Page 64 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2018

FINANCE & FITNESS fast & fit
LATEST TREND:
story by Alexis Williams
Getting in Shape Faster with GRIT
If you have resolved to get in shape in the New Year, but don’t know how you’ll fit working out into your already busy schedule, you’re in luck. A new, 30-minute high intensity interval training (HIIT) class called GRIT is helping even the busiest people burn calories, build lean muscle and rapidly increase their strength.
“Lack of time is why most people say they do not exercise consistently so the 30-minute GRIT class is perfect for them,” says Joey Conwill, wellness director at the Mississippi Gulf Coast YMCA in Ocean Springs.
The YMCA launched the Les Mills branded program in November and currently offers the class three times a week. GRIT classes are taught as either GRIT Strength, which mixes barbell and weighted plates to challenge all major muscle groups; GRIT Cardio, which improves cardio fitness and increases speed; or GRIT Plyo, which is a plyometric-based workout that combines bench and explosive jumping exercises with agility training.
The Y has started to garner a following for the 30-minute high intensity classes and the four certified instructors it has on staff motivate participants and also
work to keep them safe during the challenging class. Even though GRIT
is challenging and structured for maximum calorie burn, there are options for all fitness levels and those working to avoid injury. Participants don’t compete with one another as in some other fitness classes and are able to work at their own pace throughout
the class.
“Group fitness is huge when it
comes to being consistent in your exercise program,” adds Conwill. “Classes bring accountability and structure to a workout program and also a qualified instructor is in the room with you.”
The Y offers 75 group fitness classes per week, ranging from yoga and senior sit-and-fit to more intense classes like Les Mills Body Pump and the martial arts, high calorie burner Body Combat. In 2018, the Y hopes to add RPM cycling, another Les Mills branded class offering an intense, low impact cardio workout proved to help you burn maximum calories and shed unwanted pounds.
64 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • January 2018 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net