As people figure out how to stick with their New Year's resolution regarding fitness, Lake View fitness spot Rebell Strength and Conditioning might be an intriguing option.

Of course, the five-year-old Rebell ( pronounced "ruh-BELL" ) is about the bells ( as in barbells and kettlebells ), hence its name. However, it's also about teamwork and community. Co-founder Mike Connelly explained the basics of Rebell to Windy City Times.

—Community: "We're also pretty community-minded," Connelly said. "[For example,] to date, we've raised about $90,000 through charitable events. We've done things for breast cancer and we've cooked at the Ronald McDonald House; in fact, [the House] is going to be our focus this year.

"We also have a Swinger of the Month program. A hundred dollars from that month's subscription goes to the charity in that person's name. We've always focused on giving back to the community. Being strong is not just taking care of yourself; it's about helping other people out."

—Simplicity: "There's not a lot of variety in our classes," according to Connelly. "Simplicity rules. If we want to get good at something, we have to do it consistently. Sometimes, we only have an hour a week with members, so we want to get the big bang for your buck.

"We focus on mobility, nutrition, strength, cardiac output ( a fancy term for cardio ) so, in fact, there's some variety. But we a programmed workout, so you come in here and have a program sheet. It's a scheduled and well-thought-out process."

—Autonomy and safety: "What we do uniquely is that we give the individual an opportunity to exercise autonomy within that program," Connelly said. "A regular program might have one exercise, while we'll have three at different levels. We want to keep people healthy, not run them into the ground. During their first month, beginners have to learn what we call the essentials, which keep them safe and healthy."

—Teamwork: "One of the nice things about the classes Rebell is that the veterans can help beginners, and [vice versa]; basically, everyone can learn about everyone else, and help each other out. It's great that we have a core of people who have been here a while.

Connelly stressed the group dynamic and support system at Rebell. "Basically, we're the anti-corporate gym. People know each other's name," he said. "I'm not saying we don't have a good time—but we stay on track."

—Diversity/inclusion: "No one is excluded," Connelly said. "The only people we don't want are mean people, and we've had to ask people to leave in the past," a candid Connelly said. "We don't have to agree about politics, but you have to accept people for who they are. If you keep it on that level, people tend to relax. It's about being strong enough to accept other people's differences."

Note: Coach Chase Schaap is part of the website Right Fit for You, a local network of LGBT-friendly personal trainers.

Find out more, including how to sign up for a free trial class, about Rebell at Website Link Here .