Orangetheory Fitness uses HIT protocols in its clubs
quality experience that gets results for participants, as well as ensuring that it’s enjoyable and inspirational so people want to do it regularly. That’s a tough combination – very few clubs are currently generating more than 5 per cent of their overall business from small group training.”
HIGH-INTENSITY PROGRAMMING Following the launch of its 30-minute intensive core workout programme CXworx in 2011, Les Mills is therefore launching a portfolio of HIT programmes, the LES MILLS GRIT™ SERIES. The fi rst three programmes – previewed at IHRSA in March and scheduled for a UK launch in the new year – cover the areas of strength, CV and plyometrics. Other GRIT SERIES programmes could potentially follow, in disciplines such as boxing. “We know that HIT attracts people who want to push themselves, so our HIT offering is structured to ensure that participants never plateau – there’s always a workout people can do to push them to their max and beyond,” explains Mills. “The full-body workout programmes combine burst and recovery cycles that will push participants to their limits – a hardcore, time-effi cient workout that’s backed by science and that will get results. That’s the key to motivation and to making it work in clubs. “We know that by maximising some of the best aspects of group fi tness – music, consistency, safety, a quality experience every time, expert trainers – our HIT programming will deliver for both clubs and participants.”
Meanwhile Orangetheory Fitness in the US (see also HCM July 12, p30) is a health club concept based exclusively around 60-minute, small group HIT-style workouts. Broken down into intervals of CV and strength training, and backed by the science of EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), Orangetheory’s training is designed to keep heart rates in a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. Participants use a variety of equipment – including treadmills, rowing machines, TRX Suspension Training and free weights – and burn an average of 900 calories per session. Sessions are led by personal trainers who audition for the role. “Our focus is more mainstream than other small group training programmes, and with considerably more equipment.
august 2012 © cybertrek 2012
“IT’S A HARDCORE, TIME-EFFICIENT WORKOUT THAT’S BACKED BY SCIENCE AND THAT WILL GET RESULTS”
The key ingredient is the heart rate-based training model: each participant uses a personal HR monitor and can watch their heart rate on the big screen,” says Terry Blachek, partner at Orangetheory Fitness. “If we can get our heart rate into
zone four – equating to 84 per cent of age-predicted target – for 12-20 minutes, we increase our metabolic rate not only during the workout, but for 36 hours afterwards. The result is the Orange Effect: more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn. “Our approach is suitable for all ages and all fi tness levels, because you’re working out based on your age and fi tness level, and monitoring that with heart rate feedback. Members love the team, love the coach, love the music and love the results. The success speaks for itself: men are losing 40-50lbs in a six-week programme; women are losing 20-25lbs. “Memberships and packages are
fl exible around what the client wants – they’re sold based on how many workouts individuals want to do each week. The bigger the package, the better the value per session – but people aren’t committed to particular time slots. They can book into any session they like.”
DRIVING SUCCESS Blachek continues: “We don’t need thousands of members to make this model work. We’re a small studio concept, keeping the overhead low and the price point as a niche market. This is affordable, personalised group training.” And for existing health clubs and
leisure centres which want to add HIT to their small group training offering? “The fi tness industry has been focusing on trying to get small group training off the ground because of its commercial and social bonding potential, but it’s been using the wrong model,” says Mills. “We create barriers by requiring people to pay big money in advance for courses, attend a fi xed weekly timetable at times that often don’t suit them – and sessions are often boring. “The solution is to provide fl exibility
for both customers and clubs. Let people pay by the session and book on the day, and run high-energy workouts with motivational music. HIT sessions lend themselves perfectly to this approach.”
healthclub@leisuremedia.com kate cracknell
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90