Orangetheory is giving members a free pumpkin spice latte this week to try out its new class

Orangetheory is giving members a free pumpkin spice latte this week to try out its new class

If you haven't tried an Orangetheory class yet, the studio's latest promotion might convince you to sign up for a class this fall. On August 17, Orangetheory welcomes the changing seasons with courses inspired by the pumpkin spice latte (known simply as PSL to its devoted fan base). At Orangetheory, PSL stands for presses, squats, and lunges, with classes dedicated to the three exercises. Additionally, participating studios treat their members to a literal pumpkin spice latte after class. Yes, really!

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I got a sneak peek of the new class format and had to decide for myself whether the heart-pounding workout was worth a free latte. The floor area of ​​the PSL classes focuses on press, squat and lunge exercises. Each segment includes three PSL exercises—think a bench chest press, followed by a dumbbell shrug squat and alternating reverse lunges. You'll also hop on the rowing machine between floor workouts and complete a 23-minute segment on the treadmill for the studio's signature mix of cardio and strength training. It sounds like a long time on the treadmill, but it goes by quickly with two-minute periods at your push pace followed by three-minute recovery periods at your base pace.

For the uninitiated, Orangetheory classes involve tracking your heart rate throughout your workout, with bursts designed to get your heart rate up and recovery time to slow it back down. During class, you'll wear a heart rate monitor that wraps around your arm so you can track your changing heart rate during different exercises. During your workout, your heart rate monitor updates in real time on a nearby screen, so you can instantly see your impressive stats (e.g. heart rate can be reached in a minute). Throughout your workout, you'll chase the ideal orange zone, which is 84 to 91 percent of your maximum heart rate.

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Basically, the goal of all Orangetheory classes is for participants to burn calories for up to 24 hours after a 60-minute workout. This happens when you spend at least 12 minutes of class in this orange zone. It is based on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), the amount of oxygen required to return your body to homeostasis (also known as resting metabolic function). For what it's worth, I definitely felt like my body was still working hard when I left the studio ready to treat myself to a PSL.

Want to get a taste (pun intended) of how Orangetheory's heart rate-based courses work? A PSL provided by the studio is a great excuse to sign up for classes. But hurry, the promotion is only available on August 17th. (Next: This couple met at Orangetheory — and nodded to the class at their wedding)