While in Atlanta, if a group of young, hot individuals dressed in athletic gear pass by vibrant with a rare sense of post-workout enthusiasm, don’t be envious or discouraged, get motivated. That’s what happened to me as I walked past the doors to Orangetheory Fitness in Midtown. A close friend of mine obsesses over the place so I decided to make a visit. What I learned, the difference between a good workout and a great workout!
I attended the Roswell location and arrived early at 4:45am to be exact. Why? Because my friend likes to workout at 5am and first timers are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to be briefed. You fill out paper work, sync your heart-rate monitor, and they ensure you properly know how to operate the advanced treadmills, rowing machines, free-weights, and resistance training equipment. Though you workout at your own pace, this is a group class with a set structure so Orangetheory Fitness is strict on time.
Classes are split into two groups. For half an hour, the first group runs on treadmills and the second mixes strength training with rowing. The second half of the hour, groups swap workout routines completing the hour. Workouts vary depending on the time and location you chose.
I began strength training. Lee, a phenomenal trainer, demonstrates about four different exercises – pushups, bicep curls, bench press, and rowing. Depending on the exercise, we execute about 8-10 reps or row a certain distance for about 5-6 minutes non-stop. Once time is up, Lee instructs us to perform a new set of exercises. We continue rotating stations and performing different sets of exercises about every 5 minutes for half an hour.
On the other side, running on the treadmill at Orangetheory Fitness is just as intense. Participants start at and hold a base pace, with somewhat of an incline, which varies on your athleticism. About five minutes in, Lee instructs us to move up to our Push pace and run at that speed for about 2 minutes. After the 2 minutes, we max out our run for one minute then drop our speed back down to our base pace and repeat the cycle for about half an hour. Whether you’re a walker, jogger, or runner, they have set paces mapped out for you but you can always make adjustments to what makes you feel comfortable.
Orangetheory Fitness standouts for reasons beyond hosting intense workout classes. “In color theory, each color stimulates a different psychological response.” The orange lighting of the room “invokes energy, youthfulness, vitality and health. This is the concept behind Orangetheory Fitness.”
Throughout the workout, “Participants are provided a heart-rate monitor …a proprietary technology developed by Orangetheory Fitness that uses Bluetooth to connect to monitors in class.” Essentially, you can view your heart-rate as you work out.
I personally loved the workout. It’s super intense but the great music and motivation from Lee makes it fun and exciting. With the weather getting colder, plus the holidays nearing, now is a great time to sign up with a gym. Orangetheory fitness has locations in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Roswell, near Griffin and a location in Athens. They offer one of the toughest 60 minute workouts I’ve ever endured and I encourage you to try it out. Your first session is free. Let me know how it goes!
