The many colors of open gym
Use #1: Practice, practice, practice or developing a skill
One of my daughters plays the piano…I know I said open gym, just hang with me. Anyway, one of my daughters plays the piano. I enjoy hearing her play. That wasn’t (and still sometimes isn’t) always the case. It seems that playing the piano takes practice. It is a skill that is honed through repetition. You play different pieces, scales, etc to gain a touch, an ear, the ability to read ahead and see chords and music and not just notes. Developing physical skills is much the same.You develop skills through practice. Not always trying to do the maximum weight or number of reps the fastest. Runners learn to move better, gymnasts learn control, weightlifters learn timing and feel, you get the picture.
How do you do this during a pretty tightly scripted 1 hour class? It is hard. Sometimes we don’t get to a particular skill that often…even if it is your jam, or your wanna be jam.
This is where the first type of open gym use comes in. Skill accession and mastery. Trying to learn and do a skill better. Perhaps you have taken an olympic lifting, gymnastics, aerobic capacity or powerlifting class or just want to get better at one of those skills. This is that perfect opportunity to get in additional training time to work on those skills over and over. Like the master Bruce Lee said, “Don’t fear the opponent that can do 1000 moves, fear the opponent that has done one move 1000 times” (or something like that…look it up that’s what google is for).
So, use #1. Master that stuff.
Use #2. Take a self guided tour.
When you go on a cruise, the ship itself is a main part of the experience. The food, the care, the cool towel sculptures, etc. However, when you get to port, you have a choice. You can go on an excursion with someone that the company has contracted for you, or you can take a self guided tour of the area. Both of these have their benefits. Sometimes it is really fun to look around yourself, and take in the sights at your own pace. Sometimes you want to really explore a thing on your own. Perhaps you want to spend some serious time lifting weights, do some curls, or just be able to work on rings skills.
Some people use open gym the same way. They spend time on their own doing specific programming for something they are trying to accomplish. Perhaps they have a goal of back squatting 500 lbs or doing a 2x body weight clean and jerk. It is unlikely that they are going to get that specific goal in a timeline that is acceptable to them doing regular programming. They need something bespoke, and time to work. Open gym provides the equipment and environment. They have to work on the programming and coaching on their own.
Use #3- Catch up (not the stuff people put on french fries!)
We have all had a busy week, a new client, friends and family in town, school, etc… Sometimes this causes us to miss our favorite class time. While we miss the coolest peeps in town, we also want to work out so we don’t lose our gains or sanity…(you know… cause MIL). This is another great use of open gym. The programming is already there from the daily WOD or Shred. All you need to do is just do it. You may have to youtube a Z-press or ipsilateral dead bug, but… the equipment is there and you can even put your own Harry Connick Jr music on.
What does open gym cost?
When you come in to open gym you just scan in like normal. If you are unlimited, you won’t be charged. If you are on a different plan it costs one of your regular visits. If you are coming in for an extra time, then we charge you a drop in fee. Our drop in fee for members is $15, we sell them in packs of 5 for $75.
