By Tara Valone
It started with one workout, in one location, with one person. When Karin Neal’s 17-year-old daughter finally convinced her to take a class at their local Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), she fell in love. As an avid triathlete, fitness was always a big part of Karin’s life, and she quickly added OTF into her daily fitness routine. She learned about a new studio opening a few miles away and decided to take the leap to become a certified OTF trainer.
After two or three months of being a trainer, Karin watched as the members started to morph mentally and physically. And from that moment, Karin saturated her life with all things Orangetheory. She researched every aspect of the business and eventually inquired with OTF corporate in hopes of receiving rights to a franchise. She soon landed two franchise rights in Modesto and Stockton and made moves as fast as she could. In April 2018, the Modesto studio opened, followed by the opening of the Stockton studio in September of 2019.
Orangetheory Fitness is science backed; technology tracked; and coach inspired. Created by Ellen Latham out of South Florida, OTF is a one-hour, full body workout that is heart-rate interval-based training. It truly is for everyone, wherever you are on your fitness journey. Every time you step into the studio your heartrate will be tracked with the goal in mind to get in the “Orange Zone” (84% of your total heartbeat) for a minimum of 12 minutes. These 12 minutes bring EPOC — excess post-exercise oxygen consumption — simply put if you challenge your body at the right intensity, your body will work harder to recover oxygen lost during exercise.
OTF’s theory is that if you spend 12 minutes or longer in the Orange Zone to get your heart rate between 84-91% of your unique heart rate maximum, it’ll rev your metabolism and makes you burn calories long after your workout is over. When your heart rate is elevated, you’ll start to see and feel real changes in your body. Karin’s favorite part about OTF is the community. She says, “these are places that create friendships and connections.” The culture is filled with dedicated, loyal members that are all looking to serve each other, their health and their wellbeing. Karin and her staff at the Stockton studio feel so thankful and lucky to be able to make an impact on the community here in Stockton.
The team at OTF Stockton promised that wherever you are on your workout journey, they’re here for you. Stop in today to try your first class for free!
