For those looking for a new workout adventure, 9Round on
Elm Street in Gorham provides a fun, energy filled workout that will leave
members sweaty. Ted Rioux, his wife Melissa Harris-Rioux and their daughter
Terra Rioux own and run the franchise, as a part of their company Terra Health
& Fitness, Inc. 9Round Gorham is the first gym in Maine dedicated strictly
to kickbox fitness, soon to be followed by Scarborough and Westbrook in 2019.
“This is a 30-minutes kickboxing themed workout,” said Ted.
“With this sport you can combine aerobic training with anaerobic and resistance
training. Packing a lot into a 30-minute workout.” When a member hits the
120-pound heavy bag, they are getting resistance training, he added.
Ted worked for a medical device company for 20 years, but
decided he needed to spend more time with his family and on his own health. He
discovered 9Round while working. After that, he was hooked and wanted to bring
it to his hometown of Gorham. His family business helped to change his own
future and health.
Melissa is a registered nurse at Maine Medical Center and
also holds a BS in health and fitness. She is the motivating force behind the
Rioux family, Ted said.
“We provide an effective, affordable, safe and clean
environment, and program for people to benefit from,” Ted said. Members are
given all the equipment they need to execute the workout, Ted said. The 9Round
circuit workout uses wrist wraps, boxing gloves and heart rate monitors as
members work through the stations. The heart rate monitor keeps the clients’
heart rates in the perfect fat burning mode. Each member is coached and
monitored throughout the workouts. If someone is working too hard, they are
encouraged to take a break for a minute to drop the rate down before
continuing.
The range of members is broad, according to Ted. From high
school student athletes to men and women in their sixties, the workout can be
tailored to a first timer just getting into fitness to a seasoned, hardcore
athlete.
“You work out at your own pace. Instructors help with form
and move with your pace so you stay in the heart rate zone,” Ted said. The
instructors are always on the floor. There are seven of them and two guest
trainers with boxing and kickboxing experience who take turns working. The
guest trainers also train the staff to make sure the clients are using safe
techniques.
The fitness club has an industrial feel with music pumping
through speakers and a buzzer that notifies those working out that it’s time to
change stations. On a TV screen in the corner of the room, heart rates are
shown in large numbers with colored backgrounds depending on where the person’s
heart rate is. The program is based on heart rate training. Green is the target
heart rate, while yellow and red are okay for brief periods. The members work
at the optimum heart rate for burning fat, which is 82 percent to 91 percent of
the maximum heart rate.
“It’s pretty intense for 30 minutes,” said member Wayne
Franklin. “I like having someone there to motivate me.”
9Round has only been open for a little over a week. Members
are still learning how to do the wrist wraps, and Ted wastes no time in
demonstrating. He remembers most clients as they enter, encouraging and making
everyone feel welcome.
“There is so much stuff. I’ve never learned this much at a
gym,” said Taylor, one of the clients.
9Round uses a program called PULSE that monitors each
member and send them email workout results after every session. Points are
given for being in the green or yellow zones to encourage clients to work out
in the most beneficial target range. Each person has a “fighter name” that
shows on the TV screen. Eventually Ted plans to hold challenges and events
based around the earned points.
“The days of the big box gyms with lots of machines is
over,” Ted said. “People want more functional and specific training, where you
get support from trainers as a part of the program.”
They also offer a nutrition program, which is included.
Melissa is the nutrition coach. “We help members execute the 9Round Nutrition
Program,” said Ted.
FMI, to read about the trainers or schedule a free workout,
visit www.9round.com/GorhamMEElmSt; or call 839-2860.
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