living
Trainer Ted Schuh instructs Jessica Hoffmeister at Giorgio’s Fitness in Spokane Valley.
“6 ways to get fit,” continued...
1.
MAKE SURE IT FITS
With a whole range of classes, gym memberships and trendy programs out there, it can be hard to know where to begin. And despite what the infomercials may promise, there is no one magic program. “We’re all different, so you can’t just say that this is good for everybody,” says Giorgio Usai Sr., the owner of Giorgio’s Fitness in Spokane Valley. Lots of people show up at the beginning of January and hop on a treadmill thinking all their problems will be solved, he says. But there’s a reason working with a trainer can help you make progress more quickly. It’s just like learning a new language or a new instrument, he says. “If you want to learn how to play the
guitar, you buy the guitar first and maybe you play with it a little,” he says. “But then you have to get a coach or a teacher, or take lessons.” Jeff Campbell, a certified personal trainer, says his clients always start with a screening to assess the person’s current fitness level. “A lot of times that’s a real eye-opener for people,” he says. Clients who feel a little out of shape may be surprised to weigh in at almost 300 pounds. Facing that reality motivates them to work out more often than the once-aweek sessions they’d been planning. It’s important to be honest with yourself about where you’re starting from, says Shawn Brow of South Perry Yoga. It’s easy to get discouraged — or injured — if you leap into a program you’re not ready for.
“You need to be really realistic at the beginning,” she says. “Sometimes you can bite off more than you can chew.”
2.
TRY SOMETHING NEW, but…
It’s good to try out new fitness trends or new activities, as long as you don’t give up too quickly. For example, Brow says, disliking one yoga class you tried one time doesn’t mean you don’t like yoga — you just might need to explore a little more to find the class you enjoy most. Even within a single yoga studio, some instructors lead with a more physical style while others may emphasize the meditative aspects. “You have to find a type of class and an instructor that rings true for you,” Brow says. ...continued on page 30
FRESH FITNESS Bar/Barre
T
he newest fitness craze in Spokane is inspired by dance, but this isn’t Zumba. Spokane has two new studios — SPOKANE BARRE and THE BAR METHOD SPOKANE — that borrow from ballet training for intense fitness classes with results. The idea is ballet-inspired leg exercises paired with core strength, with variations each time so the routine doesn’t get dull.
“It’s one-inch movements, but it’s pretty intense,” says Kerrianne Thronson, owner of the Bar Method Spokane. She initially liked the program for its attention to detail, but was won over by the effects. “It worked,” she says. “It worked quickly and it was challenging.” Certified instructor Mary Conklin first tried the program at Thronson’s recommendation and was impressed
by how well it worked. “I had ab muscles that I thought were shot after having three babies, and they’re back,” she says. Spokane Barre is owned by Emily Rogers, who was previously a corporate trainer. She designed the barre program after seeing that a lot of women weren’t getting the results they’d hoped for. “They weren’t getting that lean,
feminine look that they were really wanting,” she says. Because the classes target hard-to-reach muscles, they’ve been popular with runners and other athletes as a complement to their other activities. And since they can accommodate many ages and skill levels, it’s popular for moms and daughters to sign up together. — Lisa Waanenen
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