Many balk at the idea of going to the gym for a number of reasons, whether it be the intimidating equipment or the insecurity that ensues when working out next to an obvious gym buff. When COVID-19 temporarily closed gyms and forced everyone to stay home, it only became easier to make excuses to lounge around on the couch and binge Netflix.
But a fitness studio in Southlake hopes to mitigate that aversion to exercise. Fitness franchise The Exercise Coach deems itself a “smart gym,” sporting computerized equipment that adjusts to the ability of the user, creates new benchmarks each time the user gets on the machine, and tracks data so the user can get a feel for their progress.
The Southlake space isn’t very big (about 1,100 square feet), allowing the studio to focus on personal training, either one-on-one or with small groups (currently no more than two people due to COVID-19). Best of all, says owner Mike Sims, sessions are only 20 minutes.
“If you know you don’t like to exercise, but you know you’ve got to do it, don’t you want to get the best exercise you can in the shortest time period you have to do it?” he says. “That’s what we do here.”
The Exercise Coach has four computerized machines: the chest press/row and overhead press/pull down, both for upper body; leg press for, well, legs; and nucleus for lower back and core muscles. As you complete reps, you’re instructed to follow two lines — a green line that remains static, representing your benchmark, and a yellow line that moves according to the amount of effort you put into each rep. The goal is to keep the yellow line as close to the green as possible.
Each client is given a pin number, so when they return, they can plug their pin number into the machine, and the machine will make the next workout slightly more challenging with each visit.
Like every other establishment, The Exercise Coach is adhering to safety protocols while the pandemic is still in play. Equipment is disinfected between sessions, and staff and clients are required to wear masks.
During the lockdown, Sims says he feared the studio would close for good had they not been able to reopen in May. So far, about 60% – 70% of clients have returned.
He advises people to not lose track of their workouts — COVID-19 may be the illness making headlines right now, but it doesn’t make strength training less important.
“The things that held true before we shut our doors still hold true,” Sims says. “How important it is to be as strong as you can be for as long as you can be — none of that stuff’s gone away.”
Strength Training — Not Just for Getting Ripped
Strength training does more than just build muscle. A few other benefits:
Promotes weight loss
Increases muscle conditioning
Lowers cholesterol
Improves blood pressure
Increases bone-mineral density
Increases metabolism
Improves posture