KANSAS CITY, MO — For those who would rather catch a movie than hop on the treadmill, they just lost an excuse to ditch the gym.
Cardio cinemas, offering movies in a dark theater-like atmosphere, are the latest craze taking gyms by storm.
In the metro, One Life Fitness and The Athletic Club offer the alternative workout environment.
“It’s a way to get away from the gym. You don’t really feel like you’re working out, but you get an awesome workout throughout it,” said Amber Whipple, operations manager at One Life Fitness. “You’re kind of able to zone out a little bit.”
One Life Fitness offers a variety of movies in many genres, but Whipple said comedies and action movies tend to amp people up the most.
The gym plays one movie on rotation throughout the day and has a schedule so people know what will be playing.
Whipple said they also take special requests and plan to start showing sporting events in the theater too.
Fitness buffs say the entertaining distraction encourages them to stay on the treadmill longer.
“It’s dark, nobody can see me running. I sweat it up in there,” Julia Asmar said. ” I really like to do that, just say, yeah- I walked for a whole movie.”
