Man teaching outdoor spin class

Cross Training Your Group Fitness Workouts: How Taking Different Instructors And Formats Can Breathe New Life Into Your Program

Admit it: you have your favorite group fitness instructors whose classes you take from week to week. You reschedule meetings, change Friday night plans and show up late to Sunday brunch just to take their classes. For instructors, having a…
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Try This Full Body Dumbbell Workout On Your Next Strength Day

Now that restrictions have been lifted and we are back to a more comfortable state in our local gyms, some of you might be wondering where to start when returning to a regular fitness routine. If you are a new member at FFC, I highly recommend…
Two men walking outside in the sunshine

Using Your WorkOUT to WorkIN: 3 Ways To Tune In To Your Mind/Body Connection During Exercise

If you’re reading this blog, most likely you are a fan of working out. Our FFC clubs are bursting with enthusiastic members who LOVE a great workout, amiright?! Most of the time we think about exercise as an output and it’s done on autopilot;…
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Try This Core Workout For Beginners

You've likely heard a fitness instructor or personal trainer tell you to "engage your core" during exercise. There is no doubt, your core is very important. You need your core for everything, from getting out of bed in the morning to grabbing…
Woman stretching her triceps.
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Your Breath, Your Power: How To Harness Your Biggest Training Asset

If you’ve ever been to a yoga class, chances are the instructor talked about controlling your breathing, even if it’s just to align your inhales and exhales to your poses. Have you ever wondered why breath work is such an important part…
Woman lifting heavy kettlebell
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Women And Weights: Why You Should Lift Heavy

FFC Group Fitness Manager Lara Mele debunks the theory that lifting heavy weights will make women “bulky” and shares why weightlifting is a great form of exercise for women.  I am definitely of the opinion that women should lift…
Photo of clapboard and digital camera in front of two people sitting
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Lights, COVID, Action: Behind The Scenes Of Bringing You Digital Fitness Classes

Oh, the challenges and obstacles 2020 (and now 2021) presented for something as simple as taking a group fitness class. We transitioned from the comfort and ease of the group fitness studio to the great outdoors, in both warm and cold weather,…
Photo of dumbbells on a weight rack
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The Great Weight Debate

Our group fitness schedule at FFC features a wide variety of classes, including yoga, dance, indoor cycling and a number of strength training classes. Depending on the class type, these strength training classes may utilize bodyweight movements…
Man at desk holding his lower back
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Combat Lower Back Pain With These Strengthening and Mobility Moves

If you have noticed aches or pains in your low back at some point over the past few months, you are not alone. This year has been filled with all sorts of changes, from transitioning to working from home to changing how we exercise or…
Woman running on treadmill wearing a mask
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Breathe Easy At The Gym With These Plastic Mask Inserts

FFC Elmhurst General Manager Scott Lewandowski is a 3-time Ironman finisher and 8-time Boston Marathon qualifier. When the statewide mandate for wearing masks while exercising indoors went into effect, Scott decided to try a variety of plastic…
Woman holding dumbbells and performing a lunge at the gym.
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Bring It In: 3 Safe Indoor Workouts To Do At The Gym

We get it. Returning to the gym right now can be intimidating. You might be wondering what it’s like to work out in a mask, how to transition your workout from the outdoors to the club or simply how to start exercising again after some time…
Man and woman walking in fall weather with dalmations.
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Can Walking Really Help You Lose Weight?

Be honest: how many of you were lacing up your sneakers and going on regular walks pre-COVID? I don’t mean your power walk to the train or your half walk, half jog to get to the office on time; I’m talking about a dedicated, intentional…
Girl wearing black dress holding a pumpkin
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Make Your Halloween Movie Night Extra Spooky With These Workouts

Grab your candy, popcorn and blankets, folks, because it's officially spooky movie season! If your family or friend group is anything like mine, you might find yourself watching a certain Halloween movie more than once this October (cough:…
Woman walking on a treadmill
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Goodbye, Chicago Summer: Move Your Exercise Routine Into The Club With These Two Cardio Workouts

Here in Chicago, we joke that the city only has two seasons: winter and construction. And with winters as notoriously brutal as ours, it's no wonder that Chicagoans wait all year for the fleeting 100 days of summer. The city comes alive in…
man running on treadmill
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Runners, Take Note: These 8 Exercises Could Help Prevent An Injury

Whether you run for 15 minutes to relieve stress or you're training for your 100th marathon, you are considered a runner in my books. Unfortunately, runners are quite injury prone because of the redundant nature of the activity, the lack of…
Woman using weight machine at gym
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Mask Required: Which Face Mask Is Best For Your Workout?

Welcome to our "new normal." Nowadays if you want to return to your favorite gym/health club for a workout, wearing a mask is most likely an essential accessory. “That sounds awful!” you say? Well, I am here to tell you it’s actually…
Woman in camel pose doing yoga on mat in home.
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Feeling Stressed? Learn To Cope With Mindful Movement

Incorporate Pilates, yoga or meditation into your wellness routine to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Read more below. Americans are no strangers to stress. In fact, the United States ranked as the world’s fourth most-stressed country…
woman with ipad watching yoga class at home
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Stream On: How I Found Value In Leading Classes Online

On Monday, March 16, I taught my final in-person group fitness class before we closed our clubs due to COVID-19. An otherwise full studio was left to only four students and me. As local government officials put our shelter-in-place order into…
Woman stretching on the floor of her living room with weights and phone nearby.
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How To Find The Perfect Workout For You On FFC On Demand

Having choices is wonderful. Having too many choices, however, can be paralyzing. The fitness industry was quick to adapt to at-home workouts and online classes, and here at FFC, we’ve been offering daily workout classes on our Facebook page…
Pregnanct woman sitting cross legged on rug at home
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Our 6 Favorite At-Home Exercises For Pregnant Women

Looking for safe but effective exercises to perform at home during your pregnancy? NovaCare Rehabilitation physical therapist Emily Grimm is sharing her favorite exercise routine that can be completed without any equipment from the comfort…