Gold’s Gym offers free exercise experience

If you plan to get into better shape this New Year, then look no further than Gold’s Gym Saipan.

Gold’s Gym, Verizon and the Department of Public Health are teaming up this Saturday, Jan. 15, from 8am to 8pm to promote fitness at Gold’s Gym in Garapan Central Park.

Gold’s Gym is holding an Open House for the public to come in and try out an array of free group exercise classes, free gym tours, free nutritional bar and shake samples and receive 50 percent off the enrollment fee if they sign up for an annual membership.

Verizon’s Star Cruizer van will be on location offering discounted prepaid Modotel and Kyocera cellular phones for only $59.95, and if you sign up for an annual Gold’s Gym membership, you’ll get an additional $5 discount off any prepaid cell phone. Verizon will have free giveaways while supplies last.

The DPH will also be at Gold’s Gym from 9 am to 11 am to conduct free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screening. For those who want to get their glucose checked, make sure not to eat anything at least four hours before going in for the glucose test.

Gold’s Gym just introduced two of the most popular group exercise classes in the world—Bodypump and Bodystep—and everyone will be able to try them for free this Saturday, but get their early because space is limited.

Gold’s Gym Saipan’s group exercise instructors, Glorybel Tan and Ricky Oro, recently returned from Australia where they attended an intense training and certification program so they could return to Saipan and teach the internationally popular Bodypump and Bodystep exercise classes. Everyone is welcome to attend the free trial group exercise classes on Saturday, that will include Bodypump and Bodystep, as well as Cardio Blast, yoga and tai chi.

Bodypump is the world’s most successful group exercise program in history and is taught in more than 5,000 gyms in 50 countries. Bodypump is a 60-minute exercise class using barbells and adjustable weights to tone and condition muscles while raising the body’s metabolic rate for rapid fat-burning. The class uses upbeat music and is taught by high-energy instructors, which puts you in a great mood after each motivating workout. After an initial warm-up, all the major muscle groups are worked through a series of weight-bearing exercises including squats, presses, lifts and curls. The class finishes with a challenging abs workout followed by a cool down and stretching. Bodypump is a great workout and it is extremely easy to follow since the exercise movements are simple and all you have to do is follow the instructor.

Bodypump is proven to be “the world’s fastest way to get in shape” by research conducted by the University of Auckland in New Zealand, which has confirmed higher than expected fat-burning effects alongside endurance, strength and ‘wellness’ benefits. Bodypump is for just about everybody, and it aims to remove the barriers of age, gender and fitness background. Bodypump is for people that aren’t very active who are trying to get in shape as well as for athletes looking for a training edge. No matter what your goal is, Bodypump will deliver!

Bodystep is “The Ultimate Kick Butt Class” with great music and levels to cater for everyone from the newest to the most athletic participant. Bodystep is a cardiovascular program that uses a height adjustable step to provide a high energy cardio workout to music. Bodystep features high intensity intervals followed by muscle conditioning tracks designed to shape and tone the entire lower body while pushing your fat burning systems into high gear.

Using simple to follow moves and a great mix of pop music, Bodystep allows you to train at the intensity you want without having to learn a complicated sequence of moves. Effective and easy-to-follow moves provide a high-energy, athletic cardio blast that is simple enough for men and women of all ages and fitness levels. You control how hard you work by simply altering the height of your step and increasing or decreasing your range of movements. This exhilarating workout provides a range of benefits including muscle toning, calorie burning and lower body muscle definition. You may have experienced a step class in the past, but that definitely doesn’t mean that you’ve experienced Bodystep!

Cardio Blast is the ultimate high intensity exercise class that is a melting pot of dance and aerobics moves blended with the latest and greatest sound of funk, hip hop, house, Latin and techno music. Cardio Blast is an outstanding fat-burning class that will improve your coordination, stamina and energy level.

Yoga is an essential class for absolutely everyone and is the ultimate reward for the mind and body. Yoga calls upon the ancient art of yoga as the perfect antidote for reducing the stresses of modern day life. Yoga will loosen and strengthen your muscles, improve your posture and flexibility, and teach you valuable relaxation techniques. Some variations of Hatha Yoga (physical exercise yoga) will also be demonstrated, which are designed to create strength, flexibility, deeper breathing, less stress, and an overall improved and balanced function of the mind and body. Many individuals that consistently practice this form of yoga see improvements in their other sports and recreational pursuits, fewer injuries, and healthier daily living.

Tai chi is an ancient martial art and system of health promoting exercise. Its practice consists of assuming postures while executing natural flowing movement. The tai chi form is practiced in slow motion. The body remains relaxed while the mind is tranquil but alert. Tai chi enhances the flow of “Chi” or internal energy. The flow of “Chi” is essential in maintaining and promoting good health. By practicing tai chi, one develops agility, balance, flexibility, self-awareness and a sense of well-being.

Following is the schedule of free group exercise classes for the public that will be held at Gold’s Gym on Saturday, Jan. 15. The morning classes will be abbreviated at 30 minutes each to accommodate more people, but the regular-length (60 minutes) Bodypump and Bodystep classes will be conducted in the afternoon. Approximately 25 people can fit into each class. Call Gold’s Gym at 233-4000 for more details.