Popular Fitness Studio Opening New Stamford Location

STAMFORD, CT — Now that beach season is upon us, many residents may find themselves looking for a place to get into their ideal shape this summer. Residents of Stamford will have a new option this year, conveniently located right near the Merritt Parkway on High Ridge Road.

Orangetheory Fitness will open its 11th studio in Connecticut on Friday, June 7 at 1101 High Ridge Road in the Grand Central Fashion Plaza Shopping Center.

"Stamford is a market that we’ve been trying to get into since I started with the brand back in 2012. It’s a great market," Owner and Connecticut Area Developer Adam Krell told Patch. "We know Stamford residents prioritize healthy living. What we do is provide the best one-hour workout in the country and coach-inspired group workouts that are designed to give people more life, which is basically the idea that what you do in the studio gives you a more vibrant life outside of it."

Krell is particularly excited about the location of the new studio, both for its high-visibility and traffic as well as its convenient location next to a number of other popular businesses, including Trader Joe's, Starbucks and Rye Ridge Deli.

"We’re trying to put one of these [studios] in everyone’s backyard. This will be our eleventh in the state of Connecticut and number 32 for me," Krell said. "Connecticut’s probably top on the list for expansion for us in the tri-state area. We’re obviously going off of the success of the studios we already have there."

According to Krell, Orangetheory is "constantly listening" to its members, and the number one piece of feedback the studios get is to build more in the area so members have the ability to go to a studio wherever they travel in Connecticut. He also believes that both quality and convenience are important for any gym to attract members.

"Our long-term goal is to have an Orangetheory Fitness studio no more than approximately 10 to 15 minutes driving distance from every resident in Connecticut," Krell said.

Standing Out

One thing that sets Orangetheory apart from other fitness studios is the results customers can expect to see on a consistent basis, according to Krell. He and his team believe that group fitness is not one-size-fits-all, so their workouts are designed for all levels. Customers are also guided by professional coaches to tailor their experience and maximize results in every class.

"Our workouts are designed by expert physiologists, so there’s a purpose to them. It’s not a coach just randomly coming up with a workout," Krell said. "When you come in, you’re actually going to see and get the results you’re looking for...I think that’s why we’ve been able to expand so rapidly and successfully [in Connecticut]; because the workout works."

Customers will be able to take advantage of technology such as heart rate monitors and other tools that track one's performance and progress in real time to "see how much stronger and faster you’re getting" every day.

It's also important to Krell that no customer's two workouts are the same.

"We want to confuse your body. When you’re doing the same workout repetitively, your body knows that and isn’t as challenged," Krell said. "Constantly changing the workout design basically will get your body not being able to adapt, so it’s constantly having to change and adapt, which means it would have to work harder, which means you’re burning more calories, gaining more muscle and burning more fat."

Though Orangetheory Fitness values stepping outside one's comfort zone while working out, Krell also emphasized that customers can expect a welcoming and comfortable environment when they step into the new studio.

"Our goal is not to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but to make someone feel comfortable being uncomfortable," Krell said. "So if we can make a customer trust us, understand what we do and understand the workout design...we’d like them to get comfortable with getting uncomfortable, that way you’re able to achieve greater results."

A big part of that will be the coaching staff, who Krell said are "top notch" and have already undergone extensive training, which they will continue to do until the studio opens on June 7.

It will also be achieved by creating a friendly atmosphere, one that involves Orangetheory Fitness hosting community events and striving to make anyone who walks through the doors on High Ridge Road immediately feel at home.

"We’re known for our tight-knit community, just like Stamford. Our studios are places where everybody knows your name," Krell said. "We’re very social. We’re always happy to have events where we’re hanging out with our members and our staff, both inside and outside the studio. We have lots of challenges and themed workouts that are specific to the community...we have the solution to your fitness journey."