Don Beaver, Director of Fitness
Sept. 25 was our first Fitness Equipment Familiarization and Orientation class, with a tremendous turnout of more than 30 people in attendance. Obviously, we discovered that there is a great need for this monthly service for new homeowners, renters, and/or residents who simply wish to understand the Anza’s fitness equipment. The first point that must be made is that this class is not a training session where the demonstrator establishes weights, repetitions, and/or sets for the attendees. That job must be performed by our certified trainers Laura and Steve McMurtry who are superbly trained masters at establishing personal exercise routines.
The class leader (me) began the session with a strong recommendation that all residents should schedule time to stretch before and after a workout. It should be noted that the National Academy of Sports Medicine recommends that range of motion (ROM) will improve through stretching durations of 30 to 60 seconds per muscle and performed three to five times per week. One should stretch to discomfort, but not to pain.
Further, we discussed how to adjust the seats and weights on each machine, as well as the need to perform each exercise with the full range of motion in order to gain the maximum benefit from each repetition. Additionally, I explained the need to focus on reps versus weight. None of us are at the stage in our life that we need to risk injury, but all of us should desire to improve our physical image and overall health. “Listen to your body” was a key phrase for everyone to live by as to just how strenuous anyone would want to make his/her workout. Everyone understood that muscle soreness should be anticipated, especially if they’re not normally a “gym rat”; however, participants were encouraged to work those sore muscles again—admittedly, with lighter weights—in order to gain “muscle memory” and reduce/eliminate the soreness.
The class attendees were instructed to utilize the workout logs that are available for everyone to use, especially when first establishing seat positions, repetitions, sets, and weights. It is by far the best way to be safe while maintaining consistency with your workouts.
As a result of the overwhelming response to our first class, look for this session to be repeated each month and announced in the QC What’s Happening as we all continue to enjoy this journey together!