What really defines a good workout? It’s fairly relative, in my opinion – because everybody is at a different fitness level. What’s right for someone who works out every single day might not be suitable for you. And with that said, wouldn’t it be nice to crush a workout at your pace while celebrating your own wins? Definitely.
I’m always on the lookout for new ways to challenge myself – especially when it comes to fitness and working out. It’s not only exciting when you try something different, but you’re also able to see how your body reacts to a new experience. Back when I played rugby in university, I was encouraged to give yoga a try – and at first, I wasn’t very enthused about the idea. Eventually I thought, ‘what the heck, why not?’ and after a class or two, I realized it was a great way to push my body to new limits, whilst also beginning to understand how challenging yoga could be! It ultimately helped me improve my mobility and flexibility, which not only contributed to performance, but with working out and general well-being.
My point here is: don’t hesitate to try something new, as it can sometimes be something that you might enjoy – or not – but you’ll only find that out if you try. Eliminate those what ifs guys! And that’s not to say that sticking to a routine is a bad thing, but outside of that it’s nice to throw in something new every now and then.
A Closer Look
To start, what does the workout consist of? I won’t try to explain it too much since their website does a pretty good job of summarizing it:
Orangetheory is a 1-hour, full-body workout, focused on training endurance, strength and power. We use heart rate-based interval training, which burns more calories post-workout than traditional exercise. When wearing our exclusive OTbeat heart rate monitors, your real-time results are displayed on large screens throughout the studio. Intensity is based on your own individual heart rate zones, making the workout effective for all fitness levels. To top it off, our certified coaches lead the workout to prevent you from over or under training.
https://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/
I tried a class – and I really enjoyed it. But beyond that, what I loved about Orangetheory was that you were always in competition with yourself – and you can even track your progress over time. With the OTbeat wearable devices (still using the OTBurn even outside of classes), you are able to have a live view of your performance and heart rate, ultimately allowing you to pace yourself accordingly. The goal of every class is to spend at least 12 minutes in the orange zone, which is the level of intensity that is putting your heart rate between 84 to 91% of your unique heart rate maximum. When your heart rate is elevated, you’ll start to see and feel real changes in your body.
It’s really worth a try – just to see what you’re capable of and how far you can push yourself. That might sound intimidating at first, but it’s really worth the attempt – and I promise you won’t regret it. If you do become a regular you’ll be able to monitor your growth and improvement over time, so if you’re looking to kickstart something new for 2020, this might be something worth exploring. I’ll definitely be attending another class soon to see if I’ve improved from my last class!
And if you’re unsure still (which is completely normal), I found that the Orangetheory FAQ page answers some great questions, so feel free to have a look. Going into 2020, my motto will continue to be ‘getting comfortable with the uncomfortable‘ – and I think you should have a go at that too!
Thanks for reading!
