BY JESSICA SCHLUTER
The Zone has been an asset to the community of St. Joseph for a while, but now it will be bringing even more value with the addition of new EPOC fitness classes.
Patrick Grayson, manager of The Zone St. Joseph, is excited for the new class offerings.
“EPOC stands for Excess Post Oxygen Consumption, just meaning you’re burning calories during the workout and after the workout too.”
Grayson is a recent addition to The Zone St. Joseph. Previously, he managed a different Zone location in his hometown of Virden, IL.
“The manager of (St. Joseph) was leaving, and so this was an opportunity for me to get out and travel around. I jumped at the opportunity to go to a younger, more active gym.”
Grayson has already helped the EPOC program in Virden get up and running, and he’s excited to do the same in St. Joseph.
“I’m ready to get that EPOC jump-started here. It seems like it’s taking off, a lot of people are jumping in on it.”
EPOC is a different kind of exercise class.
“It’s a circuit class; a heart rate based class with intervals, kind of like HIIT training, and we do stations. We do different workouts, some days it’s a push day or some days it’s a pull day or a leg day or a full body day.”
“You’re getting your weight training, you’re getting your cardio, but we also do bodyweight stuff as well. It’s kind of like a combination of HIIT and Crossfit.”
This type of circuit-based training has become more popular in recent years, and the EPOC classes are similar to other classes offered in bigger markets like Champaign.
However, the EPOC classes are different because they are created by Zone employees, and they offer more equipment than other similar classes.
“It’s kind of nice because if people don’t really know what they want to do in the gym or they don’t have a ton of time, it’s nice that we just give them the workout. It’s never over an hour.”
During the EPOC classes, participants wear a heart rate monitor that helps keep them in the desired heart rate zones. It also helps accurately track the calories burned.
“Most people average between 500-1000 calories burned during the workout.”
The MyZone heart rate monitors are available for purchase at the gym.
“The MyZone heart rate monitor is the best one I’ve used in terms of calibrating to your body and the metrics it tracks.”
However, the heart rate monitor is not required for the class, just recommended.
According to Grayson, in the future, there will be fun challenges and incentives involved with the EPOC classes.
“We plan on having weight loss and partner challenges in the future so people will have the opportunity to win prizes.”
Grayson is one of the instructors of the class, and he enjoys doing the workouts himself. He got into fitness after gaining weight when he got out of the military. Once he decided it was time to get in shape, he started going to The Zone in Virden.
“I was going to the gym every day and spending a couple hours a day there, and eventually I started working there.”
Grayson developed a passion for fitness. Now, he’s excited to bring that to the St. Joseph community.
“So far, I love St. Joseph. I’m planning on moving here when my lease is up in Champaign.”
“I love the gym here. Just a lot more active, it’s bigger, there’s more members, I get to talk to more people.”
Grayson has visions for expanding the gym and bringing in more equipment, but nothing is set in stone yet.
The Zone is a 24-hour gym that has treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, strength circuit equipment, free weights, plate-loaded strength equipment, power racks, rowing machines, and more. Aside from the EPOC classes, there are plenty of ways to get fit and reach your health goals.
“We have Susie here who is a personal trainer, and we’re looking at getting more instructors so we can offer more EPOC classes and more times as well.”
With personal training, EPOC classes, plenty of equipment, and a new manager, The Zone has everything you need to get in shape right here in St. Joseph.
For more information on EPOC pricing, visit The Zone website here. For 24 hour membership pricing, information on class times, or other questions visit The Zone St. Joseph on Facebook.
