Huntsville Living May-June 2021 | Page 25

HUNTSVILLE LIVING | MAY-JUNE 2021 | 25
people moving forward , whether they ’ re in college or high school and they ’ re wanting to do heavier weights , versus they ’ re coming in here just to get a workout in because they know they won ’ t do it on their own .”
While some athletes prefer to complete their strength training separate from their cardio workouts , the eXtreme Workout classes combine the two for an intense workout completed in intervals with active rest periods in-between . Being in a constant state of movement , anyone is guaranteed to shed calories , no matter the skill level , which initially attracts many to the class . However , the boot camp fosters a healthier mentality , changing clients ’ goals and mindsets over time to where the class ’ workouts becomes a fun escape , rather than a punishment .
“ What I like whenever I come in here and workout is when I can get my heart rate up to a cardio level , but I put my fitness tracker on weights because we were doing a weighted workout that day . We are able to get more bang for your buck , more out of your time , because we are doing weighted movements to work on strength training along with getting that heart rate to a cardio level and able to burn the calories through it ,” Zelewski said .
“ As you get stronger , the challenge then becomes keeping your form , keep moving forward with that , maybe get a little heavier , maybe drop more into a squat , and progress through a skill , instead of thinking , ‘ I need to burn 500 calories , how do I need to that today ?’” Zelewski added . “ We flip the mindset , because a lot of times when people have the weight-loss mindset , they see that as almost a negative type of idea of if I don ’ t do this , it ’ s not going to happen . They come in here and we have more of a positive light to it of don ’ t worry about what your fitness tracker says , don ’ t worry about how many calories you ’ re going to lose because you are going to burn them , but we ’ re going to have some fun while you do it .”
With the use of barbells , dumbbells , kettlebells , bodyweight movements , burpees , pull ups , push ups , running and jump rope , the one-hour period is never dull . Exercises change every 10-minutes with a new routine planned for each day .
The movements are as functional as possible for daily life , focusing on form and promoting a healthy longevity . The use of tricep style pushups better replicates how you would push a door or a large object , while the snatch techniques helped a client lift a fallen tree out of a roadway on her way to work .
“ A lot of the movements that we do are going to transfer over into your everyday life to be stronger overall … learning those functional movements so that you move in the correct way so that it helps you across the board in your everyday life , having a healthier , more fit lifestyle ,” Zelewski said .
With up to four classes a day for all skill levels and optional modifications , the ages of everyone ranges drastically . High school students are just as common working out alongside clients in their seventies looking for a challenge without feeling any restriction due to their age .
“ You don ’ t have to know all the movements in order to come in here , all you have to do is walk in the door ,” Zelewski said . “ One of our goofy little rules is that if your name is on the board , you can ’ t leave . You ’ ve walked in the door , you ’ ve committed to being here , and we ’ re going to find a way for that workout to be finished for you at your level . It doesn ’ t mean that it ’ s going to be scary , it might be a little uncomfortable to begin with because its something new that you don ’ t know , but if you just walk in the door , then we ’ ll make it work for you .”
HUNTSVILLE LIVING | MAY-JUNE 2021 | 25