Why lift heavy and breathe easy?

Combining yoga with weightlifting offers synergistic physical and mental benefits by increasing muscle strength, enhancing flexibility and improving concentration and balance, reducing the risk of fall and injury. Yoga helps counteract the tightness that can result from weight training, while weightlifting provides the muscle mass required to support yoga poses. Together, these practices promote cardiovascular health, higher metabolism, mental acuity, and improved bone density, contributing to a more balanced, resilient, and functional mind/body.This is a frequently asked question?

I’ve never lifted weights before; can I really do this?

Yes—definitely! Everyone can learn to, and benefit from, lifting heavy. If you’re new to weight lifting, we suggest you consider starting slowly by booking a few 1-on-1 personal training sessions to learn the basics and build your confidence, before attending a group class.

How often should I lift heavy weights?

To improve strength, we recommend lifting heavy three days a week, rotating muscle groups by following our trainer guidelines, with at least 24-hour rest between training sessions in combination with cardio, and flexibility and balance training through yoga.

I’ve never practiced yoga; why should I do it?

Yoga is a mind and body practice rooted in a simple philosophical principle—mind, body, and spirit are one, a unity that enhances inner peace, balance, and a deeper connection to oneself and others. Through a sequence of poses, regulated breathing, and guided meditation, a student of yoga learns to connect to deeper sources of energy to improve life balance.

How would you compare your yoga classes to other facilities?

Large gym facilities often lack the calming atmosphere that promotes the spiritual dimensions of practicing yoga. At We Lift Heavy, we pride ourselves on providing a dedicated, peaceful space to develop and maintain your yoga practice. Our classes are intended for both beginners and yogis who want to deepen their practice. We encourage clients to arrive 10-15 minutes before start time in order to settle the mind and find stillness on the mat.

I’ve been doing circuit training using gym machines, not free weights. How is lifting heavy different?

Gym machines offer a safe, predictable routine for beginners to improve fitness, gain confidence, and become accustomed to the workout environment. However, research shows people must challenge muscles through variety of exercises [‘muscle confusion’] and progressively increase weight [progressive overload] to continue to build strength and muscle to mitigate the aging process. If you predominantly use gym machines, you’ll likely experience a decline in fitness over time as your body stops adapting to the stress of the same workouts. Here at We Lift Heavy, we embrace the principles of muscle confusion and progressive overload by offering a variety of integrated workouts that challenge muscle groups in unique ways to foster growth continually and enhance mind/body integration.

I’ve been working out for a while now but don’t seem to be achieving results. Can your program help?

Yes! It is quite common for people who do the same exercise routine to reach a performance plateau due to a lack of progressive overload. Your body has mastered the current exercises and growth stagnates. The principle of progressive overload states you must continuously increase the demands on your body by varying your workout routine. Here at We Lift Heavy, we embrace the principle of progressive overload through challenging workouts that continually foster growth such as increasing the amount weight, the number of repetitions and sets, and/or exercise intensity. If you add yoga into the mix, you’ll find that practice complements your strength training and vice versa.

How quickly will I see results?

Body recomposition takes time. You could see results in the first few weeks such as feeling stronger, tighter, and more energetic. You may sleep more soundly. Your clothes may fit better. You may crave healthier foods. Continue to focus on consistent training, eating healthy, and quality sleep to achieve long-term benefits of our program such as muscle definition, fat loss, and increased stability.

Won’t I bulk up if I lift heavy weights?

No. Unless you take muscle building supplements [like steroids and testosterone], eat a significant amount of calories [approx. 6,000 per day], and/or have a genetic predisposition to easily build muscle, it is very difficult for people—especially women—to ‘bulk up’.

Will I become overweight if I lift heavy weights?

No. Lifting heavy weights will not cause you to gain fat. In fact, strength training builds muscle and increases your metabolism, which helps burn fat leading to a leaner physique. As you gain muscle and lose fat, you may notice your body feels tighter and your clothes fit better.