Harrison Township, Michigan – Walk a treadmill for 30 minutes. Take a HITT class. Repeat. Day after day after day. Read any fitness blog and boredom is ranked as a top reason people stop exercising. James Plieth and Letty Azar, co-owners of Snap Fitness, a gym in Harrison Township, Mich. offer their clients something different.

“We wanted to create a unique experience for our clients,” said Plieth. Their “Train Like A Fire Fighter” is a functional fitness class that simulates tasks fire fighters might complete on a call.

Some of equipment used during the class comes direct from the fire department.ulates tasks fire-fighters might complete on a call.

Participants rotate through five stations. One mimics swinging an ax or sledgehammer. Another involves carrying a rope (i.e., hose). A sled stands in as a stretcher. During one set of classes, Plieth, a 26-year fire-fighter with the Detroit Fire Department, provided a full set of gear. Class participants agreed putting on and removing the gear was difficult.

Plieth and Azar demonstrate each station and then time the class. One minute to complete the exercise and a minute to breathe before moving on. The circuit is completed 10 times.

For now, this circuit training class is offered twice a month during 2022. The class debuted two years ago and received a great response.

Plieth is a sales representative with Dinges Fire Company.