Category Archives: Group Fitness

What’s Myzone, Anyway?

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Lisa Thomas, Director of Member Services

To put it simply, Myzone tracks your effort to help you get the most out of every workout. Myzone measures your heart rate to tell you the truth about how much effort you’re putting in, and it’s 99.4% accurate.

As the name suggests, everyone has different fitness zones that can change over time. Myzone helps you identify these zones, adapt to new zones, and rewards you for your effort. These zones are displayed using five simple-to-read, color-coded tiles that reflect the intensity of your workout. The more effort you put forth, the higher your zone and the more MEPs — Myzone effort points — you earn. When you earn these MEPs, you turn fitness into a fun and exciting game.

Myzone tracks your heart rate, activity time and calories burned via a comfortable chest strap. With Bluetooth and built-in memory, Myzone has the versatility to stream live stats to your smartphone, third party apps and devices (including Apple Watch, Garmin, Android Wear), and Myzone group displays at participating fitness centers.

The free Myzone app gives you access to the customized activity page where you can view your daily, weekly and yearly results. You can set goals, view status rankings, enter group challenges and even connect with your friends. Myzone differs from wrist-based trackers by accurately measuring effort readings no matter what form of exercise you choose. (Swimming, however, poses some difficulty with the Myzone belt staying connected to skin.)

Myzone levels the playing field so everyone can compete and effort is rewarded. Real-time feedback increases motivation and accountability, and, over time, leads to real results.

Stop by the Welcome Desk and pick up your Myzone belt. You will be rewarded and once again feel good about exercise!

Lisa Thomas, Director of Member Services
303.770.2582 x284 | LisaT@GreenwoodATC.com

NASM-Certified Personal Trainer Development Program at Greenwood

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Greenwood is partnering with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to bring NASM-certified Personal Trainer Development Program to our club.

“True to our mission of providing students with a solid educational foundation, our goal is to create the premier fitness training school allowing for an in-depth educational experience,” said Master Trainer Vic Spatola. “To achieve this objective, we knew it was critical to align ourselves with the fitness certification program that would best prepare our students for a successful career as a professional fitness trainer. The best partner for us is NASM because of its reputation as an industry leader.”

NASM, a global leader in personal training certification, sports performance training and injury prevention and recovery, is the premier certifying body and education authority for Certified Personal Trainers (CPT). Accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the NASM CPT credential is the preferred choice of top health clubs and fitness facilities around the world. Students who complete the Greenwood NASM-Certified Personal Trainer Development Program will develop a variety of health and fitness skills, including:

  • Conducting accurate fitness assessments
  • Recruiting and retaining clients
  • Developing evidence-based exercise programs
  • Teaching and demonstrating proper techniques
  • Empowering, challenging and motivating clients toward an improved quality of life

“Through this collaboration with Vic Spatola and Greenwood Athletic and Tennis Club, we’re making our CPT program much more accessible and creating a long-term career path for health and fitness professionals looking to advance their education,” said Andrew Wyant, president of the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

After completing and passing the NASM-CPT exam, graduates will have the opportunity to pursue flexible and financially-rewarding careers in a variety of settings, such as multi-purpose health clubs, corporate fitness centers, independent business operators, community centers and more. Graduates will also secure a job interview at Greenwood.

Interested in becoming a NASM-certified personal trainer? Contact Vic Spatola at VicS@Greenwoodatc.com or 303.770.2582 x339.

About NASM

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is part of Ascend Learning, a leading provider of technology-based educational, curriculum and assessment solutions for healthcare and other vocational industries. Since 1987, NASM, currently based in Chandler, Arizona, has been a global leader in providing evidence-based certifications and advanced specializations for fitness professionals. Academic institutions nationwide incorporate NASM’s leading fitness content into curriculum as part of Certified Personal Trainer courses, and bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The vision of NASM is to empower fitness and wellness professionals, supporting them in their goal of motivating clients to lead healthier lives.

Welcome Our New Yoga Manager!

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Welcome Malissa Schwamm as Our New Yoga Manager!

Malissa has been teaching yoga full time for nearly 18 years, working as a studio manager, educational program director, yoga teacher, mentor, and creator of Warriors in Motion Yoga. She’s certified as E-RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance and has taught more than 12,000 cumulative hours in a variety of forms including: Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Meditation, Restorative, Fit and yoga for kids and teens.

She has served as the Program Director for Yoga Pod Littleton, helping create the opening schedule and class descriptions, hiring and supporting a team of more than 45 teachers, developing the educational programming for the studio, establishing a mentorship program and supporting the owners in various capacities of franchise ownership leading up to and through the grand opening of the studio.

She is also the proud creator and owner of Warriors in Motion Yoga, an organization that supports the nurturing, growth and development of yoga students through community events, experiential retreats, workshops and weekly classes. Their mantra is “finding freedom through movement,” which reflects her belief that the human body, mind and spirit experience the deepest state of living when they unite through exercise and movement.

Malissa’s official start date is July 2 as we continue to grow this amazing yoga program!

 

A Class for Every Body

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Andrea Morris, Director of Group Fitness

Group fitness classes are a great way to get connected with others and become committed to a healthy lifestyle. At Greenwood, we offer classes for people of all levels and abilities, each designed to challenge and inspire you. We’re here to provide motivation, results and experiences for every body.

With so many classes at Greenwood — from yoga to Boot Camp, barre to indoor cycling— it’s easy to find what’s right for you. Don’t get caught up in the perceived difficulty level of the class. Instead, think about the benefits you’re looking for — balance, stability, flexibility, cardio, strength — and the formats you enjoy. Whether you’re a beginner, advanced, or somewhere in between, every class can be modified to meet you right where you are.

It’s always best to speak with your instructor before class about any injuries, limitations or goals you have. Once your instructor is aware of your needs, they will provide options during class that will work for you.

Never feel pressured to do what your neighbor is doing. If you come to an exercise that’s not right for your body on a given day, leave it out and wait for the next one that’s right for you. We want you to love the music, the workout and the coaching that leads you safely through the class at a level that suits you.

As instructors, we want you to choose the option that allows you to maintain great technique and then progress or regress that movement in accordance with the coaching provided. These adjustments might include the amount of resistance, the range of motion, the position, speed or intensity.

Most classes will begin with the simplest version of a movement or exercise and gradually add complexity and intensity as an option. This allows beginners to remain at their comfort level, while advanced participants get the appropriate challenge.

Committing to a healthy lifestyle can be hard to achieve on your own, but as part of a group, motivated both by the instructor and the community in class, you are far more likely to succeed. Whether you’re already involved or new to the club, we look forward to welcoming you into the group fitness community. We’ve got something for every body.

Andrea Morris, Director of Group Fitness
303.770.2582 x312 | AndreaM@GreenwoodATC.com

Chair Yoga is for Everyone

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Join us for Introduction to Chair Yoga during Yoga Immersion Weekend on Sunday, April 29, 2:15­–3:30pm. A six-class series will follow in May.

Chair yoga is often misunderstood to be an age-specific practice. The truth is we would all be better off with a few chair yoga sequences under our belt, especially when back care is a concern. These days, with long hours sitting at the office or while traveling, none of us are exempt from the benefits of chair yoga.

Chair yoga uses modified poses that can be done while seated in a chair, which alleviates the up and down requirements of most yoga classes. It’s a safe and accessible practice for anyone, of any age, particularly for those who are living with physical limitations and have difficulty getting up and down in a typical yoga class.

Conquering the Physical Challenges of Aging

For seniors navigating the physical challenges that come with aging, chair yoga is an ideal practice to reap of the many benefits of yoga with the added support of the chair. Improved body awareness, balance, strength, mobility, circulation, lung capacity, digestion, mental clarity, stress and anxiety relief are a few of the many benefits that keep people coming back to their practice.

Managing Pain and Healing

Chair yoga can be a valuable part of the healing process for those facing the challenges that come with injury, surgery, chronic pain, debilitating illnesses or any condition that causes limited mobility or restricted activity. Chair yoga compliments traditional physical therapy and chemotherapy recovery, soothes and rejuvenates the body that struggles with fatigue, and relieves pain for many who suffer from arthritis, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions.

Combating the Effects of Sitting

Learning chair yoga sequences is also valuable for anyone whose lifestyle requires long hours of sitting. We live in an age where long periods of sitting occur whether you want them to or not, and learning some chair yoga sequences will equip you with a number of preventative tools to alleviate back and neck discomfort, keep your joints well-lubricated and your blood circulating properly, and reduce muscle tension and atrophy.

Join us for Introduction to Chair Yoga during Yoga Immersion Weekend on Sunday, April 29, 2:15­–3:30pm. A six-class series will follow in May.

Fit Family: The Hudsons

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Getting Stronger in Community

Christine Marquez-Hudson starts her days early at Greenwood’s Breakfast Club group fitness class. For Christine, participation in the class has lead not only to greater motivation and better fitness, but also to good friendships.

“When you finally get motivated to do something, you really start to realize this club is more than a place to work out. It’s a real community of members, trainers and staff,” Christine says. “It feels like a family. Greenwood is a home away from home for us.”

Mateo, Christine, Julia and Andrew Hudson

“You can let working out be intimidating,” Andrew Hudson explains. “But once you ask for help, the staff and trainers have a wealth of information and are so easy to approach. The more I ask and engage, the more I understand and the more excited I am. Everything is so doable with their help.”

Andrew takes advantage of the variety of classes offered at Greenwood. He participates in H.I.I.T., yoga, indoor cycling, and, his current favorite, PWRFIT. But he hasn’t always been so active.

When Andrew was 40, his doctor told him he’d be a heart attack statistic by his 50th birthday if he didn’t take control of his health. He started with small steps. One of his first milestones was running the 3-mile loop around Sloan Lake. A year later, he ran the Chicago Marathon. Since then, he’s run 15 half-marathons.

“When I ran the Chicago Marathon, I remember telling myself, ‘Look at what you can do,” Andrew says. “A regular concentration on fitness just gives me the sense of, ‘I can do this’ that translates into other aspects of my life.”

The whole Hudson family has found their place at Greenwood. Mateo (5) and Julia (8) enjoy Kid’s Club, summer and holiday camps, swimming and tennis classes, and, of course, the outdoor pool. Nick (17) plays basketball or lifts weights with his buddies.

“Not a day goes by without someone saying, ‘Can we go to the gym?’” Christine says.

When the Hudson family is not at Greenwood, you can find them skiing in Winter Park or cycling around Cherry Creek Reservoir. Christine, a UCLA graduate with a Masters from Regis University, leads the Denver Foundation as executive director. Andrew is a former press secretary to the Mayor of Denver and ran the popular talking animals ad campaign for Frontier Airlines. For the past 20 years, he has been running his popular Colorado job board www.andrewhudsonsjobslist.com and, as a professional bassist, performs in jazz clubs and music festivals throughout Colorado.

Yoga for Back Pain

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Marda Zechiel, Yoga Manager

Are you suffering from chronic or occasional back pain? Multiple studies have shown that yoga can be the solution to relieving back soreness if particular attention is given to the correct muscular usage and alignment. In fact, several studies have discovered that yoga can be even more beneficial than the usual care for back pain when it comes to improving back function. According to a study published in the journal, Archives of Internal Medicine, people who took yoga or stretching classes are twice as likely to cut back on pain medications for their back aches as people who managed symptoms on their own.

There are certain yoga postures that can stretch and strengthen your muscles and return your back to its proper alignment.

*It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine, especially if you are prone to pain. Once you receive the approval of your doctor, try these soothing poses in the sequence below.*

Child’s Pose

A great way to begin or wind down your day. Start on all fours on your hands and knees. Bring your knees as wide as your mat with your big toes touching. Then, stretch your arms out in front of you, sinking your hips down on your heels and resting your forehead on the mat. Hold for 10 breaths.

Table Top to Cow and Cat pose

Come up from Child’s pose and position knees under hip bones and wrists under shoulders, aligning or stacking your joints into Table Top position. You can start by dropping your head and letting your neck muscles relax. As you inhale, go into Cow pose by lifting your head and tailbone and letting your belly drop toward the floor. Keep your shoulders down and away from your ears. As you exhale, come into Cat pose by pulling your belly up, rounding your spine toward the ceiling and tucking your chin toward your chest.

Continue to synchronize these movements with your breath or spend a few extra breaths in Cow, as this really helps to open the lower back. Take 5-10 breaths here.

Downward Facing Dog

From Table Top, tuck your toes and begin to straighten your legs and lift your hips, coming into an inverted “V” shape. Move your hands forward slightly if needed and actively push the floor away. If you feel back pain beyond a gentle stretch, or if your spine rounds due to short hamstrings, try bending your knees and pressing your chest towards your thighs. Move gently in the pose for a few breaths, bending and straightening legs and then hold for 5-10 breaths.

Standing forward bend or Rag Doll

From Downward Facing Dog, walk your feet toward your hands, bringing them hip distance apart. Bend your knees slightly and fold your torso over your thighs, touching your belly to your legs if possible. Allow your arms to hang toward the floor or grab your elbows with the opposite hand. Let your head hang freely. Stay here for 10 breaths.

Plank to Cobra or Upward Facing Dog

Cobra pose-from a Plank, lower to your belly and position your hands under your shoulders. As you inhale, press your hands into mat and lift your chest. Keep your core engaged (drawing your belly button to your spine) and point your toes so that your knee caps lift off the mat.

Upward Facing Dog pose-if Cobra feels like it is enough, stay with this pose. If you want to move into Upward Facing Dog, press into the mat, further straightening your arms and keeping your wrists under shoulders. Press the tops of your feet and hands into the flooras they are the only points in contact with the mat. Make sure to keep an engaged core, draw  shoulders back and lift sternum forward.

Come back to Downward Facing Dog for a few breaths and then complete this sequence with Child’s pose.

The above series can get you started. If you are newer to yoga, do this sequence once or twice a day, trying to stay in each posture for the recommended breaths. If you have any questions about these poses, please ask any of your GATC Yoga instructors. We would be happy to help!

Marda Zechiel, Yoga Manager | 303.770.2582 x324 | MardaZ@GreenwoodATC.com

 

Cross Training: Better Results, Fewer Injuries

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Perhaps you’ve found yourself dedicated to a certain sport, class or treadmill. That dedication is reflected in the fact that bike number 33 is yours, that second treadmill in the upper cardiovascular area facing out has your name on it or that floor space in Jade or Studio 1 is clearly your real estate. That kind of dedication can bring great success, forge strong friendships and open doors of opportunity. But if that dedication hasn’t addressed cross training, it may have left you struggling with overuse injuries or looking to try something new. Fall is the perfect time to give your fitness regimen a tune up and consider the benefits of cross training.

By incorporating a nice variety of cardio, strength and flexibility, you can balance your workouts in a way that will increase your performance and overall fitness without repeatedly stressing the same muscles and putting yourself at risk for injury. This variety will also help you to be more functionally fit and able to complete daily tasks with greater ease.

To get the most out of any activity, and to do it safely, it’s important to consider all of the muscles involved, not just the ones directly related to that activity. That’s where cross training comes in.

For a single-sport athlete, cross training can mean anything outside the athlete’s primary sport, while for the fitness enthusiast, it means using many different activities to ensure total fitness. For some, it simply means living a varied and physically active life.

So where’s the best place to start?

1. Consider your favorite activities, what components are necessary to do them and which ones might be missing from your current fitness regimen.

2. Consider challenges you may have planned in the next three months and what changes in your workouts might help you better achieve them.

3. Look at ways to re-energize your workouts by trying something new.

4. Review the 130+ classes offered each week on our complimentary Group Fitness schedule and find the classes that address what you’re missing.

  • For strength, try BODYPUMP, CXWORX or Power Hour
  • For intense cardio blocks with some strength, consider HIIT, INSANITY, BODYSTEP, BODYCOMBAT or Breakfast Club
  • For other cardio options, try one of our indoor cycling classes, ZUMBA, CVI or Hi NRG Cardio
  • For flexibility with some strength, consider one of our Vinyasa classes or willPower and grade
  • For more flexibility with balance, try Thermal, Vin/Yin, Restorative or Kundalini Yoga.

5. Decide which classes will best complement your overall fitness objectives.

6. Make an appointment with yourself to attend those classes.

7. Share your goals, successes and struggles with your instructor. They can help you navigate through this process and provide accountability.

By adding variety and balance to your training you will set yourself up for better results and fewer injuries. And, not to worry, that studio space or bike you claimed can remain yours throughout your happy, healthy life!

Andrea Morris, Director of Group Fitness at Greenwood Athletic Club

 

Greenwood has Now Adopted MYZONE®!

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You may have seen an exciting new addition around the club this year, MYZONE®! We used it in the 2017 Fitness Challenge, in PWRFIT classes, Combat Zone and other miscellaneous programs. Without doing a big promotion or launch, we are already seeing a positive impact with members so we have decided to go ALL IN!

 

One of the first things we will be doing is incorporating MYZONE® into our CVI classes. Simply stated, you will be using colors for your zones to help you reach your goals during class. Using your smartphone (which you already use for Audio Fetch) you will be able to see your colors as the instructor guides you through class, taking you from grey to blue, green, yellow and red.

Here’s a useful guide to using MYZONE® and how it will help your workout experience:

  1. Using a chest strap (belt) with monitor you are able to track your heart rate. Your heart rate is determined using a formula that will adjust with your workouts as necessary. Tracking your heart rate during a workout is a proven way to efficiently achieve your goals and with the MYZONE® belt, your effort is measured with 99.4% EKG-accuracy.
  2. You are able to view your workout using your smartphone via bluetooth in addition to on screen in PWRFIT and other areas of the club, when added.
  3. Your belt will connect to the MYZONE® app along with your other favorite fitness apps and you can upload your data to the cloud wherever you are. You can even upload data without being in the club. Your belt will store data for 16 hours if you are not able to connect to the internet.
  4. You will be able to track your workouts, set goals and analyze your data. You can even make friend connections and see other peoples workouts to keep you accountable.
  5. Lastly, we can have all kinds of fun with challenges; individual, team and we can even challenge other clubs across the country.

As you many of know, wearable technology has become one of the hottest fitness trends in the past three years. MYZONE® is a way for Greenwood to stay on the cutting edge, for you to set goals and see results and ultimately to make fitness FUN!

Look for more information around the club, ask a staff member about purchasing your MYZONE® belt and begin your fitness journey.

Easy Ways to Improve Your Stability

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BosulungeThe basic definition of the word stability is “the state of being stable, firm, solid, steady and secure”. Something that is unstable is considered to be weak, uncertain or wavering. I don’t know about you but I want more of my life to be defined by being solid and steady as opposed to weak and wavering. Your body is a tool that when taken care of and trained properly, can improve your physical stability, allowing you to enjoy the things you value longer and more confidently.

In the fitness world, stability typically means strong and steady. Being stable is critical when creating power and improving athletic performance. With greater stability comes improvements in furthering a Yoga practice, or lifting heavier weights in all three planes of motion. Greater stability allows for simple functional balance to be maintained doing normal daily activities like squatting, standing, lifting and twisting, all movements that are critical to longevity and overall health. Plus, stability improves balance, especially when outside forces seek to overthrow it.

At Greenwood there are lots of activities to incorporate into a weekly routine to improve overall stability. We are here to help you create a strong, solid, secure foundation from which you can enjoy the things you like to do most….hiking, cycling, golfing, gardening, and swimming. Try one of Greenwood’s complimentary classes designed to specifically address these areas. Examples include willPower & Grace, CXWORX, Total Body Fit, Yoga, Mat Pilates and more. Hiring a personal trainer or Pilates instructor to develop a personalized workout plan that addresses the type of stability and mobility you need to reach your personal goals is another fantastic way to make a difference in your overall function and performance.

Stability comes from a variety of places including the feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, abdominals and the overall structural alignment of the spine. Like any physical improvement, being consistent by addressing areas of movement and strength that increase stability and mobility is critical to achieving lasting results. As your Member Coach I encourage you to do something physical every day and include a trip to Greenwood at least three times a week. Incorporate strength training, cardiovascular training, flexibility training, mobility training and now you know the importance of stability training as well. You are worth the effort. Be strong, work on your fitness, incorporate stability training and I promise you will enjoy the fruits of your efforts.

For more information, contact Sheri Warren, Member Coach, Director of Sales and Retention