It is now two days after my last kettlebells session and I am relatively pain-free- a hugely welcomed improvement on last week. This weeks class incorporated a whole host of new and different exercises as well incorporating the exercise ball and aerobic step. This made it feel like a whole new class and ensured I didnt get bored. Most importantly however it used and toned all of muscles in the same way as last week so that I left feeling like I had achieved a full body work out.
During the hours one-to-one tuition my trainer focussed on exercises to improve my backs strength and flexibility and constantly checked and ensured I used the correct posture- something I find very hard it appears! The trainer is there to push you physically but is also vital in making sure you carry out the exercises correctly and safely- without him I probably done a serious injury.
The personal tuition has however proved particularly worthwhile in helping my back. In addition to the trainers advice, I am able to ask him questions about any form of exercise and fitness - his knowledge of the body, as well as Chinese medicine is really impressive. After just two sessions at the gym I know and understand more about my back problems than I ever did after months of physiotherapy.
At the end of this weeks class, and with legs like jelly, the trainer stretched me into various positions and relieved tension through his practice of Chinese medicine- something you wouldnt get every gym. Painful but amazing at the same, the stretches left me feeling elated- the last thing I expected from a session at the gym! I left feeling content and really rather smug at knowing Id completely a solid, full body work-out.
Read Alice's next post here...
Emma Sells, Fashion and News Editor: Zumba, LA Fitness
Yesterday I returned to Bayswater for my second Zumba session. Ill be honest, after finding last weeks class a bit humiliating thanks wholly to my lack of coordination, I was dreading it a little bit. But, being the dedicated ELLE staffer that I am, I went anyway.
Once again I tucked myself into the back corner and waited for the salsa to start. After a brief warm up we rattled through a whole host of Latin tunes, jumping, hip-shaking and kicking our way through. Three quarters of an hour flew by.
Having obviously mastered (ish) the steps last week, there were less moments this time around when I felt baffled. And without having to concentrate on what everyone else was doing I could focus on putting some serious energy into the class. The result? By the end of the class Id worked up a sweat and felt like Id had a serious work out. And, even better, Im looking forward to next week.
