, and this one is high-intensity interval training built around strength exercises. The library bills it as ideal for anyone looking to increase their training volume and reshape their body with strength work, so it's more about pushing your limits than a casual stretch.

If you're already following the library's fitness calendar, you'll see it shares space with MixxedFit, a dance fitness program that pairs explosive dance movements with body-weight toning. That one is led by a certified instructor and set to music that runs from Top 40 and hip-hop to reggae and rock. Between the two, there's a good spread if you're trying to decide between a strength-focused hour and something more dance-heavy.

The venue itself is the Lucile H. Bluford Branch on the city's east side, named for one of Kansas City's most accomplished figures. Bluford was a former Lincoln High School and University of Kansas student who spent a long career at The Kansas City Call, where she championed civil rights and the African-American community. The branch houses a strong collection of African American literature and was updated with a $1.9 million renovation in 2009. It's a good spot to keep in mind if you're into that side of the city's history.

Rashouna's HIIT session runs from 6 to 7 PM on Tuesday, October 13, at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch, 3050 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64128.