There are such a variety of classes available at the Sports Park it’s hard to know what to choose. Especially when a class costs the best part of a fiver, you don’t want to be choosing a class that doesn’t really suit you.
There are other things to consider as well as money. What do you want to get out of the class? If you want improved muscle tone, you might be more inclined to try body pump. If the aim is to sweat out all those toxins from the night before, maybe spinning is the class for you. If you need to pretend you are punching you’re ex boyfriend in the face, then body combat can provide you with that service.
A class that I have recently got into, to my own surprise, is Pilates. It might not win any awards for the most fast-paced, calorie-burning workout (I’m sure Insanity wins that prize), it has got many other benefits.
Usually put in the same category as Yoga, Pilates is a slow, controlled set of moves aiming to strengthen core muscles. Although for some people, it brings connotations of hippies prancing around in a lush green garden. Admittedly, this is what I first thought of the class and I didn’t really have much faith in the idea of improving mind and body at the same time. I’ll let you in on my experience to replace the hippy garden image that might be in your head, with a more accurate idea of what the class involves.
The class begins by ‘centering’ the body and finding the optimum position where the muscles around the abs, thighs and bum are contracted to create a good posture. You are then told to try and keep this tension around the core for the rest of the class. Let me tell you, doing a mini ab crunch for an hour is no easy feat! You then continue to perform various exercises, focusing on your breath at the same time.
At this point I feel it’s very natural to have a little giggle, and if you don’t then you are definitely trying to suppress a giggle. After doing a few classes I have managed to mature (a little) and I’ve got over how crazy you look when you are waving your arms about in rhythm with your breath.
After the warm up, the main body of the class is focused on controlled movements working the legs and arms but always focusing on the strength of the core muscles in the abs. Various deep stretches are involved particularly around the hips, stretching muscles that you didn’t even know you had. Move sequences are structured around working a group of muscles until you feel that painful burning sensation and then you are finally rewarded with the most amazing stretch of the muscles you have just worked.
The moves in the class also help with balance and flexibility. Two key components of fitness that are useful to prevent injury if you play sport competitively. All of the top sports clubs are implementing yoga and Pilates for their athletes, to keep them at the top of their game.
Taking notice of what the instructor is saying is key for Pilates to work for you. When you really focus on the moves you can feel how they are working the muscles in a calm and controlled way. The benefits are really felt when the class is over; I always feel so relaxed, physically and mentally. And even better you’re not left looking like you’ve been dragged through a bush backwards and dripping in sweat!