As someone who has had an on and off relationship with exercise for more years than I’d like to count, I’d recently gotten back into the groove of being a little bit more consistent with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But there is one thing I do struggle with, and that’s finding the time.
I am what you could probably describe as someone with a Type A personality. I am constantly on the go with a to do list that never ends, and I thrive the most when I am kept busy. So while I have found a few workout studios that I like to attend, my sporadic schedule does make it hard to maintain a routine.
So when I was given the opportunity from the team at Bennett PR to do a trial at J.I.M’s newest studio in Richmond, Melbourne, I was curious to see how their studios differed from others I’ve been to, and if it was something that could honestly fit into my schedule.
What Is J.I.M?
J.I.M (short for Joy in Movement) is a fitness brand developed in Cronulla, and is Australia’s first fully automated infrared workout experience.
A massive difference in comparison to other studios is that the rooms are dark (other than the infrared of course), there are no mirrors, and there’s no instructor. JIM, the onscreen trainer, runs you through a warm up, the workout, and a short cool down. So the fear of anyone really watching you working out (when they’re really not) is alleviated because of the immersive space created.
The best part is that all their workouts are 30 minutes long. Including the warm up and cool downs, and they run almost every hour in a 40 degree room, with a range of classes; from strength based, to cardio, pilates and more, all low impact with a high output.
And what they say about the sessions delivering double the burn in half the time feels about right. After the workout I was exhausted (in the best way), dripping in sweat, and was definitely feeling it the day after. It really did feel like the 45 minute or hour long classes that I normally do at other studios.
Classes are also beginner friendly and you are definitely able to adjust to your own abilities.
How Does Infrared Heat Help?
Even with the recent surge of infrared saunas at gyms and workout studios, it’s not something that was not on my radar until this last year or so. And if you’re anything like me, you may be wondering how infrared works, and the benefits of having it in the workout space – turns out there’s quite a few!
By elevating the core temperature, the infrared heat helps with burning calories at a faster rate, muscle recovery, detoxification, circulation, and so much more.
This means that not only are you getting a solid workout in 30 minutes, you’re also getting all those bonus advantages from the infrared heat.
Final Thoughts
An important note to mention is that I’d like to think that I am moderately fit. I attend yoga and pilates classes quite often, and have been to many different types of studios in Melbourne. Just something to bear in mind if you’re reading this as an exercise newbie – your experience and needs might be a little different.
Overall, I thought it was a really unique experience compared to what I’m used to. I would need to attend more classes to really see the benefits of infrared, but I was genuinely surprised at how intense the workout felt in the short half hour.
I also loved the lack of mirrors in the space. Any feelings of insecurity of people watching you or you looking at yourself in the mirror are gone, and you are forced to really focus on your body and the way it feels at that moment.
The flexibility in timings, with classes happening every hour and for only half an hour, also makes this incredibly time efficient. Getting a workout and a recovery session done in half an hour is a huge game changer, and is only expanding the possibilities of what the wellness space can and will look like. After the busy Christmas period, I could definitely see myself coming here more often before or after work, and still have time in my day to do what I need to.
J.I.M are paving the way for a new type of workout and bringing it right here to Melbourne. And with over 30 studios currently trading across Australia, they’re only getting bigger and better.
If you’d like to give J.I.M a go yourself, head to their website for a free trial HERE.
Image credit: Bennett PR.
