Sport has become more than just a "hobby" in recent years, and is now practically a lifestyle for many Lanzarote residents.
The island is a paradise for lovers of some sports, as it stands out for having weather conditions that favor certain practices, such as surfing, paragliding and even diving. However, there is another type of exercise that is becoming increasingly popular: directed training.
While most conventional gyms have been offering classes for years, centers have emerged with specialized, even "addictive" proposals for the growing number of followers they bring together.
"I got into CrossFit because I had just quit soccer and wanted to try something different," says Tega. "I saw that many friends were uploading videos practicing it on Instagram and it caught my attention, although I have to confess that on my first day I sat for an hour until I could go home, vomit included, but it's worth seeing that you can get all the potential you have inside."
But not everyone has become "hooked" on these new practices. "I prefer to train in the gyms of a lifetime because they are not so fashionable anymore, so I don't meet so many people I know and I can train more quietly," says Laura.
A way to change habits
Many people start training with the intention of losing weight or changing their sedentary lifestyle habits, as is the case of Alejandro. "Eight years later and 30 kilos less, I continue to practice CrossFit as a lifestyle. It has also helped me to eat much healthier, as it is essential to perform properly in training," he says.
Pedro also started training with the intention of improving his physical condition. "I have never been a person to play sports and when I signed up for the gym I didn't last more than a month, but with Paleo it has been different."
Paleo is a sport practice focused on functional movements similar to those performed by our ancestors in the Paleolithic period, so machines and weights tend to be put aside.
The young man insists that, in addition to a lot of attention from the trainers, his classes go beyond physical exercise. "The fee includes measurements and nutritional advice, but also relaxation techniques, meditation, postural health and even give small theoretical explanations on interesting topics, such as what vitamins are for or why it is important to walk daily," explains Pedro.
"Paleo helps you gain a lot of agility, since the exercises consist of climbing up or down logs, for example, you don't see that in other places," adds Lucía.
Novel outdoor facilities and personalized attention
Some centers focus their efforts on attracting customers through their novel and modern facilities, providing services that, due to location, other gyms cannot offer.
Enrique highlights the infinity of different exercises that can be done in the Corest Fitness facilities, to which is added the possibility of swimming on the same beach and even training in the sand. "In the same gym I have a weight room, functional training, directed outdoor cycle classes, pilates, yoga, nutrition and also physiotherapy," adds the Corest Fitness user. "Being able to train outdoors and on the beach is a luxury."
In addition, they try to differentiate themselves by providing more personalized attention, accompanying the user at all times in their training.
"For me, one of the biggest advantages that Corest offers is the attention from the trainers, since, being very small classes, they can focus more on helping you," says Diego. "You even have the option of having a personalized trainer."
"Family" philosophy
Many users start in these new centers attracted by their friends, but end up staying for the connections they make during training.
"The most important thing that CrossFit has given me is the bond with people, the camaraderie, something that I don't see in other gyms, where you might put on your headphones and isolate yourself from the world," explains Aday. "In my box we are more than training partners, we are a small family from the doors outwards."
"The feeling of family that there is always in a box is brutal and not only from your teammates, but also from the coaches, who always have a 10 attitude with you, adds Tega. "I value a lot that fist bump at the end of the training, congratulating each other, the encouragement when you are the last one doing the wod, it is an incredible feeling."
The resistance of conventional gyms
Despite the growth of these specialized sports offerings, the gyms of a lifetime still have a large volume of users, attracted by the affordable prices and their wide range of activities.
Yurena highlights the variety of classes offered by gyms, some even with a pool included. "I love having the possibility of doing spinning one day if I feel like it, another day yoga or swimming in the pool, you don't have to always do the same thing, as happens in other places," she says.
For her part, Laura adds that she decided to switch to a conventional gym after trying the other types of training because they offered her the possibility of leaving her nephew in the playroom, inside the facilities. "The children are super entertained there, because they do activities in several rooms of the gym and also the service is included in the fee."
Other sports centers are committed to disciplines that combine body and mind such as yoga or pilates, also clearly on the rise in recent years.
The future of training centers
"Trends in the world of fitness have changed and have evolved to what is called "Wellbeing", it is no longer enough to exercise and eat well, now sports lovers aspire to maintain a healthy life seeking emotional stability in an environment where they feel safe and in balance", says Eugenio Benasco, general manager of Corest Fitness. "Gyms will survive as long as they stay at the forefront in terms of technology and services, as long as they manage to create a different fitness experience."
"CrossFit is being discovered now and has so many branches, such as weightlifting, endurance, functional exercises, that the possibilities are endless, that's why it attracts so much attention," explains Carmen, founder and coach of CrossFit Lanzarote. "We have also adapted to the needs of users, and now we offer functional training, weightlifting classes, GAP, surfing preparation, exercises for seniors and we even prepare police exams."
For his part, Omar, founder and coach of Mad Barbells CrossFit believes that "this practice has no expiration date, but it will change format over the years''.
