Most of us make New Year’s resolutions and many of them include eating healthy and starting an exercise program. This year, you can follow through on those healthy goals with the help of Kathi Shilling’s exercise classes at the Steel Mill Gym in Broadway.
You don’t have to wait until you’re “in shape” to start classes. Kathi says, “This class is open to all individuals. Anyone who decides to improve their health and fitness starts from somewhere. Everyone here in class has been that person who says ‘I need or want to improve my health and get in better shape, but I’m not sure how or what to do.’ I can help.”
Her present class, “Strength and Tone with Dumbbells Group Fitness,” incorporates the use of Dumbbell weights to strengthen and condition different muscle groups in the body.
Some of the exercises with dumbbells include Russian Deadlifts or (RDL’s), Bulgarian Lunges, Hip thrusts, forward and rear step lunges, static lunges, squats, bicep and tricep curls, hammer curls, Arnold press, hammer press, rear delt fly, supine chest fly, lateral raises, skull crushers, push-ups, banded abductions, sumo squats, sumo deadlifts, supine rows, makers, renegade rows, diamond press, Abs and more.
Classes are offered Monday at 6 pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 pm, and Saturday at 10:30 am. at Steel Mill Gym in Broadway. 103 Hartz Blvd. Broadway, VA 22815. You do NOT need to be a gym member to participate in the group fitness classes. The instructors are independent contractors and participants pay the instructors directly for the classes.
Gym Members pay $4 to drop in or a punch card for eight classes for $24.
Non-Gym Members pay a $6 drop-in or punch card for eight classes for $40. Punch cards expire after six weeks of the date of purchase. Payment can be made by cash, check, or Venmo.
Class time is usually around 45-60 minutes, depending on the format of the class that particular day. All classes start with a warm-up and finish with a stretch and cool down. Participants need to bring an exercise/yoga mat, a water bottle for hydration, and a mindset to work out! Kathi offers a limited selection of Dumbbells for participants to use on a first come first serve basis, so folks are encouraged to bring any dumbbell weights from home that they want for class.
Kathi says “gym memberships tend to pick up with ‘New Year Resolutioners’ wanting to start the year off by getting in better shape, exercising, and eating better. I say, why put off tomorrow when you can start today. The sun will rise and set every day, so don’t waste another day being a thinker, become a doer! The hardest part is putting on some workout clothes, getting in your car driving to the gym, and walking through the gym door to face your fears and uncertainties.
Kathi says there’s no need to feel insecure at the gym no matter your current level of fitness. “Here at Steel Mill Gym, we are a small mom-and-pop gym, and everyone knows everyone. The people in the group fitness classes are the friendliest people you’ll meet. You’ll need determination and desire to reach your fitness goals. You’ll need to step outside your comfort zone create some new habits and make time in your busy schedules for exercise. If you set time aside every day to eat, then set time aside every day to exercise. With a little accountability from your group fitness friends, you’ll start to see the rewards for your hard efforts.”
Kathi holds certifications through the American Aerobic Association & International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI/ISMA) in Primary Aerobic Instructor Certification and Personal Fitness Trainer.
You can find information about Kathi’s classes on Instagram @getfit_withkathi.
