It’s James Holden, the next Alchemy 365 Legend!
James tried his first Alchemy class in 2018 and quickly became hooked. What made him stand apart and become beloved by the community was his hard work and consistency. James always shows up. Even before staff realized he was the little brother of Alchemy’s Digital Content Manager (hi, that’s me!), he became a coach favorite for his down-to-earth, friendly demeanor, and uncanny ability to make everyone around him feel comfortable.
Read on to hear about his experience at Alchemy, what keeps him coming back, and why the Torpedo is his absolute favorite!
1. When did you first start coming to Alchemy, and why did you decide to join?
My older sister joined Alchemy as a founding member back when it started at North Loop, and for years she was telling me about how great it was and how much I would love it. But the way she described the classes? Terrifying. I could never do that. I went to my first Alchemy class in 2018 when one of our friends, Adrienne from Highland Park, dragged me to a 5:30am class before work. It was brutal, but I had to admit…fun. She got me to go to another, and another, until I went to a few with my sister, and by that point, I needed my own membership.
I’m glad I joined Alchemy not just because the workouts are fun, but because working out with a group is so much better than trying to work out alone. If I get tired or want to give up, I can look around, see a room full of athletes pushing themselves, and know that I have to keep pushing. The way Alchemy cultivates that community of people pushing each other is a big reason I’m glad I joined and keep coming back.
2. What keeps you coming back to Alchemy? Why do you like training here?
I absolutely love the Torpedo. There’s something so satisfying about grabbing the handles and being able to do some many moves and complexes to work out the entire body during a class. How the equipment matches with the moves makes the work outs fun, even when they’re hard.
It’s also the Alchemy community. On the days I’d rather skip working out, there’s something special about going to a studio and joining a class where everyone else made the choice to show up, so for an hour, I can, too.
I love how Alchemy workouts are built in ways that makes tracking my progress and gains easy. It could be using a heavier torps, it could be changing from a modification to a full movement, it could be doing more reps faster, or it could be a lot of things. But, coming over time, I’ve seen myself get stronger, and that makes me want to keep coming.
3. How has Alchemy helped you towards any goals you have, whether fitness related or outside the studio?
Back when I first started at Alchemy, I couldn’t do many push ups, I couldn’t do full pull-ups, and doing a “toes-to-bar” was a fantasy. But, with consistent training, they started to come. It feels so cool to move my body in these ways and feeling how it makes moving through life better.
I am absolutely amazed that I can do “toes to bar” now, which I couldn’t do for years. But, I stuck with the movement modifications–knee tucks, knees to chest, knees to elbow– and eventually I could do a couple. Then I could do more. Now, I can do full sets, and it’s almost fun swinging like that on the bar. Alchemy makes these more difficult movements approachable, and provides a way to build up to them, so I actually could set goals, see my growth, and accomplish them.
4. Do you have any future goals or aspirations you’re working toward?
Honestly, right now, I don’t. With how crazy work is, I’m focusing more on keeping Alchemy a regular part of my week. The Alchemy class schedule makes it possible to find a time any day to work out, even if I’m over-scheduled.
I have run marathons in the past, and Alchemy workouts were key to my training, helping build enough leg muscles to keep my legs strong enough to carry myself for 26 miles.
But right now, I’m working out for functional fitness to feel better in my daily life. I love that Alchemy lets me push myself while working moves and muscles that come up in my everyday life outside the gym.
5. What recommendations you would give to someone who’s never tried Alchemy?
After you try one class, you need to do a second. So many of the moves are related and build off each other, so once you’re familiar with some of the moves, you get better at more of them, and classes become a lot more fun.
It’s a very Minnesota thing to go to a group fitness class and not talk to anyone, but Alchemy can be a great place to meet people and make some friends where you know you have at least one thing in common– you’re at Alchemy! If you can go to the same class enough times, you will get folded into the Alchemy Community.
6. How does it feel to be an Alchemy “LEGEND”?
It feels a bit funny, because I’m not this huge super-fit person who is super into working out. But, I try really hard to show up and show up consistently, and there’s something “Legendary” about that. I think people showing up and pushing themselves makes Alchemy great because that pushes and encourages me, and I want to bring that energy for others.
What makes this even more cool, is Alchemy is a family thing at this point. Working out with my sister is awesome. She doesn’t let me slack off or slow down, and even during busy weeks, going to Alchemy is a great way to make time to hang out while doing something good for us. We have a tradition of going to class on Christmas Eve before heading out to our family holiday. How Alchemy has brought us closer together is absolutely Legendary too and I’m excited to share this with her.
Being a “Legend” is going to keep me energized and working hard, because it’ll push me to keep showing up and try being a positive person to help other people show up, too.
THE HOLDEN
Cardio (21 Minutes):
The Holden
45 Seconds on, 15 Seconds off, for 3 Cycles:
1) Mountain Jumps
2) Sprinter Jumps (R)
3) 2 Swing Snatches + 1 Single Arm OH Lunge (R arm, L leg lunge)
4) 1 Thruster + 1 (+1) Push Press
5) 2 Swing Snatches + 1 Single Arm OH Lunge (L arm, R leg lunge)
6) Sprinter Jumps (L)
7) Box Jumps
Find James working out at Alchemy Northeast with the Noon Crew, or wherever his sister, Coach Sammie, is at. When not at a studio, James might be out taking long walks across Northeast with his dog, Gomez, experimenting in the kitchen with new baked goods, or at a courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, where he works as a lawyer for Hennepin County. To pursue his legend, James’ goals are all about building habits and consistency, from reading at least a page of a book every day, biking to work (rain or shine or snow), and keeping up his Alchemy routine.
