Body Studio: Perfect Antidote For Boring Workouts

Are you bored with the average treadmill workout? in Sumner may be just what you need to get you out of your winter slump and back into shape.

“Crossfit is high-intensity, short duration, function training,” said Katie Henry, owner of The Body Studio. “We don’t use machines like treadmills. We use real-life movements that can carry over into real life, like free weights and jump ropes.”

Katie and her husband, Walt, have been building healthy bodies in Sumner for the past six years. Katie, an Auburn High School teacher, and Walt, a firefighter for the city of Kent, share four children and a passion for health and fitness. The concept for The Body Studio came from their desire to combine new age philosophies with a back-to-basics concept.

“This type of training is essential, because you apply what you learn here to your daily life, taking your newfound strength into your real-life situations,” said Katie Henry. “Each plan is scalable and modifiable. We have a way to cater a fitness plan for a paraplegic, a collegiate athlete, a 65 year-old woman and a firefighter all in the same class.”

Crossfit training makes you jump, run and strength-train using real tools that can be found in every day life.

The Body Studio provides beginning members with the Body Champ Challenge, an eight-week, all-inclusive program through Sumner Crossfit.

“Many people are intimidated to go into a gym for the first time, so that is why the Body Camp Challenge was developed,” said Henry. “We wanted to set up a program for success. Each person is part of a support team.”

Participants work out five days a week, with seven daily classes from which to choose. One Sunday every month, the studio has an orientation for beginners or those looking for a personal challenge. There, they get a notebook filled with a nutrition plan, resources and goals.

Sumner Crossfit is an affiliate of the official Crossfit Games, a new national challenge.

“The Crossfit organization comes up with one crazy workout a week. You do the challenge for six weeks and enter your score online. There are about 20,000 people doing it," said Henry. "I doubt any of us will get even close to winning, but again it's another fun competitive challenge they offer at that gym to keep everyone excited, challenged and involved."

Unlike some gym trainers, The Body Studio team follows up with their participants and holds them to their commitment.

“The trainers really care about their team,” said Henry. “If someone does not show up, the trainer will call them and check in.”

Repeat Body Challenge participant Carla Morrison loves her Crossfit workout.

“The support of the group helps keep me motivated,” said Morrison. “Sometimes I really need that. I keep doing the body camp because it's a great group of people ... people who have become great friends even out of the gym. The workout is always different, always a surprise, and always great! The place is totally non-pretentious and supportive of everyone at all fitness levels and body-fat percentages.”

“More than anything, we are successful because we have a sense of camaraderie here and we have people who really care,” said Henry.

“Yes we do,” added Chris, a member of the studio as he passed by.

For more information about The Body Studio, Sumner CrossFit, the Crossfit Games or The Body Camp Challenge, see http://www.sumnercrossfit.com/, http://www.thebodystudio.org/, and www.bodycampchallenge.com or call 253-321-2181.