Midtown has offered TRX training since last fall. It’s popular because a full workout doesn’t take a lot of time, and because TRX training will improve muscle endurance and deliver quick results. Oh, it’s also a lot of fun too.
Curious where TRX came from?
In the early 1990s, Desert Storm Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick needed a way to stay in peak condition while on missions with limited space and no access to fitness equipment. Since he did not have much to work with, Randy used parachute webbing and an old jujitsu belt to create a prototype of a new movement in physical training. Using this technique, he discovered that he could work biceps and triceps using body weight suspension.
After leaving the SEALs, Randy developed TRX Suspension Training. The TRX Suspension trains multiple muscles at once, in multiple planes of movement, on a single piece of equipment. TRX has over 300 progressions and combinations, and can be tailored to any fitness need or goal. It builds power, strength, cardio fitness, balance, flexibility, and mobility all while preventing injury. You can choose your level of intensity or workout , so it’s completely customizable.
Midtown Member Heather Morris had this to say about her TRX session, “This workout was unique and challenging. We had various fitness levels present in the class, and the TRX training was able to keep everyone engaged and focused. Not only is it a fantastic core workout, but it’s also an overall great workout for the entire body.”
Midtown Trainer Annamarie Koulourianos loves TRX too, “I love this workout and feel it is challenging, functional, and fun. It’s appropriate for all levels. Simple but very effective. Give it a try!”
Group classes are available at various times during the week and costs $20 for a 30-minute class.
Have you tried TRX? What did you think?
What’s new at Midtown in 2012? Club Manager Kat Gerdts talks about what we have planned for you and how you can make next year your best yet.
January is always a good time to review and reaffirm goals.
At Midtown, our goal is a renewed focus on your experiences. Whether you’re here for fitness, socializing, nutrition, tennis, skiing, networking, spa indulgences, or any combination of these, our goal is to ensure you’re able to enjoy your time at the club while meeting your own goals for the new year.
So what’s new in 2012?
Group Core – An intense core crunching group exercise class. Watch for the BTS launch later in January.
Power Plate machines - They provide a full-body workout in less than 30 minutes using vibration technology and all 5 elements of fitness: stretching, balance, core conditioning, strength training, and massage.
Yamuna Body Rolling - Returns to our Pilates studio on January 7th. This class fills up quick, so make your reservations early!
Healthy Eating Class -On January 11th, join our friend in food, George Economos, from Whole Foods Market to help combat some of those less-than-nutritious holiday choices. Combine his tips with our Lose 5 Pounds in 5 Weeks program also beginning in January and no one will ever know about those pesky holiday pounds. We won’t tell.
The Pro Shop- From the latest shoes to support your feet (sore from all the holiday running), to foam rollers and Yamuna balls to bring a little Midtown home with you, we’ve got all your fitness needs covered. Or, test the latest tennis racquet to see if it will help your game. And while you are there, ask about Midtown’s new Lowest Price Guarantee!
Super Team Tennis - Kicks off on January 13th. The kids can get involved in Junior Super Team Tennis at the end of the month.
Powernet – Midtown’s Private Networking Club returns on January 25th. This is a great way to build your business connections.
M Cafe – Join us on Friday, January 27th, as we sample our new seasonal wines and delicious hors d’oeuvres.
Ski Clinic - Work on your cross country skiing technique at our clinic on January 28th, just in case it ever snows.
January’s Spa Specials -If all this activity takes a toll on you, indulge in a spa treatment. In January, we’re featuring our GM Collin Hydrolifting + facial or Fire & Ice Massage, which combines hot stone and therapeutic techniques for the ultimate stress reduction.
Treat your cold, dry skin to a professional analysis, then experience a Renewal Peel and our new take-home Mask. Instant moisture – what a relief! Secure your seat at the front desk for this limited, exclusive demonstration seminar.
January is another busy month, and we’re looking forward to helping you enjoy it as much as we plan to.
Happy New Year!
Take a trip outside the warmth of the club and you’ll notice a few interesting things.
You’ve no doubt noticed that certain summer “friends” have left for the winter. Each fall, Knupper’s Nursery and Landscaping of Palatine removes our palm trees and stores them for us in their greenhouse. Each spring, Knupper’s replants our palms. We will miss the palms of summer, and look forward to seeing them again next spring!
Next stop: The parking lot.
Question: What measures 6.5” x 12,” has room for 6-to-8 characters, and allows folks to express themselves?
Vanity license plates, of course. And our parking lot has them in droves.
Personalized license plates can say a lot about you. You could choose one that reflects your favorite sports team. For example if you are a Bears Fan, you could select one that says BRS FAN. If you like to work out (of course you do!), you could get one that says WRKOUT GAL. If you select a plate that has already been taken, just add a number to the plate to make it dif rent!
Here are just a few of the license plates we found in the Midtown parking lot:
PNO GRGO, PSU FAN, CHX ROOL, I STAY FIT, SPY GAME, ACHOOU2, THUTRUK, SUN LVR, LSNHAN, PLANT 7, C DEB GO, LIL DOC 9, DALAP 1, PLAY TNS, POFFY 2, ROMAN 48, SLS RGR 8, LES MC 1, TRVL ON3, CITOG 1, SYATT, HPY CMPR, KEEP HER, CUB 31, FRITZ 88, LPSHN 16, BZZZZ, IS WAS I, WKEND, AMA JOZ, IRITALN, RTBTCB1, SUN LVR 5, DOEN GR 8, TEAM, MAC FEE, IT PAI 4, SWUSH 23, OHGEE1, AKA JOZ, SPIKE EM, JANDY 88, CU IN CO, MEOOW, I BIKE 15.
Is one of them your plate? What does it mean? Please share your story with us!
Can you guess which Midtown associates the cars with the license plates CHIX ROOL and PNO GRGO belong to? Leave your guess as a comment on this blog post. We’ll randomly choose 5 members who have submitted correct answers to receive a $5 café coupon!
M2 Personal Trainer Adrian Fleisher has been involved in the fitness, wellness, and coaching industries for approximately 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Austin Peay State University. He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Business.
Adrian is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has extensive experience working with elite level athletes, but enjoys working with all types of clients.
Adrian is answering your fitness questions today.
I have been working out for a while, and have begun to see a drop off in progress. What is up with this?
Adrian: Most individuals enter into a program with the best intentions. They work out with great regularity. Usually, these individuals are rewarded for their efforts with some physiological changes. More muscle, greater strength, better endurance. Also, their clothes fit better, they sleep better, and they experience greater energy.
BUT, then the dreaded workout plateau hits. When I meet with a client who is experiencing this, it usually takes just a few questions to get to the cause.
Most clients are victims of their own habits. They come to the club, get on the same piece of cardio equipment, hit the same “quick start” button, and do the same level, every single time. To the human body, this is like eating oatmeal for breakfast, lunch AND dinner, every single day.
You get the point.
The human body (or in our parlance, the “human organism”) is absolutely awesome at adapting to the stressors placed upon it. Weights, cardiovascular training, balance training, stretching, etc. are all examples of stressors. The human organism is also incredibly efficient at adapting just enough to these stressors.
To sidestep the plateau, you need to be proactive in implementing variety into your workouts. Go ahead, push that “random” button. Possibly hop on a different piece of cardiovascular equipment. Seek out one of our qualified personal trainers for guidance on one of our group programs. When you change the stressors you place upon your body, your body will thank you by changing!
I am most interested in losing a few pounds. How do I go about losing weight?
Adrian: Fat stored in the body serves a number of purposes; one specifically is fuel for the body to function. Believe me when I state that there are many ways to go about losing weight. Some of these methods are very, very aggressive, and as a result are not recommended. When entering into a weight loss program, remember that you are attempting to take caloric money out of the body’s energy account.
Your body will fight you a bit in this process. This is exactly why prudent weight loss strategies include a three-pronged approach. Through utilizing proper nutrition, cardiovascular training, and strength training, you will gain the best results.
Each element within the strategy is equally important:
I tend to keep the nutritional process very simple with my clients.
Food fulfills a very utilitarian need to fuel the body, and also provides a fundamental experienced through the eating process. Eating a meal is social as well as physical. It brings families together, allows for business deals to be (excuse the pun) hashed out, and satiates the physiological and psychological need to eat.
Far too often, clients are trapped in the weighing, measuring, and stressing over the numeric component of food. Personally, I believe this takes away from the fundamental joy of food. Make no mistake about it, a person needs to have the basic understanding of portion size, and how that plays into well balanced eating decisions.
Further blog posts will elaborate further regarding each of the above. Midtown also has a great educational program regarding nutrition. Please see Neil Wywialowski, our Fitness Director and he will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Thanks, Adrian.
Do you have a question for Adrian or another personal trainer? Share it with us in the Comments section and we’ll answer it for you in a future post.
Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings. Its origin is traced to 1621 when the Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated a three-day-long feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Following this Thanksgiving observance, folks began the Thanksgiving tradition of holding feasts after a good harvest.
At Midtown, we believe that breaking bread with family and friends is important, either before or after a good workout!
So, the last week of November includes a bunch of great fitness options for you.
Club Hours
Thursday, November 24th
6:00am-2:00pm
Kidtown
7:45-12:00pm
The week begins with special programming for the kids who are out of school on Monday through Wednesday: November 21, 22, and 23.
Gym Jam for Kids Ages 3-5
10:15-11:00am
Activities include parachute games, juggling scarves, balloons, races, scooters, musical instruments, sports, and the Sportwall. Dress the little ones in shorts, t-shirts and non–marking gym shoes.
Surf-n-Turf for Kids Ages 6 and Up
10:00am-12:00pm
The kids will participate in fun activities on the basketball court followed by a swim. Drop off and pick up will be in Kidtown. Showers available with parental supervision. No charge for Family Member and Parent/Child members. Call Kidtown to register or for more information, please contact Rea at rea.kulick@midtown.com. Dress your child in a bathing suit, shorts, t-shirt, and non-marking gym shoes.
On Thanksgiving Day, we will host our annual
Move for Food Fundraiser
8:00-11:30am
Bring a non-perishable food item and support “Journeys from Pads to Hope,” which serves individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Non-member friends are invited. Kidtown will open at 7:45am.
During this time, there will be a special Group Exercise schedule, which will include many of your favorite classes. In addition, we will debut RIPPED and Group Core, two new and exciting additions to our schedule. Be one of the first to try these programs! Please contact Stacey at stacey.nowak@midtown.com for more information.
Sore from your Turkey Day workout? We have a special Thanksgiving treat for you.
We will have a Massage Therapist available from 9:00am—12noon, on Thanksgiving Day, so book your appointment today.
Black Friday takes a lot of energy out of everyone, so rejuvenate yourself and burn some calories too with our 75-Minute Cycle Class on Saturday, November 26, from 7:45-9:00am.
Kids ages 7-13 need time to play as well, so bring them to our Kids Yoga class on Saturday, November 26, from 2:00-2:45pm.
Junior Fitness follows on both Saturday and Sunday from 3:00-4:00pm and both days wrap up with Family Swim from 4:00-6:00pm. So, get everyone in the pool for some much-needed stress relief!
As the holidays approach, we become consumed with getting gifts for everyone on our list.
Remember to give yourself the best gift of all: the gift of lifelong fitness.
Midtown has made this easy. Purchase six one-hour personal training sessions by November 28, 2011. Use each of them by January 8, 2012 and receive a complimentary one-hour personal training session. Please contact Neil at neil.wywialowski@midtown.com for more information.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Holiday from your friends at Midtown Athletic Club.
How are you staying fit this holiday weekend?
In the late 1980s, yoga instructor Yamuna Zake was left with an injury suffered during childbirth. Using her intensive yoga
knowledge, Zake developed a way to rehabilitate herself from her injuries, which later became known as Yamuna Body Rolling.
Specially designed 6-to-10 inch balls are used in Yamuna Body Rolling. These dense balls are firm enough to allow one to work muscles very specifically and create greater joint range of motion. Using a specific order, the ball rolls over the muscle to stretch, remove tension and discomfort, increase blood flow, and promote healing.
According to Ms Fitness Magaine, “The beauty of Yamuna Body Rolling is that it takes you from the origin of the muscle at the tendon, elongating the muscle while stimulating the bone and soft tissue. Working with the body’s own gravity, the exercises ease movement in the muscles to the point of relaxation, offering one of the finest weight-bearing exercises, with the benefits of a deep self-massage.”
You will feel the improvements in your body immediately. Benefits include:
Our club is the only one in the area that offers Yamuna Body Rolling. We’re currently forming Yamuna Body Rolling groups of 3-6 people. Pricing is the same as group training in the Pilates studio: $32/hr. One-on-one instructor pricing is the same at M2 trainer pricing.
Midtown is hosting a Yamuna Body Rolling special event on Oct 29th from 12-1:30pm. $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Sign up is available at the Front Desk, however space is limited to 25 participants.
Currently Joy, Margaret, and Cindy are certified. This is a difficult certification to pass, as the course requires over 75+ hours of training.
For more information, contact Cindy Blake at 847.991.4646, or cindy.blake@midtown.com.
Aloha!
Have you wondered why there were leis on some of our cardio equipment over the past few weeks?
The leis represent “Aloha,” which in Hawaiian means both “hello” and “goodbye.”
“Hello” to our new cardio equipment and “goodbye” to the old equipment!
Midtown has recently changed out 34 pieces of cardio equipment, including:
“At many clubs, you may notice frequent “Out of Order” signs on the cardiovascular equipment, but not at Midtown,” says Chuck Barnard, General Manager. “We have made it standard to replace our most frequently used cardiovascular pieces on an annual basis to minimize the frequency of equipment breakdown.”
What are the benefits of using this equipment?
You can use treadmills for running and walking with up to a 15% incline (good for simulating hill walking and running) and speeds ranging from a half mile per hour to a 3:45 mile, which is great for the advanced runner and interval training. The lower speeds simulate tennis footwork.
This piece of equipment is the personal favorite of Neil Wywialowski, our Fitness Director!
With the AMT, various stride lengths simulate walking, stair-climbing, and running. To Neil, it feels like doing the activities in a swimming pool without the swimsuit, and you can also work your arms while doing these activities!
Using this equipment (with and without arm movement) is similar to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and is a total body workout, especially when using your arms.
Which one is best for you?
According to Neil, the “The best exercise for you is one you enjoy doing.”
Which new piece of equipment have you tried?
Although his is a die-hard Packers Fan, contrary to popular belief, Fitness Director Neil Wywialowski is not from Wisconsin. He’s actually from Des Plaines,
Illinois. He has 25 years experience in the fitness industry and has been at Midtown Forest Grove for 18 years. He earned his BS in Health Education from Eastern Illinois University.
Neil is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has also completed all 3 Muscle Activation Technique Jumpstart Courses.
Prior to joining Midtown Forest Grove, he worked as a Health teacher and in an outpatient sports medicine clinic. Neil enjoys with working all types of clients from post-rehab to sport- specific, especially tennis players. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, playing tennis, reading and spending time with his family.
Question: If you only could do one type of exercise (cardio or weights) and only had 30 minutes to work out, which activity would be best?
Total-body, multi-joint resistance exercises, such as push–ups, pull-ups, squats, curls and presses, and a wood-chopping exercise. Research has shown that you get the benefits of the resistance training and the increase in metabolism and metabolic afterburn hours after the exercise. In addition, this routine has shown to achieve the benefits of cardio training, such as decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
Question: What the best exercise for me to do: swimming, running, cycling, tennis, group exercise, walking, or weight training?
The best exercise for you is the one you will enjoy because then you will do it. Something to think about: the more you can incorporate your mind into your exercise routine, the better. Activities such as tennis, group exercise, and martial arts are excellent for addressing the 5 Pillars of Health: Physical, Mental, Social, Emotional and Spiritual.
Question: When should I stretch: before or after I work out?
Current research shows that stretching before activities decreases power and may increase the risk of injury. I suggest that you do some type of light specific cardio activity to the point where you have broken a sweat and warmed up your nervous system. After that, stretch and then do some additional activity-specific exercises.
What would you like to ask one of our trainers?
90% of the world’s population is right-handed.
Can you guess how many Midtown team members are left-handed?
The newest lefty to join our team is Randy Paisley, who is our only left-handed tennis pro.
Randy is Professional 1 certified with the USPTA and comes to us from Freeport High School in Freeport, Illinois where he was the Head Coach for the boys and girls teams.
Prior to that, Randy served as the Head Tennis Professional for 18 seasons at the Dolphin Swim and Tennis Club in Brentwood, TN. He has a Master’s degree in Education from Middle Tennessee State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Northern Illinois University.
As a player, Randy was the 2008 Freeport Men’s singles and doubles champion and played on the Northern Illinois University Tennis team, where he was named MVP his senior year.
Randy will work with all facets of Adult and Junior programming, including cardio tennis and group and private lessons at Midtown Forest Grove.
Other notable Midtown lefties include:
Chuck Barnard-General Manager
Kelli Gottstein-Kidtown
Lisa Martin-Spa
Margaret Rovetuso-Personal Trainer
Patrick Freund-Kidtown
Robyn Kove-Director of Marketing
Sara Kozlowski-Personal Trainer
Scott Mathews-Personal Trainer
Theresa McPartland-Front Desk
Next time you see any of these team members, give them a left-handed high-five!
If you are a left-handed member, leave a comment here and we will send you a surprise.
While we haven’t actually built an ark, Midtown did become a safe place for many of you during the recent power outages in the Chicago area. As you know, over 850,000 folks were left without power after the mid-June storms. With our technology- driven society, many of you were unable to use some of your most important possessions, including hair dryers, refrigerators, and computers.
Midtown became your “home away from home” offices and our lobby was filled with members accessing the internet, working, and playing! You remained cool and enjoyed fresh and healthy food from M-Café, while watching tv to get the latest updates on the outages. Our locker rooms were full of members trying our showers and hair dryers for the very first time, and our pool became a haven for the hot and sweaty!
How many days were you without power? What did you miss the most?
