By Loden Knotts and Bradley Dyke
Hottytoddy.com interns
laknotts@go.olemiss.edu; dbdyke@go.olemiss.edu
When thinking about technology, working out is usually not the first thing that comes to mind, but teachers at Orange Theory Fitness would care to disagree. Technology is at the core of their workouts.
Orange Theory—located on 1801 East Jackson Ave. on the Square—has always been a cutting edge fitness studio, never giving members the same workout twice. But technology has been a game-changer for the corporate company.
“It’s always changing and growing. It’s not stagnant with what our initial rollouts were,” said Ashley Atkinson, studio manager.
Orange Theory uses a workout combination involving the use of treadmills, rowing machines, and floor weight workouts to “get your burn-in.” While doing this, members wear heart monitors that are shown on large TV screens for them to track their progress as they earn their burn.
“Sometimes you don’t realize it, but you aren’t going as hard as your body can actually go. Seeing that in front of you can push you, and you can track your progress,” Atkinson stated.
The heart rate monitors track members’ progress through their actual heart rate, which is shown in color zones according to where heart rate is optimized for a personal workout. Heart rate monitors also track calorie burn and ‘splat points,’ which members gain as they work out to reach an optimal heart rate for maximum burn.
Not only does Orange Theory rely on technology to bring in customers, they also emphasize the togetherness that comes along with their studio and workouts.
“It’s the same faces for people to come in and see every day, and our classes aren’t too big,” Atkinson said. “Everybody is working out together in a pretty close space, so there is a lot of camaraderie as you are going through the workouts together.”
The family feel in Orange Theory is apparent as soon as one walks in the door, as regular members are known by the staff and coaches when they walk in. It is often proven that working out with a partner, coach, or at least a group is beneficial to those trying to stay fit. This is why many customers are satisfied and believe in Orange Theory’s model.
According to Dr. Dian Griesel, a serial entrepreneur and health spokesperson, working out with a group helps amp up your overall workout.
“Working out with a crowd carries a plethora of intertwined benefits that include enhancing consistency, duration, motivation, conversation and inspiration,” she said.
This is an incentive tool that Orange Theory takes full advantage of, both during rigorous workouts and through their personalized follow-up system.
“If you have booked a class, you get a late charge, which is a really good way to stay accountable to come into the workouts,” said Ann Paige Shull, who is a coach at the Oxford studio. “It is a team of people who know what they are doing with the workout, so it is hard to beat.”
Orange Theory Fitness creates a holistic approach to fitness by combining technology, togetherness, and accountability between members.
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