Gravity Fitness: A Fun, Fast and Effective Workout
Have you conquered Gravity yet? Gravity Fitness, that is.
Mike Castilloux, formerly Mr. Canada 1994, has brought a system of fitness conditioning to his existing location at Executive Lifestyles Gym in Vancouver that is sure to keep you coming back for more. Based on the Pilates Transformer Machine the Gravity Fitness System is the next generation of a total body workout system that saves you time, keeps your pocketbook fat, cuts the fat and is most of all, is fun!
As a 40-something stay-at-home mom of a 17 month old, these factors have never been more important. I don’t have time to waste in the gym. My precious bundle of little baby boy joy is growing fast. As you know, you can never get the time back. So I want to spend as much time as I can with him, keeping in mind that I need to take care of myself everyday. So when I stumbled upon the concept of Gravity Fitness, I was certainly intrigued. A 30 minute workout that targets every body part and is cardio intensive? I’m in!
The Facility
Off I went to the Gravity Fitness training centre at Executive Lifestyles Gym in Vancouver, which offers one on one personal training, group training and classes, and sports specific conditioning. I was surprised to find us in a shared office space rather than in the middle of a bustling, sweaty gym. I
later learned that as the Gravity Fitness system is still new to Vancouver, Mike is using this space to accommodate the equipment needed for a class of five people. It’s all good, I like the privacy it allowed.
The Equipment
The 30 minute Gravity Fitness workout is done on a glideboard machine, manufactured by San Diego-based EFI Sports Medicine. The equipment reminded me of an infomercial for Total Gym featuring Chuck Norris. As it turns out, it is manufactured by the same company but is made for use in a professional gym atmosphere. Gravity Fitness has five such machines available and so each 30 minute session accommodates five lucky people.
The Fitness Routine
With the music pumping, Mike demonstrated the versatility of the Gravity System by performing many different exercises in quick succession. This method challenges and prevent muscles from adapting too quickly. He says this is one of the main reasons why most gym routines stop working after a while.
Then I started my workout. What became clear very quickly was that my fitness level is accommodated easily as the inclined glideboard is adjustable, allowing more or less of your body weight to be used. The higher the incline the higher the percentage of body weight lifted, the more challenging the workout becomes. This allows you to safely work on building strength and stamina without using free weights. They can be risky if you’re not experienced. It also means that I can attend classes alongside elite athletes or my grandma and not feel like I have to compete or slow it down.
We worked the upper body, performing pec flies, bicep curls, tricep presses, lat pull downs and more, then did some crunches before moving on to lower body. We did squats, lunges and plyometric jumps. This system engages the whole body so that the supporting and smaller muscles around the larger muscle groups get worked as well. The result is a more balanced muscle tone, longer and more flexible muscles and stronger joints. In 30 minutes we had warmed up, strengthened, toned and stretched! Unbelievable. My core was activated the whole way through. Trust me, after a C-Section it’s a relief to feel those muscles working again. And it burns! And it feels good! And it’s fun! My heart was pumping the entire time and afterwards I felt energized and ready to take on the day.
Real Sense for Real Life
In addition to the Gravity class, Executive Lifestyles also offers boot camp style classes that really ramp up the burn. With ten stations to get through in 30 minutes there’s no time to waste groaning and moaning. It is intense and it is a blast. From bouncing a ball off a trampoline and catching it while doing an abdominal crunch to undulating two 28 pound Battling Ropes into a wavy formation that Martial Artists use to whip themselves into shape, I was breathless and sweaty in less than ten minutes. Love it!
What I love most about both fitness systems is that they promote a natural range of motion and build overall body condition, which makes so much more sense that isolating muscle groups at the gym. I want exercise to provide me with stamina and strength in my daily activities and to make efficient use of my time. The Gravity Fitness programs at Executive Lifestyles Gym gives me that. Thank you Mike, your classes makes real sense for real life.
Are you bored with your regular exercise routine? Has it gone by the wayside after having kids? I’d love to hear how you plan to get back to wellness this year.
Executive Lifestyles Training
www.executivelifestyles.ca | Twitter | Facebook
#100-555 W 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Leeanne Ekland is a stay-at-home mom of one, who’s on a mission to rediscover love, wellness, and neighbourhood happenings, and to have a ton of fun. She’s blogging about her experiences at leeanneekland.com. Having started the parenting experience much later than most, she offers a unique perspective on the challenges and all that is amazing about being a new mom over 40. At least – she does when she’s not napping, which is something she does often.
