#trainerly

9 Rounds – Your Own Schedule

Although 9 Rounds has been around for years, I first heard about it mid-way through my journey.  It’s a mix of circuit and boxing drills an unusual concept – different than any other kickboxing classes or boxing facilities I’ve been to. 

I visited the Arlington Heights location and was surprised when I walked in.  I realized I wasn’t going to an organized class but instead a circuit.  Everyone is doing their own thing and working their way through 9 stations (thus 9 Rounds). I couldn’t help but think - Title Boxing meets Curves!  The entire circuit is 30-minutes and it’s set up that you will never need to rush to meet a specific class time.

Each station is 3 minutes and the lights change from green, yellow to red to let you know when to change rounds.  Unique to the Arlington Heights location, the trainers gear up in pads and make one of the rounds a one-on-one hands/pads experience.  My trainer was Carlos and in typical Edan form, I could not keep up with the sequence he gave me for hands/pads.  Maybe one day my body will follow what my mind is trying to process.

The low down on rounds - the first station was jump rope, 2nd round was squats/weights, and then 6 rounds of different bag work – including the speed bag that I was unable to master. The last round was something core. The stations change daily and the workouts are created by the trainer, versus corporate like most fitness chains.

 If you have a great workout, you ring the boxing bell to indicate how good it was 9 Rounds is a good option for those that are looking for a quick workout, can’t commit to specific class times and don’t want to break the bank.

For more information visit www.9round.com

TriBalance Schaumburg – My Hot Yoga Haven

I’ve been going to TriBalance intermittently since 2011 when I found it by chance searching for a hot yoga studio. I fell in love.  Since then, the studio has grown, changed locations and expanded its offerings but still stays true to the community and practice.  This is one of the magical havens that got me through the hardest times of my daughter’s battle with Leukemia.  It was my go to stop for a time-out from life when I was overly anxious.

Before my visit this week, I hadn’t been to TriBalance in awhile; it is a bit far from my home and honestly, I forgot how much I loved it.  When I returned, I took a Sunday morning class with Kim Michelle Curda – she was fantastic.  Her voice was rhythmic and although the class was pretty full with more than 40 yogis, she still walked the room, was audible, attentive and remembered to address each side of the body throughout the routine (she must have a memory of steel).

Unlike Bikram yoga that has 27 uniform poses done in sequence in a brightly lit room, hot vinyasa at TriBalance offers around 40 poses, in a dim (but hot) room - paper chandeliers on the ceiling with light music in the background. The classes are 1 – 1.5 hours long and unique, forcing students to focus on the voice of the teacher and embrace the meditative healing power of yoga.  Don’t get me wrong, there is a LOT more than meditation going on, your body will be sore the day after but your mind will be set on “chill”.

After a class at TriBalance, I come home in peace.  The kids can yell at me, dinner could explode, the dog could be going crazy and I honestly just don’t care.  I’m in a peaceful mental place after a visit to TriBalance and highly recommend trying it if you have been practicing yoga or are a newbie.  I’ve tried other studios for hot vinyasa and I have yet to find one that comes close to the TriBalance experience.

TriBalance offers other classes as well and I’ve tried a few which include boot camp, boxing and also I brought my daughter to the kid yoga (not heated).   Every experience was great and their instructors are top notch.

For more information about Tribalance Yoga, visit their website at https://tribalance.com/

Three60Fit – Muay Thai Training

Muay Thai was never on my list for the 30 in 30 endeavor – I didn’t even know it was an option for fitness. I heard about Three60fit from Susan Baysinger (a friend from my son’s wrestling team).  When she learned about my challenge, she reached out to the Three60Fit team and made a warm introduction. 

The club owner Christian and their publicist Michelle were warm and welcoming, inviting me to choose any class and come on in.  After looking over the schedule, I opted for Muay Thai because it wasn’t anything I’ve tried before (I didn’t even know what it was). 

Three60Fit has a cool setup with climbing wall, cage, bars, weights, etc.  It’s a smaller facility but well equipped.  I met Christian, his beautiful dog Sophie and Wayne Gregory, my trainer of the evening.

There were about 12 of us but my class consisted of 3 (including the instructor). Christian was leading an adjacent boot camp/cross-training class at the same time with about 8 students. 

The warm-up for Muay Thai was jump rope with alternating stances. Then Wayne had us shadow box with the inclusion of elbows and knees with alternating feet.  My mind could not keep up with the strategies for arm and leg motions and I was all over the place.  He said, “Focus on elbows.  Elbows are like razor blades, when you throw them you’re trying to cut somebody.  Knee strikes knock the wind out of people”. Oh boy, what did I sign up for???

Wayne is a no-nonsense guy when it comes to Muay Thai, he is oober focused on form, stance, breathing and liquid motions.  You cannot spend time with Wayne and fake-it.  Wayne is there to truly train the sport of Muay Thai - he loves it and is dedicated to making sure his students do too.

I won’t lie, there were times, I longingly looked over at Christian’s class filled with rings, TRX and weights and begged for the familiar.  I wanted something I was good at and Muay Thai was definitely a challenge for me.  This all changed once Wayne got me in the cage (yes cage) and we started practicing the moves he taught.

I faltered there a bit too – he would demand, “elbow” and I would knee him.  He was cool with it and once I let my embarrassment subside about my lack of listening skills, I gave it my all and didn’t do too bad.

I’m a bit bruised and a lot sore but what a great practice.  I’m sure it would take me well over a year to really gain the muscle/mental memory to even practice with any type of competence but it’s definitely foreseeable. 

I look forward to coming back and trying other classes.  To learn more about Three60Fit, visit the website at: http://three60fit.training

CrossFit Pally - The Sport of Fitness

This was my first true cross-fit experience. I did a trial years ago with my friend Klaudia but never jumped right in.  The owner Jeff suggested I first try a boot camp class first, but no, not me – I wanted to blog about authentic CrossFit…so here it goes.

 The first time I showed up, it was the wrong day.  CrossFit Pally had interrupted it’s regular schedule for the 5-week CrossFit Open, where gyms across the world take part in a series of challenges, submit results of the participants and find out who qualifies for the CrossFit Games.  They offered me a shot at the nightly trial (I think not). 

One of the women trying to qualify was doing consecutive box jumps, burpees and 30lb kettle-bell lifts, all under 20 minutes with increasing reps. Watching her made me feel like I would be sick on her behalf – damn she was strong!

I came back on Monday night and met with Emily for a regular CrossFit experience.  She walked through the workout of the day with everyone and set me up with a heavy bar for squats. The workout was a combo of heavy lifting over an extended period of time, 2,000-meter rows and then a timed experience where so many reps of sit-ups, lifts and jumps were to be completed (a race to the finish).  It’s not entirely competitive but it can be for someone like me (if I was actually in my league).

 During the workout, I peaked into the other room to get a glance at the boot camp, it was a similar combination but more of a circuit, filled with some of the same activities – probably more my pace.

 The ability to actually walk or sit the day following CrossFit Pally was limited.  My muscles were sore, everywhere.  I felt great but knew I had a lot of work to do.  I can’t really claim that CrossFit is organized weight lifting because it doesn’t give the activity justice.  It’s a strength, endurance, gymnastics, cardio and agility program that is just a revolving challenge.  CrossFit may seem scary but it’s scale-able, the trainers work with you for modifications.

Title Boxing – Speed, Strength and Full Body/Mind Engagement

I’m not new to Title Boxing. I was a member from 2012 – 2014 and LOVED IT.  I think I left Title to mix it up and give my body another type of fitness platform but there is no denying the incredible full body workout that Title provides.

When I searched for Title online – I thought they closed.  There was no sign of them on the Title Boxing Club website.  Thankfully I drove by and saw they were still there and gave them a call to set up a visit.

 I went to a 7pm class and it was packed.  I was amazed to see the club still going strong with about 20 - 25 in class.  If you’ve never been to Title, it is rows upon rows of bags.  The more people that show up, the harder it is to move around the bag but thankfully I still had wiggle room.

15 – 30 - 15

The class started with 15 minutes of intense cardio and a LOT of jumping.  You can definitely modify but if you’re like me, you will go all out until you are panting.  I was tired and winded by the time it was “gloves on”. 

Then it is a ½ hour on the bag.  The challenge isn’t only form but remembering the combo.  The trainer (who was Eric), started with about 4-5 moves, would work the moves for 1-2 minutes and then add another 4-5.  Remembering the combo, to breathe (correctly – which is a puff out for each hit), and form makes time fly.  Your body and mind are completely engaged. 

At the end of the ½ hour, we worked on some partner activities and then ended with 15 minutes of core.  My calorie burn was 500, I was exhausted and felt exhilarated.

To learn more about Title Boxing in Schaumburg, visit their Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/TITLEBoxingClubSchaumburg/.

Pure Barre – Squeeze, Tuck, Pulse, Bend, Stretch

Pure Barre in Kildeer definitely got the best of me.  Three little pieces of equipment (ball, band and bar which I call the B’s) sent my body into a fight or flight mode.  I was going to fight the intense muscle fatigue and stay in the class or I was going to fly out the door to escape, this class is seriously that demanding!  I challenge any athlete or fitness buff to take on the B’s and not shake like crazy (which I was told is the goal). 

Of course, when picking out my weights for the class, I scoffed at the choices (1lb, 2lb or 3lb), thankfully I grabbed 2lbs and not the 3’s (I mean, I usually do 15-20lbs); I can handle more. Yikes!  Hello ego, time to suck it up and survive an intense hour of shear burn and pretend you’ve got this fitness thing in the bag.

The class started off in the middle of the studio, switching back and fourth between pulsing and squeezing movements with the weights and ball.  Lisa was the instructor, a perfectly tone and beautiful leader and as graceful as one can get.  I followed her lead and as my muscles were screaming, I looked around the room and observed the women taking the class.  The young and beautiful, the older (and still beautiful), all had lean muscle EVERYWHERE.

The class progressed from focusing on one muscle group to the other - toning, strengthening, pulsing, squeezing, and then we moved to the bar.  We repeated motions on varying muscle groups until we shook and could take no more.  The movements were small but effective.  There was no down time, as soon as one muscle group was singing; we’d start on the next.

 I am more of a fast-paced girl, in and out, a few high-energy movements in each area but what I need is Barre.  I felt muscles I didn’t even know existed and despite the difficulty of the class for me, I knew this would bring me to the next level.  The practice of Barre results in the long and lean definition I’ve been chasing for years.

The owner Faith and instructor Lisa were welcoming and insightful.  I highly recommend adding this class to any fitness regimen.  One must at least try this class to understand the benefits.  It’s completely different than anything I’ve tried in the past.

Check out their schedule at www.purebarre.com/il-kildeer

By:  Edan Gelt

http://www.edanjoygelt.com

TSNY (Trapeze School of New York) in Chicago – A Mental & Physical Extreme Exercise

When I first suggested taking trapeze as a fitness class, I was told “that’s not exercise– that’s a thrill, like sky-diving”.  Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.  I might have agreed (maybe) until showing up for the death-defying act and being EXTREMELY sore the day after.

I grabbed my girlfriend Jane and off we went.  When I originally scheduled the 2-hour session, I didn’t think much of it but as we drove closer, the pit in my stomach grew heavier.  Questions starting popping up: How high is this going to be? (23’) Does it hurt to fall in the net? (Nope) Will I be able to even step off the platform to swing? (Yep)  What if I chicken out? (I didn’t)    My mind was racing.

When you first arrive, you sign a waiver – I’m not sure what I signed but it was definitely a tad longer than the ones I’ve been signing for other fitness endeavors.

Claire was there to help get us acquainted. After a quick walk through of how to transition from the platform to the bar (3ft above the ground), the fun began.

Claire told us to listen to the instructions called out by Steve once on the bar.   Steve was in charge of holding the safety lines and calling out movements through the microphone. Each movement works with momentum, so as long as each task is performed when instructed, gravity makes things seamless.  The safety lines keep you from falling and if you do, you are let down slowly.

We were given a harness belt with two loops on each side.  We clasped the red and blue ropes on to the belt and ascended up a bright orange ladder, 23’ in the air.  Thankfully Jane went first, because if she hadn’t, I don’t know if I would have worked up the nerve to start the climb.

Once on the platform, the say “ready” (this is where you bend your knees after both hands are on the bar), and then “hup” – this is where you jump.  I don’t think I jumped at the first “hup”, or maybe I did, it was all a blur.  

During the first swing out and back, when at the highest point out, Steve instructed “legs up” to hang upside down.  Missed this. I tried to swing my legs at the lowest point, which was too much work and I failed pulling a muscle in the process. After I finally got my legs in the swing, I refused to let go of my hands to swing upside down; so much for listening!

Jane nailed it out of the gate and let out a scream during her first swing out – pointed toes, hanged upside down and had great form to boot.

By the time we were done, we had completed 9 sessions in 2-hours, which ended with an upside-down swing, a catch (Claire caught us from another bar) and a backward summersault dismount.

I was sore the next day, my lats, hamstrings and quads ached but the best exercise actually had little to do with physical exertion.  Crawling the ladder, stepping off the platform, letting go of the bar while hanging upside down – these were extreme mental exercises. It was an override of instinct – “feel the fear and do it anyway”.  Each crawl up to the platform became mentally easier as the night wore on.

I will definitely be back with friends, my family or anyone who will dare to go with me.  It is a mental and physical feat without comparison. I just wish they were a bit closer to home.

TSNY (Trapeze School of New York) in Chicago is held outdoors in the summer at Belmont Harbor and year-round, at Broadway Armory.  To schedule a class or more information, visit their website at https://chicago.trapezeschool.com

By:  Edan Gelt

http://www.edanjoygelt.com

http://www.edangelt.com

Sweat Shop - Off the wall and wildly contagious!

The Sweat Shop in Buffalo Grove was definitely one of the most creative, fun and exciting stops on my journey.   There is no mistaking the passion of the trainers or owner – you feel it the moment you walk in.  There are huge pictures on the wall of different members and their achievements - from weight loss to finding new best friends.  My favorite part was the vibe, it’s a happy place and no one takes anything too seriously (except making members sweat).

 The theme is like a wild rave - a combination of dance, DJ, costumes and a lot of smiles.  The Sweat Shop mixes aerobic fitness with weights in a high energy, fun and unique style. At one point, the lights went down and we did a SweatShop rendition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  During another song, one of the trainers got dressed in a floral dress and wig and started dancing around like a granny.  The energy was electric and fun.

 The founder, Matt Kuhlman started the concept five years ago and has had to move into a larger facility because of the overwhelming demand.  There were more than 40 women in my class and the same number filed in for the class after mine.

The Sweat Shop blends the perfect combination of sweat, hard work, fun and laughter into an action packed hour.  There is no question why the crowd is there. The work out is effective, engaging and REALLY entertaining.

 A big thanks to Alex and Gary Simonian for the recommendation, and the trainers, Jim and Ben, who were the like energizer bunnies keeping us moving.  For more information about Sweat Shop, visit their website http://www.youregoingtosweat.com.

By: Edan Joy Gelt

http://www.edanjoygelt.com

http://www.edangelt.com