In the fitness world, it’s easy to get lost in ads and gimmicks promising shortcuts to your fitness goals, but one local gym is setting itself apart with unique, personal offerings to help residents get in great shape, and have fun doing it.
Revolution Athletic Club is a 5,000 square foot, wide-open gym that specializes in indoor spin cycle classes, utilizing Real Ryder stationary bikes, which allow users to realistically tilt and turn to simulate outdoor road conditions during their workout and engage their core abdominal muscles, as well as a variety of circuit training programs. Revolution pulls no punches with its workouts, however, the positive results of their clients speak for themselves, according to co-owner Samantha Johnson.
“Workouts on the Real Ryder bikes are more dynamic…you get a lot more out of them, you burn a lot more calories,” she said. “Plus, everyone is very concerned with developing their core and these bikes target that area completely. So, you’re burning calories and strengthening your core at the same time.”
Located at 155 Jericho Tpke., Revolution is coming up on its fourth anniversary of whipping people into tip-top shape. Johnson, a Freeport resident, has always been a hardcore athlete and she said that fitness—both hers and that of her clients—is very important to her.
“In high school I did track and field and I played lacrosse in college. After I graduated I pursued a career in fitness,” she said. “I started with indoor cycling and I was certified five years ago. I branched out from there, doing TRX,which are exercise bands that are mounted on a wall that allow you to do many different bodyweight exercises, as well as kettlebell, circuit training and eventually becoming a personal trainer.”
Johnson trained clients in a number of gyms on the South Shore of Long Island and gained a great deal of experience in the field, but her long-term goal was always to open up a place of her own. After striking up a business partnership with fellow trainer Michael Bonacuso, the two decided to strike out and, after an exhaustive search for just the right place, they found it in Mineola.
“We both had an interest in wanting a studio, so we got together and got it done,” she said. “The reason we opened up here on Jericho Turnpike in Mineola is because it’s a great location with a lot of visibility and foot traffic, and we wanted to offer something that wasn’t available in the area. In addition to our Real Ryder bike workouts, we do high-intensity circuit training, TRX band workouts, core training and much more.”
What sets Revolution apart from the plethora of other gyms out there, according to Johnson, is it’s hands-on approach to training their clients.
“At a regular gym, you’re walking in not really knowing what to do, and the one-on-one attention you get here is how we differ,” she said. “The instructors lead you through the entire workout so that you’re getting really effective training. The benefit of working out with us is that you’re in a group atmosphere and everyone has the same goal…plus, because you’re working in group classes, there’s a lower rate than if you do personal training, but with the supervision of a trainer working with you each step of the way.”
Since opening their doors nearly four years ago, Revolution Athletic Club has enjoyed a great deal of success, with a steady and increasingly loyal customer base who obviously think that what they’re peddling works. It’s that satisfaction—doing what you love and helping other people improve themselves at the same time—that makes her career choice an immensely fulfilling one, Johnson said.
“It feels great…it’s probably the most satisfying work experience I’ve ever had,” she said. “This is something that Michael and I built from the ground up…a lot of sweat has been put into this, and it’s very satisfying to get to the point that we’re at. We’ve developed a good community of people who come here to train, and we’ve all become a big family.”
To find out more, visit www.revolutionathletic.com.
