Men’s Fitness Fusion: Boxing Basics with Marco

Join us every Thursday at 6:00 PM for Marco’s Men’s Boxing class, a versatile workout that welcomes all levels of fitness. This class isn’t just about boxing; it’s a holistic approach to men’s health and wellness, combining the fundamentals of boxing with strength, cardio, and flexibility exercises. Whether you’re looking to get into shape, improve your endurance, or simply blow off some steam in a supportive environment, Marco’s session is your go-to. Tailored to cater to everyone from beginners to fitness enthusiasts, this class guarantees a challenging yet rewarding experience that goes beyond the boxing ring.

Classes are $32 each and require pre-registration by emailing Jessica at jkorda@ffc.com.

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Get Ready for Summer: Find Your Perfect Trainer

Summer is just around the corner, and there’s no better time to ramp up your fitness routine! With our Personal Training program, you can find the perfect trainer to help you achieve your summer fitness goals. Whether you’re looking to tone up, slim down, or simply boost your overall health, our certified personal trainers tailor each session to your unique needs and aspirations. They offer not just personalized workout plans, but also nutritional guidance and motivational support to ensure you’re on the right track.

Embrace this opportunity to get summer-ready under the expert guidance of a trainer who understands your fitness journey. To discover your perfect match and start your transformation, contact our Fitness Director Jessica Korda jkorda@ffc.com. Let’s make this summer your most confident and healthy one yet!

Transform Your Fitness Routine with Pilates

Revitalize your routine with Pilates, a blend of strength, flexibility, and core stability. Suitable for all, from beginners to athletes, it offers adaptable exercises that enhance both body and mind. Pilates is a transformative practice, fostering physical and mental well-being. Join our program to see the difference it makes in your fitness and life.

Contact our Pilates Coordinator, Alyssa, at aweishaar@ffc.com to start.

HIIT Your Peak with Jeremy

Jeremy’s HIIT classes on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM and Saturdays at 9:30 AM focus on building lean muscle and maximizing fat burn. These sessions combine high-intensity intervals with strength exercises for a full-body workout. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance endurance, strength, or weight loss, Jeremy’s HIIT provides an effective, dynamic workout experience. Transform your fitness with these engaging classes designed to challenge and yield results. Join us to see the powerful impact on your physique and fitness journey.

Classes are $32 each and require pre-registration by emailing Jessica at jkorda@ffc.com.

 

Pickleball League

Join us in March for a Pickleball league, available for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players! The league runs from March 20 to May 15 and plays every Wednesday from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. Open play game time is also available from 9:00 – 11:00 AM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Rates for Members/Non-members
9 Week Season – $125 for Members
9 Week Season – $225 for Non-Members
Open Play drop-in – $20 for Non-Members (FFC Members play for free)

Prizes
All participants will receive a T-shirt + 1 complimentary Pickleball Lesson.

1st place – $50 FFC Gift Card + Trophy
2nd place – $30 FFC Gift Card + Silver Medal
3rd place – $15 FFC Gift Card + Bronze Medal

Matches will be played as doubles with alternating partners. After registration, you’ll receive an invite to a team reach group chat for communication and updates on the leaderboard. Contact Kyle Zange at kzange@ffc.com for more information and to register (spaces limited)!

Adult Swim for Beginners, Intermediate & Advanced

Swimming is for all! Let FFC instructors help you on your journey, whether you are a beginner (scared, looking to overcome trauma, or wanting to learn a new skill) or you are more advanced (looking to build swimming into your fitness routine by focusing on your technique and endurance), we are here for it all!

For more details about scheduling, pricing, and availability- please contact Magda Soltys at msoltys@ffc.com.

 

Parent’s Night Out – The Easter Bunny is hopping our way!

Event for 3 months – 12 years olds! Please join us for our Parent’s Night Out on Friday, March 15 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM! The cost is $35 per child/ $45 for two FFC members. Non-members are always welcome for $5 more for each child! We will be having an Easter Egg Hunt, Egg Toss Game & Face Painting. Chicken fingers, chips, and juice boxes are included!

Please register with Marianne at mfrianeza@ffc.com.  Registration REQUIRED by March 12, 2024.

Early Bird Special at FFC Old Town!

For all those who get moving right at sunrise, we appreciate you! Join us on March 25th between 6:00 AM – 9:00 AM for coffee, snacks, and a great start to the day! Bring a friend for the first time between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM and earn a free Small Group Training session!

Contact Dwight Bratholt at dbratholt@ffc.com for more information.

2024 Sandburg Pool Manager Hired – Welcome Aboard Carlos Ortiz Jr.

Hello!

My name is Carlos L. Ortiz Jr, I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. I am an experienced Aquatic/Program Director, who has worked in a variety of settings, including a Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and Fitness Centers. With a background in Aquatics, I feel comfortable working with a variety of different people, ranging from young children to older adults. Passionate about maintaining an active lifestyle and encouraging those around me to do so. This includes Swimming, Biking, and engaging in team sports. Team Sports- Both participating and facilitating groups. This includes Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, and Football. I enjoy traveling and I’m interested in learning about different cultures, ethnicities, and people. I am extremely grateful to start working for FFC and excited to see what the future holds!

Carlos Ortiz Jr. the Sandburg Pool Manager

Shamrock Shuffle Lottery!

Calling all participants of the Shamrock Shuffle on March 24! Bring in your bib number to the front desk between March 1 – 31 to be entered into a raffle and win a free personal training session, Pilates session, or 30-minute massage.

Raffle entries will be pulled on Monday, April 1, and will be sent out to members that week. Services are available for redemption at the Old Town location (besides massage) as soon as they’re received by the member. Prizes can also be transferred to another member if they choose. Contact Michael Brierton at mbrierton@ffc.com with any questions.

Workout of the Week

We’ll be starting a “Workout of the Week” this month in our new upstairs studio. Check out the chalkboard each week for a new workout to challenge yourself and keep your fitness moving forward! This will be updated weekly on Mondays!

Contact Michael Brierton at mbrierton@ffc.com with any questions.

Intro To: Spinning, Yoga and Pilates Mat

Join us for 30-minute introductory classes to Spinning, Yoga, and Pilates Mat

  • Intro to Yoga: Friday, March 1 at 11:15 AM
  • Intro to Spin: Tuesday, March 5 at 12:15 PM
  • Intro to Spin: Thursday, March 7 at 11:00 AM

Register in the FFC+ App.

March Into Wellness with D.A.S.H., Your Community for Active Senior Health!

D.A.S.H. standing for Developing Active Senior Health, is our exclusive FFC community, crafted specifically for those eager to stay active, fit, healthy, and social through every season of life. This March, let’s celebrate the joy of movement together! Try one of our dynamic classes designed to energize and inspire our senior members.

DASH Fitness: Jumpstart your Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:15 AM with workouts that blend fun and fitness perfectly.

Aqua Workouts: Make a splash with our Aqua Workouts, scheduled Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:15 am, Monday at 6:00 PM, Tuesday at 4:30 PM, and Wednesday at 4:30 PM.

Questions? Contact Alex at acastillo@ffc.com.

 

Parents Night Out – St Patrick’s Night

Calling all kids ages 3 – 8. Join us for a fun night of crafts, St. Paddy shenanigans, pizza, and a movie on March 15 from 4:30 – 7:30 PM. Cost: $35 per child for members or $45 for 2 children of members. Non-members are welcome for $5 more.

For info or to register, contact Dawn Brunner at dbrunner@ffc.com. Registration ends Wednesday, March 13.

Pickleball Lessons, Drills and Practice Play for Youth Beginners

This is not a league. This is a 6-week program on Wednesdays from April 3 – May 8 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM based on lessons, drills, and practice to learn the game for youth ages 13 to 17 years of age. The cost is $100 for 6 weeks.

You can register at www.ffc.com/group-fitness-programs or contact Cris Villalobos at cvillalobos@ffc.com with any questions.

Pickleball Lessons, Drills and Practice Play for Adult Beginners

This is not a league. This is a 6-week program on Tuesdays from April 2 – May 7 from 5:00 – 6:00 PM based on lessons, drills, and practice to learn the game for youth ages 13 to 17 years of age. The cost is $100 for 6 weeks.

You can register at www.ffc.com/group-fitness-programs or contact Cris Villalobos at cvillalobos@ffc.com with any questions.

Recovery Lounge Open House

Haven’t tried our new recovery lounge? Join us on Monday, March 11 from 5:00 – 9:00 PM for an Open House and relax with a complimentary glass of champagne. All members 21+ are welcome to attend and enjoy our massage chairs, Cryo chairs, compression fittings, and Hyperice products.

Questions? Contact Ryan at roswald@ffc.com.

Women’s Professional Roundtable & Networking

Professional Women Panelists in leading industries come and discuss their methods to success and how to navigate their careers in male-dominated industries on March 27 at 7 PM. The event will include a roundtable discussion along with a Q&A. Light refreshments are provided, and non-members are welcome to attend. A valid ID is required.

Register in the FFC+ app.

Bachata Dance Lessons

All are welcome to come to our complimentary dance class lessons on Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 PM. This month we will be focusing on Bachata. No experience or partner required.

Register today in the FFC+ app!

Elevate Your Fitness Recovery Routine

You’re obsessed with your workout. You can’t stop talking about your favorite HIIT class, the new PR you hit this week, the cool workout machine you’ve been trying, and just how much more energy you have after your 6am gym session. Exercise is your hobby, your way to relieve stress, and the highlight of your weeks. You want to hit the gym every day that you can. It’s the best feeling, and anyone who gets it, gets it.

I’m so excited that you love your fitness routine. I want you to stay committed and consistent, getting better, faster, and stronger by the day. I want to check in and make sure that you’re remembering one thing. This thing is arguably the most important part of your workout, the part that allows you to show up as your best self throughout your training and beyond: fitness recovery.

It’s a super easy step to neglect. To help, let’s find a recovery routine that brings us just as much joy as our workout routine. We’ll start with the basics: warm up beforehand, stretch afterward, sleep 7-9 hours on a consistent basis, and fuel the body with proper nutrition. Find fun warmups and stretches, notice the improved mental and physical health benefits of adequate sleep, and recognize the increased energy you have when you eat healthy. I have a few additional tools to add to our recovery routines, all which can be found in the FFC Chicago Recovery Lounges* at FFC Gold Coast, FFC West Loop, and FFC Oak Park, which will have us actually looking forward to the time we spend recovering from our workouts.

*Recovery Lounge access included in the FFC Signature and Premier Memberships – upgrade here today!

CryoLounge Chairs

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with CryLounge Chairs.

You know those people who swear by ice baths? Ice baths and cold showers are a great tool to use for post-workout recovery by easing muscle soreness, decreasing inflammation, boosting immunity, and helping you get back into the gym faster after a hard day of training. If you’re into them, that’s great. But if you’re like me, you have no interest in putting yourself through that unique form of torture. I have a solution: CryoLounge Chairs. These chairs resemble massage chairs, and use cold and hot zones to target soreness or minor aches and pains, while simultaneously applying heat for comfort (to avoid the torture that is an ice treatment). Ease muscle fatigue, recover faster, and actually enjoy the experience.

Normatec 3 Compression System

Think back to the best massage you’ve ever had. Now imagine that you can get that same feeling after your workout. That’s what you’ll get when using the Normatec 3 Leg Compressions by Hyperprice. These boots were designed by Laura F. Jacobs, MD, PhD, and have been used by pro-athletes for over a decade. The science-backed boots use dynamic air compression to increase circulation and relieve pain, soreness and tension. Every body recovers differently, which is why Normatec 3 utilizes patented pulse technology and 7 levels of compression to deliver a recovery experience unique to the individual. The lymphatic drainage that the boots cause create the same sensation as a massage. That’s all I need to hear to prioritize this form of recovery after my workouts.

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with the Normatec 3 Compression System.

Massage Chairs

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with Massage Chairs.

So you’ve given your legs a massage: how about the rest of your body? A massage chair is crucial for fitness recovery, providing targeted relief for backaches and headaches while releasing endorphins for improved mood. They also reduce stress, anxiety, and muscle tension, promoting better circulation and immunity. While offering all of these benefits, adding a massage chair to your workout recovery will likely serve as the highlight of your recovery routine.

Hypervolt Percussion Massage

The Hypervolt percussion massage device offers 5 variable speeds, making it adaptable to individual preferences and needs. Its deep tissue massage capabilities contribute to faster recovery by targeting muscle tightness and promoting increased blood flow, and provide another reason for you to look forward to your recovery. You’ll become addicted to this one. It loosens muscles and increases flexibility, which will allow you to keep up your fitness routine with reduced risk of injury. No matter your goals in the gym, the Hypervolt will provide your body with the reset it needs to keep going.

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with the Hypervolt Percussion Massage.

Hypersphere Vibrating Ball

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with the Hypersphere Vibrating Ball.

The Hypersphere vibrating ball serves as another tool for post-workout recovery, easing muscle tension while utilizing deep tissue massage capabilities. In addition to tension relief, the Hypersphere contributes to increased flexibility and circulation, supporting enhanced range of motion and preventing stiffness. Its vibrational technology not only aids in recovery but also promotes improved grip strength, making it a go-to companion for those of us that love fitness. Incorporating the Hypersphere into your recovery routine can be a game-changer, ensuring that your body receives the care it needs to perform at its best.

Vyper Vibrating Fitness Roller

Finally, I want to introduce you to the Vyper Vibrating Fitness Roller. Designed for efficiency, it actively promotes recovery from aches and pains while enhancing range of motion and pain tolerance. The roller’s targeted vibrations trigger muscle release, soothing discomfort and improving overall performance. Enjoy your recovery with the Vyper, a compact powerhouse for optimal fitness recuperation.

Enhance your Fitness Recovery Routine in Chicago with the Vyper Vibrating Fitness Roller.

Now, there are a couple things I would love to know from you after being introduced to these Recovery Lounge tools:

  1. What fitness recovery practices do you swear by? Is there a certain stretch that you love doing, or one of the tools listed above that you’re just as obsessed with as your workout?
  2. Have you been to one of the FFC Chicago Recovery Lounges? How have the tools offered there improved your recovery routine?
  3. How has your recovery routine helped you with your workout? Have you been able to come back to the gym more often with less pain?

Not an FFC Chicago member? Join here today. Already a member? Signature and Premier FFC Members have the Recovery Lounge included in their membership – upgrade here today. Let’s work together to find fun, enjoyable ways to look forward to our fitness recovery. We all recover differently. Mix in the tools offered in the FFC Recovery Lounges with your other favorites to piece together the recovery equation that works best for you, so you can keep showing up as your strongest self for your favorite workout!

Post written by FFC Marketing Manager, Sydney Meyer.