Have you ever heard of a Versaclimber? I had not until Rise Republic opened in downtown Edmonton. I love trying new workouts, so I was really excited when this fitness studio opened within walking distance to my apartment. The excitement turned to nervousness and a bit of fear, if I’m being honest, when I saw a video of people using the Versaclimber.
The Versaclimber machine offers a full-body workout that combines zero impact, high intensity, vertical cardio with resistance training. It’s as intense as you’re probably imagining.
What Classes Does Rise Republic Offer?
The classes at Rise Republic are 30 minutes long, which is the perfect length to get in a full body workout on your lunch break or whenever you have a spare morning or evening. During the class, you’ll climb to the beat in a high-energy, fast-paced environment. According to Rise Republic’s website, you can expect to burn up to 500 calories in one session.
Rise Republic also offers a variety of strength training classes targeting different areas of the body. Each 50 minute class is designed to build lean strong muscles and focus on strength work to complement the cardio & sustain muscular endurance.
Pricing
Rise Republic has a variety of different options to choose from so that you can tailor your workouts based on your budget. First-timers can try Rise Republic for 28 days for a discounted rate of $129 CAD. Rise Republic also offers 3 monthly membership options:
- Monthly Unlimited – $199 CAD
- Flex Monthly (8 classes per month) – $144 CAD
- Light Monthly (4 classes per month) – $75 CAD
If you don’t want to commit to a membership, you can purchase class passes instead. A single class is $25 CAD, 5 classes is $105 CAD, and 10 classes is $190 CAD.
What are the Benefits of Versaclimbing?
- Low impact
- High caloric burn
- Helps postural spinal alignment
- Can fix muscular imbalances
- Helps with the communication between your right & left hemisphere of your brain
- Workout for ALL ages and abilities
- Time efficient and effective
My Honest Review
I was invited to try Rise Republic free of cost and I was so excited. This was the push I needed because I’d been following Rise Republic on Instagram since the studio opened. I was a bit intimidated because, from the videos posted, it looks like a hard workout. I chatted with the owner, Alex Bosclair, over Instagram DM’s and she said I would do great because I do spin classes frequently, however, she may have just been trying to ease my fears.
I booked Alex’s class and walked over to the studio after work one day. Rise Republic is located at 10220 104 Street in Edmonton, AB. The studio is minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing.
There are lockers for your personal belongings and hooks in the women’s change rooms for jackets and bags. The change room also has showers and personal care products, such as spray deodorant and dry shampoo. It’s perfectl if you’re doing the class in the morning before heading to work.
Alex was incredibly welcoming when I arrived and helped me get comfortable with the machine. She helped me get adjusted and showed me the proper form. If it’s your first time, show up about 10-15 minutes early to get all set up.
I’m not going to lie, the machine is intimidating, but I felt comfortable after practicing the climbing movement for a few minutes before class started. My initial reaction was “oh my gosh, this is hard.” I was sweating just from the warm-up. It’s an intense workout and Alex explained that it usually takes about three classes to get adjusted.
The machine shows measurements for how high you’re reaching and also how fast you’re going. The instructor will call out a number range to strive for, but they also remind you to do what feels best for your body. At times, the instructor will also tell you to add tension to your machine, but leaves it up to you to determine what amount is enough. Overall, it’s a very welcoming and judge-free atmosphere.
Would I Take Another Class?
It was an extremely hard workout, but I would do it again. In total, I burned 343 calories from the workout which is great for 25 minutes. My whole body was sore after and the walk home was rough, but I felt great. I felt the burn in my thighs, calves and arms.
The first half of the class felt like it was never going to end, but the second half flew by. The music was a mix of EDM and pop remixes, and the playlist kept the vibes up.
An interesting aspect of the Versaclimber workout is that you can’t cheat. For example, if you’re on a spin bike you can keep your legs moving or you can ease the tension to make it easier. If you take a break on the Versaclimber, it pauses your time. So even though the class was 30 minutes long, my machine only registered about 25 minutes because of the breaks I took.
Although it was hard, it was an incredible workout and I’d 100% do it again.
Learn more about Rise Republic and try it for yourself here!
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