Meet Joan, our next Legend Athlete! Her very first Alchemy class was in Minneapolis, but life’s twists and turns made it possible to become a member at our very first Denver studio at LoHi. From there, she’s become a South Broadway super fan, just surpassing 600 classes!
A retired teacher, Joan continues to stay active and pursue her legend each and every day. Read her story below, get inspired and look forward to her legendary workout!
My first experience at Alchemy was a free class in 2017 at the North Loop studio. I loved the format, but at the time, I was on a competitive rowing team with a specific training regime. Fast forward to the summer of 2018, and there were some significant changes in my life. I got married (yay for finding your soulmate in your 40s!) and moved to Colorado. I needed to find a community that would continue to push me in my fitness. I tried a few gyms closer to where we were living and did some workouts on my own, but I wasn’t loving any of it. I had heard through the grapevine that Alchemy had just opened up a studio in LoHi, so I headed up I-25 to give it another go. After the first class, I knew I had found a place that I loved to work out at here in Denver.
There are so many reasons that make Alchemy a gym I continue to come back to day after day. Some of the coaches are from MN, so it’s a little taste of home here in Denver. I love a good hype person with a midwestern accent to get me through to the end! The programming covers everything I need, from yoga warm-ups to cardio to circuit to strength training. I have met many like-minded athletes who enjoy the classes as much as I do. When we go back to MN, my husband books our hotel close to the Edina location so I can stay active without missing a beat.
Alchemy has also been there for me during hard times. I am so thankful for their ingenuity during the challenges COVID threw at us in 2020. I appreciate everyone who recorded Alchemy Anywhere workouts when the gym was closed. It kept me sane while I was teaching 24 kindergarteners online. I looked forward to that mental break during those uncertain days when we were all stuck at home.
As Alchemy continued to evolve, 2023 brought about exciting changes for my journey when they opened the South Broadway location. It is much closer to our house so traffic is no longer an excuse to miss. I have been racking up the classes and just passed #600! I’ve also met a new group of coaches and athletes to keep working out with. In my personal life, I left the classroom after 24 years and have started my own business, so my schedule is more flexible. The noon class is my fav!
As I look back over the past five years at Alchemy, there have been changes, but all of them positive for the athletes. Every day I’m challenged and thrilled when I finish a workout. All of this transfers to pursuing my legend outside of the gym, keeping me strong and fit so I am ready for anything: camping in the mountains, keeping up with my husband on mountain bike rides, skiing in the mountains, rowing on the Cherry Creek Reservoir, or walking our rescue dogs, Zooey and Truman. As I get older, my goal is to stay healthy and strong and enjoy every second because you know, YOLO.
“In the gym, the weight doesn’t get easier to lift: you get stronger. In life, events don’t get easier to handle; you become better equipped to handle them. Keep growing.” -Vex King
THE JOAN
Cardio
5x Through the Complex:
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1 2xTorp Deficit Push-up
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Renegade Row (R/L)
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1 2xTorp Deficit Push-up
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Renegade Row (R/L)
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1 2xTorp Deficit Burpee (pop feet to outside of hands/Torps)
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3 2xTorp Swing Snatch
…then…
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10 Burpees
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20 Abmat Sit-ups
If not at the noon class at South Broadway, you can find Joan helping parents with their children’s reading journey, cooking or baking, and watching cooking shows – her favorite guilty pleasure!
