Don't lose heart if, nearly a month into the new year, you still haven't acted on your resolution to be fitter and healthier in 2024. One way to do this, according to Mayo Clinic, is to get into strength training that has been found to be a "key component of overall health and fitness for everyone."

Strength-building exercises include squats, lunges, planks, pullups and pushups that you can do at home. You can also lift free weights using barbells, dumbbells and other tools you can buy from a sporting goods store or an online shop. But if you have the means, why not go to the gym and sign up to be a member? Consider the gym membership as a well-deserved gift and a wise investment for yourself.

Gyms nowadays have become more specialized and personalized to cater to members' needs and goals. Kinetix Lab, for one, has made strength conditioning "accessible not only for athletes but also for the general population." That pronouncement was made by strength and conditioning coach Miguel Baldovino at last Wednesday's opening of Kinetix Lab's third branch at One Ayala Mall in Makati City.

Upon signing up, new members undergo the proprietary assessment to evaluate their current fitness level and specific health condition. Then a proper training program will be designed for them with hands-on supervision from the gym coaches, who are graduates of Sports Science.

The members are then given access not only to cutting-edge equipment and focused training program but also to post-workout recovery facilities and their in-house therapists. The access can be specific to just one branch, either at One Ayala Mall or at the two others, namely UP Town Center in Quezon City and The Podium mall in Mandaluyong City. It can also be at all three branches, depending on the membership package that may also include the luxury boutique gym Kinetix+ at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.

Working out as a group

For members who get more motivated when working out with other gymgoers, Kinetix Lab is launching a slate of group classes that has been designed by its coaches to help ensure progress in achieving fitness goals. Baldovino, who's also called Coach Iggy, said their Signature Group Training is made up of classes in barbell, core, mobility and conditioning.

As one of the staples for building strength, the Barbell Group Training helps improve body composition and achieve optimal fitness. It involves fundamental movements, such as squats, deadlifts, rows and presses, done with a barbell in a group setting.

The Core Group Training's foremost focus is the overall development of the core muscles. This set of exercises is designed to improve stability, balance and overall fitness. Meanwhile, the Mobility Group Training typically involves movements that improve flexibility, enhance performance and reduce the risk of injuries while doing physical activities.

For the Conditioning Group Training, aerobic and anaerobic exercises are typically combined to optimize enhancing overall physical fitness, endurance and cardiovascular health.

The number of participants in each class is limited to about eight, Coach Iggy told DAILY TRIBUNE at the event, to ensure a more focused session with the coach leading the class. That's why interested gym members are required to pre-book a slot through Kinetix Lab's social media accounts.

Then there's an assessment that takes place every 30 days to monitor the progress of the participants. He explained, "Checking the body composition, body fat, muscle mass, visceral fat, BMI, lahat 'yan (all of that). You can get professional advice from us on ano dapat ang maging (what should be your next) goal for the next 30 days."

Visit www.kinetixlab.com.ph, as well as the Kinetixlab handle on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram for more information.