Fitness From The Field: A Bounce House For Adults
The Rural Intelligence region offers a plethora of fitness and healing modalities, but it can be hard to know which is the one that fits your needs, your body type and your schedule. Enter Paula Boyajian, a yoga instructor certified in Interdisciplinary Yoga and Yoga for the Special Child, who has taken on the role of RI’s fitness contributor to sleuth out the details of the many health and wellness options in our area.
“Be careful – don’t hurt yourself!" my friend warned as I headed off to “Bounce!" class. I couldn’t blame my friend for worrying, since I’d been talking enthusiastically about taking a trampoline class, but neglected to say this wasn’t the trampoline from our high school days. I failed to mention this because, well, I didn’t know. I might as well have taken my eight-track tape and polyester leotard – that’s how behind the times I was until I walked into Clublife’s Sports Zone.
What Is It?
“Bounce!" is a half-hour fitness class using a "3-D" trampoline, but you don’t have to fear falling to the floor because the trampoline is the floor. Well, it’s actually suspended over the real floor with padded walls for extra safety.
There are separate trampoline areas dedicated to different activities. The largest area, where “Bounce!" is taught, is divided yet again by bright green padded planks that not only provide each “Bouncer"(my own term) with his or her own trampoline but serve as a mat for toning exercises. The fun starts with a cardio warmup that gets progressively more challenging. Toning exercises include lunges, push-ups and crunches. The instructor, Melissa Naegeli, makes sure you stretch after bouncing.
Activity Level
All levels. Jump high, jump low, Melissa doesn't care, just take care of yourself and have fun. Although many fitness instructors say this, Melissa is so delightful and genuine you truly feel that you can be yourself. She doesn't count the number of repetitions, and participants move at their own pace. And it’s more than okay to fall; with the thick dividers and shock-resistant trampoline, your joints are protected. (Also, falling can mean that getting stronger and a bit more daring.)
Benefits
“It doesn't feel like a workout, it's so much fun, but at the end you're sweaty and feel good!" said regular Bouncer, Jamie Stickeles, and she’s exactly right. In 30 minutes, you get a fantastic cardio workout and tone targeted areas. Whether bouncing or toning, your core muscles do the bulk of the work so if you don’t have a strong core when you start, you’ll surely develop one with Melissa’s class.
Instructor Information
Melissa Naegeli [in photo, left] is a professional bodybuilder and has several personal trainer certifications. With 12 years’ experience in the fitness industry, Melissa spontaneously creates a different routine for each class. Her play list, which includesJoan Jett, Queen and Michael Jackson, makes everybody want to move.
Facility/Ambience
ClubLife is the umbrella name for the 7,500 square-foot facility that houses an two centers: ClubLife Health and Fitness (a sleek fitness center) and ClubLife Sports Zone, a 23,000 square-foot trampoline park with private party rooms and a café with eye-popping murals by Membership Director Will Wyant.
ClubLife is extraordinarily impressive not just because of its class assortment, sophisticated equipment and the best locker rooms I've seen, but because it truly holds up to owners Alex and Arica Rosenstrach’s philosophy that “families who spend time together doing healthy, active and fun activities will share a lifetime of happiness."
The facility offers weekly events for teens and people with special needs as well as childcare. Moreover, there’s a joyful air that I’ve never experienced in other gyms. Personal touches like smoothies named after staff and pumpkins monogrammed with employee names add homey touches to the modern space. Front desk manager, Katie Wright, welcomes members by name and a heartfelt “How are you?" while co-owner Alex (whose heart is as big as his biceps) jokes, “On Halloween, come to work dressed up or don’t come at all!" Now that’s the spirit.
Cost
$10. Membership is not required for Bounce! but socks are (“grippy" socks are best and are for sale at ClubLife). You do need to sign a waiver.
Clublife Sports Zone
3143 Route 9, Valatie, NY
(518) 618-3789
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