Fitness Roadtest: Longlife Fitness
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If you were the kind of kid who would flock to the monkey bars at lunch time, you’re going to love Longlife Fitness.
They say word of mouth is one of the best forms of marketing, and I always feel more confident starting a new class when I’ve heard a good old fashioned testimonial.
After Stephanie Long invited me to Roadtest Longlife Fitness’ Superfunctional classes, I was talking about it to colleagues at work when a head popped up over the cubicle (meerkat style). “I go to Superfunctional classes every week!” the meerkat (AKA my coworker Loretta) said. She continued to tell me how she loved it because it was challenging and fun.
She also told me that it would involve hanging upside down from bars, so I was a little nervous.
Not your traditional gym
Longlife Fitness isn’t your traditional gym – you won’t find racks of free weights, and not a cardio nor pin loaded machine in sight. Rather, Longlife is a group fitness studio that offers a range of class-based fitness options. They offer Les Mills classes like Bodyjam, Body Balance and Pump, plus cycling classes like Ride and Ride Plus (cycling and weights – interesting!) as well as Punchfit and H.E.A.T – high intensity interval training plus muscle conditioning.
I was invited along to a Superfunctional class, which uses suspension-style training. When I heard this, I’d thought it would be a class using a TRX system, which is the most common suspension system you’ll find in your average gym. I was surprised to find that it’s actually a trapeze bar attached to a ‘Queenax’ system. What exactly is a Queenax system, I hear you ask?
Well, if you were the kind of kid who would flock to the monkey bars at lunch time (I know I was), you’re going to love this system. It is basically a giant set of monkey bars for adults. Straps hang from the sides of the frame, with slots where you can insert your trapeze bar.
A class for all aspects of fitness
There were about seven other people at the Superfunctional class that I went along to, and they were all at different fitness levels. This class uses almost all aspects of fitness – flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, and core stability, so while you might find you’re ‘good’ at one element, you’ll be challenged in another. I really like this because it means that there isn’t a certain type of person who dominates the class – everyone works together and at their own capability. It also constantly challenges your body in ways that you probably haven’t moved before.
We started with a warm up with jogging around the room, weaving between the frame, squats, push ups and some mobility exercises. The exercises in the actual class were so unique and varied that it’s difficult to describe them all. We set the bar at a height close to the ground and balanced on it and then swung back and forward, engaging our core.
We hung the trapeze at waist height and sat on it, using our feet to hook onto a trapeze bar across from us and our entire bodies to move across and turn around on the bar. We also performed traditional exercises like push ups and squats, using the trapeze bar to add variation.
And indeed, we did hang upside down from the bars, swinging back and forward and moving from one bar across to another. You’re encouraged to do only what you’re capable of and everyone is very friendly and understanding if you’re feeling a bit scared – I certainly was!
Fun as well as fitness
One of my favourite parts of the class is where we played a kind of Superfunctional musical chairs – where Steph would stop the music and everyone would rush to find a ‘seat’ on a trapeze bar. I liked it because it got your heart racing, but the ‘game’ element of the exercise made it fun and a good way to have a laugh with the other people in the class.
At the end of class a few of the participants had a try at climbing across the length of the monkey bars, and then we had a stretch to cool down.
The verdict
There isn’t really anyone I wouldn’t recommend this class too. If group fitness classes are your jam, then you’ll love Longlife Fitness. It would also be a really good addition to a strength training program to add some variety and fun. With functional exercises it would be a good way to strengthen primary and stabilising muscles for those who love their endurance sports.
I should add that Steph is absolutely lovely, and she is literally a walking advertisement for her own businesses – she’s uber fit and glowing with health. Longlife Fitness is also a great choice for mums as they offer child minding 9.30am – 12.30pm Monday to Friday at a very affordable rate of $5 per child- just make sure you call and book ahead.
SPECIAL OFFER
Longlife Fitness are kindly offering a free trial class to HerCanberra readers, just mention this article when you sign up.
the essentials
What: Longlife Fitness SuperFUNCTIONAL classes
Where: Unit 1, 4 Pelle Street, Mitchell
How much: Unlimited memberships are $119 a month direct debit, with no joining fees or administration fees
Web: longlifefitness.com.au
The author received this class free of charge for review purposes. Her opinion remains her own.
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