Taking it to the
NEXT LEVEL Local Fitness Center Focuses on Wellbeing of the Community by Abby Meaux Conques
If you think Lafayette recently acquired another run-of-the-mill gym with Next Level Fitness + Nutrition, you should take another look. If Next Level Fitness + Nutrition is new to you, you’re bound to hear more about it soon. The Next Level name has three current locations in the Acadiana area with a fitness center and two nutrition bars; as soon as we’re on the other side of this virus debacle, a fourth location (another fitness location) is set to open in New Iberia.
The original location is a nutrition club and gym combo located at 210 Production Drive in Lafayette next to Walmart on Pinhook Road. It’s a 4,500 square foot facility focusing on sports training with the team behind the name being exceptional elite athletes with Business Management degrees, professional trainers with multi-level certifications, nutrition coaches, and licensed physical therapists. This is, by no means, your average training facility. You’d think this is a spot where only elite athletes can train. The crazy thing is, no matter your fitness level (even if you’re a complete beginner), your age, gender, or physical ability, there’s something for you. The fitness center prides itself on their age-diverse and culturally-diverse clientele.
PRE-WORKOUT FUEL AT NUTRITION BAR
NOT YOUR AVERAGE FITNESS CENTER In trying to keep their expansive offering list in the simplest of forms, they offer sports training, spin classes, boot camp classes, tone fitness classes, self defense classes, zumba classes, yoga, HIIT classes, kickboxing, and even CuRobiks (a mixture of calisthenics, aerobics and line dancing method by multi-platinum recording artist, Cupid). The fitness club was started with the sole intent of having the desire to help people (depending on fitness level) either get healthier in the most effective way possible or to fine tune athletes to gain small differences which have big effects. The team behind the brand always wanted to be able to help kids in some facet. They’re athletes whose life identities were based in sports; some from as young as the age of five. Once you go through all of the formidable years of playing sports, and you’re able to play competitively beyond that, all days playing that sport are seen as blessings from the athletes that run the fitness center. Playing at elite levels made them realize that no human can compete forever, so once 32
GYM EQUIPMENT ACCESS
their high-level playing days were done, they knew that they were called to serve others in realizing their ultimate potentials. Next Level offers individual and group classes, always led by certified instructors, most of them having multiple level instruction certifications. What sets this fitness center apart from other gyms is their attention to detail. When speaking to the Director of Operations for the Next Level Company, Amber Bessard, she was able to illustrate the gravity of meticulous instruction in training classes. “We don’t simply teach general classes. We coach clients how to get effectively faster, how to fall properly for protection, how to be explosive, understanding the importance of balance, improving stability, how flexibility aids the body in working better.” She continued, “Then we have the nutrition side...we have Herbalife specialty drinks and immune-boosting supplements to keep your body firing on all cylinders...putting in work when your body is at rest. We have nutritionists and wellness coaches that can meal plan for optimal health. We even offer healthy breakfast options at our nutrition bars. We’re a complete elite facility.” 337M A GA ZIN E.C OM
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