MAGNIFICENT MILE — It's rare to find a fitness class that doesn't tell you exactly what to do.
A new offering at Equinox warns participants that some self-motivation will be required — yet promises to be the Downtown gym's toughest class yet.
"This one's a b----, guys," instructor Jenn Hogg said earlier this week to a room full of people fighting through an extra minute of tuck jumps at 900 N. Michigan Ave last week.
The new class is called Elimin8tor, which Equinox debuted Jan. 1 throughout its gyms.
Following the growing trend of extreme boot camp-inspired workout programs, the class leads participants through repetitions of exercises like "traveling burpees" and "bear crawl sprawls" — as many as they can complete in a minute.
The 45-minute class's first round ends after all eight exercises are completed.
Then Hogg, group fitness manager for Equinox's Chicago gyms, chooses a participant to "eliminate" one of the exercises for the next round, which lasts seven minutes. They choose one workout to cut from the rotation for everyone in the class — but don't worry, they'll make it up later.
"After you empty your tank for the first eight minutes, it makes sense to take something away," she said.
The class ends after four rounds, followed by a "finisher" exercise for the whole class to do at the end of each round instead.
To keep things interesting, Hogg can also pull a "coach's card" to reintroduce an exercise if she feels the workout becomes imbalanced after elimination.
"This workout is going to change all the time," Hogg said.
Elimin8tor is reminiscent of CrossFit and other intense fitness trends that have gripped the nation, but Hogg said participants are encouraged to do as many or little repetitions as they can per round, and guests of all fitness levels are invited to join.
"Our philosophy is 'give us your best, not your most,'" Hogg said. Nobody has fallen ill yet during Elimin8tor, but many have slipped in sweat, she said. A visit to the class showed a room full of people moving to booming music, with shrieks and groans to match.
Natalie Neyman, 29, of River North attends Hogg's classes regularly and has finished Elimin8tor three times. Though the class "probably doesn't look fun," she said she enjoys its "sense of control and motivation."
Another regular, 46-year-old Ennis Shells of Oak Lawn, also likes the class's customization.
River North resident Jason Hammer, 33, just started working out with Hogg two weeks ago. He said he has already lost 10 pounds.
When asked why he would subject himself right away to such cardiovascular rigor, he issued a response familiar to many Chicagoans.
"Gotta get those abs back," he said. "Summer is coming."
The Equinox Gold Coast gym offers Elimin8tor classes at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 12 p.m. on Fridays. The class is free to Equinox members, and guests — who must come with a member — are charged $35.
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