Master Class
Exercise in a room that smells like rosemary or one that smells like deli meat: Your muscles do not care.
The commercial fitness industry has become more diverse and independent than ever. Not much more than a decade ago, most exercisers looked for their niche within a large, multipurpose facility. Boutique fitness studios are now the trend, specializing in everything from hot yoga to cycling.
This week, I’ll discuss the benefits and risks associated with fitness studios.
Yoga and cycling have been popular for decades. But only recently have promoters of these niche fitness activities branched out on their own and into studios. My question is, “Why?” Your question might be “Are fitness studios right for me?” I’ll try to help.
When considering a fitness studio membership vs. multipurpose health-club membership, it’s important to think about “the experience” you want to have.
Let’s use grocery shopping as an example. Let’s imagine I’m headed out the door en route to pick up some sliced turkey. In my city, I have multiple resources where turkey is sold, within 2 miles of my home. The questions I must ask myself are: “Which store has the best turkey?” and “What will my shopping experience be at this store?”
Let’s assume I’ve whittled down my choices to a normal grocery store and a boutique, organic grocery store. To prove a point, I go to both. The normal grocery store is crowded, a little dirty, with long checkout lines, but it has 10 brands of turkey in packages. Nice. After 10 to 15 minutes, I buy one pound of pre-packaged turkey for $4.99 and I’m on my way.
As I enter the boutique store parking lot, I notice fewer cars. I park right next to the door and walk into a much smaller building that smells like rosemary and has pleasant music playing. There are almost no other shoppers in this store, and I immediately see the deli meat counter with a smiling man ready to assist. I indicate my turkey obsession, and he says: “I have the perfect turkey for you, Mr. Parrott.”
He takes a fresh, oven-roasted turkey hunk and slices it right off the breast using a shiny machine that makes a cool sound when it cuts.
After 2 minutes, I have an amazing-looking pound of freshly sliced turkey and I’m bouncing to the checkout stand to the music. I’m the only one in line, so I hand the turkey to the cashier, who asks if I found everything I need. This is wonderful, I think to myself.
And then it happens: “Your total is $14.71.”
This melodramatic turkey story is the best way I can explain the difference between boutique fitness studios and traditional fitness centers. You can take a cycling class in either location, but the former will be far more expensive and special, while the latter will be reasonably priced and standard.
This week’s exercise is not standard. I’ve selected it because it combines one of my favorite yoga poses (Warrior) with a little weight training for the shoulders. This exercise might be performed in a yoga studio or a fitness center, but which will you attend?
1. Select a pair of light dumbbells and grasp one in each hand.
2. Stand with both feet together and allow your arms to hang straight down by your sides.
3. Step backward with the right leg into a lunge position by bending the right knee. Be sure the right knee does not rest on the floor.
4. Hold the lunge position by ensuring that the left knee stays at 90 degrees.
5. From this position, perform a lateral raise by lifting both arms up to shoulder level.
6. Slowly lower the dumbbells with the arms straight until you reach a point where resistance is eliminated from the shoulders.
7. At that point, reverse direction and go into the next repetition.
8. Perform 12 repetitions in the lunge position, then switch legs and repeat.
The Warrior Lunge can be done anywhere, from your basement to a multipurpose fitness center or yoga studio. Keep in mind that while “the experience” will be different in each, your body knows no difference and will react to the physical stimuli placed on it — regardless of how much rosemary is in the air.