Insanity and FitMe Studio

My quest in highlighting all things fitness in Louisville has finally led me to Insanity. Fortunately, it was just a class at FitMe Studio with over 15 other people who were going to endure the next 60 minutes with me.


Heath running around instructing and encouraging everyone

I think Insanity is a polite way to remind me that "No one has ever drowned in her own sweat." Not even my sweaty band stayed in place! Insanity was created by Shaun T and is "max interval training." Wikipedia describes it as "a method of exercising during which one works out strenuously for 3–4 minutes and then rests or "cools down" for approximately 30 seconds before starting the whole process over again." In this class, taught by Heath, we did 4 segments, repeating each of the segment 3 times. Each segment had about 4 exercises or movements. The last segment was my favorite. There were 6 stations in which you stayed there for 60 seconds. You can do anything for 60 seconds, right?
 
FitMe Studio  continues to remind me of Cheers as I previously mentioned when I reviewed a Zumba class there. Several people that took the Zumba class also take this class and remembered me! Friends had gathered there and a few new people came to try it out. I met one couple that had return for the second time. They liked the challenge of it, the feeling of completing the class while having fun. What a great way to be accountable to each other - encouraging one another to get fit and healthy in a positive way. During the 30sec rests, I was seeing high fives and encouraging words shared of making it through the last block. 

A little wall walking (with Erin and Ericka)

Heath, the instructor, is what I will lovingly refer to as Insanity's Energizer Bunny. He was everywhere! With the music starting, Heath started the class off telling us to move at your own pace, do not worry about what your neighbor is doing (which who had time to even look around?), and drink water as needed.  He did a fantastic job of showing how to do each exercise and the modified version proving that this class is for EVERYONE! No matter what fitness level you are at - male, female, this gives you a full body workout. Jennifer, the FitMe Owner, was even in the class.  If you are new to working out, each time you come, you push yourself a little more, and eventually you will be seeing yourself doing less modified versions. If you are more fit, Heath will push to get your knees higher than you thought possible in high knees.  (I had no idea that knees could go that high, Heath!) Heath moved around while doing the exercises so everyone could see how to do them and encouraged us by name. We listened to the horn in the music to know when to switch exercises so it was easy to follow especially with Heath constantly demonstrating the moves.

As a social, mid-pack runner, Insanity was great cross training. Heath, a runner himself, knew I was a runner since I was wearing a  wicking shirt from a race. I highly recommend wearing a tech wicking shirt versus a cotton one with the amount of sweat produced in this class. The Monsters from Monsters, Inc. could run their world with our sweat if needed versus kids screams or laughter, but I digress. Heath was able to encourage me to work harder by saying this exercise was good for the trail hills or the Achilles etc. It was great motivation to keep on sweating. So if you are a runner, a bicyclist, swimmer, or new to fitness, Insanity is worth checking out.

Having a fitness family, I think, is a key to be successful in your fitness journey. Having the instructors know who you are and the other students in the class knowing you are pushing yourself encourages them to work hard too.  All of this makes you accountable and want to return.  Allison told me she got hooked on the classes at FitMe Studio when her friend, Aimee encouraged her to try it out. Laura, who is new to working out, enjoys the fun that the Zumba and Insanity classes bring to get her 'fit in'.

What I love about FitMe Studio is there are NO distractions. They have a bathroom, towels to wipe your sweat, and a drinking fountain. For about an hour, you are focused on working out. No phones, computers, or kids to interrupt your workout for 60minutes - which is not easy to find at home! The classes are very affordable with drop-in rates starting at $8 with discounts for students and military personnel. Check out FitMe's calendar for times and days.

At last, after planks and pushups, it was cool-down time. We even did our cool down to the Cheers theme song. "Where everybody knows your name..." What more could you ask for?


Jennifer also owns Jennifer's Academy of Dance. On Mondays - Wednesdays evenings, your kids can take a dance class while you take a class next door at FitMe Studio. Now that is using your time wisely!


 Check out my other reviews on B. You's B.silque class, Clayton Sallee's static trapeze class, and Hwang's Martial Arts.