13 August 2012
the grit factor
We discover a new fitness class that makes incredibly good use of your time.
My mind and body have grown weary of my exercise regime lately. Easily bored, I’ve been looking for something new to stir my muscles and by god I think I’ve found it.
GRIT is a high intensity interval training concept that has just recently launched at Les Mills. Only 30 minutes long, this workout leaves little time for boredom to kick in. It’s fast. Really fast. I was a mere minute late and already my class mates were a blur, jumping high over boxes and pressing their thighs into sumo squats. Throughout the 30 minutes we were constantly moving, only brief water stops breaking up the pace. Weaving together intense cardio exercises with muscle building and strength training, you get the feeling that having a reasonable level of fitness to start with is a prerequisite, however in saying that, my class had both the young, old, fit and not so fit, all sweating towards their own limits.
Designed to bridge the gap between personal training and team training, the classes are small. With only 15 people in each class, there is absolutely no chance of disappearing into the crowd and slacking off. Our instructor moved about the room instead of just leading from the front. Expertly trained in the art of motivation, he was like our very own sweaty and smiling Energiser bunny. Encouraging us in his upbeat Californian accent he managed to convince us to jump just that little bit higher and run even faster without ever coming across as pushy.
I finished the class a sweaty, red-faced version of myself, gasping for breath but rather happy that I had squeezed a hell of a lot of exercise into half an hour. Soon after, I bounced around the office with a new found energy, my muscles still giving me a gentle reminder of my exertion at GRIT three days later. Yes GRIT is intense, but there’s something very satisfying that comes from such a short, tough workout. Give it a go for yourself!
GRIT sessions are held at Les Mills in Auckland at the City and Britomart gyms. Bookings are essential. Click here for class information.
