It’s fast, it’s intense and it’s engaging. It’s the 45-minute workout that keeps celebrities such as Hugh Jackman and Nicole Richie in shape. F45, short for Functional 45, a fitness programme founded by Sydney-based celebrity trainer Luke Istomin, made its way to Chennai last month. Based on high-intensity, interval training, the fitness programme has been changing the way people look at fitness. It made its India debut in Hyderabad in 2015, before setting up shop in Chennai’s Nungambakkam in December 2016.
Says Deepti Akki, master franchise owner in the city , “F45 is quite unlike cross fit or any other fitness regimen. In fact, it is an evolved version of the former.” The sessions are timed, with 20, 30 and 45 seconds of working out, with short 10-15 seconds of rest periods in between. “It includes strength work, cardio, resistance, kick boxing and core workout. The fact that it is a different work out everyday keeps the interest levels up.”
“There are no machines or plug-ins involved. The exercises involve using one’s own body weight and resistance. And a lot of it is like a sport and that keeps people engaged. People work out as a team and televisions across the gym demonstrate the exercises and the time. Trainers, however, are always around to correct form,” says Deepti, who launched the gym in the city in partnership with Adith Eswaran.
The gym has about 35 programmes — Renegades, Firestorm, Romans, Angry Birds, Hollywood, Brooklyn, Quarterback, among others. Of these, eight are practised in Chennai. The others are likely to make their way over the coming days. According to Deepti, the workouts are designed to make the blood flow from the head to the calves at one station and in the reverse in the next. “The flow of the workouts is very structured and can’t be changed. The idea is to get one’s heart rate high to facilitate maximum burning of calories.”
The workouts are common across all the F45s, with the same programme being followed globally on any given day. Members can book classes on an app with their usernames and passwords. The gym is also coming up with an eight-week challenge in the first week of February. Those who wish to sign up are required to take a medical test to gauge their body-fat ratio etc. The challenge entails working out on a daily basis, and following nutrition advice and recipes provided on the F45 website that they will be given access to. At the end of the eight weeks, members can map the change in their fitness levels and bodies.
While the workouts are predominantly for adults, F45 will also have a kids’ programme during the summer vacation with similar exercises, minus the weights. “Weight training for children is not recommended, as it can stunt their growth,” says Deepti.
For details, contact 73388 42245.
