It’s a familiar story: On New Year's Day, people make resolutions about “getting in shape.” They join a gym, or they dust off their basement treadmill only to grow frustrated or bored weeks later as their fitness dreams fade. This year, Lowry Hill resident Robyn Bruggeman wants to help people break that cycle, putting them on a sustainable path to enhance their fitness and quality of life.
Last May, Bruggeman opened Vital Fitness in St. Louis Park, focused on strength and resilience through “functional training.”
“Functional training uses movements you see in life every day,” explained Bruggeman. “Things like squatting, lunging, overhead pressing. I don't focus as much on single-joint exercises like bicep curls and things like that. We’re building the muscle movements that help you get up off the floor, put something up in an overhead bin or improve your stability.”
While Vital Fitness caters to all abilities and ages, with both group and individual sessions, Bruggeman says she is particularly interested in helping older individuals build strength and resilience through exercise.
“One thing we don’t talk about enough is aging,” she said. “Even in your early thirties, you start losing bone density. You start losing lean muscle mass. You start losing ability in your fast twitch muscles that help you respond quickly when you need to sprint or keep your balance. This is why older people are more at risk for falls and broken hips, which can be devastating.”
Bruggeman often incorporates education about aging into her workouts, talking openly and honestly with people about issues like menopause and how age can impact your energy levels and the collagen in your joints, tendons and ligaments.
“Aging is tough. So, for me, it’s important to make people aware, women and men, that there are things we can do to help,” she said. “We're here to jump on boxes to keep our fast twitch muscles going, lifting weights to keep your bone density high, and the work we do to build your lean muscle mass.”
Fitness is a long-term journey. If you’re just starting, you’ll usually see some immediate changes but then things will taper off and plateau for a bit. Don’t let that discourage you. Persistence pays off.
Bruggeman says visiting a gym offers benefits over working out at home. A coach can help make sure you are using the proper form to avoid injuries. Gyms also offer a wider variety of equipment so you can vary your workout and progress with different weights as your fitness improves.
When you visit Vital Fitness, you’ll notice there aren’t mirrors everywhere and the atmosphere is supportive. People work hard, but you also see smiles and hear laughter as people move from station to station. Bruggeman says this kind of atmosphere is intentional. She wants people to feel comfortable and motivated, so they arrive ready to put in the work.
The motto at Vital Fitness is “Train for Life.” Bruggeman says by following some simple tips, you can make this idea a reality, and that fitness resolution could be the start of a healthier and more vibrant future.
For more information about Vital Fitness, visit: www.vitalfitnessmn.com
