“The grass is our canvas,” says X-Fit Saint-Laurent co-owner Derek Della Rocca of the big synthetic grass patch that takes up most of his fitness studio. With an industrial, urban feel, complete with big windows and a graffiti mural, X-Fit Saint-Laurent is a breeding ground for creative workouts where dynamic movements meet challenging exercise drills. “Having an open space allows for interchangeable workouts. We like to mix things up,” adds Derek. At X-Fit Saint-Laurent, trainers bring their personal flavour to the group classes or private training sessions. And don’t let the open space concept fool you — there is plenty of equipment to play with: medicine balls that you can throw against a cement wall, a ladder for performing footwork drills, a sled that you can push across the grass, kettlebells, battle ropes and more.
Some of the workouts are created in a circuit-training style, which means you perform one exercise after the other to keep your heart rate up and strengthen your muscles at the same time. By moving non-stop and doing moves that work your whole body, you get the most out of your one-hour workout. Other workouts include strength-training, balance work, cardio as well as anaerobic intervals (alternating between very high-intensity bursts and moderate recovery periods). There is a focus on integrating functional movements that combine the upper and lower body in a coordinated way while including core work in the workouts.
