When it comes to finding a place to work out, people in many communities are blessed with a wide array of choices. From traditional gyms to workouts with a personal trainer, to a myriad of specialized ‘boutique’ options.
So why choose Athletic Republic’s AR-FIT program?
First and foremost, because it’s based on the same evidence-based protocols and knowledge that we’ve used for nearly 30 years to train over one million competitive athletes, from pee-wees to pros. We’ve taken that same knowledge that we apply to building strength, speed, agility, stamina and power in these athletes and tailored it to meet the needs of adults with a variety of goals -- from getting in shape, losing weight, being better prepared for activities such as skiing, tennis, biking and the like, to those who simply want to feel stronger and healthier to meet life’s everyday challenges.
Functional Variety
To begin with, we strategically plan every workout to focus on different energy systems and muscle groups. Many adult fitness workouts just hit the “arms, abs, legs” checkboxes. On the other hand, AR-FIT workouts are designed around different themes - Balance and Stability, Endurance, Speed, and Strength. This not only works the body in a balanced way, but enables you to work out more frequently because you’re not working the same muscle groups over and over again in every workout.
Power for Everyday Life
A hallmark of Athletic Republic’s training is developing power. Young competitive athletes need power for an explosive first steps in a cut, closing speed to intercept a ball, or to evade a defender, and we build that power using a range of plyometric tools and exercises. Those movements are also incorporated into AR-FIT workouts. Not only will they help you find that burst of strength necessary to get up a hill on a bike ride or hike up a steep section on a trail, but they can also help you maintain bone density, along with the balance and coordination that we naturally lose as we age.
Athletic Republic’s training protocols also utilize neuromuscular training techniques to speed up reaction times and develop and reinforce sound body mechanics. AR-FIT workouts include many of these movements to not only build functional strength but to reduce your chances of injury, be it in an activity like skiing or simply navigating an icy sidewalk or stepping off a curb. We’re patterning movements (knee alignment in particular) so that the brain doesn’t have to consciously think about proper alignment or mechanics in split-second situations.
Patterning the Right Movement
Proper technique during workouts becomes extremely important during neuromuscular training, which is where AR-FIT’s small group sizes come into play. In smaller classes, trainers can easily identify incorrect movement patterns and ensure clients are doing exercises properly to develop the right neuromuscular patterning. The small group size more closely recreates the personal training experience, in contrast to large boot-camp classes where potentially dangerous poor form can go undetected. More than simply cheerleaders helping you to finish a workout, our trainers have a deeper level of education and experience in sports science, and therefore a much better understanding of body mechanics and optimal training.
Working What’s Important
Another Athletic Republic difference is the muscle systems that get trained. The area between the shoulders and mid-thighs (not just abs) gets a lot of attention because it’s the true source of power and stability. And while AR-FIT workouts do hit on large muscle groups that are the main focus of many adult workouts, we spend as much or even more time on the ‘accessory’ muscle groups that help stabilize joints in the hips, lower back, ankles, and shoulders for greater durability and injury resistance. And during workouts, compound (multi-joint) movements are employed much more often than simple (single-joint) movements, since this builds more real-life, functional strength.
Keeping you Mobile
Finally, AR-FIT workouts put a great deal of emphasis on mobility. Traditional strength training often ends up inhibiting range of motion, but AR-FIT workouts always feature mobility components during circuits to maintain joint flexibility. And while many ‘boot camp’ workouts include a standard ‘warm down’ at the end of the workout, at Athletic Republic five to seven minutes at the end of every workout are devoted to stretching the specific muscles and systems that were emphasized during the workout.
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