With so many new fitness trends and boutique studios popping up, it can be hard to dig your feet in and stand your ground as an all-encompassing facility. To combat this, The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers has unveiled its new Signature Training Programs, including Manhattan Beach Workout, Urban Warrior classes, as well as yoga and barre. Josh Fly, the fitness director at The Sports Center, took some time to tell us about some of these Signature Training Programs, and what he expects for the coming year.
CS: What new trends are you seeing in Group X programming?
JF: Over the past few years there have been a number of fitness crazes — boutique yoga and barre studios, competitive triathlon training programs, individual cycling studios — and we have always strived to provide our members with state-of-the-art equipment, top-notch programming and the best instructors and trainers in the country. Members interested in both a traditional health club and the boutique studio experience can experience both under one roof at The Sports Center.
Unlike most gyms that charge additional fees for this type of programming, we felt it was important to redefine what a health club should be by providing everything at a reasonable cost. A driving force of this initiative is to add value to class programming by making it training focused, and not just group exercise. We have built-in progressions so that clients will experience personalized coaching, even in the group atmosphere.
CS: What do you expect to see throughout the course of this year?
JF: Athletes have always migrated to The Sports Center for its ¼-mile indoor track, state-of-the-art strength and cardio training equipment, amazing cycle studio, 25-yard pool and incredible location adjacent to the Hudson River. Now, with the addition of these new signature classes, new dynamic functional training areas, and the incorporation of the popular Mind Body Studio — which offers a variety of yoga, barre and Nalini Method classes — The Sports Center has truly cemented its status as the most comprehensive health club in the area for both recreational and competitive athletes. We feel that providing our members with such a wide variety of classes and training programs will inspire them to stay motivated to achieve their fitness goals and keep them excited about coming to the gym.
CS: Sweat Equity is in a small group training setting. How does a class like this work and how do you think the small group setting is beneficial for the clients and/or the trainer?
JF: This high-intensity, kettlebell-based class is designed to increase work capacity, improve skill and complexity of movement, and promote physical transformation. This class employs full-body, multi-joint movements, which have been shown to burn more calories and release more endorphins than other types of lifts and exercises. Throughout this program, participants not only increase strength, speed, power and endurance, but also flexibility and stability, making this class ideal for those seeking balanced fitness.
We chose to have each specialty class max out at 10 participants so the personal trainers leading the classes can truly give each participant a high-level of personal attention and instruction. We feel that a small group training setting creates a class environment that fuses the results and attention of a personal training session with the dynamic energy of a group class. Additionally, all classes include specific partner and group exercises designed to provide participants with a sense of team spirit and support.
CS: Tell us a little more about the Manhattan Beach Workout and what makes it so different. What are some ways that clubs without sand can utilize the area around them to their advantage?
JF: Manhattan Beach Workout is a high-energy, fast-paced class that is held in The Sports Center’s indoor sand volleyball court. Working out in the sand can re-establish the natural signature of the foot and directly strengthen the foot/ankle complex. It can prevent rollover for athletes and assist fitness enthusiasts in toning and strengthening the entirety of the leg and body. This type of barefoot training improves proprioception because everything is unbalanced — displacement of weight is good for everyone regardless of fitness level or athletic acuity. This class will vary each week.
Interview by Maggie Cunningham
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
