J. Ashar
April 16, 2018 23:20
HOUSTON FINALLY HAS A CALISTHENICS GYM! Mekanix was founded in 2017 as Houston's only gym focusing on calisthenics and bodyweight training. Have you seen those crazy street workouts on YouTube showcasing superhuman strength? If not, search up "BarStarzz," "Thenx," or "Calisthenic Movement" on YouTube to see what the human body is capable of.
If you're looking for an intensity level between yoga and Crossfit, calisthenics is your best bet. Yoga focuses a lot on pushing, but it completely lacks any pulling. Crossfit focuses on all muscles groups, but it's so intense, it may injure you over time with its fast-paced movements and heavy weights. Calisthenics is the happy in-between, and it's something you can do for the rest of your life injury-free! It can give you the physique you want, the strength you desire, and it gives you the knowledge to be able to train anywhere with zero equipment.
I started training at Mekanix in April 2018. I initially signed up for a 1-week membership for $25 to get a good feel for what the gym could offer me. After speaking with their head trainer, Gregory Scott, he informed me the training schedule works as follows:
Monday - Pushing
Tuesday - Pulling
Wednesday - Legs
Thursday - Pushing
Friday - Pulling
Saturday - Legs
Sunday - Recovery
The classes are set up in group exercises like a yoga or a Crossfit class. Every class I have gone to has been a small, intimate group ranging from 3-8 people total. This makes it easy to get one-on-one instruction from the teacher if needed. Class times vary each day, so the best way to keep track of the schedule is by downloading the MINDBODY® application to your phone.
Group training classes typically start out with some light stretching and a warm-up. Depending on the workout, the classes can be held inside or outside utilizing their incredible rig setups (pull-up/dip bars and gymnastic rings) or nothing at all (circuit exercises working many variations of push-ups and other mobility exercises). There is other equipment used as well including parallettes, medicine balls, PVC pipe, plyometric boxes, and rubber bands.
On Sunday, Mekanix's recovery day, they provide a handstand workshop (put together by handstand master, Jimmy Tran), a flexibility class, a breathwork class, and even contrast therapy. If you never heard of contrast therapy, this is where you consecutively expose your body to cold and heat repeatedly. At Mekanix, they provide ice baths at close to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a dry sauna at close to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. I have tried this 3 times already with a lot of skepticism, but I can honestly say that my muscle soreness has vanished overnight with this therapy.
I have been consistently going to Mekanix for a few weeks now, and I have definitely seen a major increase in strength and mobility. Gregory Scott is an ultimate calisthenics master, and it's been an absolute pleasure learning the movements from him. I have now signed up for a monthly membership, and I am very happy with my decision. If you're currently looking for a new athletic challenge, do yourself a favor, and sign yourself up. You will NOT be disappointed.