Browsing Tag

strength

Fitness

Testing Out: Booty Barre

Posted on March 17, 2017

Because… why not have a bit of fun when you’re at the barre? Motion Fitness in Jumeirah has a great new class that’ll get you moving, without feeling like you’re under too much strain. By no means does this mean it’s an easy class though, don’t get me wrong… there’s muscles in your legs you never knew existed, even if you work out regularly.

Bootybarre is a fun, energetic, workout that fuses a variety of stretching, balancing and power techniques from dance, pilates and of course yoga that are said to tone and define the whole body. It’s a combination of strength and flexibility with an added cardiovascular element too. Your muscles will see minute but targeted activity with added resistance using the barre, weights, bands and the exercise balls too.

Fitness

Testing Out: TRX

Posted on February 17, 2017

So i’m bored of my normal daily fitness routine… I joined one of the gym apps this year as part of my fit plan for Jan and i’m having fun trying out some new studios. Motion Fitness is just across from the Burj al Arab, so it’s really easy to get to, and you won’t have to fight for parking either.

Designed as a home away from home, this villa is setup with various rooms and studios to become a one-stop-shop for women looking for a workout. They’ve got a whole host of different classes you can try out too, so I jumped in to one of their TRX classes in their upstairs studio.

I hadn’t really taken a TRX class before so it was nice to be guided through the setup, and my god we were put through our paces in there. But why is TRX such a great way to workout?

If you’re a fan of circuits (i’m not really), it’ll help you reduce the time spent pacing from one training station to another if you want to train different parts of the body. As well as the obvious time benefits (we only get an hour to exercise in our busy schedules don’t you know), you’ll feel it the next day as it works muscles you had totally forgotten about…

Your core is challenged in every exercise and that means more than just your abs! We’re talking pelvis, shoulders, back and chest muscles, it engages the whole body. There’s an instability in the swinging suspension system of the TRX that means you have to keep your core tight at all times, as your body is using the TRX to help keep you stable. You’ll also work more than one or two muscles as a jump squat involves you pulling/pushing on the TRX too.

Rather than buying one and pretending to use it at home, i’d rather pop in here weekly for a class.

The 6 Week FlyBarre Challenge

Posted on June 10, 2015

Yoga has always been my favourite way to keep fit, whilst helping me to maintain normal stress levels in this busy city, it also has little ways of toning your body. I’ve been an avid yogalates fan in particular, from daring balances to core exercises, there’s always something to sweat about.

And then there was FlyBarre…

Opening in the Gold & Diamond Park, it was a stones throw from work, so I popped in to check it out. One class led to another and very soon was buying packages. Hooked on the sweaty muscle exhausting sessions, it quickly became my favourite after-work haunt. Especially due to their instructors – they have to be some of THE nicest, most encouraging fitness professionals i’ve come across.

FlyBarre provides a revolutionary form of body sculpting. It’s a complete mixture of exercises, taking elements from yoga to dance, pilates and of course ballet. I’ve never been a Zumba fan (i’m particularly un-coordinated when it comes to following choreographed anything), so I was worried at the beginning about the one dynamic arms track in the hour-long loop.

I was offered the opportunity to join the FlyBarre Challenge at the beginning of May – a 6 week course, where you have to complete 4 classes a week, including 3 workshops. I jumped at the chance and with Reebok kindly offering to keep me cool in their latest studio and crossfit gear, I was all set.

It’s the final week now and i’m HONESTLY signing up again next month. It’s been a great way of ensuring I get regular exercise, (I hate the gym) and also it’s kept me off the couch in the evenings! I’ve even been trying out the protein shakes, and made it to the odd early class or two. I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a social and dynamic way of toning, losing a couple of inches and building strength.