With the siren call of summer’s beaches sounding ever louder, it may be time to get a little more serious about gym time, if only to save splashing out on new swimwear.
But with an ever-widening range of acronym-heavy options to choose from, just choosing what works best can feel exhausting. And it’s easy to forget that sometimes, the old ways can be just as, if not more, effective as the new, especially when combined with the very latest in modern scientific understanding. This is the basis behind ATC Advanced Training Centre in Windhoff.
Founded by weight trainer Mark Notschaele, the small ATC gym takes an holistic approach to all of its athletes and members, crafting power lifting programmes that are adapted to each individual’s needs and goals with in-depth on-site assessments, nutritional programmes, personal mentoring that can be followed even when members are abroad and ongoing testing and fine-tuning. This can be done in its own right, or as “back up” for any form of sportsmanship, from cycling to golf, or indeed squash as senior trainer and marketing manager Lauren Crisp found.
A member of Luxembourg’s national squash team, she turned to weight training in order to up her game, and loved the results so much that she joined the team at ATC.
And while it’s easy to imagine this all belongs to a world of sweaty, bellowing men, that is not at all the case says Crisp. Contrary to the fears many women express about “bulking up”, she says that is simply not at all likely with the right training, flexing her own neatly toned muscles as she said so. The highly supportive, almost familial atmosphere at the gym also mitigates powerfully against the grunting, hyper-masculine reputation that power gyms often attract, and in many cases foster. The bright, clean open space at the gym does much of the work in that connection, though the team, and other members, are the critical elements.
When Chronicle.lu visited the gym, we were subjected to a rigorous analysis that included our body mass index, basic metabolic rate, body cell mass, fat mass, body water, and esoteric measurements such as phase angle, which looks at the relationship between bioelectrical resistance and reactance in humans as a predictor of morbidity and mortality.
Crisp then took us patiently through a series of presses, lifts and extensions carefully monitoring our strengths (and weaknesses) at each phase. At the end, she measured mobility, balance and flexibility to get a broader view of where we stood, or splayed…
As we wobbled under the weight of mere pebbles, a small group worked with a fellow who was lifting what looked like granite boulders by comparison, supporting and encouraging him, and providing a little relief on the rare occasion the colossal weights he was shifting proved a little too much.
The ATC gym space is small, but packed with neatly stacked fixed and mobile equipment for working every conceivable muscle group. At the centre, an open space gives room for floor and standing work. To the side, a small, mixed-gender changing room is also scrupulously clean.
ATC has been recognised as Luxembourg’s first “Power Gym” by German blogger Lukas Steffen, who reviews gyms across Europe. ATC scored highly for crossfit, weightlifting, mobility training, and powerlifting (100%).
They also offer workshops and training sessions such as yoga for strength training — our own session included a short yoga warm up to help loosen and warm up muscles — power lifting seminars, circuit challenges and MMA, among many others.
They are also linked with The Mountain of Game of Thrones fame, for whom ATC has developed a training programme that athletes can test themselves against. And in October this year, Rajko Radovic, the fitness star who created Hour of Power will be presenting the Dragan Challenge, described as a simple yet brutal endurance challenge involving the repetitive lifting of two 20kg dumbbells, as well as dedicated master classes on form and technique. More details on the timing and pricing of this will be available soon.
ATC is different from virtually every gym we’ve ever encountered on a number of levels. Its small space makes it more collegial, but doesn’t seem to have restricted its capacity. As they say themselves, it’s not necessarily for the faint of heart, but the commitment shown by any member will be more than matched by the team. It’s also accessible 24 hours, which means it can be fitted into anyone’s schedule.
To find out more about how to get started, see the ATC website: www.atcsports.lu
Photo © Lea C.Giordano: Lauren Crisp at ATC
