New Look, New Workout

Those you who have visited us since we re-opened on August 27 may have noticed some changes, like the new paint colors in our lobby. We also added a little something to the fitness room to help shake-up your workout. What is it? New circuit equipment! It had been hiding upstairs in the fitness studio for a while, but we decided to make room for it down here so everyone could use it.

I got my first chance to use it yesterday. You are supposed to go through the circuit quickly, doing as many repetitions as you can in only 60 seconds before moving quickly onto the next machine. This helps keep your heart rate up so you are burning calories while getting a great toning workout. The machines are set up in a big circle, making it easy to go from one machine to the next.

The circuit machines themselves are designed to help you get the most out of a short workout. Instead of using weights and pulleys like traditional weight equipment, they use pistons and air resistance. This allows you to work two muscle groups with each movement. For example, on the bicep curl/triceps extension machine, you pull the bar up to work your biceps and instead of it falling like on a traditional machine, you have to push it back down, working your triceps. This allows you to work all your muscles in half the time.

I think it's a great addition to any workout plan and would be an excellent workout to do with your children. I rode the bike for 30 minutes to get some cardio exercise in, then moved on to the new circuit equipment. I did two circuits of it and got an entire cardio and toning workout in less than an hour. It can definitely stream line any workout and I highly recommend you give it a try the next time you are here!