3 things this Bham Now team member didn’t expect at her first Orangetheory class in Birmingham 

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Last week, Bham Nower Sharron Swain traded her writing desk for the vibrant atmosphere of her first Orangetheory (OTF) class. 

From navigating the splat zone to Coach Haley’s enthusiastic encouragement and the camaraderie of her peers, Sharron described the class as an absolute blast and hands-down the most demanding workout she has tackled in years. Read on for all the details.

1. The encouraging atmosphere at OTF

Sharron shared that upon arrival, Coach Haley at OTF Vestavia walked her through the workout plan and guided her on monitoring her heart rate zones.

While initially nervous and needing some time to adjust to the pumping music, she quickly found her groove and within a few minutes felt very comfortable.

“There were really sweet young women on either side of me on the treadmill who showed me how to adjust the speed and put the fan on to cool down—by that point we had all worked up a sweat.

The diverse mix of ages, body types and fitness levels in the class was truly motivating. There’s definitely something different about being in a gym where everyone is doing almost the same thing vs. doing their own thing.”

Sharron Swain, Managing Producer, Bham Now

Ready to get moving? Become a member at your local Orangetheory studio today.

2. Breaking down the workout + trying new movements

The daily workouts at Orangetheory Fitness feature a diverse mix of exercises, emphasizing strength, endurance and power.

Sharron shared that the variety kept her engaged through the workout, with Coach Haley frequently introducing new activities.

While everyone is doing the same exercises, you go at your own pace. The workout is highly personalized based on the heart rate zones that are monitored by your wrist monitor that OTF will fit you with at the gym.

Before the class, Sharron told Coach Haley that she was planning to take it easy—however, Coach Haley wasn’t worried about that and said, “I know you’ve got more in you than you think you do.” Talk about motivation! 

“The target for the session was to rack up 12 ‘splat points’—that’s when your heart rate is in the orange or red zone, meaning you’re giving it your all.

In spite of myself I ended up with 9. That’s nine whole minutes in the zone where things get seriously challenging. Considering I thought I would never hit that, I was pretty proud of myself.”

Sharron Swain, Managing Producer, Bham Now

The session began with rowing exercises, followed by weight training on the floor, with transitions between the two occurring several times.

Eventually, Sharron and her class moved to the treadmills for the final phase, concluding with a cool down and stretching routine.

3. Feeling a sense of accomplishment

For those who may not feel as youthful and vibrant as they once did but are eager to regain energy, strength and confidence, Sharron highly recommends OTF as a place to embark on that journey.

“The intensity of the workout surpassed anything I’ve done in decades. As a middle-aged working mom, my exercise routine for the past fifteen years has mostly consisted of self-directed activities like home workout videos, walking, swimming and recently, solo running.

Being in the room with all the other people was the best kind of peer pressure, and having Coach Haley tell us what to do got me to work harder than I ever do on my own.

I was completely in control of the intensity level at all times, and Coach Haley was good about showing me modifications for moves that my joints say are a hard pass.”

Sharron Swain, Managing Producer, Bham Now

By the end of the hour, Sharron felt a clear sense of accomplishment and the undeniable feeling of having invested in her own well-being.

Find your closest Orangetheory and get started today!

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