Crosby helps achieve fitness goals

Blake Crosby is a certified Tabata instructor that teaches an hour-long Tabata Bootcamp class throughout the week at Brewton locations.

On this particular day, his class is hard at work doing planks, squats, pushups and lunges, just to name a few.

All movements last for a rushing 20 seconds with a few seconds to get ready for the next move. The only element in the class to match the exercise intensity is the perspiration beading each and every forehead with a yoga mat and elastic band.

While this may sound like a chaotic class of muscle rendering workouts, its participants stay focus, even crack a few jokes as Crosby comfortly motivates them to push their energies to the limit.

Tabata training is a high intensity interval training workout, that lasts for four minutes per exercise. For example, each exercise move will be done for 20 seconds, with a 10 second rest period. This will be repeated for a total of eight rounds. If a trainee was doing pushups, he or she would max out for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and repeat the process seven more times for a total of four minutes.

Tabata student Amberly Bulllard said she lost 50 pounds since taking up the class last November.

“The class has really boosted everything for me,” Bullard said. “I did zero fitness before I started this class, and now I eat better and workout more.”

Crosby said it’s the basics that he aims to teach through his class.

“You can’t come out here and teach people who are new to fitness some super complicated exercise. Teach them the basics then let them learn from there.”

Another Tabata student, Amanda Barnes, said she started the class last November with very little fitness experience and has lost 45 pounds since then.

“I feel better, I sleep better and I don’t find myself getting sick as often,” Barnes said.

“I have a special needs son. I’m able to take care of him better. What I’m adopting from (Tabata) bootcamp has improved my entire lifestyle.”

Bullard said she joined the class because she wanted to make a lifestyle change.

“Both my parents are diabetic. I don’t want to be diabetic so that’s what really made me want to start. I’m about to be 40 this year so I told myself I have to get something going.”

“Some people will come out here and just do the three times a week,” Crosby said. “They’ll sweat and burn some calories and they’ll lose weight. But until you adopt and change your lifestyle then you’re going to have similar results you’ve always had. Once you make a lifestyle change then your sustainable”

Crosby said he wants people to take away a learning experience from his class.

“I rather have somebody come in here and learn how to do this, how to do that, ask ‘Why should I do this?, ‘Why should I do that?’,” Crosby said. “I want people to learn what I’ve learned. Then go teach somebody else and so on.

Crosby said the Tabata Bootcamp is for all levels of fitness, from those with little to no experience to the fitness enthusiast.

“Hopefully everybody that takes this class will find a different way to do fitness,” Crosby said. “Zumba is fine, weightlifting in good. Swimming is good. Anything they can do to add on to what they’ve learned here is a plus.”

Tabata Bootcamps are an eight week session. Cost is $60 for three days of class on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings; and $50 for two days of class on Saturday and Sunday mornings. To join the class, visit the Crozfit Facebook page, or drop by the Brewton Armory located at 95 Airport Drive during classes to get set up.

For more information contact Crosby at 251.363-7562.