Before the Stapleton branch opening in December, the Orangetheory Fitness staff fine tunes their coaching skills. Mark Frings (black tee), Colleen Student (far left rower), Molly Byrne (front rower), Jori Gregorio, manager, (kneeling at front), and Scott Katzenstein (running on the treadmill at back).

“The difference between Orangetheory Fitness and other workouts is that participants wear heart rate monitors to track their maximum heart rate at any given time,” says Jori Gregorio, manager of the new 3,600-square-foot Orangetheory Fitness center in the 29th Ave. Town Center in Stapleton.

Gregorio, a Mayfair resident, said the program is science-driven, personal group training designed to increase metabolism and build cardiovascular strength.

Orangetheory Fitness, which opened Dec. 31, offers workout sessions split into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training with heart rate monitors to track the intensity of the workout. Orangetheory brings participants through five heart rate zones in a structured, strategic workout. Data gained from the individual heart rate monitors is projected in live time on screens throughout the facility; color-coded so exercisers can see which heart rate zone they are in.

The classes go through three different phases: treadmill interval training, indoor rowing on machines and fast-paced resistance training.

The goal of the class is specific: To be in the green zone (71-83 percent of maximum heart rate) for 20 to 30 minutes, and in the orange zone (84-92 percent of maximum heart rate) for 12 to 20 minutes. “In the green zone, you aerobically burn calories in the now,” said Gregorio. “The orange zone is anaerobic [short duration, high intensity] training that strengthens cardiovascular health and creates afterburn.”

The “afterburn” effect is an increased metabolic rate for 24 to 36 hours after the workout. The Orange Zone is what stimulates this “post-exercise oxygen consumption,” or EPOC effect, where exercisers keep burning extra calories after they leave the studio. “After a workout in those zones, the body continues to replenish itself and continues to burn calories,” Gregorio said.

She said fitness programs are tailored to the individual (including those with injuries) and everyone’s goals are different. “You might not need to lose weight, but maybe your goal is to have more energy. Strengthening the cardiovascular system makes the heart stronger, moves the blood better and improves breathing. Increasing metabolism gives you more energy. The workout also increases bone density, which is vital for females. And it’s functional training for doing the things we need to do in life, like lifting the kid out of the car, picking up boxes, and running for appointments. The workout helps support everyday activities without getting injured.”

She said Orangetheory workouts are customized for members: “The zones are based on the maximum heart rate, which is different for everyone. Some people have a high resting heart rate. This workout is safe because trainers are watching the whole time. We know exactly where everyone in the class is at and we put safety first. People with special considerations—like pregnancy or a heart condition—are carefully monitored. We are accessible to people with physical challenges. We had a 92-year-old member at the Lowry studio.”

Stapleton’s Orangetheory Fitness studio is the 14th location in Colorado. Gregorio said approximately 450 people have joined the Stapleton studio so far. “We’ve been in Lowry for a year and a half, and people were driving over from Stapleton,” Gregorio said. “They asked us to open a studio here.” The company hopes to open another 10 to 15 locations in the state.

The cost ranges from $10 to $25 per class, depending on the membership package. Hours are 4:30am to 8pm, Mon. through Thurs.; 4:30am to 7pm, Fri.; and 5:45am to 1pm, Sat. and Sun. Orangetheory Fitness is at 7349 E. 29th Ave., in the Stapleton Town Center. For more information, call 303.388.3600 or go to www.orangetheoryfitness.com/stapleton.