A recent YouGov poll reports that out of the 30% of people surveyed, 50% of them listed getting fit as their number one New Years' resolution. If this is your goal, the Nashville area welcomes two new ways to do just that. As part of the Exponential Fitness brand, STRIDE Fitness and AKT aren’t your typical experience. Expect the studios to be a little bit darker with fun club-like lighting and banging playlists to fit the vibe. Along with the experience and science behind the locally-owned studios, this year just may be the year you actually keep your resolutions.
STRIDE Fitness
The California-based STRIDE Fitness will soon be calling Murphy Road home offering a treadmill-based interval training concept. The treadmills are Woodway treads which general manager, Jodi Suglio explains was designed to mimic the feel of outdoor running/walking but with less impact. Holding a master's degree in exercise and nutrition science from Lipscomb, Suglio says one of the things that will set STRIDE apart from other studios is the use of MyZone Heart Rate System, “Part of the science in our training style is that in the middle of class our coaches will coach people to be in a certain heart rate range based on the workout that day.’
“But, don’t think I’m not a runner so I’m not going there,” Suglio encourages, “ I always say to start small. You don’t want to do too much right away, or you might be tempted to say forget this.”
Perfect for walkers, joggers, and runners, three formats and leveling systems will be offered for all fitness levels. STRIDE Fitness Certified Coaches will lead classes that focus on your actual stride along with total body workouts, and ones that are core focused. Open gym time will also be available for members to access treadmills on their own with the digital platform XPlus also an option.
Your first three classes are just $3. So, what do you have to lose? Well, maybe those extra Christmas cookies still hanging on, but surely you smell what we’re baking here.
Jodi Suglio’s favorite beats: “Give me some Nirvana or Breaking Benjamin and I’ll do some awesome things.”
AKT
Or, maybe you dance like no one’s looking?
Coming soon to White Bridge Rd in Belle Meade, the New York City-based AKT (Anna Kaiser Technique) features four full-body dance-based class formats focusing on low-impact, high-intensity, booty-lifting moves sure to improve anyone’s strength and flexibility. "When you're taking our Dance class, you're getting that cardio calorie burn but you're also increasing strength by transferring your weight to your toes and engaging muscles throughout the entire body to keep you balanced and agile,” general manager, Kaycee Bales explains how dance can not only give you that tight booty dancers are known for but an overall body workout.
Each move of a routine is broken down during each class. But, as Bales says, “If exercise isn’t fun, you’re likely to not follow through.” Holding a kinesiology degree from Miami University, Bales also was a professional dancer in Los Angeles prior to moving to Nashville. She says, “You get to celebrate your progress as you learn and master a new dance routine every 3 weeks."
Push AND Pull is the name of the game in the Tone class where isometrics is key to that booty burn. In the Bands class, alternate between dance and strength intervals for a workout that challenges attendees to the core. Or, opt to get hit from all directions with the plyometrics applied in the Circuit class. Offering a free introductory class, from there Bales promises all of the classes at AKT are beginner-friendly.
Kaycee Bales' favorite beats: "You'll catch me dancing all day to ‘Whip It!’ by LunchMoney Lewis. But, I also love the Michael Jackson classic ‘Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough’!”