A Sunshine Coast fitness coach is making people roar with a beast of a workout that incorporates animal moves.
Mark Gordon, owner of Iron Zuu Kawana, will have you crawling like a bear, stomping like a komodo – and sweating like a pig.
The popular fitness movement, which was created for athletes and military trainees, features animal movements in high-intensity workouts that also combine yoga, break dancing, parkour and “human evolution”.
His industrial-style gym which opened two years ago is one of only five dedicated Iron Zuu facilities in the world.
Mark said Iron Zuu was designed to use people’s entire bodies in dynamic movements in a form of high intensity low impact training (HILIT).
One of the first exercises he teaches newcomers is the frog, which involves squatting all the way down and up in a full range of movement, unlike traditional gym squats which stop at knee height.
“There is no reason we shouldn’t be comfortable in that position,” said Mark, explaining that our sedentary lifestyles often lead to tightness and restriction of the joints and muscles.
“People are only using their joints to half their capacity.”
Other primal movements include ‘komodo hands’ which is performed from a low push-up position and involves quickly stomping the hands while holding the low plank.
There are bear crawls, gorillas and mimicking an iguana while moving across the ground.
Most of an Iron Zuu workout is done from a low position on the carpeted floor, switching quickly between movements as the sweat peels off.
“Get comfortable on the floor because we’re always on the floor,” Mark quipps.
On a recent Tuesday morning, Mark was leading a session with Kelly-ann Neil, 42, and Michelle Hanna, 43, both mums of four who have been long-time members.
With music setting an energetic atmosphere, Mark outlines the upcoming drills before the trio dive to the floor to begin their komodos and kicksits.
“Just don’t stop, you’re not gonna die – I promise,” he joked, giving an indication of the high level of intensity.
To which Michelle quipped: “Fingers crossed.”
The popularity of Iron Zuu has been growing through word of mouth after Mark relocated from Toowoomba to open a gym on the Sunshine Coast.
“Your vibe attracts your tribe,” he said, explaining that the membership he has built over the past two years is a supportive and like-minded community.
One of the key aspects of the workout is the motivation of exercising in a group and members pushing each other, whether they are newcomers or elite athletes.
Kelly-anne has been doing Iron Zuu for a year and loves it so much she attends two or three sessions a day.
“There is no ego when you walk in, whether you are a 70-year-old who has never moved, you are still treated like someone who does it every day,” she said.
“And it’s not a gym where you work out in the corner by yourself with your headphones.
“Everyone is connected and part of the community and you get that contact and human touch.”
Mark said it was possible for people to do Iron Zuu more than once a day because of its low impact on the joints.
Founder Nathan Helberg designed it to help prevent injury and the exercises lengthen and strengthen the joints by moving the body in the way it was meant to function.
Mark encouraged fitness lovers to try it in conjunction with the sports they love, whether it be football, running or dancing.
“If you love triathlons keep doing triathlons but because it is a repetitive movement every triathlete who comes here is tight in the hips,” he said.
“One of the core functions of Iron Zuu is elongating the hips and taking pressure off the spine,” he said.
Iron Zuu at Warana hosts 14 sessions per week and will next year be adding six calisthenics classes led by Ollie Cole.
Anyone interested in giving Iron Zuu a go can try the ’21 days for $21′ promotion. Full membership is $39.95 per week for unlimited sessions.
Mark’s sessions are also streamed online and he has members tune in around Australia and the world, including the UK, USA and New Zealand.
