Orangetheory Fitness is All the Rage

by Annette Pinder

View More: http://riebonannophotography.pass.us/otfwp2

Face it – getting motivated to exercise isn’t always easy, especially for people who have competing priorities, let alone the desire to fulfill their basic need for friendship and human connection.

It turns out that working out with a companion may not only help fulfill the need for friendship, but may also bring better results, according to research conducted by the American Council on Exercise Science. Friends make exercising more fun and motivate us to get to the gym because they’ll be there, and count on us to show up, too.

Perhaps the concept of group training, which fosters friendship and accountability, is one reason why Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) is so successful. It is a workout created by Niagara Falls native, Ellen Latham, of Fort Lauderdale. An exercised physiologist originally from Niagara Falls, Latham teamed up with Buffalo native Jerome Kern to share the workout with others. There are 198 OTF studios in 38 states, Europe and Canada. The newest, owned by Kern with Buffalo natives Steve Nash and Dave Long, is on Transit Road in Williamsville.

Latham, an exercise physiologist, attended UB, and has a Masters Degree in exercise science, says, “Like any theory, ours is backed by science. The idea is simple – a 60-minute workout designed to push you into the orange zone. This creates Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption, or EPOC, and is what burns calories after your workout to provide noticeable, lasting results.”

You can expect to find people of all ages at OTF. It works for people age 22 and for those who are 65. Trainers are passionate, knowledgeable, and committed to helping everyone meet their individual goals. You get the energy of a group workout with the attention of an experienced personal trainer.

Corinne Joy Brown, who works out at OTF in Englewood, Colorado, says, “ Having become a veteran of workout programs, including gyms where I went on my own, I never suspected that one of the benefits of OTF might be the indirect support of the group. I say indirect because we’re there as individuals competing only with the person we were yesterday. Yet, it’s the common task, the shared enthusiasm (and fatigue), and the momentum of many that makes this workout fly by. What started as a group of strangers, months ago, has slowly become a range of familiar faces and smiles. Some even have names!  I can’t imagine it any other way.”

So what makes OTF different from other gyms? “OTF works and brings results. People get a full body workout with individualized group training at an affordable rate. There’s something for everyone’s budget without having to pay $40-$60 an hour for personal attention. You can take a few classes or unlimited classes. Even our language is different. Instead of modifications, we have options and challenges, people love it, and the concept works.”

Orangetheory Fitness is located at 8242 Transit Road, Williamsville, New York 14221. Call 716-200-1350 and visit www.orangetheoryfitness.com.