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New floating workout -- like yoga, but harder -- swims into Dallas 

The art of traditional yoga requires extreme balance on a hard, flat surface. Imagine adding sloshing waves of water to the mix.

For years, yoga has been dressed up in all sorts of varieties. So it's no surprise that the latest flavor involves water and a floating mat, in a new-to-Dallas class called BOGA Fitmat.

The workout consists of yoga-centric movements with sprinkles of cardio and strength, all executed on a BOGA Fitmat, which is essentially a yoga mat attached to a device that can hold up to 400 pounds and still float above water.

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The classes, available at the Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center, welcome up to 10 people at the facility's indoor lap pool. Don't worry: It's plenty warm in there and attendees are welcome to wear workout gear instead of swimsuits.

Now, the intent is to stay upright and not take a dip in the water, hence the no-swimsuit-needed thing. But I'm definitely not a sure-footed gal when it comes to balance, so if you're like me, you might go ready to make a splash. And note, you do want to be able to swim and not have a fear of water.

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Fitness instructor Vennie Jones made it look simple as she fluidly executed each move with confidence. Me? I felt like I was learning to walk for the first time. But even after a single 60-minute session, I felt more nimble.

The class consists of lunges, squats and jumps. (I almost went splat with the jumps but saved it by relying on my core for stabilization.) Planks were a challenge, especially when we dipped our feet in the water, then treaded our leg back and forth to engage the obliques.

The unstable surface requires you to engage your core muscles. Additionally, the hamstrings, glutes and quads get a good workout with the strength- and cardio-based movements.

You'll feel sore the next day, that's for sure. You should also feel amazed at your new sea legs.

The class is approved for any fitness level or age. You don't have to be a member at Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center to attend. $30 per class. To sign up or inquire about the class, email Jones at vennie.jones@BSWHealth.org or visit landryfitnesscenter.com for class offerings and times.

By KIMBER WESTPHALL

If Dallas' new floating workout don't look easy, well, they aren't. Take a look inside one class: