What is the best way to get back into fitness? Own a gym.
That’s the approach Kyle Weingartz took when he opened F45 Training, located in the Oxford Mills shopping center at 1366 S. Lapeer Road. He co-owns it with his father Al Weingartz.
While many gyms are based on repetition, F45 is based on form.
‘It does not matter how many reps you do, we want (proper) form,? Kyle said. ‘We’ll never knock another gym . . . everybody has got their specifics of what they want.?
‘What we like is that everybody who doesn’t like those gyms likes this gym because they can come in and there is no intimidation,? he continued. ‘If you can lift five pounds and do six reps in 35 seconds or you can lift 50 pounds and do 20 reps in that same amount of time, it doesn’t matter. Everybody is getting the same workout.?
He noted every exercise also has a modification, so if a person has a knee, shoulder or back problem, they can alter the movement so as to not cause pain or further injury.
‘You’re not going to get better by not doing anything,? he added. ‘Our philosophy is as long you’re moving, you’re moving forward.?
A different kind of gym
F45 is about using ‘functional movements? and the 45 stands for 45 minutes. Thus, the workout is doing functional movements for 45 minutes.
‘So, from the time you walk in the door to the time you walk out ? you warm up, you do your exercises and you cool down ? it is 45 minutes,? Kyle said.
It’s a rotating station-to-station style workout, where a person does as much of one exercise as they can for a certain amount of time on the clock and when the time is up, they rotate to the next station.
‘Everyday it changes. You’ll never have the same workout twice.?
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are more cardio-oriented with some weights, known as ‘Athletica? workouts, while Tuesdays and Thursdays are more strength and training workouts known as ‘Romans.?
Then on Saturdays they have a 27-station workout called ‘Hollywood,? where they will try and bring in a live DJ for music that day.
‘It’s a lot more cardio and an hour long,? noted Kyle. ‘It’s a lot of fun.?
One of the other things Kyle likes about F45 is he doesn’t have to think about what he wants or needs to do next as far as a workout goes and he doesn’t fall into the trap of just doing the same routine every time.
‘You show up. The workouts are all on the screens and you’re done,? he said. ‘By the time you figure out you don’t want to be here anymore, it’s done and it’s time to go home.?
Kyle said F45 is the only gym with plasma television sets showing how to do each station workout, which is something his dad really likes.
‘It’s all on the TV. You get out here, you get going (at station) number 8 (for example) and you look up (at the TV screen) and (see) that’s what I got to do,? he said. ‘If you forget, you look on the screen and there it is.?
And because the workouts themselves are on the TV screens, Kyle said that allows their trainers help those working out perfect their form.
‘They don’t have to focus on how showing you how to do the exercise or what to do,? he said. ‘They can focus on your technique and form to make sure you don’t injure yourself and that you’re getting the most potential (out of each exercise).?
Al, who was not accustomed to working out in a gym, has lost 20 pounds in his first month.
‘I’ve been in construction all my life, so I really didn’t have to (workout), but now I’m getting older,? he noted.
Kyle said not only do he and his dad workout there, but so does his mom and his wife, so they’ve turned it into a family affair. While they own a few various businesses, Kyle said he and his father are looking to make the gym their primary focus as a way to give themselves a long-term retirement plan.
‘We enjoy it,? he said.
A new venture
Kyle said he never thought of owning a gym, until his wife, who is a teacher at Stadium Drive Elementary in Lake Orion heard about it through one of the physical education teachers.
‘Fitness is one of the biggest industries in the world, so to have an opportunity to get into a new thing, I didn’t think I could pass it up,? he said.
F45 was created by Australian Celebrity Trainer Luke Istomin, who helped train Hugh Jackman for his role as Wolverine in the popular X-Men movies.
F45 is also one of the largest growing franchises in Australia.
‘When we bought the franchise, we had never even (set) foot in one,? Kyle explained. ‘We’re the first one in Michigan and fourth one in the United States to own a F45 (gym).?
Kyle said he was super-impressed when he flew to Australia for training.
‘The first day I worked out was like, ‘Wow this is solid,?? he added. ‘It was amazing.?
Kyle noted the response from the community has been great thus far and every week they’re growing with more and more members.
‘A lot of members are seeing a big change (in their fitness), so that’s good and what I love to hear,? he said. ‘Because when they see a change, they feel different and they feel better. It’s nice.?
Kyle said they love to see some of the local student athletes in the gym as well.
‘We want to see the local sports teams in that maybe don’t have the opportunity to workout in the summer time, where we’d like to create a class specifically for a team,? he said.
‘If a team says ‘we can’t get access to the weight room or it’s not doing what we want it to do,? bring them in and we’ll set up a time just for them. Then, they can come in and work out.?
F45 currently offers eight classes which includes four morning classes at 6, 7, 8 and 9 a.m.; Noon and 5, 6, 7 p.m.
Prices for everybody
As far as prices go, Kyle said they offer a wide variety of packages.
‘Everybody gets the first two (weeks) free,? he said. ‘We (would) rather you come in and see if you like (it) before you even think about paying.?
‘If you come in for a week and decide ‘this really isn’t for me,? then there is no reason to worry about it, but if you find out after two weeks ‘this is what I want to do,?? Kyle continued. ‘we’ll find a package and a price point and way for you to be able to come in. We want everybody to be able to work out.?
Al noted they give special discounts to military personnel, firefighters, police officers and teachers, as well as families.
For more information, please visit www.F45training.com/lakeorion or call Kyle Weingartz at 810-614-4338.
Look for them on Facebook as well.