Katonah’s Iron Woman brings the Megaformer to Armonk

admin Posted OnDecember 13, 2016

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Katonah’s Iron Woman brings the Megaformer to Armonk: Kim Holzmann-Krolick, founder and owner of the Katonah training facility CoreLab that recently opened its second location in Armonk, is an ironman-length triathlete who competed in the 2016 Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in Eidfjord, Norway. If that sounds a little intense, you would be relieved to know that her preferred method of training, namely the Megaformer, is all about low impact, safety and mental wellness.

“The Megaformer M3S is entirely unique to our facility,” she says, noting that while some other fitness facilities may have some variation on the Megaformer, “there’s no other studio in Westchester that has these exact machines. They’re the newest iteration.”

Pilates on crack

Like Pilates machines, the Megaformer is designed to yield a lean body and help flatten the abs more effectively than stomach-toning activities like crunches and situps. But The New York Times called the Megaformer workouts “Pilates on crack” with driving musical accompaniment. They were developed for people who felt that their Pilates workout didn’t help them burn calories or amp up their heart rate.

The 50-minute Megaformer workout, the only workout she offers at Corelab, combines cardio, weight training, balance, and flexibility, and focuses mainly on muscular endurance, with the idea of bringing all muscle groups “to fatigue in a safe, effective [and] low-impact manner,” she told us.

The low impact aspect of the workout was important to Kim as an ironman competitor. .“Staying safe and uninjured [when working out] is really important,” she continued. “We want you to do it correctly the first time so that you don’t get injured, rather than teaching you what you can do to ease the pain after the fact.”

More than just, “Oh, I look better in my jeans.” … but that too!

corelab_phot_workout Katonah’s Iron Woman brings the Megaformer to Armonk And that makes Megaformer training transferable for young and old, Xtreme athlete and novice. “The older you get, it’s really important to be mindful of what exercises you choose [to do], in terms of protecting your joints and not hindering your alignment.” The Megaformer works all the core muscles, and gives you a mental boost, providing a nice alternative to “standing there staring at yourself in the mirror [while] lifting weights. And it goes well with whatever other [exercises] you’re doing,” she adds. “It’s amazing cross-training.”

Holzmann-Krolick picked up the technique nine years ago while living in London. She later studied with Megaformer creator, Sebastien Lagree in Los Angeles before bringing the dynamic workout to Westchester.

“Our idea is not to just ‘come in and work out,’” she says, emphasizing the facility is made up of just seven machines which allows for each client to receive personalized attention from a team of knowledgeable, trainers. “

Katonah’s Iron Woman brings the Megaformer to Armonk But Kim likes to talk as much about the mental benefits of regular exercise as the physical. She cited studies that show that regular exercise can help fight depression, regulate sleep patterns, and keep one’s emotions in check. “It’s so much more than just ‘Oh, I look better in my jeans!’”