YMCA members feeling the burn with TRX; Class offered four days a week on tennis courts

Published 10:10 am Thursday, July 31, 2014

Participants take part in a TRX class at the YMCA Wednesday. -- Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com

Participants take part in a TRX class at the YMCA Wednesday. — Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com

Julie Kerling and eight other people could feel the burn after participating in one of the new TRX classes now being offered at the YMCA Wednesday.

“I like it,” Kerling said.

The YMCA is now offering TRX classes four days a week. Kerling, the YMCA’s preschool director, said she felt like she’d run a marathon. Duane Feragen agreed it was a good work out.

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“You can feel it,” he said.

The classes, which have up to 20 participants, are taking place at the tennis court, but the court will still be available whenever classes are not in session.

Fitness Director Kristi Stasi said the class was added after a YMCA survey showed people were interested in TRX and kettle bells courses. Kettle bell courses began in January.

TRX workouts include a system of ropes and webbing that allow people work against their own body weight. Wednesday’s class was one of several introductory sessions this week to get everyone started.

“We’ll build on it as we go,” she said. “We’re doing the basics this week so they know what to expect and they aren’t coming in cold turkey.”

Kirsten Albino participates in a TRX class at the YMCA Wednesday morning.

Kirsten Albino participates in a TRX class at the YMCA Wednesday morning.

The classes helped participants get used to TRX, as Feragen and Kirsten Albino said balance can be a challenge during some of the exercises.

“It looks a lot easier than it really is,” Albino said, but that wasn’t a bad thing as she added she loved the class.

Kerling said TRX can be adjusted to each individual’s fitness level.

“I would just encourage everyone to sign up and try it once,” she said.

But not everyone is excited about the change.

While the course will offer a new form of exercise at the YMCA, it will limit the time on the court for tennis players in the colder months.

Bruce Westrum, an avid tennis supporter in Austin, said that people are running out of places to play in the winter.

“The point is we don’t have enough courts in Austin,” he said.

Stasi said the YMCA has had to use many of its rooms for different events as it has added more activities.

“The YMCA is busting at the seams and almost every room is a multi-purpose room,” she said. “We want to get as much use out of them as we can.”

The TRX classes are 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. and 5 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, 11:15 to 11:55 a.m. and 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. on Wednesdays, and from 12:05 to 12:50 p.m. on Thursdays.

—Jason Schoonover contributed to this report.