First, we stepped, pumped and attacked our way through Les Mills’ fitness classes. Then, we stepped into the box for CrossFit and got our HIIT on at F45. Now, the latest exercise craze involves acting like an animal!
Iron Zuu is the brainchild of Australian personal trainer Nathan Helberg. Originally designed for athletes and military trainees, the class blends resistance, cardio and weight training with animal-inspired movements.
So, one minute you’re lifting dumbbells, the next you’re slithering like a snake, crawling like a bear or squatting like a frog! You know that scene in Mean Girls where Cady imagines all the teenagers at the mall are animals at the watering hole? It’s just like that, only way more sweaty!
The benefits
Like CrossFit and F45, Iron Zuu is designed to maximise lean muscle building and fat burning. However, unlike the other training styles, Iron Zuu is built around the ‘movement precedes equipment’ philosophy. That is, there’s a focus on the primal exercises the body can naturally do without equipment — which reduces your risk of injury.
Don’t let the safe nature of Iron Zuu fool you, though — you’ll burn some serious calories in this class. According to Nathan, you can expect to burn up to 1000 calories per session, and another 1000 in the 24 hours after!
But Iron Zuu’s most unique selling point is definately the incredibly strong sense of teamwork. At various points throughout the class, everyone heads into the middle of the room for ‘three touches’ (aka sweaty high fives.) And any time you pass another member of the class, you’re required to bat them on the back and encourage them.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to try CrossFit but have been put off by all the horror stories about competitive personalities or crazy injuries, Iron Zuu may be the class for you! You’re far more likely to get a high-five than a hamstring strain.
Iron Zuu classes are currently being held in Queensland, with a rollout expected in gyms across Australia soon. You can find out more about here.
