Fayetteville’s newest full-service gym, NUCO Fitness in Tallywood Shopping Center offers something for everyone. Being the fitness fanatic I am, I decided to try the place out by taking a class called “Booty Beat.”
If you want to feel like one of Beyonce’s back-up dancers at 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night… then Booty Beat is for you. The studio where classes are held has pastel colored walls and brand new, beautiful hardwood floor… perfect for breaking it down on and burning calories!
The high energy, dance-based class lasts one hour. After you’re done moving your booty to beats by Britney, Beyonce and other Top 40 artists, t’s time for a 15 minute toning segment that focuses on your core and glutes.
Jenya Nguyen, a native of Russia and former competitive ballroom dancer, teaches the class at NUCO along with the popular Latin-infused dance workout, Zumba.
Another service NUCO offers is personal training. In addition to Booty Beat, I also endured an intense 30-minute session with their Personal Training Manager, Josh Kompf. Josh moved to Fort Bragg in 2004 and was stationed with the 3rd Special Forces Group. “Special Forces helped me be more proactive with health and nutrition,” said Josh. It also inspired his personal training career. And like most Army guys, he “hits the weights everyday.” Medically retired from the military, he began working with NUCO in January.
Each of the eight trainers NUCO employs has their own special niche when it comes to fitness and training. Josh’s main focus is unconventional prep for soldiers. “I get their bodies ready for training, Special Forces selection and the intensity of Ranger School, “ Josh shared.
So, for my session, Josh took me through a very difficult “leg day.” Before we began Josh told me, “I start with leg day because most people hate leg day.”
Thanks Josh!
In all honesty, this particular leg day was one of the hardest workouts I have ever had.
Here’s the workout:
WALKING LUNGES: A set of 70 all the way down to the weight room at True Grit Athletics (NUCO’s CrossFit gym)
LEG PRESSES: 4 sets, 20 reps
SQUAT JUMPS: A grueling set of 10 moving squat jumps and 10 steps x 7 reps
(From True Grit back to NUCO)
LEG PRESSES: 4 sets of 20 on one leg
WALL SITS: We ended the session with two 90-second wall sits in a chair position
Feeling completely beat down, Josh helped me feel a little better when he said, “You trained very hard and through the burn!”
In closing he said, “Remember… you don’t make changes unless you feel the burn.” That’s definitely a word to the wise!
NUCO Health and Fitness Center is located in Tallywood Shopping Center. Members can access the facilities 24 hours. Personal trainers are available from 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Booty Beat is taught every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Schedule is subject to change, so please call 910. 568.5962 for the most up-to-date information.
