INSANITY Headlines New Fall Fitness Classes

Introducing INSANITY!

As part of its exciting new group fitness class schedule for fall 2013, Club Julian is pleased offer INSANITY workouts beginning September 3rd!

“INSANITY is a high-intensity workout known as MAX interval training,” explains instructor AJ Haught.  She says that MAX interval training allows a person to beat the "stress adaptation response," which normally happens when your body gets used to exercising at one level of exertion.  By using MAX interval training, INSANITY pushes the participant to new training heights, resulting in more calories burned, faster results, and a more efficient metabolism. 

AJ describes INSANITY as a full-body workout that draws heavily from sports training.  It incorporates football conditioning drills like burpees and feet pumps, basketball jumping drills, high/low jabs from boxing and martial arts, and many other sports-related movements.

According to AJ, the difference between INSANITY and other interval fitness programs is the level of intensity.  “Typically, interval training is 30 seconds on, and then 15 seconds of rest.  With INSANITY, however, it is 2 minutes of something really strenuous, and then a 30 second rest, and then another 2 minutes!”

AJ says that caloric burn for INSANITY participants tends not to spike up and down like in ZUMBA, but will instead elevate and then plateau downward gradually throughout the course of the day, creating a longer period in which the body will burn calories.  “You will work hard for the 50-minute class, and then continue to burn calories for the rest of the day,” she says.

Although INSANITY is definitely a very challenging class, AJ says that there are modifications for every component of it.  “Don’t get discouraged if you can’t do the whole program, everybody takes breaks in INSANITY when they are just starting,” says AJ.  “I teach ZUMBA, and I thought my cardio level was amazing.  But once I started INSANITY, it really took it to a new level.”  She also reports becoming significantly more toned in her arms, legs, and abs by doing INSANITY.

AJ, who has been with Club Julian for about a year, says that she is one of the first group fitness instructors in the Pittsburgh area to become INSANITY certified.  She recently completed a full-day training session and subsequent testing to earn her certification. 

Although new crazes come and go in the fitness industry, AJ believes INSANITY may have staying power because of how quickly it works. “INSANITY has become so popular because we as a society expect to see results right away,” says AJ.  “When you do the program, it is tough, but you do get results VERY quickly.  You will see changes in your body and cardio health after a few weeks.”

AJ also says that INSANITY is unique because the sports component appeals to men.  “I really hope that it draws a lot of younger guys, because that’s the demographic we don’t see in group fitness very much,” says AJ.

INSANITY will debut at Club Julian on Tuesday, September 3rd from 4-5 pm, and will occupy that time slot each week.  INSANITY classes will also be offered on Fridays from 6-7 pm beginning September 27th.  For more information on all of Club Julian's group fitness classes - visit www.clubjulian.com.