You don’t have to already be fit to sign up for a workout class. “I think that’s a huge misconception,” says fitness expert Abby Cohen, head trainer at Orangetheory in Chesterfield. “You can always come into a class, and you always have options.” Cohen—who’s also an instructor at Lifetime Fitness in Chesterfield and operates ARC Body Solutions, her own personal training and nutritional consulting business—breaks down a range of fitness options for various needs.
For competition: “Try anything that involves stats, whether it’s a heart rate challenge—making sure you’re in a certain zone to burn calories—or anything that deals with power or [pedal revolutions per minute] on a bike. Also, anything that is team-driven; CrossFit is very competitive. Those are all dealing with watts, RPMs, power numbers, speed time, and heart rate.”
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For a mental challenge: “Try strength and balance challenges, such as power yoga or using a core board, like the surfboards in Core 3 class. For a mental challenge, you could do a boot camp, putting your body and mind to complete exhaustion.”
For rehabbing an injury: “It really depends on the severity and type of injury. If it were a knee injury, I’d recommend things that would help create mobility and flexibility, such as yoga. Rowing works bigger muscle groups to help strengthen the leg, and it’s non-impact. Aqua aerobics is also great, especially because it’s non-impact. You could do some cardio, but I would definitely say non-impact and keep them off the treadmill.”
For a quick home workout: “Try stretching or yoga practice. You could also do basic things, such as push-ups and stationary squats, or wall sits, using a milk jug to create weight. Or if you have children, do a Mommy-and-me workout. There are a lot of options at home, easy stuff that’s going to strengthen main muscle groups to keep the body strong and healthy.”
Cohen is the fitness program director of SLM’s Be Well STL Boot Camp, held this year on June 16 at Westminster Christian Academy. Instructors from across the region will teach classes in yoga, Pilates, CycleBar, and more. Details and tickets here.
