F45 Etobicoke Central owners Micaela Hoglund (standing left), Brent Lowry (standing right) and the coach staff. (Courtesy of F45 Etobicoke Central)
Danielle Blumentrath
The latest Australian exercise export is F45 Training, and it is taking over Canada.
This intense 45-minute training program combines elements of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), circuit training, and functional training to ensure the workouts are dynamic and fun the entire time.
The ‘F’ in the company name stands for Functional Training, and the ‘45’ stands for total time of the workout, 45 minutes.
About 14 km from Humber’s north campus is the recently opened F45 Etobicoke Central at 4922 Dundas St. W. intersecting Burnhamthorpe Rd. They are part of a campaign to open hundreds of franchises across the country.
Owners Micaela Hoglund, a Humber alumni, and Brent Lowry officially opened their doors to the public four months ago and had received immediate interest from the community.
Both athletes lived in Australia for five years around the same time F45 Training was expanding through franchises. The couple was immediately intrigued by the exercises they saw at the studios and the team-like environment it was based off.
Implementing a fitness routine has always been important for the duo so having the opportunity to help people and create a new community in Etobicoke was a no-brainer.
“It is so important to do what you can to live an active lifestyle. Exercise is beneficial to so many aspects of your life including your mental, spiritual and most importantly, your physical health,” Hoglund said.
“Many of us are so busy these days that we find it hard to prioritize ourselves and make time for our workouts and practicing regular self-care,” Hoglund said. “Your health should be your number one priority.
“You will be a happier and more productive person if you carve out time for exercise,” she said.
The program offers 34 dynamic circuit workouts with unique names and objectives and over 4,000 exercises in its global database.
An example of an F45 studio at their Etobicoke location. You can expect to see similar facilities across the globe as each is equipped the same. (Courtesy of F45 Etobicoke Central)
The workouts are made up of functional movements, such as movements done in everyday life. That translates into exercises such as swinging a kettlebell weight, jumping on a box, chin-ups, ice skating, squating with weights and a mix of cardio, resistance, hybrid, and kickboxing classes.
The grueling workouts can be for anyone, Hoglund said. F45 facilitates a workout program accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, fitness levels and abilities “to smash their goals.”
Hoglund said the goal is to help people make a lifestyle change that creates healthy habits to assist with personal fitness goals. She said owners believe consistency is key, so find a workout you enjoy doing every day that doesn’t feel like a chore.
The studio fills the gap between traditional gym where people pay a small membership fee to do their own thing and a pricey personal training session.
Details can be found here.