10 Things We Bet You Didn’t Know About Orangetheory Fitness (2024)

You know it involves a workout. You’ve heard about the use of colors. You probably already know someone who goes to Orangetheory Fitness.

But if you haven’t yet become a member, it might be because you don’t know what exactly makes OTF unique, fun, and effective—no matter your goals.

Whether it’s fat loss, improved mental health, new friends, or something else, we can almost guarantee you’ll find what you’re looking for at OTF.

So let’s get into it. Here are 10 things we bet you didn’t know about Orangetheory.

1. All the coaches are at least triple-certified.

This is a big deal: If you want your workouts to be effective, you need a coach who knows their stuff. At minimum, Orangetheory coaches need to have three different certifications, explains Amanda Crocker, regional fitness manager and corporate educator for Orangetheory. They’re required to have an NCCA-approved personal training or group exercise certification and a CPR/AED certification, and they must also complete Orangetheory’s OTFit Certification Program, a week-long immersive training experience. What’s more, OTF’s fitness library is extensive, says Crocker. Coaches have access to everything they need to stay up-to-date.

2. OTF is for all abilities.

Think OTF isn’t for you because you’re a walker (not a runner), pregnant, disabled, older in age, a total non-athlete, or super advanced? Think again. Every class is scalable. Coaches can work around specific injuries and conditions. And every move comes with options. Simply put, it works for everyone. OTF member Carol Trice of Sarasota, Florida shares, "I started OTF on my 61st birthday after several years of being a couch potato. The beauty of OTF is it is based on individual effort. OTF is keeping me young!"

3. Orangetheory was created by a seriously motivated mom on a mission!

Suddenly unemployed and a single mother to her 9-year-old son, Ellen Latham began teaching one-on-one Pilates classes in 1996. Fast forward to 2010, Ellen’s Ultimate Workout morphed into Orangetheory Fitness, the science-backed franchise it is today. Watch her incredible story in Momentum Shift, a full-length documentary that spotlights our fearless founder.

4. No one is paying attention to your stats on the screen (except for your coach).

If you’ve heard about the large TV screens that show everyone’s stats and Splats throughout class, you might be thinking, “I don’t want everyone seeing that I’m slow!” or “I’ll always come in last!” But that’s not how it works. The more Splats you have doesn’t put you in first, second, or third place. Every single person’s data will be different and based on their heart rate, explains Crocker. “We have benchmarks and challenges, but that’s about you versus you. Orangetheory is absolutely not a competition.” (In fact, the ideal goal is between 12 and 20 Splats.)

5. Orangetheory has studio locations across the globe!

From Portland, Maine to Paris, France, the world is your oyster when it comes to OTF. On a work trip to Tokyo? Choose from multiple studios. Vacationing in Quebec? We got you. No matter where your home studio is, our global list of 1,500+ Orangetheory locations is yours to visit. Plus, on any given day, every studio is following the same tried-and-tested template. How’s that for a global community connection?

6. The treadmills were designed especially for Orangetheory.

Freemotion worked with OTF to customize the REFLEX™ treadmill specifically for our workouts. For example, Crocker explains, the proprietary cushioning deck is easier on the hips, knees, and ankles, and helps members run stronger and longer. Our treads also drop speeds more quickly than other treads, so you can get to your walking recoveries ASAP. Bottom line: We invest in the best for our members.

7. The logo has significance.

The OTF Splat logo was inspired by what a fat cell looks like when it explodes. Burn, baby, burn!

8. Form first.

While you’re in class, don’t be surprised if your coach quietly helps you perfect your deadlift or reminds you of your posture. At other gyms—or when you exercise solo—there’s often a “get it done as quickly as possible and get out” mentality. But at Orangetheory, we focus on your form more than anything else, Crocker says. “The better form you have, the more you’ll yield better results.”

9. It’s so much more than just cardio.

Strength, power, endurance, rowers, dumbbells, TRX straps, medicine balls, benches, BOSU balls, resistance bands—you see a lot more than cardio in every class. And in addition to our regular lineup, we also offer Lift classes that are 45 minutes of straight-up functional strength training that will help you build or maintain lean muscle mass.

10. It’s so much more than just fitness.

“It’s more than just a workout, it’s a community,” says Crocker. It builds relationships. We celebrate the wins. We bring people together. We host 90-minute donation classes to promote physical activity and heart/cardiovascular health in partnership with the American Heart Association. We dress up on Halloween, meet up for happy hours, and high-five and clap at the end of class. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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