An Orangetheory Fitness Studio opened earlier this year in Deptford, and they also have a location in Washington Township. This is not a traditional gym… Orangetheory is a heart-rate based High Intensity Interval training program in a group setting, where each attendee wears heart rate monitors to safely get the optimal burn rate level!
If you’ve wondered what makes them different, then read on!
Honestly I didn’t know much about Orangetheory prior to my recent visit to the Deptford location. While I had a nice chat with the fitness instructor when I stopped in, it was really when I got back home that I started to research what they are all about.
Read on to see what Orangetheory is all about… but also be sure to check out the Deptford Location’s Facebook page! They are doing an awesome job of posting updates on the center and the progress of the members. And guys you’ll see that “classes” doesn’t mean this is just for the ladies!
It’s clear that bringing people together to support each other is a big part of the Orangetheory program!
HIIT Group Workout: Three Categories, Five Heart rate Zones
Have you seen that person at the gym who just seems to meander around the equipment? They’ll randomly do a couple reps on different equipment, check their phone and get water. It’s not that they don’t want to exercise… I mean they’ve put in the effort to get there… they just don’t know what to do!
Which is what I see as being different about Orangetheory. They are class based with instructors guiding along the way.
And this isn’t like a pilates or yoga class. This is fitness class, which has been scientifically designed to safely get your heart pumping and the pounds pouring off.
Fitness Class Program
The fitness program classes are broken out into the following three categories:
Rowing: Every rowing stroke engages 85% of your body’s muscles!
Cardio: Walking, running or jogging…. set your own pace on the treadmill, bike or strider
Strength Training: Weight and floor exercises which vary every day, so you are working on all of your muscles over the week.
Five Heart Rate Zones
Orangetheory has determined 5 different zones of heart rate, basically varying from “resting heart rate” to “Woaah fella, let’s slow it down a bit”
During our heart-rate based HIIT workout, your coach will guide you through our 5 different heart rate zones: resting, easy, challenging, uncomfortable and All Out, telling you when to push harder and when to pull back for recovery. The goal is to spend 12 minutes or more with your heart rate elevated in “The Orange Zone” to boost your metabolism, burn fat and burn more calories.
Orangetheory.com
The “Orange Zone” is basically the 4th zone.. and the goal is to keep your heart pumping safely within that zone so that you achieve a maximum cardio and muscle workout!
And now you know where the Orangetheory name comes from! They want your fitness workout to take you to the Orange zone to get maximum burn and muscle development, without putting your health at risk!
Heart Rate Monitors
I get it.. I haven’t been to the gym much myself lately, so who am I to comment on other’s workout habits? Well I will anyway. Ha!
Another situation we see at gyms is people can be there for an hour or longer… and never break a sweat.
They’ll walk out 90 minutes later almost as fresh as when the walked in.
But I think it’s clear to anyone that the better results come from pushing your cardio and muscles as much as you can… but as SAFE as you can.
And I completely get it, that depending on your current level of fitness you don’t want to push things too hard!
So how does Orangetheory safely get their members to the Orange burn zone?
The do it with wireless heart monitors!
Heart rate monitors are — if you’ll pardon the pun — at the heart of our workouts; training based on optimal heart rate zones is the very essence of what sets us apart.
Orangetheory Website
With the heart monitors they can identify the optimal heart rate range, so that your workout is right in the perfect range!
You and your instructors will see when you are pushing too hard, and also… when you have more to “give”!
The monitors allow members to monitor in realtime every calorie burned, every heartbeat counted, and every second spent in each of the 5 heart rate zones!
And the displays integrated into the equipment shows all of the information in realtime, as you work out!
Orangetheory does have their own wireless system to use, but I’ve read online they offer a link to your personal Apple Watch (if you own one).
Heart monitors are a big business now, with fitbit, Apple watch and more generating billions in sales. The advantage of the Orangetheory monitors is that it’s fully integrated into the complete fitness and workout program!
Smartphone App
And in this smartphone driven world, of course there’s an app for that!
- The Orangetheory app allows you to view classes for multiple studios.
- Get workout summaries.
- Track challenges and benchmarks
- And more!!
For more details on class structure, pricing and more it’s probably best to stop in and check out one of the many Orangetheory locations.
But I’ll be upfront… this is not a “$19 a month, barely show up, 300 people in the building” type gym. Orangetheory is scheduled classes with a paid instructor… so the pricing is going account for that level of involvement.
And there are no contracts!
What’s better? Pay $19 a month and never see results, or pay more to participate in a group setting where everyone encourages each other, following the guidance of a trained fitness instructor…where you’ll truly see results?!
Links and Locations
Orangetheory Deptford
(Across from Olive Garden)
1500 Almonesson Road #1
Deptford NJ 08096
854-499-0502
Orangetheory Washington Township
(Shop-rite Shopping Center)
380 Egg Harbor Rd Suite C2
Washington Township NJ 08080
856-454-2015
There are also locations in Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Voorhees and more! Check the site for full location details!