Feel the burn

Heights-area studio lights a fire for fitness-minded Houstonians

Heights-area studio lights a fire for fitness-minded Houstonians
Fyre is the first studio in Texas to feature the Megaformer M3K+. Photo courtesy of Fyre Fitness

They say summer bodies are made in the winter, but Justine Vandenbrink is determined to help Houstonians keep fit year-round.

Actually, as the owners of Fyre Fitness, Justine and her husband, Justin, are focused on getting their clients LIT: Lagree Intensity Training. The exercise method — which is popular with Houston Rockets and Texans players, along with many Hollywood celebrities — targets slow twitch muscle fibers through low-impact, high-intensity workouts. The method concentrates on resistance-based strength training and combines elements of flexibility, range of motion, endurance, and cardio.

"Our method differs slightly from most studios, and our trainers spend a lot of time carefully planning their routines to ensure maximum effort and efficiency," says Justine, who is a Lagree certified trainer and holds a bachelors in biology. "We pride ourselves on serving up our own version of Lagree, which adds a little more cardio and ups the intensity in a safe manner without compromising form, which is why we refer to it as LIT."

Think of it as Crossfit-level strength training and intensity without the risk of injury or joint damage. The result is a 45-minute, complete and efficient full-body workout that delivers mega results.

Results — that's a key word for the Vandenbrinks.

"Anyone who tries this workout is stunned by how quickly they achieve results," says Justin. "And once they see those results, it becomes addictive."

Another keyword for the Vandenbrinks is "mega." The Lagree method uses machines called Megaformers, and Fyre Fitness is the first Lagree studio in Texas to have the latest generation, the Megaformer M3K+. For those experienced with Lagree, this newer version is designed with "Supra" handles and additional railings, which allow for quicker transitions, target additional muscle groups, and make the workout more comfortable for the wrists.

Method and machines aren't the only things that set Fyre Fitness apart from the rest. It's also the only Lagree studio in Houston offering a separate, private training room for those interested in one-on-one instruction. The large studio space is unusual for Lagree studios as well, and aims to make men feel as comfortable taking fitness classes as women traditionally have been.

Chad Ott, one of the lead male instructors, has seen results in his clients in as little as two weeks with just two to three sessions per week.

"One of my clients in particular was very skeptical about the workout at first," he admits. "But in about two weeks, she started to see a significant increase in muscle tone, especially in her core, which is a trouble spot for most people. She has two kids and says she's in the best shape of her life right now. She loves the workout because she's able to get serious results without a serious time commitment."

Justine herself had been practicing the Lagree method for nearly a decade when she decided to leave a successful career in oil and gas to pursue her passion for fitness. The results she experienced were not just physical but also mental, completely changing her outlook on life.

"I realized I was capable of so much more than I imagined," she says. "My mission is to bring Lagree to more people, so they too can realize their potential. When I have a client come up to me after class and tell me they are astonished that they're already seeing results, and that friends and family are even noticing the changes, it gives me life. To help people find the strength they never knew they had — that's everything."

Feeling a little intimidated? You shouldn't be. Fyre Fitness has classes that are suitable for all levels, and the instructors are well-trained in maximizing confidence in addition to muscle tone and core strength. First-time visitors can get a discount on single classes and packages, as well as two weeks of unlimited visits for a special reduced price. You truly have no excuse not to get LIT.

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Fyre Fitness is located at 300 N. Loop, Ste. 150, 77008. For more information or to book classes, visit the website or call 713-826-4469.

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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.

While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.

Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.

And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.

The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.

It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.

Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.

The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.

They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.

Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.

Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?

As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.

The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?

Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!

Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.

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