A fit new year

Diet and exercise are always popular resolutions as the New Year begins, and most people need a plan in place to meet the goals they set Jan. 1. Some of Homewood’s fitness experts shared their tips to make 2016 your healthiest year yet.

Sweat and Gears

2809 Central Ave.

Jeremy Clark and wife, Lisa, are the owners/operators of Sweat and Gears. According to Jeremy, theirs is a boutique indoor cycling studio that “has brought the best of big city New York and Los Angeles studios to little Homewood.”

What are your primary services? Our services include indoor cycling and TRX strength/core classes.

What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? If your goal is weight loss, you have to methodically track calories that you eat and calories that you burn. We use heart rate monitors to monitor your true calories burned. Whether you work out at our studio or another gym, know your calorie numbers. Don’t be that person who stops at the fast food drive-through on the way home after your workout to eat five times as many calories as you just burned off.

What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? The secret sauce for a fit and healthy you is consistency. This time of year so many people jump into exercise at full exertion for four to five workouts a week and then burn out. Life is a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself and make fitness a lifestyle and not a New Year resolution.

What is your favorite workout? I have a favorite workout that I like to teach, and a favorite that I like to do.  

Our popular Saturday morning “Tour de Decades” class is fun to teach because we have a broad range of participants from the entry level, recreational and competitive fitness groups all cycling together. The class is a gradual to heavy climb the entire 60 minutes with music starting usually in the ‘70s and progressing chronologically to modern day music by the end of the workout. It is an approachable, fun format for anyone just starting their fitness journey and there are a lot of aerobic calories burned in an hour.  

For myself, my favorite is the TRX/Cycle Fusion class. We cram cardio, strength and core into 45 minutes of high intensity intervals both on and off the bike with the TRX body weight resistance straps.

I would put this workout up against anything out there for a full body, 45-minute anaerobic calorie burning workout.

Iron Tribe Fitness

2740 Central Ave.

In 2010, Tra Griffin became the first coach hired for Iron Tribe. He served as gym manager and now oversees all operations of the corporately-owned gyms in Birmingham, including Iron Tribe Fitness in Homewood.

According to Griffin, Iron Tribe excels in eliminating the intimidation from the typical gym experience.

“We deliver expert coaching, consistency in class structure and an infectious culture and community of all fitness levels that centers around accountability,” he said.

What are your primary services? We offer regular Iron Tribe classes that deliver cardio, weight training and body weight movements. We also have a ladies only class, strength and advanced athlete classes and yoga. 

What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? There’s no magic pill for living a healthy lifestyle. It takes discipline and consistency. You just have to do it. The motivation occurs after you get into a rhythm. Repeat to yourself, “do it now, do it now.” It’s the mentality you have to have to succeed in any area of life, so make the right decision right now and stay consistent.

What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? Avoid the exact same thing every single day. If you feel you’re getting into a rut, change your method. If you’re no longer excited about running, vary up your workout. Make it fun again. Find a dedicated workout partner, mentor or friend. Everyone finds accountability in some way. Some sign up for a marathon, others get accountability from a group environment. Dig into your why and focus on the end result! 

What is your favorite workout? Having served in the Marines, I enjoy long workouts that really tax me mentally. I also like to tap into all modalities of training. I enjoy running several miles or sprinting intervals, lifting heavy weights and performing body weight movements. I can honestly say I keep my workouts varied and never allow myself to get into a rut. 

Pure Barre

2826 18th St. S.

Danielle Davis and Lindsay Lancaster are co-owners of the Pure Barre Birmingham location in downtown Homewood.

According to Davis, Pure Barre is “your one-stop shop for fitness and fashion,” featuring a ballet barre for strengthening and stability. In addition, the location houses a boutique that features brands for active and lifestyle clothing. 

What are your primary services? Classes featuring the Pure Barre Technique. For 55 minutes, your personal life will melt away as you plunge into this fun workout set to motivating music. Your teacher will set up the exercises and then circulate the room, correcting form to help you get the most out of your time. We provide all of the exercise equipment needed for class.  

What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? Just get started. It doesn’t matter what physical shape or mental state you are in — just start somewhere. I believe that our minds and bodies are capable of remarkable things and if we can commit to “showing up,” then the journey begins to ultimate health and wellness. And, do not be discouraged if you slip up or miss workouts along the way. The key is balance and being aware that certain seasons allow for different things.  

What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? Obsessing over the number on the scale, and comparing yourself to others. Pure Barre is about empowering people to feel strong and secure in their own skin. Avoid hanging your confidence on what you weigh and focus on the benefits that come from exercise —higher energy, better sleep and overall health and wellness. In Pure Barre, the scale is irrelevant, and I love that.  

What is your favorite workout? The Pure Barre Technique. Pure Barre is one of the fastest, most effective ways to change the shape of your body, using low impact isometric movements to target the large muscle groups in the body while burning calories, shedding fat and increasing flexibility. Every class is different and the more you understand the fundamentals of the technique, the more challenging it becomes. 

Gauntlet Fitness

2610 19th St. S.

Gauntlet Fitness, co-owned by Paul Shunnarah and David Sheram, has the motto “we hit pads, not people.” Sheram serves as a master trainer and Shunnarah as a trainer at the facility.

Shunnarah describes the gym as offering “the next generation of fitness” — a safe, non-contact kickboxing facility using a one-of-a-kind workout to help clients get in the best shape of their lives. 

What are your primary services?

We offer a group circuit-training program for ages 18 and up. Using the art of kickboxing, we offer classes throughout the day to fulfill our clients’ fitness needs. 

We also offer fundamentals programs for beginners who want to be properly trained before entering the program.

What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year?

Stay consistent. Believe in yourself and what your body is capable of doing, and most importantly do not let one bad meal or one bad day stop you from achieving your fitness goals.

What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness?

Do not join a program that does not work for you. Find something that you enjoy. You have to be passionate about the workout in order to stay consistent and get results.

What is your favorite workout?

Running the Gauntlet when the class is packed and the music is loud.