A while ago I wrote that I follow Tim Cook’s example by going to the gym in the early morning. That is during weekdays. On weekends or public holidays, on the other hand, I go to a boutique gym called Animo Studios. Currently, these wonderful people have gyms in three locations – Louise, Flagey, and Brugmann. All are exclusively in Brussels. My favorite is in Louise. Probably naming this studio as my favorite would be misleading since I have not yet been to others. Why? Because my Louise studio offers a workout called Perform which ticks all the boxes as to my needs and wants from a workout. Even though it is tempting to try more of what Animo has to offer, Perform is just too damn good to look for something else. When you have found something that is perfect for you, then you stick with it.
How I got there? All thanks to my wonderful wife. She managed to find Animo Studios and made the first visit. After you have done twenty workouts, Animo Studios offers the possibility to invite a friend for free. My wife invited her amazing husband. Lucky me.
Before you visit Animo you need to book your class. We went to their website and read through all of their workouts. Perform caught my eye. In Animo’s own words: “Our custom, 50-minute, high-intensity fitness concept meticulously crafted to redefine the way you approach strength and endurance. More than just a workout, PERFORM is a dynamic journey that goes beyond physical gains, fostering a resilient mindset that transcends the studio walls and permeates every aspect of your life.” To me, it sounded interesting. To me, it sounded like CrossFit(-ish). Even though I am no longer a CrossFit fan and high-intensity workouts have never been my strength, this seemed like a challenge.
Oh, boy. It was a challenge. During my first two workouts, I had to go to the toilet to puke. The intensity was just too much. When I go to a gym on my own I like to take my time. I do controlled movements, I take a decent break between sets, and I don’t push too much on cardio. Perform showed me that my cardio was more than bad. But. Even though I threw my guts out, even though I probably looked like someone whose only previous workout was picking up pencils and going to the toilet, I persevered. I kept buggering on.
After five workouts I already started to see progress. How do I manage not to run to the toilet anymore during or after a Perform workout? I have breakfast before I go to the gym. If I do high-intensity work I need something already in my stomach. Now I am twenty workouts in. I feel stronger. I feel healthier. Even though I still love champagne. I feel that I have more endurance. All that would not have happened without Animo.
These photos are from the Louise studio. As you can see it is modern with industrial design. The men’s changing room has five showers with hair products waiting for you after. Once you’ve finished dying and after you’ve cleaned yourself up you can go and have a post-workout shake in their Cafe. Which is delicious.
Did I mention that you can have filtered water before, during, and after your workouts? Just bring your refill and take as much as you like. I admire what Animo has done, what they are still doing, and what they will do in the future. Thank you to my wonderful wife who invited me to my first Animo workout. Thank you to Animo for creating this possibility to allow members to invite someone after they’ve reached a certain number of bookings.
See you in the gym.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
