Spoiler: I LOVED the class!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been looking for a workout that will complement my running and strength workouts at home, and that would also feel more social and get me out of the house.  I’ve tried the local gym, but didn’t really enjoy it, and Orange Theory appealed to me because I liked the sound of heart-rate based, personalised, interval based workouts. Perhaps you’re in the same boat as me, or maybe you need the power of group exercise for motivation and accountability or for getting started on your fitness journey. Either way, after my first class, I can confirm that it’s a great idea to give Orange Theory a try. 

The class I tried out for my first one was a 2G class and by the time it started, I felt so welcome, confident and excited to try it out. The group was split into two: one half started on the treadmills, the other half on the rowers and weights. 

I was allocated to the rower first (you can choose where you start), on which we warmed up, and then did a few intervals. I enjoyed using it as we don’t have one at home and I like doing cardio in ways other than running. The rower also uses your whole body, and it felt like I was having a great workout!

After the rower, my group went over to the weights stations. The stations were so organised with a variety of equipment; weights, bands, steps etc..  The coach demonstrated the exercises clearly, which were also displayed on monitors if you needed a little reminder.  I was really impressed with how much attention to detail the coach paid to everyone’s form, correcting it where needed, and getting heavier weights for those who needed them. I enjoyed the mix of guidance, while also being able to work out independently, not feeling like I was being watched. Everyone around me worked out at their own pace, and used different weights and paces, based on where they were at in their fitness journey.

After the weights section, it was time to move on to the treadmill, the last part of the class, and my favourite.  The treadmill section was fast; some base running with intervals added in. If you’re not so much of a runner, you can power walk instead, which is such a great option. The coach gave out instructions for both runners and power-walkers as there was a mix of each in the class.

At the end of the class, everyone came together to stretch and then Kelly welcomed me and the other newbie, and we all congratulated each other. 

My first impressions of OT were great and I had such a fun experience. Everything from the pre-class welcome, to the quality of the workout and helpfulness of the coach was high quality! At the end of class, Coach Kelly took time to walk through the results of the class and the data, and then handed me to the front desk who talked about different class packages. I didn’t feel any hard sell, but I walked away being clear on the choices I had. 

I went in to Orange Theory wanting to commit to something, and give something new a shot, so I decided to sign up for their basic monthly package of four classes. The more you buy the better value they are, but at this point in time I’d like time to figure out how to fit the classes into my marathon training before over committing and then feeling like I’m failing or wasting money. I can also always buy a couple more classes if one class a week isn’t enough.

If you’re looking for a varied workout which you can engage in, regardless of your fitness level, and one with a welcoming community, I can highly recommend trying out Orange Theory. I’m looking forward to trying out more classes over the coming months and fitting it into my marathon training schedule.