Many gyms and fitness centers offer beginner and intro classes to help people get off the couch and into the gym. These classes cover the basics and help people develop a foundation for physical activity.
But many of us became die-hard exercise enthusiasts long ago and want to maintain gains or push even harder for new ones.
There are several ways to push yourself hard to get stronger, leaner, and hit a new PR (personal record), whether it is via intense cardio, running, HIIT, or weight lifting.
The Paseo Club has over 60 fitness classes, plus tennis and pickleball drills every week. Members can choose from a wide range of training programs depending on their interests and abilities.
In this article, you will learn why people train hard, how to push yourself safely, and what classes at the Paseo Club are the toughest, most challenging, and hard-core (that you will likely love and hate in equal measure).
Why train hard?
For many people, discovering what they are made of is a personal quest. How hard you push yourself physically and mentally can demonstrate your capacity to withstand hardship and boost confidence.
These experiences often transfer to everyday life and can be a source of strength and resilience to tap into when life throws you curveballs — whether it is issues with your career, relationship, family, or health.
How to train hard
When you think about the workouts you have done that made you want to weep, they were probably anaerobic.
Anaerobic is a term that means you have trained to the point that your body demands oxygen. Your lungs are hungry for air, you can hardly hold your head up, and your muscles are on fire.
Anaerobic workouts burn glucose and help you develop more power, stamina, and endurance. Anaerobic training is also essential to get a more toned and lean physique.
There are three ways to train anaerobically.
HIIT
High-intensity interval training is a form of exercise designed to alternate periods of intense activity, alternating with short periods of rest. Tabata is a popular form of HIIT, which is 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest for eight rounds.
You can choose almost any type of exercise for your HIIT workout — static holds (planks or wall squats), weight lifting, or cardio.
The purpose of HIIT is to push yourself as hard as you can for short bursts of time and then recover quickly in the rest period so you can exert at a similar level in the next active phase.
Weight lifting
Lifting heavy weights combined with adequate reps fatigues your muscles — another great way to challenge yourself to an anaerobic state. Deadlifts, kettlebell swings, squats, and push presses are effective ways to find your edge.
Cardio
Cardio activities — jogging, swimming, and biking — are generally aerobic. But done correctly, you can get into anaerobic states doing cardio. Sprints are a great way to achieve this — you can do running, biking, or swimming sprints. Other great cardio movements are jumping rope, jump squats, and box jumps.
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What are red flags that indicate you need to slow down or stop?
When you work out hard, pay close attention to technique and pace.
Some signs to look for are:
- Pain
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Disoriented
- Feeling Faint
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop and let your heart rate decrease.
It is important to differentiate between pain and injury when you train intensely. Soreness, fatigue, and shortness of breath are typical, but If your body is feeling unusual or acute pain, you might be in danger of getting injured.
It is recommended you work with a knowledgeable coach to learn proper technique so that as you move fast and/or heavy, you stay safe. Instructors can also coach you when you experience mental struggles, encouraging you through the tough times when you want to give up.
What are the top 8 fitness classes at the Paseo Club for self-destruction?
The Paseo Club has several dynamic classes led by certified instructors that can take you to the edge of your capacity for a sweaty, heart-pumping, and totally intense full-body workout.
1. Cardio and Core
Jen will push you to your max with bodyweight drills that will challenge you and get your heart rate up. All of the cardio bursts with none of the weight! Your body is the weapon in this 45-minute class. We focus on blasts of cardio energy and quick recovery to maximize your heart rate and calorie burn.
Instructor: Jen Azevedo
When: Tuesdays at 8:30 am
2. Weighted Bootcamp
Get ready for burpees, mountain climbers, jump squats, and other full-body dynamic exercises! Grab a set of dumbbells to use with the moves. This class will challenge you to your max.
Instructor: Lynette Willis
When: Wednesdays at 8:00 am
3. Kickboxing
Kickboxing is a full-body workout which includes punches and kicks. This class helps you to build a fit and confident body and relieve stress. It is high-intensity and will give you an awesome workout.
Instructor: Lynette Willis
When: Fridays at 8:00 am
4. HIIT 30
Start your weekends right with this quick, high-intensity class. Coach Jason will push you to your maximum. High metabolic demand exercises such as plank jacks, burpees, squat jumps, and more will increase your heart rate and help you burn calories throughout the day with the afterburn effect.
Instructor: Jason Youmazzo
When: Saturdays at 8:15 am
5. Cycle Fusion
If you love biking and want to marry it with intense training, check out Cycle Fusion. This class combines short bouts on the bike followed by jumping ropes, pushups, burpees, squats, and stair runs. It is a great cardio kicker.
Instructor: Lynette Willis
When: Thursdays at 8:15 am
6. Tribe Extreme HIIT
Tribe Extreme HIIT will get your heart pumping with high metabolic demand exercises such as jump roping, rowing, running, ski erg, burpees, box jumps, kettlebell swings, and more. These sessions build on each other and become more intense as the season progresses. Tribe Extreme HIIT is a small group training program, so you get more individualized attention. The cost ranges from $15 to $25 per class, depending on the package purchase.
Instructor: Jen Azevedo
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 am
7. BURN
BURN is a high-intensity cardio class featuring ski ergs, rowers, sleds, battle ropes, and jump ropes. BURN is a small group training program. The cost ranges from $15 to $25 per class, depending on the package purchase.
Instructor: Cezanne Youmazzo and Danny Pacheco
When: This class begins in the Back to School season, starting August 12. Cezanne will teach Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:45 am and Danny on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm.
8. Tribe HIIT Core
This small group class is similar to Tribe Extreme HIIT, but there is more time to torch your core in the latter half of the class. Work through short bursts of intense movements alternated with brief rests for a high-intensity burn. These sessions range in price from $15-$25.
Instructor: Cezanne Youmazzo
When: Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 pm
Training to your limit and beyond
Training hard can give you huge highs. Endorphin rushes, the feeling of going beyond what you thought you could, and beating last month’s record are all reasons people train to their limits — and beyond.
When you want to push yourself hard and see improvements in your fitness, you must create a custom routine. Intense training is not about keeping up with your friend in a fitness class or some influencer you see on Instagram. Comparing yourself to others causes stress and poor self-esteem and does not function as an inspiration.
Curate your goals according to your health and capacity. Add new challenges incrementally so that you train smartly and safely, minimizing the chance of injury or strain, not to mention disappointment.
As fitness instructor Jason Youmazzo says, by showing up to train, "you have already won.” Congratulate yourself on your commitment to fitness, and be gentle to yourself when you fall short of your goals. Remember, health is a marathon, not a sprint. You want to be active and energized for as much of your life as possible.
The Paseo Club has served the Santa Clarita Valley for over twenty years as the place for tennis, pickleball, Pilates, fitness, swimming, and more. Amenities such as childcare, a spa, and a cafe help make your experiences even better.
The Paseo Club is your home away from home. Join now and enjoy all the amazing opportunities available to you.
