Classes at High Octane Fitness.

High Octane Fitness, located in Nugegoda, has been around for roughy 4 years now, and offers some of the most high-end gym facilities in Colombo. They also offer a pretty extensive range of classes – from circuits to spin to classes training specific muscle groups – so I decided to test some out, for the greater good of the public and also for the greater good of my thighs. All classes are priced between Rs. 800 and Rs. 900 for non-members, which turned out to be well worth it.

Circuit Training

Photo from the High Octane Fitness FB page.

High Octane's Circuit Training was at 9 AM on a Thursday and, unsurprisingly, only three people (myself included) showed up. The room where the class is conducted is above the gym and made mostly of glass, so everyone can watch you fall off a Bosu ball (twice). The structure of the class is pretty straightforward: it's a full body workout, and two moves are paired together – you do the two consecutively for a certain amount of time, take a short break, and repeat them again three more times, after which you get a slightly longer break and then two more exercises. There's also a warm up and a cool down, both of which are quite quick, but do their job.

The exercises are mostly compound moves – squats, deadlifts, flys, etc – but there's also a bit of cardio thrown in, like skipping and burpees. The instructor, Alberto, was super friendly and quick to help or advise, so I immediately felt very comfortable. The focus in this class was very much on form and technique, rather than speed, which would be great for someone just getting into fitness, but was intense enough to be challenging to someone quite experienced as well. The huge range of equipment High Octane has is also super impressive – from tires to ropes to ladders, they've got it all.

Spin

The Spin class was a lot more popular, possibly because it was at 7:30 PM, which is when I'm usually on hour 3 of a Netflix binge and not on a stationary bike with zero feeling in my butt. Anyway, make sure you get here a good 10-15 minutes in advance to secure yourself a bike. Adjusting the height of the seat, its proximity to the handles and the height of the handles takes a while, so the actual spinning started 10 minutes late, but our instructor (Alberto again) made sure to check all of our bikes before we started. 

The class is conducted in a fairly small room which, while it's got a pretty effective AC, does make you sweat because of the number of bodies inside and their proximity to one another – so make sure you take a towel. The spinning starts out at a relatively easy pace – it gives you time to figure out the resistance, and to test out what's too little and how much makes your legs cry. 

An hour feels like forever to spend on a stationary bike, but the class went by really fast. Mixed in were a bunch of drills – uphill, standing, seated, sprinting – that made things a lot more interesting and forced you to keep up. The pace always coincides with the music, which is loud and pumping, but may not be to everyone's taste (I work out exclusively to early 2000s R&B and Hip Hop, so all that techno was hard for me). The class is great if you like a challenge, and the endorphins really kick in around half an hour in, even though you'll leave with jelly legs.

Core

The core class was at 10:10 AM on a Wednesday, but started about 10 minutes late as the same instructor was teaching the spin class immediately prior. I only had a general idea of what a core class involved because I myself don't tend to train just my core, and will usually add some ab work at the end of some cardio or as a finisher to a weights session. There were about 5 people at the class, which is too few to avoid Alberto's all-seeing gaze, but just enough so you can slack off a tiny bit when he's not looking. 

The class follows a circuit format – one circuit is usually 3 sets of 4 exercises, with 30/40 seconds of work and ten seconds of rest in between (30 seconds between sets). This may sound pretty easy on paper, but this class is PAINFUL. Focusing on just your core for an hour means that your abs get barely enough time to recover before the next onslaught. The moves are well-balanced, though – they cover your abs, lower stomach and obliques, as well as a little bit of your back plus some cardio. 

This particular class would work great paired with some intense cardio before or after, but it really does its damn job. My midsection was on fire throughout and super sore the next day. Alberto, as usual, was always on hand to help you with your form and force you to keep going.

Conclusion

Photo from the High Octane Fitness FB page.

The classes at High Octane are well worth it – the value for money is good, the facilities are top notch and the instructors are great at what they do. We haven't checked out Dancefit with Tarja yet, but hear it's great. The timings appear to vary, so check out their Facebook page for updates. My favourite was definitely the spin class, as it was the most challenging and a really great time. I highly recommend you try it out, but have warned you in advance of the butt-numbing, so go at your own risk. 

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo

Iftar delights at The Banyan, Heritance Negombo Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Mad Dogs Bodega, Banyan

Highlights Kamu

Budget-friendly Iftar spots 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, In our previous article, we highlighted some exquisite and upscale Iftar

Highlights Kamu

Iftar Buffet Round Up 2024

Written by Fathima Rukaiya As Ramadan arrives, a warm feeling of reflection and community fills

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Pasta Paradise: The Pasta Factory, Galle Fort

In the historic Galle Fort, The Pasta Factory brings a taste of Italy to Sri

Highlights Kamu

A Home for Desi Dreams – Bombay Nights by Radisson Colombo

As we stepped into the ‘Dine’ in Radisson Colombo, our senses were immediately tantalized by

Highlights Kamu

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

Trending.

Experience the Elegance and Excitement of RTC Tourism Race Day in Nuwara Eliya

RTC Nuwara Eliya will hold its RTC Tourism Race Day on 30th March 2024 at

Trending

“85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim” by SLASU held at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Beach

The "85th Annual Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim" organized by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union

Trending

Sheraton Colombo Hotel celebrates International Women’s Day with empowering insights

Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary brands, marked International

Trending

Anantara Kalutara Presents an Elevated Gastronomic Journey to Italy

Kalutara, Sri Lanka - March 14, 2024 - Anantara Kalutara Resort is delighted to announce

Trending

List of Party Venues 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Finding the perfect place to host a party can be a hassle.

Highlights Trending

LCY Unveils Debut ‘LCY for Her’ Collection, Redefining Women’s Polo Wear with Strength, and Sophistication

Thursday, 14, March, 2024, Colombo: LCY, a brand synonymous with manufacturing high-quality men’s polos of

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Steak Bar: A Grand Sunday Brunch at Kingsbury, Colombo

Written by Shamrina C Welcome to the ultimate brunch experience! Nestled in the heart of

Highlights Kamu Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him

By Fathima Rukaiya Are you trying to find the perfect way to show your special

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Special Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her

Written by Fathima Rukaiya The season of love is upon us once more, and opinions

Highlights Yamu Guide

Romantic Dinner and High Tea date spots for Valentine’s Day  2024

Written by Shamrina C 1. Via Torino Indulge in a fine dining exclusive 3-Course meal

Highlights Yamu Guide

BYOB Bliss: 16 Places to you can Bring Your Own Bottle!

Written by Shamrina C 1. Giovannis Indulge in Italian flavors, grooving music, pet friendly, and

Highlights Yamu Guide

Unveiling Ramada’s Festive Christmas High Tea Extravaganza!

Written by Shamrina C Mark your calendars for the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of December,

Highlights Yamu Guide