If there's one thing that sets me apart, it's that I'm willing to try anything when it comes to exercise. I spent hours in barre class doing tiny movements in sticky socks. I've often looked around in horror to see if I'm the only person who's modified crow pose while sweating in a hot yoga class. I've subscribed to running programs, taken the plunge on Megaformers, and briefly jumped on the Chloe His Tin bandwagon amidst the chaos of 2020. And through it all, I learned her one lesson. training girl.
I've fantasized about being that person who heads to a Pilates class every morning wearing a matching set, but I also wanted to focus on the exercises that make me feel my best mentally and, perhaps more importantly, physically, on my fitness journey. It's an exercise that will make you feel great. I'm sweaty, tired, and feel a sense of accomplishment every time I finish.Therefore, for the last six years, I orange theory fitness again and again.
Ever since I tried my first free* class in 2017 (this benefit is still available!), I've been hooked. Orangetheory Fitness has taught me how to work out smarter and more effectively. And eventually, he learned to set aside an hour of his day for exercise and started loving it instead of dreading it. Here's why I love this product and how it works.
workout
orange theory fitness is a one-hour group workout based on five heart rate training zones: Grey, Blue, Green, Orange, and Red. The gray zone uses 50 to 60 percent of your maximum heart rate, and the red zone uses 92 to 100 percent. While spinning on the treadmill, weight floor, or rowing station, the goal is to spend 12-20 minutes in the “orange zone” (84-91% of your maximum heart rate) to boost your metabolism, burn fat, and burn more. is to do. calorie. please do not worry. There's no need to guess which zone you're in. You wear a heart rate monitor connected to the machine you're using and a studio screen that shows you what zone you're in at all times during your workout. .
On the floor, you can expect to build muscle strength and build lean muscle mass with intervals of strength training and functional strength-focused strength training. Whether you're an experienced lifter or someone who doesn't know where to start when it comes to weight training, you'll love this part of the class. Not only will every exercise be displayed on a screen in the studio, but your coach will also demonstrate each move before performing it. This makes weight training more approachable and allows you to learn about your form and continually improve.
Similar to the floor, all levels of experience are considered in the treadmill section of the class. Throughout the tread training, the coach will guide you according to her three levels: power walker, jogger, and runner. You will be given instructions such as “30 seconds at base pace'' and “60 seconds at push pace,'' but you can decide on either depending on your level. If you choose power walking instead of running, you can walk at a higher incline than run and maximize your workout at your own pace. Rowing on his machine rounds out the class as a full-body workout, helping you further strengthen your body and develop more power after class.
my experience
I've been an avid Orangetheory fan for years, but when I moved apartments I took a little break before settling into my new studio. Now that I'm back, it's hard to remember what my previous workouts were like. As I mentioned, I've done just about every workout under the sun and by an absolute landslide. orange theory fitness Not the most intimidating environment for me. While in many other classes I feel pressured to wear certain clothes or have certain abilities (I'm a girl who barely touches my toes, so perhaps this is why Pilates is a no-no for me) ), there is no such thing in Orange Theory. I often wear a big t-shirt and bike shorts to class and don't stand out or feel out of place. It's a come-and-go environment that even on days when you're not feeling up to working out, you'll be excited to step in.
When you enter the studio, you choose which station to start from and connect your heart rate monitor to it (if you don't have one, you can borrow one for free on your first visit). I always use the treadmill because I like to get the cardio portion done before I hit the floor, and from there you're assigned a machine number with your name on it. No matter which section you start with, start your class with a 5-minute warm-up to get the blood flowing and get ready for class. One of my favorite things about him in this class is music. There's always the kind of song that, if you hear it at a bar, will make you gasp and run to the dance floor.
I fall into the “jogger” tier of treadmills, so I spend the tread portion of my classes practicing more speed than incline (unless it's a power-heavy day and I need to use both). ). Instead of just going at the same speed for 30 minutes (which is what gives treadmills their bad reputation), every workout is divided into easily digestible blocks and alternate paces to ensure you're getting the most bang for your buck. tend to perform. by. I loved running outside, and I loved running outside, but as I played around with speed and sprints, I started having fun running on the treadmill. This is something I never thought I would say.
I'm not going to lie. I think rowing is the most difficult class. Rowing is inherently difficult and I have a hard time motivating myself to do it, so I'm really happy that I was able to gain so much experience in competitive rowing. orange theory. Similar to the treadmill, instead of long 15-minute rows, the rowing portion is divided into different sets depending on speed and power throughout the section.I feel like I'm rowing a lot The next day I am very satisfied, especially considering that my chest and back are the most neglected parts of my body. Most of the time, bodyweight training is incorporated into the rowing section, so between sets, you'll take a break from rowing to do some squats or medicine ball work. Although it is difficult, completing this section will feel very rewarding.
What do you like most about class? floor. I really love strength training and especially when he practices with the TRX bands, I can see how much more weight I can lift now than when I started a few months ago. , I am grateful to my coaches.they push you just The right amount and that's especially true for me on the floor. My coach comes up to me during sets and asks how the weight feels (which is code for “it looks too light” and frankly, the coach is always right ), when I admitted that I could lift more, he said, “I can lift more. For me, I need to handle something heavier. I went from 15 pound weights to reaching 30 pound weights and have never felt stronger.
I love the flow of standard classes, but I recently learned that They offer two new class optionsI would like to try: tread 50 and strength 50. It's great to have the option to change things up and focus on either strength or endurance while still maintaining the same great coaches, community, and atmosphere that have drawn me to Orangetheory for the past few years.
verdict
All of my friends feel the same way about taking an Orangetheory Fitness class. This is funny to me considering it's the least intimidating environment I've ever worked out in. Every class offers a coached team environment. People who don't judge and fellow participants who join you.meanwhile orange theory class It's the kind of challenge that makes you feel like you've accomplished something every time you leave the room. I've never experienced a workout that so thoroughly considered all levels of fitness. As soon as I would recommend it to my mom, I would recommend it to my friends who are running marathons.— and for me, the results speak for themselves.
If you are interested in trying Orange Theory Fitness, we offer the following services: Free* introductory classSo you can see for yourself what the training is like. There are various locations all over the country. The programs are standardized, so you know you'll get a great workout no matter where you live. As for me, I'm glad to finally be able to stop living between studios. We have officially found a winner.
*Only available at participating studios. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit orange Theory.com/promotion-terms or visit the studio.
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This post is sponsored by Orange Theory Fitness, but all opinions expressed within the post are solely those of The Everygirl Editorial Board.
